Back to Alpine Seasons Garden

It's nearly a year since I last stitched on Alpine Seasons Garden. There is something satisfying about working on it, even though the section I'm working on is quite slow. This is how I left it last April

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine 

as at 25 April 2015

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Summer Khaki linen 

Threads: Recommended silk threads

and this is what I've stitched during the past week (bottom right hand corner)

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine 

as at 5 March 2016

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Summer Khaki linen 

Threads: Recommended silk threads

I've also completed the stitching on Blackbird Design's 'Basket of Memories ' and

Basket of Memories - Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 32ct grey/silver overdyed linen

Threads: Fils à Soso - Pierre de lune (160)

stitched Blackbird Design's 'Souvenir de France'. Both of these will be finished as pincushions. Well, that's the current plan.

Souvenir de France - Blackbird Designs
Fabric: 32ct Belfast pale lilac linen
Thread: Fils à Soso: Mille Saphirs (171)

Work in progress

I bought this overdyed grey/silver fabric along with some overdyed threads at the Pexiora needlework show at the weekend. I loved the colour so much that I had to start using it immediately.

Basket of Memories - Blackbird Designs
Fabric: 32ct grey/silver overdyed linen
Threads: Fils à Soso - Pierre de lune (160)

I haven't finished February's Joyful World design yet. I keep miscounting but it will be completed.

February, Joyful World SAL - The Snowflower Diaries
Fabric: 40ct Newcastle vintage mocha
Threads: suggested DMC threads

Smalls

It looks as if this could be the year of 'smalls'. Over at Friendly Stitchers and on various blogs, stitchers seem to be favouring smalls over larger pieces of stitching.

I'm going through a smalls phase as well. Given that I had limited time for stitching during the latter part of 2015, I'm stitching smalls because I want to see some quick finishes. Originally I thought that I would only show finished finishes but I've thrown that idea out the window. For the past week I've intended to get my sewing machine out but I haven't done it. So if I stuck with my original idea, I would be sharing very little stitching.

So here is what I've been doing over the past two weeks. I've admired this design from Little House Needleworks for a long time and it was a joy to stitch. I've looked at different finishes of this design online and I think I will do a flat ornament.

Season's Greetings - Little House Needleworks
stitched on 32ct Belfast natural linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

I started this Blackbird Designs Bluebirds scissorkeep back in April 2015. Now I just need to finish the second bluebird and add my initials. I didn't want to undo my stitching to change 2015 to 2016 so I've left the year unchanged. I don't think I will use this as a scissorkeep as it is larger than I thought it would be. It might be finished as an oval shaped flat ornament.

Bluebirds - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 32ct Belfast unbleached linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

Until next time, enjoy your stitching or craft of choice and thanks for reading.

One, Two, Three ...

That's the number of pieces I've worked on during the past week and I think it is my limit for the number of different projects  I can work on in a given week. When I start something, I just want to work on it to the exclusion of anything else.

Some more progress on Alpine Seasons Garden:

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
stitched on 32ct Belfast Summer Khaki linen with recommended threads

with a close-up of the corner. There is some metallic thread in this section and  I love the way it catches the light.

I've finished the base of the basket and have started to fill in the bowl on Bluebird Thread Keeper. I am doing this as part of the Blackbird Designs SAL at Needlecraft Haven.

Bluebird Thread Keeper - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 32ct unbleached natural linen using suggested DMC threads

Finally, the rear end of Midnight Cow by Lizzie Kate. This is my sewing group project, so I will only be working on it twice a month. As it is a relatively straightforward design, I have this idea that I will be able to talk and stitch without making too many errors. Well, one can but hope. :)

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red using recommended threads

Slow but Sure

I think that is probably the best way to describe my stitching at the present time - slow but sure. Well, it is certainly slow.

I've stitched some more on my BBD as part of the Needlecraft Haven SAL. I'm looking forward to finishing this as a small stocking.

Joyeux Noel - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 28ct Cashel Platinum

At my sewing group, I'm working on this kit from Shepherd's Bush, Peace and Plenty. Given that we talk as much as we stitch, I am not working quickly on this one.

Peace and Plenty - Shepherd's Bush kit

Later in the week I will spend a day finishing my stitched finishes. Among various things that I could complete, my priority will be my two exchange pieces - the stitching is done, they just need to be made into something!

I follow some wonderful blogs but today I'd like to mention 'Stitches by Carin'. I've only recently discovered this blog and she has the most beautiful finishes. I will be looking at them in the future for inspiration on how to finish my stitching.

More starts

I've signed up for two exchanges and I joined the Blackbird Designs (BBD) SAL over at Needlecraft Haven.

On Sunday, I started on 'Joyeux Noel' from BBD. I will need to change one of my threads as it blends into the fabric too much. You might have spotted the holly sprig under the word 'Noel'; that thread will need to be changed. At the moment I'm undecided between a more beige cream or an off-white. I will try both and see which I prefer, if either.

Joyeux Noel - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 28ct Cashel Platinum

I've started stitching on an Easter exchange, also at Needlecraft Haven and though I'm unable to show it just yet, here is the colour selection I am working from. I am really pleased with this colour combination.

Thread selection for Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange

My second exchange is over at Friendly Stitchers and it is for Stitcher's Day. I haven't decided what I will do yet but I have an idea of which colours I will be using as my partner has expressed a preference for pinks and greens with maybe a touch of blue.

So I will definitely be busy over the next few weeks. I haven't forgotten about my 'Alpine Seasons Garden', I am just having a short rest from working on it. I thought of setting up a rotation cycle for working on all these projects but I know it wouldn't suit me. Even though, it would probably help me to be more efficient, I prefer to work on something until time constraints say 'hey, it's time you moved on to something else'.