Adios September!

Well! Here we are, about to say goodbye to another month! They sure do slide by quickly.

I hope those of you in the Southeastern US are fine and safe. I've seen the videos of the destruction of Helene and it's heartbreaking! My thoughts are with everyone dealing with the aftermath and those who are getting the remnants of Helene.

Mother Nature has decided to revisit summer on us! The past week we've broken temperature records for the hottest last days of September. It's usually the middle 70s but it's been over 95 degrees. Ugh.

As for me, I've been busy with stitching. Let's take a look at it all...

Progress first. 

This is Sweet Autumn Vine by Threadwork Primitives, on 36ct something using the called for overdyed. I picked this up yesterday and went to town on it. There are just 4 flosses but a lot of stopping and changing floss out for another color. It should be about 5 x 5 when I'm done. 

Next piece I worked on...

The color of the fabric is about right. Jenny Bean's Halloween Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddler. I've extended more of the right border, filled in more of the cabin on the front and on the roof. Jenny will stay out and be my October stitch.

Next piece is the Yule Queen by The Primitive Hare...

Her skirt is no joke! I have it started at the bottom right. There's no getting around the skirt! But she's coming along and I'll stitch on her now and then.

I also have finishes, 4 for the month but I'll show 3 that I finished after my last post.

First is A Woodland Wish...

From the 2014 JCS ornament magazine. I used 40ct so it's tiny. It took just a couple of evenings to stitch up. I made some changes...below the deer was 'peace on earth' 1 over 1 but I just sprinkled that area with snow, and the date is 1 over 1. The snowflakes are Smyrna's over 4.

In between everything. I stitched this little cutie...

I call it the Blue Flower Squirrel. It's a freebie from Blue Flower and it's from the 2020 Market cookbook. I had this little piece of 30ct linen and used it for Squirrel. It reminded me of Fall and the shape lends itself to a round flat ornament. The cotton fabric with it will be the backing. It so adorable! 

Aaannd the final finish is Unwrap the Joy by Lizzie Kate....

Complete with white Wisper thread for his beard! It's a pain to use but it sure does add to the look. It's not very fluffy though. Poor thing, Santa was a WIP for more than 3 years. I also sewed on 2 little buttons for snow that I found in my stash. So cute! I think I'll put him on a cube so stay tuned for that.

So we've reached the continuation of my FO parade...I'll show a couple ..

This is Wicked Alphabet by The Primitive Stitches. I think I used 36ct PTP Vellum, and the called for floss.

And the last for today is...

what I call Joy. Designed by a French designer. I'm not sure how this will be final finished but I have some ideas 💡 💡 

That's all for the stitching. 

Tomorrow I am headed to the county courthouse to file the probate papers, finally. Time to get the wheels going on this. 

I hope the weather is seasonal where you're at! It's ridiculous here🤦🏻‍♀️hope you're stitching to your hearts content and doing well!

See you soon🤗

The Unicorn

Happy Sunday, everyone! My first post of September and we're already halfway through! It's windy outside and the temps have finally gone down some, just to about 86. Much cooler than the middle 100s!

For your entertainment today, I have progress, a finish, the FO parade, and news about a unicorn! Let's get going...

I have progress on my Sunday stitch-Dog's Declaration by Ink Circles....

My picture is so washed out! The colors are more brighter in real life. Stitching on this every Sunday has been real successful for me. That middle tree has been intense! Lots of color changes. Nice things about it is it's all mirror image so it's saving me from having to check the graph constantly. When I'm done posting, I'll work on the bottom and right side of the tree. I'll be happy when this tree is done.

Friday the 13th, I picked up Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler for the first time since the end of July...

Sorry for the wrinkles, I don't like to iron until I'm done. There is also more color to the fabric. I have started on the outline of the house, more weeping willow branches, and more right border. That horizontal line below the house is the halfway point. I'm just plugging along on this one but it would be nice to have it finished before the year is out.

Next is a finish! Yay! Bittersweet and Broomsticks by WTN&T/Brenda Gervais...

I am certain that was 40ct I used, Sheeps Straw by xjudesign. Lovely fabric, has a good hand to it. It was crazy to set this aside because it's small! I had to stitch in the pumpkins from beneath the basket to the right, the witch, her broom, the bird and a few more leaves. The pattern called for the stem stitch to connect all the leaves but ain't nobody got time for that!! I straight stitched the vine and leaves together, much easier. Click on the picture to see the vine. She'll be a pin pillow eventually 🤞🏽

Here is more FO parade. We are nearing the end...

I can't remember the designer but this is Grimalken's Apothecary. A fun design to stitch. I need to get this framed.

This is by Lindsay Lane Designs, not sure of the name. So pretty with my initials in the middle. I messed up though by stitching it so close to the edge at the top. I'd like to mount this on a painted papier mache round box, I just have to figure out how to do that.

Next is...

The Tribal Rooster on a PTP linen. I think the designer is Willow Wind Designs. Framed or made into a big pillow with piping on the sides, I don't know. 

Picture is terrible as the fabric is Pear by Lakeside. Hoarded for something special and this was it. It's more olive green than show. It's from a PNPS magazine. I'd like to finish it like the magazine, with a skinny 2ft tree branch across the top held up with velvet ribbon. FFO goals. I just need to do it!

This one's easy! Promise Me by LizzieKate. This is to be a gift for my daughter. Framed or finished into a wall hanger on mat board.

And last but not least..

A mystery Halloween sampler by LizzieKate. My problem child as I was stitching it! I was trying to be thrifty so I bought just a fat eighth to save on the price of fabric but it was too short. I had to shorten the design at the bottom be a use there's only an inch left of fabric!

That's it for this installment of my medium FFOs. Next time, they'll be bigger. 

Now we're up to my Unicorn!! 

On a Facebook stitching group I'm in, they have an ISO list, In Search Of. There are 2 Unicorns that I am/was looking for. The first is And To All A Good Night by Blackbird Designs and the other is this guy...

Jacques D'Lantern, from this Keepsakes calendar..

and I had 2 offers! One stitcher thought she had 1 but couldn't find it after all and the other had it. I asked her what I owed her for it and she said nothing! I just received it last Monday and I'm so happy to finally have Jacques! I've seen them on eBay going for over $30. There are also a few other patterns in the catalog that I like so it's a huge win win!

Life Update..

Thanks to the comments about my plans to retire soon. You all made a lot of sense about retiring with your mental and physical aspects still in place. If I wait until I'm 67, I'll be more broken up than at 62. I already have bad shoulders, bad knees, bad feet and back. 

I had to laugh at Anonymous's comment about having more WIPs! I'll definitely plan for a retirement start or 2! And thanks Katie, for your comment too!

I think that's all for today. Thanks for hanging with me and leaving comments. I'll probably be back at the end of this month with hopefully a few more finishes. We'll see!

See you soon🙋🏻‍♀️