Stitch from Stash 2014

Hello my fellow stitchers, I have joined the Stitch from Stash 2014 Challenge graciously hosted by Mel from Epic Stitching blog. The challenge is to spend no more than $25 a month on stitching related items and to work from one's stash of goodies. She will also be awarding prizes to some of  those that meet the challenge criteria. Click on the link above to see the other wonderful stitchers that are participating (and their blogs, too.) Below are pics of my first stitch from stash project started during the first week of January. I had this kitted up and ready to go so it was easy to start. This chart can be found in the Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine September 2009  issue . The chart is by Nora Corbet.

This the pic from the magazine. Mine will look very different as I am substituting everying.

Here's what mine looks like so far. I am substituting with HDF silks. The original pattern called for Valdani threads. These come in a three-ply ball and you stitch with one ply.

Close up of HDF Fibers. I purchased these when I used to be wealthy. Vickie Clayton offers a program where you are sent a few fibers on a monthly basis. I got about 75% of the variegated regular silk floss. This was a great investment. As you can see, over the year or so, she was trying out different ways of packeging the threads.  My favorite way was just the simple tag with one hole cut out to put the floss thru, noted on the upper left corner. The spools tend to roll away and can't be put on ring.

Another shot of progress with floss. I had to frog the entire stem on the right. Oh, well.

Anyway, that's my Stash from Stitch 2014 Challenge project so far. I won't even start thinking about the next one until I am done with this one.

Hope all the other participants are enjoying their projects.

Happy Stitching from Christina.

Stuff plus a few pics

Hello all, hope everyone has a very safe New Year celebration and that the new year is blessed with many wonderful things.

I want to start with a few pics so those that don't want to read my rant (below), won't have to.

This was free stitch along by Plum Street Samplers. This was offered in nine parts. Am proud to say that I kept up with the parts and finished on time. I made quite a bit of substitutions as I am very committed to working from my stash. =  )

The above is the evil, stupid biscornu that some of you of heard me whine about. Despite it'apparent simplicity, I made many, many, many mistakes requiring just as much time frogging as I did stitching. Some projects are like this for me. I don't have the name of the designer for this one. I stitched it on light green 14 ct aida and substituted all of the colors. The center is a little star fish button from My Favorite Things available at Michaels.

Above is my progress on Sheperd's Bush "Finch Song". This was fated to become a UFO but I buckled down and started stitchng on it again last week. Am glad I did as it is almost finished. There was not sufficient silks to finish, so I substituted with HDF and even some coton floss from WDW. Working with the silk threads in one strand was very difficult. The fine threads frayed and knotted. Someone suggested using Thread Heaven, duh! and I did and that helped remarkeably! 

A few issues with this design was that the chart was done by hand, which made the symbols hard for me to see. Also, the designer leaves blanks in some of design and instructs you to fill them in, but when I am focusing on following a chart, I don't recall those types of things. The design should have been entirely filled in...after all, filling in the blanks would not have added more work for her but have spared all of us the hassle of going back to finish it properly. Another problem was that this came as a kit with none of the threads identified by color or manufactorer nor were they separated into groups. Some kits have similar colors separated into groups or they tell you the number of skeins so you can differentiate them, well, this kit did not. It had 5 different greans that were so similar I couldn't tell them apart. Turns out I used the wrong green on the hill as a result. All of the negatives with this kit will make it hard for me to purchase another. I have bought small kits from Sheperd's Bush such as for key fobs and whatnot but for big kits like this, if they don't separate out the colors and provide enough to finish, it just won't be worth the price or effort.

The top three are from JBW designs. Very simple and cute, almost nostalgic for me. I used threads and beads from my stash. Yay! 

Well, this is it for the stitching up date! Hope everyone has had lot's of time to finish things and make some progress, as I have! Happy New Year All!!

Now for the non-stitching stuff ----I hope 2014 is better all around, but especially that those in authority start respecting those of us that put them there. I hope for many wonderful blessings for everyone. Here in the US, we could use a few blessings as a nation, and a people and also individually. My most earnest prayer is for Congress and the President of the US and his adminstration. Both appear to have lost sight of their purpose and what they symbolize. I pray for the Supreme Court, that they not disregard the principles and laws in the constitution in the name of political expediency. (Remember Animal Farm? I always thought it was about communism, but now I understand, it's about any government that forgets the people, including democratic republics.)  I pray for my neighbors and co-workers that face the unknown on a daily basis. I pray for hope for the young men of Dade County here in South Florida. Despite all the benefits and privileges available to them, purchased by others' unceasing work and sacrifice, they continue to kill and murder each other and many innocents, for nothing more than a few dollars. I pray for the policemen here as well, who have forgotten their purpose, too...that is, to serve and protect. Instead, they have no discipline and no accountability. Many have died at their hands that shouldn't have. I could go on and on, but won't, as it seems rather overwhelming. The thing that helps me is focusing on raising godly children and staying the course and not losing faith. I have come to the realization however, that I must leave this town.

Anyway, whatever you are facing, my prayer for you is that you overcome it, stay kind and decent, don't give in to despair and be a light onto the world. And if you can't be a light right now, that you  find someone to light you up, like a bonfire! God bless!

Christina

Give-away at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Hi there folks, nope, I haven't forgotten about my little blog. Life just seems to get in the way. Also, without a proper camera, its rather hard to get nice pics to share. Anyway, Nancy is having daily contests for her lovely charts and flosses to celebrate Christmas and give thanks to her many customers. You can check it out HERE  and join in the fun!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Holiday season.

Hugs,
Christina

Fab Give-away from Victorian Motto Shop!

Hello friends, just a quick note to let you know that Nancy is having another lovely give-away. Even if you don't win, you should consider buying her chenille. I have and enjoy working with it. I will next try out her ric rac. Anyway, hop on over and good luck!

Here's the link:  Victorian Motto Shoppe

Remembering America's Colonial Fathers and Mothers

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. 

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. 

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.Remember: freedom is never free! 

I received the above, sans pic, via email. Here is a great web sited to learn more about early America - EARLY AMERICA

I hope to never forget the sacrifices made by others for my freedom. I pray for those people the world over, that are at this very time and moment, fighting for freedom from tyranny. The war is never truly won.

Christina  

Chris's Lovely Giveaway

Chris has a lovely blog where she showcases her many works in various needle techniques. She is giving away a lovely stitching tools to celebrate her 200th follower.Click here for her giveaway!

Finally!!!

Hello folks, its been a long time since my last post. Finally was able to take a few pics of several items. Take a browse and leave comments, just love them!

These are pics of the needle book I made from the pattern in the May/June issue of Just Cross Stitch. I changed the back, which was supposed to be the same as the front...but what would have been the fun in making them both the same. The strawberry came out all wrong, but I am not going to make another. Will finish it when I find the right color felt for the leaves. I really like how this turned out!

 I won a giveaway that Nancy hosted on her blog, Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. I have purchased her hand dyed chenille and I love it for finishing ornaments. These skeins are more like hanks..very generous! Thank you Nancy!

These are from the I-Love-Cross-Stitch Yahoo Group Birthday Floss Club. These will help me complete my DMC collection and I got a few specialty ones too!

These are from Rumple Beary Rumor.  Love the variations and I can't wait to stitch these up and see how the variation works out.

This is a handle made from exotic wood. A friend, Ted, makes these. He makes pens and other little things too. Check his creations out on his Facebook page Teds Turnings

I am getting back to Finch Song, by Shepherd's Bush. I am not enjoying stitching on this very much. The silks are too flimsy and there are too many spaces to count, which means more mistakes and frogging (or not frogging and figuring out how to work around it!)

Well, that's it folks! Sorry for the lack of activity, and I hope to not let this happen again. Am also planning for another giveaway for the autumn so stay tuned!

Happy stitching to all!
Hugs,
Christina