Sugar Plum Fairy #4

 

Started: 2/7/2023

Finished: 2/8/2023

Total Stitching Time: 2 hours and 54 minutes

This was part of the free cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #222 and was designed by Lucie Heaton.

It's stitched as charted with the provided DMC floss on sparkly white 14-count Aida, both of which were included in the kit.  However, I did swap out the kit floss for DMC in my stash as I don't like the short lengths of floss provided in the kit.

They're supposed to be made into gift tags (finishing material were included in the kit), but I'm planning to stitch all eight and send them to Canada Stitches Work Group to be made into a quilt for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer.

Next up: Sugar Plum Fairy #1

Happy Dance - Sugar Plum Fairy #6

 

Started: Date Unknown

Finished: 1/29/2023

Stitching Time This Month: 57 minutes

This is one of a set of eight Sugar Plum Fairy tags from the cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #222 and was designed by Lucie Heaton.

It's stitched as charted with the provided floss on 14-count sparkly white Aida which was also provided in the kit, 

I'm planning to stitch all eight and send them to Canada Stitches Work Group to be made into a quilt for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer.

Next up: Witzy and Bauble

Happy Dance - Jolly Jumper

 I know I haven't been around much this past year, but 2022 was rough with health issues, extended travel (this part was good) and a death in the family.  Also, I've been having trouble accessing blogspot.com so haven't been able to read blogs much.  Has anyone else had this problem?

However, it's now 2023 and I've decided it's time to get back to blogging, in hopes that it will be a better year.  So, here's my first happy dance of the year.

Started: 12/25/2022

Finished: 1/4/2023

Total Stitching Time: 9 hours and 38 minutes

Jolly Jumper was the free cover kit with Cross Stitcher Magazine #323 and was designed by Susan Penny.

It's mostly stitched as charted with the provided floss on 14-count vinyl Aida, which was also provided, but I did make several changes.  1) I didn't stitch the squares separating the arms from the body of the sweater.  2) I also didn't stitch the white backstitching separating the penguin's arms from his body. 3) I misplaced the beads included in the kit, so I left them off.  (I found them this morning when I stepped on them with bare feet.)

The kit came with felt backing and a pin back.  I plan on using the backing, but will add a hanger of white beads to make an ornament.  This is the first ornament to go into the box for Ronald McDonald's House next Christmas.

Next up: Lights Kitten

Happy Dance - Follow Your Heart

Started: 3/11/2020

Finished: 3/18/2020

Stitching Time: 6 hours 47 minutes

Follow Your Heart is the free cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #266 and was designed by Emma Congdon.  It's stitched as charted with the materials in the kit except that I replaced the fabric with a larger piece so that I could use a hoop.  It took so long because there were several sections that had to be stitched twice.

I was planning to make up as the magazine did, but Kyleigh saw me stitching on it and said "I wonder whose quilt that's going on."  Fortunately, because I replaced the fabric, it will work for her quilt.  She also stated that she was getting tired of waiting for it, so I'm going to spend the rest of March working on squares for it.  

Next Up: Fireworks

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 - Mrs. Christmas

Started: 12/27/2018

Finished: 1/5/2019

This is the free cover kit from Cross Stitcher #338 and was designed by Susan Penny.  It's stitched as charted with the materials in the kit.  There are finishing instructions as well as the chart for Santa himself included.

I do plan to finish finish this later this month and will also be stitching Santa at some point.  Hopefully, they'll both hang on my tree next Christmas.

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.

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.

Two More Finishes

I'm continuing to alternate Mill Hill kits with the free cover kits from some UK magazines.  Once I put Santa's Secret aside earlier this week, I picked up Buttercup Kitty by Mill Hill which had already been started.

Buttercup Kitty

Started:8/30/2017

Finished: 9/18/2017

This was stitched with the materials in the kit, although I did use two strands for the cross stitching instead of three.  I also used beads for the eyes instead of french knots and I just noticed that she's  missing her whiskers.

I let my granddaughter go through my stash of Mill Hill ornaments and pick one for me to stitch her.  She chose this one and once I find out if she wants a pin, a magnet or an ornament, I'll FFO it and give it to her.

This kit is from 1995 and it's amazing how much the instructions have changed.  Also, all of the beads were done with a half cross stitch, even the petite ones, and there is no treasure.

Once this was completed, I picked out a cover kit to work on.  

Happy Birthday Hedgehog

Started: 9/19/2017

Finished 9/21/2017

This is the free cover kit that came with World of Cross Stitching #258 and I knew immediately that I wanted to stitch it.  It's stitched as charted with the materials in the kit. 

It will be FFO'd and put in my box of unknown purpose.  My daughter is doing a craft boutique in early November and I'm planning to place all of the items still in the box in a basket on her table to see if anyone will buy them.

Next up - Wanda's Hat from Mill Hill

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 - Flower Fairy

Started: 8/12/2017

Finished: 8/17/2017

This is the free cover kit that came with the World of Cross Stitching #252.  According to the magazine, this is the Scentless Mayweed Fairy.  It was stitched as charted and finished with the materials provided.  It has been added to my box of unknown purpose for now.

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.

Catch up Post - Projects for Kyleigh

Back in early April, I took my granddaughter to Barnes and Noble for her free birthday cupcake and at the same time, bought the March issue of Cross Stitch Crazy.  While eating her cupcake, she went through the issue and chose some projects for grandma to stitch for her quilt. 

The first one was the free cover kit and although she didn't request this one, she wore it home one day and I haven't seen it since.

 

The next one she chose because she had done an art project at school shortly before she saw the magazine.  It's from a series of dresses through the decades.

The next two were chosen because she loves science and wants to be a scientist when she grows up.  They are from the Crazy for Science section of the magazine.

 

There were several other projects also chosen from this magazine, but when I pulled the colors for one of them, I decided against it (it was a fox and there are much better looking foxes out there) and the others involve some modification so I haven't done them yet

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 - Home Sweet Home

Started: 10/31/2016

Finished: 11/7/2016

Designer: Emma Congdon

 

This was the free cover kit from a recent issue of Cross Stitch Crazy.  It's stitched and finished with the materials provided.  I just noticed that it's slightly off center, but that's okay because it's not glued yet.  I haven't decided what to do with it yet, but I might hang it in our motorhome.

After reading a post on Stitch Maynia about gathering all of your planned starts or WIPs, numbering them and using a random number generator, I decided to try it with a bunch of cover kits from the UK magazines.  I'm stitching on these 45 minutes a day and then spending the rest of my time (usually 2-3 hours a day) on a regular project (also using the random number generator), working on each until they're finished or I come to a logical stopping point.