The Bells on Christmas Day is one of three new samplers released by Blackbird Designs. The other two are Merrily, Merrily We Welcome Spring and Our Lasting Friendship. The Bells was designed exclusively for Attic Needlework in Mesa Arizona and available only through that shop (888-94-ATTIC or 480-898-1838). We are hoping the chart will be available to all shops at the Nashville Needlework Market the first of March 2019.
The recommended fabric is 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus. I can’t see to stitch on that count and the color is darker than I like, so I chose a 16ct Ecru by Kimberley Smith of To Dye For Fabrics.
The Bells on Christmas Day chart cover
The recommended floss is a combination of Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colors, and Gentle Arts. I will be using an assortment of threads from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe’s two Victorian Christmas Collections.
- WDW Baked Apple (DMC 221)/Victorian Cranberry
- WDW Cocoa (DMC 839)/Black Eyed Susan
- WDW Dirt Road (DMC 831)/Antique Bronze
- WDW Havana (DMC 869)/ Variegated Pine
- CC Onion Skin (DMC 3864)/Primitive Tan
- WDW Palomino (DMC 3012 & 3011)/Holly Leaves
- GA Piney Woods (DMC 3011)/Black Forest
- WDW Red Pear (DMC 3722)/Cherry Bush
- WDW Sage (DMC 370)/Sagebrush
- GA Tarnished Gold (DMC 434)/Victoriana Gold
The Bells on Christmas Day
The Bells on Christmas Day progress
I forgot to note when I started this one but finished stitching it on February 28, 2019.
The Bells on Christmas Day by Blackbird Designs
Updated: July 9, 2021 After a few years of languishing in the drawer of finished projects, I finally ordered a frame for this one. Unfortunately, once it arrived and I tried it with the stitched piece, it was just not a good fit. To “in my face.” How could I tone it down so that I would be happy with it.
A search of Google comes up with a product called Rub and Buff. I watched a couple of videos and decided to give it a try. I ordered two tubes, Antique Gold and European Gold. Once it arrived, I gave it a try and liked the end result. So The Bells on Christmas Day is now framed and ready to hang on my Blackbird Design Christmas wall.
While it is messy to use, it did the job.
