Blackbird Designs Rose Garden

I found this fabric in the shop that was so pretty that I just had to have it. But I didn't know what I would do with it, I just knew I loved it. Pink and roses. Can't go wrong! Then I came across this pretty little chart by Blackbird Designs and thought it "could" go together somehow. So I pulled out some threads and did my best to match colors. Variegated thread can look so pretty but its challenging to work with (to me) because I don't care for the "lined look" that one can get while stitching with it. I'm not sure yet what I will make out if these, but the fabric can be a lining. Its not a small design stitched up (probably 3x5...?) That was my mini-diversion piece from my monthly Herbularius, massively large design (which I am almost finished with!)

Alpine center close up

Here is the center only so you can see the flower color changes

Chatelaine Alpine

This is my version of Alpine Meadows. I chose a hand dyed cloud-like linen because clouds just seemed so perfect for this design. I made some changes in the flowers around the edges to better represent the season changes. I chose not to make the design square and will have a mat cut for this in a specialty shape. Such a pretty design. Lots of fun to stitch.

Creative Poppy

I purchased and downloaded this pretty heart design from Creative Poppy a couple days ago. It stitched up very quickly. I just love the vivid colors. Not sure yet what I'm going to do with it...maybe cover a little heart tin, maybe stuff it with lavender...not sure. (I think the design is called Cowbell Heart)

Silver Lining Iris

My mother stitched this iris for me because its pink and I love pink and her name is Iris and she loves them. She has all the Silver Lining iris's. I'm embarrassed to say I've had this in my "cupboard" for a few years now, but Mother has been in the hospital for the past 6+ weeks and I figured I just couldn't live with myself if she died and I didn't frame her picture, show it to her, and hang it up in my bedroom. I picked out the frame last week and ordered the mat and put it together last night. I just love how it turned out and can't wait to show it to her.

Darlene O'Stein

Celtic Robertson... What a fun design to do I've been thinking about investing and adding it to the que :)

Isn't she pretty?

Gather ye Rosebuds Such a pretty design. A gift from my friend, Theresa. She gave me the chart, thread, beads, and pretty pink fabric for her. I just love her! (Unfortunatley the color is a bit off, in person shes quite burgundy and lovely)

oops!

I forgot to put the name of that design--Thistles and Flowers by Irene Fuller. I'm still working on this month's part of Herbularius. There are FIFTY TWO of those points to stitch and I am just now starting on the last set of 13. YAY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The origin of my "something pretty"

Patti asked which design it was that I posted a bit ago. Well, here is the original. It was in an ancient Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine (Mar/Apr 1992) I made a few changes, as I often do. I used a taupe-like color fabric, got rid of that dark red (that made the flowers look like hearts in the corners), outlined the borders with 3371, added gold (I just LOVE Rainbow Gallery Petite Braid) and made each of the stitches in the roses look like smyrnas, for a bit of extra texture and detail. So now you know :)

JBW Squirrel

I just love those tiny little JBW charts. I think I have a thing about them, wanting to collect them! I have the deer, a bunny, 2 chickens, the squirrel, probably a bird (because I just love birds!) and probably the cat (because we all KNOW how I feel about kitty cats...) The fun thing about those designs is there are pictures within each of the design. If you look closely, you can find an acorn, another squirrel, a basket, lots of things. I stitched this tiny little squirrel on 32 count over one and it was super fast. I think I did it in 2 days. lol The question now is what shall I do with it? How shall I "finish" it? What shall I make it into?

Herbularius

Part 11 already. WHERE did that year go? Only one more part and then... ALL THE BEADS Such a pretty design. But gosh, there are 52 points to stitch around the border. FIFTY TWO!!!!! I set it in my mind that there might as well be 50 million trillion. That way when I stitch it, I won't have in my mind that I can just "whip it out" really fast. Its like when I take a trip somewhere, if I think of it as a LONG... WAYS... AWAY, then before I knowit, I'm there! I did make a little change in the outer-ist border: instead of stitching regular 'ole cross stitches with that pretty varigated silk, I chose to stitcha Long Armed Cross (some refer to it as a Long Legged Cross). It resembles a Heringbone stitch and just looks so pretty, especially up close.

all of it

Since you wanted to see the finished part, here you go The plan is to stitch it together into a pouch and make it heavy, into a weight for my lap frame. (I use copper be bes for the weight) The back has a monogram of my initials (NT)

something pretty

Heres a close up of something I'm working on