A Stitcher’s Companion is one of the projects included in the book, Honeysuckle Manor and is OOP.

Recommended fabric is 30ct Ligonier Latte by R & R Reproductions 2 over 2. I chose to stitch this piece on 28ct cream Monaco with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Forever Blue.

Started stitching May 16, 2017
Finished May 21 2017

The finishing was done by Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher. She finished it as a Pin Pillow with ric-rack and Mill Hill Beads accents.

This will join my other small pin pillows in one of my baskets from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets.

This lovely design, Keepsake Box & Pincushion, is another one from the Blackbird Design team. Dated 2008, it was a project from the Shepherd’s Bush Retreat. As with many of the BBD this one is also out of print.

The picture above shows the chart with the recommended threads on the right and the selection I have chosen to use from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Primitive Floss Collection. I am stitching this on 28ct Cream Monaco rather than the called for linen.

Keepsake Box

Started stitching: July 17, 2016
Finished: July 25, 2016

The colors I selected to use are:

• Purple Hollyhock
• Parsley
• Rose Plum
• Antique Gold
• Peach Dahlia (from the Picket Fence Collection)

Keepsake Pincushion

Started Stitching: July 26, 2016

I selected 28ct Cream Monaco to stitch the pincushion on. I also chose to use the recommended  threads which are:

• CC Cappuccino
• CC Clay Pot
• CC Cinnamon Toast
• CC Yw Old Gold
• CC Pea Pod

UPDATE: January 25, 2017

I sent these to off to Vonna Pfeiffer and her The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service and received these pictures today. Aren’t they beautiful?

I used the Keepsake Box chart to stitch a special gift for two of my step daughters. For these, I chose to use 16ct Aida to stitch them.

The threads I used to stitch the boxes were from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

• Purple Hollyhock
• Rose Plum
• Peach Dahlia
• Antique Gold
• Parsley

And for the other one.

• Concord Grape
• Lavender
• Rose Hollyhock
• Catesby’s Trillium
• Toffee
• Parsley

Each design was mounted to the top of one of the RECESSED LID, 6″ ROUND NEEDLEWORK BOX by LeHay Shaker Boxes.

November 2018

I decided to stitch another one of these as a Christmas gift. This time I used 16ct Ariel by Picture This Plus since the box is blue. I used Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads (again) as they are my very favorite floss.

• Delft Blue
• Forever Blue
• Sunflower
• In My Garden

And this is the finished piece that was a gift to my granddaughter for Christmas.

 

Welcome to our Garden Club! You’re going to love belonging to our little sewing circle….. This month we are delighted to see our pomegranate an our lily popping up out of the ground. We planted them at the bottom of our trellis and are waiting for them to bloom.

This is #7 in a 12 part series by the Blackbird Design Ladies. I am not stitching them in any particular order and will be finishing them as small pillows or pin cushions. Rather than stitch these two as one picture, I am doing them separately.

I’m stitching Climbing the Trellis on 16ct Milk Chocolate Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie with the recommended threads. Started stitching on October 18, 2016,

Finished stitching October 24, 2016.

November 1, 2021

Because I had not stitched these two side by side, I wondered how I could finish them, sew them together or finish separately. I had two pieces of Blackbird Designs fabric, Rhubarb and Ginger  that matched the colors of each one so decided to use them for these two. Some lacey trim and glass beads and I am happy with them. They have been sitting in the drawer for 5 years so now they can join the dough bowl with some others I am working on. The backing fabric is the same as I used on the sides.

 

I had seen the chart “Time to Stitch” by Needlework Press posted on a number of sites but somehow it never struck my fancy as something I would like to stitch for myself. The chart shows the piece finished into a Lone Elm Lane Shaker Box (6 or 8 inch) OR using the Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Alarm Clock Frame available at any number of stores.

 

BUT then I saw a finished piece posted on the Tomorrow’s Heirlooms Facebook group and that convinced me that I really wanted to stitch this one.

I selected a piece of 16ct Storm Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie and Darkest Midnight Blue floss from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe with Tin Bucket by Gentle Arts.  The clock faces used for finishing are also by Tim Holtz Idea-Ology and can be ordered online.

Started Stitching October 14, 2016 Finished October 19, 2016

The picture does not do the stitched piece justice as the fabric is actually a mottled smoky grey. Now to send it off to the finisher.

And the finished piece back from Vonna Pfeiffer and her The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service.

Summer Shall not Fade was part of a retreat project (Spring Fling) offered by the ladies at Dyeing to Stitch and Blackbird Designs. I was not able to attend the Retreat but was given the opportunity to stitch one of the charts by a stitching friend.  Donna Rae Barrow in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group posted a picture of the finished piece framed in a bird frame she found at Michael’s. There was a mad dash to find the frame and I was lucky enough to purchase one on sale for half price. The chart needs to be stitched on 16/32ct to fit in the frame. You could of course use 18/36ct if you wanted a bit more space around the edges. I chose to use 16ct Hand Dyed Aida. Not sure of the color right now but will add it when I find my notes.

I really never thought I would like to stitch any of the stockings series but I am finding out I was wrong. I had seen pictures posted of Never Far Apart with was issued as a Limited Edition and decided I would like to stitch this one. Unfortunately, this one was OOP as are many of the ones I have fallen in love with. Another generous stitcher loaned it to me.

This limited edition tin from Blackbird Designs includes everything needed to make this adorable 4 x 8 mini-stocking celebrating friendship. It is stitched on 32ct hand-dyed linen with Gentle Art’s Chives, Old Brick, Woodrose, Endive, Apple Cider, Brandy and Raspberry Parfait.  The sampler design features two houses connected with a friendship pathway. This is a complete LIMITED EDITION kit which includes the chart, linen, stocking lining fabric and hand-dyed flosses. Comes packed in a little round tin.

I am stitching the little stocking on 16 cream Aida with the recommended threads. Started June 30, 2016.

Finished July 8, 2016

Now to decide if I want to attempt finishing it myself or send it off to someone who knows what they are doing.

And the little stocking has been finished. Thank you Joy of Finely Finished for the nice job.

My Heart is True is a 32 page book by Blackbird Designs and Nicoletta Farrauto. The book has 9 projects to make and give (or keep) as gifts.

I was really only interested in stitching one of the projects, Friends With You Project book. Rather than stitch it as a project book, I chose to stitch it on 16ct cream Aida to finish as two small pillows for my long basket.  The project book is pictured below.

I had purchased a set of floss from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe called Picket Fence Collection (pictured below) and decided to use these to stitch with. This was my first time of really changing all the colors suggested by the designer.

Part 2 – Stitch Count 75w x 90h. I started stitching this on Jun 13, 2016 and finished on June 20, 2016. For the most part this was stitched while my husband was in the hospital. Colors Used include: VM Dried Purple Plums, Carries Creation Blueberry, Crescent Colors Peanut Brittle, Crescent Colors Pea Pod, and

Part 1 – Stitch Count 77wx 91h Colors Used include VM Garden Phlox, VM Garden Ivy, VM Garden Mint, VM Cherry Blossom, Antique Violets, VM Rose Bushy, Crescent Colors, Peanut Brittle.

And the finished pieces. Thank you Joy of Finely Finished  for the beautiful job you did on my stitched pieces.