March Finishes

I was a bit concerned about my March finishes.  I encountered a problem with the first one (actually the problem was with me, but more about that later) & I don't think I actually finished it until the middle of the month.  Due to this fact, I purposely chose simple designs for the remainder of my March projects in order to make a good showing   : )

My first finish is this!

I wish I could take credit for the hilarity of this finish, but alas, I cannot.  Back on February 28, I wrote a blog post about my February finishes.  In that post I shared how John was going to the drug store to pick up a few prescriptions for me & that before he left I told him I was in the mood for something sweet & asked if he'd bring me back "a little treat."  This is the photo I posted at that time of the "little treat" he brought me.

Pam from Confessions of a Southern Stitcher commented "Guess that chocolate heart will be next month's finish!"  She was right! Thanks again for the great laugh Pam   : )

Now for the stitching finishes!

This was my first stitching project for March & the one I referred to in the first paragraph of this post.  What happened to cause the problem was that I stitched almost the entire 2nd floor of the house in this design, then I discovered I had made a counting mistake in the roof which ended up making the bottom portion of the house off by one.  I had to frog all of the 2nd floor already stitched plus a bit of the roof ... not an easy task on 36 count!  It turned out well on the second stitching though with me paying closer attention   : )   There is supposed to be a date in the area underneath Love and Joy & on top of the roof of the house ... between the rooster & the crown ... but you know me.  I don't care for dates on the front of my ornaments.  I tried adding a cross in place of the date but it just didn't look right.  I don't think leaving that area blank causes problems with the design though.  What do you think?

   Designer:  Plum Street Samplers

Design:  Love and Joy from

2010 JCSCO

Fabric:  36 count Pearled Barley linen

as suggested by designer

Floss:  NPI Silk as suggested by designer

I have to say that I did not enjoy stitching with the NPI silk at all.  It was terribly twisty & seemed to knot up every time I blinked my eyes despite the fact that I let the needle dangle after every couple stitches   : (   

After my struggles with & time spent on Love and Joy, I wanted to make things easy for myself.  Therefore I chose a simple JCSCO design I had waiting in my kitted projects box.  It was quick & fun to stitch   : )

Designer:  Brittercup Designs

Design:  Britty Christmas Kitty from

2005 JCSCO

Fabric:  32 count white Jobelan

Floss:  DMC colors used on a previously stitched Brittercup kitty design

I decided to choose the following stocking ornament for my next stitch ... another JCSCO selection.  I stitched this ornament twice before ... two years ago as gifts for good friends of mine.  There is supposed to be an initial underneath the blackbird design. I don't know if I will be keeping this one for myself or giving it as a gift so I will be filling in the initial later.  

Designer:  Blackbird Designs

Design:  Winter Song from

2008 JCSCO

Fabric:  30 count Old Salem linen

Floss:  DMC suggested by designer

In case you're interested, here are the ones I made as gifts in 2012.

Another kitted design is next.  I have a soft spot for stockings & I fell in love with this one the moment I saw it   : )

Designer:  Plum Street Samplers

Design:  A Christmas Stocking

Fabric:  36 count (or maybe it's 40)

Cedar Plank Edinburgh linen

as suggested by designer

Floss:  GAST suggested by designer

Ornament #5 is from a small kit (chart & floss) I purchased heaven only knows when. I used a small piece of linen I thought would look nice which I had left over from a previously stitched ornament design.  I like the design but really hated stitching it with the Dinky Dyes natural silk floss provided in the kit.  I've heard a lot of nice things about Dinky Dyes silks so I don't know ... maybe I just got a bad skein in this kit but it was like stitching with roving!  As a result, I don't ever intend to use Dinky Dyes silk again.

Designer:  The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio

Design:  Noel Naturally

Christmas 2009 Ornament

Fabric:  32 count Ocean Kiss linen

Floss:  Dinky Dyes silk

And that's all for this month my friends!  I now have a total of 16 ornaments stitched for next Christmas   : )   I have only 2 ornaments left to stitch from the ones I kitted before & after my heart surgery last September.  I'm not sure if I will stitch one of them or not.  It's pretty big ... more of a framing piece than an ornament.  I've set it aside for now.  The other I have stitched before as an exchange gift but I knew then that I'd want to stitch one for myself as well. I decided to try a different type of thread than the designer calls for & that is on its way to me now.  I am going to have to set aside some time to kit some more ornaments. I really like having several of them ready to choose from   : )