The Summer Beaming Forth is #8 in the Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers series For the Birds. I think this is my favorite of them so far. The title of this pattern was taken from a sonnet by John Clare (1793-1864.) His “I love to see the summer beaming forth” seemed the perfect description of this house surrounded by lush gardens.

Design Size: 91w x91h
Fabric: 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus
Threads: Weeks Dye Works

I chose to stitch mine on 16ct Regency by Picture This Plus since it easier for me to see. I used the recommended WDW floss with the exception of Oscar which I was out of.

• Caper (DMC 934)
• Cinnabar (DMC 3859)
• Cocoa (DMC 610)
• Confederate Gray (DMC 648)
• Deep Sea (DMC 930)
• Dirt Road (DMC 420)
• Jay Bird (DMC 169)
• Oscar (DMC 3011)
• Sandcastle (DMC 422)
• Schneckley (DMC 3045)

Started Stitching: August 16, 2018
Finished Stitching: September 11, 2018

Deck the Halls is one of the newest books by Blackbird Designs released during the Nashville Needlework Market 2018. The book contains six patterns that can be stitched as strawberries OR small charts for finishing as pin pillows or whatever you want. The book also contains finishing instructions for the strawberries.

I decided to stitch at least four of them and attempt finishing as strawberries, something I have NEVER done. I was able to purchase the suggested lace trim (#257691) from Hobby Lobby. I could not locate the recommended seam binding ribbon but another stitcher very generously sent me some. It is 1/2″ wide dark olive by Hug Snug.

Christmas Cactus

The first one I selected to stitch is called Christmas Cactus. The recommended fabric is 36ct Sand by Picture This Plus but I cannot see well enough to stitch on the small a count so I chose 16ct pink that I had in my stash. I did use the recommended floss on this one which is all Weeks Dye Works – Aztec Red, Baked Apple, Olive, Oscar, Palomino. One recommended color, Whiskey, I did not have so substituted DMC 680.

Started Stitching: 4/13/2018
Finished: 4/19/2018

Dancing Sugar Plums

The recommended fabric for this one is 36ct Opal by Picture This Plus. I used the same 16ct pink Aida I had in my stash to stitch this one also. I used the recommended floss – Weeks Dye Works – Cranberry Ice, Dolphin, Oscar, Pink Sand, and Palomino. I did not have Cattail so used DMC 543 and for River Rock used DMC 3860.

Started Stitching: 4/23/2018
Finished: 5/13/2018

I did work on some other project during this time so took longer to finish up.

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.

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.

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

 

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 is one of the projects included in the book, Honeysuckle Manor and is OOP.

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.

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

This lovely design, Keepsake Box & Pincushion, is another one from the Blackbird Design team. Dated 2008, it was a project from the Shepherd’s Bush Retreat. As with many of the BBD this one is also out of print.

The picture above shows the chart with the recommended threads on the right and the selection I have chosen to use from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Primitive Floss Collection. I am stitching this on 28ct Cream Monaco rather than the called for linen.

Keepsake Box

Started stitching: July 17, 2016
Finished: July 25, 2016

The colors I selected to use are:

• Purple Hollyhock
• Parsley
• Rose Plum
• Antique Gold
• Peach Dahlia (from the Picket Fence Collection)

Keepsake Pincushion

Started Stitching: July 26, 2016

I selected 28ct Cream Monaco to stitch the pincushion on. I also chose to use the recommended  threads which are:

• CC Cappuccino
• CC Clay Pot
• CC Cinnamon Toast
• CC Yw Old Gold
• CC Pea Pod

UPDATE: January 25, 2017

I sent these to off to Vonna Pfeiffer and her The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service and received these pictures today. Aren’t they beautiful?

I used the Keepsake Box chart to stitch a special gift for two of my step daughters. For these, I chose to use 16ct Aida to stitch them.

The threads I used to stitch the boxes were from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

• Purple Hollyhock
• Rose Plum
• Peach Dahlia
• Antique Gold
• Parsley

And for the other one.

• Concord Grape
• Lavender
• Rose Hollyhock
• Catesby’s Trillium
• Toffee
• Parsley

Each design was mounted to the top of one of the RECESSED LID, 6″ ROUND NEEDLEWORK BOX by LeHay Shaker Boxes.

November 2018

I decided to stitch another one of these as a Christmas gift. This time I used 16ct Ariel by Picture This Plus since the box is blue. I used Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads (again) as they are my very favorite floss.

• Delft Blue
• Forever Blue
• Sunflower
• In My Garden

And this is the finished piece that was a gift to my granddaughter for Christmas.

 

Welcome to our Garden Club! You’re going to love belonging to our little sewing circle….. This month we are delighted to see our pomegranate an our lily popping up out of the ground. We planted them at the bottom of our trellis and are waiting for them to bloom.

This is #7 in a 12 part series by the Blackbird Design Ladies. I am not stitching them in any particular order and will be finishing them as small pillows or pin cushions. Rather than stitch these two as one picture, I am doing them separately.

I’m stitching Climbing the Trellis on 16ct Milk Chocolate Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie with the recommended threads. Started stitching on October 18, 2016,

Finished stitching October 24, 2016.

November 1, 2021

Because I had not stitched these two side by side, I wondered how I could finish them, sew them together or finish separately. I had two pieces of Blackbird Designs fabric, Rhubarb and Ginger  that matched the colors of each one so decided to use them for these two. Some lacey trim and glass beads and I am happy with them. They have been sitting in the drawer for 5 years so now they can join the dough bowl with some others I am working on. The backing fabric is the same as I used on the sides.