Holy Night Nativity

This is a Stoney Creek chart that I had a long time ago and never started.  I finally gave it away to someone who was looking for it because I thought it was just too beautiful to sit in my stash and never get stitched.  Of course, I couldn't stop thinking of it in the back of my mind and recently it jumped in my shopping cart one day when I was ordering something else on line.  I was afraid that once again it would sit for a long time because I could not decide what fabric to stitch it on.  I finally ordered some 14 count Vintage Blue Whisper Aida and a few special threads it needed.  You can see the fabric here.
My dear husband purchased some longer dowels for my table top stitching frame to accommodate such a wide chart and he sanded them down so they would fit easily into the side rods of my frame.  The fabric finally arrived but panic set in.  It looked like it was a hand dyed fabric which did not occur to me from the picture or the description when I ordered it.  As beautiful as the fabric was I was very concerned about being able to wash the stitched piece when I was finished.  Thankfully, a nice lady on the 123Stitch message board pointed out that  it was only printed on one side so it was not hand dyed but printed and could be washed.  Silly me had not even taken the fabric out of package yet but once I did I could see that the back side was a solid blue, while the front side that was showing through the package was the beautiful mottled, cloudy blue sky.
It's too late to make a long story short but it is so nice to say that I have finally started stitching this lovely chart.

Happy stitching

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Biscornu Finish

This is a chart I purchased from Olga Trampinskaya in 2009.  I set it aside for some reason and recently discovered it in my to do pile.  It obviously had been there for too long.  I don't know if her patterns can still be purchased but I found her old blog here.  As you can see if you visit her site she has some beautiful charts.  I started this on 22 count fabric and believe me when I say that my 22 count fabric days are pretty much behind me.  This is the front and the back before I put them together.

After I finished the back (the middle picture to the left - the one with the bees instead of butterflies) I realized that one of the flowers was stitched 1 space too far to the right but frogging the 22 count fabric did not seem like a good idea to me. The finished biscornu is just under 3" wide.

Have fun and find time to stitch this weekend.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Easter Finish

Ok, I didn't finish it for Easter this year but it will be ready for 2018.  I really like it without the Angels on the top of the tomb.  I saw another finish with the red flowers stitched as dark purple that was very pretty.  If I stitch this a second time I think I will make that change, although the red flowers are not terrible.

Have a great weekend of stitching.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Stocking Finish

I am so excited to see the whole stocking. 
I haven't decided who it's for so the name is not at the top yet.
This is actually white aida fabric but as often happens it looks blue in the picture.
I think I will admire it for a while before I pressure myself to choose the next project.
Have a great rest of the week and stitch whenever you can

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Just a raccoon to do

I am so close to the end of this stocking ♥.  It's hard to tell but I have actually started the raccoon's head that is at the toe end of the Christmas stocking.

I want to stitch Little House Needleworks, "He is Risen" for my next project.  CLICK HERE to see a picture of the chart.  I am not going to stitch the 2 Angels at the top.  Now that I look at the chart it seems like I may have to re-chart the line below the tomb.  I think the second "He" after the comma should also be capitalized so I will re-center that line.

Have some great stitching time this weekend.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

The Lantern is stitched

I love how the lantern turned out and it will be even more spectacular when it is backstitched.
I am so close to the bottom of this stocking so my mind is swirling with so many options for my next cross stitch project.
There is a Paula Vaughan SAL at 123Stitch which reminded me that I put aside a lovely PV project in late 2015 that I would love to finish.
Of course it's always been more fun for me to start another project than dig around to find an old WIP so there is another stocking I want to stitch and I also have "A Treasured Time" on my shelf that keeps calling me.
My room is quite a mess as I have also started another baby quilt - this has a lot of applique which is a new process for me so it's not moving very fast.
I hope we can all find stitching time this coming weekend.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Stocking Wip

I have finished enough of the deer to do the backstitching on it before I move on to the rest of the stocking.
I am still most excited about stitching the lantern just below the deer so I hope to finish that this weekend.
Our weather has been so nice that I am trying to ignore the irresistible urge that I have to start spring cleaning.
Enjoy however much time you find for stitching this week.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

What a Face

I love the deer's face and it will be even more wonderful once the backstitching is finished.
Christmas stocking patterns always seem to take longer than I think they will but this one will be worth the time.
Our youngest son is coming for a visit so we have a great weekend coming up.
My next big goal is to stitch the lantern below the deer.
Have some pleasant stitching time whenever you can.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Progress on Christmas Stocking

I have stitched the deer's antlers and most of the background of tree branches and blobs of snow.  I am so excited to start the rest of the deer's head.
Have a great rest of the month full of stitching time.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Stocking WIP

I only did a little more stitching but I was able to backstitch the birds and the squirrel this week.

Have a great weekend of stitching.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

WIP Christmas Stocking

I have a pretty good start on my next
Christmas Stocking project - I love the animals in this one.













This is the leaflet that has the chart for the Christmas Stocking.

Happy Stitching Days

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Snowscape Finish

I have finished the Snowscape scene from cross-stitching.com.  I checked my fabric and it appears to be a mystery aida that is about 17 stitches per inch.  I may not do the other 3 scenes in this set as there are a lot of 1/4 stitches which are a bit difficult on this fabric.
I have picked a Christmas Stocking for my next cross stitching project - I hope to put in many stitches during the football playoff games.

Happy stitching days.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]