Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

After hearing the news yesterday on my IG feed, this seems to have turned in to a tribute to Barb Adams of Blackbird Designs who passed away on July 4th. Thank you Barb for all of your wonderful designs you have left us with.  

Gosh, where does time go!! 

Well I have another array of WIPs, and finishes. Shall we get on with it ....

-oOo-

Firstly, a finish of the Blackbird Designs Wreath Sewing Box that I stitched on the first #bbdweekendsal. You can see just the stitched piece in my previous post. 36count fits nicely on this 4.5" round box.

Wreath Sewing Box from The Gift Is Small book - Blackbird Designs.

36ct "Unknown" Zweigart linen.

Threads as recommended except used alternate suggestion DMC 612 instead of Gentle Arts Harvest Basket.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Another #bbdweekendsal piece. This is Sweet Summer, Come Again by Blackbird Designs. I finished both the pieces, the drum and the needle roll, more or less the same as the chart showed. I added mount board to the top and bottom pieces of the drum as well as just stitching herringbone stitch at the top. The finishing fabric is Oak Haven by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda which I thought went well with the brown shades. I thought my effort of re-creating the buttons and safety pin was a hit. The needle roll is as the chart suggests finishing.

Sweet Summer, Come Again - Blackbird Designs.

36ct Liberty Gathering Grey R&R Reproduction linen.

Threads as charted except used the alternative DMC 712.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Now for my WIPs. I chose to start Ceesie Smitt by The Scarlett House. The fabric is 37ct Corn Tassel Legacy Linen and it is beautiful, not only in colour but to stitch on too. The threads are either as charted, the alternative or something completely different!!

Ceesie Smitt - The Scarlett House.

37ct Corn Tassel Legacy Linen.

Stitching 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Continuing the summer theme, for the 3rd #bbdweekendsal I chose The Air of Other Summers by Blackbird Designs. I didn't think I would get this stitched over the weekend, something which I have tried to do with my other pieces so that I could fully finish then during the month, but I did pretty well. I am carrying on with this as I don't have that much left and as a tribute to Barb, one half of Blackbird Designs.

The Air of Other Summers - Blackbird Designs.

36ct Winter Brew R&R Reproduction linen.

Threads are as listed or the alternate DMC.

-oOo-

Until next time .....

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I'm sorry it has been such a long time since my last post, completely missed April!! So we have a picture heavy post today.

-oOo-

GIFTS.

Dear Lainey @laineymain on IG sent me the most wonderful gift. It's a beautiful flat ornament and purple is one of my favourite colours. I am told by Lainey that it is called Mini Rouges by Jardin Privé. Thank you so much, it was quite a surprise. The card was cute too. 

-oOo-

STITCHING FINISHES

A lovely reproduction sampler by Whilst Iris Naps Designs, Thirza Hudson 1825. I loved stitching this and I'm looking forward to getting it framed.

Thirza Hudson 1825 - Whilst Iris Naps Designs.

36ct Winter Brew R&R Reproduction linen.

Used recommended threads but either the WDW or the DMC alternatives.

Stitched 1 over 2 and 1 over 1.

-oOo-

The next yearly Prairie Schooler Santa has been completed. This is 1998 Santa.

1998 Santa - The Prairie Schooler.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha Zweigart linen.

Threads as recommended.

-oOo-

This chart has been kitted up and in the to-do pile for quite a long time. Anna Ohmann 1873 by Lila's Studio. Initially I started with the called for Classic Colorworks Used Brick and had stitched most of the top left corner motif, but it just didn't inspire me. I looked to see what I had and what I had enough thread of. So I found a Dinky Dyes Silk - No. 159 Cherry Wood, a beautiful colour and subtle shading.

Anna Ohmann 1873 - Lila's Studio.

40ct Winter Brew - R&R Reproduction linen.

159 Cherry Wood Dinky Dye Silk.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

I know the majority of you watch Brenda and Laura on flosstube.(Brenda and The Serial Starter). They had bought it to our attention that there would be a Blackbird Weekend SAL which would happen on the first weekend of every month. #bbdweekendsal. The first one was a huge success. I had picked out a few smaller charts that I could probably start and finish the stitching within the weekend. For the first weekend I chose a design from The Gift is Small book. I'm hoping to make this into a small box top ... when my boxes turn up!

Wreath Sewing Box from The Gift Is Small book - Blackbird Designs.

36ct "unknown" Zweigart linen.

Threads as recommended except used alternative suggestion of DMC 612 instead of Gentle Arts Harvest Basket.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

FULLY FINISHED OBJECTS.

Finished the same as all of the previous Santas.

1995 Santa - The Prairie Schooler.

Stitching details here

12 down, many more to go!!

-oOo-

This has been the one that I have been drawn to finishing the most. Hoops I had, the finishing I had in my mind. It was only when I saw Vonna's flosstube (Cave Tales #3) when she showed a previous finish that I knew it was what I wanted to create. So this is heavily influenced by Vonna.

I thought it through I this is how I completed mine. Two hoops, the bottom one is complete and the top one just has the outer ring. There is a piece of mountboard glued in between the hoops which ledges on the inner bottom hoop. Hoops are glued together. Stitching is backed by layers of batting and is gathered on to a circular piece of mountboard that is just a little bit smaller than the hoop size. Again glue in. The pom-pom trim was just some from a haberdashery store, one that the pom-poms didn't come apart. It was yellow but I coffee/tea dyed it first. The trim was glued and tucked in around the edge.

Queen Bee Pincushion - Heartsring Samplery.

Stitching details here

-oOo-

W I Ps.

At the moment I'm concentrating on Fresh Picked Pinkeep by Stacy Nash Primitives. I have changed the DMC recommended thread to NPI silks. So far so good. 

DMC 371 = NPI 242

DMC 730 = NPI 244

DMC 3031 = NPI 582

DMC 3721 = NPI 224

DMC 3859 = NPI 754

Choice between NPI 244 and NPI 346. Decided not to choose NPI 346.

-oOo-

OK I think that is it for today. Whew! Enjoy your day!

Until next time ..... 

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

How are you today?

I am back with a FINISH!!! 

The Mary Ann Myers Sampler by Little House Needlework is all complete. Oh she is beautiful. The more I stitched the more I loved her. I have laid it out on my bed ready to put away in a drawer and then I discovered how well it went with my bedroom décor. So I know where I am hanging this one when I eventually take it to the framers when non-essential shops are allowed to open. I think they may need to make me a double appointment time with all the ones I would like to take!!

The Mary Ann Myers Sampler by Little House Needleworks.

40ct Birch Newcastle Zweigart linen.

Recommended Classic Colorworks Belle Soie silks except Mudpie instead of Teddy Bear.

Stitched 1 over 2 and a small portion of 1 over 1.

-oOo-

So the next one on the frame is Thirza Hudson 1825 by Whilst Iris Naps. You may remember Christina from her blog, Whilst Iris Naps, but now she is all over social media and her design site is https://whilstirisnaps.com/. Please go and visit, she has wonderful reproductions but I find the story behind them fascinating.

I am stitching this on 36ct Winter Brew by R & R Reproduction and with the alternate DMC threads with the odd overdyed thrown in.

-oOo-

That's all for now. I'm off to fill in the census which all residents in England and Wales have to complete today or as soon as possible after this day. I'm hoping it won't take long.

Until next time .....

 Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Just checking in again. How are you all? Good I hope and enjoying the start of Spring.

So what have I been up to. Well I have had a finish. I was working the odd day or two through February on 1997 Santa by The Prairie Schooler. Last weekend I thought I would dedicate to finish stitching him.

1997 Santa - The Prairie Schooler.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha.

Recommended threads.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

The only other project I am working on at the moment is The Mary Ann Myers Sampler by Little House Needleworks. I'm enjoying this more and more as I work my way down the sampler. I have changed one thread. My Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Teddy Bear and Pecan Pie were a very close match so I changed the Teddy Bear to Mudpie as looking on the chart photo that looked a little more brown. I have now got through the over one portion. There is more charted but the original sampler does not have 'in the year of our Lord'. I'm not particularly religious so left it off. I'm now down to the motif portion of the chart. There is a wonderful basket which I'm going to leave until last.

The Mary Ann Myers Sampler by Little House Needleworks.

40ct Birch Newcastle Zweigart Linen.

Recommende Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Silks except Mudpie instead of Teddy Bear.

Stitching 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Until next time....

 Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you are all well, staying safe and abiding by the rules.

I went on a little journey yesterday ... to the local vaccination place. I am so relieved and grateful for everyone involved. My Mum's cousin's grandson's partner (have you kept up with me!) was one of the team behind the AstraZeneca vaccine, although I had the Pfizer one. Like all the UK centres the staff are so pleasant, so proficient and make the experience so easy. I didn't feel a thing although today I have an aching arm which is what I have heard with most people.... a small price to pay. Please ... when you are called, have the jab. 

-oOo-

So I have quite a bit of stitching to show today. Back in January I stitched a sweet freebie from Hello From Liz Matthews. It is from her newsletter, so sign up and get the freebies that she is creating throughout this year.

This is Hope Celebration Small which I think we could all do with. I stitched it with a silk thread I received from @xjudesign when I bought some fabric from her.

Hope Celebration Small (freebie) - Hello From Liz Matthews.

36ct Antique White Edinburgh Linen.

Thread: Stormy Blue silk by IG @xjudesign.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Then I have finished the Tiny Tree Tops, Rose and Thyme piece by Blackbird Designs from the Sewing Club book. The photo is a bit washed out as it is Vintage Country Mocha linen. This is a beautiful and I hope to get it framed .... sometime.

Tiny Tree Tops, Rose or Thyme by Blackbird Designs

from the Sewing Club book.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha.

Recommended threads.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

The second piece out of the Sewing Club book that I was going to stitch was A Bit of Summer. I stitched it on 36ct Simply Taupe from @andersonhazel73 which is such a perfect colour as it called for  Weeks Dye works Sanguine. Just like the book I finished it into a drum. It's so sweet.

A Bit of Summer - Blackbird Designs

from the Sewing Club book.

36ct Simply Taupe Hand-dyed Zweigart linen by Foxglove and Lace (IG @andersonhazel73)

Recommended threads.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

Lastly I have started another sampler piece. This is The Mary Ann Myers Sampler by Little House Needleworks. I am stitching on 40ct Birch Zweigart linen with the recommended threads. I have stitched a little bit more than the photo below shows and I am having doubts about 2 of the silks. The Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Pecan Pie and Teddy Bear look to be very close colourways, so I am trying to find another thread to substitute. Some frogging may have to occur!!

-oOo-

This weekend I am working on the next freebie from Hello From Liz Matthews which is called Arrow Celebration Small. Sorry no photo as yet but I will hopefully get the stitching finished tomorrow.

So I will say goodbye for now.

Stitching hugs to you all.

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Happy New Year!

Stay positive! That is all I will say. 😊 🤞

-oOo-

I'd finished Holly Jolly Christmas and planned a new start on New Years Day, so what to do in the meantime. Out came my project bag with all my Prairie Schooler Santas in and the next one on the list 1996 Santa. Three or four days later he was finished.   

1996 Santa - The Prairie Schooler.

Santa Revisited III - Book 204.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha.

Recommended threads.

Stitched 1 over 2.

-oOo-

So I planned the first two to start, my New Year New Start Tiny Tree Tops, Rose or Thyme and then A Bit of Summer, both by Blackbird Designs. 

I'm stitching Tiny Treetops, Rose or Thyme on 40ct Vintage Country Mocha with the recommended hand dyed threads.

For A Bit of Summer I'm going to use a piece of linen I bought off a lady on IG who dyes fabric @andersonhazel73. She sells straight from an IG post so I knew I had to be quick looking back at other postings. I was ready!! She put up a 36ct Simply Taupe linen. Mine!! It arrived and I didn't have a good look for a few days as I was never in the house in proper daylight so couldn't see the correct colour. As I was looking through The Sewing Club book, I turned the page to A Bit of Summer. My linen was a PERFECT substitute for Weeks Dye Works Sanguine linen. I am so happy!

Tiny Tree Tops, Rose or Thyme - Blackbird Designs.

Sewing Club book.

 

A Bit of Summer - Blackbird Designs.

Sewing Club book.

-oOo-

Until next time .....