Catching up

Hello! It is September 8th and I have starts to show for my Bday SAL. Not my birthday SAL but Linda's Bday SAL. Don't want to use your name, Linda, so it's the Bday SAL.

So the first 4 days went well. On Thursday though an aunt died in the morning so no stitching that day. She fought breast cancer 9 years ago and about 6 months ago she was found to have lung and heart cancer. This is the second person I know that fought breast cancer only to have it come back as lung and heart cancer. It's just heartbreaking for all. 

So here we go with my SAL stitching-Tis the Season..

Yep, just a measly start on the 1st. I'm not happy with that green for the leaf. Several times I've gone back and forth with the floss for this project and it is now in time out, haha! I see what everyone is using for their conversions and I'm like oh I like that! I have found good green flosses for the leaves. As for the cardinal, I'm waiting for an order from 123 for Licorice Red CCW.

The 2nd day I stitched my usual Sunday stitch The Merry Hart PSS..

It looks better in person. That C on the right is for Cheerful and under that goldish colored flower under countenance is the house. I'll get back to this tomorrow.

3rd day is this one..

I have had this in my stash for a long time. This reminds me of Winter which I'm looking forward to! Call me crazy but it's supposed to be 90 and 91 today! So the saying says-one who sleeps under a quilt is comforted by love. 

My 4th project is..

Do You See What I See by Shelly Auen. Very primitive and the verse is from my most favorite Christmas carol Little Lamb (I think thats the name). Here is where I am at..

I am so used to stitching 1 over on a high count that my 2 over is feeling bulky. The fabric is 32ct so I could've gone both ways I guess. I like how it's going.

On Wednesday, I started I Bring Thee Joy by Pineberry Lane..

I'm using the called for Tin Roof linen and it will look great. Here's my progress..

Not a whole lot there. It's nice using DMC and not having to worry if I have enough and will dye lots match if I have to buy more. It looks like a lot of stitching from the model picture but looking at the graph, it's do able by Christmas.

Thursday, news of my aunt so no stitching.

Got back on track Friday and with another Hands on Design, this one a freebie..

A cute Halloween freebie on a scrap of linen from a finish earlier this year. 

And today? Another Hands on Design freebie! I Am Home..

I'm not sure what the linen is. I want to finish it just like the little house on the chart. Should be a quick stitch.

Twenty-two more days of new starts/WIPs! I have quite a few freebies in the mix just to get them stitched and the charts out of my freebie file.

It's coming on Go time for the exchange and mailing the package by the 19th. I have time yet and awaiting an order from 123 for floss for the chart I am sending my partner. I need a few other goodies to add also. I thought I would show what I finished for her. I am so proud of it and almost thought of keeping it, haha! I'll make another for myself! Here it is..

Yup, and my first time ever finishing something like this! The design is Black Pumpkin by SubRosa, stitched on a mystery 36ct linen. I can't imagine using a lower count fabric, it would be huge! I think I used 310 DMC. It's a paper mâché box that I painted black, inside and out. Bought scrapbook paper for the inside and top of lid. In the box I glued a black trim around the bottom and used another trim found in the sale section of Hobby Lobby around the edge of the lid. I had that black wire-edged cloth ribbon and attached it to the lid and ruffled it. Here in AZ, people are just barely harvesting Pumpkins and squashes so I didn't think I could find a real squash stump? for the stitched piece. So off to Hob Lob for plastic pumpkins and just cut off a plastic one. It looks kind of real! I hot glued it to the stitched piece and voila! I put rubber footies on the bottom too. Whew! I love how it turned out. I could've done a better job sewing up the opening where I stuffed it but all in all it looks good. I hope she likes it. My partner is Theresa Meloon of Dulaney Woods Treasures, a prim style cross stitch designer! Yikes! I have two of her charts. 

So that's how my week has been going! So far so good on the starts and it's kind of fun going to my bins picking out the new start or WIP to stitch that day.

Well I'm off! Hope you all have a wonderful day!