Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Singing on Its Way is another project from the book The Bells on Christmas Day by Blackbird Designs. I stitched the big sampler, The Bells on Christmas Day when it was first released and just finished stitching The Unbroken Song twice. The 2nd time was for 2022 Summer Cross Stitch Camp.

Singing on Its Way is stitched on 16ct aida from my stash so not sure of the color, but I used Au ver a soie silks. I finished this one as a small pin pillow that I MAY display inside the larger box.

I found a cute red heart button that would look nice on it but should have attached it before finishing the pillow.

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 something that celebrates a holiday. It can be any holiday you want.
• July: Stitch something that you can finish (later) into something other than a framed piece.
• August: Try something new to you. New designer, or new threads, or new fabric, or stitches.

You can find the rules and more details at 2022 Summer Cross Stitch Camp – Colorado Cross Stitcher.

June’s Challenge

For June’s Challenge, I decided to stitch The Unbroken Song from the book The Bells on Christmas Day by Blackbird Designs. I had stitched it once before but wanted it to fit a larger box that is pictured in the book. So, for this one I chose a piece of 14ct Opalescent white aida using Au ver a soie silks.

Now I need to paint the box (not an easy task) and lace the stitched piece to fit inside the box. I chose Heritage Brick as the color which is redder than shows in the photo.

July’s Challenge

For July’s Project, I chose the Round Red Samper by Heart in Hand that will be finished as the lid for the Heart Ware Red Bowl. I selected a piece of 18ct aida because I did not want me stitched to go edge to edge as pictured on the chart. I chose to use Gloriana silk floss Poinsettia which is delightful to stitch with.

This actually turned out to be a really quick stitch and only took two days to finish.

And here it is fully finished and mounted as the lid to the Heart Ware red bowl.

Recently a friend sent me a bunch of Au Ver A Soie silk threads. I decided I wanted to stitch something special with at least some of them. When The Bells on Christmas Day by Blackbird Designs was released in 2019, one of the projects was a small sampler that fit inside a wood and glass box. It is the one pictured on the top center of the cover. I bought the box and selected a piece of 18ct ivory aida to stitch it on. Then I put it away.

Once I received the silks, I pulled the following colors to use in stitching this project.

• #20 very dark green
• #209 brighter green
• #108 sage
• #109 dark cranberry red
• #307 medium rose
• #022 yellow green
• #303 dark gold

My plan was to paint the box red as instructed and place the stitched piece inside. Unfortunately, I had forgotten there were two sizes of the box and the smaller one which I had already stained was the one meant to fit this piece when stitched on the higher count. So . . . . .

I may stitch this one again on 14/28ct so that it will fit in the bigger box painted red.

I recently saw this design posted in one of my Facebook stitching groups and new I wanted to stitch it. It’s called Bunny and Violets by SamplersPrimitive. It is one of several bunny designs she offers.

The chart was available as a pdf download so I bought it.

One a recent trip to my local Michaels store, I found two pieces of printed DMC 14ct aida that I purchased. One was called Sunset 3609 and was shades of pink, blue, and lavender and I decided to use that piece to stitch this one on. The regular price of a 15×18 piece of the fabric is $11.99 but I had a 30% off coupon.

The design uses 25 mostly DMC colors and I had all but a couple in my stash. Purchased the others with the fabric. I had most of the Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts floss and subbed DMC for what I did not have.

I finished stitching this on March 20, 2022. As you can see by the photo below, the colors are much darker than the photo of the finished piece shows. If I was going to stitch it again, I would select different shades of the green. I will most likely finish it as a small pin pillow.

And the backing fabric for this one is the same deep purple I used for Easter Parade.

Gathering Acorns (pictured lower left corner) is one of the five charts in the Gathering series by Misty Purcel of Luminous Fiber Arts. This is the third one in the series I have stitched.

Again, I am using 16ct white aida with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss Russet. I have chosen not to use the buttons on my projects. I have also ordered the trim that goes with each of them but not exactly sure how I will finish them. Next up will be the one pictured at the bottom left corner, Gathering Snowflakes. And the center one, Gathering Honey is on order.