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.

2019 Nashville Needlework Market

Since 2015 I have attended the Nashville Needlework Market as Beth Twist's (AKA Heartstring Samplery) assistant.  Beth is one of the nicest people to work for and I enjoy spending a few days with her each year while she is in town for Market.

Beth always brings "goodies" for me (another post for another day).  In addition, she also lets me have any Heartstring Samplery patterns that I want.  Here are the patterns that I picked out this year.

(clockwise from top left):  C is for Coffee, Coffee Drinker's Confession, Festive Little Fobs Harvest Edition, Coffee Edition, Stitching Edition, The Stitching Life, and The Cat Sampler.  Where do I begin?  Which pattern is screaming, "Stitch me first!"?


Another perk of being Beth's assistant is that I get to do some shopping at Market.  This year I tried to maintain control as I HAVE SO MUCH STASH!!!!!!!  Here's what I came home with...…..

Fox Few (Plum Street Samplers) and Stitching Bird (Heart In Hand)

A really cute needle minder from Stitch Dots with Heartstring's 'Coffee Drinker's Confession' printed on it.

Two pair of scissors (you can't have too many) and a pack of John James Size 26 Tapestry Petites (you can't have too many).  

I took some photos of Beth's room at Market to show you all of the *cute* stuff that she designs.....just in case you've been living in a cave for awhile and haven't seen any of her stuff.  

Happy 4th!

I thought the 4th would be a good time to revive this blog by showing off some July-themed cross-stitch.  Here is a not-so-great photo of a little vignette in my foyer.  Keep reading for better photos and details of the stitched pieces.

This little piece is an old Lizzy Kate Flip-It that I stitched over 10 years ago.  I stitched all 12 months and had a craftier-than-me (she can sew, I can't!) friend finish them with coordinating fabric hangers.  This hangs in my living room on an antique wash stand.

Now for a close up of those pieces displayed in the foyer.......

A patriotic mini stocking designed by Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery.  I stitched and did the finishing in 2017.  

A cute design by Notforgotten Farms which I stitched for a 2017 Fancy Works Stitch Retreat.  The finishing work was done by me in a retreat class taught by The Queen of Finishing, Vonna Pfeiffer. Vonna has some great finishing tutorials on her website, https://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com if you feel inspired to tackle that stack of stitched-but-not-yet-finished projects!

Fourth of July Bird by Heart In Hand stitched many moons ago!

I attended another Fancy Works stitch retreat earlier this year.  I didn't take any classes but I did participate in a patriotic pin cushion exchange.  This is the pin cushion that I received in the exchange.  The lady who stitched this adorable pin cushion told me the name of the designer but I failed to make note of it and now I can't remember what she told me.  If anyone knows the designer, please leave a comment below.

And speaking of the pin cushion exchange, this is the piece that I stitched for the exchange.  The design is by Clytie Anna Designs and was published in the Summer 2017 issue of PNPS Magazine.

Finally, here is a better photo of the other patriotic decor shown in the first photo.  The book is Mary Emmerling's American Country Flags.

One more patriotic piece.....a cute 5" coaster from Mary Hadley Pottery in Louisville, KY.  

Hope you and yours have a fun (and safe) 4th!