LAVENDER & LACE ANGEL (28CT, OVER 1, WIP)

One day, years ago I was in Austin, visiting my favorite LNS Gingers Needle Arts. Ginger had a needle arts display with 4 of the L&L Angels that were stitched over one thread on linen. End result was a work of finely detailed art that fit in an 8" x 10" ovel frame. Generally these angels are framed in a 16" x 20". Quite large if you are short on wall space( as most of us stitchers are....). They were beautiful and I was thinking "how difficult could this be!" Soooo I started stitching this one over one thread on 28 count miracle mint green cashel fabric and found out "how difficult this could be!"). Then my eyesight took a real dive, due to stress, and I never finished it. 4 or 5 years have passed and I had UFO (un finished objects) fever one day and found this packed away in a box. We have moved several times and it was getting difficult to keep track of items. I have very bright light and better eyesight, now. Have been making an effort to work on this for a few hours each week. Although I have to admit the effect is very pretty, but my eyes go crossed after nearly an hour of stitching. But, it sure makes the 32 count fabric look enormous!

2011 BBINTERACTIVE ORNAMENT SWAP

GOODNESS! Not only an ornament, but a 5 1/2" square pillow ornament, too! Melissa is my BB ornie swap partner for 2011. I really wish to thank Melissa for both beautifully finished ornaments! I have in mind to stitch one of the Prairie Schooler Santas with the lovely fabric included with these wonderful projects. Thank you for the buttons, too! The ornament colors are sooooo pretty. My Tree ornament has beautiful specalty stitches and beads. I Love the pink polka dot and button on my merry christmas pillow. They will certainly have a place on my wall year round. Thank you so much Melissa!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD!

I love the older doll heads, from the 80's, that were used for the "Lolly Pop Lane" crocheted dolls. Found some of the 2 1/2" heads, on ebay, and decided to make this Little red riding hood for a friend in France. The yellow and white blanket she is sitting on is the one I am crocheting for my grand daughter for christmas.

ROSE ORNAMENT

This is a Blackbird Designs, Rose Garden, project. I stitched this past 2 weeks. I had some pretty varigated DMC #5 perle cotton. Couldn't figure out what to do with and really wanted to get it out of my stash and used. One of those things that kind of stares at you until its used..... Matched thread up with a scrap of 28 count pale yellow fabric. Did not think I wold get a good result with ribbon and the sewing machine. Ended up sewing by hand, adding lace, 2 colors of nylon ribbon(pink and yellow) and quilt batting for padding. The ornament is a little bigger, at 6 x 8, by the time I had it sewed together.

DRAGONS BY THE FIRE STOCKING

While I am having Unfinished Projects fever, I found my hubby's stocking. Completed, but not sewn together. This week I dusted off my sewing machine and put his stocking together for him. He is estactic and insisted it be put on the wall! He loves the little dragon stockings, with the claws, hanging from dragins fireplace.
The cross stitch pattern is a Black Swans Designs Dragons By The Fire. I do not know if it is still availiable. As I stitched this one several years ago.

MILL HILL FEATHER TREE

Finished the beading and sewing this afternoon!  I took 4 UFO"s with me, and an ongoing project, when visiting my son's family and new grand baby. Knowing their schedule would be much different than mine, as my son works 3rd shift, I took plenty of projects to keep me busy for 10 days. It has been a number of years since I had nothing to do but stitch! Finishing tips for the pillow is in the Midnight Magic Kitty post. Now it is back to the Joan Elliott Wizard.

MILL HILL MIDNIGHT MAGIC KITTY CAT

This seems to be the month for UFO's. As I finally finished beading 2 Mill Hill projects. I can thank the Silver Needle Shop for the finishing idea's for both Mil Hill kits. A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting their wonderful shop and spent a lot of time digging through charts, kits, beads and fabric. When sewing these into hanging "pillows", I found that basting the ruffle to the stitched piece made it easier to control the "eveness" of the ruffle and make a straight line. On linen, baste the ruffle atleast 12 to 14 threads away from the stitched border. And on aida cloth, atleast 6 to 7 stitches from the stitched border. Giving some fabric space for stitching the backing and ribbon in place with the ruffle. Forgive my bow tying. NOT my strong point. I hear there is some tpye of bow tying "thingy" that can be purchased. But haven't invested in one.

L&L ANGEL OF WINTER

Another UFO (un finished object) completed. The cross stitch has been done for sometime. Getting around to the beading was another thing! She is not framed yet. For now she will be rolled up until I can find her frame that is packed away, or find another at a craft shop.

SPRINGS SWEET BLOOMS

I have a UFO (un finished object) to report as finished and framed!

This one was stored for about 3 years, until I could decide what to do with the bottom right corner. I guess I would define as "stitchers block".  Finally decided on some wording. I designed the birds nest, bunny rabbit and the wording. The rest of the design came from a magazine. Can not remember which magazine. Now to find some wall space.....

Lilly's birth announcement

I just noticed that Lilly's birth announcement pic did not make it in the blog. So here she is!

More past projects!

Projects past!

These are some of the projects completed over the years. I can truthfully say that I have probably stitched over 600 projects, big and small. Many of them large projects, as I seem to gravitate towards those!

Joan Elliott's A Wizards View WIP!

I am currently stitching out of Joan Elliott's book Bewitching Cross Stitch. This one is "A Wizards View" It is a large project and have been working on this one since march 2011. With a break for Lilly's project and currently crocheting 3 blankets for the grand kids. But the blamkets are not due until christmas! So many projects and not enough hands!

Another WIP update! And yes, I know it looks like the mad stitcher has a hold of this one. But that is the way I work. Get bored with one part of the pattern and start on another. Well, as long as I reference the stitches properly so the design is not off.

Lilly's birth announcement

I had fun stitching this one for the new grandchild! I did re engineer the orginal design. Changing a few colors, adding beads, silk ribbon roses and deleting rain drops. Shouldn't rain on a baby's announcement!