New Project.

As you know, a finish means a new start.

I've had two completed cross stitch projects this month and while I was working on them I let myself think about what I might stitch next. There were a few things calling for attention but Winter Fairy has won. I really cannot remember where I came across this design but fell in love instantly. I asked Santa if he could find a pattern for me. He did one better and found a kit.

It is a full coverage and should hopefully keep me busy for a wee while. LOL

Some of the white areas are stitched with a special glow in the dark thread. 

I'm looking forward to this one. 

But first, some smaller items. At the beginning of the month I said that one of my goals was to complete my final two Christmas ornaments.

Here is one of them as a WIP. 

Can you tell what it is yet? LOL

I'm hoping to make great progress on this one today. Which will leave only one to stitch.

While digging through my box of stitch kits I came across this wee piece that was acquired at an Altrusa sale, like the Wildlife sampler I recently completed.

It's only tiny and might be a good one to squeeze in before I start the fairy.

Like the Wildlife sampler it had been started. Someone had put sellotape around the edges. EW! I took that off and quickly ran it through my overlocker. Much better.

She had also done 2.5 stitches. Hmmm.

I pulled those out and will start again from scratch.

That's my stitchy news.

Hope you have a great weekend. 

Another one finished...

As I have mentioned previously, I found the cross stitched Wildlife Sampler at an Altrusa craft sale back in 2023. I just couldn't leave it there, it's such a nice piece and someone has put a lot of time into it.

The border had already been started so I was confident that even without the chart I could manage to complete the piece. A query on a facebook group came up with the design name and origin. It was published in a needlework magazine back in 1991. I did find a copy of the magazine on ebay, but decided that I wouldn't need it.  

It took me a while on Friday to sort out the threads needed to complete the border.  And off I went. It really wasn't difficult to copy what had already been stitched. Though I did make a change. My corners are different to the one completed by the original stitcher.

I wanted some way to acknowledge that two people had worked on this piece.

As I have no idea of her or his name I wasn't able to give credit.

The best I could come up with is this...

I have a frame sat in the cupboard that should be just right for this piece, I'll clean it up and then my adopted Wildlife Sampler will be able to hang somewhere in my home.

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I did hint the other day that I was thinking about which Cross stitch to start next.

I think I had better get on and stitch the last two stitched ornaments needed for this Christmas.

Then maybe I'll take a look into that particular rabbit hole...

One I forgot to share.

The Flutterby Bunny quilt is finished.

The binding is on.

It was a greyish day when I went out for the photo shoot but I think I did ok.

She is quilted using a new to me pantograph from Urbanelementz.

It's called take flight.

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I'm making great progress on adding the border to my adopted cross stitch and have even begun to wonder about which cross stitch project I should do next.

I have more than a few to chose from. LOL

A Finish and an adoption....

It's amazing what three days off work can do.  I feel relaxed and rested even though I did a bunch of chores, the grocery shopping, some garden work and even an hour long Fire safety thing at work!

Amid all of that I made time to sew, and I have sewn up a storm. Well part of one. I managed to complete the last of the B windswept blocks. 

And today I made the first fifteen C blocks.

They will eventually all go together with the A blocks 

And my Autumnal windswept quilt will one day be whole.

Not really the finish you were hoping for?

How about this one?

Happily Ever After.

Not quite a wedding sampler, but it shares the same sentiment.

I will gift this to Joe and Lee.

It has stopped and started throughout the year, but here it is, finally completed and in a frame.

So what's next?

I should be working on two more Christmas ornaments, but instead I found myself pulling out something completely different.

I adopted this woodland sampler at an Altrusa craft sale last year. No chart, no threads just an almost complete design for $2. Here you see it as I adopted it, only the borders to stitch.

There should be more than enough here for me to copy.

A plea to a facebook cross stitch group revealed that the design was published in a needlework magazine back in 1991!

I did find a copy of said magazine on ebay for a not so terrible price, but thought maybe I could wing it.

I spent some time this afternoon sorting threads for the floral border. And this evening I have managed to complete the bottom border except for the orange needed for the centers of some of the flowers. 

I'll go to the sewing center tomorrow, before club.

Tomorrow is patchwork club AGM, then sit and sew Saturday. I'll be taking my blue lanterns EPP. It is so very close to being finished. I'm excited to have a completed top so that I can move on to a new challenge.

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That was my exciting news.

Bedtime methinks.

Work, Work, Work.

But there has been time for some play too. 

I've made a few more blocks for the Windswept quilt top and made some progress on the Cross stitch project.

Happily Ever After has more than a few beads now.

The above image was taken on 3rd November and I've picked away here and there adding a few stitches and beads, then yesterday got to sit for a couple of hours and did quite a bit. The image below is where I left it at tea time yesterday evening.

The vines and beads continue on up above the word 'And'.

Then I will need to figure out how best to finish it. A frame with no glass or as a quilted wall hanger.

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The Flutterby Bunny that I was quilting just a few days ago has not progressed. Work and the garden have gotten in the way of that. Maybe I'll get back to it today. But first some more garden work. I have a few things to plant, some more broccoli seedlings, another pair of courgette as I lost the previous pair to a late frost and I also want to sow a few Buttercup squash seeds.  

Our green house is going well, the tomatoes are doing really well with lots of flowers and some fruit already set. Though they are still tiny. In the small greenhouses the chilli peppers and capsicum are also doing well.

The cauliflower I planted in Autumn are much slower that the broccoli planted at the same time, they were finished a while ago, but the Cauli are now ready, we have eaten two, another is in the fridge, one needs to be picked and brought in and yet another will be ready soon. I've made a lot of cauliflower cheese and discovered a new to me Cauliflower salad recipe. I might tweak it a little but will for sure be making it again. 

Right I'm off to work in the garden before it gets too hot. Yesterday we reached 27 C. Today looks to be cooler but I want to get it done early so I can relax and play with my needles.