patgeary

March Hare from A Fine Collection

September 20, 2016 By patgeary

I was looking for something a little different to stitch for a baby sampler and since I am a big fan of Blackbird Designs decided to use the chart for March Hare from A Fine Collection. The book includes twelve projects, one for each month of the year.

The running rabbit is surrounded by a vegetable garland. Carrots, radishes, and peas abundantly available. His star eye and flower and ribbon collar dress him up for spring.

Some of the recommended threads were from Olde Willow Stitchery which no longer exists BUT a friend sent me the threads so I could try and match them to what might be available today. And I had to add additional space at the bottom for the baby’s name and birthdate.

The recommended fabric was 30ct Flax Fields by R & R Reproductions but I selected a piece of 16ct Milk Chocolate Aida from my stash. This is one of my go to colors and is from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. The thread colors I selected as I went along.

Started stitching September 10, 2016. Finished the top Sept 19, 2016.

Recommended Threads: Olde Willow Stitchery (OWS) – Gentle Arts Sampler Thread (GA) – DMC

OWS Rustic Red (DMC 352/3024)
OWS Spice Pumpkin DMC 3770/3859)
OWS Prairie Grain
OWS Tabasco (DMC 3832 is a perfect match)
DMC 310
DMC 3787 (Current shade of this has a greenish tinge)
GA Evergreen
GA Old Blue Paint
GA Shutter Green
WDW Sand (this is listed as Gentle Arts but there is no such color

The used the following colors to stitch mine in the same order as above

Victorian Motto – Variegated Peach Orange (for the carrots)
For Spice Pumpkin, I used a Special Edition of Gentle Arts but it had no name
GA Sable (for the rabbit)
DMC 3832
DMC 310 (eyes of rabbit)
DMC 3031 (rabbit ear and parts of the leg)
GA Evergreen (lighter parts of leaves)
Victorian Motto Primitive Sky (letters and personalization)
Victorian Motto Spring Green (vines and darker parts of leaf and peas)
GA Sand (pink in rabbit’s ear)

Now that the finished/framed piece has been received by my grandson, I can show the final picture here.

March Hare from A Fine Collection by Blackbird Designs.

I liked this one so much, I stitched a second one for another great-grandchild who arrived in 2019.

I used slightly different colors for the floss on this one but still Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads.

Spring Fling by Blackbird Designs

September 5, 2016 By patgeary

I’ve been seeing postings for Spring Fling by Blackbird Designs for a couple of years now and thinking I MUST stitch this one. It is one of the many out of print charts but I was lucky enough to trade another chart for this one.

A friend sent me some of the colors to stitch this so I finally got around to working on it. I chose a piece of mint green 16ct Aida I had in my stash and changed around some of the colors. I forgot to take a picture of this one with the floss and fabric before I started stitching so this will have to do.

Started Stitching: August 24, 2016
Finished Stitching: September 4, 2016

The floss colors I chose were as follows:

GAST Pineapple Sherbet
GAST Avocado changed to changed to Spring Grass
GAST Hyacinth changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Antique Violets
GAST Lavender Potpourri
GAST Dried Thyme changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Spring Green
GAST Poinsettia
GAST Tea Rose
GAST Slate
GAST Buttermilk changed to GAST Summer Meadow
GAST Sarsaparilla
GAST Cidermill Brown
GAST Summer Meadow changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Dried Hay
I also changed the color of the vase to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Primitive Sky

And the finished piece is shown below. I am not sure yet how I will finish this one.

August 13, 2022 – I freed this one from the prison drawer, and rather than frame it, I used one of my favorite finishing boards from Michael’s. This is one of the 10″ x 10″ boards already stained.

Summer Garden for Ladies Prim Society

August 17, 2016 By patgeary

The second kit for Ladies Prim Society members for 2016 is called Summer Garden by Blackbird Designs.

The kit includes everything you need to stitch the threadkeep. Because I do not like to stitch using linen, I chose a piece of 32ct mystery fabric I had in my stash. I am also stitching 2 over 2 rather than the recommended one over one.

Started stitching August 12, 2016.

And there are three tiny butterflies stitched one over one.

And my progress as of August 16, 2016

And the finished piece – stitching that is.

Summer Garden from Ladies Prim Society.

And here is the finished piece from Vonna Pfeiffer’s The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service.

Summer Garden by Blackbird Designs for Ladies Prim Society.

Garden of Life by Blackbird Designs

July 15, 2016 By patgeary

Garden of Life is #21 in the Loose Feathers series and is Out of Print (as are many of the early Blackbird Design charts). This is one I have wanted to stitch for a long time but just putting it off. Then I won a drawing by the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for a set of Nancy’s Primitive Floss Collection. I decided this was the perfect set to select colors from for this project.

Rather than use the recommended fabric, I chose a piece of 16ct Legacy by Picture This Plus to stitch with. I also selected the following colors from the Primitive Floss collection:

Primitive Green
Dahlia Leaves (from another collection)
Old Red Roses
Pink Roses
Weathered Teal (for the letters which I really like)
Primitive Grey
Mocha Tan
Mixed Wood Brown
Mocha Cream

I think I need one more color but will select it when I get to it. I started stitching Garden of Life on July 9, 2016. Here is my progress as of July 15, 2016.

I will be taking a brief break to stitch another of the Out of Print charts that has been loaned to me. Just waiting for the recommended floss to arrive.

Garden of Life by Blackbird Designs

Started: July 9, 2016
Finished: August 11, 2016

The picture does not do the threads justice.

And after five years, here it is framed.

Patchwork Pinkeep

July 5, 2016 By patgeary

Patchwork Pinkeep was a kit offered as part of the Silver Needle A Little Help from our friends club. Since I am not a member, I really never expected to stitch it but a stitching friend sent me the kit as a gift.

I chose to stitch it on 28ct cream Monaco rather than the included linen as I do not like stitching on linen. I did use the recommended threads. The piece was stitched in honor of my husband’s maternal grandparents. I included their names, birthdate (both were born in 1848) and the date they were married. The finished size is a little too big for a small pillow so may frame it for him.

Started Stitching: May 23, 2016
Finished Stitching: June 12, 2016

I framed this one and gave it to my step-daughter as a gift for living with us for nine months and helping in the care of her father for the last year of his life.

Patchwork Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs

Never Far Apart by Blackbird Designs

July 2, 2016 By patgeary

I really never thought I would like to stitch any of the stockings series but I am finding out I was wrong. I had seen pictures posted of Never Far Apart with was issued as a Limited Edition and decided I would like to stitch this one. Unfortunately, this one was OOP as are many of the ones I have fallen in love with. Another generous stitcher loaned it to me.

This limited edition tin from Blackbird Designs includes everything needed to make this adorable 4 x 8 mini-stocking celebrating friendship. It is stitched on 32ct hand-dyed linen with Gentle Art’s Chives, Old Brick, Woodrose, Endive, Apple Cider, Brandy and Raspberry Parfait. The sampler design features two houses connected with a friendship pathway. This is a complete LIMITED EDITION kit which includes the chart, linen, stocking lining fabric and hand-dyed flosses. Comes packed in a little round tin.

I am stitching the little stocking on 16 cream Aida with the recommended threads. Started June 30, 2016.

Finished July 8, 2016

Never Far Apart by Blackbird Designs

Now to decide if I want to attempt finishing it myself or send it off to someone who knows what they are doing.

And the little stocking has been finished. Thank you Joy of Finely Finished for the nice job.

Front of Never Far Apart Stocking

Back of Never Far Apart Stocking

Friends With You from My Heart is True

June 28, 2016 By patgeary

My Heart is True is a 32 page book by Blackbird Designs and Nicoletta Farrauto. The book has 9 projects to make and give (or keep) as gifts.

I was really only interested in stitching one of the projects, Friends With You Project book. Rather than stitch it as a project book, I chose to stitch it on 16ct cream Aida to finish as two small pillows for my long basket. The project book is pictured below.

I had purchased a set of floss from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe called Picket Fence Collection (pictured below) and decided to use these to stitch with. This was my first time of really changing all the colors suggested by the designer.

Part 2 – Stitch Count 75w x 90h. I started stitching this on Jun 13, 2016 and finished on June 20, 2016. For the most part this was stitched while my husband was in the hospital. Colors Used include: VM Dried Purple Plums, Carries Creation Blueberry, Crescent Colors Peanut Brittle, Crescent Colors Pea Pod, and

Part 1 – Stitch Count 77wx 91h Colors Used include VM Garden Phlox, VM Garden Ivy, VM Garden Mint, VM Cherry Blossom, Antique Violets, VM Rose Bushy, Crescent Colors, Peanut Brittle.

Friends With You – Part 1

And the finished pieces. Thank you Joy of Finely Finished for the beautiful job you did on my stitched pieces.

The Woodland Collection floss give-away, enter now!

June 26, 2016 By patgeary

Nancy of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has been busy dying floss for her latest offering, the Woodland Collection. This set includes 12 skeins, 20 yards each of Wild Strawberries, Blueberries, Elderberries, Wild Grapevines, Hickory Nuts, Wild Acorns, Wild Honey, Wild Grapevines….etc.

There is LOTS of variegation in half of these colors. Like the shading in the wild grapevines in the woods, all different shades on the vines. And the same with wild berries as they start to ripen. Many different shades in one bunch. All boxes have 12 skeins, 20 yards each. You can ENTER to win a box of these beautiful colors as well as purchase a set. I can tell you from first hand experience that ALL of her colors are lovely to look at as well as stitch with.

With this set Nancy will give 3 extra skeins as a gift for the give-away. AND…..the first 10 sets sold get Elderberry, Mixed Berries and Wild Blueberry. 60 extra yards! Those are the three skeins shown at the right in the above picture. The next 20 boxes sold get 2 of those free skeins and the next 20 boxes get one free skein.

So head over to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe to enter. You must be a follower of her blog and you must post a comment to enter. The drawing for the winner will be held on July 14th.

Good luck!!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Giveaway

May 16, 2016 By patgeary

Nancy Turner of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another giveaway. This time it is for her Southwest Floss Collection which is a Limited Edition. You can see it pictured below.

All you have to do to enter, is visit Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe and post a comment. You MUST be a follower of her blog to win. Click to follow by Faithful Friends. If your name is drawn and you are not on the list she will have to draw another name. If you post on Facebook, your stitching group or blog you get 50 more entries. Not hard to enter for a chance to win some of her beautiful floss.

The Southwest Collection includes 12 skeins with 20 yards in each skein. Colors include: Chili Pepper, Hot Pepper, Paprika, Desert Sky, Brick Oven, Copper Kettle, Golden Maize, Southern Sky, Desert Sand, Tortilla, Gristmill and Cilantro.

The drawing will be June 2nd so hurry and enter and tell your friends to enter. You must check back to see if you are a winner and you must follow her blog! Southwest Collection boxed set – Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Giveaway.

Just so you know how much I lover her floss, I also have the following boxed collections:

Auntie’s Flower Garden
Kansas Wildflowers Collection (new just ordered)
Victorian Christmas Collection
PRIMITIVE Earth tones Collection
Numerous individual skeins of various colors

You can never have too much of this beautiful floss!!!

Home for the Holidays by Blackbird Designs

May 15, 2016 By patgeary

Home for the Holidays is the long awaited Christmas Book released during the Nashville Marketplace in 2016. The book includes three old out of print charts: reprints Christmas Garden, Blessings Be Thine and ’Tis the Season plus 5 new stocking charts They are Poinsettia Stocking, My Heart is Home Stocking, Gift Basket Stocking, Holly and Ivy Stocking, and Decorating the Tree stocking. Also includes are charts for The Meadow and Home for the Holidays. The book is 39 pages and includes finishing instructions for the stockings.

I had already stitched the three largest projects: Christmas Garden, Blessings Be Thine, and ‘Tis the Season, so decided to give one of the Christmas Stockings a try since I have NEVER stitched on of the Blackbird Designs Stockings. I chose the first one, Poinsettia Stocking and selected a piece of 16ct Ivory Aida as my fabric. Rather than the called for threads, I chose three colors from the Victorian Motto Sampler threads line – Variegated Cranberry, Olde Cranberry and Old Red Rose. I was very happy with the way it turned out. I started stitching on May 10th and finished on May 15th.

I bought some of the recommended finishing fabric, Joyeux Noel Pearl by French General. We’ll see if I try to finish it myself or send it off.