Happy Easter

 Today the sun is shining and Spring is definitely in evidence.

March was a quiet month stitching wise as I spent some time visiting family but I found the time to fully finish a couple of pieces. First up is Spring Rolls by Plum Street Samplers. I stitched this in March 2021 but didn't fully finish it until March 2026!

Spring Rolls - Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: Lakeside Linens 35ct Vintage Pecan Butter linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Another 2021 stitching finish that was also fully completed in March was Pineberry Lane's Good Dog Marking Sampler.

Good Dog Marking Sampler - Pineberry Lane

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 28ct September 2018 Limited Edition linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads except DMC 3031 used for DMC 3021

I completed Just Nan's Summer in the Square and will take a photo of it fully finished, maybe next month.

Yesterday I completed the stitching on Elizabeth Hartline's Saltbox from Pinker n' Punkin Quilting. This free design is available here. Melisa has a lovely selection of designs available on her blog.

Elizabeth Hartline's Saltbox - Pinker n' Punkin Quilting

Fabric: Zweigart 40ct Newcastle Natural linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

Note: Stitched 1 over 2

Finally for St Patrick's Day, I completed Erica Michaels 'Blarney Spoken Here'. It was nice to have something new to display that day.

A Touch of Blarney - Erica Michaels

Fabric: Zweigart Cashel 28ct Natural linen

Thread: Atalie 'Les 4 Saisons'

Happy Easter.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I had hoped to have all three designs from Pineberry Lane's Shamrocks completed for today but I only got one stitched. Oh well, there is always next year.

Here is my finish of  Erin Go Bragh sitting on the same fabric as I chose for backing this ornament.

Erin Go Bragh - Pineberry Lane

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Smalls SAL - January 2021

Mary is again hosting the Smalls SAL where, on the last Friday of the month, we show any small projects that we've worked on. Full details can be found here. 

Like I often do in January, I've stitched a number of small projects. This year it has been helped because I'm taking part in both the Needlecraft Haven and Facebook groups for The Twelve Days of Christmas SAL. So I should maintain a certain momentum in my stitching throughout the year; assuming of course that I don't fall by the wayside.

I'm working on both the Jardin Privé and Plum Street Samplers designs for the Twelve Days of Christmas.

I've chosen the red version for the Jardin Privé and I'm stitching it as a single piece. It was the border for this design that attracted me to it so it had to be completed as a single project. Here is my day one.

First Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Jardin Privé

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I wanted something different for my Plum Street Samplers project which I had decided to complete as individual pieces. After a lot of searching I found a blue/silver, white and gold interpretation on this Japanese Blog that I fell in love with and decided that I wanted to do something similar. 

I haven't decided on my final finish for these so I have omitted the border for now. I might add it later if I decide that is what I want.

First Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart White linen

Threads: DMC 415, 932, 3750, 3820

As it's always useful to have a supply of birthday and other occasion cards I thought that it would be nice to send close family and friends a stitched card this year. This little design from Just Nan was an ideal starter. I only need to finish it as a card now.

(Happy Birthday) Heartfelt Trio - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct pale blue (not Zweigart) linen

Threads/Embellishments: Suggested DMC threads plus sequins

Finally this little Pineberry Lane sampler was a quick stitch. It only took two evenings and that included the time to chart the names that I wanted to use.

Good Dog Marking Sampler - Pineberry Lane

Fabric: 28ct Crafty Kitten Sept 2018 Limited Edition linen

Threads: Suggested DMC except 3031 used for 3021

 

Maybe I need more stash? ...

Well not really. Certainly not when it comes to charts. However, when finishing a couple of stitched designs this weekend, I felt that I lacked inspiration. It was mainly due to my lack of imagination but when it came to finishing this time, I wan't inspired by my collection of charms/buttons/ribbon/lace, etc and my first thought was that maybe I needed to add to it.
The moral of the story for me? - Get more creative with what I have and seek inspiration from all the needlecrafters who show their work online. You produce some amazing work.

Do you ever feel that you need more stitching paraphernalia even when you know you don't need it?

So what are the ornaments that caused me this angst? The first is The Sheep Day, a freebie from The Little Stitcher. I stitched this late in 2014 but have only now made it into a small hanging ornament. The other is my Needlecraft Haven monthly Christmas challenge called Ho Ho Ho from Pineberry Lane. The chart for this can be found here.

Both completed ornaments

The Sheep Day - The Little Stitcher

stitched on 32ct Belfast Light Mocha (?) with recommended DMC threads

Ho Ho Ho - Pineberry Lane
stitched on a unknown 32ct overdyed tan/green linen with
recommended DMC threads except for 830 which was substituted by 832