Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

A Bit of Summer by Blackbird Designs

August 22, 2020 By patgeary

A Bit of Summer was first offered by De Handwerk Boetiek as part of their Pindrum club 2018-2019. It was included in the book Sewing Club released in 2020.

With a stitch count of only 113w x 60h it was a quick stitch. I selected a piece of 16ct aida from my stash and decided to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss for some of the colors.

Started Stitching: August 12, 2020
Finished Stitching: August 20, 2020

Not exactly sure I will finish it.

A Bit of Summer by Blackbird Designs. — A Bit of Summer by Blackbird Designs

Recommended Floss/Floss I Used

WDW Carolina Cecil/VMSS P27
WDW Cattail/WDW Beige
WDW Cinnabar/VMSS Round Robin
WDW Cocoa
WDW Brick/VMSS Red Maple
WDW Dirt Road
WDW Kris’ Bon Bon
WDW Oscar
WDW Palomino
WDW Putty

And shown above is another drum to add to my growing collection.

More Blackbird Designs Reprints

August 16, 2020 By patgeary

My favorite designers, Alma Allen and Barb Adams together make up the company Blackbird Designs. Their designs are loved by many and much sought after. They recently reprinted the entire monthly stocking series which are now available from your favorite needlework shop.

Photo of covers of stocking series by Blackbird Designs. — Stocking Series by Blackbird Designs

Also reprinted and shipping to their distributor soon (August 2020) is the long OOP Flea Market Souvenir.

Photo of cover of Flea Market Souvenir. — Flea Market Souvenir

Evergreen by Blackbird Designs

July 28, 2020 By patgeary

Evergreen by Blackbird Designs was released in 2005. Like many of their early charts, it is now OOP. I have had it on my To Do list for some time and after seeing a recent finish posted in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group, I decided it was time to move it up on the list.

I selected a beautiful piece of 18 Count White Opalescent Aida which had been gifted to me and sparkles so would be perfect for this piece. And rather than the called for threads, I decided to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads in brighter Christmas colors.

Evergreen by Blackbird Designs supplies. — Evergreen by Blackbird Designs supplies

Victorian Pine Boughs
Antique Gold
Cranberry Red

Nancy Turner who is Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe offers beautiful hand dyed floss and her various Christmas Collections of threads are some of my favorites.

Started Stitching: July 26 2020

Evergreen by Blackbird Designs progress as of 7/28/2020

Finished Stitching: August 3, 2020

Evergreen by Blackbird Designs finished. — Evergreen by Blackbird Designs

The photo in no way does the fabric justice as it is a sparkly white not dull gray as this photo shows.

And here it is beautifully finished by Vonna.

Merry Christmas by All Through the Night

July 25, 2020 By patgeary

I was recently introduced to a new designer, All Through the Night, and ordered three of her charts. Merry Christmas was one of them. I had recently been given a yard of 18 Count White Opalescent Aida and decided to use a piece of it to stitch this on. I liked the idea of adding some sparkle to this piece. I also had one skein of Gloriana Poinsettia silk that I had received as a gift so chose to use it rather than the called for Valdani Old Brick. I hoped one skein would be enough. The silk thread is lovely to stitch with.

Stitch Count: 77h x 76w
Design Size: 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 on 18ct

Merry Christmas by All Through the Night

Unfortunately, my picture does not due the fabric justice. It’s sparkly white and looks like snow scattered through the fabric.

And here it is finished as a lovely Christmas ornament by Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher.

I plan on stitching another one of these soon.

December 17, 2021 – Finished stitching a 2nd one on the same fabric using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss Victorian Christmas and Kris Kringle Green.

My Home & Ripe Pear scissor box

July 17, 2020 By patgeary

My Home scissor box is another of the projects from the newest book by Blackbird Designs, Sewing Club. It is meant to be stitched on 28ct Veldt Lugana by Picture This Plus over 1. I knew that would be way beyond my eyesight so I selected 16ct Wren by Picture This Plus with the called for threads.

I started stitching on July 11, 2020 and finished on July 17, 2020. My plan is to put it on the top of the medium size matchbox by TeresasPrimTreasures. I ordered two of the medium size boxes to use in finishing both of the scissor boxes included in this book.

Ripe Pear (left) and My Home (right) scissor boxes. — Ripe Pear (left) and My Home (right)

Picture of front of boxes. — Front of boxes

I painted each of the boxes with Americana acrylic paint and then waxed them with Briwax. The was a first for me and not as easy as one might think. Each of the boxes was then lined on the bottom with a piece of Blackbird design fabric I had in my stash. My son added the little knobs for me. I still have to glue the stitched pieces to the boxes but love the way they turned out.

The Ripe Pear piece is from the same Sewing Club book as My Home.

Fully Finished – My Home and Ripe Pear scissor boxes.

I finally glued the top stitched piece to each box and glued the trim in place. Thanks to a generous stitcher who shared her Lady Dot Creations Vintage chenille trim with me. Love these little beauties. Now what to put inside.

Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs

June 13, 2020 By patgeary

Honeybee Hill was released in 2013 and I have had it in my stash for a while. It contains two designs, the main chart and Her Majesty’s pincushion. Unfortunately, the chart is now out of print.

I recently purchased two of Robert LeHay’s 8″ Recessed Lid Shaker boxes and decided to stitch Honeybee Hill for the top of one of the boxes.

Black Milk Paint Finish. Shaker Needlework Box made in Maine by LeHay’s Shaker Boxes. — Robert LeHay 8″ Recessed Lid Shaker Box

I am stitching it on a piece of 16ct aida which I lightly dyed with coffee. Looks like a child’s cup of milk with a bit of coffee added. I switched some of the recommended colors for Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads.

GA Brandy/ VMSS Waves of Grain
GA Copper
GA Dried Thyme
GA Endive/VMSS Rosebud Leaves
GA Maple Syrup
GA Nutmeg (DMC 975)
GA Piney Woods/VMSS Olive Branch
GA Pumpkin Patch
GA Pumpkin Pie/VMSS Pumpkin Bread
GA Tin Bucket
GA Walnut
GA Wheat Fields/VMSS King’s Ransom

Started Stitching: June 7, 2020

Finished stitching on August 9, 2020. Now to mount it on the box.

Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs. — Honeybee Hill by Blackbird Designs

A Dog’s Last Will and Testament

May 17, 2020 By patgeary

When I first saw the chart for A Dog’s Last Will and Testament by Heartstring Samplery, I knew I wanted to stitch it. It became part of my Nashville 2020 Market order.

The model was stitched on 40 count Cocoa from Weeks Dye Works, using 1 strand of floss over 2 threads. Since I knew that would be impossible for me to see, I ordered a piece of 16ct Parchment aida. However when I finished gridding the fabric, I realized it was actually closer to 14ct. Since I was going to finish it was a wall hanging, the 14ct would still work.

Stitch Count: 132 x 341
Design Size: 9 3/8 x 24 3/8

Rather than use the recommended floss, I chose to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

Gentle Art Floss/Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Autumn Leaves/Crazy Pumpkin
Harvest Basket/
Maple Syrup/Mocha Truffles
Onyx/Winter Coal
Picnic Basket/Burnt Brown
Sable/Weathered Barnwood
Shaker White/Mocha Cream
Tiger Lily/Rust Swirl

I started stitching this one mid-May but did not note the exact date.

A Dog's Last Will and Testament progress. — Progress

And the finished piece which is waiting for the fabric to arrive so that I can finish it as a wall hanging.

I had found what I thought was the perfect fabric to use to make this into a bellpull – Timeless Treasures Mud Paw Print – so I order 2 yards from an online shop. Unfortunately, I just received a cancellation notice that it was not available. Every place I have found it, it is sold out. I am assuming it must have been a popular print for the many mask makers during the Covid 19 pandemic. Not sure what I am going to do now, wait or pick out something else.

And since I could not find bellpull hardware I really liked, I ordered some wooden dowels and end caps and my son stained them for me. A shoestring in the color I wanted completed the piece.

A Dog's Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging. — A Dog’s Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging

I See Red by The Scarlett House

May 4, 2020 By patgeary

I saw I See Red as a preview of new designs being offered at the Nashville 2020 Needlework Market from The Scarlett House and KNEW I just HAD to stitch it. I pre-ordered the chart along with quite a few others. If I had realized how much over one stitching there was, I may not have been so eager to stitch it. I also ordered the butter board that is is shown displayed on from Homestead Needleworke. The butter board is designed to fit a piece stitched on 32/36ct fabric.

I See Red on butter board. — I See Red on butter board

Once I saw how much over 1 stitching there was, I decided I would need to use 28ct Monaco (white) as that is all I can see well enough to stitch on. Rather than the recommended Classic Colorworks Cherry Cobbler floss, I chose to use Autumn Glow by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. It is a beautiful variegated rust orange color dark to lighter.

I See Red Supplies. — I See Red Supplies

I started stitching this one on May 3, 2020.

Progress 5.4.2020 on I See Red. — Progress 5.4.2020 on I See Red

There are three rows of alphabets plus numerous motifs that are stitched over one so I will not be stitching this one until it is finished. My eyes will need a rest in between. But I do love it.

Finished Stitching: May 8, 2020. Not sure how I am going to finish it as it is too big for the butter board I bought.

I See Red by The Scarlett House. — I See Red

August 2021 – The original butter board I ordered from Homestead Needleworke did not fit as I needed to use a larger count fabric so April sent me one for 14/28 count which was the perfect size. Now how to do the rounded corners. Thanks to advice from my Facebook stitching friends I was able to cut the mat board with rounded corners. I watched Cathy Wurtz Haberman’s flosstube tutorial #57 to figure out exactly how to make the rounded corners smooth when lacing. The corners or a bit thicker than I would like but I am happy with the finished piece for the first time trying this finish.

Last Rose of Summer by Blackbird Designs

April 26, 2020 By patgeary

Last Rose of Summer was first introduced at Boxwood and Berries 2018 held at Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin. It was also included in the book by Blackbird Designs, Ooh La La.

Last Rose of Summer cover. — Last Rose of Summer cover

Several years ago I had also purchased several boxes that were used in the book In Friendship’s Way. I decided I wanted to stitch something for the box but wanted to be more an oval shape to go with the actual shape of the box than the square project pictured.

I decided the Last Rose of Summer was perfect for this project. I had a piece of 16ct aida in mottled tones of tan the blueish gray that I thought would work. I also had all of the floss recommended except for two colors for which I substituted Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

WDW Baked Apple
WDW Cattail/VMSS Oats
WDW Chickpea
WDW Dolphin
WDW Mocha
WDW Pebble/VMSS Whispy Blue
WDW Red Pear
WDW Sage
WDW Sand
WDW Swiss Chocolate
WDW Tarragon

Started Stitching: 4-20-2020
Finished Stitching: 4-25-2020

There is a large and a small box so will need to see which one it looks best on. Now to finish it and it will be ready to gift to a friend.

Last Rose of Summer mounted on box. — Last Rose of Summer mounted on box

Willing Hands by Blackbird Designs

April 22, 2020 By patgeary

Willing Hands was first offered as a retreat project at The Attic in Nov 2019. It is now included in the new book Sewing Club released at the Nashville 2020 Market.

Barb and Alma sent me the kit along with some 18ct Heartland aida for Christmas since they knew I did not stitch on linen. I did use all of the recommended floss to stitch this one.

Supplies for stitching Willing Hands. — Supplies for Willing Hands

It proved to be a quick stitch. I started stitching on April 7, 2020 and completed stitching on April 20, 2020.

The brown box used for the finishing of this design is available from TeresasPrimTreasures and comes in eight different colors. I ordered the one called Tinderbox Brown as that was the one used in the model stitched.

Thank You Barb and Alma for another beautiful design.