Finished Works – Page 23

Forest Snowfall by Country Cottage Needleworks

February 24, 2018 By patgeary

I’ve been a member of the Facebook group, Little House and Country Cottage Stitching group since 2014. I own and have stitched a number of their charts. I kept seeing the projects folks were stitching called Forest Snowfall. I loved the verse written by Nikki Leeman and the design in general.

“While snow is softly falling, gliding gently to the ground, our neighbors from the forest cozy up and gather round.”

Forest Snowfall by Country Cottage Needleworks

I ordered the chart and waited impatiently for it to arrive. I selected a piece of 16ct Aida in Alchemy by Picture This Plus. I also decided to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads rather than what was called for.

Stitch Count: 157w by 106h.
Recommended Fabric: Zweigart’s 28 count Pearl Grey Linen.
Threads:

DMC 644
DMC 3371DMC White/VMSS Primitive White
Crescent Colours Country Lane/VMSS Golden Sand
Crescent Colours Little House Brown/VMSS Mocha Tan
Crescent Colours Deep Fennel/VMSS Alpine Forget-Me-Not
Crescent Colours and Weeping Willow/VMSS Bittersweet

I started stitching Forest Snowfall on February 15, 2018 and finished it on February 23, 2018.

Forest Snowfall by Country Cottage Needleworks

And this one will soon be arriving in my mailbox. Finishing by Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher.

Forest Snowfall by COuntry Cottage Needleworks

Flowers for Sarah

November 18, 2017 By patgeary

Some time ago I purchased the book, Thank You Sarah Tobias by Blackbird Designs. The book contains seven stitching projects based on Pennsylvania Dutch motifs from a sampler stitched by Sarah.

Thank You Sarah Tobias Book Cover

The project from this book I most wanted to stitch was Flowers for Sarah Needcase. I knew that I did not want to finish it as a needlecase but loved the sampler itself.

Flowers for Sarah Needlecase

The called for fabric for this project was 30ct Espresso by R & R Reproductions but I chose to use 16ct Legacy Aida by Picture This Plus. I did use the recommended threads, Crescent Colors – Tennessee Red Clay, Poblano Pepper, Little Brown House, and Joshua Tree.

Started stitching: November 10, 2017
Finished Stitching: November 18, 2017

Flowers for Sarah Sampler

I have a couple of narrow spaces on our house so I think I will probably finish this as a bellpull.

Flowers for Sarah finished as a bellpull

Fairy Garden by Blackbird Designs

November 11, 2017 By patgeary

Fairy Garden is #11 in the Blackbird Design Garden Series. This series of twelve can be stitched as one large project or as individual pieces as I chose to stitch them. The suggested fabric is 32ct Straw by Weeks Dye Works. I chose to stitch it on 16ct Regency Aida with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads.

Fairy Garden by Blackbird Designs chart

The tiny house surrounded by the lush garden is an invitation for any fairy passing through to step in and take up residence or rest a bit.. After all, what fairy worth her salt wouldn’t want to have the spectacular view offered here.

I started stitching this one on November 8, 2016 and completed it on November 13, 2016.

Recommended Threads/My Substitutions

GA Antique Rose/VMSS Pink Roses
GA Burlap/VMSS Dried Spice
GA Dried Thyme/VMSS Garden Ivy
GA Lambswool
GA Maple Syrup/VMSS Cocoa
GA Old Red paint/VMSS Old Roses
GA Terra Cotta/VMSS Peach Dahlia
Toasted Barley

For the house I used Weathered Tan, Weathered Barnwood and Mocha Cream.

Fairy Garden by Blackbird Designs stitched piece

Finishing into the small pillow was done by Vonna Pfeiffer – The Twisted Stitcher.

Fairy Garden finished as small pillow

Peace on Earth by Blackbird Designs

November 10, 2017 By patgeary

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the ladies who make up the design team Blackbird Designs. Recently another member of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group, offered her Danish Christmas catalog to the members of the group. The catalog contained a free chart designed by Alma Allen called Peace on Earth. Not surprisingly, Annemiek Koning was swamped with requests. The catalog itself was beautiful to look through and although the original is in Dutch, she did provide an English translation.

There was no picture of the finished project but it reminded me of Blackbird Designs newest Loose Feather series For the Birds. Peace on Earth measures 104w x 109h. The recommended fabric is 36ct Straw by Weeks Dye Works. I chose to stitch mine on 16ct Vanilla Latte by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. The called for threads were all by Weeks Dye Works which I used except for four colors which I did not have. I started stitching this piece on November 2nd and put the last few stitches in the morning of November 10. I am not sure how I will finish this piece.

UPDATE: August 4, 2022 Another one released from prison and ready to hang.

A Stitcher’s Companion

October 12, 2017 By patgeary

A Stitcher’s Companion is one of the projects included in the book, Honeysuckle Manor and is OOP.

Honeysuckle Manor by Blackbird Designs

Recommended fabric is 30ct Ligonier Latte by R & R Reproductions 2 over 2. I chose to stitch this piece on 28ct cream Monaco with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Forever Blue.

Started stitching May 16, 2017
Finished May 21 2017

The finishing was done by Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher. She finished it as a Pin Pillow with ric-rack and Mill Hill Beads accents.

A Stitcher’s Companion from Honeysuckle Manor.

This will join my other small pin pillows in one of my baskets from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets.

Thank you for Letting Me See the Colors

October 8, 2017 By patgeary

Thank You for Letting Me See the Colors was a chart by ANNE Originals way back in 1977. It is difficult to find a picture of it on the Internet or the chart itself for that matter. A generous member of the 123Stitch MB sent it to me. I’m not sure why I was so drawn to it, perhaps the colors or the fact that as I age my eyes are getting worse.

As I went searching for a color picture of it, I found this one on Google Images. I believe it was stitched by Debbie Miller and framed by Jill Rensell Studios. Jill and Amber always do a fantastic job.

Lord Thank you for letting me see the colors stitched by Debbie Miller .

I stitched mine on 28ct white Monaco over 2 with DMC threads.

Started stitching Oct 2, 2017
Finished stitching October 7, 2017

Thank you for Letting Me See the Colors.

This one has been sitting in the prison drawer since 2017 because I really was not sure how I wanted to finish it. I took it out and laced it onto a circle board I had in my stash. I had earlier purchased a beautiful batik print in shades of purple that I decided to use as a background. I ordered an inexpensive frame from Amazon in white. I used the piece of acrylic that came with it coved with a layer of batting then laced the purple circle on that. Using tacky glue, I added the stitched piece to the purple board and popped it into the frame. Happy with how it turned out. Frame is 8″ inside.

Summer Schoolhouse – Lessons in Abecedarian

August 16, 2017 By patgeary

When I first saw the Summer Schoolhouse series by Brenda Gervais advertised, I was not that interested. The main reason is I like to know what a project is going to look like BEFORE I decide to stitch it. Once I saw Lesson #1 I decided YES, I need this. The only problem was the entire series was designed to be stitched on 28ct Mushroom Lugana with 1 over 1. I knew that would be impossible for me to even see but decided I wanted to stitch it anyway, Mine would just not be TINY. I signed up with Crazy Annie’s Stitchin for her autoship program and received Lessons 1 and 2 at the same time. The series consists of 4 charts with 6 projects and includes stitching and finishing instructions for all 6 projects.

4 Charts and Hornbook

And if you are interested, The Story Behind the Series. And the book that inspired the series, The Little Pretty Pocket-Book.

I decided to stitch each of the projects on 16ct Regency Aida by Picture This Plus and use the thread from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe rather than the recommended threads.

Lesson #1

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #1

Stitch Count: 140wx 103h
Design Size: 8 3/4 x 6 1/2
Started Stitching: August 14, 2017
Finished Stitching: August 26, 2017

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 1 – Finished.

Lesson #2

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #2

Stitch Count: Miss Polly Pinkeep is 63w x 89h and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep 67w x 90h
Design Size: Miss Polly Pinkeep is 4 x 5 5/8 and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep is 41/4 x 5 5/8

Summer Schoolhouse series Lessons 1 & 2.

Recommended threads and my selection for Lesson #1.

WDW Sandcastle/VMSS Desert Grass
WDW Flatfish/VMSS Mixed Wood Brown
WDW Oscar/VMSS Mountain Laurel
WDW Olive/VMSS Tea Leaves
GAST Woodrose/VMSS Desert Rose
GAST Mountain Mist/ VMSS Old Time Blue
GAST Uniform Blue/VMSS Delft Blue
CC Eggshell/Mocha Cream
CC Used Brick/VMSS Cranberry Bog
CC Cayenne/VMSS Prairie Rose
CC Hazelnut/VMSS Spiced Cider

Lesson #2 adds these thread colors:

WDW Peach/VMSS Flesh (1 strand)
GAST Lexington Green/VMSS Lighthouse Blue
GAST Old Hickory/VMSS Regal Brown
CC Pebble Beach/VMSS Mocha Tan

Lesson #3

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #3

Stitch Count: 113w x 106h
Design Size: 7 1/8 x 6 5/8
Started Stitching: September 8, 2017
Finished Stitching: October 29, 2017

Lesson #3 Summer Schoolhouse series

Lesson #4

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Hornbook

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Strawberry Emery Preserves

The whole series! An old fashioned school box houses the collection. Directions for finishing the school box are included with Lesson 4. However the box will not fit unless you have stitched the series on 28ct over 1.

Summer Schoolhouse Entire Series – An old fashioned school box houses the collection.

I will probably display mine in my long basket. I did order the hornbook kit in the hopes I can stitch it over 1 on 28ct. We shall see if my eyes cooperate.

October 2021 – These pieces have been languishing in the drawer just waiting for me to decide what to do with them. Framing each of the series would have been expensive so I looked for another way to finish them. After finishing the For the Bird series as a wall hanging, I thought that type of finish may work for this too. I laid the pieces out on the bed to see how they might look and decided yes. Then the search began for the perfect fabric. I tried the blue that I had used for the birds but it seemed a bit to dark. I had bought a piece of green fabric with dots that I thought might work. I did not have a big enough piece so off to see if I could get some more.

My son cut the dowel rod for me and I painted them with a basil green shade. And now the piece is hanging in my bedroom not stashed away in a drawer unseen.

She Sights a Bird by Blackbird Designs

August 11, 2017 By patgeary

She Sights a Bird is #3 in the Loose Feathers for the Birds series by Blackbird Designs. The title of this pattern is inspired by Emily Dickenson’s poem, “She signs a Bird – she chuckles.” It seems perfect for this cat surrounded by three birds. Think of this piece as more of a peaceful kingdom that what Emily Dickenson implies in her poem.

She Sights a Bird by Blackbird Designs chart

The sugggested fabric is 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus but I have chosen to use 16ct Regency by Picture This Plus with the recommended threads.

She Sights a Bird Supplies.

Started Stitching: August 5, 2017

Progress She Sights a Bird.

Finished Stitching: August 13, 2017

She Sights a Bird FINISHED.

Queenstown Blue Crab

July 19, 2017 By patgeary

Sometime during the Fall of 2014, a fellow stitcher on the 123Stitch Message Board posted a project she was stitching for a relative. It was the Queenstown Blue Crab. When I saw the piece, I knew it was something I wanted to stitch for my youngest son. Both of my boys had spent lots of time fishing and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay when they were young.

Queenstown Blue Crab by Queenstown Sampler Designs

I asked her if she was interested in selling her chart and she offered to give it to me. I accepted.

The designer recommended Wichelt Belfast linen 32 ct. Platinum for the fabric with DMC cotton floss. Since I have difficulty seeing 32ct and since the design had only full crosses, I decided to use 16ct Aida. I ordered a piece of 16ct Mercedes Aida from Picture This Plus. I thought it would be the perfect color for stitching this chart. And 16ct over 1 would give me the same finished size as 32ct over 2.

Stitch count: 130 high X 160 wide
Design area: 8.2″ high X 10″ wide

I did not write down exactly when I started stitching this project but the first mention of it was November 2014. I worked on it for a while and then my husband’s health issues caused me to put it aside. I picked it up again in July of 2017 determined that I should finish this one. I also moved the project from qsnaps to my larger scroll frame so I could see more or the gridding at one time.

Progress on Queenstown Blue Crab

While all of the stitches are full crosses, there are many color changes.

Progress on Queenstown Blue Crab 7/21

Queenstown Blue Crab Progress 7/28

Queenstown Blue Crab Finished!

Now to decide how to frame it.

UPDATE – December 27, 2017

I have finally gotten around to framing this one for my son.

Queenstown Blue Crab

Samplers by The Scarlett House

July 8, 2017 By patgeary

I had never heard of The Scarlett House before until someone posted a preview of this chart from the Nashville Market for 2017. Once I saw it, I decided to order it along with my Blackbird Design charts. It arrived and I stuck it away in the file cabinet.

Samplers by The Scarlett House

Then a new Facebook group started called The Scarlett House Stitchers, and I decided to join it. The administrator of the group started a poll to see who might be interested in a Stitch-A-Long (SAL) and Samplers was selected. The suggested fabric was 40ct Ale linen from Picture This Plus. I knew I would never be able to see that small a count fabric even stitched over 2 so I selected 16ct Legacy Aida by Picture This Plus. I also decided to use floss from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe rather than what was recommended. I’ll include the colors I selected later on in this post. The stitch count is 218w x82h. The SAL was going to start on July 1st.

The one part of the design I will need to change is two small birds that are stitched over 1. I am going to try and find two small bird buttons or charms to use in their place.

I gathered my supplies, gridded my fabric and put it on the scroll frame.

Supplies for stitching Samplers

Started Stitching July 1, 2017
Finished Stitching July 16, 2017

Fabric Used: 16ct Legacy Aida by Picture This Plus

Floss Recommended: The Gentle Arts/Floss Used: Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Black Licorice/Darkest Blue
Ruby Slipper/Victorian Cranberry
Pomegranate/Heirloom Red Cherry
Barn Grey/Blue Sage
Piney Woods/English Moss
Dark Chocolate/Plantation Brown
Forest Glade/Black Forest
Parchment/Country/Tan
Chalk/Primitive White

Progress on Samplers

Progress July 12, 2017

Samplers by The Scarlett House stitching completed.

I do plan on adding a small bird charm that I have just above the basket in place of the 1 over 1 stitched bird. The other bird, I left off.

UPDATE: June 2019

Rather than framing this sampler, I decided to have it finished as a drum.I had seen it posted in another group and loved how it looked. Besides, I have run out of wall space.