Feeling Crafty

I love cross-stitch at any time of year; somehow Autumn brings even more enjoyment to this hobby.  An ideal scenario is watching football and stitching!  So, it's time for an update on a few projects!

My January 14 post was the last time I shared progress on the Christmas stocking for #1 Son - see the picture below.

 On March 29, it looked like this:

Now, with 287 hours of love invested, I am putting the finishing touches in place.  Outlining, details such as trees and grass.  The most challenging element is stitching with the gold metallic thread for the sled and the edges of the ribbon - it's very fiddly!

My February 11 post featured a completed hexagon stitch-a-long.  Today, I am happy to show you the framed piece, which now hangs in our guest bathroom!  The experts at Michael's were invaluable in selecting the mat and the frame.

In the same post, I also described the process of selecting a pattern creator in order to develop a design of a wedding photo for #1 Daughter and our son-in-law.  After some deliberation, I went with Gail at Busy B Crafts (creator of Stitch a Photo).  She had offered so much free advice, and was also recommended by the owners of Shepherds' Bush, cross-stitch experts that I trust!  This is the photo the couple chose.

#1 Daughter selected a Natural Rustico fabric - probably only a quarter of an inch will show around the final piece, which will be 11 x 14.  I am very excited to start stitching once the stocking is complete! 

 

 

 

I recently hosted a Munch and Make, and one of the attendees had a new quilt to share.  She is a member of the Flathead Quilters' Guild, and its annual quilt show had just wrapped up.  Below is a selection of the quilts that I saw at the 2024 Flathead Quilters' Guild Quilt Show.

Maker and Quilter: Lea White

Maker and Quilter: Marci Robman

Maker: Mary Iverson  Quilter: Susan Gilman

Well, it's time to get back to my stitching!  

Linking up with a few blogging buddies this week!

Linking up with LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color for I Like Thursday.

Prompt for this week is: Do you like hayrides?  Tell us about one you experienced.  I believe the last hayride would have been with the kids when they were young enough to actively participate in pumpkin hunting in an open field.  I love those fall traditions when it can be enjoyed with extended family, even if they are all adults!

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Linking to Mosaic Monday

Because I knew you

I am so blessed to have many good friends, and one of my deepest joys comes from sitting around a table, chatting and crafting.  It's a tapestry all its own, woven with time together, and stories shared.  

When I recently saw an America's Got Talent audition, featuring two women in a duet performance of "For Good" from Wicked, I shed a few tears, thinking of friends around the world.  And especially those right in my own backyard.

Friends, this post is for you!

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow

If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

I have been changed for good

Listen to the song! 

***

Joining LeeAnna's I Like Thursday: Prompt for April 4: Amusement Park or Day at the Beach?  These days, I would definitely prefer the quiet of a day at the beach.  Snoozing, collecting vitamin D, walking the length of the beach, reading a book, sipping a rum-soaked beverage.  Much preferable to the noisy clanging of an amusement park, thronged with sweaty people standing in long lines.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Linking to Mosaic Monday

A Finish, and February Fun!

 

A quick post to report that I have finished my hexagon stitch-a-long!

We are in Cincinnati as I write this, visiting #1 Daughter and our son-in-law.  When we return to Montana, I will take it to Michael's for framing - they have always been immensely helpful in choosing a frame and matting that complements the piece.

During our visit, we have continued to discuss the wedding cross-stitch design, which I wrote about in my January 14 post.  At that time, I pitched utilizing StitchFiddle as my pattern creator, and also asked my readers for input.  People suggested Stitch a Photo as an alternative, and I called one of my favorite cross-stitch shops for advice - Stitch a Photo!  This pattern creator charges a fee for the design (at StitchFiddle you can opt to pay for a Premium version), and I am willing to pony that up if it ensures a quality design, and more importantly, a quality result!  I have been communicating with Gail at Busy B Crafts (creator of Stitch a Photo), and she has been so helpful.  Stay tuned for more details!

In the meantime, we are having a fabulous time celebrating my 60th birthday, and I might just get in a little stitching time during the Super Bowl today!

*my sister gifted me finger-less gloves and a matching headband!

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Playoff Sunday Stitching

Hello football fans and fellow stitchers!  All week, I have been looking forward to Sunday - kept clear of all responsibilities other than watching the playoff games and stitching throughout!  Such a "guilty pleasure".  So, this will be a quick post with an update on The Steady Thread Botanical Blackwork Stitchalong.  Two weeks ago, I had 2 hexagons to go, plus the leafy frame.  Check out my progress!

 

As with most blackwork, you have the option for a classic black and white design, or you can add color.  Since this is destined for a guest bathroom decorated with shades of blue and brown, I wanted some color.  I hadn't decided on colors for the leafy frame - I opted for one strand of DMC 3045 combined with DMC 3781 for the "branches", and then selected five leaf colors, two of which were in the hexagons (DMC 320 and DMC 166).  Armed with those five colors, I had to map out placement within the leafy frame, trying not to put DMC 320 and DMC 166 next to each other in the hexagons.  Does that make sense?  It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle!

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday of stitching.  Go Ravens and go Lions!

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Stitching Updates, and a new project

In my post two weeks ago, I wrote about The Steady Thread Botanical Blackwork Stitchalong.  At that time, I had 13 hexagons to go, plus the leafy frame.  I am happy to report that only 2 hexagons and the frame remain.

The design (in the form of a pdf) only resides on my computer, so at times when I am away from my laptop, I have snuck in a couple of hours stitching #1 Son's Christmas stocking.

In the midst of all the preparations last year for #1 Daughter's wedding, I had reached an agreement with the betrothed to complete a cross-stitch for them, once they had chosen a favorite photo.  They settled on several options for the design, shown below in order of their preference.

I knew that Herrschners had a professional service for this, but when I went to the on-line catalog, I could not find it.  A quick phone call determined that the service is no longer provided.  Back to the Web.  I looked at several pattern creators, and chose StitchFiddle for an initial design.  I uploaded the photos and then played with sizing, thread count and the like.  Fairly quickly, it became obvious that photos 1 and 3 above would have to be massive (and bigger than the max design within StitchFiddle) in order for meaningful detail.  So, we have settled on the second photo (with a little cropping).  This is a screen shot of the design.

Assuming I work it on 14 count Aida, the size is 21.43 x 16.64 inch.  Now, we are considering the color of Aida fabric to use, and how much of a border to leave for framing.  Does anyone out there have suggestions on either topic?  Also, have you ever used StitchFiddle or another pattern creator?

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

2023 Stitching, and a lot of it!

As my faithful readers know, stitching takes me to my happy place!  So, this means 2023 must have been overwhelmingly cheerful - seven completed projects, and two more well underway!  Let's go to my virtual sewing room!

In my January 11, 2023 post, I showed pictures of my first blackwork piece in progress, a cross-stitch destined for my oldest sister.  Initially I had planned to give her only the finished cross-stitch, but once I decided that I would hand-carry it to her in October (on the same trip as our daughter's wedding), I was inspired to bring her a fully completed pillow.

This project tested my ingenuity.  First, I wanted to "hide" the back of the cross-stitch.  I devised a plan to sew the cross stitch onto a solid piece of fabric, which would then be sewn to a second piece of fabric to form the pillow case.  Second, it seemed ugly to leave the raw edge of the cross-stitch fabric in full view, so I took a page from some of my past Christmas ornaments and added ribbon around the edges.  Third, I discovered "invisible" zippers while researching how to sew zippers, and I decided to give it a try.   This also meant learning how to change the foot on my Mom's sewing machine to an invisible zipper foot - for many of you long-time sewers out there, this process may seem old hat to you, but I had to call in my local engineer (Spousal Unit) to help me with that one!

The next large project of 2023 was a Christmas stocking for our son-in-law-to-be.  In fact, it was finished the night before we would fly to Cincinnati for the wedding!

This time last year, I had completed a stocking for our daughter (see my December 21, 2022 post).  My heart danced to see both stockings hung on the mantelpiece at their new house for this Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Of course, in the midst of all this I also crafted the wedding handkerchief for our daughter (previously shown in my Wedding Bells post on October 30, 2023).

On one of our recent visits to the UK, I came across designs for cross-stitch bookmarks, and they were perfect choices as Christmas gifts for our son and daughter.

Several years ago, I instituted the tradition of selecting a Christmas ornament design for each of the kids (including our son-in-law).  This year, to commemorate the new house for our daughter and son-in-law, I created a single ornament for the couple.  And the Monopoly ornament is for #1 Son, reflecting our shared love of board games.

And now to works in progress!  As soon as I wrapped up the Christmas stocking for our son-in-law, I embarked on the new stocking for #1 Son.  (I have "child" stockings for our daughter and son, which we have used for years.  Two years ago, I offered to "replace" them with adult stockings, and this is the design chosen by our son.)

Now that Christmas is past, and it is obvious the stocking will not be completed until NEXT Christmas, I am going to take a little break from it, allowing me to return to my 2023 Stitch-A-Long.  I wrote about this project in my January 11, 2023 post.  "During my time in the blogosphere, I have seen many mentions of stitch-a-longs, and viewed creativity in action when my fellow bloggers post pictures.  This year, I finally decided to jump in.   Somebody out there introduced me to Loretta Oliver, and I subscribed to her email for access to free cross-stitch patterns.  On December 29, when the Great Big List of Stitchalongs to Join in 2023 popped into my email inbox, I decided to take a look.  Imagine my delight when I found The Steady Thread Botanical Blackwork Stitchalong.  Flowers AND blackwork, a perfect combination for me!!!  And it's free!"

March 21 marked the last time I took a picture of this project (12 hexagons completed), but at the moment I suspended stitching, I had 36 full hexagons in the design, so that must have been the beginning of September! (Steady Thread released one hexagon per week, so I calculated 36 weeks.)

I have 13 hexagons to go, plus the leaves that frame the pattern.  I chose my own color palette for this project, and so I will also have to think through my approach to the leaves and stems!  As most of you know, I am a "follow the recipe" person, so this is stretching me (just a little!!!!)  *NOTE: when I went to the Steady Thread website to retrieve the 13 remaining hexagons and the leafy frame, I learned that the Stitch-A-Long is closed and there is a charge for any designs I need.  It's not a lot of money, and I certainly don't begrudge the artist who created this lovely design - just a memo to me for the future!

 

I asked for the above book for Christmas, and I leave you with this Navajo song (from Night Chant, for the ninth song).  Praying that 2024 brings you the desires you hold close in your heart.  Happy New Year!

May their roads home be on the trail of peace.

Happily may they all return.

In beauty I walk.

With beauty before me, I walk.

With beauty behind me, I walk.

With beauty above and about me, I walk.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.

******

Joining LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color for I Like Thursday - prompt this week is: Does your family have a favorite appetizer? Bean dip.  Sausage, Pepper Jack and salsa - need I write more? Can you share the recipe?  See photo below.  Would you rather have buffalo chicken dip or artichoke dip?  Artichoke dip - sometimes the buffalo is too spicy for me.  What do you try first when you go to a party with snacks?  I prefer savory snacks, and I like to try different things, so I would gravitate to anything new that is also savory.

Linking to Thankful Thursday

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday

 

Linking to Mosaic Monday