Spooky Eyes

Finished a quickie today.  I know, I am really late or really early.  Kit was Spooky Eyes by Lizzie Kate.  

ABC 123

I think this is the smallest piece that I've done.  I think it was designed to get you to try a specific brand of silk thread with a small investment of money.  I do remember that I loved stitching with this silk, but do not remember what brand it was.  I also thought the frame was about the smallest needlework frame that I've seen and you might think it wouldn't cost very much. But surprise, it cost way more than one would probably guess.  Great for someone to do in between longer projects, when one just feels the need to finish something.  Unfortunately, I do not know who designed this piece.  

I Believe - Mill Hill Design

About the year 2010, I beaded I Believe by Mill Hill.  It came in a kit that included perforated paper.  I have little trust in perforated paper lasting, so I used 28 count natural linen and stitched over 2 threads.  The frame is also available from Mill Hill.  I think it still is available in 2017, at least from some retailers and online.  This is one of my favorite Santas.  I just love their beaded designs.  

A Butterfly and Daisy from Crossed Wing Collection

I stitched this butterfly and daisy and placed it in a small porcelain jar sometime in the early 90s.  I don't remember the exact title of it, but I think it was designed by Crossed Wing Collection.  It was done with a Continental or Tent Stitch silk gauze.  My teacher for this class taught us to just do the design and not fill in the background.   I think now it would be customary to fill in the background.  Maybe it was the custom then, too, but the teacher didn't do it that way and the directions did not say to do it.  Perhaps they just didn't want to include the silk threads in the kit and this way just kept the cost down.  I wish that I knew.  I don't recall the name of the containers, but I think they were made in Great Britain and were a bit pricey.  

A Gathering of Snowmen

Another piece, a pillow by Homespun Elegance, stitched by me in 1995.  Finally getting around to posting it.  Just tying to keep all my needlework in one place on the web. It might be still available from Homespun Elegance.  It is stitched on a pre-made pillow on with the stitching area made of Heatherfield.  Homespun Elegance has been one of my favorite designers for many years and I still love their designs.  A good design is a good design, regardless of when it was created.  

Dogs' Day Out

I finished stitching Dogs' Day Out by Crossed Wing Collection this week.  I loved the pattern. and loved stitching the dogs and sort of just put up with stitching the trees.  I loved how Crossed Wing Collection has a hand-dyed special fabric for this piece.  It is 28 count permin linen in Whispering Pine/April. 

 I love the effect of the Weeks Dye Works subtle variation in color.  

The design has a number of half stitches.  And some back-stitching but the amount is not overwhelming.  

It did take me a bit longer to stitch this piece than I anticipated, but that is probably due to me, rather than the pattern.  

Flower Pincushion

This little flower pincushion required a minimum of stitching.  Just a little gathering to make the petals curl upwards.  One of my stitching club members taught us one night and we did it as a group project.  It was the first time that we all did the same project together.  The fabrics we used were different.