Sharing the gift of stitching: stockings from Mom

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Date23 May 2018
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Comment0

My dear mother is visiting this week and she brought a present for our baby which I know you all will appreciate seeing:

My mom is a “gift” stitcher. She only makes presents for people. She doesn’t ever stitch for herself. She made a beautiful cross stitch for my Grandma (her mother in law) (the one who taught me to stitch) with the silhouettes of children on it and all the names and birthdays of all the grandchildren in that family. She made this lovely baby picture for my #1:

And she’s made a needlepoint stocking for each child. Here are the others:

They are all needlepoint and she does the finishing herself, lined with velveteen backs. She is a very fussy finisher and they are so so perfectly done. I hope you like seeing these!

I could share a few other things she’s made and one day I will, but for now, here’s one more stocking, the one she made for me:

Bunch o’ Small Starts

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Date05 May 2018
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Comments5

Not content to work on just one small, I have 5 going right now:

Balthazar from Mill Hill:

“In the Sweet” by La D Da, a tribute to my Grandma who passed in January:

Leaping Cat by La D Da (which you’ve already seen):

English Sampler Pillow by Guilia Antichi Punti:

(And guess what? Emboldened by the successful Lizzie Kate, I’m stitching this one in hand too on a prefinished pillow, which is absolutely gorgeous by the way.)

And finally this one, which I am determined to finish this Spring, the Lounging Hare pincushion box topper from the class I took with Sherry Jones too long ago:

(Don’t fooled into thinking this is almost done, there is a flower garland over the rabbit that is the same size!)

Which one will be done first?? Which one do you most want to see finished?? Will any be finished this month or even this year?? Vote below! If you guess correctly which is finished first (just the stitching not the final finishing) I’ll draw a name and come up with a prize for you!

Progress on Heirloom Nativity

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Date01 May 2018
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Comments5

Happy May Day!!

I went back to Heirloom Nativity last week and made some headway on the next set of bands.

The white band includes rice stitch, bargello and eyelets. The colored bands are partial Rhodes stitch and plait stitch. I love the Gloriana Bellagio silk! And although it’s hard to tell in the photo, the plait stitch shows off the Elizabethan Green so well, I love it!

I just need to do the beading on these bands and finish the vine scroll and then I’m on to the Holy Family, the last picture panel! A finish is in sight!

Despite having several small-medium things in the queue which I want to get to this year, I went diving in my chart file box and pulled Leaping Cat by La D Da.

I’ve had this chart a long time and I still love it. I decided I really need to do these things that are favorites! Plus it turns out I had everything I needed for it so I went ahead and got started.

I’m using 32 count Wren from Picture this Plus and then all the colors as indicated. This titular tiger/Cat is almost done. This is stitching up nicely. Above the cat there are 3 trees and below an alphabet, all framed with a simple border. I bet I can get it done in May.

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I had a chance to press and photograph my Joyful World calendar as it is currently. (That means the ironing board was already out and I had borrowed the q snap Joyful World was on for Leaping Cat.) No new stitching since I posted July, but, my it is nice to see how it looks so far. I think it’s great!

You will notice several unfinished areas in most months. If you haven’t read my blog too much I will just explain I plan to use some specialty stitches for the “grounds” of those months but I haven’t figured it all out yet. For those unfamiliar with this SAL, it is a free set of charts from The Snowflower Diaries available on her website. I still can’t believe such a huge beautiful design is free! There is a Facebook group for the SAL but as it is a few years old, it’s not very active now. However I do love seeing how people from all over the world have interpreted the design. If you are interested in this design, the charts are also available in the FB files including a floral border that goes around the whole thing. Many thanks to designer Maja Matyas for giving so many happy hours with Joyful World!!!

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About me:

I am an “old” stitcher and a new blogger. My grandma taught me to cross stitch when I was 7 and I’ve had a project (or many!) going since then. While I appreciate (and would like to try) all needle arts at the moment, I mostly cross stitch and I really enjoy learning specialty stitches for counted embroidery. A lifetime ago I studied French and art history but now I fit my stitching around a busy life raising 5 young kids with my wonderful husband. Thank you for spending some time at my blog!

2018 Stitch Alongs

2018 Stitch Alongs

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