Samplers – Page 8

With Needle and Thread by Blackbird Designs

August 31, 2015 By patgeary

This Blackbird Designs cross stitch book is chock full of projects – there are eleven in all! Designs include everything from the alphabet to birds to floral motifs. Projects range from pillows to wall hangings to sewing boxes!

The book includes charts and instructions for all 11 projects and is 48 pages. The book finishes with a conversion chart and source list. And, of course, the book is now Out of Print and much sought after. A stitching friend offered to loan me the book so I took her up on it.

I picked three of the projects from the book that I wanted to stitch – My Quaker House,My Pink House, and, Let Heaven and Nature Sing.

All of them called for Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts Sampler Treads overdyed floss so I order the colors I needed to stitch all three projects.

My Quaker House

I decided to stitch My Quaker House on 18ct antique while Aida since it only had regular x’s and Smyrna crosses. I started stitching on August 20, 2015 and took the final stitches on August 31, 2015. Such soft, pretty colors. Here is the finished piece.

Framed Sept 18 2015

My Quaker House by Blackbird Designs framed

Let Heaven and Nature Sing

Let Heaven and Nature Sing is another of the designs from With Needle and Thread. I selected 16ct Aida to stitch it on as it is easier for me to see. Recommended threads are Gentle Arts Sampler threads and Weeks Dye Works. Started stitching this one on September 10, 2015.

Fabric and floss for Let Heaven and Nature Sing

And the finished piece.

Let Heaven and Nature by Blackbird Designs

April 24, 2022 – After sitting in the drawer for 6 1/2 years, it is finally framed and will join the others on my Christmas wall in the Craft Room.

Bittersweet September Ladies Prim Society

August 14, 2015 By patgeary

Bittersweet September by Blackbird Designs was one of the Ladies Prim Society patterns for 2013. After stitching Bittersweet Lane I wanted to stitch Bittersweet September as a companion piece. Not being a member of the Ladies Prim Society, my only hope was to find someone who was willing to sell theirs at a reasonable price or loan me the chart. Luckily, I was able to find another stitcher willing to loan me the chart.

Never heard of the Ladies Prim Society? It is an exclusive club through Dyeing To Stitch, featuring Blackbird Designs and Heartstrings Samplery. Every 8-10 weeks they send a complete kit including any finishing supplies needed to the members of the group. The kits usually cost between $35 and $40 and are NOT available except through the club. However you can find them listed on EBay, usually for a pretty steep price.

I chose to use 28ct antique white Monaco along with the recommended Gentle Arts Sampler threads to stitch this piece. I had to enlarge parts of the chart because the alphabet was stitched with 1 thread over 1 small square. It also called for satin stitches along the too border.

Started this project on August 3, 2015.

Progress on August 11, 2015

Progress on August 14, 2015

Next year I may just have to join the Ladies Prim Society although I don’t stitch on linen and I usually frame my pieces rather than finish them as small pillows. Almost finished one.

Bittersweet September Finished

Now to frame the two Ladies Prim Society pieces.

Finished and Framed

Bittersweet September by Blackbird Designs

Bittersweet Lane – Ladies Prim Society

July 4, 2015 By patgeary

Bittersweet Lane by Blackbird Designs was one of the Ladies Prim Society patterns for 2014. Never heard of the Ladies Prim Society? It is an exclusive club through Dyeing To Stitch, featuring Blackbird Designs and Heartstrings Samplery. Every 8-10 weeks they send a complete kit including any finishing supplies needed to the members of the group. The kits usually cost between $35 and $40 and are NOT available except through the club. However you can find them listed on EBay, usually for a pretty steep price. I was lucky enough to find another stitcher who was willing to sell one of the kits for what he paid for it. I jumped at the chance.

Two of the kits I had seen and wanted to get at least the charts for were Bittersweet Lane and Bittersweet September. Bittersweet Lane is pictured below with all of the supplies that came with it which include the linen for stitching it on, the required floss, backing fabric and trim to finish it off as a pin keep or small pillow.

I don’t like stitching on linen and I wanted to frame the finished piece rather than make a pillow out of it. Since the chart includes full cross stitches and Smyrna crosses, I decided to use a hand dyed 16ct Aida Heritage from Picture This Plus. Below are my supplies for stitching this piece.

Started stitching July 4, 2015.

Progress so far:

Progress July 22, 2015

Bittersweet Lane by Blackbird Designs

FINISHED! July 29, 2015

Bittersweet Lane by Blackbird Designs for Ladies Prim Society

Finished and Framed.

Bittersweet Lane by Blackbird Designs

Awake the Dawning Day

May 22, 2015 By patgeary

Awake the Dawning Day by Blackbird Designs has been kitted up with floss for some time while I tried to decide what fabric to use. Someone in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group suggested Picture This Plus Chime which I ordered in 28ct Lugana.

I am using a combination of the recommended threads with some DMC.

Design Size: 84w x 186h
Sampler Size: on 28ct 5 7/8 x13 1/4

Recommended Threads:

WDW Raspberry
WDW Pebble
WDW Mulberry
WDW Scuppernong
WDW Williamsburg Blue
WDW Red Pear
WDW Purple Haze
WDW Gold I am using DMC 729
WDW Moss

Started stitching May 13, 2015

Awake the Dawning Day by Blackbird Designs Progress: 5.30.2015

Progress June 13, 2015

Awake the Dawning Day by Blackbird Designs

Just put the final stitches in Awake the Dawning Day. Finished stitching June 20, 2015.

Awake the Dawning Day Finished

Finished and Framed.

Awake the Dawning Day by Blackbird Designs

Moonlit Garden

April 6, 2015 By patgeary

When I first saw a picture of Moonlit Garden by Blackbird Designs posted as a stitched piece, I fell in love with the warm Autumn colors which are my favorites. I soon found it it was one of the much sought after out of print designs by Barb Adams and Alma Allen, the two women who are Blackbird Designs. I posted on the 123Stitch Message Board and looked on eBay but the price was always way to high. Once I joined the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group, another stitcher offered to loan me the chart to stitch. I was ecstatic. It recently arrived in the mail along with Tulip Manor which I have already finished stitching. I ordered the floss and some fabric and now am ready to start.

Design size: 118w x134h
Recommended Fabric: 28ct or 30ct Broomstick Brown by R & R Reproductions

Floss Weeks Dye Works:

Straw 1121
Sweet Potato 2238
Havana 1230
Tiger’s Eye 1225
Chestnut 1269
Cognac 2242
Palomino 1232
Amber 1224

I chose to use the recommended floss but ordered a piece of 14ct "Sand Castle" Jobelan Aida 17” x 18” which allows 4” on each side.

Progress April 10, 2015

Moonlit Garden by Blackbird Designs.

Progress April 17, 2015

Moonlit Garden – Progress 4-17-2015

Finished April 30, 2015

Moonlit Garden by Blackbird Designs

Finished and Framed

Moonlit Garden by Blackbird Designs

Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs

March 19, 2015 By patgeary

Tulip Manor is another beautiful chart by the ladies from Blackbird Designs that is unfortunately out of print. So many of there charts are and go for such a high price on eBay that unless you are rich, you have no hope of winning the bid on them. Thankfully, there are stitchers who are willing to loan their original charts out so others have a chance to stitch them. I was luck enough to find another stitcher who was willing to loan Tulip Manor to me.

Fabric

The recommended fabric is 28ct Goldfinch from R & R Reproductions. I chose to use my favorite fabric to stitch on 28ct antique white Monaco.

Floss – Gentle Arts Sampler Thread and Weeks Dye Works

WDW Brick
WDW Peach
WDW Rum Raisin
GAST Flax
GAST Cornhusk
WDW Hibiscus
WDW Caper
WDW Bright Leaf
WDW Schneckley

NOTE: No DMC conversion is included

Progress March 24, 2015

Tulip Garden by Blackbird Designs

Finished March 28, 2015

Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs

Now to mail it off to Jill Rensel for framing.

The beautiful finished piece by Jill and Amber.

Tulip Manor framed by Jill and Amber of Rensel Studios.

Seeds of Freedom by Silver Creek Samplers

February 23, 2015 By patgeary

Many of you know that my husband has been very involved with two Civil War Organizations. First, he was the Executive Director of Virginia’s Civil War Centennial Celebration and after that job ended, he went on to be the first Director of the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.

When I first saw the chart, Seeds of Freedom by Silver Creek Samplers, I knew I wanted to stitch it for him. The recommended fabric was 32 ct. Golden Harvest Lugana from Silkweavers. I tried to order it but it was delayed for such a long period of time, I finally cancelled the order. I chose instead 16ct Chocolate Milk Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I am using the recommended floss which is a mixture of Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.

WDW Crimson #3860 (2 skeins)
WDW Citronella #2210
WDW Seaweed #2159
WDW Graphite #1154
WDW Pebble #1151
WDW Michael’s Navy #1309
WDW Grape Vine #1273
WDW Chestnut #1269
WDW Cocoa #1233
GAST Honeydew
GAST Onyx
GAST Grasshopper
GAST Chives
GAST Banker’s Grey (2 skeins)
GAST Wheat Fields
GAST Portabella
GAST Baked Clay

The Stitch count is 94 x 242.

Progress March 11, 2015

Seeds of Freedom by Blackbird Designs

Not even half way finished and already ran out of WDW Crimson so need to order more. I will make note of any that you need more than one of as I go along.

I had to move the QSnaps this morning so decided it was a good time to take a pix of my progress. The empty space needs Crimson to stitch so that will have to wait.

Seeds of Freedom by Silver Creek Samplers

Finished Stitching April 13, 2015

Seeds of Freedom by Silver Creek Samplers

And here it is framed.

Seeds of Freedom framed.

And to All a Good Night

February 15, 2015 By patgeary

And to All a Goodnight (Loose Feathers #11) is another beautiful design by Barb Adams and Alma Allen, the two ladies who are Blackbird Designs. It is another chart that is Out or Print and very difficult to find at a reasonable price. Another stitcher on the 123Stitch Message Board loaned it to me.

Stitch Count: 61w x 184
Recommended Fabric: 28ct or 30ct Dark Cappuccino by R & R Reproductions. I chose to use 16ct Lambswool Aida instead.

Recommended Floss:

GAST Sarsaparilla
GAST Cherry Bark
GAST Dried Thyme
GAST Brandy
WDW Oak
WDW Angel Hair
GAST Chamomile
GAST Raspberry Parfait
WDW Pelican Grey – I substituted DMC 645
WDW Carrot

Started Stitching: February 14 2015

Progress February 19, 2015

And To All A Goodnight by Blackbird Designs

Progress February 22, 2015

And to all a Goodnight by Blackbird Designs

I’m getting really tired of the color raspberry parfait and the bricks on the house BUT that part is finished. Still need to fill in between the bricks but almost there.

Finished stitching February 26, 2015

And To All A Goodnight by Blackbird Designs

Framed –

Evening Shades the Garden

January 18, 2015 By patgeary

Thanks to a fellow stitcher who was willing to loan me Evening Shades the Garden by Blackbird Designs, I am ready to stitch this OOP chart. Everything is assembled and ready to go.

The design area of the piece measures 105wx 93h. I am stitching it on 28ct antique white Monaco (my favorite fabric) with the recommended threads which are a combination of Gentle Arts Sampler threads and DMC.

GAST Old Blue Paint
GAST Pink Azalea
GAST Brandy
GAST Dried Thyme
GAST Raspberry Parfait
DMC 310
DMC 844

Started stitching January 18, 2015

Progress January 20, 2015

Evening Shades the Garden by Blackbird Designs

Progress as of January 26, 2014

Evening Shades the Garden.

Finished stitching January 29 2015

Evening Shades the Garden

And here it is framed.

Evening Shades the Garden framed.

Blessings Be Thine by Blackbird Designs

December 16, 2014 By patgeary

This is a much sought after pattern and when it appears on eBay goes for very high prices – $83. and $100. for the last two that sold. A very nice lady on the 123 Message Board gave it to me along with some fabric and her leftover floss. I will be passing it along once I have stitched it. You can read more about that here.

While I am using the recommended floss, I will switch out the white with a gold color since I am using 28ct antique white Monaco rather than the called for fabric.

Started Stitching: December 15 2014

Progress December 19th

Blessings Be Thine by Blackbird Designs

Last stitches added December 31 2014

Blessings Be Thine by Blackbird Designs completed 12.31.2014

Stitching last night I jiggled the sofa table and all of the tiny little beads went all over the table, the sofa, and the floor. After trying to get them all picked up. I decided it was best to quit for the night.

C;oseup View of the Mill Hill Beads #02012

And framed

Blessings Be Thine Framed.