12 Days - Update 2

Not as far as I imagined, but the shape is starting to come in. Rather than a weird Portuguese Man-O-War, which is what it looks like now I think, this is the beginnings of the sleeve, the bottom of the belt, and some of the background for the 12 days items. After the sleeve I will probably get the belt in place. The belt is lined with gold filament, so that will be fun.

12 Days - Update 1

Christmas stitching is in the air, and I have started working on my major Christmas project of the season. This year it is "12 Days" from DesignWorks, and it is a Jim Shore Santa with the 12 Days of Christmas. I picked it up in Las Vegas back in April, and it is one I Was looking for and just sort of lucked into while at Stitcher's Paradise.

This is going to be at least a month-long project, but here are the starting stitches. I am pretty sure it is the partridge...

Below is what it will look like when complete.

http://www.34westcollectibles.com/wp-content/uploads/Design-Works-Jim-Shore-12-Days-Of-Christmas-Cross-Stitch-Kit-0.jpg

Who Are These [People]?

I made this for my boss (she has 3 of my pieces now). I got the kit from my mom's stash, and I immediately thought of my boss. Of course, that is because she has 3 kids and we (her minions) are ALWAYS telling her, for any little illness or unexpected absence, that she is pregnant. This joke never gets old. However, since this is a workplace piece, I changed the statement from "kids" and "mom" to "people" and "boss." I also added 3 kids (since she has 9 minions). I also had to do French knots, which I get better at as I go, but are still not my favorite.

The kit is from the Dolly Mamas collection from Janlynn ("Who Are These Kids?" #019-0405). I did it in about a week. I think. Maybe 10 days. My boss will have it framed, I am sure.

Cancer Matters - Completed

I have completed Hinzeit's Cancer Matters pattern. I have not added the charms to it yet, as I want to do that right before pin stretching and framing. Since it is tucked safely away in a paper towel cardboard roller, I figured the charms could wait. The charms go just above the fold in the ribbon, and look like small silver ribbons.

But here is how it looks. I want to use the same frame as I did for Always Kiss Me Goodnight, but I have an idea to make this into three smaller framed pieces connected by chains for wall hanging. Both projects use Cushel Monet 28 count, so I know the frame will look as great with this project as for the other one.

Always Kiss Me Goodnight - Framed Project

This is a project I completed last year, but I finally got it framed. It is completed on Cushel Monet 28 count. The frame is by Rick at The Crafty Framer over in Largo, FL. After looking over frame ideas (I am a matte black kind of frame person), we decided to give this combination a shot, and I am glad we did. The silver lining on the white frame makes the fabric pop. Rick tells me that he showed the framed project to another customer who had purchased the same fabric and was looking for a frame to match it. According to Rick, the customer will be bringing back her completed project to be framed the same way as this one.

Works in Progress

I don't normally run two projects at once, but the ones I am working on are quick hitters and I should be finished with them by the end of the month. Possibly by the end of next week.

One is Hinzeit's Cancer Matters. I am working it on 28 Cushel Monet, and it is over 1/3 complete.

The second is Believe by Sue Hillis Designs. This one is part of our Friends All Stitchin' Together (F.A.S.T.) 28 count Christmas-themed Round Robin project. I am proud to be the third of us to work it, and it will be finished by next week for sure, to be sent back to Peggy at The Crafty Framer, and prepared for the next stitcher. We are also doing a 16 count round robin, and I would like to get a shot at that one, too, once everyone who wants to work the 16 rather than the 28 gets their turns.

I won't post pics of the Christmas round robin because I want each stitcher to be surprised when they get it. I followed two wonderful patterns, one of which was completed as 1 over 1. Mine is over 2, but very light-hearted.

I will include pics of the Cancer Matters project. The person I am making it for wanted the general ribbon colors, which are lavender. She chose the fabric as well.