Blackbird Designs has so many wonderful projects to stitch, it is always hard for me to pick the next one up. I have had this LeHay Shaker Box since 2016 and decided it was time to stitch something for it, so The Long and Winding Road is next up.

I’m stitching it on 18ct mystery aida I had in my stash with all of the called for floss. I would rather be stitching on 16ct but then it would not fit on the box lid.

You can find more info on the box here. https://www.lehays.com/pages/shaker-round-box-6 However, at the current time, the box is only available in his antiqued natural finish.

ColoradoCrossStitcher (Sheri Truax Berger) is sponsoring a virtual Cross Stitch Camp, and anyone can participate. It runs for three months (June, July, and August) with a different challenge each month.

The Challenges

• June: stitch a pattern that includes a bird
• July: stitch a pattern that includes something that grows
• August: try something new (new fabric, count, thread, designer, finishing technique, etc.)

You can find the rules and more details at 2023 Summer Cross Stitch Camp – Colorado Cross Stitcher.

June’s Challenge

For June’s Challenge, I decided to stitch Hummingbird Sampler by Heart in Hand. For this one I chose a piece of 16ct antique white aida using Au ver a soie silk floss.

This one was a quick stitch. The chart came with three tiny buttons to add to the project but one of mine did not have the holes punched all the way through. Since I could not get the button to work, I chose one of the tiny buttons in my collection which was a small heart in a shade of green that would match the colors I had used to stitch it. Now to find some backing fabric and trim and finish it as a small pin pillow that will join the others in this series – Bluebird Sampler, Cuckoo Bird Sampler, ye old crow sampler, and the Redbird Sampler.

And here it is fully finished. The backing fabric is the same as the green on the bottom of the stitched piece. I thought I might add ruched ribbon trim but decided on the pompom trim instead.

I was given Hedgerow Birds as a gift from a stitching friend. I first went searching for the buttons it used and ordered them. While the chart recommends stitching this project on 20ct Straw linen by Weeks Dye Works, I selected 20ct Ivory Lugana which I ordered. The fabric reminds me of the 18ct Davos I used to stitch many of my Prairie Schooler charts on. I also decided to use some of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads rather than what the chart recommended. I am getting a little more comfortable in making color changes.

The above picture shows the chart, fabric, buttons, and threads I selected. I started stitching this one on September 21, 2016. The colors I selected to use are:

• VM Pink Roses instead of CC Jakey Brown
• VM Faded Pink Lace instead of CC Sunkissed
• VM Parsley instead of GA Apple Cider
• VM Spring Green instead of GA Chamomile
• VM Primitive Purple instead of GA Old Purple Paint
• VM Purple Hollyhock instead of GA Old Red Paint
• Carries Creations Soot for the birds and VM Olde Gold for the bird eye.
• VM Rose Plum for part of the Alphabet

And a finish for the front.

On to stitching the back of the bag now.

 

And the back is finished.

Started stitching on Sept 21, 2016. Finished stitching October 14, 2016.

And here it is finally released from prison in January 2022 and finished as a ditty bag. I’ll add some dried flowers and hang it on the inside of the front door. 

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.

 

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.

A few days ago, someone posted on the 123Stitch Message Board about a giveaway on the blog To Stitch or Not To Stitch. I wandered over to see what it was all about. I don’t usually enter a giveaway unless it is for something I really want to stitch.  I read some of Barbara’s posts and the chart she was giving away was Olga’s Tart by Plum Street Samplers. I’ve looked at some of the projects that were framed by using a tart tin and have wanted to stitch one of them but never got around to ordering the chart or the tart tin to go with it.

What a wonderful surprise to get an email from Barbara telling me I had won and she would be sending me the chart and the tin and the DMC floss to stitch it. It needs to be stitched on either 36ct over 2 or 16ct over 1 in order to fit in the tin. I will be using 16ct as that is easier on my eyes.

I’ve looked at some of the other charts in this series, Jack’s Sweet Shop and I think I will be ordering a couple more of these. Thank you Barbara. Please visit her blog, To Stitch or Not To Stitch.

Stitching Finished but still need to be finished as a tart.

Frostys Tree Trimmers from By the Bay Needleart is a family of four snowman ornaments. They can be stitched individually, in a grouping of four or in a horizontal or vertical row. I’m stitching mine individually for the first set.

This is Mrs. Frosty stitched on 14ct Pale Blue Aida.

I am actually beginning to see the light at the end of a long tunnel in the progress on Sunshine Sunflowers which I started in November 2010. I think this piece of stitching has taken me longer to finish than many others. The shades of yellow, orange and green are so similar it is hard to tell them apart and I had so much going in my life over the past year. All I have left to stitch is the lower right leaf and to finish the yellow sunflower and some of the center of the orange one. Then washing, stretching and framing. Biggest decision will be where in the world to hang it.

The first picture is of the piece on the scroll frame and the 2nd one if the full piece. After I finish this, it is back to work on some of the other unfinished pieces I have.

October 14, 2019 – I cannot believe it has been nine years ago when I first started working on this project. I realized today that I had never posted a picture of the finished piece so here it is. I decided to forego the backstitching.

As if I really needed any more stitching projects BUT I could not resist these. They are from the 2010 Little House Needleworks Christmas Ornament of the month collection. I just order them from my favorite online shop 123Stitch.

“Pear Tree“
Ornament #2

 

 

“Red House in Winter“
Ornament #6

 

 

“Peppermint Twist“
Ornament #9

 

 

“Under the Tree“
Ornament #10

 

 

“Joy to the World“
Ornament #12

 

 

Now the question is “What fabric shall I stitch them on” and “How will I finish each one?”

 

Progress on my Sunshine Sunflowers Picture is slow but sure – so many shades of orange and green. I love the picture itself but would have preferred a 32ct fabric with additional inches on all sides for framing. Not sure I will be able to add a mat. Would like to use an old barnwood frame I have ordered in the past.