Monday, July 21, 2025

Post!

Happy Monday! A couple days ago I thought of a clever title for this post. I even wrote it down on a post it note but lost it! That's how my life has been lately. Which is why I've had my nose in my cross stitch for the past couple of weeks. Seems to be the only thing normal right now.

I'm at home smelling wood burning coming through my door. Everything seems to be on fire out this way. Two big fires way in northern AZ. I'm sure you've heard of the one that burned down the Grand Canyon North Rim lodge and historic cabins. Washington state, Idaho, Nevada, and California all have some large fires. 

Back to the fun stuff! Lets take a look at what I've been stitching on😊

Carol said in her comment last post that it would be nice to see Winter at Beacon House more often. I agreed. Here's how it looked before...

And the progress I have now...


I got the lighthouse in but not the rest of it at the top. I need GAST Wrought Iron for all the black in this piece like the inside border. I ran out and will eventually order a couple of skeins as I'm doing 2 over 2. It'll get easier once I get to the ocean. There's more of the sand/snow stitching but not as much as the left side took! After that it'll be smooth sailing (pun intended😊).

After that, I picked up Noel Sampler by WTN&T...

I stitched the rest of the border in from where that 2nd chimney is and turned the corner. I think I'm using a 36ct linen. I then started on the roof. The whole house is scaring me, haha! Also, for the snowflakes scattered about, I need a different white because the called for DMC is getting lost in my fabric. I haven't looked just yet. My MO stitching a sampler is jumping around, especially if I'm filling in a large flower or stitching the border; I get bored. I like to go in and start filling in smaller motifs amongst the flower vases, etc, then start moving down and to the right. 

Alrighty! Next up is...

No rhyme or reason 😅 I have more progress, not a lot but some. It's a pretty piece, in line with my Christmas Carol by Dickens kind of decorating.

 Here she is...

I nearly have the border done and I've started the caroler. I think I'm using 36ct and doing 1 over 2. She'll be a pin pillow.

Next is...

Deer Tier, and she's done. It's smaller than the first one I stitched. This didn't take me long. Can you see the huge difference between the picture and the floss I'm using? That middle section, I had to backstitch the tops. I think they're supposed to be roofs but the two CCW floss used blended in. They don't on the model. I'm not crazy about the dark color of the deer on my piece but I'll live with it. So this is 2 out of 9 in this series. I have another chart and will need to buy the other 6. Hopefully, I'll keep at it and have them ready for the holiday season. Fat chance though because I'm feeling Autumn and Halloween!

After I push publish I'll tackle more roof on the Noel Sampler and watch flosstube.

The weather has been nice. The monsoon storms have made an appearance, knocking down the temps and making things humid but not a lot. The saying for us in AZ is "But it's a dry heat"!! It's still hot in the deserts though.

I think that's it. Anybody starting patriotic stitching for our country's 250 year bday next year? I think about it and then say nah! Lol.

Take care, and see you soon!

5 comments:

  1. It must be hard smelling the smoke and knowing all of the beautiful parts of our country that are disappearing, Shelly. It's just one thing after another this year, isn't it? I would love to have your dry heat--the humidity is what bothers me more and more as I get older. The past two days have been ideal here--low temps in the 70s and low humidity. Paradise! Love the progress photos and that lighthouse looks wonderful. That Dickens piece is so sweet, too. And, of course, I love your Noel Sampler since I already stitched it--still not framed, though! Enjoy your day ♥

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  2. LOL - I grew up in Casa Grande (we live in western Washington now, I much prefer the weather here) and always laugh when I hear "it's a dry heat". When it's as hot as southern Arizona can get, it doesn't matter, it's just too darned hot!

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  3. What lovely projects you are working on right now! Each one is beautiful, and you've chosen things I love to stitch. I love the Old English vibe of the Victorian Christmas...so sweet! I have always been fascinated with lighthouses, and that one seems so "New England "ish" that it reminds me of Massachusetts (a place we lived for a short while). The Noel Sampler is so pretty too...building those houses is hard work, I've done a few of them...after a while the song lyrics "Just another brick in the wall" starts running through my head...haha. Your Deer Tier is just precious! I can't wait to see the others you'll be stitching. As for the wildfires...please stay safe. So sad to hear as the area is so beautiful and those buildings historic. We stayed at the Grand Canyon lodge cabins before. There is something so peaceful about the area there. Well now I miss Arizona even more. Do take care!

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  4. Greetings Shelly: Lovely progress on all your works in progress. Congratulations on the Hnads On Design finish.
    I am so sorry you are having monsoons, and the smoke is so sad, we are having smoke from Canada here in Minnesota.
    Looking forward to seeing your progress on all your stitching.

    Catherine

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  5. Good Morning from MI! Love the stitching finish and progress! We too have had very hot humid and terrible air quality from the fires in CA. Cooler weather this weekend so that is Very Welcome! I am thinking of Patriotic themes to do for the coming year and hope to start on some this month!!

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