SAL, Christmas and Halloween Stitches

Hello stitching friends:) July has gone by too fast. Thought I would get this post in before the end of the month. I sometimes wonder that I don;t have enough to share with you then before I know it I do have lots for show and tell. We've been in a heat wave here ranging from the 100's to 99. Tomorrow 102 or so they say. So grab something to drink and hope you enjoy my post....

 Elizabeth half doll project progress. I finished all the bottom row of vines and flowers. The other ladies who are stitching this for our SAL: Grace - has her kit in hand now. Amy - finished all of page one. Clare - got a good start too. When you click on each name you will go directly to their latest progress post for this SAL. I am in awe of their interpretation for this project!

 Elizabeth half doll pincushion by GPA

 32ct  Cream linen  by Zweigart / silks & DMC threads

(Before)

(After) 

Fairy Hill  - Cut Thru Bothy Threads

 Yipee!!! I finished another page for this chart. AND I also completed the backstitching! 

The gold broach pin is Peter Pan's "Jolly Rodger Ship" by Disney. 

Tinkerbell patch & Pinocchio's fairy godmother pin.

The upper crown of the bed, pink walls, tree truck, flowers, pond, clothes line, butterfly and cute mushrooms not to mention all the green grass &&& I had left off 3 stitches all the way down the right side. That meant that I had to pull those charts and stitch them & pull the charts for the backstitching too. If you have stitched a Bothy Cut Thru chart - You know what I'm talking about. I did at times get confused, walked away and came back. Now 3 pages left for this chart (plus backstitching). Felt so good to get this done. 

 Wicked by The Primitive Needle 

Kit by Needlecraft Corner

Terri - Dixie Sampler blog had mentioned this chart on one of her posts. I looked it up and knew I wanted to stitch it. That lead me to thinking who would still perhaps still have this older freebie chart? Needlecraft Corner in MD I called and Drema actually had a kit that had the frame, linen and silk threads. Dream come true for me. I think she still has some or one left too. 

 Finished in a few days. This was a fast design to stitch. One over one, silk thread, 30ct Parchment linen WDW. I only needed a half cross stitch or tent stitch on the bands and I chose to stitch full cross stitches on the motifs and lettering. I love how it turned out. The top of the pendant frame has a tube that I can thread a cord thru. Just haven't decided on the cord or chain yet.

 I participated in - Christmas in July thru EMS Forum. Angele from Germany had my name for the exchange and she sent me a beautiful stitched card, lovely fabric and this gorgeous book.  Thank you so very much Angele! I have to share some of the projects that are in the charted in the book with you.....

The person who I sent my gifts to is in Germany. I mailed her parcel on 6/18 and she has not received it yet.
I am praying that she does get it.

 Speaking of Christmas, I completed an ornament that I had stitched last year. Peppermint by Little House Needleworks. 28ct Pink Peppermint Candy stripes linen by Fabric Flair. The fabric you see is what I used for the backing on this ornament.

 Thanks to Vonna's tutorial  I made a little tag for the back - Inital's and year.

 Lizzie Kate Flora McSampler 2012 ornaments

Needed to get a jump on some Christmas stitching. These were a great weekend project (okay maybe 2 different weekends).

 Lizzie Kate Flora McSampler 2012 ornaments

                                               Lizzie Kate Flora McSampler 2012 ornaments

Good thing I had these photos because I can't find my linen that these were stitched on. Have the chart, threads but must have put the linen in too good of a place. All 3 ornaments were stitched on 28ct Milk Chocolate linen by Wichelt, WDW threads and one DMC (for the angel face, hands and feet). For some reason the photo of Believe looks tan but its not - its Chocolate!

Sending you Happy Summer Best Wishes! With love and appreciation - Annette

101st Birthday Celebration & Update!

Nannie's Birthday was amazing! All of her 4 great grandchildren where present! There were 2 cakes 1 chocolate and 1 vanilla both decorated "Happy 101st Birthday Nannie" She had flowers delivered to her from Hawaii, red antirrhinums and an orchid lei for her to wear! It was a day of lots of giggles and FUN!
Nannie was overwhelmed with JOY!!! It was my sister's birthday also and yes we sang to her Happy Birthday too!
Thank you all very much for Nannies Birthday Happy wishes!
I did tell Nannie and she asked me to tell you "Please send them my regards and tell them I say Thank you!" That's straight from Nannie to YOU!

 One of our Birthday girls!

 Everyone was gathered in front of me and my cousin holding the 2 cakes taking photos. 

OH YES Nannie had her own paparazzi!

Here we were laughing because we couldn't believe how non shy my little cousins were. In this photo it was explained to me and that Nannie and I had been Bopped!!! I asked whats Bopped??? It's when a person jumps up in front as the photo is taken - LOL!!! The things we learn from children - LOL!

 Okay you know how at parties some people play games? Well when you turn 101yrs old you get to 

   PAN FOR GOLD!! Who knew a crochet hook was also a great tool for panning for gold!! 

Yep that was all Nannies idea.

 And look at what Nannie found. That's a real gold nugget!

 And last is an update on my Elizabeth pincushion doll by GPA. I have the flower vine all stitched and am working on the flowers right now. There's another band that will go above the flowers - not there yet!

Hope everyone got to see some fireworks. We sure did on Friday night. This year it was held at the fairgrounds and not on the river. Thank you so much for your visit.
With love and appreciation - Annette

Happy 101 Birthday Nannie - 4th of July!

Happy safe and fun 4th of July everyone! 

In Full Glory by BBD

30ct Heroic Linen by Picture This Plus 

 Completed pillow July 3rd (just in time)

 Pocket for the back and used reproduction Civil War Fabrics

Tried a new way of attaching the rick rak trim as Claire had done on  my Easter pillow.

With my love and appreciation - Annette 

Needleroll carrier & Updates!

Hello! It's been so HOT here in the 100's last week. Now July has arrived. Seen so many wonderful patriotic projects on your blogs. Sure makes it exciting knowing that in a few days just about every city will be shooting off "Fireworks" and celebrating our nations Independence Day!
Have some updates to share with you. I've been sewing on the sewing machine and made 3 new can't live with out needlework accessories! And I have 2 stitching updates.

Clare (from New Zealand) had sent me a needle roll. Well that needleroll is full holding many smalls and some not so small samplers. I wanted a larger one. Oh about 1 months ago I walked in to our quilt store downtown and was shopping for fabrics. As always there are some very talented ladies who enjoy to quilt and welcome others to chit chat. So I visited a bit and then I started to leave and saw from the corner of my eye this one lady who had a loooong needle roll carrier. Well right then and there I bought the pattern and some lovely fabric by the French General:)))))) Here's what I made......

 Looks small but this roll is 20" long. I used a PVC - 1 1/2" but with the thickness its actually 1 3/4".

Let's just say it won't collapse. 

 Inside the roll carrier and the pattern displayed. Bernnet (who's the shop owner) designed this lovely chart.

Notice my roll's colors are Red White and Blue? Subtle yet patriotic.

 The French General fabric for the outside.

 The ends of the roll I made yoyo's and added buttons. 

Don't you think that every stitcher needs one of these?

 Before - notice the clips holding the fabric?

 After 

 8x11" Q-Snap cover made by ME:) Another must have accessory for Q-Snap frames.

I had seen on a blog where two sides of 8" and two sides of 11" were put together. I had 8x8 covers but none for 8x11. The lady who makes these closed her website. I emailed sweet Debbie ( I knew she would know and she did)  informed me that Christine is now on Facebook and you place your orders there. But I already had bought what I needed & was ready. I made TWO 8x11 Q-Snap covers. I used the same fabric for both so I only photographed one to show you. Came out pretty good. But it's so much easier to order from Christine. I was in a hurry and needed it NOW. The clips were annoying me. Later that evening it was a pleasure to stitch.  

Before (left off in March this year)

 After 

And finally I stitched on Fairy Hill - Cut Thru Bothy Threads.

 Close up of after:)

Stitched the rest of the tree, wall above the sleeping fairy and her dresses. Also all the back-stitching - from the bathroom items on the left all to the right and below where the fairy is sitting on a swing & Wish List.
SO I am now I get to start page 6 of 9.

Elizabeth pincushion Doll by GPA

My update for my doll project which there are 3 other ladies for our SAL. I took this photo in front of our back sliding door and the spots are on the window shadowing on my linen. But the lighting was good.
Finished the outer border for the dolls skirt. It's about 15" long.

 Close up of border

Amy posted a update on her beautiful progress of Elizabeth HERE and you should see her stumpwork of the castle ( Hampton Court) WOW!!!

Now I need to get prepared for my Nannie's 101 birthday and my sister - both July 4th.
Which means I need to go do some shopping - oh darn. Just heard that we might get some light rain tomorrow morning - crazy weather!!  Thank you for your visit.
Always with my love and my appreciation - Annette

Happy Summer!!!

Greetings to you! Our weather this week has been nice and cool which I love. I've been seeing everyone's patriotic projects and I have 2 to share with you. And seems like the last few weeks I had been waiting for my supplies in the mail for the Elizabeth doll project and they all came in. I have all that to share with you as well. My Nannie will be 101yrs old this July 4th. Of course we will be with her celebrating :)

This project Beggars 4th I made in Honor of Nannie.

 Beggars 4th - Threadworks Primitives Designs

28ct Carolina Linen by Charles Craft

 Made a pocket for the backing.

The mail brought me a happy surprise package. I was expecting only a postcard from Hetti and this is what I received. Oh yes there was a postcard alright (hehe) and more. A beautiful blue and white fabric from the Neatherland's where Hetti is from. This incredible gorgeous red white and blue Dutch scarf is by a company called Vlisco. Vlisco is famous for its African dress designs that the ladies wear in Africa.
I absolutely LOVE it and just in time for our Patriotic celebrating! Thank you so much Hetti!
Hetti is the designer of the Delft Blue Tiles that I stitched and made into a pillow a few years back.

 Here's a better photo of the lovely scarf. I displayed it on a long sofa table because its so pretty.

Started and finished "In Full Glory" by Blackbird Designs

The fabric is 30ct Heroic by Picture This Plus

 I made this zipper pouch and needlebook and sent it to Hetti who was only expecting a postcard from me:)
She has received it and oh boy did I surprise her:) And yes I did include a postcard for Hetti - hehe.

 My half porcelain doll came in and I love it. Exactly what I ordered and I am thrilled. That's my silk duponi fabric that I will using for this project.

Boy where to begin. First off I had ordered a few new silk threads for this project. I didn't purchase the kit from the Attic in AZ. Well I already had the olive green Duponi silk fabric. I decided to use 32ct cream by Zweigart I think this will look pretty with the porcelain half doll.  For the threads - that's where I ordered a few (already had 2 of them) of Gloriana 12 strand silk threads.

I am so happy that I decided to test the thread because I had ordered #066A Highland Garden and it looked a bit dark. I started stitching the scissor pocket as a test. thank goodness I did.

As any chart I follow when stitching I proceeded to stitch (2 threads over 2 threads on 32ct) I started stitching the design at the top of the scissor pocket and stitched up and down. Then when I came to the sides I knew to stitch one flow of the design then to go back and stitch the other side to make use of the pretty variegated silk. When I looked back at the photo in the magazine I saw a different stitching flow that the designer used. I will get to that 2 photos down from here.

Elisabeth by GiuliaManfredini of Giulia Punti Antichi

scissor pocket - THIS WAS A TEST 

Then I discovered I misread the instructions. I had stitched 2 over 2 and should of been 1 over 2 threads.
No wonder I was going thru a lot of thread. Well that was my error.
The magazine says to use #066 - Highland Garden. But when I looked at the color online I thought it was too light compared with the photo in the magazine. SO I ordered #066A - Highland Garden which is in darker tones.
After stitching with #066A which is darker of than what was called for in the magazine I did order the #066 - Highland Garden. If you ordered the kit you will not have this dilemma.

Also I stitched one row at a time on the top of the design and followed thru all the way around till I reached the top second row.

Then I stitched the second row (below along the top) and followed again all the way around the design. If you are stitching this doll and look or study the photo you will see what I am describing.

I think this look is much prettier for the flow of the variegated color.

I am pleased with the #066 Highland Garden for the outer borders. And I also used Gloriana Florimell silk thread called Spanish Moss for the inner of the green leafs. More on this floss below.

Top - #066A Gloriana 7mm silk ribbon (ordered from Hedgehog online when their sale was going on). Yes I am going to use the ribbon even though its a bit dark.
Middle is the darker tones (not going to use for this project).
Bottom is the lighter and the one recommended in the magazine.

The threads called for in the magazine for this project are Gloriana Threads Florimell which is a type of silk.

For the fun of it (and because I had no idea what this thread was) I ordered one in Spanish Moss. I learned that this silk has more of a high sheen and is a bit thicker. So as when stitching on 32ct which really should be stitched 2 over 2 threads, you only need one strand. I did stitch with this in the above photo.

Here is my doll and I decided to go with the left side which is the lighter color #066 Highland Garden

Gloriana 12strand silk.

 I finished the test scissor pocket. So far I think it will be fine. 

Now I only started out to test #066 Highland Garden silk thread to see if I liked it on the border of the dress. Well stitching with silk thread is such a pleasure and doesn't knot on me so my progress seemed to have moved fast. I think this is the last 2 days worth. I took this photo just now and should have waited till morning. But then life happens and I wasn't sure if I would get this post done:)
Now for our SAL on this project I know that those who are participating I don't think you have received your kits yet. I will be starting another start and putting this aside till we all can be stitching this together.
But now I think I have all I need for this project and I don;t have to order more supplies for it. So I am set.
Geez I had to shop 5 different times online & wait for the orders to come in (that was fun mail) and one trip to Hobby Lobby for the linen (had a coupon too).
Looking forward to our SAL and for anyone who would like to join us.
I hope your enjoying the summer and are getting to stitch lots! thank you for visiting me!!!
With Love and my Appreciation - Annette