Amanda's Needle Nook

2 Finishes and an Update

2012-01-13T04:55:00.000-08:00

I have 2 finishes to share, as well as progress on another project.

My final finish for 2011 was this cute little design by Little House Needleworks:

This is Frosty Flakes, from the 2010 Ornament Series. I did a lot of color conversion on this one as I didn’t really care for all the green. However, I cannot take credit for this conversion, as I ‘borrowed’ it from the blog Renee’s Stitching who was kind enough to post the colors she used in hers. Mine is stitched on 28ct Sand Carolina Linen Evenweave using Cobalt Blue and Blue Dreams cotton floss from Carrie’s Creation Threads for the blues and DMC 934 for the greenery.

Before the close of 2011 I did some more stitching on my 6 Fat Men piece:

I’m going to try to get this one done before the end of January.

My first finish for 2012 is

Quaker Noël from Jardin Privé. I stitched it on 28 ct. Bright White Lugana and I used Gigi's Christmas from HDF. I really love how it turned out. It was also a very quick stitch. Thanks to Natalie for the lovely design and Vikki for the lovely silk floss!

I have 2 New Projects to Share

2011-12-15T05:31:00.000-08:00

Even thought I have plenty of other projects in various stages of completion, I just had to start 2 new projects. The first one is Lizzie Kate’s 6 Fat Snowmen:

I actually started this piece at the end of October, but I am only now posting my first progress picture. I am stitching this it on 28 count Almond Jazlyn and I’m using DMC threads.

My next new project is Quaker de Noël by Jardin Privé:

and here is my progress after 1 night of stitching:

I’m stitching it on 28 count White Lugana and I’m using Gigi’s Christmas (single strand premium) by HDF. I really love this color combo. It is very festive!

C Mon Monde SAL FINISHED!!!

2011-12-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

I finished it last night. I am so happy how it turned out. I did a lot of color changes, plus I altered some parts of the design to suit my tastes a little more.

This project is stitched on 28ct Mushroom evenweave and I used DMC colors White, Ecru, 310, 754, 783, 815, 900, 935, 3031 and 3760.

It was a fun project and I am so glad I was able to participate in this SAL.

C MON MONDE Part 3 Finished!

2011-12-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

I finished Part 3 on Saturday. I am really pleased with the colors I chose. I think it looks a lot more Christmasy. I am now awaiting on the final part of the pattern. As soon as I get it I plan on making this my priority piece to get done this week. In the meanwhile, I am working on Part 11 of Heart Note Alley.

C MON MONDE 2011 SAL Update

2011-11-28T07:40:00.001-08:00

I have finished part 2. As you can tell I am making a lot of color changes. I wanted to give mine a more Christmasy look.

Heart Note Alley Parts 9 and 10

2011-11-17T05:45:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest progress on Heart Note Alley. I think I am now caught up with the group.

The Thread Basket / C MON MONDE 2011 SAL

2011-11-15T05:37:00.000-08:00

Well I've joined another SAL! I am participating in the Thread Basket/C Monde SAL . Here is what the finished design looks like:

And now here is my part 1:

I'm stitching it on 28 count Mushroom evenweave with DMC threads. I'm using DMC threads and I’ve decided to stitch it in a color pallet different than what the designer has listed.

Another Finish

2011-11-08T07:32:00.001-08:00

Well I have another finish for the year. Sadly, I've only finished 7 pieces this year. And they were mostly small projects or SAL projects where I had a deadline to meet. Maybe I need to be involved in more SALs. I guess knowing I won't get the next part of the design until I finish the previous part is a great motivator for me!

Anyway, here is my completed piece. This was a free design from Carol at iStitch. Mine is stitched it on 28 count lavender Bliss, which is very hard to photograph. But it’s a pretty, pale lavender. I used a silk floss that I got from an HDF d-bag. I’m pretty sure it’s Dark Wisteria. I will eventually make this piece into a top for a box like she shows on her web site. Carol also sent a bonus chart to make a pin pillow, which I will stitch as soon as I get some more Lavender Bliss.

What I've Been Up To...

2011-10-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened since the last time I posted my cross stitch updates. My mother, who I loved very much, passed away from complications of diabetes on September 25th. As you can imagine, I have been devastated by her loss. We were very close, so I feel as if I not only lost my mom, but also my best friend.

Cross stitching has proved to be a source of comfort to me in these difficult times. It helps to keep my mind occupied. So here is what I’ve been working on:

This is a SAL from iStitch. I’m stitching it on Lavender Bliss, using a mystery silk from HDF. I think it is Dark Wisteria. There is only 1 part left and it will be finished.

Here is part 7 of Heart Note Alley. The band with the irises is supposed to show 5 irises. But I plan on omitting the middle iris and inserting some verbiage in memory of my mom. She loved flowers, especially irises and I want to memorialize her on this piece since she loved this design.

Here is the section I stitched on Paule’s round robin. I stitched my band with BaneBerry HDF. The heart design is from Tuscan Rose by Sampler Cove. The verse is from My Needle & My Floss from Waxing Moon. The verse is especially poignant for me as I mentioned earlier, cross stitching helps keep my mind occupied.

And finally, I have one completed project. I finished Purple Garden a while ago, but I am only now getting it posted. I really enjoyed this SAL.

Thanks for looking!

In Memoriam

2011-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

1943 – 2011

Mom,
Your presence I miss,
Your Memory I treasure
Loving you always
Forgetting you never.

Purple Garden Part 7 Completed

2011-09-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished part 7 of Purple Garden. Now I am just waiting to be sent part 8.

This SAL is almost at an end. I will be glad this project is almost over. Don't get me wrong, I have loved being in this SAL, but I am currently involved in 3 SALs and 1 round robin and they are taking up most of my stitching time. This means I can't really start anything new. I am itching to get started on Pumpkin Hollow by Little House Needleworks, as well as work on some of my other WIPs like Quaker Seasons of Friendship and One Nation, both of which I have not stitched on in a long time.

It Has Been A While....

2011-08-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

since I posted anything to my blog. I took a fall a few months ago and hurt my back and my stitching hand...the hand I had carpal tunnel surgery on less than a year ago. It has taken me quite a while to get back into stitching as using my hand and sitting for prolonged periods of time is still painful.

When I do get the chance to stitch, I've been trying to keep up with my SALs. So here is my latest progress:

Here is part 6 of Purple Garden. I’m getting ready to stitch part 7 and hope to get it done before part 8 is released on the first of the month.

This is part 5 of Heart Note Alley. I really love this project!

And here is a new SAL I’ve become involved with through iStitch. It’s a rather small project, so the amount of time spent on this one is minimal. In fact it only took me about 2 hours to stitch part 2. Anyway, I’m stitching it on 28 count Lavender Bliss and using a mystery floss I got from a d-Bag from HDF. I think it is Dark Wisteria as it is very close to the skein of Dark Wisteria I have in my stash.

SAL Progress

2011-06-17T05:22:00.001-07:00

Here is the latest progress I’ve made on the two SALs I’m involved in:

I never thought I’d get part 5 done! This part required a lot of stitching.

Part 3 is done. I really love the colors! I can’t wait for part 4!

Memorial Weekend Stitching

2011-05-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

It was too hot to do much outside this weekend, so I spent most of it inside where it was cool stitching on One Nation:

I thought it an appropriate piece to be stitching on this Memorial Day weekend.

Busy Stitching Weekend!

2011-05-23T05:56:00.001-07:00

I spent this weekend working on two of my WIPs. The first is Heart Note Alley:

I received part 2 of this SAL on Friday, so I decided to get this part stitched right away. I really love how this one is coming together.

The second WIP I worked on is One Nation:

I started on the states in the first White stripe. I must confess that doing the White stripe is more difficult than the Red because I find stitching with White more difficult than any other color.

Purple Garden, Part 4 Finished!

2011-05-19T05:43:00.001-07:00

After a lot of starts and stops, I finally finished part 4 of Purple Garden.

A New Start: Heart Note Alley

2011-05-16T05:40:00.001-07:00

This weekend I planned to stitch part 4 of Purple Garden, but I realized that I forgot to print out part of the pattern, so I was only able to stitch a small part of the design. I decided to begin Heart Note Alley, my second SAL project with Sticklounge. Here is part 1:

This design is from Kathy Bungard. I am stitching it in the colors used by Kathy in her model. It is a combination of Hand Dyed Fibers and Carrie's Creation Threads silk floss. The colors are gorgeous purples. And you know, I'm a sucker for purple, so this project is just right for me. The fabric is 32ct. White Opalescent lugana.

Stay tuned to see this design unfold. A new part comes out every month. Each section is relatively small, so it will be a quick stitch.

Progress on One Nation

2011-05-09T05:13:00.001-07:00

For the past week and a half I have been stitching on One Nation by ByGone Stitches. I hadn't worked on this project for a while so I decided I need to give it some attention. I finally finished all the stars. Boy, I thought I'd never get those done! Plus I was able to nearly finish the first red stripe. I'm stitching this project on 28 count Caramel Truffle by Sassy's Fabrics using the recommended Crescent Colours floss.

For the next week or so I will be returning to Purple Garden and when I have finished part 4 of that, I need to start on part 1 of Heart Note Alley for the Sticklounge SAL.

Pear Tree Inn Finished!

2011-04-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

I finally finished Pear Tree Inn by Little House Needleworks. I stitched it on 28 count Ray of Light Lugana using the recommended floss. Unfortunately I was unable to capture the true color of the fabric. Its a very pretty pale yellow. It looks much nicer in real life.

Purple Garden Part 3 Finished

2011-04-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

I decided to not wait until the end of the month to stitch part 3 of Purple Garden. I started stitching part 3 as soon as I got the pattern. I really love the colors for this project as I am a big fan of purple.

Finished Quaker Star!

2011-04-08T05:17:00.001-07:00

Well here it is, my Quaker Star:

I finished it on Saturday, April 2nd. I really loved how this turned out! I stitched it on 32 count White Lugana using variegated premium single strand Mermaid Blue (2317/2321/2323) from HDF. The blue is gorgeous and the photo does not capture the true beauty of this color. I think of all the HDF blues, this is my favorite! This was also my first time stitching with a premium single strand and I loved it! The coverage is great and I liked using one strand to get the appearance of 2 strands.

This was my first SAL through the Sticklounge group. I am also participating in the Purple Garden SAL and will participate in the upcoming Heart Note Alley which will begin later this month. So stay tuned!

Purple Garden Part 2

2011-03-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

I finally finished part 2 of Purple Garden last night. I was getting very frustrated with the backstitch flowers at the bottom. I was a few stitches off and could not figure out where I had miscounted. After frogging the stitches 3 times I finally discovered my error...I was actually a stitch off on the little diamond to the right of the carnation. So I had to frog everything up to the diamond and restitch. Hopefully when I begin to stitch part 3 it will go much smoother than part 3. I guess I will have to keep this mantra in mind: Count once, stitch twice; count twice, stitch once.

Now I can go back to my Quaker Star. I finally got the last part of the design so I can finish it. Hopefully by Monday I'll have a finished Quaker Star to show you!

Quaker Star Parts 1-8

2011-03-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Quaker Star is almost finished! Just one last part to stitch and this project is finished. I have to say I've really enjoyed stitching this project.

I'm going to be concentrating on Purple Garden this week as I need to get part 2 stitched up before the end of the month.

Quaker Star Progress

2011-03-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished with part 6 of Quaker Star:

I really love how this project is coming along. I am anxiously awaiting the next parts so I can get this one finished.

Yes, 2 New Starts!

2011-02-28T05:57:00.001-08:00

Even though I have enough WIPs to keep me busy for the rest of the year, I just had to start 2 new projects!

The first is Pear Tree Inn by Little House Needleworks:

I’m stitching it on 28 count Ray of Light Lugana using all the threads the pattern called for (DMC, Crecent Colors and Weeks Dye Works). The fabric is a very pale yellow and unfortunately I was unable to capture the color with my camera. It looks very pretty in person.

The second project is Purple Garden by AngieDesign:

This is part 1 of a SAL offered through Sticklounge. Each part is being released at the beginning of the month. On Friday evening I realized that February is about over and part 2 will be ready for release on Tuesday and I hadn’t even started this project! So I spent the weekend getting part 1 stitched up.

I am stitching this project on 28 count Bright White Lugana using the DMC floss called for in the design (154, 646, 647, 3051, 3052, 3834, 3835, and 3836).

Quaker Star Progress

2011-02-22T05:19:00.001-08:00

I finished parts 2 and 3 on Friday. I really like how this project is turning out. I really love the variegated Blue Silk floss. It is so pretty!

A Little More Progress

2011-02-04T06:21:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the snow storm that hit Indiana this week, I've had a lot of time to stitch. I decided to pull this one out of the WIP pile:

This is my Quaker Seasons of Friendship SAL I started last January with my friend Maxine. I am sorry to say that it took me over 1 year to stitch the first quarter of the design. I hope to spend more time on this project this year and get more done on it than I did last year. Maybe I can even get it done by the end of this year!

I am using HDF's Wattle n' Daub as the main color and MoonCreep for the personalization and on some of the little motifs.

...And a New Start!

2011-01-27T05:11:00.001-08:00

Here is my newest project:

This is part 1 of Quaker Star by Monica Buro. This project is a SAL offered through Sticklounge. I'm stitching mine on 32 count White Lugana using a variegated premium single strand Mermaid Blue (2317/2321/2323) from HDF. The blue is so pretty!

2 New Finishes!

2011-01-26T05:32:00.001-08:00

I can’t believe that in the first month of the year I have three finishes. I guess it helps that they are small projects! Anyway, here are my two latest finishes:

The first is Gourmet Garden by Little House Needleworks. I finished this piece on January 16th. It is stitched on 32 count Golden Honey from Silkweaver. I stitched it using all the recommended DMC floss.

And here is Alphabet Rhyme, also by Little House Needleworks. I stitched it on 28 count Earthen Lugana by Picture This Plus. I made some color changes on this one. I stitched the girl’s dress in Lilac by Weeks Dye Works, the berries in Ultraviolet from Carrie’s Creation Threads and the book and vine border in Brown Sugar from Crescent Colors. I really like how it turned out. I think the colors are more appealing to me than what was originally called for in the pattern.

I really love the Earthen fabric. It’s a nice neutral color and great for a lot of the Little House designs. And if you haven’t already guessed, Diane Williams is one of my most favorite designers. It seems that over the past two years she has really stepped up in designing and they get better and better. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us this year!

Happy 2011!

2011-01-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

Happy belated New Year to everyone! I had a wonderful holiday season and I hope you did too.

I have my first finish for 2011:

This is Carrés du Printemps by Jardin Privé. I stitched it on 28 count White Lugana and I used Needlepaints floss #2008, 2010, 2102, and 2104. I haven’t decided how I’m going to finish this one. I am thinking of having it made into a pillow.

During my Christmas/New Year holiday I spent some time working on One Nation:

I finished the Blue field. Now I have to get all those stars stitched!

And of course with the new year, I had to have a new start:

And since it has been so cold and yucky here in Indiana, I decided to stitch something ‘warm’ so I chose Gourmet Garden by Little House Needleworks. I’m stitching it on 32 count Golden Honey Lugana using the recommended DMC floss. The photo is kind of dark, so you can’t really see the cheery golden honey color of the fabric. Anyway, this project reminds me of a warm summer’s day in Tuscany and how I wish I was there instead of cold, wintry Indiana.

Christmas Band Sampler Finished!

2010-12-16T06:16:00.001-08:00

Here is my Christmas Band Sampler from Little House Needleworks. This project stitched up very quickly (in about 1 week). I stitched it on 28 count Carolina Linen (by Charles Craft) Evenweave "Sand". This was my first time using this fabric. I really liked it. The fabric has the look of linen, but it's an evenweave. I used the recommended DMC floss. I really liked how it turned out!

I enjoyed stitching this one so much that I'm thinking of stitching it again in a different color scheme.

I hope that this band sampler is perhaps the first in a series of band samplers from LHN. Wouldn't it be nice if she did a seasonal series of band samplers? Or maybe a series of 'holidays'? We'll have to wait and see!

I'm Back

2010-12-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I'm back after a long absence. Where have I been you might ask? In July I began to have severe pains in my left hand due to carpal tunnel. I was also experiencing pain in my index finger caused by a compressed nerve. My doctor gave me orders not to cross stitch for a while. Boy was that depressing news! Finally in September I had surgery on my hand and I’ve been in recovery ever since. In mid-November I was given the OK to start stitching again, but only for about 1-2 hours a day. So my days of marathon stitching are over. But I make the most of my 1-2 hours of stitching per day!!

So this is what I had been working on in July and what I have been able to stitch since the end of November. These are my WIP projects:

I’ve made a little more progress on One Nation. I’m trying to get the blue field and stars done before I start stitching on the stripes.

I completed a few more squares on Carres du Printemps by Jardin Prive.

And this is my newest start. It’s Christmas Band Sampler from Little House Needleworks. I’m stitching it on 28 count “Sand” Carolina Linen from Charles Craft. This fabric looks like linen, but it’s an evenweave. I really like stitching on it.

And here are the three projects I’ve been able to finish:

Quaker Cats from VeeandCo. I stitched it on 28 count Bright White evenweave. I used 2 colors of HDF silk floss I got in a D-Bag. I think the colors are Basic Black and a Black/Purple combo.

Flying Monkeys from Glory Bee. I stitched this on 28 count Antique White Lugana using the recommended floss, except for the lettering at the top, which I changed to Black DMC

and finally, Chocolate is the Answer. This was a complimentary chart from Designs by Lisa. I stitched it on the recommended 28 count Raspberry Jobelan and DMC floss. I plan to have this finished as an ornament one of these days.

New Start--One Nation from ByGone Stitches

2010-07-16T05:32:00.001-07:00

I finally received my floss for One Nation, so I just had to start this project last night. This is my progress after about 3 hours of stitching:

Here’s what it will look like when it’s done:

I started mine in the middle at the top and I'm working my way left. I really wanted to see how all 3 colors looked on the fabric and this was the best way to do it. I am stitching One Nation on 28ct Caramel Truffle by Sassy's Fabbys and I'm using the recommended Crescent Colors cotton floss (Blacksmith Blue, Cupid and Antique Lace).

Two New Finishes for July

2010-07-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

My self-imposed No New Starts is over (I only lasted 1 month this year ) so I decided to start this little project on July 2nd. It’s Little House in Winter, ornament six in Little House Needleworks’ Ornament of the Month series. The only change I made was in the color of the house and flower. I used DMC 4210 instead of the Crescent Colors Bing Cherry. I stitched it on 32 count Mocha Jobelan from Silkweaver. I plan to make it into an ornament. Hopefully I can get it made this weekend.

My second finish is Quaker Alphabet by La-D-Da. I stitched it on 32 count Mineral Ice from Sassy’s Fabbys. I used Elegant Eggplant and Noir from Belle Soie. This was my first time using Belle Soie silk. It was really nice.

More Progress to report

2010-06-21T05:30:00.001-07:00

This is a terrible picture, but here is my latest progress on Quaker Seasons of Friendship. I am almost finished with the first quarter of the design. I need to really start focusing on this project as the year is half gone and I’m not even finished with the first quarter.

You may remember that I have designated June as a No New Starts Month. I confess I cheated for this project. On May 31 I put 3 stitches into Quaker Alphabet by La-D-Da. I then set this project aside for a few weeks while I worked on other things. I know that was cheating a bit, but I really wanted to start this project and didn’t want to wait until my self-imposed NNS was over.

Over the weekend I pulled this out of the WIP pile and did some more stitching on it. I’m stitching it on 32 count Mineral Ice from Sassy’s Fabrics with Elegant Eggplant and Noir silk floss by Belle Soie. Unfortunately I was unable to capture the true beauty of the fabric and floss.

Two New Finishes

2010-06-09T06:30:00.001-07:00

My first finish in June is Sweet Land of Liberty by Cherished Stitches. I stitched it on 32 count Earthen from Picture This Plus. I used Ox Blood, Zaffre Cobalt and BeGuilted silk floss from HDF. This project stitched up rather quickly and I was very happy with the results. I completely changed the floss and the fabric is a lovely sandy brown. I really love the Zaffre Cobalt (Blue) on this piece. It’s a rich, velvety blue. I think this is my favorite Blue I’ve ever stitched with.

My second finish of the month is Southern Stars from Dinky Dyes. I stitched it on 28 count Bright White Lugana with Yallingup and Saltbush silk floss from Dinky Dyes. The pattern and floss was a gift from my dear friend Maxine. Thanks Maxine for this beautiful gift!

My Progress on Land of Liberty

2010-05-24T05:15:00.001-07:00

After about 1 week of stitching I am half finished with this project. I can't believe how fast it is stitching up. The photo is not so good, as it shows the fabric a bit brighter than it actually is.

Another New Start!

2010-05-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest start:

This is Sweet Land of Liberty from Cherished Stitches Designs. I am stitching this on 32 count Earthen from Picture This Plus. The floss is Ox Blood, Zaffre Cobalt and BeGuilted from HDF. This is my first time using fabric from PTP. I really like it! The color of this fabric is gorgeous.

Three New WIPS and Progress on my SAL

2010-05-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

I’m having a problem with STARTITIS again. In the past 3 weeks I have started 3 new projects and stitched a little on my SAL piece.

Here is Southern Stars from Dinky Dyes. Its being stitched on 28 count White Lugana using Yallingup and Saltbush silk floss. The design and floss were gifts from my dear friend Maxine (THANK YOU!). The photo I took does not show the true loveliness of the floss. Hopefully I can get a better picture the next time I photograph it.

This piece is called Carrés du Printemps by Jardin Privé. I am stitching it on 28 count White Lugana and I chose 4 colors of Needlepaints.

And finally, I made a little progress on my SAL piece. Again, this is being stitched on 32 count White Lugana with Wattle n’ Daub from HDF.

My third new start is Sweet Land of Liberty from Cherished Stitches. I started it last night, so I don't have a photo to share with you yet. I plan on stitching on it this weekend and I promise to post a photo some time next week.

Ta Da....2008 Quaker Mystery is No Longer a Mystery

2010-04-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

I started this project on September 7, 2008 and I finally finished it on April 22, 2010. It took a lot longer than I planned, but other projects kept getting in the way. I am glad its done and I really loved stitching it.

For those of you who don't recognize this design, it is the 2008 Quaker Mystery SAL from Stickideen von der Wiehenburg. I stitched it on 32ct Spring Meadow Green and used Old Maid of the Forest (1 strand over 2) from HDF. I decided to add a little contrasting color to the Token of Love motif by stitching the heart in one of HDF's Winterberry Pinks (2 strands over 2).

I did make one small change to the original pattern.In the lower left there was a motif of a squirrel in a tree. I did not like the squirrel. He looked demonic and I just couldn't bring myself to stitch this part of the motif. So I added a few more branches to the tree and added a little bird. This is how it turned out:

Now that I am finished with this project, I'm going to start focusing on my Quaker Seasons of Friendship SAL I am doing with Maxine. I've neglected this project for over a month and I need to get stitching on it. I also plan to have another NO NEW STARTS month for June. It was a great success last year and I got several items in my WIP pile finished.

A Small Finish

2010-04-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a small finish I did over the weekend. This is a Patriotic Quaker Heart design from Aury. I stitched it on 32ct Summer Sky Jobelan using HDF silk threads Ox Blood, White Chocolate and Zaffre Cobalt. I have to say that the Zaffre Cobalt is my favorite blue of all of the HDF silks.

Mystery Quaker Progress

2010-04-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

stitched on 32ct Spring Meadow Green with Old Maid of the Forest by HDF

After finishing a 'new' project (Sunflower Inn), I decided to go back and work on one of my WIPs. Since I am getting close to finishing my Mystery Quaker, I decided to pull this one out of the pile and stitch on it for the week. I made a lot of progress. However, I am stuck on what to do with the motif below the S. The pattern shows it with a squirrel, but I don't like how the squirrel looks. He looks demonic. So I am thinking of stitching a bird in the tree or maybe something else. Any suggestions?

A Little Sunshine

2010-03-30T11:19:00.001-07:00

Even though it is now officially Spring, it still feels a bit like winter here in Indiana. So to help chase away the winter blues, I decided to stitch Sunflower Inn by Little House Needleworks. I stitched it on 32ct Golden Honey Lugana from Silkweaver using all the threads called for.

Latest Progress on Quaker Seasons of Friendship

2010-03-08T05:14:00.001-08:00

Here is the latest on my SAL project:

I have stitched on this project exclusively since I finished Enya. I needed to catch up with Maxine, who has made terrific progress on her QSoF.

My First Finish of 2010

2010-02-26T05:15:00.001-08:00

Well, here she is......ENYA:

I finished it on Monday. I am so happy how it turned out! I stitched it on 32 count White Lugana with Ethereal Ice and Mermaid 2331 silk floss from HDF. I really enjoyed stitching this project. I love this series from Sampler Cove and look forward to stitching the others in the series.

The Latest.....

2010-02-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

progress on my two main projects:

I got the upper left corner done (minus the border). This week I hope to get the upper right corner done. I am stitching this with HDF Ethereal Ice and Mermaid 2331 on 32ct White Lugana.

a little progess on Quaker Seasons of friendship, which I am stitching along with my dear friend Maxine. I am stitching this with HDF Wattle n' Daub (single strand over 2) on 32ct White Lugana.

More Progress On Enya

2010-01-19T10:06:00.001-08:00

I've made a little more progress on Enya. I spent quite a few hours ripping out a section because I was 1 stitch off. I had hoped to at least get started on the border by the time my week of stitching was up, but it was not to be.

I don't have any progress to report on my Quaker Seasons of Friendship, which I am stitching along with my friend Maxine. I was busy all weekend and did not have time to stitch on anything. So you'll have to wait another week for a progess picture! Stay tuned....

Update and a New Project

2010-01-11T05:06:00.001-08:00

This is my Quaker Seasons of Friendship as of yesterday, January 10th. I did not have a lot of opportunity to stitch on this project over the weekend, so my progress was minimal.

When I am not stitching on Quaker Seasons of Friendship, this is the project I am working on:

I began this project on January 1st. Its called Enya and it is from Sampler Cove. I am a big fan of Enya, so I decided to stitch this in colors I think reflect the artist. The main color is Ethereal Ice and the other color is Mermaid 2331, both by HDF. I really like how this design is unfolding.

A New Start for 2010

2010-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Here is my first start for 2010:

This is Quaker Seasons of Frindship by R&R Reproductions. I'm stitching it on 32 count White lugana with Wattle n' Daub by Vikki Clayton HDF. I started in the middle instead of in the upper left corner.

I am stitching this design, along with my friend Maxine. This SAL will be done every weekend with progress pictures posted every Monday. So stay tuned....

Farewell 2009

2009-12-31T15:52:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe another year has come and gone. It seems just like yesterday when we were celebrating the beginning of 2009. Now it is the end of the year and I have two finishes to share and one WIP.

My first finish is the 2008 Unicef design by Diane Williams (of Little House Needleworks). Its stitched on 28 count Purely Primitive by Silkweaver. The only change I made is the word in the middle. I changed it from Paz to Peace.

My next finish is Poinsettia House by Little House Needleworks. I started this project on Christmas Day and finished it this afternoon. Its stitched on 28 count Days Gone By by Silkweaver. I made no changes.

And finally, some more progress on Mystery Quaker. I thought I might finish it this year, but after stitching on it for almost a month, I began to grow bored, so I knew it was time to work on another project. But I am now half finished and I hope to complete it in 2010.

Grand Marquoir Finished

2009-11-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

Well here it is....my Grand Marquoir by Isabelle Vautier is finally finished. I began this project in March and I finished it on November 22nd. This project was stitched on 28 count Ivory evenweave and I used DMC 312 for the main color and DMC 334 as the accent color.

Here is a close up of just 2 of my favorite blocks. There were so many wonderful blocks to choose from, but I have to say these 2 are my most favorite. This was a wonderful project and I want to say many thanks to Isabelle Vautier for offering this great free project.

Grand Marquoir Progress

2009-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

Here is my Grand Marquoir. This was my progress as of Sunday, November 15th. I have actually stitched on it some more since then. I am hoping to get this done by this weekend. For those of you have asked, this is stitched with DMC 312 and 334.

Two Halloween Finishes

2009-10-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

Even though Halloween isn't one of my favorite holidays, I could not resist these 2 cute designs from Val's Stitchin' Stuff:

This is Three Little Spooks...stitched on 28ct White Lugana and I used the floss the pattern called for.

and this is Halloween stitched on 28ct Blueberry Jobelan. I used a combination of the Weeks Dye Works and DMC floss.

My Prize

2009-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Recently on the HDF board, Barbara (Luv2stitch2) held a drawing for 3 Halloween pillow tucks and I was one of the lucky ones to win one. I received the tuck yesterday, and this is what I put in it:

Its Boo 2 You from Val's stuff. Thanks Barbara for offering this cute tuck! It was the perfect size for this little project.

New Month....3 Finishes

2009-10-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

September 30th ended my self-imposed No New Starts program. So on October 1st, I started a Brand New Project---Acorn Hill by Little House Needleworks:

This project only took a few days and I love how it turned out. It has such rich, Autumn colors. Its stitched on 32 count Days Gone By from Silkweaver. I made no changes in floss.

After I finished Acorn Hill, I moved on and did this little piece. Its part of the Year of Pinkeeps collection by Maryse. Its stitched on 28 count Antique White Lugna and I stitched it in the DMC floss called for. Some day I hope to finish this as an ornament or a pinkeep.

And finally, this sweet little design from Country Cottage Needleworks. This design appeared in the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue. I stitched it on 32 count Summer Sky Jobelan. I did change some of the colors. I decided to make the birds red. Unfortunately, this piece did not photograph very well. You can barely see the snowflakes and the wording at the bottom.

I have 2 Halloween designs from Val's Stitchin' Stuff completed, but I need to get them ironed and photographed. So stay tuned...

It has been a while

2009-09-11T05:04:00.000-07:00

...since I posted anything to my blog, so here is what I have been working on for the past month.

I finished part 3 of Isabelle Vautier's Grand Marquoir. Now I am half finished with this project!

Here is my Waiting for Ships. All I have left to do is the beading. I plan to work on the beading this weekend. Hopefully it will go quickly and I will have it done by Monday.

And finally here is my Blonde Cameo Lady from Passione Ricamo. She is stitched on Magic's Kiss 16ct Aida from Enchanted Fabrics. Unfortunately I was unable to capture the true beauty of the fabric. It looks really washed out here, but in reality its a beautiful rosey pink and gray.

Progress on Waiting for Ships

2009-08-17T05:25:00.001-07:00

Here is my Waiting for Ships mermaid by Mirabilia. I started this project about 2 years ago. The picture on the left is my stitching before I begain stitching on it again on August 2nd. The picture on the right is the progress I made in 2 weeks. I can't believe how much progress I made! I never thought I would finish her tail. It was quite intense! I still have the beading to do in her tail (and everywhere else), which I will do in the end. Anyway, I am stitching her on 14 count Seamist by Heaven Lee Creations. I changed her hair color to black and I stitched her sea shell top in a pink Krienik.

I have been limiting my stitching time on WIPs to 2 weeks. However, since I am so close to getting this one done, I've decided to give myself another 2 weeks to finish up this project. Hopefully in 2 weeks (or less) I will be posting another finish. Wish me luck!

Progress on Sleepy Hollow

2009-07-20T05:22:00.001-07:00

Here is my progress on Sleepy Hollow as of July 19th. This was the end of my 2 weeks of stitching, so now I must move on to another project. I am a bit disappointed in myself that I did not get as much stitching done on Sleepy Hollow as I had wanted. I thought that I could at least get the entire right side of the design done within the 2 week stitching period. So it goes back in the WIP pile.

So what am I going to work on next?

I have a small design from Passione Ricamo called Blond Cameo and Trick or Treat Fairy (sorry she is so wrinkly!) by Nora Corbett. Both projects are nearly done and I think I can get both done within the next 2 weeks.

Progress as of July 5th

2009-07-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

Here is my Mystery Quaker after 2 weeks of working steady on it. I made quite a bit of progress on it. But now it is time to switch to another WIP project:

This is Sleepy Hollow by Cross Eyed Cricket. I started this project in September 2007. It is being stitched on 16 ct. Siren's Call Flair Aida from Enchanted Fabrics. I am hoping that I can finish this project in the next two weeks. If not, it goes back into the WIP pile.

2008 Mystery Quaker WIP

2009-06-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been working on for the past few days. I am really making progress.

Here is a closup of the Token of Love motif. I used one of HDF's Winterberry pinks on the heart.

Grand Marquoir Part 2 Done!

2009-06-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Whew, after stitching for almost 2 weeks, I am finally finished with part 2. I had hoped to get part 2 and 3 done by the end of June so that when part 4 came out in July I would be caught up. But after having to do some frogging on part 2 and it taking so long to get 1 section done, I've decided to to work on another WIP for a while before I go back to part 3.

Mermaid of Atlantis--Finally Finished!!

2009-06-18T05:02:00.001-07:00

After two years, Mermaid of Atlantis is finally finished! When this design was first released in 2007, I quickly bought the pattern telling myself I had to stitch this one. At the beginning, this project went rather quickly. But after I finished the mermaid, I had difficulty getting the rest of the design done. I would stitch on it here and there, but I had lost my passion for this project. When I decided that June would be my No New Starts month, I was determined to get Atlantis done. She is stitched on 28 ct Mystic Opalescent Lugana from Enchanted Fabrics using all the floss, beads, etc. the pattern called for.

Cute Snow Family

2009-06-05T05:55:00.001-07:00

June has been designated NO NEW STARTS MONTH and my first finish is this project that I started about 2 years ago. This design is called Baby Makes Three and its from Stoney Creek. Its stitched on a 16 count Aida solo from Silkweaver.

A Small Finish

2009-05-22T06:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a small design I stitched up last night to test a custom color I ordered from HDF. This floss is a vibrant Blue, Green and Purple combo. I stitched it on 28 count Antique White Jobelan. The design is called Love and its a freebie design from
Debbie Draper Designs.

I love how it turned out. I will eventually make it into an ornament.

3 Finishes!

2009-05-19T05:37:00.001-07:00

I am so happy to present 3 finishes! The first 2 were finished in April and the last one was finished just last week. This is Kit Kat and Santa's Hat, a cute freebie design from Val's Stuff. Its stitched on 16 count Evergreen Aida from Enchanted Fabrics. I used the recommended floss, except for the 'fur' on the hat. I was supposed to use Whisper thread, but I hate that stuff, so I used 3 strands of B5200. I think it turned out nice.
This is Beach Cottage from Country Cottage Needleworks. Its stitched on 32ct Heritage Lugana from Silkweaver. I love the fabric. Its a lovely pale tan color. And it was wonderful to stitch on. I used the recommended floss on this project. The only 2 changes I made were in the stars. I was supposed to use White floss, but they didn't show up very well, so I did them in yellow. I also didn't use a French knot in the Whale's eye, just a half stitch.
And finally, my favorite piece, Cirque des Carreaux by Ink Circles. This was stitched on 28ct White Opalescent Lugana using Fantasm cotton floss by Carrie's Creation Threads. I love how it turned out. I agonized for a long time over what color thread to stitch this project in and I am so pleased with how the Phantasm worked out.

More WIPs

2009-04-27T09:58:00.001-07:00

Seems like I am doing more starting than finishing. So here is a WIP and a new start:

Here is my prgress on the 2008 Quaker Mystery. I am finally on the second row (working right to left).

This is my new start. This was a free design from Papillon Creations in 2008. I have already stitched this one, but then I saw the one stitched by Linda Z. from the USA I knew I had to stitch it again. Plus, when I originally stitched this, I did it on 25 count Lugana and it turned out quite large. I wanted to do it with a smaller count fabric, so this time I'm stitching it on 32 count Ice Blue Lugana. I am using Gentle Art (Purple Iris, Morning Glory, Sweet Pea, Baby Spinach), Crescent Colors (Hydrangea, Spinach) and Mill Hill 02084. Thank you Linda Z. for your wonderful inspiration!

Grand Marquoir Part 1 Finished!

2009-04-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

I finally finished part 1 of Isabelle Vautier's Grand Marquoir. Its a fun stitch and I can't wait to get started on parts 2 and 3.

Current WIPs

2009-03-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

Its been a couple of weeks since I've posted my WIP pictures, so here goes...

Here is my start on the Isabelle Vautier SAL Grand Marquoir. I'm stitching it on 28 count ivory evenweave in DMC 312 and 334.

And here is my progress on Cirque des Carreaux. I'm about half way through this project. I'm having a lot of fun stitching this one.

Cirque des Carreaux/Week 2

2009-03-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here is my Cirque des Carreaux after week 2. I can't believe how fast this project is coming along. I am almost finished with page 1 and 4.

A New WIP

2009-03-02T08:42:00.001-08:00

This weekend I decided to start a new project. I probably shouldn't have, as I have plenty other WIPs to work on, but I couldn't resist starting this one. So here is my Cirque des Carreaux by Ink Circles. I am stitching it on 28ct White Opalescent and using Fantasm by Carrie's Creation Threads. I really love this thread. Its a gorgeous Navy Blue, Teal Green and Medium Lavender.

Works in Progress

2009-02-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

Over the past 2 weeks I've been rotating between 3 projects:

2008 Mystery Quaker--I'm almost done with the first 6 pages (or the first row) of the design. The one thing I really love about this design is that the designer makes the pattern very large so its easy to see (Thank you!)

And here is Week 3 of my ABC Tapestry. Sorry about the dark picture...I couldn't seem to get the lighting right on this one. Where is week 2 you may ask? Well, I didn't put a single stitch in during week 2. I'm ashamed to say that in the first month of stitching this, I didn't even get 1 block done. But I promise to step it up in February and get more done. My goal is to get the first 3 blocks done by the end of the month. Wish me luck!

And finally, here is my Grand Marquoir by Gigi and Carine. I started this project on 7-4-07 and sadly, I have not put much work into it. I am determined to finish this project this year. I am stitching over 1 on 25ct Antique White Lugana with DMC 3743, 522, 3023; Anchor 873; and Needle Necessities 1941.

2 Finishes for January

2009-02-02T07:48:00.001-08:00

I'm a bit late posting these January finishes, but here goes....

Here is Home Sweet Home by Little House Needleworks. I stitched it on 28 count Antique White Jobelan. I did not make any color changes on this one. I really love the LHN designs and I will be stitching more in the future, so stay tuned.

And another small finish:

This cutie is a freebie design from Aury. I believe this one is the first in a series of 5 reindeer she will be designing. I couldn't wait until the others came out to stitch this one. Its stitched on 28 count White Opalescent Lugana and I used a VC HDF special request color of 2139/2141/2143 ( a beautiful purple combo). I'm going to make this design into an ornament one of these days.

ABC Tapestry Week 1

2009-01-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

Well, here is my ABC Tapestry after my first weekend of stitching. I actually only stitched on it a few hours on Sunday, but I think I did quite a bit for my first weekend of stitching. I am stitcing it 1 thread over 2.

SAL Project

2009-01-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Here's the first look at a new project I will begin this weekend. I was supposed to begin on January 1st, but I got distracted by another project and I did not start on time. Anyway, this is a SAL I am doing with my dear friend Maxine and her friend Becky. This is the ABC Tapestry from Rosewood Manor. I am stitching mine on 32 count Antique White Jobelan with DMC 3041. I haven't decided whether I'm going to do it 1 strand over 2 threads or 2 strands over 2 threads. I will have to start stitching and then decide. I bought plenty of floss, so I will be ok if I use 2 strands over 2. Hopefully I will have a WIP pic to share on Monday.

First Finish of 2009!

2009-01-05T09:39:00.001-08:00

Can you believe it! Five days into the new year and I already have a finish! I'm going to try and be good this year and finish more projects than I start. Seems like over the past two years I start projects and don't finish them. So 2009 will be a year of finishes!

This lovely beauty is a freebie design from Passione Ricamo (Thank you Laura!). I stitched it on 16ct Royalty from Enchanted Fabrics. The only change I made was the hair color. I didn't care for the reddish/brown originally charted. So I changed it to black and dark grays.

End of the Year Finishes

2009-01-05T09:19:00.000-08:00

I was on vacation from work for 3 weeks, so I used this time to get some stitching done before the end of the year.

The first photo is my personalized name tree from M Designs. I stitched it over 1 (and nearly went blind!) on 28ct Slate from Enchanted Fabrics. I used Grapevine from HDF. I decided to not do the beads on this as it was hard enough doing the cross stitches and the beads would be even harder for me to do. I plan to make this into an ornament.

The second photo is a companion piece to And the Angels Sang from Little House Needleworks. This design is from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue. It is stitched on a 16ct Silkweaver solor and I used DMC floss instead of the recommended specialty floss. This will be made into an ornament as well.

The third photo is my How Does Your Garden Grow from Papillon Creations. This was a freebie design SAL. Its stitched on 25ct Antique White Lugana. I fell behind around August and had to do some furious stitching to get it done by the end of the year. I really enjoyed this SAL and hope Yvonne from Papillon has another one in store for 2009.

Finished!!!

2008-12-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

Its finally done! I actually finished on December 7th, but I've only just now been able to get it photographed. It was a pleasure to stitch this project. The only changes I made were the initials at the top--I used letters from a French Alphabet book--and instead of using the 2 initials in the design I used 2 motifs instead. Thanks Romy for this wonderful design!

Austrian Spot Sampler

2008-11-21T07:00:00.001-08:00

Here is my latest progress on my Austrian Spot Sampler. I've been concentrating mostly on this project for the past 2 weeks. I would like to get this project finished by the end of this month.

2 More Finishes

2008-11-21T06:54:00.001-08:00

Here is my Boo to You by Val's Stuff. I really love these little patterns. They're a quick stitch. This one is stitched on a solo 16ct fabric from Silkweaver. I plan to make this into an ornament. The second is a Monogrammed Fir Tree from Elisa Passions. I stitched it on Ivory 28ct Evenweaving and used BaneBerry Bright from HDF. I really love this tree! I don't know if I'll frame it or have it made into some kind of wall hanging.

Two New Finishes

2008-10-29T10:11:00.001-07:00

Here are the two latest projects I have finished.

The first is Survivor Tree by M-Designs. I stitched it in Really Teally from Crescent Colors on 28ct White Opalescent Lugana. The Beads are a Teal color from Mill Hill. For the tree topper I did a ribbon design in the beads. I stitched this tree in Teal to represent Ovarian Cancer, which is the type of cancer I had. I plan to have the tree made into a wall hanging.

The second project is a snowman freebie from Plum Pudding Needleart. I stitched it on a 16ct Aida solo from Silkweaver using the DMC threads the pattern called for. I plan to make this into an ornament.

Austrian Spot Sampler...More Progress

2008-10-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

I've been stitching like mad on this project. I've pushed all other projects aside to do this one. I intended to rotate between this one and my Quaker Mystery, but the Spot Sampler is calling to me and I can't seem to work on anything but this one. Anyway, its coming along rather quickly. I've made a few boo boos and have had to do some frogging, but it was nothing major. I think I have found the perfect alphabet to use for my initials at the top. As I last posted, I didn't care for the "A" that was included in the alphabet with this pattern. I will probably stitch my initials in at the end of the project.

Latest Progress on Austrian Spot Sampler

2008-10-01T10:35:00.001-07:00

Here is the latest on my Austrian Spot Sampler. I'll be stitching in my initials after I finish the motifs on the right side of the design. I'm not sure if I want to use the alphabet that was included with the pattern. I don't like how the 'A' looks. I may use another Old English style alphabet.

Gorgeous D-Bag

2008-09-26T05:47:00.001-07:00

Here is a bunch of gorgeous floss I got in a d-bag from Vikki's HDF. I think this is the best d-bag I've ever received from Vikki. I don't know what I will use them for yet, but I'm sure I will think of something!

What I've Been Working On

2008-09-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

I stitched a little more on my Quaker Mystery. I stitched 1 and a half motifs since I last posted.

I also started Austrian Spot Sampler by Romy of Austria. This is actually my second start. I was originally stitching it on 28 count Antique White Lugana using Vikki's Purple Purple. I did not like how it was turning out. The floss was too dark and looked more wine than purple. So I decided to start over using 32 count Bright White Lugana and stitching it with a cotton floss I bought from Victorian Motto on eBay. I love the color! Its a lovely variegation of lavenders and a pinkish purple. I plan to stitch on this most of the weekend, so hopefully I will have more to share next week.

Progress and a New Start

2008-09-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted, I've made more progress on my Trick or Treat Fairy. Its very cute and I love how its turning out.

On Sunday evening, I finally started the 2008 Quaker Mystery. This project just ended and I am only now starting it. It took me a long time to figure out what color floss and fabric I wanted to use. I am using Spring Meadow 32ct Jobelan and Old Maid of the Forest by Vikki Clayton HDF. I'm using 1 strand over 2. I was unable to capture the beauty of this fabric on film. It's a hand-dyed fabric in subtle shades of green. Believe me, its really pretty. I orginally planned to use Miracle Mint, but my LNS has been unable to get the fabric from the manufacturer because its on back order. Anyway, when I was at the LNS in August, one of the sales ladies (Sharon) recommended Spring Meadow and I LOVE IT. I am so glad now that I didn't start this project on the Miracle Mint.

Carnation Sampler Part 2

2008-09-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

I finally finished part 2 of the Carnation Sampler. I had hoped to get it done a lot sooner so I would have time to stitch on other projects before part 3 came out. I am really enjoying this project.

Future Project

2008-08-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a project I plan to stitch in the near future using the lovely mother of pearl buttons that Susan sent me. I will probably use a combination of purple/lavender threads rather than the blue and green the pattern calls for. I think the buttons Susan sent will be perfect for this project!

Stash Exchange

2008-08-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

This year I participated in the SIMPLY SENSATIONAL SUMMER SLUMP STASH SWAP on the HDF forum. These are the goodies I received from Susan K. in Virginia. I loved everything! Thank you Susan!!!

My Latest WIPs

2008-08-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I posted, so I thought I would show you what I have been working on. The first is Carnation Sampler from Wiehenburg. This is a SAL in I believe 9 parts. This is part 1. I am stitching it on 32ct Antique White Jobelan. The floss I'm using is from Vikki Clayton--Winterberried (pink) and Kailslaw (green). I am using 1 strand over 2. The colors are very soft. I'm really liking how this is turning out. I am putting this project aside for awhile to concentrate on stitching the new magazine design from Nora Corbett called Trick or Treat Fairy. I'm stitching her on 28ct Star Sapphire Jobelan. The fabric is a pretty bluish-green color. I don't know why she is being called a fairy, because she doesn't have wings. Anyway, she's really cute and I really enjoy stitching her.

A Productive Weekend!

2008-07-28T05:39:00.000-07:00

I got a lot of stitching done this weekend. I finished this little piece by A Mon Ami Pierre. Its stitched over 1 on 28ct evenweave. This was my first over 1 project and it was a bit difficult. Thank goodness for my mini clip-on magnifying glass, which really helped me to see those tiny holes! I used Old Maid of the Vineyard from HDF. The floss is a pretty wine/purple combo. Eventually I plan to make this into an ornament or pinkeep.

I also finished parts 7 and 8 on the Papillon SAL. I really love how this project is turning out. So now this project is over half done.

Here is Home of a Needleworker Too by Little House Needleworks. Its stitched on 28ct Antique White Jobelan. I changed the color of the house, spool of thread and ribbon at the bottom to Weeks Dye Works Lavender. Originally it was blue. This was my first time using Jobelan. I really liked it and will probably use it again for future projects

And finally, this is Willie's Quaker Square #7 by Monasterium Designs. This design was published in the June issue of Gift of Stitching. I stitched it on 28ct White evenweave with Velvet Masquerade from Vikki Clayton HDF. I really love this blue color.

2008-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well here it is, my Cirque des Triangles finally finished! I actually finished it in June but I am only getting it posted to my Blog.

I am really happy how it turned out. It was a pleasure to stitch. This was my first large project done in silks and I absolutely love the Dragon Opal floss. Its such a pretty color.

Now that I've done both Cercles and Triangles, I am anxious for the next shape in the Cirque series.

Part 6--How Does Your Garden Grow

2008-06-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here is part 6 for How Does Your Garden Grow, a wonderful free SAL from Papillon Creations. I'm stitching it on 25ct Antique White Lugana.

My Current Work in Progress

2008-06-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is Cirque des Triangles by Ink Circles. This is one of many WIPs. I'm stitching it on 28ct White Opalescent Lugana with Dragon Opal from Vikki Clayton. The floss is a gorgeous dark teal and navy blue. The picture doesn't do it justice. I've been working on this project since March and I hope to have it finished by this weekend.

Welcome to my Blog

2008-06-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! My name is Amanda and welcome to my blog. I am rather new to this, so please bear with me. I've been cross stitching for 20+ years and its one of my favorite hobbies. I also love to read and listen to music (Yanni, Enya, Country Music, Rock, etc.). I like to cross stitch many kinds of subjects, but lately I'm really into Quakers and Samplers. I am also a huge fan of Nora Corbett (Mirabilia), Lavender and Lace, Passione Ricamo, The Sweetheart Tree, and Val's Stitchin' Stuff. A few years ago I was really into the hand dyed fabrics, but now my passion is hand dyed floss, especially from Vikki Clayton and Carrie's Creation Threads.

I hope you will stay tuned for more from Amanda's Needle Nook!