Fall Stitching and A Thumb!

 I have moved on with my stitching to Fall. Over the years I've stitched a few for the seasonal bowl, but need quite a few more to fill in. This was a very quick stitch with pretty Fall colors.

 

Give Thanks

Lizzie Kate

c. 2018

30 ct. linen sand

2 over 2

I have lots of little scraps of linen or evenweave.  Most are usable for small designs, but not quite big enough to use Q-snaps or a hoop.  Since I have never really been able to stitch in hand, I came up with a solution.  Many of you may already be doing this.  I cut strips of cloth and baste onto the linen on all 4 sides (or one, two or three). That makes it easier to use the hoop or Q-snap to hold the fabric tighter. I really like to look through my tiny pieces and use them first before cutting into a larger piece.

Only 4 inches by 5 inches!

 

Here is an example of using the strips on 2 sides. (I really do need to finish these PS Santas!!)

I'm on a roll! Here is another little Fall finish. Such a quick one, too! A little freebie that came with an online order a while back, I think.  It has the same name as my last finish! Since I still had the threads out from it I just used the same ones, as the chart didn't give any specific colors. Turned out cute!

 

Give Thanks

Hands On Design

c. 2019

18 ct. khaki Davos

2 over 1

Well, I have a problem with my right thumb...I have a trigger finger/thumb.  Last July I was hanging a window blind and it fell on my right hand across the base of my thumb on the back of my hand. No problem then.  But, the next morning when I woke up my thumb was doing the trigger thing.  I knew what it was because my hubby has had that problem with several of his fingers. It wasn't bad and I just let it go for a while until it really did get painful and would stick in position and was hard to bend back. In October I went to an orthopedic hand doctor and got an injection of cortisone into the base of the thumb. It helped right away and I was good for 6 months.  One morning in April I woke up and it was starting to lock again, but not very bad.  Now, it's starting to hurt, swell and it's harder to unlock.  I have an  appointment for another injection in a few weeks.  Surgery could be an option down the road, but I'll put that off as long as possible!

A Little Update

 Time is flying by! It's over half way through June already! I have a few more finishes to share. These really are the last of the patriotic stitches for the time being! I have pulled out some finishing fabrics and hope to sit down and get all of the ones stitched lately into little display pieces.  

 

Let Freedom Ring

Lizzie Kate

28 ct. Ginnie Thompson Linen Plus (tea dyed)

2 over 2

 

And, since it has been a while since stitching a PS Santa, it was time for another. Of course, I pulled out the patriotic one from my stash.  Love it!

 

Prairie Schooler Annual Santa 2002

c. 2002

25 ct. Mushroom Lugana

1 over 1

 

And, since it is time to move on with the seasons, I stitched one that was kitted up for a while and sitting in the bottom of my suitcase. I always have a few small "kits" to take with me in case I run out of something to work on! As you can see, there is not much extra room to use for finishing, but I liked this piece of linen that I dyed with hazelnut shells, so I'm going to do the best I can.  It's stitched with Victorian Motto thread in Barn Red.  Not a true red but I think it's sweet.  Hopefully I can find or might even have a great fabric to finish it with. A free pattern, found here.

 

Valentine

The Primitive Hare

C. 2012

30 ct. linen (hazelnut shell dyed)

2 over 2

 

 

It's been sooo hot here this week! Where we live there are four distinct seasons and the weather is pretty perfect. (that's why we moved here) The humidity is low year round, unless of course it is raining, but we don't get much. Our elevation is much higher than Phoenix, so in the summer we don't get their heat, but this past week the weather pattern brought high temps to our area! I love to sit out on the patio in the afternoon and stitch, but this week it was done inside! 

 

Last night we hosted a little get together with some of our neighbors since we hadn't been able to do that for so long.  We had it indoors, of course! It was nice. One of the things I made was a charcuterie board.  I'd not made one before, but I see so many on Pinterest. It seems to be a trend lately. Here is mine. 

 

 

That's all for now. Will be back soon!

At The Beach

 

 After being confined close to home for the past year we finally decided to take a trip that was longer than just overnight. We've both been vaccinated and feel pretty comfortable about being out and about. We flew to Galveston, TX for a week. The flights were good. Don't know if it was planned by the airline or just not as many people flying, but on both flights we had the middle seat empty! I usually end up with that one, so it was wonderful for me!

We stayed in a condo which was just lovely! A very "beachy" decor done in white, grey and blue. Very peaceful indeed! We had a great view of the gulf from the living room.

And another view from the balcony of the beach and the pool. I loved sitting out there in the afternoons listening to the crashing waves and the seagulls! That's also where I got a little stitching and crocheting done, when I didn't fall asleep!

The sky was grey the entire week, but it didn't rain during the day. The sun came out on our last day which was wonderful! I'm sure that cut down on the crowds, as we mostly had the beach to ourselves!  I'm not a fan of getting in the water even on a hot day, but I can walk for miles looking for shells. I just love them and think that each one is so beautiful.  But, you can only pack so many to bring home!

On our last night we were walking on the beach right at dark so it was really hard to see much in the sand, but at one point I looked down and spied this little beauty!  I'd seen many of them during the week, but all were broken.  This was the perfect one!

I didn't get much stitching done, but this seemed about right for the beach.  I found some wee shells and when I decide which one I like the best I'll attach it and finish into a little pillow for the bowl.  Any thoughts on which??

Seaside Sunshine

2003 Cross Stitcher's Surprise Series From Rainbow Gallery (August)

Erica Michaels

C. 2003

28 ct ivory Lugana 

2 over 2

 

Also got this little quickie stitched. Also to be finished for the patriotic bowl.

Liberty

Lizzie Kate

c. 2002

28 ct ivory Lugana

2 over 2

  

We fly out of Phoenix and when we have a morning flight we usually go down the night before so we don't have to get up so early and also to make sure we get to the airport on time.

 

Here is  a funny story... or not...

 

 We drove to Phoenix in my little red car. At the hotel we parked by the building in an end spot under a light. Before bed I looked out the window (we were on third floor) and saw my little red car on the end right where we parked. I told hubby “ we can watch the car tonight!” The next morning after we got dressed I opened the drape and looked out and the car was gone! I said”our car is gone!!” You can’t imagine what ran through my mind...we were flying in 3 hours! I grabbed my purse and mask and ran to elevator to go out and look. Went out the front door and there she was ...right where we parked! Our room was on the back of the building and we parked on the front. Just so happened there was a red CRV in exactly the same spot as us, but on the back!! Whew!

 

That's about it for now. Thanks for stopping by!

It's A Wrap For 2020 Stitching

 

 This was a crazy year! Only 19 finishes for the year and they were on the smaller side, too!  That's OK. I enjoyed every minute of stitch time!  I also made a bunch of bears for Project Linus...some finished and delivered and others crocheted but not stuffed yet.  Also, the sewing machine was dusted off and I got 6 quilts sewn for Project Linus.  I worked on a lot of jigsaw puzzles this year. I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy them! Hubby and I worked on our model train layout a lot this year, as well.  So, even though not a lot of stitch finishes, my days were very busy, and that's how I like them!!  I was bad at blogging, so I 'll post all the finishes now...

 Be Kind Be Happy Be Well

Lizzie * Kate

c. 2020

18 ct ivory aida

Our Daily Bread

La D Da

c.2005

28 ct. ivory Jobelyn 

Old Glory

Little House Needleworks

c. 2014

32 ct. lambswool linen

Jacobean Design (#15)

Jacobean Designs/Leisure Arts

c. 1980

18 ct. fiddler's aida

Ewe Be Well

Shepherd's Bush

c. 2020

32 ct. Lugana (I dyed with hazelnut shells)

 

Cornucopia

Book 65 "Acorns"

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1997

18 ct. khaki Davos

Squirrel

Book 65 "Acorns"

The Prairie Schooler 

c 1997

14 ct. fiddler's aida

Santa with Pineapple

St. Nicholas II

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1992

18 ct. khaki aida

Santa with Tree

St Nicholas II

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1992

18 ct. khaki aida

Santa 2000

The Prairie Schooler 

c. 2000

25 ct. mushroom Lugana 

1 over 1

Santa 2001

The Prairie Schooler

c. 2001

25 ct. mushroom Lugana

1 over 1

Santa 1991

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1991

25 ct. mushroom Lugana

1 over 1

Sleeping Beauty "Aurora"

Kandi Patterns/internet

c. ?

28 ct. white Jobelyn

Merry

Heart in Hand Needleart

c. 2019

14 ct. black aida

Nutcracker (#2)

Better Homes & Gardens/A Cross Stitch Christmas

The Season For Stitching

c. 1998

18 ct. white aida

Merry (2nd one I stitched)

Heart in Hand Needleart

c. 2019

16 ct. black aida

Rose

La D Da

c. ?

32 ct. ivory linen

Christmas Cheer Santa

Jim Shore

Mill Hill Kit

c. 2013

28 ct. tea Monaco

 

Joseph Manigault House

Rosalie R. Simons

c. 1976

22 ct ivory Hardanger

 

This house is in Charleston, SC, where we are from. It's now part of the Charleston Museum. Back when counted cross stitch was in it's infancy in the US, local designers began getting charts out in the new cross stitch shops.  In the beginning, they were on a single sheet of (graph) paper with hand drawn symbols. Sometimes the symbols were hard to decipher. That was the case with this one. Even though it's a very small design, I stitched and frogged several areas because I either couldn't make out the symbol or didn't like the way it looked. I had to look at the photo as I stitched.  I never did acquire all of the Charleston designs, but I have enough to finish off to use in a display.  Some I stitched, and a few were stitched by my Mama.

 

 

25 bears

 

10 bears

4 quilts

2 quilts

My ORT jar with 2019 and 2020! I forgot to empty last year, and it's packed really tight. 

During The Stay At Home Time

Well, it has been a while since I've posted!  So much has been happening, hasn't it?

Since having to stay mostly at home I feel like I've been really busy.  The days just seem to fly by!  I never get bored, as there is always something to do.  There is always something to clean, organize, re-organize and clean again!  HA!  Then there are the 3 meals every day and the clean up after...

My stitching has kind of taken a back seat recently...just couldn't settle long enough to really get into it.  But, I did manage to stitch up this cutie from Lizzie*Kate.  A freebie from her website designed for the COVID-19 pandemic.  So, I thought it would be appropriate to stitch it while staying at home.  It's really cute and I have plans to finish it to display in my bowl.

But, when I sit down in the evening after dinner, I have been crocheting more little bears for Project Linus.  (I am wanting to use up all the yarn in my craft room :) ) At last count, I have 70+ bears in various stages of completion.  I love the crocheting, but the finishing...not so much!

I had started a larger piece at the start of the new year.  A sampler that I really do love, but quickly lost interest in.  I think that I'm not enjoying such large pieces right now. Actually, I might be out of the larger designs...haven't really enjoyed one for quite a while now.  Soooo, maybe I'll stick to the smaller ones and clean out my stash and start letting things go...

Here are a few more recent finishes.

Clockwise, from upper left:

Be Kind  Be Happy  Be Well

Lizzie * Kate

c. 2020

Santa with Pineapple

St. Nicholas II

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1992

Old Glory

Little House Needleworks

c. 2014

Our Daily Bread

Lori Markovic/La D Da

c. 2005

I plan to make a little pillowcase for this next one. I'll use it on the kitchen bench.

Jacobean Design # 15

Jacobean Designs

Leisure Arts/Vicki Neil Getchell

c. 1980

Looking back through some of my older posts, I see that I never posted a pic of this crocheted piece.  It was a CAL in 2015, but I worked it in 2016, one block after the other. I really would like to make another one to use as a sofa cushion in the colors of my living room.  

Circles of the Sun

Lilla Bjorn Crochet CAL

c. 2015

Thanks for stopping by!  Stay safe!

A Little Stitching

I began this gorgeous sampler back in 2012 and got a lot stitched and put it away for a start on something else...and there it sat all this time...picked it back up in September of 2018 and completed the missing stitches!  I love it!  The colors are beautiful and I love the Adam and Eve figures.  Don't know what happened with my photography...cut it much too close at the bottom edge 😲

Adam and Eve Sampler

The City Stitcher

1 over 2 on 40 ct. Summer Khaki

Up next are the ornaments that I stitched for my daughter and two granddaughters. I actually stitched all five of the designs in the chart plus these 3 to give.  But, even though my stitching was finished back in the summer, I only managed to get these 3 finish-finished...

Top row: HoHoHo Holiday

Lizzie*Kate

2 over 1 on 18 count Davos

Bottom row:  Celebrate! (L) and Santa Knows (R)

Tiny Tidings XIX

Lizzie*Kate

2 over 1 on 18 count Davos

Here are the other 5 that I plan to finish for my display bowl:

Celebrate!, Santa Knows, Santa's Helper, Snow Bird, Jingle Jingle

Tiny Tidings XIX

Lizzie*Kate

2 over 1 on 18 count Davos

And, my 2018 jar of ORTS:

                        

That's it for now.  I have gone through some of my WIP's and pulled one oldie out and have been stitching up a storm on it. I'll have a pic soon.

Thanks for stopping by!