Halloween Party!!👻🎃💀

 

Happy Halloween!

Welcome to my Halloween party! Please help yourself to some candy, take plenty as I have more!😆

This Halloween is a bit different than past years here in Blogland. Jo of Serendipitous Stitcher has a link up to check out any other party goers:

https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/2024/10/halloween-spooky-link-up-2024.html

The FFO bug bit quite hard and in 1 week I finally finished 8 pieces! Yes, 8 pieces. I would go and buy a lottery ticket or 2 because that may not happen again!

Anyway, here they are:

I'm pretty sure this is a Heart In Hand piece, one of the little patterns that come with the chart and beads. The frame I've had for a very long time. It's a second hand store find. 

Next is...

This is Crone on The Hill by Plum Street Samplers. I trimmed it with Chenille.

Onward...

On top is Salem 1763 by Willow Hills Samplery. It's on a pretty silvery grape color linen. I glued😉the black ric rac to the side. It sort of frames the piece. On the bottom is a design by Wild Violet. I just glued a bat charm to the front and wrapped black baker's twine around the bottom portion.

Four to go:

Here is Halloween on the Farm, from the 2023 JCS Halloween special issue. Love how it turned out! Used more black twine also for a hanging ornament.

Next is this Brenda Gervais piece...

Bittersweet and Broomsticks. A fun stitch, I used the black twine for trim just like the model on the chart.

Now we have Clementine!

A WIP for more than 4 years I'm sure! She is so cute! Lots of backstitch but worth it. My favorite motif is that skeleton🤣I tweaked him just a little. Racquel Blasco was the designer. She no longer designs.

And last but not least, and my favorite, is...

Wicked Night by The Primitive Hare. Stitched on 40ct linen because I wanted it smaller. I used a black pin and buttons for decoration. Love it!

That's it's for stitching.

Here's a little chuckle for you..

Hahaha! This one made me laugh! I don't get trick or treaters here. My street has mostly older folks but 2 families with children have moved to the neighborhood in the last year. 

Fall has finally arrived to the area. It was 30 degrees this morning so I jumped out and turned on the heater! The leaves are finally changing..

My hometown of Prescott, AZ.  Beautiful!

How about a picture of a spider!!!

Isn't he pretty?! I didn't get close for this shot because they can and will jump! This is a Blonde Tarantula. There are dark brown ones with lighter brown legs. They roam around during Indian summer looking for mates and they dig little holes into the ground for homes. They're harmless!

I hope you enjoyed your time at my party! Be sure to check out the link at Jo's blog to see who else is partying! Thanks Jo!👻🎃

Things That Go Bump in The Night

Hi everyone!🙋🏻‍♀️I'm back with stitching to show, a finish, and progress. Anymore I stick my nose into my stitching to escape the news, the constant bickering on social media. But sometimes it all comes to you! Here in my medium sized town of 49k people, the former president Trump has paid a visit. He likes it here I guess. I stitched and listened to helicopters fly overhead, the secret service or maybe the AZ public service. I'm not far from our former hockey rink which is used because it's the largest building that can handle a good sized crowd. 

That'll be the only time you'll see me mention politics! I promise!

Lets get to the stitching!

When October 1st arrived, I pulled out mostly Halloween stitching. The first piece I picked up is Jenny Bean...

All I did was stitch the rest of the branches of the weeping willow and the trunk. I just need to stitch all the leaves in the tree. 

After that, I started a Halloween ornament from the 2023 JCS Halloween ornament issue...

and I finished it! This is Halloween on the Farm. I used vintage stormy grey evenweave. It was a struggle to stitch on this fabric! It's 32ct and I did 2 over 2 but I fought to get the thread through the hole. The blue of the barn for some reason was the toughest. I left it for the last and just powered through it. Whew! I was glad to get it done. It's cute but ugh. What didn't help was I cut the fabric so small I had to use my smallest snaps, and the clamps had very little fabric to hang onto! 

Then I gladly moved to Clementine! Remember her?

Another piece where I'm using 2 over 2. This is much easier! Designed by Raquel Blasco, Clementine has been a WIP for at least 4 years. I have her skirt to fill in with a light green floss, her black boots, the vines on the pumpkins in her skirt, tombstones to the right of her legs. Then lots of long stitches and back stitches to finish her up. Up at the top next to that last diamond goes a spider web with 2 spiders dangling where the 2 black squares are. Below the orange moon is a skeleton that needs boney arms and legs. She's definitely not ornament sized! That left border is 6 or 7 inches long, maybe more. 

Next up is more FO pictures! We're almost finished, folks, so stay with me!

Here's 29 December by Myfanny at Etsy. I would love to have this framed, in a black chunky frame or a dark brown one. On my favorite 32ct Pearl grey linen.

Here's Song of the Seasons by LHN. Finished last year after 10 long years of living in the WIP pile. The fabric is 32ct WDW Straw.

Last but not least is...

These is My Words, also by LHN. Love that cabin😊

I have 8 more large finishes that I'll spread out on 2 posts and that'll be it. I thought of an FFO parade but I think I'll give us all a break from another parade!

Last Tuesday my daughter and I went on a short road trip to a mountain that sits on the eastern edge of where I live. She borrowed her boyfriend's truck because the road is rough. I had never been to the Overlook my entire life and we've lived next to this mountain for 5 decades! Anyway, it was gorgeous...

We had 2 thirds of my grand dogs with us, Gus and Rosie, sibling Aussie Shepherds. Rosie is deaf so my daughter uses hands signs with her.

They're the funniest dogs. They're low and compact to the ground and well behaved. 

When we drove up I could see the valley that I will be moving to soon waaay down at the bottom, it was dizzying. I'm afraid of heights so I stayed away from the edge...

We've had some wild land fires off to the east so it's been hazy lately. 

We admired the view while keeping the dogs away from the edge. Rosie had to wear a leash since she can't hear my daughter.

I took this picture of an alligator bark juniper pine...

See how it looks like alligator skin! It's a good wood stove/fireplace wood to burn. Full of pine sap, it burns hot but also leaves the chimney full of buildup which could catch fire. Not good. We goofed around up there for a little bit more and then came back down. It was nice to catch up with my daughter who has a different work schedule than me. We text but it's nothing like actually being together doing something.

Carol, I share your thoughts about BRD or Blue Ribbon Designs. The designer has a pattern in almost every JCS ornament magazine. They stitch up fast! Now I have to go through them from the very first issues I have to page mark her designs🤗

Okay, life update. I got probate going on the house. No ones gotten back to me so everything I turned in must've been correct. 

Weather-wise, we're still in the 80s but sinking to the 40s overnight so on goes a blanket! Next week, we finally cool way way down, to the high 60s. This year has been hotter and for longer than usual. 

I think that's all I have for today. Thanks for reading and commenting. BTW, this coming Friday is the day to buy tickets to the Jingle Ball 2024. Just $10 for entry and separate tickets for any classes you'd like to take. I'm taking the Tiny Modernist's class for her mini gingerbread house. It's super cute. I'm excited for that.

Take care, and we'll see you soon🙋🏻‍♀️

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🙋🏻‍♀️

A whole lotta stuff

Howdy! Here we are on the cusp of saying goodbye to another summer! Bye bye! I am looking forward to cooler temps. Right now outside, the wind has come up and a thunderstorm is trying to form. I am watching Catching Killers on Netflix, a recent new addiction! Last week, I watched Worlds Worst Ex's and Worlds Worst Roommate; wow! These shows really get your attention but they're not good to watch at night!

Let's get to the stitching. I have progress, finishes, and September plans. Let's go!

Since the last post, I put down the Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler and picked up a WIP...

Sorry for the crooked photo. This is Unwrap the Joy - Santa '12 by Lizzie Kate. I started this more than a few years ago. It's in 28ct Amber, the called for fabric with a mix of called for and substituted floss. Soooo..... Santa's beard is stitched with white Wisper thread by Rainbow Gallery and all other white is DMC Blanc. I don't have the Wisper so I thought well, what about a very light grey? Nope, it just won't look good because his beard is white and if I used white DMC, his beard would blend into the white of his stocking cap above his eyes! The finish I was hoping for is not going to happen. I'm going to order the Wisper so it'll be a finish for September. I still have more stitching to do at the bottom.

The next WIP I've worked on is my Sunday Stitch. A couple months ago, I think I said Dogs Declaration will be my Sunday Stitch. I finally brought it out two Sundays ago and have some progress to show...

Everything to the right of 'Life' is what I stitched. The middle of that large flower on the top border is the middle of this piece. It's a good size but it's nice to stitch on it. I'm using Valdani floss which is the called for.

I also managed to finish a couple of things too. First is Kringle's Coal...

The fabric is a tad lighter than my picture shows. It sure is cute. The white snowflakes show up better in real life though. I get a kick out of Santa's outfit!

Next finish is my Deer Cup by Shannon Christine. I just love it...

My fabric is a little more blue. I basically lost all the floss for this! What else is new! Lol. Since I used DMC substitutes for a few overdyed flosses, I could fill in a few areas. Couple days later I found the bag of flosses. The white lacey border looked hard but because all sides were mirror image, it wasn't bad at all. On Shannon Christine's FB group, I see quite a few people stitching these mugs on one piece of fabric with an additional border in between each mug. I want to make mine cubes. I have 6 more mug patterns to go and they all have the lacey white border. I believe I'll take a small rest from the border! 😜 

I have two new starts planned for September. Here's the first...

Sweet Autumn Vine. This design uses only 4 colors and it's on 36ct fabric, a mystery color. Can't wait to start this. 

Next is another Christmas ornament from the 2014 JCS ornament magazine...

The called for fabric is 40ct but I'm using a 32ct so it'll be a little bigger than shown. 

And now, the FO parade continues!

Early Witches by The Primitive Hare. This piece is probably my most coveted finish. I'd like to have it framed but not sure of what kind, black frame or dk brown frame? Skinny smooth or a gothic look? 

Next up is...

By Sheepish Designs called Red House or Little Red House. Loaded with satin stitches, the uneven border was fun to stitch. I really like this designer and I have more charts from her that I'd like to start some day.

Town of Halloween! Designed by The Primitive Hare, of course! This might now be a stand alone pattern but mine I stitched from a JCS Halloween issue. Eventually, I'll have this one framed too. 

And the last for today is this one, not sure of the name but I do know it's from a JCS magazine. I stitched it on an evenweave. It's just perfect for Autumn.

That's it for the stitching.

If you didn't know, I'm 60. I am seriously considering early retirement in 1 and a half years. I have a few bills that need to be paid off first. I want to be able to still do things, travel a little, and enjoy myself while I still can instead of waiting for 67 and a higher SS check. One never knows what could happen waiting for 67 to come! But I look forward to leaving my physical job for something part time that's easier on me. Wish me luck!

On a sad note, my 89 year old uncle passed away last week and we are heading to his funeral tomorrow. He fell in the shower and had a brain bleed and never recovered. All that's left of my mother's siblings are my 95 year old uncle and my 81 year old aunt. 

So that is what's going on in my corner of the world. I am starting my 4 day weekend today. Stitching wise, I'll get back to the Lizzie Kate WIP, and actually FFO a few things before I go back to work on Tuesday. Stay tuned!

I also wanted to recommend a flosstuber I've begun watching. She's a Brit and she goes by Flossy Grows and Sews. She likes Halloween and she stitches the variety of designs like me. Go check her out!

Take care and we'll visit again soon🙋🏻‍♀️