Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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   : )

18 comments:

Linda said...

Congrats on all the lovely ornament finishes Shirlee.

Linda

Vickie said...

Woo hoo! I would say kitting up ornaments really worked well for you! Wow, you have accomplished a lot.I have been wanting to try a stocking, but am intimidated by the finishing.

cucki said...

Wow well done dear .... They all so cute .so lovely..
Big hugs with kisses xxx

Ele said...

Lovely finishes! That chocolate box is huge!! Lucky girl, I simply adore chocolate (but well, who doesn't ?)
Have a great day

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

My goodness! Look at all those pretties you have finished! Each one just a pretty and sweet as can be! Especial that big heart finish ;)

Robin in Virginia said...

Wow, Shirlee! I really enjoyed seeing your ornament stitching from March! Way to go! Looking forward to seeing/hearing what ornaments you kit up next.

Robin in Virginia

Simply Victoria said...

Amazing job on your first March finish. Hope that John helped finish that along with you : )
All of your ornaments are so pretty. You are really getting a lot of nice stitching done.

Von said...

Your tree will be beautiful this Christmas!

Marilyn said...

They all look great Shirlee.
I think my favorite are the little BB stockings, so cute.
Marilyn

Chris said...

So many lovely finishes Shirlee! Including the chocolate!! It sounds like time to put some more kits together :)

Trace4J said...

Your stitches are really beautiful friend.
What a sweetheart you have.
Woolie Blessings :)

Sarah in Stitches said...

Amazing ornaments, Shirlee! I think you did a beautiful job on all of them - and I particularly like those stockings :D

stitchersanon said...

Very sweet, all of them!

Anne said...

My goodness Shirlee, you have been busy stitching tons of Christmas ornaments!! I love the PSS design and have been wanting to stitch it for a time. I like the pearled barley you have. The stuff I ordered is really dark and greenish....so strange! As for NPI's I don't mind them too much but the Dinky Dyes I adore! Maybe you did get a bad skein? I use it quite often and don't have problems with them. I had to laugh when you stated your first finish was eating the chocolates!! lol!! Hugs to you dear Shirlee!

Pam in IL said...

You've been so busy. All your finishes are lovely! I wish I could have as many finishes to show as you, but I'm still trying to get my consignment pieces done.

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Oh Miss Shirley, you made me smile today and I needed it. I love all your finishes. Especially the Britty Kitty. Too cute. Have a good week!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

LOL at your finished chocolate box! I thought you were going to show us a clever boxed finish using it, but no, it's just an empty box of memories!

I love your stocking ornies, you are brave stitching the heel and toe so far from the other parts, I would count and count at least three times over.

jennifer768 said...

All beautiful finishes ! Really enjoy the stockings ,they are adorable.I hope that you thought of me as you were enjoying the chocolates.LOL! Blessings,Jen