Winter Spell

Okay - - I like these little pieces. This is another Just Nan, entitled Winter Spell. The little cardinal is stitched over one. Of course using purple for the letters is okay with me too.

Autumn Spell

I love fall colors. This is a Just Nan series and is called Autumn Spell. I love the little acorn on the frame. I love the little spider and the witch's hat. With the humidity high - - fall sounds like a good idea. As I was told when I was a child - - I need to stop wishing my life away.

Drum Roll Please

Here it is!!!!! I made a Needle Nest like this a few years ago. I use it when I am doing a project with a small number of colors (up to 20 colors), and especially when I am using overdyed flosses. I mark the numbers on my chart from 1 - 20. I then park a needle in the nest at the number as it corresponds to the chart. I then have a needle ready to go when I encounter that color again. I love it and I use it all the time. Due to the encouragement of many, I have charted this project. I am making it free to all. To download a PDF of this chart please visit www.prairiegrovepeddler.com Please follow the links for this complimentary chart.

While there please check out the cross stitch charts created by Prairie Grove Peddler. They are wonderful. They are also having a scavenger hunt during the month of August. They will be giving away 72 charts in all, 18 per week, plus everyone who plays all 4 weeks gets 3 charts free! If you also enjoy quilting, they are doing a similiar game on the quilting side of her website. All the details are available in her newsletter so sign up and play the game.

Yippee Skippy - - and poof I am a designer. I have to admit that I am thrilled to have survived the charting software and that I am able to share this idea. I want to say thank you to Cheryl for helping to make the design available for download.

I am so proud - -

My son made these. They are needle threaders. The front two are short, diamond shaped wires. The threaders in the back have much longer skinny wires. I am selling these for $25.00 a piece with $5.00 shipping and handling. They are pretty and oh so useful. I use one every day. The long wires are also wonderful for threading sewing machines!!! If interested please contact me at taffystreasures@yahoo.com. They have been going fast, so I will fill all orders I can until I get another shipment.

The Flag Waves - -

This is how I stitched this piece. It is very long and narrow. So I turned the fabric on it's side and worked it that way. (I turn the chart on it's side as well.) Basically since I always stitch in the same direction, this works out that my stitches are all backward for me. It works but I will always know this one was different.

Here it is: The Flag Waves High, Proud, and True over the Land of the Red, White and Blue. I have a cherry wood frame ordered for this one. I like it.

I am getting close to releasing my first freebie design. Stay tuned for information.

Flags they are a waving

Now we have the top and bottom to do. There will be flags and a verse - -when it is done.

And then there is a church

I love the tree in this block. It uses two different colors of green and mixes them up to get that great effect.

An Eagle sitting in a tree

We can't forget the American Eagle. He certainly has a wonderful view.

Down on the Farm

There is a chicken and a cow in this picture. The barn is naturally red.

Willows and Sheep

Yet another block is complete. I think the sheep look especially good.

The new design I have been working on is coming right along. I did the model stitching and I am finalizing the chart design. When done, I plan to give it away free. Stay tuned for news.

What a pretty house!

A house deserves a flag. This one looks great.
BTW - I am so excited I can't stand myself!! I am stitching my very first design that I plan to publish. I am so thrilled and I find it difficult to sit still and keep stitching. Stay tuned for further developments. I have several people I will have to thank for kicking me to get this done.

Blue Birds and Apples

This is the third block on the Americana Panorama project.

Little Red School House

Here is the second block in the project. I did make a small change on the chart. Instead of cross stitches (white) in the center window, I used sryma stitches. It just adds a little bit of a change.

American Panorama

This is the beginning of a new project. The design is by Blue Ribbon Designs. This is called Americana Panorama. There will eight of these little blocks. This is stitched on a 40 count fabric and stitched over two. I am having to use a magnifier for each and every tiny stitch. I do love it and how perfect to stitch this right around the Fourth of July holiday.

Autumn Sampler - framed

I just got this framed. It will join the other two seasons that I have done. I still need to do Winter. So much stitching and so little time.

I need another hobby?

I am doing some painting. My mother taught this kind of stuff. I decided to try my hand at it. This is the first step. No telling when I will get to the second step. LOL.

A lesson learned

There is a bit of history about this piece. This is a design called Random Thoughts by Drawn Thread. I started it many, many years ago. I had that full piece of fabric. I did some calculations and decided I could cut the fabric in half. (I now measure twice and cut only once.) I then stitched the top half. As I rolled the scroll bar, I discovered that I was running out of room and the whole design would no longer fit. For years this sat in a drawer while I pondered what to do. I have now stitched the top half. I plan to do a double row of four sided stitches at the top of the bottom and the bottom of the top. I will then stitch the two together. I will then finish with the hemstitching that the piece calls for. I hope it all works out. This has been a tough lesson to learn.

The Winner is - -

Anja wins the chart. I will send her a private email to get her address so I can send it.

Thank you everyone for posting your comments. I enjoyed reading each and every one of them.

Pere Noel is Done and ready to send to you!

I am very happy with the results of this chart. I love it. I will pick a name (include your email address) from the comments to this post. I will leave this up over the weekend and pick a name next Tuesday, July 7th. I am willing to send it any where so everyone can join in.