Apache Marriage Blessing - Update 1

I started this on March 9, 2015, immediately after completing the Bone Cheeks project. This is one of those projects where I already know exactly ho is receiving it. This is a future wedding present for some very good friends of mine. They already know it is coming, so posting updates of the progress is not going to ruin any surprises.

This is a DesignWorks Project, by Janlynn. Sandy Orton designed it for Kooler Design Studios. This is a kit, and it came with the cream colored 14-count Aida, cotton floss according to DMC colors, and yet another needle for me to break eventually.

This project, like the Pelican before it, will travel with me to Las Vegas in April. There is no way I will finish it in a month's time.

Bone Cheeks - Complete

Finished just last night.

Bone Cheeks - Update 4

I am making excellent time, but I have a busy weekend ahead. not sure if I will finish by Monday or not. I have the next project lined up already either way. Actually, the next two. Or maybe 3.

Bone Cheeks - Update 3

Moving right along.

Bone Cheeks - Update 2

It is amazing how much faster patterns come together when the whole thing isn't filled in stitch by stitch. This isn't any larger in area than the Easter egg.

Bone Cheeks - Update 1

While on a trip to the Golden Needle in Port Charlotte, FL, I picked up this pattern. It is by Prairie Moon, and was designed by Barbara Syburg and Suzanne Shead. The pattern calls for Gloriana silk floss. I am doing it on 16 count Aida called Dubloon, which seemed appropriate for a skull, even a sugar skull. The designer was nice enough to include the DMC alternative floss numbers, but I have never done a project in silk and this seemed like a good choice for a first try. The pattern is 1) not complex, 2) symmetrical, and 3) completely full stitch. So far I like using the silk. But they are pricey.

Easter Eggs - Complete

Well, one of two is complete. I am still not sold on doing the second one, but I am ready to do a different project so I will call this one complete for now.

Easter Eggs - Update 4

Good weekend of stitching, even some out in the sunlight on Saturday. I had to move the pattern in the frame so that I can stitch the bow on top.

Easter Eggs - Update 3

Color blindness is often amusing more than it is annoying. For example, the aqua and pink squares in the center that look vaguely of 80s Miami art deco bathroom tiles are very difficult for me to differentiate. A friend asked why I picked the pattern to do if I was going to be unable to see them. I told her that, well, it looked OK in the picture. I had assumed it was all one color or the other. With difficulty I can identify the squares.

Easter Eggs - Update 2

I went out last night and picked up the remaining flosses for the project (I was short 6 of them). I immediately put them to use, filling in between the yellow bands with blue.

Easter Eggs - Update 1

I started this last month, but I put it down to make the Ghostly Mandala. This project is from Just CrossStitch magazine, April 2013 issue. The design is by Sharon Pope. There are two eggs. I have not decided how I will finish them yet. I am doing this on 28 count fabric, what looks to be some sort of cream color.

Ghostly Mandala - Complete

I finished this Tuesday evening. I did it on glow-in-the-dark fabric, but my cell phone camera is not up to the task of capturing the piece glowing. The contrast when it is in the dark is not what I imagined, but the idea was still pretty cool. I bet it would look great with a black light hitting it.

Ghostly Mandala - Update 6

Sat outside on the patio this weekend and make excellent progress. The end is certainly near!

Ghostly Mandala - Update 5

More than half way there. With a little effort I could be finished by next weekend.

Ghostly Mandala - Update 4

Did not progress as far as I would have liked this weekend, but progress nonetheless.

Ghostly Mandala - Update 3

Moving right along. I do like that the whole finished project will fit within the q snap, so I should not have to adjust it again.

Ghostly Mandala - Update 2

I enjoy stitching mandala patterns. For one thing, they are almost always one color floss. For the other thing, they are rarely a "fill in every stitch" kind of project. I am about 1/4 complete here after only 4 days.

Gator Logo - Completed

And here it is, finished. This was completed on January 24, 2015. I have already delivered it to the intended recipient.

Ghostly Mandala - Update 1

As soon as I finished the Gator Logo, I picked this up to work on. This is from the Halloween 2014 issue of Just CrossStitch magazine. The pattern is by Tracy Horner of Ink Circles. I started this Saturday, January 24, 2015.

Orchid Intrigue - Completed

One I got the correct floss, the rest of the project went very quickly. The completion date was actually January 17, 2015.

Gator Logo - Update 4

Coloring in is slow going. But at least I am on the last leg.

Gator Logo - Update 3

Just more filling in with color. Slow going, since it is a lot more stitches than it looks.

Gator Logo - Update 2

I have finished the blue outline (and all of the blue I will need for this project) so the rest of this project is basically filling in the spaces with color.

Gator Logo - Update 1

Well, since I ran out of the variegated floss I was using for Orchid Intrigue, I started another project. A friend of mine at work has been asking for a University of Florda Gator logo for a while, and I found a great pattern on DeviantArt. This is my progress since January 6. I am working on 22 count white Hardanger.

Orchid Intrigue - Update 1

As the first official project of the new year, I chose a piece from the February 2015 Just CrossStitch magazine entitled "Orchid Intrigue," by Beth Ann Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes. it is a nice, symmetrical little piece requiring the Briar Rose floss from The Gentle Arts. I ran out of this variegated color, so while I wait for the reinforcements to show up, I am at a stand still for the moment. I am stitching on 28 count beige linen.

12 Days - Complete

I actually finished the stitching for this project back around Thanksgiving. However, I wanted it to be "finished" as a wall hanging before making the announcement.

I apologize for the plastic, but wrapping it up again would have been a pain.

As you can still see, however, the lady who completed the project did an absolutely fantastic job of it! And the recipient, of course, was very pleased as well.