Beans, Beans ….

My latest finish….

Beans, Beans by Plum Street Samplers.  Stitched on 36 ct. Lakeside Linen Vintage Autumn Gold with Belle Soie Crow and Vanilla Pudding.  I originally stitched the dog, as designed, on the piece and then thought…what the heck and changed it to a CAT.  That's my Mick Jagger…named for his 'moves'.

I've also been working on my Snooty Parrots SAL with the Facebook group.  I've finished my February assignment.  This has been a fun stitch so far with plenty of time to finish each month.

Here's Heartstring Samplery's design 'Never Let You Go'.  I had The Attic do a silk conversion for me because this sampler will be a special gift.  More on that later in the year.  I've really enjoyed stitching on this one and I love the saying.   I'm ready to start stitching the huge red brick house and pasture full of farm animals and pets.  It's a sweet piece.

And some great knitting as well.  Kim, the infamous internet enabler see her blog here:  www.threadheadsunite.blogspot.com ,  got me started on this one.  It's the Elinya shawl by Ambah O'brien.  It's an easy knit that is finished with a decorative picot border along the curved edge.  I'm knitting it with the most yummy Madeline Tosh Merino Light in Graphite and Chamomile.  Y.U.M is the only word for this fabulous yarn.

So, you can see I'm keeping my hands very busy this winter.  Our weather here has been cold, then hot, then cold, then wet, then warm, then wet, then cold ….. and so on, and so on.  So far though…no snow and that's a really good thing for Florida!!   

A Little Knitting and Friends

This is a Linen Stitch scarf I knit for my granddaughter Taylor Evan.  She's living in Fall River, MA. so I knew she could use it.  It's a fun knit.  I have several more colorways in the knitting bag.

Two of my 'out of town' stitching friends, Karen (Colorado) and Nicole (South Carolina), stopped by after Christmas for a stitching afternoon.  We had such a great time.  It was nice to visit and stitch the afternoon away!  

 Nicole had stopped by A Good Yarn in Sarasota and picked out this 'HOT PINK' sock yarn as a Christmas gift for me!!  How sweet was that?  I can't wait to get started. And she knit me two beautiful dishcloths.  Seems a shame to use them in the kitchen…but I do and I love them !!  Thanks Nicole

Karen gave me this lovely Shaker box.  I love boxes 'cause I've always got something to put in them !!  Thanks Karen

Thanks for stopping by!!  Hugs and Happy Stitching, Knitting, Quilting or whatever rings in your new year !!

Snooty Parrots SAL

I joined the Snooty Parrots SAL started on Facebook, Sampler World group.  This is going to be one big fabulous SAL.  So many friends have joined and I've made so many new friends !!  Here are the silk threads I've pulled for the piece.  These are all from my stash.  I'm stitching the piece on 40 ct. Lakeside Linen, Vintage Light Examplar, also from my stash. 

Gentle Arts         My Silk Conversion
Onyx                   Belle Soie - Noir
Bayberry             Dinky Dye - Emerald
Sea Spray           Dinky Dye - Blue Ice (or maybe Belle Soie Bahama Breeze)
Apple Cider          Belle Soie - Teddy Bear
Cranberry            Belle Soie - Fresh Raspberries(or maybe Rouge or Sister Scarlett)                                                                                                           
Grecian Gold        Belle Soie - Pecan Pie
Dark Chocolate     Belle Soie - Briar Patch
Baby Spinach       Silk n Color - Dried Thyme
Rhubarb              Belle Soie - Pom Pom Pink
Oatmeal                  Belle Soie - Oatmeal Scone

DMC 3770            Silk n Color - Old Lace

I hope you like my selections, or that they may help to guide you in your very own silk conversion !!

Happy Stitching

Finishes and Starts

I finished Eve's Garden by Shepherd's Bush.  I love their samplers.  They are a joy to stitch.  This one was especially fun because you can see that Adam is so very, very excited to see Eve !!  Too much fun in store for Adam !!

I was quick enough to snag the Snow Bird Kit from With Thy Needle and Thread.  The stitching was quick and I loved the colors.  I just need to finish it up into the snowflake stand.  It may be my one and only Christmas decoration.  Oh no, wait, I have a berry wreath that I'll hang my Blackbird Designs stockings on for the front door.  That'll probably be it.  

I started another piece.  This is Winter Floral Sampler by Knotted Tree NeedleArt.  I'm stitching it on Lakeside Linen 40 Ct. Vintage Pear using the called for NPI Silks.  I love the colors.  I've raised quite a few beautiful peach poinsettia's so this stitching this design has pleasant memories associated with it. I also love to stitch Cardinals.  I have several stitched pieces with Cardinals on them hanging around my home.

Thanks for stopping by.  And, remember during this busy holiday season…take time to stitch.

A Huge Thank You and a Finish

First of all I want to thank those of you who left a heartfelt comment on my blog regarding my sweet cat Cee-Lo Red.  I can't tell you how much it meant to me.  I remain heartbroken and tearful, but I suppose time will heal the heart.  I stitched last week with friends and sobbed a couple of times talking about him.  But you know, hugs and kind words from dear friends helps a whole bunch !!


Next, I finished Manor at Peacock Hill from With Thy Needle and Thread.  

I need to take a 'photo' taking class though.  Both of these pics were taken with the same camera, same setting, same finger, same sofa, same room.  I don't recall making any changes, but obviously I must have changed some setting.  

This was a fun piece to work on because I have such fond memories of my great grandparents home, BUT, as much as I love punch needle with Valdani threads, I do not care for them one bit, not one bit as thread for counted cross stitch.  I will keep my Valdani only for punch needle.

I provided my sweet stitching sister, Cathy, link to her blog here, with a DMC conversion for her piece as the Valdani called out on the pattern was and is not available. I suggested she use DMC #3777 for the border berries, the roof of the house and the outside of the pomegranate, #3830 for the inside of the pomegranate and the door on the house, and #356 for the Ohio Star motifs.  Actually, these three DMC colors are called out on WTN&T limited/sold out piece, Snow Bird. I was lucky enough to score one of them and when I opened the package I was really, really happy to see what I thought were excellent DMC substitutes for the Valdani. 

So happy, happy stitching to each and every one of you.  Thanks for stopping by.  All of your comments mean so much to me.  

Manor at Peacock Hill

  Once the hill is stitched I'll be on the home stretch of this design.

I loved stitching this peacock.  

My great-grandparents, Fred and Elsie Cornaby lived in Benjamin, Utah.  My fondest memories of visiting them included their Koi pond, the colorful hollyhocks lining the lane to their home and their beautiful peacocks.  Stitching this piece has made me very happy.

Heartbroken ….

I am heartbroken….

My sweet Cee-Lo Red took a turn for the worse this morning.  After fighting a battle with cystitis he developed a blockage and unfortunately his bladder ruptured.  Remember, he's my beautiful feral, garden cat and the longterm care he would have required would have been painful for both of us.  The first time I ever picked him up and hugged and kissed him was this morning.  And, sadly, it was the final time.

I love you sweet cat and will miss you deeply.  

Getting Ready for Travel

I have finished my pre-stitching for my Ebony and Ivory class with Jackie Du Plessis at The Attic.  Here's the necessaire…..

The piece is 18" long.  I can tell you it was not a quick stitch.  I frogged more than usual but it's finished and I'm more than happy that is it !  

I started Manor at Peacock Hill from With Thy Needle and Thread.  It's good to stitch with colored floss on a 35 ct. fabric.  I hope to get to that beautiful peacock some time today!

I'll close with a pic of my cats.  The weather has turned cooler here…finally…and the cats love it.  This morning I opened this window and these three were enthralled with something!  They love this weather just like I do.

Casanova, Belle and Jaxon are getting ready for a great day….me too!  Hugs to all.

Finished Work...

Here's my Isabella Fox by Gigi R Designs.  I ordered this piece from The Attic using their silk conversion.  I loved putting in each and every stitch.  I wished I were a better photographer.  The colors are delightful.    It was stitched on vintage sand dune.

I ordered a sample of the Attic's 50 count fabric and Gloriana Tudor Silk thread to see if I could stitch on such a small count fabric.  I COULD !!  I ordered some additional threads and quickly stitched up Dutch Strawberry by The Goode Huswife.  I was pleasantly surprised that the fabric was really easy to stitch on.  I tried different using needles but found the tapestry beading needle to be the only needle that worked.  The other ones were like using a crochet hook to stitch with !!  The Tudor silks are amazing.  Here is the result of my adventure.

Here are a few more finishes.  Needleworker, May Basket, and Softly Walk.

Needleworker is stitched 1 over 1 on Glenshee linen.  I love this piece.

 May Basket was stitched using the Shepherd Bush girls color selection.  This was stitched for my granddaughter Carly who celebrates a May birthday.

Softly Walk is by La-D-Da stitched with the called for threads on Vintage Pear from Lakeside Linen.  

I have been knitting some...only because I love yarn and have the A/C turned down to 75 so I'll show you those pieces in my next post.  I'm also going to The Attic in November for classes and have been doing some pre-stitching for a class.  I'll save that story for next time.  Thanks for stopping by and sharing my love of needlework.

I'm Back

I know ... a year ... really ????

Here are some simply fabulous framed finishes.  My dear friend, Jill Rensell, does all of the frame work for me.  You may have seen these on her blog, but let me tell you something....having these beauties hanging on the walls in my home is something else.

Enjoy!!

 And All Was For An Appil - The Scarlet Letter

 Mary Roe 1808 - The Scarlett House

 Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler - With My Needle and Thread

 The Holly and The Ivy - Shepherd's Bush

 Ah Tis Spring - Notforgotten Farms

 Betsy - Sheepish Designs

Here We Go A Haunting - Shepherd's Bush

 J.M. Gardner  1888 - With Thy Needle and Thread

 Spot the Cat - La D Da

 The Gilded Cage - Carriage House Samplings

I'll try not to wait so long to post again.  I have several pieces finished waiting to wing their way to Jill's studio for framing.  I'll post some pics before I send them.