A Long Dog 'Pup' And A New Start

I have taken to calling my Long Dog Samplers fabric and floss samples that I am stitching 'pups'. They are small portions of Long Dog designs that I use to test out fabric and floss combinations. This latest one is from the chart 'Les Grande Pensée' from the book  L'arbre de Noé et autres tableaux au point de croix . I have had this book for close to three years now, and I have only stitched samples from it thus far. I have another fabric and fiber test that I need to conduct before I make my final decision. I do have this tiny 'pup' to show however. :)


                                 Design: Les Grande Pensée (Tableau 10)

Designer:  Julia Line of Long Dog Samplers.

Stitcher's Notes: Taken from the book L'arbre de Noé et autres tableaux au point de croix . Published by Marabout in France. 

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

I also began a project that I have been wanting to stitch for a very long time now. I love this type of sampler and I look forward to stitching more Vierlanden samplers. Vierlanden is an marshy area south east of Hamburg, Germany where these distinct samplers were made. The name dates back to 1556 and refers to the four parishes Curslack , Kirchwerder , Neuengamme and Altengamme that are identical to the present districts. Most of them were made in the first half of the 1800's although there are a few from the late 1700's. All contain similar geometric motifs and flowering plants in urns. The motifs were stitched on various household linens. 

Here is my progress so far:

Design: 1855 I Auguste Heidemrieg sampler

Designer: Reproduced by Lorraine Mootz for Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly (Fall 2014)

Fabric Used: 22 count Ariosa linen by Zweigart in white

Fiber Used: Rainbow Gallery Splendor 12 ply silk floss in Black (S801)

Stitchers' Notes:  Design featured on page 29 of the Fall 2014 issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly. Began Saturday, January 21, 2017. 

Time for me to bolt for the door. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week! 

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

1K Sunday

This weekend was a two project weekend. I wanted to 'touch base' with another project that has fallen by the wayside and attempt to get caught up with the challenge that Michelle Sayetta of Heaven and Earth Designs had issued on the official Heaven and Earth Designs Facebook group. Or at least put a dent into it :). 

The first WIP was picked up on Friday and continued on into Saturday. It is a monochrome that I had started back last year after my poor Ozzy had left me. I had set it aside as I wasn't 'into' it. I figured almost 6 months in the Bin O'Shame was probably long enough. I will probably have to get more Gloriana Threads  12 strand French silk floss in #079 Monet's Pond (Lot: T17/12148) for this project as I am rapidly running low. I have a great deal more to stitch and I do not think I will have enough. 


Sunday's project was the challenged thatMichelle Sayetta of Heaven and Earth Designs had issued on the official Heaven and Earth Designs Facebook group. This particular challenge was 1000 stitches in stair step stitching. 

I chose QS Maleficent/Evil Queen as my project as I wanted to get more stitching time put in on her. I love the colors that are used in this project and she really is a fun project. 

Yesterday, I managed to finally get around to the challenge. I also managed to get all 1000 stitches in during the afternoon. It helped that there were large blocks of one color. Had these sections been all confetti stitching, I probably would not have gotten so far :). 


Well, here they are. My two projects for the weekend:

WIP #1:

Design: Jardin Mythique

Designer: Danielle Chevallier of Danybrod

Fabric Used: 36 count Edinburgh linen in White

Fibers Used: Gloriana Threads  12 strand French silk floss in #079 Monet's Pond (Lot: T17/12148)

Stitcher's Notes: Began Friday, September 11, 2015. Will not be stitching the alphabet and outer border. 

As of Wednesday, September 16, 2015:

As of Monday, February 22, 2016:

WIP #2:

Design: QS Maleficent/Evil Queen 

Designer: Michelle Sayetta of Heaven and Earth Designs. Based on the original artwork of Annya Kai. 

Fabric: 22 count Antique White aida by Wichelt

Fibers: DMC as called for in the chart

Stitcher's Notes: Began Saturday, January 24, 2015. The Quick Stitch for this design is no longer available for purchase at this time. The chart was originally called Maleficent, however, this was changed at some point. 

As of Monday, November 23, 2015:

As of Monday, February 22, 2016:

Time for me to bolt for the door. I hope everyone had a great weekend. 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

WIP Wednesday Post For September 16, 2015

Things have been quite busy here in the house lately, so I am not as far along on my current project as I would like to be. I told myself that this is ok, as I have managed to finish the stitching on quite a number of projects this year, including 15 from scratch starts, which more than covers the unofficial yearly goal of one project a month (for a total of 12 per year). Given all that I have done this year, I have 'allowed' myself to coast for the rest of the year, should I so choose to do so. I probably need the break anyway, if for no other reason than to not give myself carpal tunnel trying to stitch everything in my not inconsiderable stash. :)

I can tell I am feeling better since losing our beloved Ozzy just over a week ago. It really does feel like a lifetime ago. I miss him horribly every day. I still look for him in his favorite places out of habit, but I assume like everything else, this too shall pass. This week I have been looking through stash to find things for other folks and have gotten the urge to stitch everything I am looking at at the time. Which is a good sign, I suppose. I have my OOP binder on my desk and as it is fall, I really want to get to all the Primitive Needle and Prairie Schooler that I have in that binder. Here, I must practice a bit of discipline, as that is how the Bin O'Shame came into being. I certainly do not need a repeat of that. I've worked far too hard this year to get it down to a somewhat reasonable level! :)

Well, here is this Wednesday's update: 

Design: Jardin Mythique

Designer: Danielle Chevallier of Danybrod

Fabric Used: 36 count Edinburgh linen in White

Fibers Used: Gloriana Threads  12 strand French silk floss in #079 Monet's Pond (Lot: T17/12148)

Stitcher's Notes: Began Friday, September 11, 2015. Will not be stitching the alphabet and outer border. 


As of Friday, September 11, 2015:

As of Wednesday, September 16, 2015:

I had best be off. I need to go out for a walk and take care of some things around the house. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

The Water Lily Pond

Monet: Water-Lily Pond, c.1915–1926

This has always been one of my favorite paintings. I find the colors so soothing and restful. I have sorely needed that this past week. Yesterday, as I was picking the last of the odds and ends from the Great Cleanup and Organization, I caught sight of a skein of French silk thread that I have by Gloriana Threads . It is called Monet's Pond and it reminds me a great deal of this painting. I got out the floss and just set it on my desk to look at, very much like the knickknacks that I have decorating my desk. After more cleaning and putting away of things, I came across a design that I had purchased some time ago that I had put in the 'To Do' pile. I looked at the thread on my desk and knew it would be a perfect match. I found a pice of fabric in my stash that was the perfect size for this piece. It didn't even need to cut it to size! I haven't gotten too far into it, as I want to take my time with this piece. No frantically trying to beat an imagined deadline or to 'get it over with'. I need the slower pace to calm my soul after losing Ozzy. I suppose I will eventually return to Blessed Be, but not now. 

Well, at any rate, here is the newest start:

Design: Jardin Mythique

Designer: Danielle Chevallier of Danybrod

Fabric Used: 36 count Edinburgh linen in White

Fibers Used: Gloriana Threads  12 strand French silk floss in #079 Monet's Pond (Lot: T17/12148)

Stitcher's Notes: Began Friday, September 11, 2015

I had best be off. It's time for some breakfast. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Their Song Finished

This was one of those projects that the closer one got to the end, the more it felt like there was a whole other project to do. Yesterday, I wasn't feeling well enough to stitch a whole lot, so today, I just sat down and hammered this one out until I was finished. I'm am so, so happy that I got the chance to stitch this one up. I am happy that I got to be on the list to stitch this one as I do not think I would ever stitch this one again. Still, in all, I do love these birds! :)

Well, at any rate. Here are my efforts: 

Design: Their Song (Chart #24 from the 2007 Loose Feathers series) 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Harvest, Ivy League, Old Crow,

Slate, and Tulip. Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

Stitcher's Notes: Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. 126w by 150h. Replaced the Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss for silks. Began Tuesday, August 11, 2015. Finished Sunday, August 23, 2015


Original Design:

As of Friday, August 21, 2015:

As of Sunday, August 23, 2015:

All in all this took 13 days to stitch from start to finish. I'd say that was not bad at all, yea? :)

Well, I had best be off. I need to clean up my stitching area and take a break from stitching for tonight at least. I've stitched like a mad woman today and I'd rather not get carpal tunnel if I can help it! 

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Have a good week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Second Pre Weekend Update

I've managed to get a fair amount done since Wednesday. I went back over my notes and I began this project on Began Tuesday, August 11, 2015. Today's post is 10 days of progress. With a little bit of luck, I *should* be able to finish it up this weekend and get it returned back to  Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. If I manage to finish it up by Tuesday, the 25th, that would mean approximately 2 weeks from start to finish. None too shabby considering that this project is a bit more involved than I gave it credit for! 

Well, at any rate, here is my second pre-weekend progress:

Design: Their Song (Chart #24 from the 2007 Loose Feathers series) 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Harvest, Ivy League, Old Crow,

Slate, and Tulip. Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

Stitcher's Notes: Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. 126w by 150h. Replaced the Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss for silks. Began Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

Original Design:

As of Wednesday, August 19, 2015:

As of Friday, August 21, 2015:

I heard back from the specialty care vet's office. Even with pathology tests run, they still do not know what my poor cat has. The internists and oncology doctors consulted with one another and with pathology and apparently, if it *is* cancer, it is in its very wee infancy. He's not throwing up blood or bile, no going outside of the box, no howling, no nothing other than changes in drinking water and some behavior. This is frustrating, however, cancer would have been worse, I think. A cancer diagnosis is only 6 months with chemo :/. Which is no bueno. So, the next step will be a urine culture to see if it may be a kidney infection. If *that* test winds up negative, then there will be a confab to see what, if any, additional options there may be. In the mean time, in between time, it appears as if the weekend has already arrived:

Well, I had best be off. No rest for the wicked and all that. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

WIP Wednesday Their Song Update

This is one of those designs that I swear I am not making any progress on until I post pictures. It's a bit larger than I gave it credit for, and it seems as if it is crawling along in places. I think I have managed to get the tree off center, so I am scrambling to make it work as there is no way under the face of God's green earth I am ripping out all of that silk. 'Make do and mend' is one of the stitcher's creeds, and so I shall. I am hoping to put some serious time in on this one, as I am fairly anxious that  Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group gets her chart back posthaste. 

Well, here is my progress so far:

Design: Their Song (Chart #24. From the 2007 Loose Feathers series) 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Harvest, Ivy League, Old Crow,

Slate, and Tulip. Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

Stitcher's Notes: Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. 126w by 150h. Replaced the Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss for silks. 

Original Design:

As of Monday, August 17, 2015:

As of Wednesday, August 19, 2015:

Well, I had best be off. Lots to do today. Hope everyone has a great day today! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Monday Their Song Update

I didn't get as much done on this one as we are dealing with a very sick kitty in our house. We have had to take him in for emergency overnight care for some kidney issues and today we find out if it is something fixable or cancer. He sometimes lays on my desk while I am stitching. I miss him very, very much and pray that it is something that we can fix and won't cost the earth. 

Design: Their Song (Chart #24. From the 2007 Loose Feathers series) 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Harvest, Ivy League, Old Crow,

Slate, and Tulip. Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

Stitcher's Notes: Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. 126w by 150h. Replaced the Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss for silks. 

Original Design:

As of Friday, August 14, 2015:

As of Monday, August 17, 2015:

Well, I had best be off. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Please keep my favorite feline in your good thoughts and prayers. 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Their Song Pre Weekend Update

I had not idea of this, but apparently, today is World Cross Stitching Day. It was created to spread the word and to celebrate cross stitch. I think it's a good idea. I think we should have all kinds of crafting days to celebrate. Think of all the undiscovered crafts lurking out there!

Well, here is a pre weekend update on Their Song. I am quite anxious to finish this one as quickly as possible, as it *is* a loan from Patricia G and I would like for her to get this rare and quite valuable chart back as soon as humanly possible. So, this weekend, I will be pretty much knuckling down and stitching on this as much as I can. Right now, I have laundry going and the house is all cleaned up (as is my custom) prior to the weekend so there will be minimal distractions. 

Well, here is my humble offering thus far: 

Design: Their Song (Chart #24. From the 2007 Loose Feathers series) 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Harvest, Ivy League, Old Crow,

Slate, and Tulip. Gloriana Threads 12 strand French silk floss in #016 Holiday Green. 

Stitcher's Notes: Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group. 126w by 150h. Replaced the Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss for silks. 

Original Design:

As of Wednesday, August 12, 2015:

As of Friday, August 14, 2015:

I had best be off. I believe the laundry is now ready. I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C.