I am rather late posting my April finishes but I've been bustling about getting the house ready to sell. More about this later.
I have 5 stitching finishes for April. Three are ornaments; the other two are not . This puts me at 19 ornament finishes for the year plus a bowl filler finish, a small framing finish, & of course the Snow Angel finish. I also have the sheep punch needle finish I shared the other day, & I finally finished knitting John's winter scarf : )
First the stitching finishes.
Heartstring Samplery has some beautiful designs, don't they? I fell in love with this first one ... a small Christmas sampler.
Designer: Heartstring Samplery
Design: Let Every Heart
from Joy to the World
3 Little Christmas Samplers
Fabric: 40 ct Vintage Examplar linen
Floss: DMC as suggested
I'm not too sure about the color of the bird sitting on the poinsettia. It seems to get lost in the background. What do you think? Also, I should probably be calling this piece a partial finish because did you notice the blank space to the right of the cross? There's supposed to be a block stitched there with the initials of the stitcher & the date. You know me ... I'm not a date/initials person unless I'm doing a primitive piece. I need to find something else to stitch in that space ... perhaps another Christian symbol. Any suggestions?
The following is another HS design. This was a quick & easy stitch. I think it will be an ornament ... I'm not sure yet.
Designer: Heartstring Samplery
Design: Heav'n & Nature Sing
from Joy to the World
3 Little Christmas Samplers
Fabric: Unknown 32 ct linen
Floss: DMC as suggested
I've had this next design to stitch for a while now ... I just kept putting it off for some reason. It's a beautiful, meaningful design that came in four different colorways. I purchased the fabric & floss to stitch all four colorways. I'm looking forward to see how the others turn out : )
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Design: This Is My Joy
Fabric: 36 ct Parchment linen
Floss: Belle Soie silk, Red Fox
I stitched this next design for an exchange last year. I liked it so much that I wanted to stitch one for myself. Unfortunately I forgot that I used 40 ct linen for the exchange piece. I used 36 ct for this one. It just seems a little big to me ornament-wise. I will probably restitch it using 40 ct. I also purchased some different colors of floss to try stitching it in different colorways.
Designer: Little by Little Design Co.
Design: Joy of the Snowflake
from 2011 JCSCO
Fabric: 36 ct mystery linen
Floss: Soie d'Alger silk
I shouldn't even show this next finish as I carefully pressed the ones above & totally forgot about this one. Please forgive the wrinkles. It is one design from a set of 3 primitive Christmas bowl fillers.
Designer: Country Rustic Primitives
Design: Christmas Bowl Filler Ornies
Fabric: Osnaburg
Floss: DMC as suggested
It had been a long time since I stitched anything on osnaburg & I had forgotten how much I enjoy it! It's the perfect stitching fabric for primitive designs : )
Of course if you read my post on April 28, you're already familiar with my first punch needle finish : )
Designer: Teresa Kogut
Design: Got Wool?
Floss: DMC as suggested
And last, but not least, here is John's winter scarf finish. Nothing intricate ... just simple garter stitch. When we were in NYC last year, he saw a scarf like this displayed in one of the knitting shops we visited & he really liked it. He asked if I could make him one & I said of course! A couple months after we returned from our trip, we went to a nearby yarn shop & he picked out the colors he wanted me to use. It's a bit hard to tell but the bottom ends of the scarf are sort of a charcoal gray. He loves it & is looking forward to wearing it next winter : )
And that's the end of my April finishes : )
As far as the house sale goes, I spent the past couple months leisurely de-stashing, de-cluttering, & generally neatening up the place. Last week I worked like a madwoman ... scrubbing floors on my hands & knees, washing windows, polishing cabinet doors, you name it. I ached all week, but it was worth it. The house is cleaner than it's ever been. Then it happened ... I started having doubts. Do I really want to give up a house I own in order to be a renter for who knows how long? I don't understand it. I've hated this house since we did the walk-through before closing. There are so many problems & so much work that needs done. Some things can be fixed, others cannot. Why haven't I signed a contract for sale already??? I met with a realtor two days ago. Rather than sign a contract, I told him that John & I needed to discuss things a bit more. I emailed him the next day with a few questions we had & I am waiting for his response. From the start I told God that I was leaving everything in His hands. If He sent us a buyer, fine. If not, that was fine too. I just wanted His will to be done. I was therefore prepared for buyer or no buyer ... I wasn't prepared for having doubts about even listing the place! Right now I'm just praying for God's guidance. We will wait to see how the realtor responds to our questions, then go from there. If you believe in prayer, please join me in asking God to guide me & John on the path we should take. Thank you : )
24 comments:
All great finishes Shirlee. You did a great job.
Linda
I love all of your finishes Shirlee! You have been a busy stitcher!! I think another religious symbol in the first one would work. As for the listing the house, regardless if you want to sell it or not, there's always a bit of uncertainty when it comes down to moving. I think with more prayer your heart will feel at ease. Hugs and prayers!
Beautiful stitching, Shirlee! I especially like the This is My Joy piece. I'd seen the pattern before, but never seen it finished. I'll be praying about the house decision!
Shirlee, you have not only been busy stitching, but busy getting your home ready for market. I empathize with you and your aches and pains. Hope all goes well.
Hugs
xxx
Beautiful stitches..
They all so cute..
Sending you big hugs xxd
Wow, you've been busy! These are beautiful finishes, Shirlee. I love them all. :D I actually love your punch needle so much I'm going to have a look around and see if I can find it. Was it a kit?
What a wonderful assortment of finishes you created with your needle and thread, Shirlee!
Thinking of you as you get your house ready for market.
Robin in Virginia
You have accomplished so much! And gotten the house ready too. I am praying with you.
And the bird does seem washed out.
I love all the finishes xx Beautiful
Fantastic finishes as always, Shirlee. And don't worry, it will all work out! I have faith in you, John and God.
You are his blessed child and in His hands, he will not let you fall.
hugs, Kaye
Great ornaments. I would put a fancier/larger cross or heart in the initial spot using the same gold threads at the bottom left. Here's my 2¢. If you are unsure, wait until you're sure. There's no rush, you don't have to sign now, no one is forcing you out. Once it's sold, there's no going back. Don't pressure yourself if you have doubts. That was more like 10¢.
Yes, you are on my prayer list and I will see that you both are on our church prayer list.
Remember "be still and know that I am God".
Blessings
What beautiful stitching you've been doing! Congrats on all your finishes! How about another heart like the one in the bottom left corner. Just repeat that above the lady! Prayers that you will be guided and make the right choices regarding your home.
love Annette
Oh beautiful Stitching Shirlee well done xx
Great update Shirlee!! I hope that everything works out with your home situations. I am sending prayers your way.
I love all of your April stitching. I might put another heart up in that open space on the first finish.
John's scarf looks wonderful!
Have a great week :)
I had to enlarge your pic to see the bird on the little sampler, so I understand your question. I wonder if you backstitched around it, even using the same floss color, would outline it so you can really see the bird. Just a thought. :)
You've been busy! Your finishes are great. I have the LHN design also. The funny thing is that I didn't use the floss I got with it. I had a great variegated floss that was begging to be used.
Keeping you in my prayers.
Wow Shirlee you've been stitchin' up a storm. All turned out great!!!
Prayers and thoughts are with you!
Prim Blessings
Robin
Wow, what a productive month April was! I do think the bird blends too much in the photo, maybe some backstitch or a shade darker would do it?
Do you happen to know who the Patron Saint of Procrastination is? I think you should pray to him! or the Patron Saint of Indecisiveness.
Why not try the tactic of looking at other places and try find one you love? That might make it easier to let go of this one. It's the only reason I will ever move house again.
You stitched a lot of lovely things in April and knitted such a lovely scarf too. The little sheepie is adorable.
Fantastic finishes Shirlee. Really love the LHN one in the red.
Whatever you decide on the house I am sure it will be right . It's always really hard to decide if you are doing the right thing or not.
Are you ready for our new SAL today? :)
I'm sorry you're struggling with the decision of whether to sell or not, Shirlee... Perhaps you're starting to like it there more than you were before? I do hope you get your answer soon... There is no hurry--you have a lovely place there that you don't HAVE to leave. It is nice to be able to do so on your own terms. I'm sure part of the uncertainty is not knowing where you'll move to.
Your finishes are so, so pretty. I have the LHN one in my stash and really need to stitch it, too. As far as what to stitch in that upper right corner--how about a pretty star in the gold color?
John is one lucky guy to have a beautifully knit scarf like that--such a handsome finish!
Good luck to you both as you face this big decision--it will all work out, I'm sure...
Great finishes--love the Joy one, again...Love Mine! You have the same reaction to it that I had... once you make it for someone else, you see that YOU want it for yourself too! You have so many skills in crafting--the scarf looks nice and warm for your John. I am a week behind in reading blogs, so maybe the house decision is made... I will read on... so I know if I should pray still!
Congrats on all your finishes, they are lovely!
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