Happy Dance - Trimming the Tree

Started: 4/10/2020

Finished: 4/16/2020

Stitching Time: 8 hours 23 minutes

This is from the 2019 JCS Ornament Issue and was designed by Blue Ribbon Designs.  It's also the ornament that was chosen for April for the JCS SAL on Facebook.

It's stitched on 14-count beige Aida as charted with the called for DMC equivalents.  I'm planning to make it into a Christmas card later this month.

Happy Dance - Moose Joy

Started: 1/12/2020

Finished: 1/16/2020

Stitching Time = 7 hours 35 minutes

Moose Joy is from the 2019 JCS Ornament Issue and is the January ornament for the JCS Stitch-a-Long on Facebook.  It's designed by Angel Stitchin.

It's stitched on 16-count Lt. Oatmeal Aida, but since I didn't have the called for specialty threads, I used what I had:  Blue Spruce, Nutmeg, Brandy and Cherry Wine.  All are Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.  The beads are Mill Hill #02012.

Next Up: Let's Learn From Our Cat (10 hours)

Fully Finished Gallery - July 2019

It's time again to link up with Rachel of Ten Hour Stitcher to show the items that we've turned into Finished Finished Objects or FFOs.  I'm actually on time this month and I have five FFOs to show you.  Click on the link to see what others have finish finished this month.

Santa  has been in one of my "to be finished drawers" for several years since I don't remember when I stitched him and I couldn't find him in my finished files and it starts in 2014. He's finished as a small pillow with the same fabric as the backing (14-count gold dusted Aida)..

This festive reindeer, aka Rudolph was stitched in either 2016 or 2018--he appears in both years or maybe I stitched him twice!.  I finished him as an ornament using the same fabric for the backing (14-count Oatmeal Aida).  The hanger is a combination of red and green petite beads.

Again, this heart was stitched prior to 2014 since I couldn't find it in my records.  It was a free cover kit from one of the UK Magazines and is finished with the materials provided.  It didn't come with a ribbon (or I'd lost it) so I had to find my own.  I'd rather have used white and may replace it when I find some.

Again, this was stitched prior to 2014, probably at the same time as the heart.  It was also a free cover kit finished with the materials provided, except for the ribbon, which I will probably replace at a later date.

This is Love Hearts and was stitched in 2015, probably for a Valentines Card for WOCS, but it never made it to the group.  I trimmed and fringed it and attached it to a premade card.  I guess I didn't do a very good job though.  If I don't use it before then, I will probably send it to WOCS next year.

So, all finishes of old items this month.  I want to thank Rachel for hosting this SAL because otherwise these would still be sitting in their drawers with all the other items waiting to be finished.

Wednesday Update - 3/6/2019

Another Wednesday; another Wednesday Update!  I didn't do too badly this week.  I had one new start and finish, one other new start, and worked on three additional WIPs.  I did stitch everyday, but some days a lot less than usual.

First, my finish is Love is in the Air.  This was the free cover kit that came with World of Cross Stitching #278, but I don't know who designed it.  It's stitched with the materials in the kit, but I made several changes to "fix" the 1/2 stitch back stitch and eliminate the french knots.  I left off all of the french knots and changed the circle in the middle of the big heart into a smaller heart.  I forgot to take a picture before I added it to the card included in the kit.

Started: 2/27/2019  Finished: 3/1/2019

As for the WIPs:

I stitched Part 5 of the Anemone.  We're working clockwise around the center of the flower.

I continued stitching on the February Owl (yes, I'm behind on this one).

As of 2/26/2019

As of 3/5/2019

I also worked on Big Trees, which is a WIP that was last stitched on in 2018.  There's a Focus Stitch on the WIPacolypse SAL where you choose a project and add at least one stitch a day for the entire month of March.  It's also one of my YOW projects.

As of 8/8/2018

As of 3/5/2019

Finally, I started March, a free chart from Palko Lap.  

Happy Dance - Blackwork Sunflower

Started: 8/1/2018

Finished: 8/6/2018

This is one of several flowers with a blackwork background that Amanda Gregory designed for the World of Cross Stitching #269.  It's stitched on white 14-count Aida with the called for threads.  It's mostly stitched according to the pattern, but there is at least one unintentional customization.

There are several more of these designs that I want to stitch and she just released six more into her Etsy shop that are already in my stash.  These will all be made into cards, probably for the St. Paul's Christmas Boutique in November if Janice decides to sell again this year.

Happy Dance - Rainbow Fish

 Started: 6/19/2018

Finished: 6/28/2018

This was the free cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #243.  I replaced the 14-count white Aida because it was too crooked to deal with.  I also replaced all the floss that came with it with the listed DMC from my stash since I was having a lot of trouble figuring out which color was which.  It is stitched as charted though.

It came with the sequins, aperture card and envelope and has now been finished into an FFO.

FFO'd Valentine Cards

I finished making the three valentine squares into cards this morning.  They're not perfect, but it's the first time I've done this.  I hope to do better next time.  These are going to the World of Charity Stitching group to be given to the elderly living in care homes.

Happy Dance - Be My Valentine

Started: 1/22/2018

Finished: 1/22/2018

I found this on the Small Town Stitching blog using Pinterest.  It's stitched with DMC 115 on a scrap of white 14-count Aida.

This is the final stitch for the Valentines Day Card SAL for WOCS.  I'm going this afternoon to get stuff to make the cards.

Happy Dance - Swirly Valentine

Started: 1/19/2018

Finished: 1/21/2018

I found this on the Cross Stitch Craze Blog using Pinterest.  It's one of 30 free hearts with various swirls, etc.  I added the "Be My Valentine" instead of enclosing the rest of the heart in backstitch.

It's stitched in DMC Variations (4200) on a scrap of white 14-count Aida.  It will be made into a Valentines Day card and sent to WOCS for their Valentines Card SAL.

Happy Dance - Love Bear

Started: 1/11/2018

Finished: 1/19/2018

This is part of a free chart that I found on Durene Jones Facebook page.  

I only stitched the bear and heart and left off the background of white cloud hearts on a patchwork of blue and green squares.  Other than that, it's stitched as charted on a scrap of white 14-count Aida with DMC floss except for the eyes--I replaced the french knots with cross stitches.

This is going to be sent to WOCS for their Valentines Card Project.  I hope to have a couple more done by next weekend so I can go shopping for stuff to make it into a card.

Happy Dance - Christmas Sweater #1

Started: 12/12/2018

Finished: 1/10/2018

This is from Cross Stitch Card Shop #98 and was designed by Rhona Norrie.  There are six Christmas sweater charts and I plan on doing at least three more before the end of the year. 

It's stitched as called for with DMC floss on 14-count white plastic canvas.  I plan on making it into an ornament and attaching it to a card.

Happy Dance - Skating Hedgehog

Started: 12/4/2017

Finished: 12/10/2017

This is the second part of the free cover kit on Cross Stitch Crazy #236.  I used the materials in the kit for the stitching and finishing except for the fact that I somehow got my colors mixed up and couldn't tell which was which, so I substituted the grays from my stash.  Also, there were only two of the three blues included and I couldn't tell the light one apart from the grays so I substituted those too.  I'm glad this kit included the DMC numbers.

This was also designed by Margaret Sherry.

Happy Dance - Caroling Hedgehog

Started: 11/27/2017

Finished: 12/4/2017

This is part of the free cover kit on Cross Stitch Crazy #236.  I used the materials in the kit for the stitching and finishing except for the fact that the kit was missing the darker purple so I replaced it with some from my stash.

This was designed by Margaret Sherry and there is also a skating hedgehog included which is my current small WIP.  Please excuse the fact that it's not centered;  it's just sitting in the card.

More October Finishes

Started: 10/9/2017

Finished: 10/11/2017

This was in a Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas magazine.  It was stitched and finished using the free materials included.  The only change I made was to substitute green floss for the yellow floss called for by the chart as it didn't seem very Christmas-y.  Kyleigh has taken a liking to this ornament so it will probably be one of her Christmas gifts this year.

Started: 10/12/2017

Finished: 10/13/2017

This was part of the Challenge Lucie section of Cross Stitch Crazy #225.  It's stitched as called for with DMC on 14-count white Aida.  I've since found the same girl on a seahorse which I'd also like to stitch.

This is for Kyleigh's quilt because she likes mermaids and dolphins.

Started: 10/14/17

Finished: 10/17/2017

Started: 10/17/2017

Finished: 10/20/2017

These two hearts were the free cover kit from an older Cross Stitch Crazy magazine. They're stitched as charted (and finished) with the materials in the kit.  I did have to use some DMC from my stash as I ran out of two of the colors.  Fortunately, they matched exactly.  I also had to use my own 14-count Aida for the second heart since the pre-cut heart included in the kit was too small.

I made them into Christmas ornaments, but they probably won't be going on my tree.  I took these and several other pieces to a boutique at our church.  These didn't sell, but three others did.

Started: 10/20/2017

Finished: 10/28/2017

This Kokeshi Doll card was the free cover kit for the March 2013 Cross Stitcher magazine.  It's stitched as charted and also finished with the materials in the kit.

This one also went to the Christmas boutique, but didn't sell.

Happy Dance - Christmas Tree and Present

 Started: 9/23/2017

Finished: 9/24/2017

Started: 9/28/2017

Finished: 10/3/2017

These cards were the free cover kit from an older Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.  They're stitched and finished using the materials in the kit.  The kit claimed to contain plastic canvas, but actually included vinyl instead.  The only changes made were to leave off the Smyrna Crosses on each of the baubles on both designs.

They will go on my daughter's table at the Christmas Boutique next month and if not sold, will be sent to WOCS.

Happy Dance - Popcorn Card

Started: 8/23/2017

Finished: 8/30/2017

This was the free cover kit with Cross Stitch Crazy #233.  It's stitched using the materials in the kit except there are a few unintentional customizations, mostly in the tassel on his hat and the mitten with the bird on it.

Although I've stitched a couple of these lately, I don't really like the finishing since the cards don't perfectly (or sometimes even close to perfectly) line up with the stitching.  I still need to FFO this one.

BTW, this is my 25th finish of the year, most of them being fairly small.

Happy Dance- Summer Rose Card

Started: 8/4/2017

Finished: 8/8/2017

This was the free cover kit from the World of Cross Stitching #256.  It's stitched with the materials in the kit except that I changed the backstitching on the leaves and stem from the same red as the rose to DMC 895.  It's been made into a card and has been added to my drawer of unknown purpose.

Happy Dance - Fizzy Moon with Presents

Started: 11/17/2016

Finished: 11/25/2016

This was the free cover kit included with Cross Stitch Card Shop #98.  I stitched and finished it using the materials included in the kit.

When I first looked at the backstitching, I thought it would be awfully hard, but it was actually fairly easy which is a good thing because I have a couple more of these in my stash.  

This is the third cover kit that I've finished since starting my cover kit focus project earlier this month.  Hopefully, the next ones will not take as long as the first three.  This will be added to my box of completed cover kits that weren't stitched for a specific purpose.

Happy Dance - All Our Yesterdays

Started: 11/7/2016

Finished: 11/16/2016

This is the cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Card Shop #91.  It was stitched and finished using the materials provided except that I ran out of the two colors used for the sand so the basket and hat are stitched with DMC floss from my stash.

There are a number of unintentional customizations in this project which is part of the reason I ran out of floss.  It will be added to my box of completed cover kits that weren't stitched for a specific purpose.

This is the second cover kit I've finished since I started focusing on them earlier this month.

Happy Dance - Gingerbread Man

Started: 7/31/2016

Finished: 8/3/2016

Lucie Heaton

It's either from an older Cross Stitch Crazy magazine, but since I'd torn out the chart, I don't know which issue.  It's one of seven gingerbread people in a Cut Out and Keep Section called Festive Treats.

It's stitched on 14-count light blue Aida with the called for DMC floss.

I stitched this for the Christmas Ornie SAL for July theme which was a free choice.  After stitching it, I realized that it would probably work for the September theme which is Christmas food, so I may stitch a gingerbread lady for that one.

I will probably send it to WOCS for their Holiday Card Project.