Finished Works – Page 26

A Bunch of Smalls

April 22, 2016 By patgeary

A few months ago I saw a beautiful basket display posted in the Dyeing to Stitch Facebook group. It was the Primitive Handwoven Long & Skinny Basket from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets filled with small pillow finishes. I knew it was something I really wanted to display the small pillow type finishes I was planning on stitching. I ordered it and it finally arrived. After unpacking it and placing it on top of the piano, I began to fill it with a couple of the small designs that had already been finished.

Primitive Handwoven Long & Skinny Basket by 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets.

I’ll take some pictures as I progress with filling it. The next one I am stitching if Bluebird by Blackbird Designs. My progress so far.

Bluebird by Blackbird Designs

Bluebird finished stitching 4/22/2016. I stitched a backing for this with my maternal grandmother’s name and her birthdate.

Bluebird by Blackbird Designs

And beautifully finished as a small pillow by Tammie Latimer.

Bluebird finished as a small pillow

Back of Bluebird.

Rose Garden

And the next one is Rose Garden, another small by Blackbird Designs. This one will be in honor of my mother. I am stitching this one on 14ct Rose Fiddlers Aida with Gentle Arts Jakey Brown. Started stitching April 22, 2016

Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs

Finished stitching April 28, 2016. I added my mother’s initials and her date of birth. Mom loved roses so this was the perfect one to stitch in her honor.

Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs

And beautifully finished as a small pillow by Tammie Latimer.

Rose Garden finished as a small pillow.

Peace Rose

Peace Rose is another of the Reward of Merit Pinkeep series. I stitched this one in memory of my paternal grandmother, Sammie Lipscomb Bayless with her initials and year of birth. It was stitched on a piece of 16ct mystery color Aida I had in my stash. I used the recommended threads. Started stitching May 6th and completed on May 10th.

Peace Rose by Blackbird Designs

And Peace Rose finished as a small pillow in honor of my paternal grandmother Sammie Bayless. Thanks Joy of Finely Finished for the beautiful job of finishing this small projects.

And look at the basket now!

Basket of Memories

Liberty Rose by Blackbird Designs

April 16, 2016 By patgeary

Liberty Rose is a chart that was released by Blackbird Designs as a class project at Old Mill Stitchery in October 2015. It is now Out of Print but hopefully will be released sometime in 2016 to the general public. I went looking to see if I could find it and the chart was generously donating to the BBD Lending Library. NOTE: This project is included in the book, Sweet Land of Liberty which has just been reprinted (April 2020).

Although the chart calls for the design to be stitched on two separate pieces of 32ct linen and then stitched together, I chose to stitch it on 16ct Milk Chocolate Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I did use the recommended floss which is Week Dye Works Pink Sand, Oak, and Graphite. The design calls for 1 strand of floss stitched over two threads. I opted to use two strands.

Started stitching April 9, 2016

And the finished piece ready for framing. Finished stitching April 19, 2016. I used my husband’s and my initials and the year we were married.

Liberty Rose by Blackbird Designs

UPDATE: June 2019

I finally sent this one off the Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher, for finishing. I decided on a flatfold and just love the way it turned out.

Such Friendship by AnnieBeezFolkArt

April 1, 2016 By patgeary

I cannot remember where I first saw this piece but decided I wanted to stitch this for two of my friends. It comes as an instant download pdf which you can then print. Buy Such Friendship.

Such Friendship Cross Stitch Chart Piloow cushion pattern x stitch primitive decor vintage decor vintage embroidery decor

Stitch count: 78W X 82H
The model is stitched on 32ct. Flax Belfast Linen using a variety of sampler threads over 2 linen threads. 2 specialty stitches are featured with easy to follow stitch diagrams.

I don’t stitch on linen so selected a piece of green Aida from my stash and used the called for threads.

After I completed the stitching I stuck the piece in a drawer because I was not sure how I wanted to finish it. Fast forward to March 2016 and I decided to try a new finisher Vonna Pfeiffer – The Twisted Stitcher. I had three projects I wanted her to finish. After a few back and forth emails, I mailed them off to her. More back and forth as we discussed her suggestions.

I had first thought to have Such Friendship finished as a cube but Vonna suggested I try a flatfold. I am so glad I did. Below you can see the front and side view of the piece after she worked her magic.

Front of Such Friendship

Side View of Such Friendship

I can’t wait to get these back from her. They should arrive sometime next week. Now I am ready to stitch a second one for another friend.

In Friendship’s Way by Blackbird Designs

March 25, 2016 By patgeary

Last year’s Nashville Market (2015) included the book In Friendship’s Way which included a number of delightful designs by Barb Adams and Alma Allen, the two ladies who make up Blackbird Designs. There were several designs in the book I wanted to stitch so I ordered the floss for stitching:

Honeycomb Basket
Welcome Dear August
The Winter is Past
Button Box

I even ordered the boxes for finishing a couple of the designs and another stitcher sent me the baskets needed for completing Honeycomb Basket.

Fast forward a year and I am now getting ready to stitch some smaller projects so picked up this book and the floss.

First one I will be stitching is Welcome Dear August in memory of my Daddy, Adrian Lee Little. I’ll substitute Adrian for August and add his birthdate. I’m going to finish it as a small memory rather than the box pictured on the front of the book.

And my progress as of today March 25th 2016.

Finished stitching Welcome Dear August on March 30, 2016

Welcome Dear August by Blackbird Designs

Welcome Dear August from In Friendship’s Way by Blackbird Designs

Welcome Dear August finished as a small pillow.

And from the same book, The Winter is Past

The Winter is Past by Blackbird Designs.

Supplies for stitching The Winter is Past.

Started stitching March 31, 2016 and finished April 6, 2016. I made some minor changes filling in the top left side border and using the alphabet and numbers for Welcome Dear August to add my husband’s mothers name and birthdate.

Winter is Past by Blackbird Designs

Winter is past finished as a small pillow.

Handprint on My Heart by Heartstring Samplery

February 18, 2016 By patgeary

Handprint on My Heart by Heartstring Samplery was first released as a kit as part of the Ladies Prim Society. It has now been released as a chart and available to everyone. The verse reads “You’ll always be with me, like a handprint on my heart.”

I decided I would like to stitch this in memory of my oldest son who had died just after his 50th birthday. I had a piece of light blue Aida which I decided to use and the floss I used was Seafoam from Victorian Motto Samplers. The back of the piece has his initials and the year he was born.

I was very happy with how the finished piece turned out and have sent it off to have it finished as a small pillow. I think I will be a memory basket of small pillow type finishes for folks I love and miss.

I decided to send these off to The Twisted Stitcher (Vonna Pfeiffer) for finishing and look what she did. I LOVE THEM!!

Handprints on my Heart – front

Handprints on my Heart – back with Frank’s initials and date of birth

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs

February 5, 2016 By patgeary

Christmas Garden is another of the OOP charts from the Blackbird Design ladies. I bought it some time ago as I knew it would sell out fast like many of their charts do. I put it aside for stitching at some later date. A group of us decided to work on this in 2016 so I started a Stitch-A-Long for it. Rather than use the recommended threads and fabric, I decided on 16ct Regency Aida from Picture This Plus and the Victorian Christmas Collection from Victorian Motto Samplers.

Christmas Garden – Chart, Fabric, and Floss

I started on this project on January 24, 2016. Final selection of threads include:

Dark Varigated Pine and Victorian Cranberry for the outside border
Holly Leaves and Old Cranberry for the inside green and red shades
Antique Bronze and Olds Gold for the inside shades of gold

Progress on Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs Progress as of Feb. 5, 2016

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs – Progress Feb 16 2016

Progress as of Feb 19 2016 on Christmas Garden

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs – Progress 3/2/2016

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs Completed March 12, 2016

Framed Christmas Garden that now hangs in my living room.

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs

Merry One & Merry Two by Plum Street Samplers

December 13, 2015 By patgeary

Merry One is the first of a new series Serial Bowl Full of Merries by Plum Street Samplers. It is a Limited Edition kit and now Sold Out. The kits each include chart, stitching and finishing instructions, hand dyed cotton floss and trim. I don’t like to buy kits because most kits use linen and I don’t stitch on linen. I was lucky enough to snag just the chart on Stash Unload. I’m trying to stick with smaller projects until the first of the year when I will start two Blackbird Design Stitch-a-Longs so this was perfect for me.

I selected a piece of 16ct Wren by Picture This Plus and a combination of threads, some over-dyed some DMC.

The second one in this series has been released, Merry Two which features Santa holding branches of berries talking to a snowman, his team of reindeer are behind him, and his sleigh is filled with a decorated tree. I was lucky enough to find someone who is willing to trade with me so I can stitch both designs.

According to Traditional Stitches, “We have heard that Merry One will be released as a chart sometime in 2016, which is great news as you can still collect the complete series of designs.”

Started stitching Merry One December 15, 2015and finished December 21, 2015.

Because I did not have all of the called for threads in my stash, I used the following colors:

DMC 3857
DMC 632
DMC 822
Classic Colorworks Weeping Willow
Classic Colorworks Cocoa Bean
DMC 3790

Merry One by Plum Street Samplers

Paulette has confirmed that she will release Merry One as a reprint- chart only, no threads, sometime early this year. (Possibly Nashville Market which is held in March)

I decided to send this off to The Twisted Stitcher (Vonna Pfeiffer) for finishing and look what she did. I LOVE IT!

Merry One by Plum Street Samplers

Progress on Merry Two is shown below. All I have left to add is all of the snowflakes.

Merry Two by Plum Street Samplers.

It is now January 5, 2023, and I have now fully finished Merry Two. I found a book box at Michaels on sale for 70% off so bought one for only $5.99. Mounted the stitched piece to a piece of matboard with two layers of batting. I may decide to add some twisted cording but for now it is finished.

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks

December 6, 2015 By patgeary

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks is a chart I purchased some time ago BEFORE I became addicted to Blackbird Designs. When I thought I might lose my sight, I decided I had better get busy and stitch some of the ones I had purchased and kitted up with the recommended floss.

The piece was stitched on 16ct Aida Chocolate Milk or Toasted Almond from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I use the recommended floss by Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and Classic Colorworks. Finished piece measures 11 7/8 x 5 7/8 (stitched area). I started stitching on October 29, 2015 and put the last stitch in today, December 6, 2015.

And here it is the end of June 2022 and Robin’s Song has been released from prison and can now be displayed. Vonna Epperson Pfeiffer has an article in the Summer 2022 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine on finishing stitched pieces as a drum. And here are the results of my endeavor.

I had some bird house charms in my stash, so I added those.

‘Tis the Season from Joyeux Noel by Blackbird Designs

December 4, 2015 By patgeary

One of the most beautiful designs the Blackbird Design ladies have created is ‘Tis the Season which is from the book Joyeux Noel. The book is due to be reprinted and released during December 2015. If you want it, I would suggest you order it quickly as my understanding is that it is a limited reprint. Most local Needlework shops should be able to get it for you.

The recommended floss for stitching this is Crescent Colors Belle Soie silk and it calls for eight colors. Regular price is $7.50 a skein and this was just more money than I wanted to spend even if I found it on sale so I sent searching for an alternative. I came across this blog post Blogtoberfest… Okay, I’m terrible at this!

She suggested using the following conversion from Crescent Colors Belle Soie silk and I decided to give it a try.

Attic Tea -> CC Pea Pod
Moss -> WDW Bark
Mudpie -> WDW Palomino
Poison Apple -> CC Wild Berries
Pumpkin Carriage -> GAST Brandy
Scarecrow -> GAST Grecian Gold
Tortoise Shell -> GAST Forest Glade
Vanilla Pudding -> WDW Whitewash

I did make one other change. Both suggested colors for the bird seemed to be more shades of dark pink which our cardinals are definitely NOT! Another stitcher suggested Week Dye Works Turkish Red which I decided to use. I had also seen the piece stitched on a darker fabric than the suggested Pear by Lakeside Linens. I selected 16ct Storm Aida by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

The verse at the bottom can be stitched in French or English. I think I will stitch the English version.

I hope to start stitching this soon and have others in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group join me.

Progress as of January 2, 2016

‘Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs

Finished Stitching: January 7, 2016

‘Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs from Joyeux Noel

Framed and hanging in my living room.

Joyeux Noel by Blackbird Designs – Framed

Beneath the Sunlit Sky by Blackbird Designs

November 21, 2015 By patgeary

Beneath the Sunlit Sky is another beautiful design from the Blackbird Design ladies. It is another one in the Loose Feathers series #26 that is out of print and much sought after. While the recommended floss is very pretty, there are several of us stitching this particular chart using the alternate colors. You can read more about the alternate colors we are using Beneath the Sunlit Sky Color Changes.

Fabric, floss and chart for Beneath the Sunlit Sky.

I chose to stitch this piece on 16ct Aida Legacy from Picture This Plus.

Beneath the Sunlit Sky – A Start.

I started stitching this piece on November 17, 2015 but stopped for a few days to stitch a special Tribute to Katie. I still have not decided on what color to use for the border so it remains unstitched for now.

Finished! with the exception of the three flowers that require the buttonhole stitch which I have never done.

Beneath the Sunlit Sky

And today (February 1, 2021) I gave myself permission NOT to stitch the dreaded buttonhole stitches and just add some plain crosses for the flowers so it is now complete and ready for framing. Once my craft room is painted, this will join a number of new ones for the walls.

And after six years, it is finally framed.