Note about the links on my finished projects posts.

I've decided to try and put links in my posts for the items I have used to complete my projects.  The links I choose are places I have bought from in the past and had great service.  A couple of them that are my normal go to places.

BUSHMOUNTAIN STITCHERY & FRAMING -I absolutely love Maeann and Gary.  I found them when their shop was still in PA.  I even made a roadtrip up to MA when they moved.  Gary does great framing!

STITCH N' STUFF  -These ladies are great!  Very sweet and their shop is packed full of stuff with a couch sitting area surrounded by Vera Bradley bags!  If they don't have it in stock when you visit their store they have no problem with ordering and shipping it to you. And I know when I was there a couple of years ago they had a coupon book that doubled as a notepad that they gave out.

1-2-3 Stitch - Have ordered from here and used to frequent their message board when I had time.  They have a monthly give away :)

Everything Cross Stitch - Have purchased from here several times.

Stitching Bits and Bobs -I have ordered from here several times also and they also have great sales.  I think they might have the Snowman '10 chart and embellishment pack on sale now (12/11/2013)

There are probably more links but these are the major ones for me.  I love the local shops but I can tell you this: if you have a shop right next to my house with great deals but have crappy service or an attitude you can bet I will not buy from you.  I've made the 2 1/2 hr drive to The Flying Needle and she was rude.  She finally started warming up and interacting when she saw how much my friend and I were spending but I've never been back and won't order from her on line either.

Enjoy!

Snowman '10

Snowman '10 by Lizzie Kate

Stitched this one using the Crescent Colours, GAST and DMC required (except I used B5200 instead of whitewash).  Stiched on Flax 28ct Cashel Linen.  

I'm planning on making this into a small bellpull.

Seasons by Val's Stitchin' Stuff

Seasons by Val's Stitchin' Stuff

I used 28ct linen evenweave and various overdyed cotton flosses.

US Navy Seal

US Navy Seal by Sabra Publishing

Stitched on 28 ct white evenweave with DMC threads.  I replaced the yellow that was listed with metallic gold.  They also left the white parts blank so I filled them in with B5200. I found the chart on Ebay and it is from 1982 so I'm sure it is out of print. 

Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus by Waxing Moon Designs

Stitched on 28ct evenweave Solo from Silkweaver and used GAST threads

Definitely need to find the perfect frame for this one.  Now I need to decided if I want to start another new one or try to get my project list down a bit.  

Ye Olde Coffee House

Ye Olde Coffee House by Little House Needleworks from a Just Cross Stitch Magazine

Finished Oct 2013

This was for a SAL through a FB group called Stitchaholics.  We decided on anything Little House Needleworks.  I think I ended up kitting 5 different designs and then chose this one :)

I found some linen napkins at a yard sale and thought they would be good for stitching.  The thread count is not even....this is 25 X 36 and I stitched it over 2 with 2 strands of DMC.  I could have gone wider but thought the tall stretched looks was better.  

Checkerboard Pumpkin

This is a free chart by Waxing Moon.  I stitched it on 18ct aida that was handpainted by my best friend and I during an exhibit held by Vikki Clayton.

Q Snap Cover Pattern

I found a pattern online to make Q Snap covers but now the link is gone.  It took me a bit but I found the measurements that I wrote down after doing the math for different sized frames.  I'll try to explain.....

For a square frame -

4 X inches plus 1 by 7" wide for fabric and 2 X 2 sides plus 1" for elastic (elastic should be 1/4" or 1/2" wide)

Example:

8 X 8 frame  4 X 8 = 32 plus 1= 33" long by 7" wide for fabric and 16 plus 1= 17 for elastic (you need two pieces this length)

8 X 10 frame 2 X 8 plus 2 X 10 plus 1 = 37 long by 7 " wide for fabric and 18 plus 1 = 19 for elastic (you need two pieces this length)

cut the fabric then fold each long end in 1/4" and iron down, then fold each long end in 1/4 and iron down.  This creates a sort of pocket for your elastic.  You will then sew down the inside fold to close the pocket leaving openings at the ends to thread the elastic.  I then put a safety pin on one end of a piece of elastic and fed it into the pocket.  when the end with out the pin was even with the end I inserted the elastic I pinned it so it wouldn't feed through (since it is sorter than the fabric) this causes it to gather.  Once on the other end pin that to the edge.  After both pieces are fed and pinned you will take the fabric and join the two short ends together with the right side of the fabric facing itself.  Sew a 1" seam.  I wrote the frame size on the seam in sharpie marker for easy reference. Note: The elastic I bought did not play nicely with my sewing machine so I ended up hand sewing the elastic pieces down and just machine sewing the seam. If you don't have fabric in the lengths you need to sew two long pieces together to get the length, just remember to leave seam allowance.

More projects finished up - Sewn February 2013

Sleep Tight by Bent Creek.  I found this fabric for
about $2 a yd and made a cute pillow.
It is now stuffed and sitting in the living room.

Front of Peac ornament - forget who designed this chart.

Back of Peace Ornament.  I still need to stuff
and add a hang tag.

Found a pattern through google search for qsnap covers.
I bought this fabric for $1.00 a yd and found a huge roll of
elastic for only $3.00 at a fabric outlet.  I also have some
made with a different designed fabric.

Household Items for the Home - Sewn February 2013

I got an idea to make a new jewelry holder since mine was full.  I shopped for some and found them way too expensive and found some instructions through a google search but unfortunately didn't save the link.  I found some fabric from a fabric outlet store near by for only $1.00 a yard and the thin plastic was bought at Joann's for about $4 a yard.  The binding I used was 1/2 but you could probably use 1" if you wanted.  The hanger I used was from some pants bought and they left the hanger on them.  I like to keep those to hold my finished stiching after I iron it so it hangs flat.  I keep a few extra and this time they really came in handy. (FYI: this one is now full of jewelry and I need to make another :)

One side finished (it is two sided)

The finished product

I also decided to make this curtain for our hall closet.  We had an accordian type door and hated it.  This looks much better.

Tomás the Toucan - sewn February 2013

This guy has also been finished for some time now.  Thanks to Holly Willson who saw I was way too sick of the back stitching and finished it up for me.  I found this fabric exactly how you see it and thought it would be great for that tropical feel.  He is actually stuff and sitting out in the living room now.

Norman Rockwell Pillow sewn in Feb 2013

Haven't been crafting or blogging much at all but back in February I did get a sewing bug and accomplished some things.

Cut and ready

two sides sewn

Norman Rockwell pillow finished

The above was finished back in 01 but it took close to 10 yrs for me to find the perfect fabric.  I have finally made it into a pillow.  I just need to stuff and close it now :)