The Heir

Finally The Heir is finished, Terrence Nolan of Dimple Designs, stitched on Jaded Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I was only stitching on this one when our youngest (age 5) did good at swim practice. That was the deal he and I worked out to get him to try at practice. He went from swimming last year to completely forgot what to do in the water this year. I am a happy momma that now he is swimming a 25 yard freestyle and working on learning his other strokes. Now the discussion with him is after framing will I hang it in his bedroom at our new house. I told him I will hang it near his bedroom, but he keeps asking for in his room. One day I am going to end up giving it to him for his own home. That is a long way down the road.

There were a few conversions on this one. I am not going to put it up on the conversion page though. They are fairly easy. First was removal of the seahorses. The pattern calls for 32 count fabric mostly 2 over. I have never stitched that small and always convert to a 16 count with 1 over. Well the seahorses were stitched 1 over on the 32 count. this would make them too large on the 16 count and they wouldn't fit properly or look the right size. Second I removed some bubbles trailing further at the bottom. I just didn't like the way the bubbles got larger again rather than trailing off to smaller. Third backstitch on both their fins I did in a purple Kreinik beading filament. Not sure what color it was in my stash and had lost its label. Lastly, the harder of the conversions was I removed the head piece. Anywhere I came across a color in his hair that was for the 'crown' I just made it a black thread instead.

Waiting on the fabric for my mother in laws Christmas gift to arrive from across the pond still. Everyday that goes by adds more and more stitches to my daily completion count. The pattern is about 56,000 stitches. My dear husband says if I don't finish it in time we can just give it to her for her birthday, but I am a goal finisher. Speaking of goals this is finish number 8 for the year only 2 more to go to meet my goal for the year. Off to work on Queen Mariposa until my fabric arrives. Happy Stitching!

Finished Green Bike in Red

Finally finished and framed Green Bike in Red by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. Sewn on silvermist opal in Kreinik red. It takes four spools of Kreinik for each bike. It is all ready for my oldest sister for Christmas. That makes two sisters and my parents down; one sister and my mother in law to go.

I have started on Summer Butterfly by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks for the remaining sister. Hopes are high that this one wont take long. The fabric for my mother in laws has shipped. I calculated if I started on July 1 and stitched 450 stitches a day I could have it finished to be framed October 31. Shipping usually takes a good 10 days coming from overseas so each day adds more stitches to that and I want to start as soon as the fabric gets in.

Oak tree was casting a shadow on the fabric. Babbling Brook by Wichelt

My other two WIPs are becoming UFO. I just don't have time to dedicate to them with trying to get these finished and framed for Christmas. Spent last week volunteering at VBS. The week before that we (me and the two youngest) drove to Colorado to help out little sister with her new baby. So, I have not stitched on them in at least two weeks.

Queen Mariposa by Mirabilia on Quiescence by Chromatic Alchemy

The Heir by Terrence Nolan on Jaded

Finished TEXAS

I have finished TEXAS. Took longer than expected but it is done. Just needs to be washed, and ironed. Then off to the frame shop when Green Bike in Turquoise is ready to be picked up.

 

Texas Panorama by Bestitched designs by Bev

on Smokey White Zweigart 18ct Aida

Two new starts since this one is finished. First Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. This time in red Kreinik thread. Also, a Christmas gift for the other twin. So far I have not messed up this one, and everything is lining up correctly. Fabric is Silvermist Opal 18ct.

Second is Queen Mariposa by Mirabilia. I couldn't stand not working on a Mirabilia. Only two days progress, with limited thread supplies. Next week I will swing by the LNS and get the remaining supplies need for her. I am not sure which is worse having three WIPs or not having a Mirabilia. Everyday I feel each one needs some love. Currently I am doing 1-2 threads then switching. It seems to be working well.

Finished First AAN

It has been just over two weeks since my last post and I was hoping to get my Mum's Christmas gift finished in one. It is taking way longer than I was wanting. The X just had so much confetti. Here is what it looks like as of this morning.

While we were at swim practice last week a puppy found us. It had no owner at the park. So, the kids convinced me to bring it home. We have posted looking for his owner with no luck. Over all he is a good dog. But, one day during the week it was raining. No big deal right. I left the dogs inside while we went to town. Our female knows not to get on my stuff on the bed. She only lays in open spots. Well the new pup did not. And, I left my stitching out so I could just pick it back up when we got back. His muddy paw ended up on my whitish stitching. He also tore up some paperwork I left on the bed. Thank God it was not my original stitching charts. Here is a pick of most of the fabric.

 

I washed it twice and tried to get everything out. Can you tell there was mud on it?

On Wednesday I dropped by the LNS and they had the thread in I needed to finish Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide. Only took one day to finish it up. This makes my fourth finish this year. Off to the frame shop this weekend with it.

I really think she is going to love it.

With both of these going on I haven't had much time to work on The Heir. And I wont be able to work on it at least until Monday due to the deal with my youngest son. He did not do what he was supposed to on Tuesday and we wont be able to go back until Monday. So, it must sit and wait. This is how far I have gotten.

Started Christmas Gifts

Since I have finished three Mirabilia's already this year, I have decided to re-evaluate my goal of finishing five cross stitching's this year. My new goal is to make ten. Five for myself and five for Christmas gifts. Here is my newest start:

This is Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. I am stitching it on the Silvermist opal with Krienik #4 braid in my sisters favorite color. This will be her Christmas gift. I am doing the same one in red for one of my other sisters gift. So far, I have used 3 1/2 bobbins of tread. Now I am out and both LNS are out too (because I purchased all of them). They are on order so this has to sit to the side until more thread comes in.

While that is sitting aside I started my Mum & Dad's gift:

This is after one day of stitching. Hoping I can push this out in about a week. After I finish it for them I would like one for myself too. My wonderful husband picked out this fabric while at the LNS this past weekend. It is Zweigart Aida 18 count smokey white. The fabric is so soft and easy to work with. I have enough that I am going to stitch Mirabilia's Red with a purple conversion on it. I picked up the pattern on a facebook group it is called Texas Panorama by Bestitched designs by bev.

Lastly I took the plunge and started The Heir by Terrence Nolan, Pangea by Dimples Designs. Our littlest boy really wants me to stitch this one. He was not doing so hot at swim practice. Not even trying. So, I cut a deal with him. If he swim goods that evening then I will work on 'The Boy Mermaid' as he calls it. If he doesn't swim good then I don't work on it. For the last two weeks it has worked.  I am stitching him on Jaded. Here is how far I have gotten:

This is the HARDEST pattern I have ever worked on. Full of confetti. But it is looking gorgeous. I have taken out the 'crown' that is coming off the back of his head.

For the first time I have more than one stitching going at a time. How do you stitch? Do you rotate? One at a time? Or, Whatever you feel like that day?

Finished Mediterranean Mermaid

Woohoo! Second finish of the year, and it is only the beginning of April. Mediterranean Mermaid by Nora Corbett was a fast stitch. She is very Shinny with all the Kreinik thread and Mill Hill Beads and Treasures. The major conversion on her was her skin and hair.

We have two children that are adopted with darker skin. All of the beautiful pieces by Nora Corbett are fair skinned. I want our adopted children to be able to look at the pieces I have done and see that their skin is beautiful as well. Our daughter really loves this one. I might have to hang it in her room after it is framed. You can find the conversion for her on the Conversion Tab at the top of the page.

Other news: I ordered needle minders for the first time from Gina's Unique Boutique on Etsy. Even though I free stitch, with out a hoop or q-snaps, I am loving these. Instead of holding my needle in my mouth, sticking it in my pants/shorts, or stabbing it into the bead I attach this to my pattern holder and when I need to change thread color it keeps my needle safe. No more coming back going where did I put that needle now?

Mermaid Undine is back from the frame shop. :)

Already found her a home on the wall.

Fabric I need to start Christmas gifts still hasn't come in. So, next project will be a Coral Charms by Nora Corbett. I am going to do the same skin conversion on this one. I think the darker skin will be radiant against the bright colors of her tail.

Not just Diamonds and Gold

Whoever said that all that shines is diamonds and gold never saw the Mediterranean Mermaid in person. I have completed most of the Kreinik metallic thread. I ran out of the lighter green and need to run by the LNS to get more. So far she is only stitched in Kreinik I have not put any DMC or beads in to her tail. She is stitching fairly fast now so hopefully I will be finished soon and can start something on the new fabrics I received. Now I have fabric for four designs.

Speaking of new fabrics I got my package from Chromatic Alchemy. It felt like for ever to get in, even though it was only two weeks. Definitely will be ordering more fabric from them. Worth the wait to come from Europe. Now I really can't decide which one to do next. Might have to toss a coin or let one of the kids pick.

Frost (aida)

Mermaids of the Deep Blue by Mirabilia

Going to change mermaid colors

Antares (aida)

Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks

Quiescence (aida)

Queen Mariposa by Mirabilia