Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler Framed

Here it is, all framed up!  This is my Mystery Sampler by Birds of a Feather, stitched by me on 35 ct WDW Tin Roof fabric.  Enjoy!

Shopping Spree!

I was home a few weeks back and went over to my favorite needlework shop in Wisconsin, Lynn's of Madison.  I ordered a frame for my Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler and also picked out a few new treasures.  I need a new project like I need a hole in my head but it sure was fun to shop and add some new projects to my stash!  I love seeing these photos so I thought I'd post one here.  :) 

Finished Smalls

After finishing a few larger pieces I stitched a couple smalls.  Here are some photos to share:

The first is "Pray for Peace" by Birds of a Feather.  I started this on 9/11 as a way to remember those whos lives were tragically lost 10 years ago:

The next piece is a scissor fob by Ewe and Eye and Friends, I stitched this just because I've had it FOREVER and needed a little project to stitch:

Lastly, is a project that was handed out at a retreat at Fanci Mats and More, a local shop in the Denver area that I went to.  It was all kitted up and a very quick stitch, it is called Boo-Yah by Cherry Wood Design Studios:

 Of course, all of these projects need to be finished, I plan to make the pink piece into a scissor fob and the other two will become pincushions (in all my free time)...

Birds of a Feather Finish

Here is my Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler completed!  I stitched this on 35 count WDW Tin Roof Linen with the called for sampler threads.  On this darker linen I did change the alphabet to Bark to match the color of the tree trunk and changed the key to match the color of the birds' beaks (Olive?).  I am really happy with how it turned out and will have a framed picture for you soon! 

Struggle?

On a recent business trip I took along a small project to stitch on the airplane.  It is a kit called "God Bless Those" and was designed by Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler.  I like to start stitching in the center of a piece and I did just that with this piece.  Well, I noticed after a couple letters what I would end up with and it made me laugh so I snapped a quick photo and am sharing it here for your enjoyment!  Maybe you have to "get" my sense of humor, but seeing this stitch up the way it did, it gave me a good laugh when I really needed it!

Here's the finished piece: 

Elizabeth Sheffield

I mentioned awhile ago that I had plans to start Elizabeth Sheffield.  Well, she's started!  I'm stitching her on 35 count WDW Straw linen with DMC floss.  This chart was created by The Scarlet Letter and had both a cotton and a silk conversion.  I am stitching all the over one in full cross stitch as charted but I think that if I had stitched in silk it would have either needed to be tent stitched or stitched on a different count of fabric.  Even with all of the over one stitching I am enjoying this stitch immensely!

I'm a bit farther along than this now but stopped to take a few photos.  I'm so ready to stitch the band with the people in it, but decided to jump down and do some words since that tends to be a bit boring.  I did however stitch in the people's shoes so I know where to begin when I get back to the people , aren't they cute? 

I have a bunch more over one to stitch, including the light blue alphabet above the verse, several more blue flowers and the plants and animals in the bottom of the center section.  However, even with all the over one, I'm really enjoying stitching it and it looks so cute to have all those teeny tiny stitches. 

In fact, when I purchased the supplies for this, one of the women working at Lynn's told me that the blue bird in the top right corner is just spectacular.  I didn't doubt that so I couldn't wait to start stitching.  Well, I started with the darkest blue to outline the bird, continued with the medium blue and it wasn't until I got to the lightest blue that I could really appreciate how wonderful this blue bird really is.  What do you think? 

New Year's Start

OK, OK, I know that it's not the new year yet.  But, I've heard of a tradition of stitchers starting a new project for the new year.  Now, I am a one project at a time kind of girl but I'm thinking of partaking in this tradition.  I'd start a new project and work on it for a bit and then go back to Elizabeth Sheffield and then finish the new start.  Boy, I don't know that's kind of stressing me out just thinking about that!  But, I want to give it a try and who knows, maybe I'll have Elizabeth done by then, she's been going quick anyway! 

These are the two options I have ready to go, one is "Paradise Lost" by Plum Street Samplers and the other is "Ann Grant" by Shakespeare's Peddler.  Both are kitted up with linens and silks and I'm leaning toward Paradise Lost since it's been next on my list for some time and keeps getting bumped out for other projects like Frances Eden and Elizabeth Sheffield.  But, I also really like Ann and am considering stitching several Ann's and doing a whole wall of Ann Samplers.  Others on that list include Ann Smith and Ann Dale. 

So, what do you think?  Before anyone gets the funny idea that I should start both let me remind you that I'm a stitchin one at a time girl and I think it would stress me out to no end to have three projects going!  But, I might be able to start the second one here after Elizabeth is done... Hmm, I'll think about that!