Hello Again

 Remember me?  Looks like it has been almost a year since my last post.  Blogger has gone thru changes since then so we’ll see if I can successfully add some photos and get this short update posted.  

I’ve had several finishes over the past year but I’m only going to post my latest finish for now.  I started this piece in 2018, finished with the actual stitching at the close of 2019, and *finally* got around to FFO earlier this month.  It is my first bellpull finish.  All finishing stitching was done by hand.  I’ve got to get over my sewing machine phobia!  Overall I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.  I stitched it for a friend and she was very surprised and grateful when I gave it to her last weekend.

Little House Needleworks Winter ABC’s.

StitchMaynia - End of Week 3/Beginning of Week 4

A real quick post on my StitchMaynia progress as of the end of last week.  For His Eye Is On the Sparrow, I finished a few more words but did not stitch any additional motifs.

I got the left leaf stitched on the Sajou Iris project.

Goals for this final week of StitchMaynia?  On ‘Sparrow’ I plan on working on the remainder of the phrase.  I should be able to get that finished.   For Iris, I want to work on the leaf/bud that I have started to the right of the completed right-hand leaf.  I already have the greens stitched.  I need to stitch the white and purples of the bud.

No giveaway this week.  Mary from Stitching Friends Forever was the winner of last weeks August-themed pattern.  Mary, please email me with your mailing information.  

I hope everyone has been enjoying StitchMaynia!

StitchMaynia 2020 - End of Week 2 + Giveaway

I have managed to find at least a little time every day this past week to work on my 2 StitchMania projects.  Here are photos that show my progress.

Sajou - Iris

 Heartstring Samplery - His Eye Is On The Sparrow

My goals for this week is to finish the middle green stem and the green stem on the left on the Iris pattern.  For Sparrow, I would like to complete the words “and I know” along with 2-3 more of the motifs.

The winner of the Poinsettia pattern last week was diamondc.  Congrats to you!  

For the giveaway this week I have a small leaflet from Curtis Boehringer that actually has 3 patterns on it.  They are all August/Watermelon themed patterns.  Here is a photo of “August”. In addition to this pattern, there is also a sampler pattern and a Watermelon pattern in the leaflet.   Leave a comment for a chance to win.  This giveaway is for everyone.  You do not have to be in U.S. - just keep in mind that international mail may take many weeks to reach you. 

I’ll draw a winner on Saturday, May 23.  Until then......stay safe and keep stitching!

StitchMaynia - End of Week 1 + Giveaway

After one week of stitching, here are photos of my progress.  “Sparrow” was a WIP that I have been working on from time to time over the past 3-4 years.  In the past week, I stitched a few motifs and finished the words “His eye is on”.  A couple of the motifs are not complete as I am waiting on some overdyed floss.  My goal for the coming week is to stitch “the sparrow” along with a few more of the smaller sized motifs.

This Sajou iris pattern was a new start.  I made pretty good progress on the middle greenery section.  My goal for the coming week is to continue with the greens, completing the greenery that shoots off to the right.

I also have another pattern to give away.  The pattern this week is a Poinsettia candle mat by Prairie Grove Peddler.  Leave a comment to be entered.  I have been seeing where some folks have been having problems with not being able to comment on blogs.  If you are unable to comment on my blog, you can also enter the giveaway by sending me an email.  You can email me through the link on my profile.  Put “blog comment” in the subject line.

Hope everyone has been getting in lots of stitching time.  Until next week.........

StitchMaynia 2020 Plans & A Giveaway

For StitchMaynia 2020, I have two goals.  I’m going to do one new start.....A friend went to Paris a couple of years ago and bought me this lovely iris kit from the Sajou shop.  I think it is time to start stitching it.

I am also going to be working on this very neglected WIP.  I started it a few years ago but have not made much progress.  My goal is to stitch on it every day during StitchMaynia......Heartstring Samplery’s His Eye Is On The Sparrow.  It is by far the largest design that I have ever stitched.

 I also am planning on doing a giveaway on the blog every week.  For this first week of StitchMaynia, I am giving away this cute design by The Sweetheart Tree. Just Ducky Fob with embellishment pack.

Giveaway rules:  You must be a follower of the blog and a U.S. resident.  (I will have one worldwide giveaway before the month is over.) Leave a comment letting me know if you are participating in StitchMaynia 2020.  I will pick a winner next Friday (8th) when I post my weekly StitchMaynia update.  Happy Stitching.

First Finish of 2020 & A New Start

Just a quick post to show you my first finish of 2020.  I’m not sure when I will get around to the FFO.
It has been a long time since I have stitched a sampler.  It has also been awhile since I have stitched a piece using only one color of floss.

I have lots of framed samplers lining the wall of my stairway.  Not sure if I will frame this one or make it into a pillow/pincushion.

Heart In Hand Redbird Sampler

On 36 ct linen

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works Lancaster Red overdyed floss

Started 12/24/19

Finished 1/3/20

A finish calls for a new start even though I have plenty of WIPs to finish.  This new start by Heartstring Samplery was a Dyeing To Stitch Ladies Prim Society club kit from Autumn 2018.

How about you?  Started any new stitching projects for the new year?

My stash from September’s Needlework Galleria

Here are some photos of the stash that I brought home with me from the Needlework Galleria that was held in St. Charles, MO in September.  See anything you like???

Edgar Scissorbird was being sold at the Lindy Stitches shop.  He is handcrafted in Indiana from Ash and Cherry wood.  He helps keep my scissors handy.

 An empty bag that says Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Company.  Hmmmm....it did contain some dark chocolate malted milk balls (my fave!) and a truffle.  

 A cute tea ball ornament kit from Heartstring Samplery

 A really cute pattern from Luminous Fiber Arts.  Buggies wanted to help model this pattern since it has a bird theme.  Buggies loves birds.

 Assorted colors of mini PomPom trim and a pretty piece of 36 count linen from Dames of the Needle/From the Cauldron

A really cute project bag from the Heartstring Samplery shop. (Beth’s mother made this one. ❤️)

And lots of pretties from Heartstring Samplery

 A frog zipper pull for my project bag. (bit of trivia.....I’m terrified of real frogs but have a small collection of not-so-real ones)

A pretty pair of scissors from the Heartstring Samplery shop.

Stickers & postcards from Heartstring Samplery......just what this snail mail nerd needs. 

 And lastly, a freebie pattern and stitch info Sticker Plates from Lindy Stitches

I think I brought home a nice haul.  I sure don’t want my stash to get depleted. (Insert lots of canned laughter here.) 😂😂😂😂😂😂

I have been weeding through my stash.  I’ve listed several patterns that I’m getting rid of on the Patterns For Sale page.  Take a look to see if there is anything you need.  Prices do include postage and if you want several things,  I’ll combine postage to save you some 💲💲💲.  Don’t like the prices, then make me an offer.  Just leave a comment on the Sale page if you are interested in anything.

I also FFO’d a couple of things today but am going to save that for another post.

Needlework Galleria + A Giveaway

On Thursday I’ll be heading to the Needlework Galleria being held in St. Charles, MO.  It is more of a “working” trip than a “shopping for stitch stash” trip.  My friend, Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery, is an Exhibitor at Galleria so I will be helping her.  I may be able to work in a little bit of shopping. 😋  It has been several years since I last attended Needlework Galleria so I’m looking forward to the trip.

Guess what I finally found???  The “lost” Little House Needleworks pattern that I had planned to give away last week.  I knew that it would eventually show up if I kept looking for it; and it did!

I won this pattern in a giveaway that Vickie at A Stitcher’s Story had earlier this year.  I got it stitched quick so I could display it for the 4th of July.  Here is my finish.

If you would like to win this pattern, you need to be a blog follower and leave a comment telling me if you have ever attended Needlework Galleria.  I will do a random draw next Sunday, Sept 22 to pick a winner.  

If you are going to Needlework Galleria this week, be sure to drop by the Heartstring Samplery room to tell me “hi” and to see all the pretties that Beth will be selling.

Now where did I put that pattern.....

I had planned to giveaway another pattern today........if only I could figure out what I did with it! 🤪🤪🤪

Stay tuned.  I’ll post about the giveaway as soon as I locate the pattern. #itsgottabeheresomewhere

Winter chart winner

I had 4 comments to my last post but 2 of the 4 did not wish to add to their stash.  😮😮😮😮😮 What?😮😮😮😮😮 I need their willpower.

So, I let random.org tell me if Meg (#1) or Southpaw Stitcher (#2) was the winner.  Here is the results.....

Congrats to Southpaw Stitcher.  I will be emailing you shortly.

Keep an eye out for another giveaway later this week.  I have a Little House Needleworks chart to give away.  I was the winning recipient of it from a blog giveaway earlier this year.  It was a fairly quick stitch so I am ready to pass the chart on to someone else.  More details in a few days.

A quick post, a quick finish, and a giveaway!

I have finally figured out that if I want to keep current on this blog I am just going to have to do quick posts instead of a lengthy missive!  So, here goes.

I have had this Trail Creek Farm freebie pattern for years.  I’ve been weeding through my patterns and getting rid of those that I know I will never stitch.  When I came across this pattern, I decided that it looked like a really quick stitch so I threw it on top of my “to stitch” pile.  I started it yesterday using 32 count French Lace linen and the called for GAST threads.

I finished stitching this afternoon.  I knew that I had NO intentions of trying to make the star-shaped pillow as shown on the pattern.  I looked for a small square frame in my frame stash but didn’t have anything small enough.  Then the lightbulb came on! 💡 I remembered that I had bought a small tin ornament frame years ago at a stitch retreat.  Perfect!!!

Now for the giveaway.  If you are interested in the Trail Creek Farm Winter pattern, leave me a comment telling me what your favorite season of the year is.  You also need to be a follower of my blog.  I will let the Random Number Generator pick a winner on Sunday, September 8.......which just happens to be my mom’s 94th birthday! 😊😊

Patterns for Sale

I’ve listed some patterns for sale (see Patterns for Sale page).  Leave comment if you see a pattern you are interested in.

Stitch Maynia 2019

Are you a stitcher?  If so you are probably aware of the big hoopla that started today......Stitch Maynia 2019.  Never heard of Stitch Maynia?  There are so many different takes on Stitch Maynia (and I have my own) that I will just tell you to Google it if you want to know more about it.

Some stitchers are starting a new project every day during the month of May.  I've seen where some stitchers are scaling that number back by about half.  I decided that I would start 1 new project this month for Stitch Maynia 2019.  I also have a few other Stitch Maynia goals.  Here they are:

#1 - Start one new project.  The pattern that I picked is May Pocket Calendar Cover by The Drawn Thread.  I do not plan on making it into a pocket calendar cover once it has been stitched.  I will either frame it or make it into a pillow.  It calls for Needlepoint, Inc. Silk thread but I am using DMC. It also calls for 32-count "Water Lily" Wichelt-Permin Linen.  I had Water Lily in my fabric stash but it was 28-count so that is what I am using.

#2 - Finish these two pieces into pincushions.

Isn't this cute?  I stitched this several years ago and have no clue who the designer is or the name of the design.  It is stitched on linen

This is a Primitive Hare design.  Another piece that was stitched years ago and just laying in a drawer waiting for the finishing fairy to arrive.  This pattern may have been a "freebie"....not sure.  As you can see in the bottom photo, I will need to add a piece of scrap homespun or flannel fabric in bottom left corner.  

#3 - Frame this piece.  I think the designer is The Goode Huswife.  I stitched it 1-2 years ago.  Yellow overdyed sampler thread on a denim linen.  I have a frame; however, I want to paint it as I do not like the stain that is currently on the frame.  I will be framing this myself instead of hiring it out.

#4 - Work on these WIPs

I started this Plum Street Samplers design several months ago.  My Stitch Maynia goal for this piece is to complete the stitching.  I don't have a lot left to do.

I started stitching the border of Heartstring Samplery's His Eye is On the Sparrow at least 3 years ago and I don't think I even put one stitch in during 2018.  As you can see I have almost 3/4 of the border done.  My Stitch Maynia goal is to finish the border. I think I can reach that goal and maybe even stitch a few of the flower motifs that fill out the border.  Keep your fingers crossed that I have not done any miscounting and that my border will match up.   If you are not familiar with this design (shame, shame) let me just give you the stitch count.....435x363.  Yes, it is huge! And the 28 count "Wren" Picture This Plus linen piece is huge.  I stitch in hand so having a large piece of fabric makes for slow stitching.  At least it does for me.

Another Heartstring Samplery WIP that I have been working on for awhile is the Spring Flame Pincushion.  Until recently it had sat in my WIP pile without getting any attention.  A month or so ago I decided to bring it back into my stitching rotation so I have been making progress.  Both sides of the pincushion have stitching on them.  My Stitch Maynia goal for this design is to complete one side.

This design has a small amount of stitching left to be done.  The stitching on this piece was done by an elderly friend of mine who passed away several years ago.  I "inherited" lots of her stitching stash, including this piece.  My Stitch Maynia goal is to complete the stitching and finish it into a small pillow or possibly a framed piece.

While going thru my WIP pile, I came across this ornament that I started 3-4 years ago.  The design was in the 2015 Just Cross-Stitch Annual Ornament Issue.  My Stitch Maynia goal is to complete the stitching and make a hanging ornament similar to what is shown in the photo.

I started this Little House Needleworks Winter ABC's pattern last year.  I have made some progress but have not worked on it for several months.  My Stitch Maynia goal?  I would love to finish it; however, I don't think that will happen with the other projects I'm working on.  So my goal is to stitch through the letter 'S'nowman.  Hopefully I can get the design stitched and finished in time to display it for Christmas 2019!

#5 - Finish this small piece into a hanging pillow.  I think this is a Lizzie Kate design.  I stitched it awhile ago.  If I work on finishing this in the next day or two, I can display it for most of the month of May!

Whew!  Looks like I got a lot to work on.  I probably won't do any further blog posts until early June when I post the results of my Stitch Maynia goals.  

 Do you have any Stitch Maynia 2019 plans?