Merry Christmas!

Can you believe that it is almost Christmas?  All my Christmas stitching (and finishing) is done for the year and on display.  Here is an update:

 I stitched 'Scandinavian Christmas' by Atelier Soed Idee on self dyed 28ct evenweave in the recommended DMC stranded cotton.  I finished it as a long pillow and I love how it turned out.  I must say - I really love this design!

 This little cutie is a freebie that can be found at Matrioshka Biscornu and was a lovely quick stitch.  I also added some beads to trim the tree and finished it as a little pocket pillow.

 This winter sheep was already stitched and has been finished as a hanging ornament.

 Here is the reverse - I love this sweet Christmas fabric.

 Here is another stitched piece that needed finishing:

 'Red House in Winter' is also finished as a hanging ornament and backed with poinsettia Christmas fabric.

 I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Festive Season!  May it be a joyful, peaceful time filled with family and maybe even some stitching!

Merry Christmas!

Some Christmas Finishes!

It is finally December and the weather and the Christmas spirit is heating up here in Cape Town!  I have some Christmas stitching and finishing to share.

I really enjoyed stitching this LHN ornament from this year's Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue.  It is called 'Fresh Fallen Snow' and is stitched on self-dyed fabric in DMC threads and finished as a hanging ornament, backed with red fabric.

I stitched this cute little Tra la la piece earlier this year and finally did the finishing.  It is stitched on self-dyed fabric in DMC and House of Embroidery stranded cotton.  It is also finished as a hanging ornament and is backed with green marble fabric.

I'm working on a lovely piece by Atelier Soed Idee - it is called 'Scandinavian Christmas' and I'm stitching it on self-dyed fabric in the recommended DMC colours.  The suggested finish is a Christmas card holder, but I think I might finish it as a pillow.

That is all for now - I'm off to visit some blogs :)  

Until next time - Happy Stitching!

Michelle

Christmas Ornament Finish

Here it is - my first Christmas ornament finish for this year!  It is a freebie and can be found at Gazette94.  The moment I saw this chart I just new I had to stitch it :)  It is stitched on 20 count Pewter Lugana in DMC and House of Embroidery Threads and finished off with a few crystals.  

 . 

Here it is pictured on the fabric I used on the reverse side of the ornament - I just love the 'old world' snowmen.

I have already started stitching my next ornament and hope to have it finished very soon - it is one of the very popular designs from this year's Just Cross Stitch Ornament Edition.

Lexi, our puppy was kind enough to 'pose' for a photo today.  I can't believe she will be eight months old next week!

That's it for today - have a great week and Happy Stitching!
Michelle

I'm Back - With Some Finishes!

 Hallo dear stitching friends!  After a long absence I'm back in blogland again - I even have some finishes to share!  I  have been stitching some of Thea Dueck of The Victoria Sampler's beautiful Christmas pieces.  This is called 'Heirloom Christmas Sampler' and contains cross stitching, specialty stitches, beading and hemstitching.  I had the chart in my stash for years (and even started the backstitching on the tree a few years ago) and the time finally came to stitch it!

 I really enjoyed stitching this piece and just love all the detail.  It is stitched on 28ct cream Quaker Cloth in DMC stranded cotton and Perles, as well as some overdyed floss.

 Here is a pic of the entire piece - it is a bit difficult to photograph, since it is so long.

 Some close ups - I loved 'decorating' the tree :)

 This finish is called 'White Christmas' and is also by Thea Dueck.  This chart was also in my stash for years!  It is stitched on white 28ct Quaker Cloth in DMC stranded cotton, Perles and silver petite treasure braid by the Rainbow Gallery.  This piece also has cross stitching, specialty stitches,hemstitching and beading.  

Stitching these samplers inspired me to start a new Hardanger piece.  It is a runner and is designed by Mamen   of Hardanger Carpacar and is called 'Harmony'.  It is stitched white on white with DMC Perles on 28ct white Quaker cloth.  This piece is going to be absolutely stunning when it is - eventually - finished.  I plan to start stitching some Christmas ornament soon, so it will have to step aside for a few weeks.

 

And finally, I don't think I ever mentioned it, but we had to have our six year old Bullmastiff, Jenna put down, due to cancer.  We miss her every day, but on the upside - we have a new Bullmastiff puppy!  Her name is Lexi and she is a handful :)  Here is a picture of her (on our bed, if you don't mind!) - she is about seven months old now.

That's about it for now - I hope to be visiting all your lovely blogs soon.  Have a great week!

Happy Stitching,

Michelle

Blog on Vacation

Hi stitching friends!  You might have noticed that, yet again, it has been a long time between posts for me.  I just don't seem to have the time for blogging/commenting anymore.  

To top off my distress, a package I ordered from Anita's Little Stitches in April has not arrived yet.  I emailed Anita to find out which mail method she used and she sent me such a rude email in reply!  She claims that 50% of her business is overseas and a package has never gotten lost (and if you believe that you'll believe anything).  I have been ordering stitching supplies from overseas for years and this is the first package I have not received.  Needless to say, I was shocked by her response - I was planning to re-order, but obviously she has now lost a customer. 

Anyway, enough complaining and on to some stitching.  Here is what I have been up to:

I have made great progress on Historic Countries Sampler (from the Gift of Stitching Magazine) and hope to finish it soon:

 The Heaven and Earth Designs bug has bitten me again.  I started Train of Dreams by Randal Spangler last year and took it out again this year.  Here is my progress, not much done, but I already love the way it is turning out:

 Here is what the full picture looks like:

 I also bought a Quick Stitch from Heaven and Earth Designs a few weeks ago and could not resist starting it.  Her name is Ruby and she is a design by Meredith Dillman.  Here is the bottom of her dress.

 This is what she will look like eventually:

So, to conclude, I have decided to put my blog on vacation.  I guarantee I will still be stitching and, who knows, maybe I will be returning to blogging soon!  Thank you to everyone who shared this virtual stitching experience with me - I am so lucky to have made such wonderful friends over the past two years.  I will still be visiting all your lovely blogs as often as I can.

Happy Stitching!

Lots of Love,
Michelle

Mary Glover Finish and Half a Finish

I have not been blogging, but I have been doing a lot of stitching! I finished the Mary Glover SAL, hosted by Emmanuelle, this weekend. This is such a lovely piece, I can't wait to have it framed!

Here are a few close ups:
The colours are so pretty and I love the Rice Stitch band, even though it was time consuming.

I have also made some great progress on Historic Countries Sampler, with half of the countries completed (Spain, Scandinavia, Holland, Ireland, England after the 1700s and Germany).
Here is a close up of Holland:
Close up of Ireland - I really loved stitching this section:
England after the 1700s:
Germany:
Germany also had some specialty stitches, including Queen stitch, Algerian Eyelets, Blackwork, Rice stitch and Zig Zag running stitch:

It is Mother's Day next Sunday, but I could not resist getting these lovely roses for my mom a week early :) Aren't they stunning - I love the pink with the hint of green of the flowers.
Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Mary Glover SAL and a huge WIP

Believe it or not - I actually have some stitching to show! I have joined in the wonderful Mary Glover SAL hosted by Emmanuelle after seeing it on Siobhan's blog. It is stitched on a light, natural colour 28ct evenweave in DMC thread. Some of the threads are in the recommended colours and others I had to change to match the fabric.

Here are a few closeups of the details - I just love the soft colours.
I have also resumed work on a piece I started about two years ago. It is Historic Countries Sampler and was given as a mystery sampler over twelve issues of The Gift of Stitching Magazine a few years ago. I am stitching it on antique white Jubilee in DMC thread. It is a HUGE piece and is made up of twelve 'samplers' summarizing the historical aspects of each country's samplers. The piece in the bottom left is Spain and the piece to the right hand side of that represents the Scandinavian countries. The small band sampler is the first part of Holland. The Holland sampler is quite big, but I am looking forward to it. I am also looking forward to Ireland, which will go at the top of Holland.
In addition to cross stitch this piece contains a lot of specialty stitches that make it even more interesting:

That is enough stitching for me for one post! I also have another 'semi finish' to show, but I will share that in my next post.

Until next time,

Happy Stitching!

Some Stitching and a Gift

I have some stitching (but no finishing!) to show! I'm going to try to stitch more Christmas ornaments this year - my first one for the year is 'Winter Sheep' by Little House Needleworks. He is stitched on 28ct straw evenweave in DMC threads and topped off with a little Christmas tree charm. He is pictured on the fabric I'll be using for the finishing:

This piece I stitched towards the end of last year, but never finished it for Christmas. It is such a cute design by Tra-la-la and is stitched on self-dyed 28ct evenweave in DMC stranded cotton and DMC colour variations. It is also pictured on the fabric that I will, eventually, be using for finishing:
I stitched this piece, 'Beneath Sunlit Skies' by Black Bird Designs, also towards the end of last year. It is stitched on a Natural 28ct evenweave in a variety of variegated cottons. I did not follow the recommended colours for this chart, but instead had a look at the pic, grabbed my floss box with variegated threads, and pulled whatever I liked and seemed would work. It was really fun to do and also a great way to use some stashed threads! (Some of the colours are very soft and don't show up too well in the photo.)
Here are a few closeups:
Last, but certainly not least - I would like to thank dear Edit for the lovely Christmas present she sent me at the end of last year. Look at all the lovely goodies - fabric, ribbon, beads and a beautiful snowman ornament. (The ornament took pride of place on our Christmas tree and looked great!) Thank you again Edit, it was an unexpected and wonderful gift!
That is it from me for now. Hope to have some stitching updates again soon.

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments on my previous post - it is appreciated.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!