Well here we are at Day 5. I've been doing pretty good with keeping up with my plan. Today the theme is Swimming and objective was to stitch something with water. Romy's Creations just posted this freebie not too long ago, and I thought it would be perfect. If all goes well, I'll finish it into an ornament for my DIL for Christmas...she loves the beach! Here is Take Me To The Beach, stitched on 28 count white over one.
It's Day Four....and I made a last minute change. Today was the Olympic Rings...and we were supposed to stitch using fabric or floss the color of the Olympic Rings. I had a Christmas ornament that was mostly red, but then I thought...why not just stitch something with the rings? About that time, I saw a freebie on the Blackbird Designs (Souvenir of France) with the Eiffel tower on it...room at the bottom to exchange the words for rings and a date I could change on the side.
So...here is my little commemorative of the 2024 Summer Olympics! This is stitched on 40 count Latte by Fiber on a Whim over two with substituted DMC floss 645, 729, 931, 3363, and 3722. 1257 stitches later, I have a finish!
I had a little time left last night after I finished Summer Posey, and I only had a little more to stitch on Stocking 12 from the 12 Days of Christmas Stockings by Annie Beez Folk Art...so I went ahead and finished that one too! Now they are all done...now to find the time to assemble them.
I probably won't have as much time to stitch the rest of the week as I have appointments coming up. Fingers crossed I can keep up with the challenge! I hope you all are well and enjoying your summer! Happy Stitching!
It's Day Three! So far so good! Today's theme is Summer Olympics...we were to stitch something relating to summer. I chose Summer Posey by Jeannette Douglas. This is stitched on 40 count natural over two using the Gloriana Silk threads provided in the kit.
I have an idea how I want to finish this one too...but I'll have to wait a while before I get any finishing done. This one had 1245 stitches...whew! I'm glad I was home all day today so I could get this one done.
I had something set aside for tomorrow....but I had a bit of a brainstorm...so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if I stick with the original plan...or opt for something I dreamed up! Happy Stitching!
Well....I made it to Day Two! Today was The Parade of Nations where we were supposed to stitch something patriotic for the country of our choice! I chose to stitch Let Freedom Bloom by Shepherds Bush. I love her little sheep patterns, and this was a kit, so I used the floss provided and stitched on the included 32 count natural linen. There were 649 stitches! I started
and finished the same day! Go USA!!
It's been a day! We were out late watching the Orioles play...
Their biggest cheerleader, Miss "I'm just here for the hotdogs"...
who was yelling Let's Go Orioles, and high fiving and fist bumping the guy sitting next to us (who got a big kick out of her) was a trooper and stayed awake the whole game. Then we stayed to see the fireworks. Very very late night for yours truly.
Today we went to help the kids put some furniture they bought at Ikea together and did a little picking up and rearranging furniture. I came home and finished up my project for today. I'm ready for bed! I wonder what tomorrow will bring? I hope I'll be as productive...we will see. Sleep well...and Happy Stitching!
Well, here we are...the Olympics start today in Paris. I'm taping the Opening Ceremonies as I have a commitment tonight. Today the theme was Opening Ceremonies and our quest was to stitch something new...and since Sarah A. Sanderson 1872 arrived just a few short days ago, I decided I would start her. This was an exclusive chart through Homespun Needlwork (Cross stitch and Samplers) Facebook page. The Scarlett House is the designer. I'm stitching this on 46 count over 2 Valley Forge linen from Needle and Flax with NPI silks. I have to say, this fabric is like butter! It's a joy to stitch on!! Here is my starting photo...
And here is my finish for today.
I stitched 500 stitches!!! Tune in tomorrow when I'll reveal my pick for Parade of Nations. Oh..and by the way...I did finish Day 11 in the stocking series. Day 12 is in the hoop...I'm hoping I can squeeze in a finish somewhere in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck!
Thank you for those who have been cheering me on...I really appreciate your kind comments! Happy Stitching!
Well....it's the 25th of July so...I'm going to post about the Friendly Stitchers Christmas in July exchange. We were to stitch something Christmas related and send it unfinished to our partner by the first of July so we could finish it ourselves and post at the end of the month. I'm a stickler for dates...so sue me...lol. I like to think Christmas in July should land on the 25th...so here goes. Christine sent me this lovely gift...and I think I found the perfect frame. I recognize this ornament from a Just Cross Stitch magazine, but couldn't put my finger on the name of it. Doesn't it look like the frame was made for this?
While I was searching for a way to finish this...I came across this frame in my stash...a lightbulb went off and I thought Summer's Swan by With Thy Needle and Thread would fit perfectly....it just seems to suit it, doesn't it? Now I have another picture to add to my summer display!
I'm also going to add a few more of the 12 Days of Christmas stockings that I have finished. I'm very close to finishing the 11th stocking and will probably start the 12th stocking today, but I'm unsure when I'll get the rest of it done. Here are 8, 9, and 10.
Tomorrow starts the "Stitch The Summer Olympics" challenge by the Naptime Stitcher. A local friend of mine contacted me a few days ago to ask if I was going to do this challenge. I looked it over and thought...why not? I've been scrambling the past few days to find projects that would fit the different categories and what I came up with I have posted in a separate page. You can find it in the headings above.
I'm also going to participate in another challenge to stitch the miles between hosts on the Stitching Shack Facebook page (each stitch counts as one mile)...so I'll be counting stitches as I go as well. So, if all goes well, I'll be posting daily what I'll be stitching...starting tomorrow with the Opening Ceremony...with a new start. I know what I'll be stitching.... and my fingers are itching to get started! So...come cheer me on...or come join the fun! It all starts tomorrow! Happy Stitching!
So far I've only counted to 7...lol. I'm working diligently on the 12 Days of Christmas Stockings by Anne Beez Folk Art. I truly love these designs. I have to admit, though, I received my package of Sarah Sanderson in the mail yesterday and I'm itching to get started on her! Oops, sorry for the squirrel moment! LOL I started these stockings while on vacation to Ocean City, Maryland last month. I got sidetracked a bit when I got home...but I'm back on track now! I started stocking 8 last night, so I won't show that one, but here are the first 7 so far!
With a little luck I'll get back to work on stocking 8 tonight...but I'm hoping to have a finishing day today. I have had some ideas about a few different things, and I better strike while the iron is hot! Hopefully soon I'll have an update on that. We had a busy weekend planned but a wrench got thrown in...with a little luck I'll be going to a craft fair tomorrow. Wish me luck! Thanks for taking the time to visit. Happy Stitching!
Well hello there and welcome to my July Gifted Gorgeousness post! It's been a whirlwind at DJ's Digs lately and not much to show but here we gooooo!
If you don't know what Gifted Gorgeousness is, please visit Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching. (click here). Jo is our lovely host for this challenge where we post things that we are stitching that pertain to gifts. It can be a gift to us, or for someone else. It could be a gift of fabric, pattern, floss or something completely finished! So...on with the show!
Goodness...looking back I really don't have that much to show this time around. I did finish Winter Woodland by Patricia Ann Designs from the 2024 JCS Ornament Issue. I consider this a GG because my husband gifts me the magazine subscription each year. This was stitched on 40 count platinum over two using the recommended DMC and Petite Treasure Braid and petite glass Mill Hill beads.
This one is a bit bitter sweet. Many years ago I stitched this for a friend's Mom who was celebrating a milestone birthday. I found a free crochet pattern and chose threads and fabric and stitched from there. She loved all things Betty Boop, so I thought she would enjoy this. She recently passed away, so my friend sent Betty back to me. Alice and I worked together for a while in a nursing home. She was the sweetest lady, always treating the patients like family and she was always kind to me. Rest in peace, Alice, you'll be missed.
I have finished a few other things that are not considered GG...but I'm going to post them now anyway. First up is Sweet Summer Come Again by Blackbird Designs. This pattern was a fun stitch! It's stitched on 36 count Wren over two using two threads. It was recommended to use one thread, but I've done that before and was never really happy with the results. With two threads the color really shows up better. Now to decide how I want to finish. The pattern made it into a drum, but I think I have a box it might fit on better. I'll let you know how that turns out!
Last is a SAL I'm working on. This is called Starry Stable (Nativity) by Tempting Tangles. It's being stitched on 32 count light blue over two with DMC floss. I love anything related to Nativities, so couldn't resist. So far I'm caught up! This is parts one through three.
I guess that's all that's fit to print right now. I hope wherever you are you are safe from storms and the excessive heat and keeping healthy. Happy Stitching!
Well...true to my promise, I'm posting my final picture of Summer's Swan by With Thy Needle and Thread. I stitched this on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over two threads using the recommended threads. I got about half the swan finished and decided I didn't like the Arrowhead color...so I substituted WDW Whitewash. I'm very happy with the results.
I've decided I really don't like stitching with those hand dyed fibers...they seem to split and knot more frequently than DMC. I have some projects kitted with those specialty fibers, so I'll use them, but ...well...they aren't always true to the colors in the pictures so I may not be buying them in the future.
I've been having a rough week. I'm feeling slightly annoyed at the health care system in general. Other than fatigue I'm feeling fine! Let's face it, I'm at that age when I do get fatigued...lol. But my bloodwork is off, and while they work to figure out why, I'm in limbo, running here and there for appointments and medical tests. All from routine bloodwork during a routine physical late last year. Is it any wonder I avoid Doctors like the plaque? LOL!! My fourth appointment this week is tomorrow...I can't wait to be done with all the running around! If you are inclined, please pray they either find something that's fixable, or decide I truly am fine...lol!
Sorry for the rant...and thanks for listening. Happy Stitching!
Well...I have a busy week planned (or I guess I should say it was planned for me). I have doctor's appointments, errands and medical tests...no rest for the wicked I suppose...lol. Today is my only free day all week. I planned to keep working on Summer's Swan by With Thy Needle and Thread, but thoughts of finishing kept dancing in my head. So....I finally dug out the rest of my summer time mantle decorations, and finished a couple of new ones, so thought I'd show you what I've been up to.
I had these two small patriotic pieces finished and thought they would look fun in tart pans...so...here is:
"Patriotic Basket" by Primrose Cottage from the 2024 Nashville Needlework Show Cookbook stitched on 40 count mystery fabric over two
Patriotic Mini-bouquet by Jeanette Douglas stitched on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over two
I also put some of my tart pan finishes in this adorable covered tart pan I found at Hobby Lobby! I stole this idea from The Hodge Podge store in Pennsylvania...she graciously told me where she bought the larger tart pan to display her tart pan finishes. Here it is with and without the lid.
So now I have a dilemma. I started Summer's Swan on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha using the recommended threads.
Sadly this one particular thread is not showing up very well, and seems dirty compared to the chart picture. I'm not happy...as I already have over 1,000 stitches in this thing...but I know I will be dissatisfied when I'm finished if I don't change the floss now. I guess that's why I threw my hands up and decided to do some finishing. Now that I've thought about it, I think I'll start again on another piece of fabric. Such is life, but I know I'll be happier.
I hope you all are having a good week so far! Take care...and Happy Stitching!
Happy Independence Day!! In case you hadn't noticed I've been working on some patriotic pieces lately. I was hoping to update my summer mantle, but I just ran out of time to decorate. You see, we went on a week long vacation to the beach! We had a blast, but more on that later. I wanted to update a little about the things I've been stitching!
I have always loved patriotic cross stitch. DH is retired from the Army after 25 years of service so we love our country and like all things associated with freedom. I was able to get this one framed before we left and that is sitting on our mantle, but the other little pieces never got finished. I'm going to work on them soon! Above is called Land of Liberty by Brenda Gervais and is stitched on 40 count Legacy over two. I wasn't expecting to get it framed, it just sort of happened...lol. I do love how it turned out!
I was also able to get Anne Thomas 1854 by Hands Across The Sea Samplers framed, but I noticed something under the glass that shouldn't be there, so I'll be taking it back to get it fixed. Still here is how it looked when I brought it home the first time.
While I was away I was able to finish up two of the 12 Days of Christmas Stockings by Anne Beez Folk Art. These are stitched on 28 count black over two (don't faint...lol) I love how these are turning out! Here is day one and day two!
I had taken a couple of other pieces to stitch too, and as the condo was a little dark at night, I worked on these others at night. It was too hard to see the black fabric in the evening. The first is Happy Birthday America by With Thy Needle and Thread stitched on 36 count natural over two.
The second is Sweet Summer Come Again by Blackbird Designs stitched on 36 Wren over two. I've had these in my stash for ages! All kitted up, with no place to go...lol!! I'm looking forward to getting them stitched and finished up soon!
I was able to get TWO shopping days in at The Salty Yarns while there. Hubby may be sorry he suggested the second day...lol. I will get pictures and show you soon the goodies I found. The first day there I had a list of things I needed...so that is mostly fabric and floss. The second time I shopped for the fun of it. I found some things I've been looking for for a while! That was a fun day!!
While we were away, we had some fun times with the family! I have to say, it's fun exploring new things through the eyes of a 2 year old...lol. This is the face you make when you have Fractured Prune Donuts at the beach in the morning!
Here are a few pictures of our adventures.
I will say, it took some time to get our DIL to agree to the old fashioned photos. My husband and I have had our pictures done a few times in our lives, the first time on our honeymoon. It's fun to capture our vacations with these fun pictures. Since we were at the beach, we decided to be pirates. What a fun time we had!
I just want to add, here at the end, that being a military family has it's challenges. You aren't always close enough to do the big family things. I'll be honest and say, while I loved doing things together as just the three of us, I have really enjoyed being a part of a bigger family. Our DIL is all about making memories and she graciously includes us in many of their outings. It's wonderful being able to watch our granddaughter grow and learn new things, and I love it when she runs to us, so excited to tell us things and give us hugs. So...thank you, Heather, for including us and making us feel like family! We love you all!
And on that note, I'll wish you all Happy 4th of July! And Happy Stitching!
