Dutch Beauty

Finished Dutch Beauty

Dutch Beauty was my New Years Start. It took 66 days and was stitched on 36 ct Attic Lace by Lakeside. It was hard using a large stand and took forever to figure out the best way to stitch. The side bars were uncomfortable.

Baby Its Cold Outside

Last night I finished Baby Its Cold Outside by Heartstrings. It's my favorite Christmas song. The linen was switched to 36 ct Vintage Examplar and the listed hand-dyed threads were used.

Feast Of Friendship by BBD Finished

Sunday night I finished Feast Of Friendship by BBD. It's a beautiful Thanksgiving piece. Stitched on 30 count Abcedarian Blend linen and listed hand-dyed threads.
The roof and house used 3 different colours. 30 ct was a good choice for the roof. The hand-dyed threads change more often and it looks like abunch of autumn leaves.
It brings up memories of Ontario in Fall.

Two With Thy Needle and Thread Finish Pieces

This month I tried dyeing linen with Walnut Crystals and loved the look. Filled a medium rubbermaid dishpan about halfway with hot water. Slowly added some crystals until the water looked like dark coffee or Coke. Kept stirring until the crystals were disolved. Put 2 pieces of linen in for 5 minutes and than removed it. Rolled them into a large towel and than hang the pieces to dry.


I used 22 ct Fine Ariosa Cream linen and it really needs to be zigzag before dying. It frays alot. After it was dry I noticed 3 small dot on the linen. Luckly it was only one side. Next time I plan on mixing the crystals in a small glass container or jar to make sure all the crystals are disolved.


I didn't keep track of how much water or the amount of crystals used. But plan on doing tests on 32 ct white belfast linen. Keeping track of amounts of water and crystals used. I like to see what happens at the 5, 10 and 15 minute mark with dark coffee coloured water. Than I want to add more crystals and do another 5, 10 and 15 minute mark test. Going to keep a book for future redyes.



Peter And Peep would make a lovely baby gift. It's suppose to be a pillow
Went with the listed threads and my hand dyded ariosa cream.


House Of Blues and Brown Sampler was stitched with the listed threads and hand-dyed ariosa cream

Finished Loose Feather 2011 Series

I decided to wait for all 3 charts to arrive before starting this series. Last night I put the final stitches in. I went with 30 ct Irish Creme and the listed hand-dyed threads. Next up is the Bonus chart from the Winter Block. It's called Eveline Cunningham and it uses 32 ct Vintage Sand Dune and Gentle art threads. I think i'm going to use my Grandmother name on this piece.

I also started a baby blanket in shape of a Leaf. It's going to be for my nephew new baby. It reminds me of Anne Geddes picture of babies wrapped in vegetables or fruit. Here is a link to her beautiful design.
http://www.spudandchloe.com/patterns/leaf-blanket-new/

March Goals

This will be a month of working charts from my stash. Need to get items done before market stuff arrives.

1. Loose Feathers 2011 Series by BBD
2. Bonus items from Loose Feathers Autumn and Winter
3. Sarah Eliazbeth Brooke by The Scarlett House or The Olde Settlement by The Primitive Needle. Waiting for linen to arrive for Sarah.

Jane Rees Finished

Last night I put the final stitch in Jane Rees by SL. Stitched using 36 ct vintage autumn gold and NPI 404. Started her in 2007 but had to stop when I fractured my elbow. Picked her back up in February 2012. It took 34 stitching days to finish.

February Goals

This is the month to work on finishing WIP pieces It's been over 4 years since I picked up Jane Rees and it's good to be stitching her again.

1. Anniversary of the Hearts Series by BBD-DONE
2. Jane Rees by Scarlett Letter-DONE
3. Finish the last bit on Turkey Love-DONE

Bonus
Finished WIP Halloween Series by LK
1. Joy Ornament by BBD
2. Blessed Ornament by BBD
3. 4 pieces from the Bunny Chart by The Prairie Schooler

Finished Christmas Garden by BBD

Christmas Garden by BBD was my 2012 start. Put the first stitch in at the ball drop and finished it in January. It was stitched on 30 ct sheep straw and the listed threads. Plan on using this colour linen and threads for Christmas Quaker by By Gone Stitches

Finished Anniversary of the Hearts Series

Last night I finally put in the last intials for Anniversary of the Heart Series by Blackbird Designs. I was able to get each of my sisters and brothers name in the piece. For each sister or brother I added their husband and childrens names. For Wynne I added this years date. She's going to be a grandmother for the first time.
For my daughter(Christa) I added a ball of wool. Knitting is her favorite hobby. For the bonus block I added Canada for everyone on the block. For Don Hearts Rose I'm going to search for some tiny old buttons to sew on it. Rose made some beautiful items.

January Goals

Start Christmas Garden by BBD on New Years at midnight-DONE
Start Crowning The Tree by BBD -DONE
Gauge for Yellows Baby Surprise Jacket -DONE and knitted the Jacket
Knit Baby or Toddler Hat-Done Knitted 2 newborn Hats

Bonu-
Started learning how to knit with 3 balls of wool on a shawl
Sergei by Plum Street Samplers
2 bonus charts in Christmas Garden by BBD
Turkey Love by Plum Street Samplers
Warm Winter Woolens by LHN

2012 Goal Lists

Stitching List:
Start and Finish Christmas Garden By BBD-DONE
Stitch Crowning The Tree by BBD -DONE
Finish Last 2 blocks from Anniversary Series by BBD-DONE
Work on missed stitching items from 2010 to 2011 list
Stitch 2 items from each Market this year
WIP Jane Rees Would love to finish her-DONE

Knitting Goals
Learn how to knit with 2 colours on a shawl-Started
Work first pair of adult mitts or gloves
Baby Surprise Jacket- Two First one yellows and the next one green-Yellow and green one done. Also Purple/green for donation for hospital
Continue making baby hats

Bonu Knitting Goals- Learnt different Wrap and Turn methods. Finished Spectra by West Knits.

Finished Beautie Spotte

On Friday I finally finished Beautie Spotte by LD. It's the companion piece to Sonne Spotte. It's been in my to start list since the chart came out.
It was stitched using 32 ct Magnolia and the listed threads. It took 45 days to finish and used 12 skeins of Black Crow, 3 skeins of Flax, Shaker White and Pine
Next up is Thy Needle by The Primitive Needle

GOALS FOR 2011

Last year I lost 6 months due to shoulder problems. 2011 list is going to be smaller as I just getting back to stitching.

2011
Main goal is to start the Anniversary Series by Blackbird Design on January 1st. Plan to stitch this on one piece of linen. Hoping to work with a 36 ct linen but if it doesn't work out I'll be going with a 30 ct linen.

Revisit my 2010 goal list and get at least 3 items removed from the list.
Top of that list would be:
Sonne Spotte Companion piece by LD- Finished on March 18th 2011
Jane Rees
The Shores by Carriage House Sampling

I'm saving room for a couple items from each market.
Blackbird Designs is on the top of my list
Carriage House Samplings designs by Marty is also on my list. I'm looking forward to seeing the farm that Kathy and Marty grew up on.

Knitting:
Finish up some baby surprise jackets,make a shawl and try some lace yarn for the first time.

Biggest Goal is going to learn to stop knitting or stitching before it causes pain.

BABY SURPRISE JACKET

 

Finished Autumn In Hawk Run Hollow

Finally finished Autumn In Hawk Run Hollow last night. There is one error in block 5. NPI 315 should be an oval. It's all the little acorns.

WIP Of Autumn In Hawk Run Hollow

I finally finished Block 4 on Autumn In Hawk Run Hollow. Alot of stitching on each block.
It's stitch on 36 ct sand dune and listed threads are used

2010 Goal List

This is the year that I want to catch up on items that were missed when I fractured my elbow. There is abunch of items that were purchased before and after the fracture

Here is my list:
1. Finish A Mind Independent &Free-Done
2. Paradise Lost January 1st start-Started and Finished
3. Finish Jane Rees NO
4. November and December Stocking by Blackbird Design-Done
5. Sophie's Bird by Plum Street-Done
6. Jeannie Bean Christmas Sampler- NO
7. The Shores by CHS- NO
8. Autumn In Hawk Run Hollow by CHS-DONE
9. Let Your Life Speak by Primitive Needle-Done
10.Quaker Christmas by By Gone Stitches-Started
11.Sonne Spotte Companion piece by LD-NO
12.Foursome Reel by LD-NO
13.Tidal River 1, 2 &3 on one piece of linen by By The Bay Needleart- NO
14.Fred and Fredericka by CHS- NO
15. Items from each Market- At Least 2
Honeysuckle Manor book by Blackbird Design- Plan to stitch a couple of the designs-DONE
Anniversary Series by Blackbird Designs- On one piece of linen NO
16.Stitch items from stash instead of purchasing
17.Finish stockings and ornaments
18.Stitch everyday
19.Try to keep stitching items in order and placed back when finished

Finished Let Your Life Speak

Last week I finished Let Your Life Speak by The Primitive Needles. It's my first time using Picture This Plus Heritage Linen and love the linen. This one was stitched on 36 ct linen and used the listed Gentle Art Threads. One more item to check off on my 2010 Goal list.