Moonlit Desert

 This is my newest project - Moonlit Desert by Fireside Originals (c) 2002.

I have been stitching on it since Sunday, August 3, usually during baseball games, but other times as well. Here is my progress so far.

It calls for some not-so-fun threads - Kreinik Ombre, for example. I suggest very short lengths, it kind of shredded (unraveled) mid-stitch. When completed, it will be about 2.5" x 10" and I will probably turn it into a bell pull. Stay tuned.

Happy Stitching!!

In a Cactus Frame of Mind

 Living in Arizona is it a surprise that I have cactus on my mind??

First, I modified a pattern from a Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine date unknown. When I moved to AZ, I downsized and instead of whole magazines, I took out patterns I liked. I can tell you it is called A Taste of the Southwest, designed by Laurel Blake and is designed to stitch onto towels (one for each day of the week) and bread cloths. I used just a portion of one design (Saturday) so it would fit in the 3.5" x 3.5" space of a coaster form I have. I also stitched it on perforated paper for ease of finishing into the coaster. 

Here it is in progress, it looked goofy and I was going to have you guess what it is, but I kind of already spilled the beans.

Here is the finished project in the coaster that I plan to sell at our fall EXPO.

This was a fun stitch, and I may make some others in the set. Time will tell.

Second, I found this WIP (work in progress) and started it again. It is a DMC kit called CACTUS that I purchased at Hobby Lobby a while back.  It is 52 stitches wide by 69 stitches high and made to go into a hoop but I will probably finish-finish it differently. Here is my progress after a few nights of stitching.

HAPPY STITCHING!!

A Couple of Flat Folds

 Last month I taught a workshop to my local needlework club on how to do a flat fold finish.

I had 4 students and it went quite well, all but one had their pieces all put together except for the cording. We have started back our monthly programs and February we will be making twisted cord!

Here are two pieces I finished in the flat fold manner. The cactus has purchased cording and the heart has cord I made using two colors!

The Saguaro is from a Banar designs kit from the 1990s and the heart is from a local Littleton, Colorado needlework shop retreat. So, I do not have a lot of information on either of them other than that.

I had planned to put the Saguaro in our March expo sale, but I like it too much and I am keeping it!! But I have the chart someplace and can make another one for the sale. Maybe not for March, but there should be one or two sales in the fall. 

Our 2016 Ornament

When I posted the blasts from Christmas past, I realized I did not have an ornament for our tree this year!!

 So I designed, stitched and finished this little guy, (it is 3" by 3.5") which fits perfectly into our new life here in the Valley of the Sun! It is a Sun City Stitcher exclusive.

Happy Stitching!!!