patgeary

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs

February 5, 2016 By patgeary

Christmas Garden is another of the OOP charts from the Blackbird Design ladies. I bought it some time ago as I knew it would sell out fast like many of their charts do. I put it aside for stitching at some later date. A group of us decided to work on this in 2016 so I started a Stitch-A-Long for it. Rather than use the recommended threads and fabric, I decided on 16ct Regency Aida from Picture This Plus and the Victorian Christmas Collection from Victorian Motto Samplers.

Christmas Garden – Chart, Fabric, and Floss

I started on this project on January 24, 2016. Final selection of threads include:

Dark Varigated Pine and Victorian Cranberry for the outside border
Holly Leaves and Old Cranberry for the inside green and red shades
Antique Bronze and Olds Gold for the inside shades of gold

Progress on Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs Progress as of Feb. 5, 2016

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs – Progress Feb 16 2016

Progress as of Feb 19 2016 on Christmas Garden

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs – Progress 3/2/2016

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs Completed March 12, 2016

Framed Christmas Garden that now hangs in my living room.

Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs

Deer Crossing

January 5, 2016 By patgeary

Some time ago I ordered Deer Crossing from Artecy Cross Stitch to stitch for my son. This counted cross stitch pattern is of deer crossing a stream and was designed from artwork by Randy McGovern. It is a fairly good sized piece with a stitch count of 250w x 196h. I’m stitching it on 14ct Aida so the finished size will be 18” by 14”. The piece used 52 different DMC colors and is stitched SOLID! Should be nice but it will take a long time to finish. At least it has no fractional stitches or back stitching, just full crosses.

The chart itself is 15 8 1/2 x 11 sheets.

Started stitching: January 5, 2015

March 21, 2022 – I decided to pick this up again and see if I can work on it. I will need to buy more floss as I have robbed what I had for other projects. And as you can tell, I did not get very far the first time around. Many, many color changes which, for me, is frustrating.

Deer Crossing – Progress when I picked it up in March 2022

Accomplished more in a week of stitching than in all I had done before. Chose to move to the right-hand side where there were more blocks of one color so I could at least feel I was accomplishing something. At least now I can tell there are trees.

Joyful World 2016 SAL

January 2, 2016 By patgeary

The Snowflower Diaries cordially invites you to join the Primitive Calendar Joyful World Stitch-A-Long for 2016. Maja has designed a primitive monthly calendar: JOYFUL WORLD for her children that she is going to share with us this year.

You are invited to join and stitch the entire calendar or just a couple of months. Or you may choose to stitch nothing and just follow along. Two of the charts with recommended fabric and floss will be released in January, and one a month following that. The charts will be available in pdf format for download for FREE. The charts will also be released in multiple languages.

You can read more about the project on The Snowflower Diaries blog and download the charts each month following the above schedule. NOTE: Charts will be posted both in her FACEBOOK GROUP and on her website.

Thank you Maja for this great project.

Merry One & Merry Two by Plum Street Samplers

December 13, 2015 By patgeary

Merry One is the first of a new series Serial Bowl Full of Merries by Plum Street Samplers. It is a Limited Edition kit and now Sold Out. The kits each include chart, stitching and finishing instructions, hand dyed cotton floss and trim. I don’t like to buy kits because most kits use linen and I don’t stitch on linen. I was lucky enough to snag just the chart on Stash Unload. I’m trying to stick with smaller projects until the first of the year when I will start two Blackbird Design Stitch-a-Longs so this was perfect for me.

I selected a piece of 16ct Wren by Picture This Plus and a combination of threads, some over-dyed some DMC.

The second one in this series has been released, Merry Two which features Santa holding branches of berries talking to a snowman, his team of reindeer are behind him, and his sleigh is filled with a decorated tree. I was lucky enough to find someone who is willing to trade with me so I can stitch both designs.

According to Traditional Stitches, “We have heard that Merry One will be released as a chart sometime in 2016, which is great news as you can still collect the complete series of designs.”

Started stitching Merry One December 15, 2015and finished December 21, 2015.

Because I did not have all of the called for threads in my stash, I used the following colors:

DMC 3857
DMC 632
DMC 822
Classic Colorworks Weeping Willow
Classic Colorworks Cocoa Bean
DMC 3790

Merry One by Plum Street Samplers

Paulette has confirmed that she will release Merry One as a reprint- chart only, no threads, sometime early this year. (Possibly Nashville Market which is held in March)

I decided to send this off to The Twisted Stitcher (Vonna Pfeiffer) for finishing and look what she did. I LOVE IT!

Merry One by Plum Street Samplers

Progress on Merry Two is shown below. All I have left to add is all of the snowflakes.

Merry Two by Plum Street Samplers.

It is now January 5, 2023, and I have now fully finished Merry Two. I found a book box at Michaels on sale for 70% off so bought one for only $5.99. Mounted the stitched piece to a piece of matboard with two layers of batting. I may decide to add some twisted cording but for now it is finished.

Blackbird Designs Stitch-A-Longs

December 10, 2015 By patgeary

If you are a Blackbird Design Addict, as I am, you might be interested in two new Stitch-A-Longs for two of the BBD charts. Both are Christmas Designs although they certainly could be displayed all year.

‘Tis the Season from Joyeux Noel

Tis the Season
Blackbird Designs
from the Joyeux Noel book
36ct Pear by Lakeside Linens
CC Belle Soie
Stitched by Cathy B.

Joyeus Noel has just been reprinted and you should be able to order it from your favorite LNS or an online source. One of the charts included in this book is called ‘Tis the Season and includes a beautiful Winter Cardinal. The chart calls for using Belle Soie silk threads by Crescent Colors. Some folks will be using those but there are others of us who will be using other types of floss, mainly because of the cost of the silk threads. The called for fabric is 32ct Pear by Lakeside Linens. Again, each of us will be selecting our own fabric. I plan on using 16ct Storm Aida by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. You can read more about my own choices on ‘Tis the Season from Joyeux Noel by Blackbird Designs.

If you would like to join us, visit ‘Tis the Season SAL Facebook group.

Christmas Garden

Christmas Garden is an Out of Print chart by the Blackbird Design ladies. Unless you have someone who is willing to loan you the chart or you can find someone willing to sell it to you, you are NOT going to easily find this. Some of us will be using the recommended fabric: 30ct Sheep Straw by R & R Reproductions. Others will select whatever fabric they are most comfortable stitching on. I have ordered a piece of 16ct Regency by Picture This Plus. We will also be using a wide variety of threads. Some will be stitching with the recommended threads. Others of us have ordered floss from Nancy Rogers of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, specifically the Victorian or Antique Christmas Collection. You can read more about the project Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs. There are also a number of ways to stitch this sampler to make it your own. Mine will be stitched as a tribute to my oldest son who died just after his 50th Birthday.

If you would like to join us, visit Christmas Garden SAL – 2016

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks

December 6, 2015 By patgeary

Robin’s Song by Little House Needleworks is a chart I purchased some time ago BEFORE I became addicted to Blackbird Designs. When I thought I might lose my sight, I decided I had better get busy and stitch some of the ones I had purchased and kitted up with the recommended floss.

The piece was stitched on 16ct Aida Chocolate Milk or Toasted Almond from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I use the recommended floss by Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and Classic Colorworks. Finished piece measures 11 7/8 x 5 7/8 (stitched area). I started stitching on October 29, 2015 and put the last stitch in today, December 6, 2015.

And here it is the end of June 2022 and Robin’s Song has been released from prison and can now be displayed. Vonna Epperson Pfeiffer has an article in the Summer 2022 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine on finishing stitched pieces as a drum. And here are the results of my endeavor.

I had some bird house charms in my stash, so I added those.

‘Tis the Season from Joyeux Noel by Blackbird Designs

December 4, 2015 By patgeary

One of the most beautiful designs the Blackbird Design ladies have created is ‘Tis the Season which is from the book Joyeux Noel. The book is due to be reprinted and released during December 2015. If you want it, I would suggest you order it quickly as my understanding is that it is a limited reprint. Most local Needlework shops should be able to get it for you.

The recommended floss for stitching this is Crescent Colors Belle Soie silk and it calls for eight colors. Regular price is $7.50 a skein and this was just more money than I wanted to spend even if I found it on sale so I sent searching for an alternative. I came across this blog post Blogtoberfest… Okay, I’m terrible at this!

She suggested using the following conversion from Crescent Colors Belle Soie silk and I decided to give it a try.

Attic Tea -> CC Pea Pod
Moss -> WDW Bark
Mudpie -> WDW Palomino
Poison Apple -> CC Wild Berries
Pumpkin Carriage -> GAST Brandy
Scarecrow -> GAST Grecian Gold
Tortoise Shell -> GAST Forest Glade
Vanilla Pudding -> WDW Whitewash

I did make one other change. Both suggested colors for the bird seemed to be more shades of dark pink which our cardinals are definitely NOT! Another stitcher suggested Week Dye Works Turkish Red which I decided to use. I had also seen the piece stitched on a darker fabric than the suggested Pear by Lakeside Linens. I selected 16ct Storm Aida by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

The verse at the bottom can be stitched in French or English. I think I will stitch the English version.

I hope to start stitching this soon and have others in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group join me.

Progress as of January 2, 2016

‘Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs

Finished Stitching: January 7, 2016

‘Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs from Joyeux Noel

Framed and hanging in my living room.

Joyeux Noel by Blackbird Designs – Framed

The Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways

December 1, 2015 By patgeary

Nancy of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is playing Santa again this year and offering The Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway. Each year she has the pleasure of playing Santa and giving away a gift each day for twelve days.

For the next twelve days Santa Nancy will post each day what the gift will be and you can enter each day. You must be a follower of her blog to enter and you must post a comment each day that you want to enter. If you post on your blog or Facebook and get 50 more entries!

Then, starting on the 13th, she will announce the winner for each day through the 25th. You will need to check back to see if you were a winner as she is not going to have time to hunt you down!

Day One’s gift is your favorite colors of floss!! You tell Santa Nancy your favorite colors and she will send a nice selection for you. Floss is always the favorite give-away around here.

So you can see just how beautiful the floss is, here is the Victorian Christmas Collection that I am purchasing to stitch Blackbird Designs Christmas Garden.

And here is the Christmas Garden chart.

So head on over to the The Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Day Two: Santa is giving one lucky winner a $35 Gift Certificate to select items from her ebay store. Floss, charts, etc. Everyone loves to go shopping!

Day Three: It is the Best Friend Present! If you are the lucky winner, you give the name of your best friend and Santa Nancy along with favorite colors, linen or aida for stitching, etc. Then she will send a present directly to your friend. A $35 value.

Day Four: we will have a gift box of floss….Auntie’s Flower Garden for one lucky winner. Each of the gift boxes is 12 skeins of floss, 20 yards each. Complete with a fold over gift card.

Day Five: The Primitive Floss Boxed Set. This is 12 skeins in muted earth tones from the large set of 46. I think Santa Nancy picked some great colors for this gift box.

Day Six: You get to choose your favorite color necessaire complete with all the goodies tucked inside. The felted wool button bag filled with buttons and charms, the felted wool needle pages with the large flower head pin, trims, cluny lace, a skein of my floss, etc. You get to choose from red and cream, blue floral or tan floral, the giving Quilt Christmas fabric or the Williamsburg Sampler Fabric.

Day Seven: Today’s giveaway is a sampler chart of your choice and 10 skeins of floss, 200 yards!

Day Eight: Santa Nancy is giving away a surprise package with $50 in stitching goodies! You will need to tell her your favorite colors and if you like linen or aida for stitching.

Day Nine: Today the gift will be Santa Nancy’s Jingle as Ye Enter, Jingle as Ye Go chart, complete with over dyed floss and all the bells you need to make the wall hanging and the bonus ornament included in the chart pack.

Day Ten: today’s gift will be a surprise package of floss! Floss is always a favorite give-away. And maybe a surprise chart……Santa’s pick of something very nice to stitch.

Day Eleven: Today Santa Nancy is giving away 18 skeins of floss from the Primitive Collection. A nice variety of colors….perfect for all of your stitching, not just primitive.

Day Twelve: And she saved the best for last – the whole Primitive Floss Collection, 46 skeins, 20 yards each, 920 yards of stitching heaven.

So head on over to the The Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway and enter for a chance to win. Make sure you read all of the details. You can enter every single day. Thank you Santa Nancy!!!

Now to wait for the drawing of the winner’s names which begins on December 13th. One name for each day’s prize. What fun this has been.

Beneath the Sunlit Sky by Blackbird Designs

November 21, 2015 By patgeary

Beneath the Sunlit Sky is another beautiful design from the Blackbird Design ladies. It is another one in the Loose Feathers series #26 that is out of print and much sought after. While the recommended floss is very pretty, there are several of us stitching this particular chart using the alternate colors. You can read more about the alternate colors we are using Beneath the Sunlit Sky Color Changes.

Fabric, floss and chart for Beneath the Sunlit Sky.

I chose to stitch this piece on 16ct Aida Legacy from Picture This Plus.

Beneath the Sunlit Sky – A Start.

I started stitching this piece on November 17, 2015 but stopped for a few days to stitch a special Tribute to Katie. I still have not decided on what color to use for the border so it remains unstitched for now.

Finished! with the exception of the three flowers that require the buttonhole stitch which I have never done.

Beneath the Sunlit Sky

And today (February 1, 2021) I gave myself permission NOT to stitch the dreaded buttonhole stitches and just add some plain crosses for the flowers so it is now complete and ready for framing. Once my craft room is painted, this will join a number of new ones for the walls.

And after six years, it is finally framed.

A Tribute to Katie

November 19, 2015 By patgeary

We recently had to say goodbye to our sweet girl Katie. I wanted to stitch something special in her memory and decided on Lizzie Kate’s chart Dogs Leave Pawprints. My plan is to stitch the design, then send the stitched piece and a picture of Katie to Jill Rensel for framing. Jill and Amber work a special kind of magic in framing special pieces.

A Tribute to Katie framed by Jill and Amber

And our sweet girl.

Fabric: 25ct Lugana probably mushroom

Threads: Weeks Dye Works

Bright Leaf
Charcoal
Deep Sea
Kris’s bon bon
Liberty
Moss
Sky

Started stitching: November 19 2015

Finished stitching November 21, 2015. Now I just need to sew on the dog bone charm and it will beready to pail off to Jill and Amber to work their magic.

Dogs Leave Paw Prints by Lizzie Kate.