Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs

June 13, 2020 By patgeary

Honeybee Hill was released in 2013 and I have had it in my stash for a while. It contains two designs, the main chart and Her Majesty’s pincushion. Unfortunately, the chart is now out of print.

I recently purchased two of Robert LeHay’s 8″ Recessed Lid Shaker boxes and decided to stitch Honeybee Hill for the top of one of the boxes.

Black Milk Paint Finish. Shaker Needlework Box made in Maine by LeHay’s Shaker Boxes. — Robert LeHay 8″ Recessed Lid Shaker Box

I am stitching it on a piece of 16ct aida which I lightly dyed with coffee. Looks like a child’s cup of milk with a bit of coffee added. I switched some of the recommended colors for Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads.

GA Brandy/ VMSS Waves of Grain
GA Copper
GA Dried Thyme
GA Endive/VMSS Rosebud Leaves
GA Maple Syrup
GA Nutmeg (DMC 975)
GA Piney Woods/VMSS Olive Branch
GA Pumpkin Patch
GA Pumpkin Pie/VMSS Pumpkin Bread
GA Tin Bucket
GA Walnut
GA Wheat Fields/VMSS King’s Ransom

Started Stitching: June 7, 2020

Finished stitching on August 9, 2020. Now to mount it on the box.

Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs. — Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs

A Dog’s Last Will and Testament

May 17, 2020 By patgeary

When I first saw the chart for A Dog’s Last Will and Testament by Heartstring Samplery, I knew I wanted to stitch it. It became part of my Nashville 2020 Market order.

The model was stitched on 40 count Cocoa from Weeks Dye Works, using 1 strand of floss over 2 threads. Since I knew that would be impossible for me to see, I ordered a piece of 16ct Parchment aida. However when I finished gridding the fabric, I realized it was actually closer to 14ct. Since I was going to finish it was a wall hanging, the 14ct would still work.

Stitch Count: 132 x 341
Design Size: 9 3/8 x 24 3/8

Rather than use the recommended floss, I chose to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

Gentle Art Floss/Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Autumn Leaves/Crazy Pumpkin
Harvest Basket/
Maple Syrup/Mocha Truffles
Onyx/Winter Coal
Picnic Basket/Burnt Brown
Sable/Weathered Barnwood
Shaker White/Mocha Cream
Tiger Lily/Rust Swirl

I started stitching this one mid-May but did not note the exact date.

A Dog's Last Will and Testament progress. — Progress

And the finished piece which is waiting for the fabric to arrive so that I can finish it as a wall hanging.

I had found what I thought was the perfect fabric to use to make this into a bellpull – Timeless Treasures Mud Paw Print – so I order 2 yards from an online shop. Unfortunately, I just received a cancellation notice that it was not available. Every place I have found it, it is sold out. I am assuming it must have been a popular print for the many mask makers during the Covid 19 pandemic. Not sure what I am going to do now, wait or pick out something else.

And since I could not find bellpull hardware I really liked, I ordered some wooden dowels and end caps and my son stained them for me. A shoestring in the color I wanted completed the piece.

A Dog's Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging. — A Dog’s Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging

I See Red by The Scarlett House

May 4, 2020 By patgeary

I saw I See Red as a preview of new designs being offered at the Nashville 2020 Needlework Market from The Scarlett House and KNEW I just HAD to stitch it. I pre-ordered the chart along with quite a few others. If I had realized how much over one stitching there was, I may not have been so eager to stitch it. I also ordered the butter board that is is shown displayed on from Homestead Needleworke. The butter board is designed to fit a piece stitched on 32/36ct fabric.

I See Red on butter board. — I See Red on butter board

Once I saw how much over 1 stitching there was, I decided I would need to use 28ct Monaco (white) as that is all I can see well enough to stitch on. Rather than the recommended Classic Colorworks Cherry Cobbler floss, I chose to use Autumn Glow by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. It is a beautiful variegated rust orange color dark to lighter.

I See Red Supplies. — I See Red Supplies

I started stitching this one on May 3, 2020.

Progress 5.4.2020 on I See Red. — Progress 5.4.2020 on I See Red

There are three rows of alphabets plus numerous motifs that are stitched over one so I will not be stitching this one until it is finished. My eyes will need a rest in between. But I do love it.

Finished Stitching: May 8, 2020. Not sure how I am going to finish it as it is too big for the butter board I bought.

I See Red by The Scarlett House. — I See Red

August 2021 – The original butter board I ordered from Homestead Needleworke did not fit as I needed to use a larger count fabric so April sent me one for 14/28 count which was the perfect size. Now how to do the rounded corners. Thanks to advice from my Facebook stitching friends I was able to cut the mat board with rounded corners. I watched Cathy Wurtz Haberman’s flosstube tutorial #57 to figure out exactly how to make the rounded corners smooth when lacing. The corners or a bit thicker than I would like but I am happy with the finished piece for the first time trying this finish.

Last Rose of Summer by Blackbird Designs

April 26, 2020 By patgeary

Last Rose of Summer was first introduced at Boxwood and Berries 2018 held at Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin. It was also included in the book by Blackbird Designs, Ooh La La.

Last Rose of Summer cover. — Last Rose of Summer cover

Several years ago I had also purchased several boxes that were used in the book In Friendship’s Way. I decided I wanted to stitch something for the box but wanted to be more an oval shape to go with the actual shape of the box than the square project pictured.

I decided the Last Rose of Summer was perfect for this project. I had a piece of 16ct aida in mottled tones of tan the blueish gray that I thought would work. I also had all of the floss recommended except for two colors for which I substituted Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

WDW Baked Apple
WDW Cattail/VMSS Oats
WDW Chickpea
WDW Dolphin
WDW Mocha
WDW Pebble/VMSS Whispy Blue
WDW Red Pear
WDW Sage
WDW Sand
WDW Swiss Chocolate
WDW Tarragon

Started Stitching: 4-20-2020
Finished Stitching: 4-25-2020

There is a large and a small box so will need to see which one it looks best on. Now to finish it and it will be ready to gift to a friend.

Last Rose of Summer mounted on box. — Last Rose of Summer mounted on box

Willing Hands by Blackbird Designs

April 22, 2020 By patgeary

Willing Hands was first offered as a retreat project at The Attic in Nov 2019. It is now included in the new book Sewing Club released at the Nashville 2020 Market.

Barb and Alma sent me the kit along with some 18ct Heartland aida for Christmas since they knew I did not stitch on linen. I did use all of the recommended floss to stitch this one.

Supplies for stitching Willing Hands. — Supplies for Willing Hands

It proved to be a quick stitch. I started stitching on April 7, 2020 and completed stitching on April 20, 2020.

The brown box used for the finishing of this design is available from TeresasPrimTreasures and comes in eight different colors. I ordered the one called Tinderbox Brown as that was the one used in the model stitched.

Thank You Barb and Alma for another beautiful design.

Blackbird Design Reprints

April 13, 2020 By patgeary

EXCITING NEWS From Alma and Barb of Blackbird Designs: First Winds of Autumn and Merry Christmas Drum being released later this year! Loose Feathers Summer, Autumn and Winter from 2011 just reprinted and should be at distributors by Monday, April 20, 2020. And you can add the book In Friendship’s Way to the list. If you missed any of these, you can place an order with your favorite needlework shop.

In Friendship's Way Book Cover. — In Friendship’s Way

So if you are patient, you will be able to stitch these beauties and NOT have to pay an arm and a leg for them.

Home from the Sea

April 7, 2020 By patgeary

Home from the Sea by Blackbird Designs was first released at a Dyeing to Stitch Retreat held in April 2019. It was one of two designs released. The other one was We Live in Hope.

Both charts were released as a leaflet at the Nashville 2020 Needlework Market.

The kit itself came with both the fabric and floss to stitch the project, I chose to change out the 36ct Vintage Honey linen by R & R Reproductions to 28ct cream Monaco but used the recommended floss.

Recommended floss colors Weeks Dye Works:

Beige
Blue Jeans
Caper
Cocoa
Deep Sea
Dove
Flatfish
Palomino
Schneckley
Williamsburg

Started: March 21, 2020
Finished: April 6, 2020

I added the year I stitched it and my initials as well as my husband’s initials to commemorate his time in the Navy.

Cardinal by Rovaris

March 28, 2020 By patgeary

This is the first design I have stitched from Rovaris. I love cardinals and thought it might make a nice Christmas decoration. I chose to stitch it on 16ct aida from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe and used VMSS threads. The chart comes with the tassel included. You can order it in the red or blue version.

Primitive White
Burgundy Ribbons
Claret
Plantation Brown

The size of the stitched piece is 4 1/4 x 4 7/8 inches.

I may decide at a later date to add some trim to this one as well as the tassel but we shall see.

GRAND Giveaway

March 17, 2020 By patgeary

Nancy Turner of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has the most beautiful floss for stitching and regularly shares with the stitching community. This time she is having a GRAND give-away to cheer everyone up a bit.

Head on over to her blog to become a follower and enter for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

One winner will win a free month in the floss club of their choice, 12 skeins, primitives or limited editions.
One winner will win a free month in the linen or aida club.
One of her Harmony charts complete with floss.
One winner will receive her America the Beautiful Collection of 12 skeins
One winner will receive 12 skeins of Spring Colors….Nancy will choose those from previous floss club shipments.
One winner will receive one of her sampler charts.
One winner will receive her Purple Passion 12 skein collection
And last of all lets give away one of the 30 Skein, 20 yards each, of the Primitive Collection. She will be adding new colors this year.

To enter the giveaway, go to GRAND give-away

Sewing Club by Blackbird Designs

March 8, 2020 By patgeary

One of the new releases by Blackbird Designs at the Nashville Market 2020 is Sewing Club. While I have not seen the book itself (only pictures of it) it reminds me of an earlier one by Barb and Alma, A Stitcher’s Journey. That book contained a collection of charts that had been taught in some of their classes.

Sewing Club Book Cover. — **Sewing Club Book Cover**

Sewing Club contains charts for 16 projects including:

Willing Hands A Retreat Project at The Attic Nov 2019 (bottom right on front cover)
Tiny Tree tops, Rose or Thyme from Shepherds Bush retreat 2016 (top middle on front cover
Garden Friends Sewing Bag from Spring 2019 Retreat at Stitchville USA (bottom left on front cover)
Hollyhocks Were Always There huswife from Spring 2019 Retreat at Stitchville USA
Rose Hips & Ivy which was a Ladies Prim Society release in 2017
In My Garden which was a Silver Needle A Little Help From My Friends pattern
My Home Scissor Box (top left on cover)
Summer Basket Button Bag
Ripe Pear Scissor Box from Spring 2019 Retreat at Stitchville USA
Summer Flocks from Spring 2019 Retreat at Stitchville USA
The Air of Other Summers from 2019 Quilter’s Station Retreat (top middle on the front cover)
A Bit of Summer De Handwerk Boetiek: Pindrum club 2018-2019
Songbird Whistles Primitives of the Midwest Class Project 2017
Gathering Swallows Primitives of the Midwest Class Project 2017
Garden Morning

I’ve ordered my copy of this book and cannot wait for it to arrive. Thanks Barb and Alma for this wonderful new release.