What's on the Needle WIP Wednesday ***New project in Progress - Garden Cat***

There are great things about belonging to a stitching group - via Facebook - encouragement, help, and often inspiration.  The downside?  Your wallet might scream a lot.  Ignore it.  bwahahaha

Case in point, I've seen some adorable, bright, and whimsical Satsuma Street projects shared.  They are inspired by the art of Mary Blair, Disney artist extraordinaire, and are sold as immediate digital downloads via Etsy.  Oh my, such cuteness all around.  I've downloaded a bunch and am so looking forward to stitching them.  

This is my first and it is Garden Cat.   I'm not sure if I'll make it into a very large throw pillow or frame it or even hoop frame it....decisions decisions...

A finish - the first of 2015

This was a fast project, needed to be as I dilly dallied thinking I had more time before I took this on.  Which isn't a good idea when it's a  Teresa Wentzler pattern.

This is a freebie entitled, "Celtic Cross," from her blog.  I changed up the colors for this as it was a gift for my niece's confirmation, her confirmation name is Mary and the Blessed Mother is associated with the color blue so hence, this was worked in blues.  I'm finding the best way to change a color scheme is pick out the original choices, then use that color hue selection to make the change with other shades.  The hardest part was couching the gold cord over the finished stitching.  Needed a sharp needle to make these work.  It looks off in terms of the stitching but I do think that's the photography.  That's my story.

She loved it and put the framed piece right on her wall.  Ah, a finish!

WIP - Prairie Schooler booklet - Home Words

There is no place like home.  Home Sweet Home.  The soft place we have to land when life is tough.  Home might be a traditional family of Mom and Dad (you might be either), 2.5 kids, minivan, and a nice home in the suburbs.  Your home might be a partner and three cats or three roommates and one cat.  But whatever it happens to be, I hope that you have a safe place to land where there is someone or something that loves you and comforts you.

I would like to make a wall in our dining room set aside for wordy cross-stitch - the samplers, the sayings, and so on.  My dream is to paint it a warm, buttery yellow that will just make those who enter feel embraced and cozy.  That's the plan and I hope to make it happen this summer.  Then I can add more and more wordy cross stitch projects to the wall.  Perhaps seasonal changes or perhaps not.  That's the beauty of thinking about it and having options.

So, here's a work in progress.  It's a Prairie Schooler, because I love my Prairie Schoolers and it is from a booklet entitled Home Words.  The one I'm working on is Home Sweet Home.  It's on 18ct. Aida, but you know, I have to get back to you on the color.  It's kind of an oatmeal shade...and I like it with the style of the sampler, it has a rustic but not primitive feel.  It makes me think of a happy place for me, aside from home, Colonial Williamsburg.

 I think the pet on the left is supposed to be a dog, but I'm thinking for me it should be a second cat, we always have at least two in the home at any given time.  

Surprise through the mail

Isn't it wonderful to come home to happy mail?  A handwritten letter or postcard?  Yes, it beats little bill window envelopes every time.

Imagine my joy and surprise to find this beautiful stitched postcard in my mail.  It came from Virginia Beach unscathed from my darling friend Jana!

She's the bestest!

I hope to have something new to share with you soon, I've taken up the needle once again!

A finish - meet Cinder

Just a little ornament to add to my rather meager collection of fall smalls.

This is Cinder and he stitched up quite quickly and was fun, I love whimsical, retro, vintage Halloween.  Not much for the scary gory stuff.

The chart is from Hinzeit.  He is attached to thin chipboard and then wool felt was added, a twist of floss outlines the stitched portion.  I didn't put the ribbon on yet, but wanted a photo to prove to myself I can finish something.

Mr. Owl is progressing, I need to put up a status report on him.  I hope to get him done for Halloween but it remains to be seen.

Progress on Mr. Owl - as of September 13, 2013

Stars are done, moon is done, the lower body is progressing.  My optimal plan is to finish his body by the end of this weekend and then get going on the rest of him.  I want to get him finished, cleaned and completed so that we can enjoy him this autumn.  Pillow or framed?

What's your vote on this?

Owl progress

Here's the latest on where I stand with my Autumn owl.  The top is nearly done - and the bottom will be the rest of Mr. Owl, his branch, and pumpkins at the bottom.  Very fun to stitch with lots of bright colors.