In The Blackbird Manner

This latest finish is a winter themed one. I haven't felt like stitching at all here lately, and really it is no wonder. I took an inventory the other day and  I have stitched a total of 22 projects from scratch and finished up 35 from the Bin O'Shame. That is a total of 57 projects, beating my 2010 high of 49 projects in various stages. Can we say burnout? o.O

So, I took a wee bit of a break. I have yet to even finish my November 2015 Overnight Shift project. Shameful I know, however, I just could not bring myself to even pick up the needle. So I read and watched Netflix. Read some more. Barnes and Noble had some great deals on e-books on Black Friday, so I snapped up a few. My latest read is A Journey Through Tudor England: Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London to Stratford-upon-Avon and Thornbury Castle by Suzannah Lipscomb. It is a fascinating read on the places that made Tudor England such as Hampton Court palace, Tutbury Castle where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned, and Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth I.  I am really enjoying this book so far. 

A few days ago, I felt like I should stitch something. But what was the issue. I had in mind something wintery, rather than Christmas in nature. I have stitched a fair amount of Christmas related pieces, but nothing hardly winter related at all. Around the same time, I got the urge to stitch up something from Barb and Alma of Blackbird Designs. I always enjoy stitching their pieces. I also like the way you can combine several of their works to make something completely on your own. Which is exactly what I did with this latest finish. I stitched when I felt like it and didn't hurry. It took far longer than it should have, but honestly, I could go all next near without picking up the needle once and still be ahead of the game. It won't happen, but it's nice to know I could rest on my stitching laurels if I wanted to do so! :)

Well, at any rate, here is the latest piece. I need to finish it up either by making a door knob hanger or possibly framing. We will see.

Design: House and snowflake star taken from the design House on Holly Hill from the book Peppermint and Holly (page 9). Tree taken from the leaflet Christmas Garden. Bird taken from the Winter Garden pincushion design. 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric Used: 28 count Summer Sky jobelan by Wichelt

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Fern Frond and Malted Milk. Au Ver À Soie  Soie d'Alger in Blanc, 942, 1424, and 3842.

Accoutrements: Mill Hill beads in # #00479 White. 

Stitcher's Notes: Bird stitched one over one with full cross stitches. Please note that at this time, the Peppermint and Holly, Christmas Garden and Winter Garden pincushion design are not for sale or trade. Began Monday, November 30, 2015. Finished on Friday, December 4, 2015.

Well, I had best be off. Not sure what the game plan is for the weekend, but as Christmas shopping has been completed for this year and all of the online orders have come in, we probably should go out wandering around. :)

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

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Respectfully submitted,

C.