Halloween Greetings

I have a finish to share today!!  I signed up for the year long "Wednesdays We Stitch Black" stitch-a-long from The Primitive Hare and I'm so glad I did.  I finally finished the first installment from last November...better late than never right?  So here it is. 

It was a really fun stitch and like most of her patterns, a limited color palette and lots of black, but I love it, especially the stripes in the lettering.

I stitched this on a scrap piece of 18 count gray aida that my pal Connie sent me when she was destashing.  I'm pleased with that choice and the muted colors all work together. 

I'm not sure what I will do with it quite yet.  I'm thinking I'd like to make a little pillow for display but I'm going to think about it.  I have until this Halloween to get it all sorted!

Now I can move on to parts two and three of the stitch-a-long which I've included as part of my Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge so that will get put into my rotation. I'm making some decent progress of a couple of my challenge pieces.  I've primarily been working on "Early Witches" and "Autumn Delights".  I can't quite figure out how I want to set up a rotation on the projects in the challenge but getting Halloween Greetings finished will allow me to think more about it and maybe work on a piece a week?  I really don't know.  Maybe I will just stitch what tickles my fancy for the day?  I would love to finish Early Witches first since it's a piece I had to restart so I'm pretty sure I will focus on that one.

So until next time!  I do have an embroidery finish to share as well but the photos I took of it are on my laptop that no longer works and I've already gifted the piece so I'm not sure how I will get the photos but will work on it. Bye!

12 Days of Christmas: finished

Hey friends I have a finish to share!!  My first finish of the year!! I had a marathon night of stitching determined to finish this piece. I only had a small bit of the border left.  So here is "12 Days of Christmas".

This is a Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery design.  I am thrilled to bits with this piece.  I enjoyed it so much and all the little birds and characters are too cute.  I stitched this on 14 count aida that I had on hand when I first started it.  Its a marbled green and I'm pretty sure it was DMC that I bought on clearance.  I think it looks great with the colors in the design.

The border is so fun.  It wasn't too tricky either and actually stitched up pretty easily.

I did end up backstitching some of the parts that were not showing up well and I'm glad I did because it makes the images pop.  I also reversed the colors for the outer and inner border.  The green I used on the outer border was intended for the inner lines but I thought the green would look good against the green fabric. 

I don't know which block is my favorite...maybe Ten Lords a'Leaping, but I like Three French Hens too. 

I'm so happy to have finally finished this piece.  I'm not sure what I will do with it.  I think it will great as a pillow so maybe I will do that.  I've got all year to decide to have it ready for next Christmas!

It feel nice to have a finish and hopefully it will be a trend for the year!! 

'Til next time...

Happy stitching!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Fifteen

Well folks, I made it to the last day! I've got so many things started and am so excited to see how it plays out over the year.  I hope to get many of these finished---fingers crossed!  For the last day, I decided to just lump the four WIPs I had on my list all together. By including the WIPs in my original list, it put me over 15 so this way it's tied up on the fifteenth day.

First up, "12 Days of Christmas" by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  This one is SO closed to being finished.  Just a little more of the border and I'm done!  I will work on this first to get it finished.  I've been working on it for months now and I'm ready to get it done and move on.  I adore this pattern and have really enjoyed stitching it.

Then there is "Early Witches" by The Primitive Hare which I had to completely restart because I totally goofed the first time around.  It was just easier to restart the whole thing then try to make it work.  I'm excited about this pattern though.  It looks great when finished. So I'm eager to stitch more on this and get it finished up.

Next up is "Gingerbread Lane" by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  I have been working on this one For-EV-er!  I've lost a little steam on this one to be honest but I definitely want to get it finished this year.  It's too cute not to finish.  I was working on this on my lunch breaks at work which is why it's taken so long to finish and it's why I will only work on small pieces on my lunch breaks this year.  I need to see more progress!

Finally there's "Quilty Stitches" by Little Miss Shabby.  This was part of a SAL last year that I obviously fell behind on.  I'm about halfway done with one so will just work keep plugging away on it.  It's very cute and I definitely want to finish it up as well.

So that's it.  I've started everything for the Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge.  Can't wait to get stitching and see the progress from all the other stitchers as well.  I'm not sure how often I will update on the blog yet.  Maybe monthly?  I will most likely post more on Instagram so be sure to follow me there if you're not already.


Here's to a very stitch 2015!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Days Thirteen and Fourteen

Day thirteen!  Today I'm starting a pattern that I just adore and don't know why I haven't stitched it yet.  It's the "Woodland Sampler" by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.   It's full of the cutest woodland critters.  I'm making this one for my son.  I hope to create a little woodland hideaway for him in his room someday soon so this will be perfect for it. 

So if you're keeping track, this is the third Frosted Pumpkin pattern I'm doing for the challenge, plus the two WIPs I'm including.   I adore their patterns.  If you haven't stitched one, please do.  They really are fun!!

Day fourteen!  I decided
 to add a pattern to my original list because I really wanted to get this pattern started. This is "Come in my Little Pretties" which is the December and January installments of the 'Wednesdays we Stitch Black' SAL from The Primitive Hare.  This is a year long SAL that started last November.  I just love her patterns and can't wait to see what comes out this year.

So just one more day in the challenge! For day fifteen I'm just going to share the WIPs that I included in my original list. I will show my progress so far so you can see where I'm at with them.  There are four WIPs in total. Some are farther along than others so I really hope to finish them quickly.  So until then!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Eleven and Twelve

For day eleven I decided to start on "Gnome and Critter Christmas" that's in the December issue of Just Cross Stitch.  The moment I saw those gnomes on the cover I had to buy the magazine.  I'm a sucker for gnomes!  The pattern is a bit challenging and I admit I was hesitant to do it, but I really love those gnomes so I'm going to give it a go. My hope is that will hang in my son's room for the holidays.  Fingers crossed!

I started on the little tree in the center and I already had to rip out stitches!!  I had gotten a half stitch off somewhere so rip rip rip!  And that's why I don't usually do more complex patterns because I struggle with patience in stitching them  But I'm going to challenge myself with this piece and keep it going.  I'm sure I will be working on this one the entire year.  If I get it finished by Christmas, I will feel very accomplished.  I'm stitching it on 28 count white linen--these yucky photos look cream but it's a nice bright white.   

Day eleven I started on "The Goonies".  This is my third Wee Little Stitches pattern I selected for the challenge.  I can't tell you how much I love their patterns.  They are so fun to stitch and work up fairly quickly.  I'm planning on giving this one to my hubby.  The Goonies is one movie we both love and constantly quote and talk about.  I think he will like it.  I was able to finish Mouth and moved on Chunk.  Check out that bright red jacket!  I love it.

Day thirteen will bring about my last brand new start.  The other things I chose for the challenge are WIPs which I WILL finish this year!

'Til then!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Ten

Day ten's start is "Sometime Wicked" by SamSarah Designs.  This was a mystery SAL from last year that I obviously did not keep up with.  I still need to purchase the second and third parts of the design as well.

 I did end up buying several of the recommended Weeks Dye Works floss for this design because I thought it would look great.  Some of the colors I already had on hand and others I'm substituting for DMC.  It will be fine.  This is also stitched on a great polka dot fabric which is super fun.

'TIL NEXT TIME!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Nine

My start for day nine is the "Autumn Sampler" by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  I've had this pattern since it was first released so I really need to stitch it up.  It's a super cute design filled with fun Autumn images.   It's going to be so cute when it's all finished!  The first block I'm working on is this cute little lady frolicing in colorful leaves.

Well friends, my dear laptop seems to have bit the dust so my posts will be done on my phone for a while which unfortunately means subpar photos since the camera on my phone stinks.  Hopefully I wll get things sorted soon.

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Eight

So today has brought about a more involved piece.  I decided to go ahead and start "Sleepy Hollow" by Glendon Place.  It's a pretty detailed piece (at least for me) but it's such a great design and I just have to stitch it!  I love the border and the flaming pumpkin in the design.  Can't wait to work on this throughout the year.

Another phone post tonight as my laptop has decided it doesnt want to work anymore.  Also the reason for the yucky phone photo.

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Seven

For day seven I decided to start on another Wee Little Stitches pattern.  It's one of the three I chose for the challenge. This is "The Doctors" representing all the different doctors from Dr. Who.  I'm very excited about it.  If my ideas become reality, I want to stitch the other Dr. Who patterns, the companions and the villains on this same piece of fabric but I'm not totally sure they will all fit, so we will see.  But I got a small start on the TARDIS anyway.

I'm using a gorgeous piece of linen from Picture This Plus--Crystal Baroque.  It has gold flecks throughout and I think the way it's dyed and the sparkly bits look very cosmic, so I'm hoping it will turn out OK. 

Any other Dr, Who fans out there?  I'm sadly very behind on the series right now and haven't seen ANY of the new season with Peter Capaldi as the doctor.  Having dropped cable I don't have quite as easy access to the shows through BBC America so I need to find another way to watch.  My local PBS station has started showing the series on Saturday night starting with doctor #9, Christopher Eccleston, so I've been watching those again and it's been really fun to rewatch the older episodes.  PBS was how I first watched Dr. Who when I was kid! 

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Six

I want to start by saying how much fun I've been having starting a new project every day.   It's very exciting and I think all day about what I'm going to start that evening.  So today, day six, I started "Scared Silly" by Birds of a Feather.  This is a really fun design---who doesn't love a scaredy cat!

I'm using this fabric, a nice brown from Picture This Plus, and a lovely Charcoal floss from Weeks Dye Works that I scored at the thrift (see this post!).  Can't wait to stitch more on this one!

Meet you back here tomorrow for day seven!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Five

Just a quick post tonight friends! Here is my start for day five...Lizzie* Kate's "Liberty Sampler".  I scored this pattern for a dollar at the thrift store! I needed a simpler design today after the intricacy of yesterday's pattern.  I think this will be another quick finish as well.  Its a fairly simple design but still cute.

This post was done completely on my phone so hopefully it turns out ok!

See ya tomorrow!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Four

I decided to go ahead and start the "Once Upon a Time Sampler" by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery today.  It's one of my big ones so it will take me a while to finish it.  I got off to a good start though! I love having extra time on the weekend for stitching.  

I got off to a good start on this one.  I'm stitching on a gorgeous linen called "Confetti" by Picture This Plus. It has such pretty colors in it--yellows, pinks, greens.  I think it go really well with the design.  

I'm back to work tomorrow so I may not be able to stitch as much in the evenings. But I will stay with the challenge, even if it's only a few stitches!   

'Til then!!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Three

Hi folks, here's my day three start!  I decided to start "Autumn Delights" designed by Barbara Ana.  The pattern is in the November issue of Cross-Stitch and Needlework magazine.  It's such a cute design with all the little critters, houses and keys.

I was able to get a good start on this since I usually stay up late on Saturday nights! This is one I definitely think will get finished this year.  I kinda wish I could stitch more on it today but I'm going to abide by the challenge and start something new.

'Til then!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day Two

Well it's not midnight yet so I'm going to go ahead and share what I started today for the challenge!  I decided on "Crypt Club" by Prairie Moon.  Such a cool pattern with these debonair skeletons. 

I'm stitching it on a 28 count cashel called Monster Mash by Picture This Plus,  I love the colors of the fabric and hope it does well with the design.  Anyone else bummed that Prairie Moon is no longer making patterns?  So go stock up now before they get too hard to find!

' Til next time!

Cross Stitch Crazy Challenge 2015: Day One

Here is my first day of the challenge!  I will probably be a day off in posting my starts as I usually don't get to stitch until the evening after my son goes to bed.  I decided to start with Adventure Time by Wee Little Stitches.  I have this great aqua linen that I'm hoping will make this pop!!

 I was able to finish Finn and can't wait to stitch the other characters!  I love these Wee Little Stitches patterns because they are a pretty quick stitch and lots of fun.

See ya next time for day two!