A Few Things

I just can’t seem to get it all together. I have several finishes or finished except for the fully finishing, but I can’t even seem to get them photographed to blog. So I am just going to go ahead with what I have.

First of all, Burnham 64, my scroll rug, is a finish as far as hooking.

Now into the blocking and binding stack.

Next up for finishing is the Small Frost primitive oriental.


I finally finished cross stitching this little Bird in Hand chart by Blackbird Designs.

I love this piece, but didn’t enjoy the stitching. The problem was the linen. I pulled it from the scrap bin and it honestly felt rubbery when handling it. Also, the coverage was terrible with one thread , so I had to use two over two. It took me two skeins of Weeks Merlot!

Yesterday I fully finished it into a simple pin tuck and am totally happy with it. 

It will be the first of a collection of red and white pin tucks for my dining room. 

Thinking of all of you who are enduring bad weather. We have had a moderate winter and the first of our daffodils are blooming. Think I will go pick a handful ♥️

Take Care,

Jennie

Some End of 2020 Crossstitch

Yes, I do know that we are over a month into 2021, but this just happens to be what I have to share today. 

2020 was my first year back into cross stitch since the late 80s early 90s. My first couple of tries made me wonder if perhaps I had lost the skills necessary for this craft which I had once adored. I had certainly lost the ability to see those high counts of linen. But I was determined, and I think I have made good progress. I ended the year with THIRTY FIVE finishes!!!! Now all but six of these were smalls, but hey, I‘ll take it. Six were Samplers, on the small to medium side. 

Below are some of my end of the year finishes.....

Esther Cannon by Heartstring Samplers.

Julia Fooks by GiGiR.

Three Christmas smalls by Pineberry Lane that still need FFOing.

All eight of St Nicholas Prairie Schooler Santas waiting to be FFOed using Vonna’s ornament tag instructions. 

And back from Total Framing, Mary Oakley by Pineberry Lane.

And Martha Scott by GiGiR.

Martha may just be my favorite stitch for 2020. I adore that wee house. 

I am well into my plan for 2021 and will post that when I do a little pressing and take photos. 

I discovered this wonderful mix recently. Quick, easy and yummy. Won’t even tell you how much butter is in this small loaf cake🤣🤣🤣

Mattie is leading a difficult winter life.

Summer finds her outside and on guard, but she passes on the cooler weather.

Take Care,

Jennie

Happy 50th

Last night we celebrated DD1’s 50th birthday here at our home with her requested chicken enchilada dinner and all the fixings along with seven layer white cake with chocolate frosting.

Both of her children came home from college to help celebrate.

Can’t believe she is fifty!! Where does the time go?

It is cold here in Georgia, but this ornamental cabbage is still pretty in our yard.

I made some progress on Burnham 64....

And pulled fabrics for the #fqsquiltalong. I am stitching the #ladiesaidquilt from the #classicandvintage collection. I will be using random civil war reproduction fabrics from stash.

This girl is growing up right before our eyes...she is now taller than me!!

I resemble this.....haha....


Take care,

Jennie

Hello 2021

I am not quite sure how I feel about welcoming 2021. Frankly, the world continues to be quite a mess. I am praying that, perhaps, by summer’s end we can see improvement in the Covid situation. As far as other national and world issues, I have a wait and see attitude. On a hopeful note, despite Georgia being 50th in efficiency of vaccine distribution, DH and I were able to get dose one of the Moderna vaccine on Wednesday from our local mom and pop pharmacy. This was after spending three days attempting to get into our district’s distribution. We are talking about hundreds of attempted calls. Absurd. Enough.....

It has been far too long since I blogged. As always, I had good intentions and I don’t want to leave the blogging world. So, here I am.

I have made a little progress on the Burnham scroll rug. I was unhappy with the roses that I originally hooked. I felt there was too much contrast and they detracted from the otherwise old fashioned look of the rug. After discussing with Lisanne, this is what I came up with.

I am much happier. A couple more leaves and there will only be background left. Hopefully this one will be a finish before long. 

I have spent numerous hours organizing and cleaning my crafting rooms since the first of the year. I am always appalled at the amount of great stuff I have accumulated. Quilting, hooking, yarn, spinning, wool applique, cross stitch....you get the idea. Way too many irons in the fire and not wanting to let go of much. I am of an age that no way can I finish it all, but that seems to make no difference.

I have numerous rugs that I finished hooking last year that just need blocking and binding. Those are high on my priority list this year. And some finishing of started projects. I am in the process of making a plan. 

I am overwhelmed with quilting projects and UFOs. I have yet to come up with a plan there. And I will talk about cross stitch in an upcoming post. 

We were able to have my family over for a totally normal Christmas, which was a blessing.

Blake’s crew had a covid exposure, so we plan to see them, finally, tomorrow.

Hoping you are all staying safe and well.

Take care,

Jennie

Running Late...Again

I did actually get a Mary Brown block finished this month, but didn’t get it posted on the 30th. 

So, here you go...better late than never.

And I have another prepped, so maybe another block this month.

My Burnham 64 scroll rug is a bit of a slow go, but a pleasant hook.

I like it and the rather old fashioned look it has. I changed to a primitive black background because the medium brown got lost in too many areas. 

Thanksgiving was lovely and spent with family at Ebeneezer Stone Farm. We forgot to take pics. 

My concession to early Christmas decorating...

Buddy said he wasn’t moving. I have never been an early Christmas decorator. This is the earliest I have ever had my tree up. And I have wreaths on the doors. Woohoo!

Take Care,

Jennie

 

Fall Cross Stitch Finishes

I was able to fully finish three Fall cross stitch projects. At least I have time to display them for a couple of weeks this year.

The first is Quaker Pumpkin by The Stitcherhood. 

Stitched on 32 ct Weeks Straw using Victorian Motto Floss.

Thankful from the Twice Blessed pattern by Hands on Designs.

Stitched on 32 ct mystery linen with various floss from stash.

And the two of them displayed on my seasonal tray. 

Found the cute little vintage turkey shaker at an antique shop in NGA recently.....Made in Japan. Maybe the beginning of a small collection;-)

Fall Y’all by Stitching with the Housewives.

Stitched on 28 ct Monaco with various overdyed threads. 

Deutzia blooms in my garden, literally covered in a wide variety of pollinators.


Have to laugh.

Take Care,

Jennie

Just a Little Update

Did a little cleaning up in my sewing room today. I have really lost my quilting mojo, but I have so much to do.  Aside from cleaning, this was all I accomplished, but suppose it is better than not at all.....

A few Square Deal economy blocks for the Lisa Bonjean quilt....

A Quick Sunday Update

I should have been posting a hand appliquéd Mary Brown block today, but for the second month in a row that isn’t happening. I love that quilt and have got to get back in the groove. Honestly, I haven’t worked on any quilting the past two months. No reason, really, just haven’t.

I am working on two rugs in my classes with Lisanne. 

This one is a wide cut primitive called Small Frost. It is a pretty good sized rug and I still have quite a bit to go.

Next is a Santa which, when finished will be mounted on an old primitive cabinet door (see below). This is only the face, but he has a full body and is probably 36” tall. 

This is my first face, and isn’t very painterly, but I am not ripping it out again. The cuffs and cap brim are burly spun yarn, and the moustache and eyebrows are wool strips which have been sculpted.  This is also the fourth and final go at the eyebrows. Done.

The cabinet door I found. It’s hard to tell, but the panels are punched tin.

And for Fall, to replace the Halloween stitching, Quaker Pumpkin by The Stitcherhood.  32 count Weeks Straw, Victorian Motto Shoppe flosses stitched two over two.

I like this one and will hopefully get it finished in the next couple of days. However, there’s lots going on this week.

Sara Ashley had fun with her sorority sisters and friends for Halloween.

Obviously off campus, as masks are required on campus. She is home for a couple of days and I am having the whole family for dinner tomorrow. Excited. I miss this girl.

This guy has taken me for a merry ride lately. Can I send him to you????

Take Care,

Jennie

Halloween Stitching

I have been busy with Halloween stitching, and it has been fun! The past few years I really haven’t decorated for Halloween or Fall  much, but that changed this year. 

So, here are some of the things I‘be finished.....

Autumn Alphabet by The  Scarlett  House with 40 count Weeks Straw, overdyed cottons similar time called for, mounted on a paddle by Homestead Needleworke with Rick rack trim.

The hooked pillow in the back I made several years ago and I don’t recall the designer.

Happy Thankhallowmass, design by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farms. This was a kit and I just used what was sent and stitched it into a small pillow.

Witch Silhouette, a freebie by Little Stitcher. I remember using a purplish/black overdyed cotton, but don’t recall the linen. I finished it with fabric and buttons from my stash, an antique lace scrap, overdyed silk ribbon and a little key charm.


Button Eyed Cat by The Scarlett House stitched on 40 count Weeks Straw with miscellaneous floss and stuffed with wool snippets. Buttons from JoAnn’s.

This one is so tiny and cute. My favorite, I think. 

This tiny witch came from the Buttons Brack pattern and I added the pumpkin. 40 count mystery linen, scrap flosses, JoAnn’s trim that I coffee stained. 

And this cute tray from Hobby Lobby to display the last three in. Hello Fall , silver pumpkin and crow also from Hobby Lobby.

Halloween Quaint Lady by Pineberry Lane...kit a part of the Dyeing to Stitch Quaint Ladies club. Finishing by Faye Rigsbee.


Buttons Black by The Scarlett House on 40 count Weeks Straw with miscellaneous overdyed flosses.  Finishing on a painted stand from Hobby Lobby. Piscillified with various trims, ribbons and floral picks.


Papier-mâché pumpkin covered in wool quillies that were glued on. So much fun to make!!!



Little wool applique candle mat by Primitive Gatherings stitched several years ago. 

Back door wreath with supplies from Hobby Lobby. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing them!!

Take Care,

Jennie