More Finish Finishing

I seem to be in a finishing state of mind. 

The first project is from the 2005 Bent Creek Zipper Series and this one is called Stars. It is on 18 count fabric over two using pearl cotton. I made it into a flat fold and it is on the fabric I used for backing. It is about the size of a #10 business size envelope.

This next is also from Bent Creek. It is called Coins Patriotic (c) 2007. It is on 36 count fabric over two using floss and is about 3"x 5". I made it into a pillow and the backing fabric is gray with tone on tone stars.

This Santa is called Santa Star from Homespun Collectibles. I completed it in 2014. The chart only was for the front, and I got a wild idea to make it 3D so stitched a back. It was a bit of a pain to finish, but here it is.

This last project is by Betsy Morgan and is a Sampler Guild of the Rockies 2012 fundraiser only available to members. It is a needlebook that can also be used as a Christmas Ornament. It is called Christmas Eve in the Rockies and is about 2.5" inches square closed. I made the twisted cord and used bamboo felt for the needle holder inside. It came with the star button and bell for a closure (besides the fabrics and threads).

Front

 Back

 Inside

Happy Stitching!     

Maria Antoni Sampler FINISHED

 I am finished with this sampler. I made a few changes, but am happy with it so that is how it will stay!!

Many of the areas in the lower third called for long arm cross, but there were areas with a lot of color change and I just could not get the hang of the stitch, so I did regular cross stitch. 

Also, there is some other lettering and numbers under her name, but I could not figure out what they said and left them out. I did put my initials and the year in an empty space to the right of the tree.

I started this at a Sampler Guild of the Rockies Retreat in 2015. All I got done then was the black and yellow stitches in the motif at the upper left. I picked the project back up in April of this year and have worked on it most evenings since. Finishing it on October 24.  It is 12.5" x 17" on 36 count linen and uses Soie d' alger silks.

Here is a close up of the beaded area:

Now on to other projects. This is one plus of being retired during a pandemic, I am getting a TON of stitching done and I try to look on the bright side.

Happy Stitching!!

With My Needle Finish Finish! Lots of Photos.

I showed you the finished stitching on my blog post of  April 10, 2020.

I finish finished the box and the smalls for the inside!

Top photo is the fronts of the smalls followed by the backsides. The blue bird was supposed to be one side of a scissor fob, but I felt it was a tad big, so I turned it into a pin cushion. I used a nickel on the inside of the scissor fob to give it some weight.

This is shows the inside of the needle book

Here is the inside bottom and the top mounted on comic book board waiting to be placed on or in the box. 

This is the top mounted on the box, followed by photos of the smalls and the inside of the box.

I decided the top needed a cover too so here it is.

With the current situation I had to use paint from my stash. I originally painted the box red, but it was not right with the red in the fabric or the stitching - Dang.  So I used a crackle medium on the red and painted over it with a sand color to give it an aged look. 

I think that covers it for now!! 

Take care all and keep on stitching!!

Another Finish and New (Old) Project

This is also a sampler project from Sampler Guild of the Rockies. I think I told you a little about it on March 21st.  *****I have a correction to that post. Threads used were Weeks Dye Works Lancaster Red and The Gentle Arts Sampler Threads Dried Thyme and Deep Sea.*****

I finished the stitching for the box top (top part of the fabric), the needle book (middle section) and the scissor fob (bottom section). Now to actually make them into their indented items!! Stand, or sit, by for that.

I have moved on to this (UFO) -17th Century Cross Stitch by Nan Tyson Euler:

It is from the EGA National Seminar in Hilton Head, SC (2002). My first EGA seminar. I loved the sampler, but did not like the marking cross used, so set it aside. I picked it up at some point and did regular cross stitch on the top band, did about half and set it down again.

I picked it up last week and finished the cross stitch section. I then decided I should to the thin green dividing band in marking cross to see why I did not like it and maybe after over 17 years and more experience I would like the stitch.   I DO NOT. But I thought it best if the dividing lines between the top bands matched so I carried on and finished the next green dividing line.

The marking cross is worked totally opposite of how I do regular cross stitch. It is worked from the top and the leg of the X on top is not the same as when I do cross stitch. So I was not easy for me to pick it up and develop a good feel stitching it. I think if I could have worked it starting at the bottom going bottom left to top right, I could have gotten a good stitching motion. But I did not, and I did not want to switch since then my marking crosses would not be the same and that is a big no no.

Marking Cross is not the only stitch used and so I have been working each band using the suggested stitch, except I use regular cross stitch in place of Marking Cross. So it is not exactly as designed, but I was not going to have it sit in the cupboard because of one stitch!

It is on 32 count Edinburgh cream linen. The finished sampler is 5" x 9". Threads are all silk, mostly Au ver a soie 100/3 and some Pearsall's silk. I am not a big fan of either silk, but glad I got to experience using them and know for future reference!

That is all for now!

Sampler Finished!

Well I finished the 1837 Crown Sampler by Plum Street Samplers! The design is approximately 16"x 13". I used DMC floss throughout and it is on 32 count linen. It was the 2014 Sampler Guild of the Rockies Year Long Project.

It is a reproduction sampler, so it includes mistakes made by the original stitcher and a few of my own. You get to figure out which are which!!

It is always a question when doing these is if you should use the original stitchers initials or name and date? I decided to do it as charted and added my initials and date below the original border. I especially wanted to do this since I finished it the same month as the original.

Happy Stitching!

New (Old) Project

I seem to be on a roll regarding working on my Sampler Guild of the Rockies (SGR) Works in Progress (WIPs)/UnFinished Obects (UFOs)!!

I am attempting to make 2020 the year of WIPs and UFOs. The only exception being ANG National Seminar which will be in Tucson, so I MUST go, and sale items for our community Expo. I may post later with my WIP and UFO number - could be scary, but will keep me busy for sure!! I also thought I should do these because many are on 36 count linen, which I can still do, but not sure for how long.

I am almost done with the 1837 Crown Sampler, but I want to finish it in April, so I have set it aside for now.

I have picked up a SGR project from 2012/2013 called With My Needle, a complimentary design by Plum Street Samplers. When finished it will go on top of a wooden box. The project also includes a needle book and scissor fob that can go into the box, all based off the chart.

Actually I had been working on it before I started the Crown Sampler UFO, but ran out of thread, so changed projects. I am using Weeks Dye Works (Lancaster Red, Deep Sea and Dried Thyme). It is on 36 Count PTP Doubloon (got that off the label which I happened to tape to the chart).That is all the information I have on the fabric.

Here is where I was when started it back up. I got as far as the top line and part of the second line when I ran out of thread. The chart had all the same symbol, so I think some of the green should be red, but I like it as is and am not taking it out!

This is how much I have done up to now - I finished line two and onto line three.















You will just have to stay in suspense until I get further along!!

Happy Stitching Everyone!!!

Back to Stitching!

I have picked up my needle to work on a Sampler Guild of the Rockies year long project....from 2014!!

It is the 1837 Crown Sampler. An antique needlework reproduction by Plum Street Samplers.

Since it is a reproduction of the original, the mistakes made my the original stitcher have been charted and reproduced. I will leave it up to you to decide which are the original stitcher's errors and which are mine!! If you can see them that is.

I still have not decided how I will "sign" it, but I have time yet. I am thinking I will try to finish it this April and put April 2020 with my initials.

I have been working on it most every night for a while now, but do not have any photos until the top one taken Feb. 12 and the bottom one taken Feb. 23.

I am now working on page 5 of 6, so I may get it done in April!!

Happy Stitching!!

Virtue Leads Finish Finishes

 Last year the Sampler Guild of the Rockies decided to have their annual workshop be a finishing class. So we did all the stitching in advance, and were to do all the finishing in class. Well I up and moved to Arizona before the class, but I did get all the pre-work done, not knowing when our house would sell.

It is Virtue Leads Stitch Book, scissor fob, needle book and pyn keep by Chessie and Me an original design by Linda Lautenschlager. It is on 36 count Lakeside linen and uses Classic Colorworks threads and Weeks Dye Works  Mountain Mist wool fabric.

Well the nice folks at the Sampler Guild sent me all the stuff and instructions to finish this project and this past week I did just that!

It consisted of a paper mache book box that we painted blue, rubbed on some paraffin wax as a resist and then painted it black. I then sanded off areas I wanted the blue to show through to give it a distressed look.

I attached the stitched pieces for the book onto the nice wool felt provided and then attached one on the front of the book and one on the inside - see the first two photos below.

The second photo has the box open (which I lined with some paper provided) and shows the scissor fob and pyn keep. Also provided was a bit of bees wax and a wooden corner gauge compliments of Chessie and Me.

Also part of the project is a Needle Book.

Here is the front and back of the Pyn Keep

Here it is all together!

It was a LOT of fun to stitch and to finish!

Wrist Brace and Some Finishes

For the last two weeks I have been wearing a brace for tendinitis of my right wrist. Which is my crafting, stitching & crocheting hand!!

It also made typing on the computer fun - NOT!! The lower part of the brace kept hitting the space bar or the window key and all kinds of interesting things happened.

 But before all this I did make some progress on Sedona - Cathedral Rock. The water is done and I added the ultra suede rocks at lower left. Now all I have to get done is the sky which I planned to start when my wrist started to hurt :(

Also while still in my stitching form I completed the Sampler Guild of the Rockies 2012 Christmas Ornament. I need to finish finish it into a needle book that has a closure and hanger so you can also use it as a ornament. I am not sure I will make the needlebook, I may just finish it as an ornament.  I also decided to put the year the ornament as charted (2012) for historical purposes, but also the year I finished it (2015) as you can see in the top photo below.

It was designed by Betsy Morgan for the Sampler Guild of the Rockies as a fundraiser and is available to members only. It is called Christmas Eve in the Rockies.

A Christmas Finish Finish!!

This is the 2013 Sampler Guild of the Rockies fundraiser. I stitched it this year, so changed the date and added my initials under NOEL on the back, otherwise it is stitched as charted and kitted. She also suggested twisted cording for the edges, but I decided to go this simpler route.

I make an ornament (or some other Christmas decoration) each year and this will be ours for 2014!

Sampler Guild of the Rockies Christmas Ornament 2013. 

Designed by for the Sampler Guild of the Rockies by Catherine C. Theron.

Sampler Guild of Rockies Meeting Report

Yesterday was the Sampler Guild of The Rockies last meeting for the year. We meet on the second Sunday of the month Sept to May from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Since the second Sunday in May is Mother's Day, we meet on Saturday in May. This is also the time we celebrate the Guild's Birthday and have a Pin Cushion Exchange.

Here is the pin cushion I made. It is from The Prairie Schooler Book No. 115, Pins and Needles (c) 2004. I changed the head of the pins by using beads.

I made this label for the gift bag....

....here is the card I made to go with it. 

Inside I wrote the design information for the recipient and signed my name.

In return I received a lovely Flowers pin cushion (a Lizzie and Kate design) stitched by Nancy P. Didn't she do a great job? I just love it, especially the ribbon edging!!

 She also included this cute little potted flowering plant. It fits right in with my other house plants!

We also had a very fun make and take and most folks were able to finish it during the meeting, me included. 

This button scissor fob, was very fun to and not too difficult. It is based on a necklace the lady who taught us this made and everyone admired. 

As always, everyone received a birthday gift in honor of the Guild's birthday!

 by In the Company of Friends.

I think that is the report for now. 

Happy Stitching!!!!

Sampler Guild of the Rockies

I love my Sampler Guild of The Rockies. Such great ladies, fun projects and tasty food. This month we meet on Saturday, May 10 because our usual Sunday date is Mother's Day. It is also the last meeting until September, so lots of fun things happen at the May meeting.

We usually have a birthday celebration of some sort for the Guild and also a stitched pin cushion exchange. I forgot about the exchange and started late.......

 

But I have made good progress since this photo was taken a day or tow ago, but so as not to spoil the surprise I will only post this photo for now. I will provide the finished photo and a photo of the one I get as an exchange after the meeting!

Sampler Guild of the Rockies June Retreat Report/RMR Seminar Update

Saturday June 8 was the Sampler Guild of the Rockies June retreat. A full day of fun, food, shopping and STITCHING!! This year was a tad different in that we had a teacher from out of state come and give us two projects. We did one before lunch and one after lunch.

There were tables reserved (in advance) for members to sell items, so we got to SHOP!! Food was provided by members as well. We had different salads and sandwiches and of course DESERT.

Our teacher was Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers and the theme was “A Crowning Effort”. Part 1 is a miniature sewing tray (actually a Sudberry House wooden coaster). It is a very cute miniature sampler and will be fun to finish.

 

Part 2 was a pinberry makedo – a cute pincushion. Both came in boxes which were great to use to hold our threads while stitching. I have not started the makedo, but you can see a bit of my progress on the sewing tray in the third picture from the top. The bottom photo shows pictures of the two projects - makedo at upper left in the photo and the cute little sampler at right.

 

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Now on to the Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) Seminar Update:

 

I came home to one casualty:

Also I forgot to post a photo of my cute class angel pin. We all had blue hardanger angels with the skirts of each being a little different. I really love my little angel!

Have a great day!!