Day 15 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! My new start for today - "Strawberry Fields Forever" by Blackbird Designs.
This is my last new start for Debbie's Challenge SAL! I planned only to have 15 new starts for this sal and I have. Thank you for cheering me on and for your lovely comments.

32ct Confederate Grey by WDW linen

Threads: Gentle Arts, WDW & DMC

It's been very cold here with fog. Temps in the high 30's & low 40's. 

With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 14 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Today's new start "Needlewoman - busy as a  Bee" by The Primitive Hare.
This lovely kit I received from Shirlee this last Christmas for our private exchange. What a treat to have everything all ready kitted ready to stitch. I want to Thank you for all your wonderful comments and cheering me on for this sal.

 Included in the kit was this beautiful thread holder - a Hare.

30ct Old Salem Linen

DMC threads

Thank you very much for visiting me and for your comments. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 13 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends!
New start for today - "Tapestry Heart" by The Sweetheart Tree. This chart was gifted to me from Frances.  I am stitching this beautiful heart as a remembrance of Nannie and plan to add her initials.

 With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 12 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Well so far so good! I've managed to keep up with this sal  in memory of Debbie.
And Thank you for your lovely comments.
Today's new start "Sizzle" by Just Nan. This is a kit dated 2008 which I acquired last Spring from an online phone search (a needlework shop) - and it was half off. This kit has 3 parts to it: a double sided pin wheel and the topping for a round tin.
I am stitching the pin wheel first which has 2 different motifs - one for each side. Also a cute tin is included in the kit.

2008 "sizzle" by Just Nan 

28ct Monaco evenweave hand dyed by me pale blue, DMC theads

This requires 28ct meadow mist linen. I did not have it. I looked through my stash and did have 28ct Monaco evenweave but it was white. I decided to hand dye it.

 I used a color blue dye and as soon as I dipped the fabric I took it right out. Results gave me a hint of blue colored fabric. I am very pleased. I took this photo without flash so you can hopefully see just the hint of tone change. Oh and I had dyed another piece of fabric that didn't turn out but I will definitively keep in my stash. It was 28ct Irish linen (tea colored looking) and dipped that in blue dye and got a grayish tone - kind of like confederate grey linen. But moving on...

My progress of stitching for the evening. Not bad considering I also hand dyed my fabric late tonight:)
Thank you so much for your visit. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 11 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello again beautiful friends! Thank you very much for all your lovely comments on my last post.
Today's new start "Floral Fifteen" by Just Nan.
I was gathering all the threads (DMC) for this project and discovered I didn't have one color. URG!!!
Off to Joann's I went. I get there and go all the way back to where they have the threads. I thought okay grab the one thread and leave. The bin for #603 was empty. oh no!! Of course I picked up some items on my way out, lol! Then I headed off to Wallmart. They had only 2 skeins left - YES! I got them both. Well I did finish kitting up this project. Then I got to stitching the border which is the light green color. I kept making mistakes and had to frog. It wasn't matching. Off to church services in the early evening. It was a special service in remembrance for Nannie and it was also a teen mass! The teenagers got to give the readings, help with communion too, very special.  The church was still decorated for Christmas - beautiful. It turned out this was the last Sunday for Christmas so they left all the decor up. Came home and got right back to stitching. I only needed to frog 2 more times then got it right. Whew!!!

 30 ct Off white linen. There are 15 motifs to be stitched for this pincushion. 2 linens - one off white and one beautiful 30ct Mist Green. I started stitching on the off white linen. I need to stitch 10 motifs on that one.

First motif all done and the backstitching is also done. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 10 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Today's new start "Twilight Pearls Leaf Ball" by Just Nan.
I thought I would have had more stitching time today but I didn't. I spent most of the sorting/organizing threads, pins, ribbons etc. Still not done sigh....
Then I had to read and re-read the instructions -LOL before placing my first stitch! This is one design that requires 24 leaf motifs & 12 flower motifs on 2 different linens.

 32ct Wandering Ivy linen by Zweigart

The leaf motifs are stitched on a pretty variegated light green linen and later for the flower motifs are stitched on Dusk which is a pretty lavendar/blues variegated linen (not shown).
Thank you for visiting me. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 9 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Today's new start "Topiary in Bloom" by BBD. The threads for this design happen to be the same colors in "English Garden" by BBD. Nice that both designs will go with one another.

 32 ct Vintage Porcelain Linen

Closer look at the border!

Thank you for your visit. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 8 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Today's new start is another small kit.I love the happy colors and there is only 9 this time - lol! I plan to make it a ornament for our Gingerbread & Candy tree. It will say "Happy Birthday Jesus" when I'm done stitching it.

I swapped the 18ct adia for 32ct Belfast linen. Thank you for your visit and comments.
With love and apprecation - Annette

Day 7 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello friends!
For today's new start I selected "Cinderella" by Disney/Original Art by Thomas Kinkade small kit.

 I switched the 16ct white adia tiny piece of fabric for 32ct White Belfast linen. Stitching 2 over 2 threads.
Here I thought I would be able to start and finish this small today. NOPE!!!
This pretty design has 29 different colored threads...

 I don't know about you but for me I need my threads to be separated. So I made today my own floss cards and had to pretty much guess what thread went with the name matching on the chart. But I was able to get it done. I like to be able to see what floss I need for the according symbol on the chart. Makes it much easier when stitching.

Here's a close up of today's progress. Not much but I should get more stitching done next time I work on it now that the threads are sorted. With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 6 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello again beautiful friends! I have been reading that the TNNA show is coming up this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing what new designs will be coming soon. 

Today's new start "The Garden Fair" by BBD.

 32ct linen hand dyed by me. This is a remnant of the linen I had used for my GPA doll pincushion. I had used tea bags to dye it. Gave me a nice light cream color.

 Here's is today's progress.

I am stitching with  the recommended threads as charted - Classic Colorworks!

With love and appreciation - Annette

Day 5 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! As I promised I took photos of my box that I am storing my stash/kits for Debbie's Challenge sal. Makes it so easy to go to one place and pull what's next to stitch. Also once I finish stitching for the day I am placing everything right back in the box. This way I know where all the wips are.

 I purchased this box from Michael's. It was on sale half off. This was before Christmas. The lid is attached to the box and has a magnetic closer. The box is very large - nice!

 Nice to keep the Pink tin inside so when I go look for it it shouldn't become a major hunt - LOL!!!
I got the Frozen tin (with a handle that I love) from my sister for Christmas. I know she got it at Target. I love it because I've been using it on days I'm stitching a small kit/with hoop and it fits right inside. Then I bring back to the box and empty the contents and pick a different another new start.

 BBD - English Garden, A Sewing Bag Kit  

30ct French Vanilla by R & R Reproductions, Threads are all Gentle Art 

When I got out the kit this morning I always fully read the instructions and have a look at the finished size of the design. I was so surprised to learn the finished size on this is 7x7inches. Larger than what I expected.

I got to use my QSnap hoop for this project because of the larger linen piece. 

The linen is so pretty. Very creamy & has some subtle staining. This is today's progress.

I know from the photo is looks like I'm off but its not. Just the way it was placed in my QSnap hoop.

Thank you for your visit. With my love and appreciation - Annette

Day 4 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! Every morning I am finding it so much fun looking forward to picking out a new start from my box. Oh I should include a photo of my box for you next time.
For today's new start I selected this whimsical design. It's called "Hand Wash" by Thomas Joseph. I crack up when I see the wool sheep hanging to dry - LOL!

 This is a well put together kit. I am very impressed. The chart is wonderfully large and easy to read. Also the list of threads have been nicely coded with corresponding letter as to which to color to stitch. Also nest to the letter they even provided the number DMC thread that is used. Meaning if I decide to stitch this again or run out of thread - I know what color DMC thread to use. LOVE IT!! The only downside I did not care for was that the threads were very neatly organized on hole punched paper. SO what I did was make my own thread holed punched card (used Bristol paper - from my sons stash). Now I won't rip it like I know I would of have if I used the paper the threads came on.  

Today's start and progress. I got a lot stitched today which  I think for one days worth of stitching is pretty good. Thank you for your lovely comments. With my love and appreciation - Annette

Day 3 - Debbie's Challenge

Hello beautiful friends! This Sal is so much fun! I haven't done so many posts before everyday -lol!
Love getting to share with you my projects for this challenge. Thank you for your lovely comments.
Here's my new start for Day 3 (yesterday)...

 This kit was given to me by Hetti from the Netherlands. I am stitching this in memory of Nannie. The threads are softly scented of roses. I LOVE stitching with these threads so much. Every stitch I place breaks  the scent  open. Talk about stitching aromatherapy!!
I have plans to add some script into this design. Hard to see but I got the outline of the envelope done, and some petals of roses. On Hetti's blog she has offers many gorgeous free charts that she has designed, hope you have a look at her blog.

Saturday I received a envelope from Hetti! Yes the very same day I had already started stitching the kit she gave to me. Can you believe that? The same day I decide to stitch her kit and here I get mail from her!!! WOW! I was so surprised when I opened it. Hetti sent me two stunning lazer cut sparkly card/ornament. I have both of them on my stitchers tree. And she gave me a pretty skein of Nina's threads - Jingle Bells, scented DMC Chocolate thread. Hmm I have some ideas for this thread: Hot Cocoa or Valentine themed design.

And these darling super cute buttons. I think I am going to use them on a Christmas ornament finish. Just running ideas in my head. I love everything!  Thank you so very much Hetti!!
With my love and appreciation - Annette

DSDUCJFC Day 2

For Day 2 of the sal (yesterday) I decided on "The Stitching Parlor" by Clara L. Blalock.
I had seen on someones blog a photo of this PINK (Yep thinking of you Vickie) Whitman's candy tin.
So naturally I called the store in Little Rock and the there was one pink tin left. The chart had been on my wish list and was on clearance from 123stitch.

 PINK Tin

Day 2 new start

Have a wonderful day friends! With my love and apprecation - Annette

Day 1 - DSDUCJFC

Happy New Year beautiful stitching friends! The initial's in my title stand for "Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January/February Challenge 2015".  This is honoring our late stitching friend Debbie!
I have planned 15 new starts. Not the 31 or 58 projects like Linda or Sharon are so bravely doing.
I want to be able to keep up and not fall behind. The SAL started yesterday Jan 1st.
  
So here is my first new start and I was able to finish...

"Chicks" by Lizzie Kate

It was a limited edition kit  purchased last year.

I have to say I found myself looking forward to starting this challenge. The fabric came with the chart and there are two little beads that I didn't attach yet. I held off till until I am ready to complete this as a small pillow tuck & for ironing. No melted beads for me - LOL! This was a fun piece to stitch with the spring colors. With my love and appreciation - Annette