STITCHING WITH IRIS

This is Birdwatcher.  I am stitching this for Bob.  He spends many summer afternoons out on the back porch watching the birds.  I love how it is turning out.  I am backstitching as I go along since I really dislike backstitching and doing it all at the end would be painstaking. I would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and A Happy, Healthy 2017

I went to my LNS last Wednesday for the monthly Wednesday stitch group and she had the two stitched pieces I took in last month all framed.  The Map of France is for Bob and will hang in our office with all the other Paris/France pictures.  Fall Y'all is for us.  I have been trying to get more Fall instead of Halloween in my house so this will fit in just fine.

Map of France by Sue Hillis

Fall Y'all by Lizzie Kate

Just finished making this into an ornament this morning.  It is my 32nd finish for 2016.  You must understand that I do lots of ornament sized projects.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  December Stamp Floss:  GAST, WDE, DMC Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Started:  11/04/2016 Finished:  11/13/2016 For:  Me - It will hang on my ornament tree

My Great-niece Emily spent her Junior year of college in Spain as an exchange student in Spain.  Then after she graduated from college she went back to Spain and spent 3 years there getting her Masters Degree in Linguistics.  She came back home in August and has been looking for a job.  Well she got one and will be leaving for Barcelona, Spain next Monday to start her new job the following Monday.  This past year I stitched The Map of Spain for Em for Christmas this year.  Since she was here over the weekend to see her Grandmother her Mom and I decided it would be a good time to give her the present.  She loved it.

Me and Em with The Map of Spain

I finished stitching 2 more projects this week.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  Fall Y'all Fabric:  16CT Orange Sherbet from Sassy's Fabric (I wish she would start dying and selling her fabric again, I love stitching on it) Floss:  GAST Started 10/2/2016 Finished:  10/14/2016 For:  Me I will take it to Just Cross Stitch on Wednesday to get it framed.

Designer:  The Cricket Collection (freebie) Project:  Kiss of  the Mummy Fabric:  14CT White Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  10/12/2016 Finished:  10/19/2016 For:  Finished into an ornament and sent to Jessi in Scotland

I have been sick for the past week.  I got up last Sunday morning in Lancaster coughing.  I just thought it was allergies.  By Monday morning I felt horrible.  I ploughed through the day because Susan was here and she had some things she had to do and asked me to go along with her.  I did but by the end of the day I felt miserable.  She was suppose to stay until Wednesday morning but I told her it would be better for both of us if she left Tuesday morning .  I didn't want her to get sick.  I am finally starting to feel better but I am still coughing.  Today is a rainy, blustery day here so I am spending the day reading and playing on the computer.  Talked to Barb for a little while.  She has finally decided that it is time for her to give up cutting her own lawn and plans on hiring someone to do it for her next spring. After all she is 82 years old.

I finished 2 small ornaments for my Fall/Halloween tree.

Designer:  Blueladie Designs Project:  September 2015 Doodle from her Newsletter Fabric:  14CT White Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  10/10/2015 Finished:  10/11/2015 For:  my Fall/Halloween ornament tree

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  October Stamp Floss:  16CT Lambswool Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  10/03/2016 Finished:  10/11/2016 For:  my Fall/Halloween ornament tree

I can't believe that these are the 29th and 30th completions I have had this year.  Honestly most of them were ornament size but still that is a lot of stitching.

A couple of weeks ago my sisters and one niece went to Ocean City, NJ for a girls long weekend.

Here is a picture of me and my sisters.

Barbara, Shirley and Iris

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler Project:  2006 Yearly Santa Fabric:  14CT Tea-dyed Aida Floss:  DMC Started"  07/16/2016 Finished:  08/30/2016 For:  Me

I am now working on Lizzie Kate's Fall Y'All. I also have a Lizzie Kate October Flip-It Stamp kitted up and ready to start. 

I stitched this little design back in April  and put it away without taking a picture or posting it.  Yesterday I sat down and made it into a pillow to give to my best friend of forever as a Christmas gift. 

Designer:  My Big Toe Designs Project:  Friends are Family Fabric:  16CT Aida Floss: Gentle Arts Thread Started:  4/27/2016 Finished:  5/16/2016 For:  Sue for Christmas

I think it turned out pretty nice.

I have a Prairie Schooler Schooler Santa that I just have to stuff and he will be ready for my Santa basket this year.  That makes 3 that are ready for the basket.  I have several more stitched but have to make them into pillows.  I know that won't happen this month as I have a pretty busy month.  Thursday I am going to OC, NJ with my sisters and one of my nieces.  Then I come home for a week and go to The Grand Canyon of PA in Wellsboro, PA.  Come home from that and we will be hosting our annual picnic the following Saturday and then September will be almost over. 

I finished the stitching on this late last year and couldn't decide how I wanted it finished.  I was thinking a no-sew cube but I really don't have room to store them so I thought of a flat-fold.  I didn't think I had the talent to do a flat-fold so I sent it to the Twisted Stitcher, Vonna Pfeiffer.  I am so in love with the finished project.

Designer:  Country Cottage Needleworks Project:  Red, White, Bloom Fabric:  16CT Spice Aida Floss:  called for in chart Started:  07/18/2015 Finished:  12/02/2015 For:  Me Finished by:  Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher

I guess this has been a week of getting my stitching finished and ready for display. 

I picked this up yesterday from the LNS I go to.  Carolyn DeLong from Just Cross Stitch in Lederach, PA does a wonderful job of framing all my stitching.

I ove this little ornament.  Unfortunately I stitched it for my sister so I don't get to keep it. She dislikes winter so I know she will appreciate this one. It is from the 2014 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue.  It was a quick little stitch which is what I like in ornament stitching.  I hope this is the last ornament I stitch this year unless I start 2017's ornaments.

Designer:  Glory Bee - Nancy Boyarsky Project:  Winger is for the Birds Fabric:  14CT Tea Dyed Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  08/13/2016 Finished:  08/15/2016 For:  Shirley

I finished this into an ornament for my ornament tree.  It is a little bigger than my normal ornaments but I also think it is the best of these finishes I have done.  The corners or crisp and everything is very even.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  August Stamp Fabric:  Tea Dyed Aida Floss: WDW, GAST and DMC Started:  ? Finished:  08/12/2916 For:  Me

I finally finished Map of France last night.  It seems like I have been stitching on it forever.

Designer: Sue Hillis Project:  Map of France Fabric:  16CT Ivory Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  Finished:  07/31/2016 For:  Bob

I don't know when I started this.  I started it once and made a major mistake so I had to start it again and didn't write the date down either time.

One more Map to stitch (Map of Scotland) but I am going to wait a couple of months before I start it.

I am currently stitching a PS Santa and a Lizzie Kate Flip -It August Stamp.  Just started both.  They are small projects so it won't take long for either one.

These are the final 2 ornaments for my Great Nieces and Nephews for Christmas 2016.

Designer:  Angel Stitchin Project:  Believe in the Magic - from JCS Ornament Issue 2014 Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  ? Finished:  03/01/2016 For:  Jessi

Designer: The Prairie Schooler Project:  2008 Snowman Freebie Fabric:  14CT Tea dyed Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  ? Finished:  07/09/2016 For: Robbie and Laycee & Matty and Avery

I just ordered and receive The Map of Scotland by Sue Hillis.  I am going to stitch it for Jessi.  But since I just finished stitching 3 of these maps I am going to wait for a few months before starting Scotland.  Well I should finish France today.  All I have left is the soccer ball.  Scotland looks much more detailed than the other 3 I have stitched.

I also started another PS Santa.  Can't remember the year, it is the one with a sewing machine. 

I have one more ornament to finish into an ornament and then I will do the pillow I stitched for part of Sue's Christmas present.  That shouldn't take me to long. 

Off to get Bob up for some breakfast.  I think he has plan s to clean out the refrigerator so I will have lots of plastic containers to wash.  We actually have none left in the cupboard.

I completed the finishing on another Christmas ornament yesterday.

Designer:  The Victoria Sampler Project:  Believe Blackwork Fabric:  28CT White Jobelan Floss:  DMC Started:  ? Finished:  01/30/2016 For: Kayla and her family for Christmas 2019

I only have 2 more I have to finish and then I have a pillow to make.  I have the stitching all done, just have to do the finishing.  It is so hot right now it is hard to sit at the sewing machine and finish things.

I have finished 3 more Christmas ornaments.  I have a 4th one almost ready but I made a mistake on it and haven't taken the time to fix it.  Hopefully tomorrow.

This was a Christmas card I received last year. I took the cross stitch piece out and made it into an ornament.  I believe it was from Marl at KYKS

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler Design:  Poinsettia (2015 Freebie Fabric:  18CT Aida - Off White Floss: DMC Started: 12/4/2015 Finished:  12/8/2015 Finished into an ornament 07/15/2016

Designer:  Samplers Not Forgotten from August 2015 Just Cross Stitch Project:  Believe in Christmas Fabric:  14CT Natural Aida Floss:  GAST as called for by designer Started:  ? Completed:  10/29/2015 Finished into an ornament for a Great Niece on 7/15/2016 for Christmas 2016

I have completed the finishing on another Christmas ornament for the greats for Christmas 2016.  I know nothing about this design.  I normally write all the info down in a book but I can't find this one listed anywhere.  I am pretty sure I got it from a Just Cross Stitch magazine so I will have to take some time to see if I can find it. 

Designer: Torquoise Graphics & Designs (JCS 2015 Ornament Issue) Design:  Believe Fabric: 16CT Dilly Dally Floss: DMC Started:  10/14/2015 Completed: 10/15/2016 For:  Matt for Christmas 2016

I just finished making this into an ornament for my ornament tree.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  July Stamp Fabric:  Mystery 16CT Aida Floss:  WDW, GAST, DMC Started:  ? Finished: 6/28/2016 For:  me I started this and was halfway through the stitching and realized I had made not one but 2 mistakes. I threw it away and started over.

I'm back to stitching the Map of France by Sue Hillis. 



Happy 4th of July

I picked up Map of Ireland by Sue Hillis from the framer yesterday.  This is a gift for my great niece who spend her Junior Year of College as an exchange student in Ireland.

I finished another 2 ornaments in the last couple of days.  I had to take my sewing machine in for service the other day.  It is ready to be picked up so I will be able to finish up a few more of these ornaments.

Designer:  SanMan Originals Project:  Swirly Hat Fabric:  16CT Ivory Aida Floss:  DMC Started: 02/11/2016 Finished:  02/12/2016 Finished into an ornament on 6/23/2016 For: ?

Designer:  The Primitive Hare Project:  I Believe in Santa Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Floss: DMC Started:  02/23-2016 Finished:  02/20/2016 Finishing completed 06/23/2016 The fabric behind the ornament is the backing material. For: One of my great nieces

I finished another Christmas ornament today.

Designer:  Needle Bling Designs: Project:  Believe Fabric: Aida ? Floss:  DMC Started:  ? Finished: 01/11-2016 For:  Matt - Christmas 2016 This is backed with red gingham

I really like the way this turned out. 

I just finished this a little while ago.  I now need to stop stitching summer ornaments.  My summer ornament is full to overflowing.

Designer:  JBW Designs Project:  A Very Merry Summer Fabric:  16CT White Aida Floss:  DMC I didn't mark down when I started and finished this. For:  My ornament tree

I really like how this turned out.  The backing for this us just a plain teal cotton fabric.  I actually interfaced both the front and the back fabric and it is really nice and sturdy.

Jessi all decked out for her prom. She is a beautiful young lady.

Yesterday my great niece Jessi graduated from high school in Oregon.  I hope she and her fellow graduates had a wonderful day.  In the fall she will be headed to the University of Edinburgh to study Veterinary Medicine.  I sure hope Bob and I can take a trip to see her in the next 4 years.  I would love to go to Scotland and then on to Ireland and England.  Big plans just hope we can come up with the money

I have spent some time finishing ornaments this week.  I completely finished 2, have another one I just need to sew together and then stuff and about 4 more I am ready to sew together but I need to go out and buy something for the hangers.

It has been a tough week.  I had a colonoscopy on Tuesday so Monday and Tuesday were kind of a blur.  Tuesday my DH started running a fever in the afternoon.  By Wednesday morning it was up to 103.  He went to the Doctor on Wednesday afternoon and was prescribed an antibiotic and sent for bloodwork which he couldn't get because Quest closes at 3:00.  We still don't know what is causing the fever but at least today it is 99-100.  Wednesday my BIL was admitted to the hospital again.  He got 2 blood transfusions on Monday and by Wednesday his lungs were so full of fluid he couldn't breathe.  He is still in the hospital with blood pressure of 244/90 and they can't get it to come down.  Poor guy, he was told the other day that he is cancer free and now this.  My sister, his wife, was suppose to go to Oregon today to see her youngest granddaughter graduate from high school.  Obviously she couldn't go so lost the money she paid for the air ticket.  So you can see I have had a tough week.  In between all the  bad stuff I have been working on finishing some ornaments.

Here are the 2 I completely finished.

Designer:  Angel Stitchin Project:  Be Jolly - from a Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue Fabric:  16Ct Country Mocha Floss: DMC Started:  05/12/2016 Finished:  05/27/2016 For:  My niece CJ The backing fabric is a red Gingham I am having a terrible time finding Gingham, I was told the other day that it is an old-fashioned fabric and so it is hard to find.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  June Flip-It Fabric:  16Ct Aida ? Floss:  WDE & GAST Started:  03/21/2016 Finished:  04/15/2015 For:  My Ornament Tree

:  05/07/20Yestyerday I got my sewing machine out to finish some of my stitched ornaments.  I did finish 2 and then my sewing machine started being a pain and it was to hot in my little office to fuss with it.  Yes I could have turned on the a/c but I just got upset instead.  lol  So here are pictures of 2 of my finishes. 

I think they turned out pretty nice and I have to thank The Twisted Stitcher for her great videos.  They helped a lot Vonna.

Designer:  Blueladie Designs Project:  May Doodle from her May Newsletter Fabric:  16CT Dilly Dally Floss:  DMC Started : 05/07/2016 Completed:  05/10/201+ For:  Me The fabric behind the ornament is what I used for the backing

Designer:  Bent Creek Project:  November Twirls I didn't record any other info on this one.

Here is a small stitching finish.  I am going to make it into an ornament as soon as I have the energy to set up my sewing machine.  I have several others that I also need to finish but I haven't taken photos of them

Designer:  Blueladie Designs Project:  May 2016 Doodle Fabric:  16CT Dilly Dally (it is a soft blue that doesn't show up well here) Floss:  DMC Started:  05-07-2016 Finished:  05/10/2016 For:  Me - I will make it into an ornament for my treetree

I got 2 projects back from the framer and finisher this week.

Sue Hillis - Map of Spain/Portugal for Emily who is currently living in Spain. Framed by Carolyn Delong of Just Cross Stitch (My local LNS)

PS 1999 Santa - finished into a little pillow by The Carolina Stitcher (Faye Riggsbee)  I want to display many of these Santas in a basket or bowl for the Christmas holidays.

I have finished several small projects in the last couple of weeks but I am waiting to finish them into little ornaments before I post them.  Probably not this coming week as we are getting carpeting installed in our family room on May 9th so we have to clean out all the stuff and there is lots of stuff to clean out. 

I finished this into something I can display on an easel.





See the description on the previous post.

I just finished a little design by Blue Ribbons Designs called Acorns and Owls.  While I don't especially enjoy stitching the alphabet I like the way this turned out.  I thought it was going to be smaller so I could make it into an ornament.  However,  it isn't small enough to be an ornament.  What oh what should I do with it.  I don't have room to store anymore no-sew cubes so that is out.  I would like to do a flat fold but I have never done that and I don't want to ruin my project.  I don't want to have it framed.  I already have a backlog of things I want framed.  I will think of something.

Without further ado-------------

Designer:  Blue Ribbon Designs Project:  Acorns and Owls Fabric:  16CT Lambswool Floss:  DMC Started: 03/30/2016 Finished:  04/11/2016 For:  Me? This was a freebie I saved from the Internet many years ago.

I am stitching less these days.  I was getting up every morning with my hands aching.  I decided that I was stitching way to much so I have cut back.  I don't stitch in the afternoon anymore.  I am in no rush to get anything finished since I have all my Christmas ornaments stitched for this year.  I am only stitching things I want to stitch so I am in no hurry to get them finished. 

I am planning on taking Ireland to Just Cross Stitch at the end of the month to have Carolyn frame it.  Once Ireland and Spain are framed I plan to take LK 6 Fat Men to get framed.  Maybe by the time I get that one back The Map of France will be stitched and I can get that framed.  I also have Red, White and Bloom that needs to be framed.  See I said I had a backlog of things to be framed.

Designer:  Sue Hillis Project:  Map of Ireland Fabric:  16Ct Antique Ivory Floss:  DMC Started:  I forgot to write it down Finished:  03/29/2016 For:  Laura who spent her Junior year of college as an exchange student in Ireland

Designer:  Blueladie Designs Project:  Easter Garden I took some liberties with this design. The original design said Easter Garden and had lots of 14 stitched in the wording.  1/4 stitches are hard to do on aida so I redesigned the wording and changed it to Spring Garden Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Floss:  DMC Started:  03/26/2016 Finished: 03/29/2016 For:  My ornament tree

Now I need to decide what I am going to stitch next.  I do have The Map of France by Sue Hillis to stitch for us but I am really tired of stitching maps.  I will have to go through my stash and see what I can pick out.

I have a cute story or maybe a sick story depending on how you look at it.  A couple of weeks ago one of the ladies from the workout group e-mailed us and asked us if we would like to go out to lunch to celebrate the birthdays in the 1st quarter and to celebrate Spring.  Today was the day.  So we got there and we were asked who had birthdays in January, February and March.  We raised our hands and I was asked when my birthday was so I told them.  When the waitress brought the checks the woman who had initiated the luncheon took all the checks for the birthdays except mine.  I kind of laughed to myself but in all honestly it did hurt a little.  I don't know why but this woman really doesn't like me and she makes it quite evident.  Oh well I did have a good lunch and I enjoyed the company.

I just finished these 2 stitching finishes into ornaments for my ornament tree.

Designer:  Barbara Ana Project:  Hoppy Easter Bunny - Freebie from Cyberstitchers.com Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Floss:  DMC Started:  03/02/2016 Completed:  03/11/2016 For:  Made into an ornament for my ornament tree

 I love this little Hoppy Bunny even thought it was a pain to stitch.

Designer:  Lizzie Kate Project:  May Flip-it Fabric:  Mystery Aida Floss:  DMC, WDW, Gentle Arts Sampler Started:   03/13/2016 Completed:  03/21/2016 For:  Made into an ornament for my ornament tree I enjoyed stitching both of these little ornaments.  I am trying to perfect my pillow ornament making so I studied the video on The Twisted Stitcher.  These are better than my previous pillow ornament finishes but I have a way to go.  These are both hanging on my ornament tree right now.  I need to make more Easter/Spring designs as I have a few holes in the tree.  I am still stitching on Ireland by Sue Hillis but I am making progress.  I am also stitching the Jure Flip-It by Lizzie Kate.  I am planning on doing a Lizzie Kate design for each month and making it into an ornament for my tree.  She as 2 series of these monthly flip-its so I will do some months from each series.

I finished a little St. Patrick's Day ornament for my tree.

Designer:  Blueladie Designs Project:  Happy Go Lucky (March) Fabric:  16CT Ivory Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  03/03/2016 Finished: 03/03/2015 For: My ornament tree

Now I am going to start an Easter ornament.

I finished this little cutie yesterday afternoon and just pressed him.  I think he is my favorite for this year.

Designer:  Angel Stitchin Project:  Believe in Magic - from the 2014 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Aida Floss:  DMC Started:  ? Completed:  03/02/82016 For:  Jessi ?

I finished the 5th 2016 Christmas ornament.

Designer: The Primitive Hare Project:  I Believe in Santa - Just Cross Stitch 2013 Christmas Ornament Issue Fabric:  16CT Antique Ivory Floss:  DMC Started:  02/13/2016 Completed:  02/20/2016 For:  Emily 1016 Christmas