STITCHING WITH IRIS

 Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2026

 I had been hoping to start a new Christmas project on December 1st, but I hadn't finished my Thanksgiving project.  I finished it this afternoon

Design:  Give Thanks Designer:  Erin Elizabeth Fabric:  14CT it feels like something I tea and coffee stained Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  11/22/2025 - Last Stitch:  12/27/2025 For:  ? Notes:  there was a bottom boarder, but I decided not to stitch it. This was a freebie from her web site sorry about the wrinkles

 

Designer:  Primrose Cottage Design:  Hello Autumn (a monthly newsletter freebie) Fabric:  16CT Colour & Cotton Parthenon Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  10/23/2025 - Last Stitch:  11/22/25 For:  ?

My next start, well I've already started it, is Give Thanks by Erin Elizabeth.  Another freebie.  

 

Design: DecDesignerorating Owl :  Jesse Schofield Fabric:  16CT PTP Mirage Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch::  08-02-2025 - Last Stitch: 09/10/2025 For:  Bob  Notes:  JCS 2023 Ornament Issue Fully Finished by Keepsakes

Progress on Monet's Irises Pages 1 -7, 9,10 finished  Page 10 - 09/20 - 11/19/2025

Design:  Front:  My Christmas Song Back:  To All A Good Night Designers:  Front:  MTV Designs Back:  Kmotted Tree NeeleArts Fabric:  20 CT Vintage Country Mocha 1st Stitch:  11/07/2025 - Last Stitch:  11/19/2025 For:  2027 Christmas Gift for  one of the Greats

 I finally completed fully finishing 2 gifts.

Designer:  Say It In Stitches (ETSY) Design:  Happy Birthday Fabric:  16CT White Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  10/11/2025 - Last Stitch:  10/01/2025 For:  Shirley for her 80th Birthday Notes:  I started fully finishing this about a week ago and got stalled.  I finally finished it this morning (11/01).  I stitched a tag for the back with her name and birthday and as you can see, I finished it into a hoop.  Bob actually put it in the hoop since he does much better at centering things then I do. Designer:  JBW Design:  Christmas Ornaments II Snow Globe Fabric:  14CT Antique White Floss:  DMC E321 1st Stitch:  10/08/2025 - Last Stitch 10/10/2025 For: Barb for Christmas Notes: This was supposed to be a tree ornament bur it is a little large since I stitched it on 14CT Aida.  I like how it turned out.

 

I am almost finished with page 10. I have been slowing down this past week only stitching 50 or so stitches per day. Hopefully I will pick up the pace soon.  I really want to have this done by the end of May 2026.

I'm in the process of fully finishing 2 projects.  One is a birthday present for Shirley and the other is a Christmas present for Barb.  I plan on working on them this morning.  

 I've been stitching a mini sampler series from this year's Just Cross Stitch magazine.  I stitched and finished the Spring and Summer mini sampler as they came out in the Spring and Summer issues.  Now I have stitched and fully finished the Autumn mini sampler.

Pattern:  Mini Sampler Series: Autumn from the 2025 Fall Issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine Designer:  Curious Carrie Designs Fabric:  14CT Aida either Ivory or Antique White Floss:  Called for DMC 1st Stitch:  09/17/2025 - Last Stitch:  10/06/2025 For:  Me Notes:  Fully finished 10/18/2025 Bob helped me center this in the hoop actually he centered it in the hoop and tightened it) It is backed with yellow felt.

 I have finally fully finished all of the Christmas ornaments for my 5 Great Nieces and 1 Great Nephew.  These have been stitched over the past couple of years.  A couple of months ago I picked the 6 I want to give this year (yes, I have 6 stitched for next year).  I did the fully finishing up until finishing the back.  I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do to the back and then once I decided I was afraid to carry it out in case I messed it up.  Saturday morning I decided it was time to be brave and get on with it.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Hope they like them.

 

Back of the 6 ornaments

MTV Noel for Hannah

Luminous Fiber Arts Joy - 2021 Newsletter Freebie for Kayla

Lizzie Kate - Tiny Tidings XXII Merry Christmas for Jessi

 

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  Book #149 - November Fabric:  18CT Light Mocha Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  08/03/2025 - Last Stitch:  10/02/2025 For:  Us Notes:  After the holidays I will send this to Keepsakes to be made into a Flat Fold I only have 3 more months to stitch, July, August, and December.  I think I will wait until January to start July.

 

PS Book 81 - Songs of the Seasons Santa Claus is Comin' to Town  & Deck the Halls. I made these into 1 no-sew cube.   Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon Floss:  DMC Yes they are the same fabric they just photographed completely different.

 I sent 2 projects to Faye Rigsbee, The Carolina Stitcher, to be fully finished.  I received the finished projects in the mail today.  Love, Love, Love, Love how they turned out.

This makes 2 of these ornaments fully finished.  I have another one stitched.  I will be stitching the last 3 next year and sending them to Faye Rigsbee to be fully finished.

Prairie Schooler September

 I finished page 7 of Monet's Irises yesterday.  I was almost done yesterday when I sat down to stitch, so I decided to stitch until it was finished. 159 stitches later page 7 was completed.  I started page 7 on 07/24/2025 and finished it on 09/19/2025.  Only 4 more pages to stitch.  If I can continue at this pace I should be finished by the end of May 2026.  The 2nd picture is a close up of Page 7.

 

Design:  The Decorating Owl Designer:  Jesse Schofield -   Fabric:  16CT Mirage by Picture This Plus Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  08/02/2025 - Last Stitch:  09/10/2025 I actually stitched on this 11 days  For:  Bob Design is from the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 2023

 

I just received the autumn Just Cross Stitch magazine and there are several things in there I want to stitch.  I need to kit up Mini Sampler Series: Autumn soon so I can start it once I get Decorating Owl finished.  I have stitched Spring and Summer, so I definitely want to stitch Autumn & Winter.  I would also like to stitch Wooly Stitches by Nikyscreations and Seasons of Thanks by Wrought Iron Stitching.  Unfortunately, I can't get into Just Cross Stitch website to download and print the patterns.  I see I can sign in from Annie's Attic, but I don't have my customer number since the label is on the plastic coveer and I threw that away when I opened the magazine.

 I have fully finished 2 smalls in the past week.  I pulled 3 more out of my to be finished box but haven't started them yet.  I did finally get my poly-fil so I will be stuffing my Christmas ornaments soon so they will be ready long before Christmas.

JoLoXStitch Boutique Merry Christmas I would like to keep this, but I really don't need any more tree ornaments

Hands on Designs Let Love Grow This one is for me.  It will look nice on my Valentine tree

 I finished the stitching on my 3rd 3037 ornament for the Greats.  Yes, I said 2027.  Only 3 more to go.

Designer for the Front:  MTV Designs Design:  My Christmas Song Designer for the back:  Knotted Tree Needle Arts Design:  To All A Good Night (only the words) Fabric:  20CT Vintage Country Mocha Floss:  DMC/ 1st Stitch:  07/27/2025 - Last Stitch:  08/02/2025 For:  One of the Greats for Christmas 2027 Notes:  Both of these patterns came from Just Cross Stitch Ornament issues I will be sending this to The Caolina Stitcher, Faye Riggsbee for finishing in early 2026

 Finally got this little pillow fully finished yesterday.  I stuffed it with Polyfil and a lot of my orts from last year.  

Summer Jan by October House Designs I won this in a give-away by Eastcoast Stitcher Helen D.

 I started this project along with 5 others in May 202 as May Monday starts.  I finished 4 of the 5 I started last year.  This little gem just sat in the project bag.  I got him out on July 19th, 2025, and finished him last night.

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  Book #81 - Songs of the Season Santa Claus is Comin' to Town Fabric: 18CT Silver Moon using 1 strand of floss Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  05/27/2024 - Last Stitch:  07/26/2027 For:  Me Notes:  This will be my stitching in July for 2025. I plan on finishing this and the other Songs of the Season I started and finished last year into leaners.

I received this back from Keepsakes this past Thursday.  I am so happy with how they finished it.  Can't wait for next June to display it.

Prairie Schooler - June  Finished into a flat fold by Keepsakes in Cincinnati, OH

 I finished page 6 of Monet's Irises yesterday.  It took me 2 months and 1 day to finish.  At that rate I hope to finish it by the end of May 2026.  I hope I can keep that pace up.

Pages 1-6 and 9 completed I started this project on April 29, 2024. On to page 7

 This time it is just a small, but it is a finish just the same/

Designer:  October House Fiber Arts Design:  Summer Jam Fabric:  16CT French Cafe Mocha Floss:  DMC Conversion 1st stitch:  06/22/2025 - Last Stitch:  07/18/2025 For:  Me Notes:  I won this from Helen D. (East Coast Crafter on Floss Tube) Now that I have finished it I am going to contact Helen and see if she would like it back to give to someone else.  I'll never stitch it again and I have no one to share it with.  I plan on finishing it into a pillow to display in my green wooden box in the living room.

I am almost finished with Page 6 of Monet's Irises.  I should have it finished by the end of the month as long as I can stitch at least 60 stitched a day.  Now that I am finished with Summer Jam, I am going to stitch on a Christmas piece I started in May of 2024.  I will stitch on Irises in the afternoon and work on the PS in the evening.  Then on August 1st I plan on starting the next 2027 Christmas ornament for the greats.

 

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  September Book # 173 Fabric:  Colour & Cotton 18CT Creme Brulee Floss:  DMC called for 1st Stitch:  05/12/2025 - Last Stitch:  07/13/2025 For:  Me Notes:  I will be sending this to Faye Riggsbee to finish into a flat fold

 

I was also working on a Lizzie Kate Retirement project that I have abandoned.  I started stitching it for a niece who recently retired and after thinking about it I decided that since I didn't do anything for her sister who retired a few years ago I shouldn't do anything for her either.  I just kept it all kitted except for the floss.  Maybe some day I'll know someone else who retires.

 

Little House of Needleworks - Beach Boardwalk Snack Shope 16CT Star Saphire Called for Classic Colorworks floss Started 04/23/2025 - Finished 05/31/2025 I changed Snack Shop to Bob's.  Bob's is a restaurant on the boardwalk of Ocean City, NJ where my family ate breakfast on many trips Down the Shore over many years. I have 2 more Beach Boardwalk charts I want to stitch, one is the ice cream shop and the other is the salt water candy shop.  When all three are finished I plan on making them into no-sew-cubes.

May progress on  Monet's Irises Finished Page 9 which was page 6 of 12 completed  and started page 6.

Prairie Schooler September - Book 173 18CT Colour & Cotton Creme Brulee DMC called for Started:  05/12/2025

I also started a Lizzie Kate retirement piece for Sandy but only worked on it for a few days.  I started it and PS September as May Monday starts and then decided I didn't want to start anymore projects.  I am planning on making the retirement piece my 25/7 piece for the month of June.  My plan is to do 25 stitches when I first sit down to stitch.  Then I will try to get 100 stitches per day in Monet's Irises in the afternoon.  PS September will be my evening stitch.  I normally stitch in the evenings between 7:30 and 9:00.  I am also actively working on fully finishing my 6 Christmas ornaments which I hope to have finished by the end of June.  I just have to buckle down and work on them.  I also want to start an ornament for Bob.   It is a little owl which is stitched on black.  Let's see how well that works out. 

 I finished stitching this a couple of weeks ago, started fully finishing it and then just let it languish until this morning when I buckled down and finished finishing it.

Designer:  curious Carrie Designs Design:  Mini Sampler Series Summer from the 2025 Summer Just Cross Stitch magazine Fabric:  14 CT Antique White or Ivory  Floss:  Called for DMC     1st Stitch:  04/142025 - Last Stitch:  04/222025 Fully Finished:  05/03/2025

 

Irises in Monet's Garden Yesterday was its 1 year stitching anniversary I am not quite half finished with it.  I figure it is going to take me about 15 more months of stitching if I stitch on it every day.  I stitched pages 1-5 and then skipped to page 9 because I want to get to the bottom of the design.  I have about 1000 more stitched for page 0 and then I will be half finished.  I hope to have page 9 done by the end of May.

 I stitched this in 2021 and decided to finally take it to Michael's to get framed.

Satsuma Street Pretty Little Paris This is stitched on 18CT Fidler's Cloth with called for DMC

 I have a finish!

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  Book No. 161 June Fabric:  Colour & Cotton 18CT Coral Canyon - 06/2023 FOTM Floss:  DMC called for For:  Me Notes:  I plan on sending it to Keepsakes in Cincinnati to finish into a flat fold.

 

Monet's Irises Page 5 is completed I am going to do page 9 next as I want to get to the bottom of the piece.