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A Little Bit of Spring

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A Little Bit of Spring is the newest release from Blackbird Designs. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to stitch it.

A Little Bit of Spring cover.

The design is based on an antique sampler purchased from the UK. The called for fabric is 36ct Iced Cappuccino from R & R Reproductions. I chose to stitch mine on 16ct Dusty Road by Seraphim. The wording on the design is meant to be stitched over one so I will need to make an adjustment for that.

I used the called for floss but ran out of two colors but was able to match those with rom my collection of Victorian Motto floss. For Old Red Paint, I used Southern Red Trillium and for Confederate Gary, I used Twitterpated (love the name).

The border flowers were supposed to alternate Old Red Paint and Mocha but I had a hard time distinguishing between the sold heart and solid circle so mine are all stitched with Old Red Paint.

I love how it turned out and decided rather than try and figure out some wording that would fit, I added another motif. I thought I had a frame that would work but it is a slight bit too small (11″x11″) so will need to order something.

I found a 12×12 frame for half price that I liked so here is the framed piece ready to hang.

Soaring Pigeon

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Soaring Pigeon is one of the nature inspired designs by Pigeon Coop Designs. It is available both as a pdf file or a kit which includes everything needed for stitching the design. I chose the pdf because I like to select my own fabric and floss.

I chose a piece of hand dyed 16ct aida in a mottled blue that I had in my stash and used the called for colors with the exception of one which I did not have.

I mounted it on one of the round mini boards and added some blue rick rack and a bow. Simple but I love it. It joins Festive Cardinal and Spring Robin on my “bird wall.”

Emily’s Bliss

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Emily’s Bliss by Summer House Stitche Works was an exclusive offered in the Facebook group, Homespun Needlework (Cross Stitch and Samplers) in November 2021.

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me; fluttering from the Autumn tree.” Emily Brontë penned her poem Fall, Leaves, Fall as an ode to the beauty of the seasons in 1846. It was this poem that was the inspiration behind Emily’s Bliss. Fall is my favorite season with it’s crisp days, smells of apple and pumpkin and of course, the falling, colorful leaves that cover the mountainsides. The design is stitched with luscious Gloriana silk floss on 32 count Natural Light Linen from Wichelt. The overdyed silk brings the autumn colors to life as they dance around the drum finish. What better way to continue the autumnal fun than to top it with cozy wool from Weeks Dye Works, embroidered wool felt leaves and a wool felt acorn with a real acorn cap. As the days grow shorter, I hope you enjoy stitching up Emily’s Bliss to celebrate the season! (Note: Kits with 16 count Aida and/or an overdyed cotton conversion from Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks are also available.)

I ordered the kit with 16ct aida and the overdyed cotton floss.

I stitched this much and then for whatever reason put it aside.

I picked it up again in April 2024 and decided I had to finish it. And it is much prettier than this photo shows. I will probably finish it as a drum to add to my drum collection.

The top is a bit wonky but at least it is finished.

Spring Robin

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Spring Robin is another one of the designs by Pigeon Coop Designs. Max Pigeon, owner, offers his designs in both kits which include everything you need and pdf files. I have always purchased the pdfs, mainly cause I am not fond of kits.

The stitch count is 57w x 70h and uses 6 different DMC colors. I chose to use a piece of 16ct Highland aida by Picture This Plus. I had intended to mount it on the same round board I used for the cardinal but it is a bit too big.

I chose to leave off the six confetti stitches scattered around the bird. Instead I have some tiny green buttons, I plan on using in place of those stitches.

Looking for Spring

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Looking for Spring by Blackbird Designs is a small chart included in the 2023 Nashville Needlework Market Cookbook (page 26). The stitch count is 85w x 67h. The called for fabric is 36ct Oatmeal by Fiber on a Whim. I chose a piece of 16ct aida I had in my stash.

I used some of the called for floss and some DMC for what I did not have in my stash.

Since it is small, I will probably finish it as a pin pillow to add to one of the overflowing dough bowls. Interesting note. I decided to scan the stitched piece to see how the colors looked. It is actually much closer to the colors that the photo taken with my iPad shows.

The leafy fabric is what I used as a backing for the pillow.

Spring Quaker

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Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage is the 4th one in this series I have stitched.

The recommended fabric is 28ct Mushroom using Classic Colorworks Blooming Crocus. I chose to use 28ct Antique White Lugana and Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss. I chose three shades of purple:

  • Purple Mix (dark) for the two butterflies
  • Favorite Flowers (medium) for the three birdhouses
  • Wild Phlox (light and identical to the called for floss) for everything else

This will be finished as a small pillow and join the others I have stitched in this series – Winter Quaker, Christmas Quaker, Autumn Quaker, and Valentine’s Day Quaker.

Started Stitching: March 15, 2024
Finished Stitching: March 23, 2024

Bringing Good Cheer

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Bringing Good Cheer by Blackbird Designs is #3 in the Christmas Sampler series. This is the 2nd one of this series that I have stitched. The first one was Christmas Rose.

I chose a piece of 18ct antique white aida with the called for Weeks Dye Works floss. I did not have Cayenne so chose to use DMC 3777. I love the rich red of the flowers.

Alma writes of this design” Bringing Good Cheer was inspired by the antique sampler stitched by M. Bowker in 1842, when she was only 9 years old. The wild floral border captured my attention right away. I love it when the border is bold and almost grabs the attention away from the central design.

Since I stitched this one on aida, I decided to change the satin stitches for the basket to plain crosses using Chestnut and Dirt Road. I’m happy with how this turned out.

I used a simple black frame I purchased from Amazon.

A Simple Wish

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A Simple Wish by Blackbird Designs is included in the quilt book, Garden Club published in 2010.

I’ve wanted to stitch it for some time and a friend loaned me the chart. I chose a piece of 28ct white Lugana from my stash with mostly called for threads. I guess I did not realize how many eyelet stitches this particular design has and I’m really not enjoying stitching them.

I decided to add another row of alphabet letters instead of any personalization on this one. Most of my ancestor names are too long. Not sure how I will finish it as yet but happy it is now finished.

And here it is framed. I used a simple frame from Michael’s but painted it a brown.

Bluebird’s Message

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Several years ago, someone in one of my cross-stitch groups was selling her kitted-up Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers charts. I bought several of them.

Fast forward to now and a stitching friend posted her finished Bluebird’s Message. I decided to pull mine out and stitch it. Since the original kit had included linen fabric, and I don’t stitch on linen, I pulled out a piece of 16ct Colonial Parchment from Fabrics by Stephanie to stitch mine on. I used all the called for colors since they were included in the kit.

I LOVE the bright colors. Now to find a suitable frame.

I ordered a dark cherry frame from Craig Frames for this one.

Autumn Quaker

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Autumn Quaker by Primrose Cottage is the 4th one in this series I have stitched. The stitch count is 81 x 79 and the called for fabric is 28ct mushroom using 2 skeins of Colour and Cotton Pumpkin Pie floss. A finishing kit was not available when I bought the chart.

I decided to use a piece of 16ct mystery aida which was a mottled orange/gold color with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss in Rustic Charm (dark rust) and Pumpkin Head (brighter orange) This one will join Christmas Quaker, Winter Quaker, and Valentine’s Day Quaker in a dough bowl or tiered tray.

While I like how this turned out, I may stitch it again on 28ct Lugana. We shall see.

I still need to find some orange rick rack to add as trim but I am happy with how it turned out.