Jockey Jack

This is the last of the Crow Jackers.

Ghastly Ghost

As you can see, I am into Halloween and Just Nan designs. I do like the way the spiders look. (Sorry Linda - - I do like them.)

Beulah Witch

Halloween is going be interesting next year when I get to display all the goodies I am making this year. This is Beulah Witch by Just Nan. It is one of the Crow Jackers. Eventually it will go into a WhimZi Frame.

Lizzie Kate 2008 Ltd Edition

This was a fun stitch. The colors are a bit strange for the Christmas holiday but I do like the sentiment. It will go well in the Christmas Room.

Be True

I have been finishing some other things also. I stitched this years ago. I then made it into a little pillow ornament. The cording just was not happening until recently. I finally put the cording around it with the large button on the bottom.

The construction begins....

I started working on the construction of Scream House by Just Nan. I did the stitching this fall. Now there is a lot of finishing work to do. I have currently put the pieces together. The grey walls will be on the outside of the house. The purple walls will be on the inside. There are still pages and pages of work to do.

Drum Roll Please

This is the back of the mail art envelope. I did a four sided stitch outlining the lacy looking stitching. I then cut it out. I am quite pleased with this result.

Birds of a Feather

This is the front of an envelope I am working on. I have hidden the addresses. I think that there are times when less is more. Next I will post the back of this mail art.

The design is by Victoria Sampler's Thea and was called Birds of a Feather. This was featured in the Gift of Stitching magazine.

Yippee Skippy - - I am done!

I just finished this project. It is my second for the year. I think something smaller might be on the horizon for me. This was stitched on 40 count and it is a bit of a strain. I am looking forward to working on something on a bit larger count.

A Little Gift

This is by Little by Little designs. Yet another ornament that I completed in December. I will have to have one heck of a finishing day soon. LOL.

And time marches on - -

I continue to work on Peppermint Twist. I did discover a mistake on the chart. The second snowflake (counting down from the top) has one stitch not connected to the main part. I moved it to match the other three sides. The model (photo on the front of the chart) seems to show that the stitch should touch the remaining parts.

Aren't they precious?

I received a package today from NY. My son made these wooden ornaments and the littlest one is a needle threader! You can't see the little wire but it is there. It was such a surprise when I opened these precious gems. This year from Christmas Jack and I purchased a small table top wooden lathe for my son. He had been wanting to try his hand at this type of wood working. I think he has made great strides. I am enjoying the fact that I found a perfect surprise gift for my son this year. It doesn't happen every year to be sure. I am very proud of his accomplishments.

Peppermint Twist

I just love this project. It coming right along. I am getting tired of always having to use a magnifier. I will be happy to work on a large count project after this one.

Peppermint Twist continues

You now begin to see the size of this. This is the entire left side of the design. I will now have to move towards the middle.

Tree Keepter

This is the Tree Keeper by Drawn Thread. This is another easy to finish little fob or ornament. I liked the use of beads but I might not like it when it comes to doing the finishing. We shall see.

A Very Merry Christmas

I believe this was by Erica Michaels. It was a little kit that someone paid (I think) a lot of money for at a shop that is now closed. I purchased this at the stitch in for $1.00. It was one of the quick ornaments that I stitched in December. The sparkle in the fabric is difficult to see.

Peppermint Twist -2

This photo is a bit deceiving as it is stitched on 40 count and the stitches are very small. I am using my new favorite tool which is my LED lighted magnifier floor stand. It is fantastic for this project. I am also a bit fascinated with the actual stitches.

A bit of history might help to explain. When I went to my first stitching festival in Saratoga Springs NY (1991) an instructor told me that it made a huge difference how the thread traveled on that back of the fabric. It changes the tension, the direction and the look of the stitch that will be seen on top. At the time, I was just happy to be learning cross stitch and have it look good. This fine a detail was way beyond me. Now - I think about it. Especially with overdyed floss stitching in a single line. I have a different way to do it lately and it seems to be working out very well for this project.

My new way to stitch a single line moving up vertically would be - bring the needle up at the top right of the stitch and put the needle down at the lower left. Step 2 would be to bring the needle up at the lower right (causing the thread to go horizontally on the back) and put the needle down at the top right edge of the stitch. Going to the next stitch, I would jump up the (once again) the top right edge of the cross. This causes the thread on the back to make a diagonial stitch. The diagonal and then horizontal stitches on the back makes a nice place to bury your end of floss when it is necessary. I hope I explained it correctly. The top stitches lay evenly and consistently.

Santa Keeper

This was quick and easy. The design is by Drawn Thread and is a 'keeper'. I love this little square on the tip designs. The finishing is easy for these. I will make two small seams on the sides of this design. When you turn it inside out, the back will fold on itself and a quick stuffing and hand stitch to close it. This will be an ornament for next year. The beard is fuzzy stuff to add to the Santa look.

A New Beginning

This is the beginning of Peppermint Twist by Blue Ribbons Designs. It is stitched over two on 40 count fabric. This is stitched with Weeks Dye Works. I hope to post photos every other day. In between I want to post some photos I have been saving. I just think it is too boring to watch one project being stitched. This one will take a few weeks.

Starry Starry Night

Quiet Night by Erica Michaels. This is a fun design. I plan to finish it in a triangle shape. This was a kit prepared for our kit exchange. I love having these little kits ready to go. Six of us got together and we each pick one ornament from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue. We stitch that design and prepare five other kits while we are working on it. We then exchange the kits. It is fun to have these so ready to go.

Welcome to 2009

Celtic Ice by Ink Circles. This was interesting. The knots were designed so that some go over the others and others go under some stitches. I had to think twice to be able to figure it out. After that it was easy to do. This kit was a gift from a friend and you know who you are - - Thank you so much.