A Little Gray Hare

Given the fact that my birthday is soon, I find the title of this newest start to be très amusant. :)

I snagged this latest start on one of my buying groups on Facebook. I managed to get it at a very reasonable price, especially given the fact that Linda Ebright of Lizzie Kate announced her retirement almost a month ago. Like everyone else, I have been searching for those charts to fill in the gaps of the collection. My latest stash acquisition game involves getting stuff as cheaply as possible. I understand free markets and capitalism, but it's not as if I do not have a metric boatload of other things to stitch. If I manage to get it at a good price, then so be it. If not; oh, well. That is the way love and capitalism goes. :)

Well, at any rate, here is my latest start. This makes #5 for the year thus far. That is almost halfway to my 12 pear year goal, so I am happy about that. :)

Design: A Little Gray Hare limited edition kit

Designer: Linda Ebright for Lizzie Kate

Fabric Used: 28 count vintage Antique Green by Zweigart

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Babbling Brook, Carnation, Cinnamon Stick, Collard Greens, Eiffel Tower, Ivy League, Mango, and Rouge. 

Accouterments:  Mill Hill beads in#42014 Petite Black and #42101 Purple

Stitchers' Notes: Began Thursday, March 8, 2018. Finished Thursday, March 15, 2018. Chart purchased secondhand. Fifth project for 2018. 

Time for me to dash. It's time for some organizing and getting my act together. I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Monochrome Finish

My latest finish is a more primitive type of design. I could not recall if I had ever stitched a primitive style Christmas design, so I dug through my Leaflet Silo and found this small design. It took longer than anticipated as Thanksgiving was upon us all of a sudden. Then, DH and I have decided to get sick on top of it. Good times. 

I have also really been struggling to stitch anything at all. This year has been the year of the burn out, I think. I've stitched so much in the past couple of years, I've lost the desire to stitch. Which completely pisses me off as I have all of these lovely and gorgeous projects to choose to stitch. I have a 6 inch binder alone of very rare, very hard to find designs and while I love pawing through them, I have very little desire to stitch. Blea. 

When these occasions happen, I organize and rearrange and take inventory of stock. As there was very little to organize due to my previous forays into organization, I took stock of what I had and what i have managed to finish this year. With this finish, I have only two more projects to stitch up and I will hit 30 projects stitched for the year. Mind you, most of these have been in the small design category, with a few Bin O'Shame finishes thrown in for good measure. That's not too bad a showing. I did hit my unofficial yearly goal of 12 projects, which equals to one per month. 

As of this writing, I will be sticking to just the unofficial yearly goal of 12 projects stitched to completion. I want to stitch on my rares and try and clean up more of the Bin O'Shame pieces. I have 24 pieces left in the Bin O'Shame and I think it's doable within the next 2 years. I am including Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow in the 24 that need to be stitched. I would love to make some progress on it, as it has sat for quite some time. I would like to finish blocks 3 through 6 next year. This would put the project to half finished by the end of 2018. We will see, yea? :) I mean, there is a certain road that is paved with nothing but good intentions, but standing back and taking stock of what I have accomplished has helped tremendously. 

At any rate, on with the finish show. I had the Devil's own time attempting to take a picture of this latest finish. I don't know how photographers do it, personally!

Design: Yule: Winter Solstice

Designer: Isobel Argante of The Primitive Hare 

Fabric Used: 28 count Cashel linen in Thyme by Wichelt

Fibers Used:  Rainbow Gallery Splendor 12 ply silk floss in S899, Dark Ecru

Stitchers' Notes: 28th finish of 2017. Freebie available on designers' blog. 

Finished Monday, November 27, 2017:

Time to bolt for the door to clean up my area and see if I cannot put the spurs to the last two projects of the year. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend.

Happy stitching!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Día de Muertos

I hope everyone out there in Blogland had a Happy Halloween and a good start to their Dia de Muertos. It was quiet here, but that's pretty much the way we like it. Not too many tick or treaters in an apartment building, but that's the way things go. 

I managed to get this guy stitching up in a trice yesterday. I really do love the colors in it. This is a really good Halloween book to have and I am lucky enough to own it. I am really looking forward to stitching more out of this book. 

Design: Boo! 

Designer:  Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count opalescent Cashel linen in Fog by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Noir, 234, 521, 633,  and 1336.

Stitchers' Notes:  One day start and finish on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Taken from the Trix or Treat booklet. Booklet is now OOP and HTF, as far as I know. 

Well, I must be off. Lots to do today. I hope everyone is having a great week.

Happy stitching!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

2010 Fright Night Finish

My latest finish is not the project that I recently started. I haven't been feeling all that hot due to the wildfires and as consequence, could not concentrate on such a dark fabric. I chose instead to stitch something else on a light colored fabric. The project should have taken no more than a week, however, I managed to stretch it out to three weeks until completion. These things happen I suppose. At least I have another finish for the year, which brings the total to 26 finishes for the year. Not exactly huge numbers, but then again, there has been a lot going on this past year. :)

At any rate, on with the show!

Design: 2010 Fright Night Quaker Halloween

Designer: Sandra Dering for SanMan Originals 

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

Fibers Used: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Noir, 234, 521, 633,  and 1336.

Accoutrements: Mill Hill beads in #00167 Christmas Green and #02033 Brilliant Orange. Toho 11/0 glass seed beads 1951-48 High Metallic Purple

Stitchers' Notes: Created for the members of the message board for the 2010 Fright Night festivities. Unfortunately, this chart is not for sale or trade as it is a .pdf file. 

I must be off. I hope everyone had a great weekend. 

Happy stitching!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

WIPs And An Organizational Post

I've put some time into two projects and have completed some more organization. When I am too tired to stitch, I have a tendency to clean and organize things, so that when the time comes to get out another project, I know where I stand. This is predicated on the fact that I have a 25+ year stash. I have been contemplating another 'great culling' but I am not quite there yet. 

I was going to wait until the end of the year to take another inventory of the infamous Bin O'Shame, however, I bit the bullet the other day and just got on with it. I was down to 29 going into the beginning of 2017, which made me really, really happy. I started off with 70 UFOs beginning in February 24, 2015, so every bit has counted! 

During the recount, I decided to separate the small to medium projects from the huge BAPs and long term projects. I wanted to separate the projects that I could complete in a reasonable amount of time, from the projects that will take many, many months to complete. After completing this task, I am now sitting on 23 projects in the infamous Bin O'Shame, however, I do have six long term projects that need to be dealt with. I have three projects that I am undecided as to whether or not I plan on finishing the stitching on them. One of them is the Forget Me Not Sampler  by With Thy Needle and Thread. The fact of the matter is, I cannot stand the color of the fabric. It is so dull and washed out. I understand it is a 'primitive' type design but the Lakeside Linens 40 count in Navy Bean just leaves me cold. I am not that far into it, so I may just finish of the central motif and restart it in a nicer color fabric. Or I may just finish the central motif and be done with it. Did I mention that I really do hate this fabric? :P

Well, at any rate, here are the two projects that I have worked on since completing the Strawberries and Cream sampler from Casey Buonaugurio: 

WIP #1:

Design: Be Kind and True (retired)

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric Used: 28  or 32 count white linen of unknown manufacturer

Fibers Used: Au Ver a Soie Soie 100/3 Spun Silk in 004, 037, 124, 126, 165, 197, 312, 486, 561, 663, 705 and 773. Kreinik silk serica thread in Light Charcoal, #8073. 

Stitcher's Notes: Stitched one strand of floss over two fabric threads. Chart on loan from Patricia G of the Blackbird Designs Lending Library Facebook Group. Replaced the cotton embroidery floss for silks. Began Monday July 17, 2017. 

I also managed to put in a bit of time on my 'Every Now And Again' project. 

WIP #2:

Design: Pretty Little San Francisco

Designer: Jody Rice of Satsuma Street

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

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart

Stitchers' Notes: Began Friday, March 17, 2017. Project to be stitched 'every now and again' with no set time frame for completion.

As of Saturday, March 18, 2017:

As of Tuesday July 25, 2017:

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

Happy stitching!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Second Bin' O'Shame Finish For 2017!

Woohoo! Finally managed to power through this one. It is also my second finish from the infamous Bin O'Shame. I am quite pleased with the way that it turned out. I really do prefer this design on the 28 count Cashel linen in Water Lily instead of the original pink that I had chosen. It would have been way too much pink, IMO!

Well, at any rate, here it is in all its' glory: 

Design: Strawberries and Cream 

Designer: Casey Buonaugurio (retired)

Fabric Used: 28 count Cashel linen in Water Lily

Fibers Used:  DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 in B5200, 225, 321, 351, 743, 815, 937, 986, 988 and 3706. 

Accouterments: Mill Hill beads in #00128 Crayon Yellow, #03049 Rich Red, and #42014 Petite Black beads

Stitcher's Notes: Began Monday, April 11, 2016. Design featured in the February 2006 issue of The Cross Stitcher, a now defunct US magazine. Design featured on page 36. Substituted called for fabric for 28  count Cashel linen in Water Lily. Substituted gingham band and strawberry flower and leaves for wording. Pink gingham band free formed by me. 

As of Thursday, July 13, 2017:

As of Sunday, July 16, 2017:

Well, time for me to be off. I need to clean up my stitching area and get started on a piece from the FB BBD Lending Library. This time around I have borrowed the out of print Be Kind and True:

I think I am going to stitch this in the same color palette that I chose for Summer In Bloom from the book Maria Selby Humphrey - 1831 book. Probably not on the same 48 count fabric, however, lol! 

Happy stitching! 

---

Respectfully submitted, 

C. 

A Year Later

And a *bit* closer to finishing this piece than I thought. I really do hate it when I am stitching a project that I am just not 'into'. This is how I get the ever popular Bin O'Shame came into being, for heavens' sake. And this project was a do over, no less. I really do not know what it is, but it's taking forever to finish this piece. Each row is seemingly simple, and yet, it is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I am thinking all of the color changes are accounting for this issue. 

As it has been over a year since I last posted any progress on it, I think this now qualifies as Bin O'Shame status. I have decided to get this out and just get on with it until it is completed. I am hoping that posting frequent updates will spur me to finishing it!

At any rate, here is what I have so far:

Design: Strawberries and Cream 

Designer: Casey Buonaugurio (retired)

Fabric Used: 28 count Cashel linen in Water Lily

Fibers Used:  DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 in B5200, 225, 321, 351, 743, 815, 937, 986, 988 and 3706. 

Accouterments: Mill Hill beads in #00128 Crayon Yellow, #03049 Rich Red, and #42014 Petite Black beads

Stitcher's Notes: Began Monday, April 11, 2016. Design featured in the February 2006 issue of The Cross Stitcher, a now defunct US magazine. Design featured on page 36. Substituted called for fabric for 28  count Cashel linen in Water Lily

As of Friday, April 15, 2016:

As of Thursday, July 13, 2017:

Well, I best be off. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Happy stitching! 

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

The San Francisco Treat

I began a new project on St. Patricks' Day this year. This is a special project that will only be worked on once a month, as I have almost hit my unofficial goal of 12 projects stitched in a year. Once I have finished stitching #12, I will be 'allowed' to stitch on some of my larger projects that have fallen by the wayside. I will also be hitting up Kit Mountain and the ever popular Bin O'Shame. I haven't gotten delved into either one in quite some time, and there are projects in both that are calling my name. Should be good stitching times! :)

This project will be going with me whenever DH and I take any road trips.  I really like the colors in this project and I can see visiting the other cities and stitching the other designs up as a memento. :) It would be a really good excuse to travel and stitch while doing so!

At any rate, here is the beginnings of my 'Every Now And Again' project:

Design: Pretty Little San Francisco

Designer: Jody Rice of Satsuma Street

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

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart

Stitchers' Notes: Began Friday, March 17, 2017. Project to be stitched once per month. 

As of Saturday, March 18, 2017:

I do wish that the camera picked up the 'fogginess' of the fabric. The colors really pop and it definitely looks foggy! As this is stitching up fairly rapidly, so I do not anticipate this project taking more than a few months. I will probably frame this, although, I really do wish that I had a sewing machine. It would make a really nice pillow finish. 

Well, I had best be off. Time to start stitching my Easter themed project, so that I can at least have my 12 finishes for the year. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Bit Late In The Day

...but I am way early for next year. :)


I am, naturally, referring to my latest finish. I completely missed the deadline for New Years' this year, but the stitching is finished really early for next year :). I have wanted to stitch this one for the longest time, but never really 'found' time to stitch it. I had this design printed out and in one of my freebie binders that I have in my stitching library. I had a small piece of leftover fabric that I had leftover from another project. It was perfect for this small design and I love how it turned out. I need to find an appropriate way to finish it off so that it may be displayed at the end of the year. I also need to find more New Years' projects to stitch. I really do not have enough of them and I really do love New Years' projects. 


At any rate, here is my latest finish:

Design: New Years' Magic

Designer: Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen from Picture This Plus  in Phantom

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart. Kreinik metallic threads in  #4 Very Fine Braid in #001 HL Silver, #032 Pearl #4 braid, and #3223 Ametrine. 

Accouterments: Dazzle-It Czech glass beads in crystal white. 

Stitchers' Notes: This design is a freebie on the Brooke's Books website. Border and year left off in favor of a generic Happy New Year design and to keep the design more 'open'. Substituted called for Mill Hill beads for in house supplies. Began Sunday, February 19, 2017. Stitching completed Thursday, February 23, 2017.

It was really hard to capture the darkness of the fabric with the bling of the Czech glass beads. it was totally worth it, however! :)

Well, I need to be off. I have chosen my next project and I need to clean up my area in order get started on it. No rest for the wicked. I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

---

Respectfully submitted, 

C. 

A Finish On Finish Friday the 13th!

My latest finish is from the design collection of Carol Ridyard of iStitch Designs. I have stitched several of her designs but for whatever reason have not done so in some time. I really do like the way this one turned out. I love stitching her pieces as the stitcher may customize the piece how they see fit. They also stitch up quickly and easily, which is also nice. Please be sure to check out her online blog store. Her prices are reasonable and the turn around time for receiving your charts is less than 24 hours. 

Well, at any rate, here is my latest finish for 2017. Number two out of 12! :)

Design: Sew Bands

Designer: Carol Ridyard of iStitch Designs

Fabric Used: 28 count white Cashel linen from Zweigart

Fiber Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Tulip

Stitchers' Notes: Project number two of twelve for 2017. Began Monday. January 9, 2017. Finished Friday, January 13, 2017. 

Well, I best be off. Tons to do tonight. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Well, That Was Quick!

This project finish literally zoomed right on by. It went so fast, I almost didn't have time to enjoy it, haha! I love the color combination and I have several more planned for this piece. I think it would look lovely in a red floss and white/pale gray fabric combination. 

Well, at any rate, here it is! :)

Design: Simple Harvest (from the book With Needle and Thread)

Designer: Blackbird Designs

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

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Old Crow.

Stitcher's Notes: Began Monday, November 14, 2016. Design on pages 14-15. Substituted the called for 32 count Old Towne Blend from R and R Reproductions and Waterlilies #139 Kelp for in house materials. Second project stitched from this book. Please note that this book is not for sale or trade. 


As of Tuesday, November 15, 2016:

Finished as of Thursday, November 17, 2016:

Time for me to bolt for the door. I need to get lunch ready and tidy up my stitching area. 

I hope everyone is having a great week!

---

Respectfully submitted,

C.