One HD and One WIP

First of all, thank you for the nice replies to my last post! I appreciate people trying to help me find the little elf I saw so many months ago. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate him yet, but I have seen some other really cute patterns!

Now for an update...


Click to enlarge!

Here's a small happy dance. These chickens are a Margaret Sherry design from one of the British cross stitch magazines. I stitched them on a Charles Craft tea towel and I think they turned out really cute!

I have been wanting to stitch a Margaret Sherry design for awhile, because I am intrigued by the way backstitch is used in them. I've bought a few of her patterns (mostly cats, one bear) and have even started stitching one of them, but in the end, these colorful chickens called my name. I love chickens anyway, so I will probably keep this towel.

The backstitch was not as tough as I expected. I was a little worried that my tea towel was inset with Aida, not evenweave, and I have heard that it can be hard to do the backstitch as represented on these patterns on Aida. However, the Charles Craft towel was really soft and easy to work with -- much more giving than most Aida I have used. So the stitching went fine. As always, I'm fascinated by the difference backstitch can make. Check out the chickens a couple of days ago, before I added the outlines.

The chickens weren't on my September objectives list, but I started and finished them this month. I'm actually not sticking to my objectives very well at all... here's another small WIP I started today:



I've actually gotten a little more done than is shown here, but the rest of it doesn't look like much yet. This cute little plane is from a book of alphabets I bought recently, which I really like a lot. There are so many cute designs in this book... I can't wait to try more of them. I'm stitching the plane on light blue 18-count Aida that I got in a grab bag of odds and ends from the Thistle in Glastonbury.

So anyway, I have been doing a little stitching! As usual, just my customary small designs. But lately my mind is really on finishing. I set myself a goal of finishing at least two completed items this month... I don't know if I will make it or not, but I do feel like I'll be doing a lot of finishing soon. I have several pieces from Sudberry House, and some frames that I would like to fill. I am a little nervous, having never framed anything myself (except for that little ladybug I stitched for my friend's daughter, but that was a kit with frame included and had very clear directions).

I also got my sewing machine fixed so that I could use it to finish things, but I just don't know if I have the patience or courage (or time, for that matter) to try anything new. We'll see. I have to start somewhere!

This is driving me CRAZY

Maybe one of you can help.

Months ago, I read on someone's blog (I think it was a blog) about how she had stitched birth announcements for her baby boy. The pattern was a little elf in a pointy hat, which she stitched all in red, and I think it was a freebie from a French needlework site. She had some help from a friend to finish them all up, I remember. And I thought I bookmarked it, but apparently I didn't. Does anyone else remember this? I want to find that pattern.

This may also be a good time to mention that I am pregnant. My due date is in February.

HD: Two Bent Creek Freebies

I've been stitching a bunch this weekend. I finished up the Bent Creek design I was working on (Swirlygig, pictured below) and then stitched another small one, Robin on an Egg (to the right, click to enlarge image).

I enjoy Bent Creek designs and had picked up the fibers for these two a long time ago. They are quick to stitch and I really enjoy working with the overdyed threads. These two used several different Weeks and GAST colors.

The robin stitched up in just a couple of hours (as you can see, it's a very simple design). I stitched it on a piece of lambswool aida from my stash. I guess there are other bird charts in this series (not freebies). I would like to find the chicken, at least.


Click to enlarge.

I stitched Swirlygig on a small piece of Silkweaver hand-dyed evenweave. I will have to check the package for the color. I like the design, but I think I would like to stitch it in different colors that appeal to me more. I think this would be pretty in purples and pinks, and I've seen it stitched that way online. Also, I'm not completely satisfied with the contrast between the alphabet and the fabric.

Finishing Swirlygig was on my list of September goals, so I am already getting started on them! Also, I've done part of a pansy for my SAL with Renee, which is also on my goal list for this month.

I think I found my flosses for the Margaret Sherry bear I was working on. (I had misplaced them and couldn't work on it in August.) Maybe I'll add that into my plan for this month as well.

Welcome, Julia!

Here's a gift I made for a new friend, Julia Adelaide, who was born almost a month ago although her due date was today!



Julia, we are so glad you're here!

September Goals

Time to go over my August stitching goals and set some for September.

A recap of my August goals:

- Finish Margaret Sherry bear design.

Well, I didn't get to this at all. Unfortunately, I can't even find my flosses. Why they are not with the fabric and chart, I don't know. I haven't stitched on this in a couple of months. But I have given myself until February to get it done now.

- Stitch one pansy for the SAL with Renee.

I finished one and started another one.

- Continue with German maypole design -- finish the first maypole.

The first maypole is finished.

I also stitched Delivering Flurries by Homespun Elegance and finished a ladybug picture in a frame for a new baby (I will post a picture soon). And I started on a freebie alphabet sampler, Swirlygig, by Bent Creek. I am about halfway done with that and hope to finish this week.

So I didn't quite make all my goals, but I stitched some other things instead. Once I find my flosses for the Margaret Sherry piece, I'll get back to it. For now, I think I need to keep it off my September goals.

New goals:

- Finish one pansy on the SAL. (Already started.)

- Finish Swirlygig.

- Stitch the second maypole.

- Frame and/or otherwise finish at least two pieces.

And I think that's about enough!