Month: February 2017

My Framing is Such Joy
Afghans · cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · yarn

My Framing is Such Joy

My Time Stitching37 Comments

Hello blogging friends.  Hubby took 1/2 a day off today and he surprised me by taking me to the Rocking Horse to pick up my latest framing.

joy-framed

Isn’t it lovely?  I was so afraid of how it was going to turn out because my framing session was not enjoyable.  And I didn’t have it framed like the model in the store because I felt it was too much green.  My fabric is a darker green than theirs, and I am not a fan of green.  So I went with the red mat.  And then I was afraid it wouldn’t match the stitching, but I really like it.  The frame was my first choice.  I didn’t even look at any others and I think it is perfect.   So now to find a temporary hanging place for it.  Just for a while so I can enjoy it a bit.  So sweet.

I am still waiting for threads for the Mystery Sampler.  My LNS says they are on back-order from the manufacturer, so no telling when I will get them.  However, a very sweet gal on the sampler group has offered to send me 3 skeins that she has as she is undecided about her sampler.  Stitcher’s are such sweet people ❤  While waiting on threads,  I have been working on Ella.  Here is where I left her last night:

ella-progress-1

Not too much added since my last post, but every stitch counts, right?  The empty area in the dress is getting smaller, so I am excited about that.  Once I finish the bottom of the dress, I will have to move the scrolls up and work from the middle up.  But that will be a lot less stitching than the bottom.  This photo also represents my fabric perfectly, as it is a beautiful sunny day with 60 degrees!   It is 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I also started my Temperature blanket the other day.  What is a temperature blanket you ask?  Well, it is a blanket that is crocheted or knitted, with each row based on the high temperature of where you live.  So I found this color scheme on-line and tweaked it a bit for my blanket:

img_3232-2

I ordered my yarn from LoveKnitting and if finally arrived on Thursday.  I am using Stlyecraft DK instead of worsted weight.  Here is my start:

temp-blanket-start-1

I am using a G hook and chained 250 stitches.  I decided to do my blanket 3dc, sk 2. Then do 3dc in the skip 2 space of the previous row.  Today, while in the car, I noticed my blanket is bowing and my ends are not even.  I should have started with maybe an I hook and then switched down to a G after my foundation row.  I will have to brush up on my chaining on the ends and where to stick my hook for the first stitch.  So today I will be ripping this out and starting over.  I will probably be doing a different stitch, too.  Something where I can make sure I have the right amount of stitches every row.  My crochet skills are still not very well without a specific pattern and some visual tutorials, so I will be sure to have all that when I re-start.  It will be a fun blanket to stitch on every day or do a couple of rows once a week, based on the high temps.  If you are wanting to get started on your own Temperature blanket, you can knit or crochet, whatever pattern you want, whatever yarn and color scheme you want.  I do believe that Lion Brand also has some info on their website.  For the high temperatures, there is a website called weatherunderground.com that you can get the history of high temps in your area.

So, what are your needles creating today?

I HAVE RUN OUT OF THREAD!
Elegant Ladies · Mirabilia · Sampler

I HAVE RUN OUT OF THREAD!

My Time Stitching29 Comments

Well, that one skein of London Fog variegated thread didn’t take long to use up.  I finished page 1 of the first section and now have to put this project aside and wait for the other 28 skeins that I ordered, to come in.  Here is where I left off:

mystery-sampler

I am really loving this project and I am not happy that I have to put it aside for now.  Here is a close up so you can see what the colors are in the London Fog by Sullivans floss:

mystery-sampler-close-up

So while I wait for my LNS to call me and tell me my threads are in, I have picked up Ella, The Frog Princess and will stitch on her until I get my threads.

ella-picked-up-again

 I stitched on her a little bit last night, but looking at all that yellow makes me feel I will never get it done.  But today I am thinking that every stitch I put into her is one stitch closer to a finish, right?  So tonight I am hoping to put many stitches into her.

Is there a particular color of thread or yarn that you hate stitching?

Iris Framed and a New Sampler Start
Pixie · Sampler

Iris Framed and a New Sampler Start

My Time Stitching23 Comments

This last weekend I picked up Iris from the framer.  The frame is darker than what I ordered, so we will see if it grows on my.

iris-framed-1

iris-close-up-of-frame

I ordered a brown frame, but this is more black.  It is the correct number, perhaps they used a different color stain than the corner I chose.  I will see how I like it after some time.  There are also a couple of large beads in her hair that are turned sideways.  That may bother me more than the frame.  We shall see.  In case you are seeing her for the first time, she is Iris from Nora Corbett, stitched on 16ct Aida from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.

In my last post I told you I started the Mystery Sampler from Linens and Thread.  I was stitching it in DMC 310 – black, but was not liking how I could see the fabric through the stitches.  So after looking at (and buying) many different variegated threads, I found one that I liked with my fabric. So here is my new start on the sampler.

mystery-sampler-start

I could not get a good picture of the colors, but I am using Sullivans London Fog.  Which is a gray/blue/purple thread.  I have decided to add some solid accents, such as the dragon which I stitched in DMC 3888. The fabric is 16ct Aida Castleview from Silkweaver.   I am really liking how this is working up.  If you are interested in stitching this design, it is a Stitch A Long from Linens and Thread and it is FREE.  The January and February parts are out now and a new section will be introduced the first of each month until the end of the year.  Here is a closer picture:

close-up-of-mystery-sampler

I have also ordered yarn to start a temperature blanket and I am excited to get crocheting on that when the yarn arrives.  More on that when I get it started.  So what new project have you recently picked up or are dying to start?

Brought to You by the Letter “Y”
Fairy Letter · Nora Corbett

Brought to You by the Letter “Y”

My Time Stitching45 Comments

finished-y

Catchy title, huh?  Last night I finished the letter “Y” to complete my JOY project.  This one turned out just as cute as the rest.  In the original conversion, there are no red beads, but I felt as if they needed some.  In this one, I added the beads to look like she is blowing the peppermint like you would a dandelion.  All the red beads look like “petals” falling off or magic from the peppermint.  I wish I could capture the true color of this fabric, as it is a beautiful shade of green, but as much as I tried (with all 3 letters) I just could not get it right.

finished-joy-3

So here is my completed JOY all together.  Such sweet, sweet fairies.  And all together, it took me only 32 days to stitch them all!  So if you are looking for a quick project, this is it!  My first Christmas piece to hang in my house during the holidays.  I cannot wait to get them in for framing.  In case you are seeing them for the first time, they are Nora Corbett’s fairy letters.  I stitched them on 16ct Aida Sage, from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie and I used the conversion from The Rocking Horse.

finished-joy

So now what am I going to stitch, you say??? Can you believe I have already started a new project?  Yep, a few night’s ago I put the first few stitches into a new project.  It is a SAL Sampler and can be found at Linens & Threads.  And guess what??? It’s FREE!!  Now I have never done a sampler before as I am not a sampler kind of gal.  But this one really appealed to me. A new section will be introduced at the beginning of each month.  You come up with your own fabric and thread colors and do whatever you want.  My scheme was determined by the only piece of fabric that I had that was big enough.  It is 16ct Aida Castleview from Silkweaver.  I have decided on doing all the stitching in DMC 310-black.  Here is my start:

start-on-mystery-sampler-1

start-on-mystery-sampler

I am already second guessing my choice of black threads because I can see the fabric in between the stitches.  But I am going to stick with it.  My fabric is blue and gray and cream, like sky.  Black was the first thing that came to me.  I will see how I like it as I go on.  If you are interested in doing this one, the January and February sections are on the website.  There is also a facebook group you can join; Linens and Threads – Mystery Sampler.   There are so many beautiful versions of this on there.  Some using variegated threads, all one color, silks, everything!

This last week has been a week of seeing all kinds of new projects I want to start.  The sampler, a Temperature Blanket, an Afghan, an Owl blanket.  I have started the sampler, but I see a Temperature blanket in my future.  Like as soon as I can get yarn 🙂

So, what new projects have you started or want to start?  Or are you being good and working on WIP’s?  I’d love to hear all about it 🙂

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