Framed it myself! ...and a couple updates

I decided a while ago to try and frame something myself from start to finish. Well, almost to finish. I need some paper and double sided tape, so I had Hobby Lobby close up the back, but I did everything else and I'm pretty proud of myself! 

The design is Thistles and Spells by Stacy Nash. It is on my own hand dyed Aida using the called for flosses on 16ct.

I ordered the frame, spacers, foam core and glass from Hobby Lobby and got to work finally. This is one of the things that had been sitting around in a bag just waiting for me to do it for over a year. UGH! But I rolled up my sleeves and did it. I used pins to attach it to the foam core. I have to say, it came out pretty perfect. I took about an hour and a half and readjusted once. I'm hoping I can do it a bit quicker next time around.

Last week, I went in with another piece and ordered a frame and mat and all the rest. As much as I love sending out my stitching for professional finishing at In Stitches, I simply cannot afford to do it. The cost is outrageous (for me anyways). It's always gorgeous, don't get me wrong. But wow. I'm always in sticker shock when I drop something off there.

After I get comfortable enough with Aida, I would like to attempt one of my linen pieces, and I may even try lacing. We'll see!

Here's a teensy update on BBD Union Forever.

That other color on the leaf? It's WDW Bark. I don't have a lot of it, so I stopped after a few stitches and placed an order for more. I didn't want to run out and have it look different later on, which I know it would because this skein is years old. The colors don't stay the same over the years with hand dyed flosses, so I just want it to look consistent. Dang I am a slow one with stitching lately.

It's right about the UN-official start to Autumn, so I splurged on some magazines. I thought about getting the Halloween Ornament issue, but I (gasp!) didn't really see anything that blew my hair back in that issue. Cute stuff for sure, but nothing I just HAD to have this year.

My son and my wonderful daughter in law took us all out for my birthday this year. They are so thoughtful and I love them so much. I don't know what I'd do without either of those kids. I am so lucky and blessed to have them in my life. SO lucky.

Lately I have been really busy getting medical things taken care of. Between that and work, spare time has been slim lately. I am crocheting something up while I wait for my floss to arrive, but not much. As my father in law likes to say "getting mature sucks". LOL. In some respects yes. I just never thought I'd be at the doctor so much! Hey, whatever it takes to get back on track in my life, count me in---I'll do it!

I'm looking forward to the official start of Fall, and until then, I'm going to pretend it is here already. That means, fresh apples, ALL the Bath and Body Works stuff, pumpkin spice lattes (yes, I'm that basic), and continuing to add to my Autumn playlist. Yes, I have playlists for all the seasons. :)

Hopefully my floss order will be in soon and I may have ordered a few stash items too. Somehow that $2.50 skein of floss turned in to $58. Anyhoooo, next time I post it'll hopefully be with that leaf being finished!

Take care and until then,

BBD Union Forever Update and new Octopus!

The heat has subsided just a bit here, but it's a welcome relief. There's been lots going on, but I did manage to get the bird started! Rolling along slowly but surely! Again, this is Wichelt, 32 count that I dyed myself and using 1x2 here.

Also met another goal in the midst of all the heat this past week and finished Oliver the Octopus. I'm partial to this one. 

I think he is so cute! And yes, he might only have seven legs. There was a mishap tying one of them on, and I didn't feel like hooking up another one. Super cute nonetheless! You can pick up with sweet pattern HERE. He was pretty easy and I'm sure I'll do another one at some point.

Hopefully everyone is staying cool and drying out after the rains and getting lots of stitching done. I've been doing a pre-Autumn clean out of my office craft stuff and bookshelves. They needed a good dusting for sure. Feels good to take care of some of that kind of stuff. Also cleaned out the hall shoe/coat closet. 

I dont' know what it is about the Autumn season that makes me want to clean out and throw away things. I do look forward to it though. It's kind of a break from the everyday chores and other things happening. Kind of a palate cleanser I guess. It helps me focus on work and my health more too, being able to look around and see everything nice and clean and organized!

Take care of yourselves out there, and see you soon with more stitching!

Until then,

BBD Union Forever Update!

I really could have had this thing done by now. I've changed fabrics so much, and I'm sticking with this one! The aida seemed to be chewing up the floss too much. The overdyeds aren't as sturdy or thick as DMC, and I have found that I have a bit of trouble with them when working on aida. Maybe it's just me! 

Using a piece of my own dyed Wichelt 32 count linen, one strand of floss over two. The fabric is a mottled gray, and I really like it.

We've had so many changes here in the past month. My kiddos moved out at the end of June and I miss them like crazy. They are still in the neighborhood though, and I do love that!

They went and picked up their long awaited puppy just a couple days after that. His name is Franklin, and he's the smartest, most adorable Corgi pup on the planet. He's only about 10lbs in this pic, but in just two weeks, he's a little over 13lbs! Precious!

My own little Jenny turned SIXTEEN on June 29th! Still doing her thing and bossing us all around.

I've been so preoccupied with all kinds of stuff going on that I haven't gotten ANY new stash lately. So unlike me, lol. I hope that changes soon. There are some super cute things out there I'd love to have, but haven't properly shopped for cross stitch in a long time.

Wishing I could enjoy some of the more traditional aspects of the season, but MYGODTHEHEAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Judging from the maps they are showing on the news every night, I'm assuming whoever is reading this is dealing with some kind of high temps as well. It's so crazy to see roads buckling, fires spontaneously bursting forth and lives in danger by the hundreds of thousands with this heat. It doesn't look like there's any going back either. So we will just have to be dealing with this kind of stuff going forward. This is why I am an Autumn kind of person!

I hope everyone who comes across this blog is doing well, and getting lots of stitching in! I'm going to keep diligently working on Union Forever and try to make a real dent in it over this next week.

See you soon, and until then,

BBD Union Forever and Summer Solstice!

A new start! Will wonders never cease? It feels so good to start on a new project. This has been in my stash forever, so I'm glad I dragged it out now.  Union Forever by Maggie Bonanomi of Blackbird Designs.

I tried to start this on a really cool piece of fabric by Picture this Plus. But it was 32 ct linen and my eyes were NOT having it. Luckily, I had a piece of 14 ct I dyed myself last year. It's kind of a toasted marshmallow color, but it shows up all the called for floss just perfectly. I think it's going to be really pretty! I've set a goal to stitch a little every day and if I have more time to devote, I'll do it. Strike while the iron is hot. And after this past year, I really plan to do that.

The next two weeks are going to be so hectic at my house. My wonderful kids are moving into their first place and my father in law is moving in here with us. All these changes at the same time are going to probably be stressful for all involved, but exciting too. The kids have long been looking forward to getting out on their own and I am having fun living vicariously through them as they begin their journey on this road!

Today is the Summer Solstice! Litha, Midsummer, whatever you may like to call it, it is a time for real reflection. I'm feeling it for sure! However you choose to celebrate, or acknowledge, make it a good day! The one day of the year that the light will overtake the darkness is kind of a magical thing!

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and you're getting lots of stitching in, whether it be outside or inside. I really need to take advantage and stitch outside when the lighting is good! I need to get out in nature more. I've been missing it so much!

See you soon with another stitching update, and until then,

Blackbird Designs and Fancey makes an appearance!

The stitching world had a great loss last week. Barb Adams, one half of the Blackbird Designs team, passed away at the age of 69. Far too early in my book. Apparently she'd recently been dealing with esophageal cancer. I'm so sorry for her passing. I never had the pleasure to meet Barb, but was a fan of Blackbird Designs ever since they made an appearance in the stitching and quilting world. One of my most favorite BBD pieces is With My Needle. I finished this WAY back in 2009, and enjoyed every single stitch. This design was one of the first Loose Feathers designs, and I adore it.

I have collected and amassed a good deal of their designs over the past 23 years. I sold off Summer Offerings, a blackbird surrounded by an oval berry border, some time ago, and I've always been sorry about that. Been looking for it ever since! Aside from her friends and family, the cross stitching world as a whole will miss this talented lady. I will, for sure.

Worked on Shoo! a bit this week, and Fancey is taking shape!

This has been a fun stitch too. I have to get some feet and beaks on those little crows in the sunflower plant though!

Now for some stash I bought last month while on vacation.

I scooped up some fabric too, soft aida as well as linen. Don't have any projects in mind for them, but they'll be there when I need them, right??!!

BIG pandemic news: We went to the movies for the first time in nearly 2 years!! We saw F9 Fast and Furious. It was super entertaining and we loved it. What a great thing to get back to. We sure did miss it!

I hope everyone is well and life is returning a bit more to normal wherever you may be. Get your vaccine and get back out there! It's great! 

Until next time,

BBD Update aka Slowpoke Check-In!

Oh boy am I not getting much stitching done lately. Here is some progress though.

Work has been unpredictable, and we have had a family member in and out of the hospital quite frequently so my thoughts are elsewhere sometimes. Stitching just hasn't been in the forefront of activities the past couple months. Life is like that sometimes!

My mom and I went to pick up some things from the framer and Flag Folk was worth the wait! The other is Cricket Collection and I think it was called Do You Hear What I Hear, but I'll check on that to be sure and update if need be.

During a recent drive, my husband and I were delighted to see the goats out with their new babies! Baby goats are so cute.

The weather has been up and down but mostly just gorgeous and mild. I am loving it and trying to enjoy it as I can. Hopefully you are too! 

I need to make a goal of getting back to a weekly update. I don't know where April went! So I will be back in a week or less with another update. Have a great stitch week, and until next time,

 

Birthdays and Stitching Updates!

Happy Sunday! We had a great week and I actually got some stitching in! Last Sunday we took my son's girlfriend out to a nice lunch and just generally had a really nice time! She turned 24 and OH TO BE 24 AGAIN! I would actually really love to go back to that! I've said it before, but these kids are my life.

Went to one of my favorite places to eat in Richmond, Cooper's Hawk, and we all just really enjoyed it. Then home for some yummy chocolate hazelnut cake, courtesy of Basilica's. 

Work was light, and I did stitch, but didn't get in a chunk of time until this weekend. So here's my progress so far!

That pink. It's called Clover by Gentle Arts. It's so fun to stitch with! I love pink anyways, but pinks and yellows/tangerine colors are some of my favorite combos. 

We're getting closer to figuring out what we want to do out back. So we went to Lowe's and were looking at some plants and aren't these pretty?

I really miss my perennial garden flowers. That's probably the only thing I miss about our old place. But I'm putting in a new one, and I can't wait! 

No stash this week. Trying to reign myself in, lol. 

My second Covid vaccine went off without a hitch! Sore arm, but no biggie. I encourage everyone reading this, please go get your vaccine. It's open to all adults in just a matter of days!

I hope everyone is well and happy! See you soon and until then,

Happy Easter! Minimal Stitching and Little Crochet Things

I can't believe Easter is tomorrow! Where is the year going and how can I make it slow down? I have just a tiny stitching update. Truly not much. I have been working on a few other things and just basically losing my mind.

So up first, is just a teeny tiny update on Beneath the Sunlit Sky. I can never get the color to show up correctly it seems. 

These overdyed flosses are giving me fits. They knot up SO MUCH. Oh so much. I had to put it down for a while and do something else.

I received a new pattern. I already had Lady Libery by Fanci That and I needed Sam as well. Not that I'll be stitching it any time soon mind you. It's just that I had the feeling that I needed the pair. You know the feeling. LOL.

 My son's girlfriend's birthday is tomorrow and I wanted to crochet her something cute, so I settled on this sweet little amigurumi cake!  You can locate the (paid) pattern HERE! 

Um, is that the cutest cake ever or what??!! I laughed to myself while putting the face on and those sweet little cheeks. I love it and I hate to give it up, but I think she'll love it too, so that makes it OK!

Next, I have been working on a super cute little lion. Here's what he'll look like in the end. And you can find this adorable pattern HERE!

And here's my progress on him so far.

If I can complete him correctly, I'll feel a real sense of accomplishment on this one! Wish me luck. I gotta say that crocheting in the round really messed up a tendon in my shoulder/collarbone area. Crafting injuries??!!  Is this a thing? Not to mention you can get a little motion sickness doing this as well, if you do it too long at one stretch. Weird!

Have a great holiday if you celebrate and a wonderful weekend regardless. I've got one shot under my belt and the second one is next week, and I'm so happy! I wish you all luck in getting your vaccines and getting back to a little bit of normalcy soon. 

See you soon with more updates! Until then,

Beneath the Sunlit Sky Update and more!

 Yep, I could not "just go with it" as I thought I could. Soooooo, long story short, I dyed a piece of 16 ct aida and am now using just one strand of floss throughout. THIS TIME, I am going to finish this sucker. 

Oh, and pardon the weird flower looking thing on the right. It looks a little obscene, but I promise it's going to be pretty, lol.

The fabric is a mottled sky blue. I didn't use any yellow in this one. It's a shame because I wanted a bit more of a greenish/turquoise blend, but the yellow was just giving me trouble (see prior post!)

Cross stitching just gives me so much joy. SO MUCH! Even when I'm scrapping a project to do a different fabric, or I'm not crazy about my stitches and start over--I just love the process.

I'll be getting a couple pieces back from the framers soon and I cannot wait to see how they turned out. I have a lot of framed pieces that I haven't hung anywhere, but I plan to soon.

I had been look for Birds of a Feather's Red Reindeer for so long. A kind and generous person on one of my groups on facebook said she had it and sold it to me! I really love this design.

The motifs here are so small that I'm going to just use DMC for it. But it's so pretty. 

I have been keeping up with Project Life! I finished Feb and started on March! One thing I realized is that I need to take some more pictures. With not going out very much, photos just don't seem to happen a lot.

I had such a great weekend! Spent some time with my mom going to lunch and walking at the park. This weekend was glorious in VA. Upper 60's and just beautiful. I accomplished a lot crafty-wise and felt pretty good about it. 

While at lunch with my husband last week, I got the email to register for my vaccine appointment!!!!!! So I did and it's tomorrow at noon. I hope my mom gets her notification soon too. I have tried to put lipstick on the pig with this past year of pandemic living, but I have to say, it's just been awful. AWFUL. And I will never ever forget all the people in this country who have succumbed to this awful virus. Living in fear just takes a toll on you. Fear of everything and for the ones we love. But with all the vaccines getting done, I hope all the numbers come down and a bit of normalcy can return! Woodlawn is in May this year and I really want to go with my mom! We didn't go last year of course. 

Well, take care everyone! If you are stopping in to read, I truly appreciate you taking time out of your day to do so. Be well and stay happy and healthy! Until next week,

New Start and a Sampling of Stash!

I started Blackbird Designs Beneath the Sunlit Sky. After a few tries on different fabrics/counts/colors, I dyed up a piece linen that I'd previously ordered for this project. You know when you get all your supplies and THEN you see someone else's finish in a color you hadn't thought of? Yeah. That happened to me.

I really like the color, but there is a tiny yellow part just a bit below the motifs on the left side. I'm hoping that further stitching will either cover it, or make it less noticeable, as I don't really want to start this again.

See it? UGH! Oh well, lol. That's the breaks when you just have to have something now and can't wait for a delivery of fabric. I'm just gonna go with it I think.

I haven't posted any stash for a long time, so it's been piling up <gulp>. I know I won't live long enough to stitch it all, but it makes me happy right now.

So for now, I'll just store these alongside all the other stash I have. I need to organize my recent stuff and integrate it into the proper place. 

Jenny came through her surgery like a little tiny champion. She's back to her spunky self and will get her stitches out in a few more days. 

How's everyone doing with the pandemic and vaccines? Everyone but me in my household has been fully vaccinated! I'm so thankful. I'm on a list somewhere, and hopefully my tier will be available soon. I never thought I'd be living through something like this and it SUCKS. I just don't seem to be  looking forward to anything or happy about much these days. I hope that feeling passes soon. 

Well, take care. I'll keep plugging away on Beneath the Sunlit Sky and have a progress post soon. Wish me luck on covering that little yellow spot, lol. Until next time,