Finally Finished!

Woohoo! I finally have my ninth finish for the year and the very first one from the infamous Bin O'Shame for this year! I am very, very happy with this finish. It is so bright and cheerful and I am so happy that I stuck with it. I began this project in August of 2007, so I am a bit overdue, yea? I would love to find a bright royal blue frame for it. I think it would set the piece off nicely. 

Well, at any rate, here is the current finish and the very first finish from the Bin O'Shame for this year:

Design: Japanese Anemones

Designer: Sheila Hudson 

Fabric: 14 count summer yellow aida by Wichelt 

Fibers Used: As provided in the kit. There are no DMC or Anchor numbers on the floss, so I will have to do a match at some point, as I want to stitch this one again as it's so bright and cheery. This is the cover kit from issue 187, June 2007 UK Cross Stitcher magazine. 

Front Cover Of The Magazine:

As of Thursday, June 7, 2018:

As of Tuesday, June 12, 2018:

Time for me to clean up my stitching area and grab the next project out of the closet. I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Got The Blues

I have managed to make quite a bit of progress on my current WIP. So much so, that I am down to the last two colors that need stitching. Both of them are two shades of blue. There is quite a bit that needs doing, and it will be a bit tricky to stitch, due to the placement of the colors, but hopefully, by this time next week, I will have a another finish. This will make 9 for the year, which makes me very happy. 

Well, at any rate, here is the current project, #1 from the Bin O'Shame for this year:

Design: Japanese Anemones

Designer: Sheila Hudson 

Fabric: 14 count summer yellow aida by Wichelt 

Fibers Used: As provided in the kit. There are no DMC or Anchor numbers on the floss, so I will have to do a match at some point, as I want to stitch this one again as it's so bright and cheery. This is the cover kit from issue 187, June 2007 UK Cross Stitcher magazine. 

Front Cover Of The Magazine:

As of Monday, June 4, 2018:

As of Thursday, June 7, 2018:

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

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Stop And Start Project

It dawned on me the other day that I have put nary a stitch into any of my Bin O'Shame projects this year. I decided to paw through it to see if any were calling to me and I came across this one. Since it was purchased, way back in 2007, I have picked this up off and on and have never completed the piece. I think because there are a lot of colors that are very close together and a metric ton of white that has kept me from making any serious progress.

I have not stitched too much more than the photo from the May 31, 2015 photo. This was actually picked back up in my first year of the Bin O'Shame project clean-out! :O Better late than never I suppose. SMH. 

Well, here is the current project, #1 from the Bin O'Shame for this year:

Design: Japanese Anemones

Designer: Sheila Hudson 

Fabric: 14 count summer yellow aida by Wichelt 

Fibers Used: As provided in the kit. There are no DMC or Anchor numbers on the floss, so I will have to do a match at some point, as I want to stitch this one again as it's so bright and cheery. This is the cover kit from issue 187, June 2007 UK Cross Stitcher magazine. 

Front Cover Of The Magazine:

When picked back up on Friday, May 29, 2015:

As of Sunday, May 31, 2015:

What it will eventually look like:

As of Monday, June 4, 2018:

Given the amount of progress that I have made since I picked this back up on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, I am hoping that this is the year it finally gets finished. It's only been 11 years so far, so I think it is past due! :D

Time for me to bolt for the door. I hope everyone is having a great start to their week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

It's Been A While

since I last posted. There has been a lot going on, which I won't go too much into detail. Suffice it to say, DH and I are in some new digs and we're settling in nicely. I still haven't really felt up to stitching since my last post. I've been really apathetic about stitching, which is unusual to say the least. I am slowly getting back into it, however. I managed to finish up a tiny finish for the smaller of our two bathrooms. We have 'themes' to our space and the smaller of the two bathrooms has apparently been deemed the 'beach/ocean' theme. We purchased a new shower curtain and some towels. I really love how it has turned out. At any rate, here is what I have managed to finish up today:

Design: Seahorse

Designer: unknown

Fabric Used: 36 count Edinburgh linen by Hand Dyed Fibers in 

Xenops 5315 (equivalent to DMC 762, very pale grey). 

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Peacock

Stitcher's Notes: Chart borrowed from a fellow stitcher. Chart originally for filet crochet. Converted into cross stitch. Finished Thursday, July 14, 2016. Frame purchased at Kohl's. Green glass jar purchased at Michael's craft store. Decorative trinket box purchased many years ago at a fair.

When organizing my stash, I came across this piece that was stitched by my mother. I do not know when she stitched this, but I thought it went perfect with this extra frame that I had. It is now hanging up in a place of pride in the smaller bathroom:

Design: Seahorse Collage from the book Sea Life 

Designer: Lanarte

Fabric Used: 14 white aida of unknown manufacturer (probably Charles Craft)

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as charted

Stitcher's Notes: Stitched by my mother several years ago. Date of stitching unknown. Frame purchased at Joann's. Design taken from the book Sea Life #3240.

I also received some goodies in the mail. Two charts I have been questing after for a very long time and the new 2016 JCS Halloween edition. Good times!

The Goode Huswife 'Our House' design I am going to convert from DMC to silks. As I have been questing for this particular design for many, many years now, I think it should be stitched with silks. I am up in the air about the fabric, however. I know it will probably wind up being my beloved Legacy  by Picture This Plus, although I am leaning towards the Fog in an opalescent. That would be fun! :)

I finished up my part of the 2016 Tiny Round Robin the other day. I did not post pictures, but will do so now. It has arrived back to its' rightful owner. This was the third and final part on my end, and the owner likes the way it came out. 

Design: Winter Cardinal 

Designer: Waxing Moon

Fabric Used: 14 off white aida of unknown manufacturer (probably Charles Craft)

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as charted

Stitcher's Notes: 3rd part of the 2016 Tiny Round Robin. Chart is a former freebie. Finished on Monday, July 4, 2016. 

My piece for the 2016 Tiny Round Robin returned to me on Saturday. I need to plan out the rest of the elements. I have a few ideas floating around in my head, however, I am anxious to get rid of my stitching apathy and I am craving some Halloween/Fall stitching. I did get a new magazine after all! 

Designers Used: Prairie Schooler and Willow Hill Samplings

Fabric Used: 18 count aida in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Au Ver À Soie  Soie d'Alger in Blanc Optique, 945, 1424, 2242 and 4122. Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Old Crow. 

Stitcher's Notes: 2016 Tiny Round Robin Piece. Both designs are now out of print. 

As of Tuesday, April 26, 2016:

Returned: Saturday, July 9, 2016:

And finally, I would like to close today's post with prayers and thoughts to those in Nice, France. Apparently, there has been another terror attack on French soil. My heart goes out to them. 

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé

Vive Le France!

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Verus Nullus, Omnis Licitus

Nothing is true, everything is permitted. This is the motto of the Assassins' Creed and my current book series. I am loving every page and hope to get more in the future. The books are based upon the video games and are quite the enjoyable read. 

For those who are uninterested, you may skip the following. :)

Often referred to as the Creed, it was the code and guiding philosophy of the Assassin Order, upheld from at least the High Middle Ages until the modern era. It restricted unnecessary slaughter of innocents, preserved the reputation of oneself and of the Order, and was meant to create peace, not only within the world, but within the individual.  The phrase was created during the 11th century by Hassan-i Sabbāh, the first recorded leader of the Assassin Order. Ezio Auditore da Firenze once spoke of the maxim at length with Sofia Sartor, who found it rather cynical. However, he told her that the maxim was not a doctrine to be followed, but merely an observation of the world.

In detail, he explained that "To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic."

This all leads up to one of my latest finishes. It is the Assassins' Creed logo, which I plan on making into a bookmark for the rest of the book series that I plan on purchasing. It took no time at all to stitch up. Indeed, it took all of two episodes of Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls Episodes Episode guide. I do love Dr. Lucy Worsley's shows on the BBC. Sometimes, I wish I had her job! :)

At any rate, here is the first of my finishes for this week:

Design: Assassins' Creed Logo

Designer: MacKenzie Rathbub of GeekieCrafts

Fiber Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Cupid

Fabric Used: 36 count smokey white Edinburgh linen by Zweigart

Stitcher's Notes: One day start and finish. Began and ended on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Will be finished as a bookmark. 

My second finish is my part in the 2016 Tiny Round Robin. The stitcher is a fan of Corgi dogs so this is my contribution. The stitcher had asked for personalized touches, however, I could not bring myself to ruin the French inspired lines of this Chateau de Corgi with a gaudy ass 'Welcome To Las Vegas' sign. 

Design: Chateau de Corgi

Designer: Unknown

Fabric Used: 14 count hand dyed by the stitcher

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 

Stitcher's Notes: Stitched the Chateau on the far left side of the piece. Fabric is a lot darker than in the picture. Left out a gaudy ass 'Welcome To Las Vegas' sign as I considered this a wholly bad idea. :)

Well, I had best be off. Stuff to do and there is no (stitching) rest for the wicked. :)

Hope everyone is having a great week! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Tiny Round Robin

I have decided to work into my stitching schedule something I have never done before, which is to take part in a round robin. I have a group of online friends that I have known for quite some time, so I feel comfortable in participating. In this one, we each get to pick a theme and I chose an Americana theme for my first round robin. The only restriction was that it could not be no more than 50 x 50. 


I have a few charts that I have wanted to stitch and the cool thing about a round robin is that a lot of the time, you wind up with one of a kind pieces. I have stitched the main portion of the design and one of the designs that will be used. I can't wait to see how this turns out! 

Here are the designs that I have chosen so far:

Designs Used: Stars and Stripes; Book #155

 and Land of the Free

Designers Used: Prairie Schooler and Willow Hill Samplings

Fabric Used: 18 count aida in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Au Ver À Soie  Soie d'Alger in Blanc Optique, 945, 1424, 2242 and 4122. Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Old Crow. 

Stitcher's Notes: 2016 Tiny Round Robin Piece. Both designs are now out of print. 

As of Tuesday, April 26, 2016:

Well, I had best be off. Lots to do and the day is a-wastin'! Hope everyone is having a great week!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Under The Wire

I have always been fascinated with the origin's of phrases and words. In this case, the expression 'under the wire', is believed to have originated from horse racing, where a wire was hung up over the finish line to help determine a winner. Thus, races that were extremely close could be described as "coming down to the wire," quite literally.

In my case, this means, I have managed to sneak in yet another completed stitched piece before the end of the month. After I had finished up the Easter Fairy, I went through  Kit Mountain,  Leaflet Silo and on with the Bin O'Shame again to see if anything was grabbing me. I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and stitch this one up. I think this series has the distinction of being both in Kit Mountain and in the Bin O'Shame, simultaneously. The kit was purchased around 2003 or 2004 and had left to rot until I managed decided to get off of my duff and finish the stitching on the Winter Cat in July of 2015. This was followed by the Summer Cat in August of 2015 and then the Autumn Cat in September of 2015. I think very much like Christmas At Hawk Run Hollow, it is both UFO and finish at the same time. Schrödinger's projects, if you will. 

The Spring Cat was left to languish until now. I have no idea why. It is quite possible that I was just not 'into' the coloring of this cat. I really should have changed the coloring to that of my beloved and much missed Ozzy. I think it would have popped better on the fabric. Ah, well. As is my custom, a day late and a dollar short (any action that was taken too late and is too feeble to be of any use, for the curious :) ). 

At any rate, this series is now completed in its' entirety. I am thankful for that. Now, I need to find a frame that will show all of them off. I am thinking of just one frame for all four projects. This way, I can pop them in and out of the frame at will. I seem to be one of these stitchers that is more interested in making sure money is spent on stitching projects, rather than using money to complete them. :)

Design: Cats For All Seasons Spring Cat (4 of 4)

Designer: Nancy Javier and Barbara Finwall of Banar Designs

Fabric: 14 count khaki aida of unknown manufacturer

Fibers Used: Unknown as provided in the kit

Bling Used: Mill Hill beads #42014 Petite Black seed beads

Stitcher's Notes: Kits previously purchased around 2003 or 2004. Substituted beads for cat's eyes and nose. Left off wording at the bottom. Seasonal cat number four out of four. Series completed as of Tuesday, March 29, 2016. 

Finished Tuesday, March 29, 2016:

Well, time for me to go. I hope everyone is having a great week so far!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Overnight Shift Weekend Finish

I am so happy this one is finished. While it went quite quickly, I didn't really enjoy stitching it. The symbols that were used were a bit confusing, so I wasn't able to rip through it as quickly as I could have. Still in all, it *is* finished, and that is all that matters. 

Design: Antique Roses (greeting card kit)

Designer: Hallmark

Fabric Used: Unknown 16 count. The nearest approximation is Stoney Point by Wichelt

Fibers Used: Unknown as provided in the kit. It is probable that it is DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 

Stitcher's Notes: Kit included in a birthday card for mom. Card purchased in Virginia in either 1995 or 1996 at a Hallmark Gold Crown store. Returned to the project on Thursday, January 14, 2016. 

As of Friday, January 15, 2016:

Finished Sunday, January 17, 2016:

It is a bit overcast today, so the picture is not as nice as I would like it. The fabric is actually the exact color in the first picture. It's more of a seafoam green, rather than the sage color in the finish picture. DH remarked on the very Victorian feel to it. I think once I get my sewing machine, this one will be turned into a small pillow. I am picturing lots of lace and things. 

Well, I had best be off. A headache has now set in and I am in need of a nap. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

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Respectfully submitted,

C.