Happy Dance - Deer in the Forest

 

Started: 2/23/2023

Finished: 2/26/2023

Total Stitching Time: 11 hours and 25 minutes

This is Deer in the Forest from the 2020 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue.  It was designed by Elizabeth Spurlock of Saving Graces Fine Needlearts.

It's stitched as charted on 14-count Antique White Lugana.   It called for DMC Light Effects and red beads.  I started using the Light Effects (green border), but got very frustrated and ended up frogging most of the inner border and starting over with the corresponding color of regular DMC.  I was planning to use the beads, but when it came time to add them, I couldn't find them so I didn't use them after all.

I will be making this one into either a pillow or flat fold ornament and will give it to the Ronald McDonald House.

 Next up: Mickey and Minnie Gardening

Wednesday Update - 2/13/2019

It's  Wednesday again and time for another Wednesday Update.  I got a lot done again this week and stitched everyday once again.

First up is Merry 2008 from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue.  This is stitched on 14-count gold dust Aida as charted with the called for DMC except that instead of the Rhodes stitch for the flower centers, I used beads.

Started: 2/5/2019 Finished: 2/9/2019

I also stitched part 2 of the Anemone Blackwork SAL from Leslie Teare. 

I had two new starts this week.  The first is Merry Stocking by Ursula Michael in the 2018 JCS Ornament Issue.

The other start is January, a Palko Lap free chart.

And finally, I also continued working on Ping Panda from Brooke's Books Advent Animals.  This square only got a couple days attention this week, because I'm getting bored with these animals.  I'll finish this one this coming week and then move onto something else.

As of 2/5/2019

As of 2/12/2019

BTW, my granddaughter saw this and asked me to stitch her just the panda so she could put it in her room.  My daughter says she's very into pandas right now. 

Wednesday Update - 2/6/2019

Again, this was a good stitchy week.  I stitched everyday and had three finishes.  The finishes are:

Started: 5/16/2018  Finished: 2/4/2019

This is Ethan Elephant, the 21st animal in the Advent Animals series from Brooke's Books.  It's stitched on 14-count misty blue Aida as charted with the called for DMC except that I used two strands when three were called for.  This is the third YOW project that I've completed this year.

Started: 1/26/2019 Finished: 2/3/2019

This is Consumed by Gifts by Brittercup Designs.  It came from the 2010 JCS Christmas Ornament issue.  It's stitched on 14-count gold dusted Aida and is stitched with DMC.  I'd say that it was stitched as charted, and it was, but there were several unintentional customizations and fudging involved.  I stitched this for the Christmas Ornie SAL.  I was supposed to stitch something out of the 2009 issue, but it's the only one I can't find at the moment.

Started: 1/30/2019  Finished: 2/3/2019

This is the free February square from Palko Lap.  It's stitched as charted on lite pink 25-count Lugana with DMC 4211.  I haven't decided whether to FFO this as a pillow or as a quilt so it will remain un-FFO'd until the others are finished.

This is Part 1 of Anemone, a free blackwork SAL from Leslie Teare.   There are supposed to be black french knots or black petite beads surrounding the dark center, but I haven't added them yet.

This is Merry 2008 from the 2008 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue and is being stitched for the Christmas Ornie SAL for the month of February.

Happy Dance - Angel with Dove

Started: 7/25/2018

Finished: 7/31/2018

This is another ornament from the Crazy for... section in Cross Stitch Crazy #222 which has several charts with the theme of Nativity that were designed by Maria Diaz. 

Instead of stitching it on fabric, I chose to stitch it 14-count plastic canvas. The wings and dove were not supposed to be stitched, but since I was using plastic canvas, I stitched the dove in white and the wings in Kreinik #4 braid.  Unfortunately, the sparkles don't show in the photo.

This is my May ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the Carols theme was Hark the Herald Angels.  I know I'm behind, but I'll catch up by the end of the year. 

Happy Dance - Church in the Snow

Started: 4/15/2018

Finished: 4/20/2018

I found this chart in an old Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.  It's from the Design Library titled Winter Wonderland by Rhona Norrie.  

It's stitched on 14-count white plastic canvas with the called for DMC.  Some of the backstitching had to be modified because I couldn't split the stitches on plastic canvas.  

I stitched this for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the theme for April is White Christmas.  

It just needs a backing and hanger and hopefully will be hanging on my Christmas tree come December.

Happy Dance - Three Kings

Started: 3/20/2018

Finished: 3/31/2018

This is from the Crazy for... section in Cross Stitch Crazy #222 which has several charts with the theme of Nativity that were designed by Maria Diaz.  Instead of stitching it on fabric, I chose to stitch it 14-count plastic canvas.  It is stitched as charted with all the called for flosses.

This was my ornament for March for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the theme was We Three Kings.  Two of the other charts match themes for future months so I will be stitching more of these.

Happy Dance - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Started: 2/11/2018

Finished: 2/15/2018

This came from the 2016 edition of Christmas Cross Stitch Favorites.  It's stitched on 14-count oatmeal Aida with the called for DMC floss.  The only change I made was to make the the two Christmas ornaments identical and stitch them with solid colors instead of the called for stripes.

This is my February ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL.  I'm doing the Christmas Carols theme and this month's theme is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  

I haven't decided yet whether to make it into an ornament or a card.  It will partially depend on what backing fabric I have.

Happy Dance - Fa La La

Started: 1/23/2018

Finished: 2/3/2018

This was designed by Ruth Sparrow of Twisted Threads from the Just Cross Stitch 2000 Special Christmas issue.

It's stitched with the called for DMC (367,550 and 815) one over one on 25-count Opalescent Lugana in Elegance.  It's actually more beige than purple.  It's stitched as charted, except that there were supposed to be scattered white satin stitches in the background.  With the opalescence, I didn't think they were needed so I left them off.

This is my January ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL (see my sidebar).  The themes this year are 12 Days of Christmas or Christmas Carols.  I've chosen to do Christmas Carols and the theme for January was Deck the Halls, hence the Fa La La.

I went through my stash this morning and found some backing fabric that is almost perfect for it, so I will be making it into an ornament very soon.

Happy Dance - Gingerbread Lady

 Started: 10/13/2016

Finished: 10/16/2016

Lucie Heaton

It's 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 white perforated plastic.  All of the white in the design has been changed to green (912), but otherwise it's stitched as charted with DMC floss.

I stitched this for the Christmas Ornie SAL for September, the theme for which was Christmas food.

I enjoyed stitching it so much that I've chosen three more of these to stitch on perforated plastic.  When finished, they will hang on my tree, hopefully this Christmas.

Happy Dance - Holiday Express

Started: 10/10/2016

Finished:10/13/2016

Mill Hill - Winter Holiday Collection

I stitched this on the enclosed perforated paper with the enclosed floss using two strands for all stitching instead of the three called for.  (The ornament is much brighter IRL.)

This is my October ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the theme this month is Toys/Presents.  When I was a child we always had a train going around the Christmas tree and my daughter still does today.  

Although the kit came with a magnet, I made a hanger out of leftover beads and this ornament will be hanging on my tree come December.

Happy Dance - Santa Claus Sweater

Started: 8/4/2016

Finished: 8/7/2016

Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine (Issue Unknown)

This is stitched on a scrap of light blue 14-count Aida with DMC threads.  

It was stitched for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the August theme is Christmas clothing.

It will be sent to WOCS for their Holiday Card project next 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.

Happy Dance - Festive Rudolph

Started: 5/4/2016

Finished: 5/7/2016

World of Cross Stitching Magazine

This was the free cover kit from an older World of Cross Stitching Magazine.  The cover kit came with 14-count white Aida and the threads as well as a card.  I originally started it on the enclosed Aida, but  set it aside after stitching the top third so it was on my UFO list.

Since it matched the theme for May for the Christmas Ornie SAL, I decided it was time to finish it.   I restarted it on a scrap of 25-count off white Lugana (not sure of the color) and used all the enclosed thread except for the color of the reindeer itself for which I substituted DMC from my stash.

This will be going to WOCS (World of Charity Stitching) for their Holiday Card project along with last month's ornament, A Spot of Tea and my current project once it's finished.

Happy Dance - Ornaments

Started: 4/26/2016

Finished: 4/27/2016

Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas

This was stitched on a scrap of 25-count Lugana (I'm not sure of the color, but it's kind of an off-white) with DMC floss.  I made a couple of changes.  The square in the center of the purple ornament was supposed to be orange and the green in the ornaments themselves were a pale lime green that I didn't like so I used the same green that was used for the lights.

This is my April ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL where the theme was ornaments.  Eventually, it will be sent to WOCS (World of Charity Stitching) for their Holiday Card Project.

Happy Dance - Santa and Elf

Started: 3/22/2016

Finished: 3/25/2016

Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas 

The theme for this month's Christmas Ornie SAL is Santa and his Helpers so this is what I stitched.  

I don't know what year/issue this was from since I removed all the chart pages that I liked and threw away the rest of the issue (my magazines were taking over my craft room.)  This is the combination of two Christmas motifs designed by Durene Jones.

It's stitched on green 14-count Aida with DMC threads.  I did change the green in Santa's gloves and the elf from 907 to 911 since I thought this green went better with this fabric.  I also left off Santa's mouth and the present he was holding.

Happy Dance - Snowman in Jar

Started: 2/15/2016

Finished: 2/17/2016

Cross Stitcher Magazine #297

 

 This was stitched on Dwarf 18-count Aida from Picture This Plus with one strand using the called for DMC.  

 

The original design by Durene Jones is below:

Instead of stitching the background, I stitched it on Dwarf 18-count Aida from Picture This Plus with one strand of the called for DMC for the rest. I also eliminated the jar and just stitched the design.

This is my February ornament for the 2016 Christmas Ornie SAL.  The theme this month is Snow.

WIWO - 1/18/2016

The first stitching I did this week was on "Deck the Halls".  I got to from here

 to here after four days of stitching. As you can see, I didn't get a lot accomplished. 

 

I don't know if it was the fabric or the pattern, but I decided I was frogging way too much and no longer enjoying the journey so I trashed it before I completely lost my mojo.

I then replaced it with "Away in a Manger" (see my Happy Dance post on 1/17.)

I've joined two annual mystery SALs this year, one from Clouds Factory and one from Frosted Pumpkin.  Both have the same theme:  international travel.  I haven't been able to print the chart for the Clouds Factory SAL, but I did start the Pumpkin Passport yesterday.

I changed the fabric which was a brownish gray Aida for this hand dyed blue 28-count Jobelan.  It was a very old piece from my stash so I don't remember the color.

Happy Dance - Away in a Manger

Started: 1/16/2016

Finished: 1/17/2016

Quick and Easy Cross Stitch (issue unknown)

This replaces the "Deck the Halls" ornament I was stitching for the Christmas Ornie SAL's January theme of music. 

It's stitched on 18-count white Aida with the called for DMC and Kreinik #4 gold braid.

It will probably be my granddaughter's Christmas ornament for 2016.

There are two more designs in this series and at some point I'd like to do them both.

Friday Fun Day and a Happy Dance

Kyleigh had a half day at school today since it was the last day before Christmas vacation followed by a Brownie meeting.  Since Janice had to work, I picked her up from Brownies and we stopped at the ABC 7 Stuff the Bus event on the way home.

Kyleigh had a good time talking to Santa, eating Italian Ice and playing games on the Video Game Bus--she especially likes Just Dance for the Wii.  There were also displays of Star Wars cakes, a fire truck and other food vendors--it was all free.

A few days ago, I went through my stash and found quite a few Mill Hill kits that could be used for Christmas ornaments that I had completely forgotten I had.  I pulled out one to work on and finished it today.

Started: 12/11/2015

Finished: 12/18/2015

Mill Hill For Santa

This was stitched with the materials provided in the kit, but I used two strands or the cross stitching instead of the three called for.

Although it was meant to be a magnet, I added a hanger made of leftover beads and it's now hanging on my Christmas tree.

Happy Dance - Golden Tannenbaum

Started: 9/21/2015

Finished: 9/25/2015

Mill Hill Christmas Jewels Charmed Ornaments

The theme for September for the Christmas Ornie Sal (link in my sidebar) was Christmas Tree or Presents, so I went looking in my stash and came up with this one.  (It's actually brighter than the picture shows.)  The hanger is made of leftover gold beads as suggested in the chart and which I thought was a brilliant idea.