Pictures – Page 4

‘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

A Tribute to Katie

November 19, 2015 By patgeary

We recently had to say goodbye to our sweet girl Katie. I wanted to stitch something special in her memory and decided on Lizzie Kate’s chart Dogs Leave Pawprints. My plan is to stitch the design, then send the stitched piece and a picture of Katie to Jill Rensel for framing. Jill and Amber work a special kind of magic in framing special pieces.

A Tribute to Katie framed by Jill and Amber

And our sweet girl.

Fabric: 25ct Lugana probably mushroom

Threads: Weeks Dye Works

Bright Leaf
Charcoal
Deep Sea
Kris’s bon bon
Liberty
Moss
Sky

Started stitching: November 19 2015

Finished stitching November 21, 2015. Now I just need to sew on the dog bone charm and it will beready to pail off to Jill and Amber to work their magic.

Dogs Leave Paw Prints by Lizzie Kate.

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks

November 3, 2015 By patgeary

I ordered Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks some time ago. I’ve had it kitted up with fabric and floss ready to stitch. Then I discovered Blackbird Designs and lots of projects went into the “to do someday pile.” Because I am having trouble with my eyes, I decided to dig out some of the ones I really wanted to stitch and work on them while I can still see well enough to do so.

I’m stitching it on a piece of 16ct Toasted Almond from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie using Gentle Arts Sampler Thread and Classic Colorworks floss. Started stitching October 29, 2015

Design Size: 189w x 93h
Finished Size: 11 3/4 x 5 3 1/4

Floss Used: (DMC Alternates given)

GAST Brandy
GAST Old Red Paint
CC La Tierra
CC Tufted Yellow
CC Mossy
CC Roasted Chestnut
CC English Ivy
CC Straw Hat
CC Caterpillar

Finished Stitching: December 6 2015

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks

Dare to Fly

August 23, 2014 By patgeary

Dare to Fly is another project by Silver Creek Samplers. I’m stitching it on Summer Sky Aida using the recommended floss – Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Art Sampler threads. Stitch count is 144×71.

I started stitching this on August 15 2014. Below is my progress as of August 23rd.

Progress as of August 29, 2014

Dare to Fly by Silver Creek Samplers as of 8/29-14.

Finished stitching August 31, 2014

UPDATE – June 27, 2022 Now I can enjoy this one finished as a drum. The trim was some really thin Lady Dot chenille trim made into twisted cording.

Neighborhood Friends

April 26, 2014 By patgeary

Neighborhood Friends by Little House Needleworks is one of two charts offered as part of a fundraiser for animal care organizations.

Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks and Theresa Venette of Shakespeare’s Peddler wanted to help this country’s homeless animals and have created two designs, the proceeds from which will benefit dogs and cats looking for their fur-ever homes.

You can read about the project and purchase one or both of the charts from LettersGreatandSmall. The second chart is for Cat Lovers and is called Cats in the Garden. Since we are a dog family, I purchased the Neighborhood Friends chart.

I am stitching this project on a piece of hand-dyed 28ct Chocolate Milk Jobelan from Hand Dyed fabrics by Stephanie.

In the picture below, you can see my progress as of April 26, 2014

And as of Jun 13 2014 – almost there.

Neighborhood Friends by Little House Needleworks as of 6/13/2014

March 31, 2021

After seeing Neighborhood Friends posted in a couple of groups and knowing I had purchased it and started stitching it when it first came out (2014), I went in search to see what had happened to it. I found it stuffed in a plastic page protector with the working copy of the chart. The white dog had no head, the bench had no left leg and the two left bones were missing. You can do this says I. The fabric is 28ct Jobelan Milk Chocolate from Fabrics by Stephanie and it has NOT been gridded. My eyes feel they they are going to pop out of my head and I have a headache BUT it is now finished. Or at least I hope nothing else is missing. I will frame it or make a wall hanging and give it to our vet which was my original intent. The chart was a fundraiser by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks and Theresa Venette of Shakespeare’s Peddler and is no longer available. I am happy to have actually finished it now.

And here it is framed in a simple blue 9×12 frame from Michaels.

March 2022 – Little House Needleworks announced they will be re-releasing this chart as Neighborhood Dog Show.

Neighborhood Dog Show by Little House Needleworks

Love you to the Moon and Back

March 14, 2014 By patgeary

When I first saw this chart, I Love You to the Moon and Back by Waxing Moon Designs, it made me think of my oldest son, Frank and his wife, Alana and what they always said to each other. Frank lost his battle with cancer on December 28, 2011. He had just turned fifty. I decided to stitch it for Alana in his memory and in appreciation of the care she gave him during that final year. The suggested fabric was a hand-dyed linen that was a dark blue. Aida fabric was also offered in that same color. I ordered a piece and tried to stitch but had such difficult seeing the holes, I had to change to a lighter shade of blue. I also chose to use DMC floss rather than the Crescent Colors suggested. I also ordered the button that goes in the upper left hand corner.

Again someone on the 123Stitch Message Board loaned me the chart. While the lighter shade of blue was easier to stitch, my old eyes still had a difficult time.

As you can see by the picture shown above, I decided to personalize the finished piece with Alana and Frank’s names stitched below the verse. I tried various frames with the piece but could not really make up my mind and was not real happy with how any of them looked. I had seen some of the finishing techniques on the message board done by ClaudiaB and decided to give her a try. I sent her the piece and told her I wanted it finished as a cube. This style of finishing was entirely new to me but I loved the finished piece. See what you think.

I have mailed it to my daughter-in-law and hope she is as happy with it as I am.

A Little Love by Lizzie Kate

March 14, 2014 By patgeary

When I first saw a photo of A Little Love by Lizzie Kate, I knew it was the perfect project to stitch for my husband’s 100th birthday. I did not want to order the kit because I do not like stitching on linen so posted to the 123Stitch Message Board. Someone on the Board had just finished stitching it and was willing to sell me just the chart for $5 which included postage. Rather than use the recommended floss, I chose to use DMC because I already had all the colors on hand. I ordered the small flower button that had been a part of the kit and I already had some small rose colored beads. For the fabric I chose a piece of 28 ct antique white probably lugana but not sure since it came from another kit. It was a fairly quick stitch but I had to work on it at night after Jim was in bed so he would not see it.

Pictured below the background is actually white although it does not look like it. I normally stretch and frame my own work but since this is for a very special man on a very special occasion, I am sending it off to Jill Rensel to work her magic on. I’ll post a picture once I get it back.

The finished piece framed by Rensel Studios I will give it to Jim as soon as it is delivered rather than wait for his birthday.

A Little Love framed by Jill Rensel

Wolf Pack

January 8, 2014 By patgeary

Progress 1-9-2014

I received this chart as a freebie a number of years ago when I placed an order for Sunshine and Sunflowers from Janlynn. It has been languishing in my stash basket since then. I asked my youngest son, Michael if he would like me to stitch it for him. “Yes,” he says. With a stitch count of 100W x 295H I knew it might be a fairly large size. Rather than use 14 ct which was what was recommended, I decided to use 16 ct antique white Aida which I ordered from my favorite source 123Stitch.com. The finished size of just the design area would be 6 1/4” by 18 1/2”

Little did I realize how many shades of gray were used. Ten shades for just the top left part of his ear!! But it is going to be beautiful when finished.

Started stitching: Jan 6, 2014.

Wolf Pack 1-20-2014

I’ve gotten a lot more stitched since I last posted my progress.

Wolf Pack as of March 14, 2014

Progress as of April 11, 2014

Wolf Pack as of April 11, 2014.

Progress as of May 19, 2014

Wolf Pack Progress – May 19 2014

Progress as of June 27, 2014
Wolf #3 is now being stitched!

Wolf Pack Progress as of June 27, 2014

Progress as of August 8, 2014

Wolf Pack Progress as of Aug 8

Progress as of August 23 2014

The Wolf Pack

Progress September 26, 2014 – Working on the 4th and final wolf. Thank Goodness there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I put the final stitches in last night. Or at least I thought they were the final stitches. After taking the picture, I realized that I forgot the back stitching on the last wolf’s ear. Once it dries, I’ll do that then it will be ready for framing. My son will be very happy to have it hanging in his room.

The Wolf Pack finished 11/18/2014

February 10, 2015 – Finished and framed. Right now it is only pinned to the foam core. I still need to lace it and add the spacers and glass.

The Wolf Pack framed

The frame I used is from Graphic Dimensions – EWC8 Black Frame EconoWood Classics Collection.

Lark Sparrow from Crossed Wing Collection

July 29, 2006 By Patricia Geary

Photo of Lark Sparrow from Cross Wing Collection. It’s finished and framed. The Lark Sparrow from the Crossed Wing Collection was stitched as a companion piece for the Meadowlark. It was stitched on ivory 28 count Jobelen, double matted and framed. While I finished the actual stitching last year, I am just now getting it framed. Framed, it measures 17 3/8″ x 15 7/8″ The mats are two shades of green and the frame is a toffee color.