12 Days - Update 15

Working on the remaining border. The blue should be finished tonight. The purple should be finished tomorrow. Then probably the rest of the flowers and then the robe. Then the maid a-Milking and the Geese a-Laying.

Of course, I would not post this without a full shot of the project without the q-snap.

12 Days - Update 14

I had an unexpected pattern interruption, but I still managed to get most of the remaining backstitching completed for this section of the pattern.

Wedding Announcement - Heart Swirls

So, late Monday night we got word that one of Dorissa's cousins got married, and that a gathering was going to be in two weeks to celebrate it. Dorissa said it would be nice if we could whip up an announcement as a gift. So, after going through the patterns I had on hand as well as scouring the internet for a quick, yet nice, announcement pattern, we found an item in the just Cross Stitch magazine from January/February 2013 (Heart Swirls by Sharon Pope). The pattern is a lot larger and quite ornate than the finished product. However, this is the center of a much larger heart, and seems to have been included as a smaller variation of the pattern. Interestingly, the example of the pattern included the smaller version, framed, done with DMC 127.

I had DMC 127. I also had plenty of white Aida to choose from. So I went with 18 count. I finished the letters with DMC 823.

Here is the finished product. I will take it with me Friday evening to pick out a frame at The Crafty Framer.

12 Days - Update 13

Backstitching the bottom right of the pattern. Seems a lot more intricate than the top was, even with Santa's face - lots more going on. But it is coming along nicely. Maybe by the end of the week I will be able to shift the fabric again and start on the bottom left corner.

Also, while backstitching the flowers on the bottom, they started to look like something else.

Innocent flowers (St Francis of Assisi would approve)

OR

SPACE INVADERS (St. Francis has the high score)

Teresa Wentzler Patterns

One great thing about out of the way sewing shops is the possibility to pick up out-of-print patterns. In Franklin, NC, there is a shop called Sew Creative. There is no doubt that the shop is primarily geared towards sewing patterns for clothes or table cloths or even quilts (though Franklin supports a shop specifically for quilters as well).

At one time, though, the shop had more of an interest in catering towards cross stitchers. However, most of the current clientele has ignored this, as well as the few items that remain in the shop. We managed to pick up 19 of the Sue Hillis states there (the OLD ones from the late '70s it looks like). Also, we picked up some great Teresa Wentzler patterns. I have attached them to this post. I look forward to making most of them. "We" would be my mother and me, though she did pick up the TW patterns displayed here.

I know some of these are available through various online outlets, including Patterns Online. And, while I totally support the idea of stitching from a pdf file (and have, loading them onto my iPad), there is something about having the pattern in your hands that makes it....a different kind of exciting.

The Fantasy Collection includes: Rapunzel, Day, Night, Magical Night, Carousel, The Castle Sampler, Stroke of Midnight, The Castle, Pegasus, and Unicorn.

12 Days - Update 12

I got a LOT of stitching done Saturday, but not so much Sunday, but in all it was a good weekend. Of course, in packing for work this morning I left my needles and floss for 12 Days at the house, so no stitching at work today. I did bring the supplies for an upcoming project with me, so maybe I will cut down the fabric in preparation for that instead of stitching today.

However, here is a pic of the progress. it goes slower now that I have to change colors every dozen stitches or so.

12 Days - Update 11

More background, and starting in on this side of the robe. I was hoping to be finished by Halloween, but I am starting to doubt that. Maybe Thanksgiving.

12 Days - Update 10

I am working my way through the background color where the rest of the 12 Days will go. Lots of color changes in the 12 Days, so I am getting the background outlines finished so the boundaries will be easier to discern.

12 Days - Update 9

I am ready to move to the bottom two pages. There is still more to be done on the top, but it can wait. I am still not sure if I am going to be doing the background pattern on the outside of the purple border. That will depend on what the recipient wants.

Here it is, out of the q-snap.