All Quiet On The Stitching Front.....

Haven't picked up the needle to stitch since late September. 

We took our annual weekend getaway to Asheville in September (celebrating our silver anniversary--25years!) and that called for a new little stitchery.  I had recently purchased Blackbird Designs  "Tis Hallowe'en".  Thirteen stockings and projects of stitchy goodness.  Here's what I did back in Sept and how it still looks today:



"Whooo's Knockin' at My Door?
Blackbird Designs "Tis Halloween" booklet
30ct Cafe Kona
called for dyed threads

 



Didn't get very far.  Best intentions and all that. 

Few pictures of the weekend trip:

 

 

Spent time relaxing at the Biltmore Inn each day.  





 

Lots of stitching in their comfortable sofas and chairs by the windows in the library; taking in some wonderful views of the mountains.  Here I am waiting for hubs before taking tea.  :) 

 

 

The big house.  Look at that sky!  Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

 

Mums all set out.

 

Took in a bit downtown Asheville.  The morning was cloudy and quite misty which...

 

 

...made it a great morning for coffee and pastry at the City Bakery Cafe.

 

Had great weather to enjoy dinner outside one night.

 

 



It was a little too early to enjoy fall in it's colorful splendor but the weather was great and we had wonderful and relaxing time.   Look forward to doing it again next year.

 

Blessings!

 

 

 

 





A Challenge Met

Drum roll please.............................

Ta-Da!



Blackbird Designs
"Merry December" monthly stocking series
linen and threads as charted



I finally did it!  A stocking.  Not as perfect as I would have liked, but it is completed. 

Now that I've done it, I'm asking myself "Why did I take so long in doing it?"  For some reason I felt quite intimidated in making the stocking part but it turned out easier than I expected.  Followed Vonna's instructions which can be found here.   She put Blackbird Designs' instructions in visual form which was very helpful. 

Now I can't wait to make more of these little stockings!  I think I need to extend this challenge to stitch at least one stocking every couple of months before December so that I can have a few more to hang on the tree this year. 

Hope your week has gone off to a great start! 

Linky party @ Thistlewoodfarm

First Blackbird Stocking

Last post I mentioned that I signed on to a challenge here? 

So here's my challenge piece: 

A Blackbird Designs stocking from the Merry December pamphlet.  This is one of three designs that are included.  Like I mentioned before, I stitched this back in January of 2011 intending to finish it (along with stitching the other two--ha!) so that I can hang them on the 2011 Christmas tree. 

Well.  It didn't happen.

 

I'm not really strong on the follow through, so I challenged myself to get it done this year.  And par for the course, I procrastinated to the last minute as the deadline to get said challenge accomplished was Jan. 31st.  Today is the 30th and I finally took the piece out, got my materials and got to work.   I'll post my little stocking tomorrow!  I have to admit, I'm pleased as punch with it. 

Until tomorrow,

Moonlit Gardens

Here's a fun little stitchery item I did awhile back for the Autumn season.  I'd like to say it's framed up and on display on my wall but, sad to say, it's still waiting to be taken to the framers to have a frame choosen for it. 
This is Moonlit Garden (Loose Feathers #22) by Blackbird Designs.  Saw it first on someone's blog (wish I could remember who) and knew I had to stitch it for myself.  Did a search for it, came to find out that the pattern was no longer available.  Of course!  Searched on ebay and after a bit of patience, came across one that came with the called for fabric.  Sweet! 

I enjoyed every minute of stitching this design and I just love the saying on this Autumn sampler.  My favorite element is the checkerboard house.  Isn't it just fun?  Just a touch of whimsy.  My photography doesn't do the colors in this sampler justice.  I had a difficult time getting the true color of the fabric to come through.  It looks more khaki in the photo below but in real life it has a bit more green-yellowish undertone in it.   The first photos above are closer to what it looks like.  I believe the fabric was 30ct Broomstick by R&R Reproductions.  Threads used are Weeks Dye Works as charted.  Here's my finish:  

  One more finished project to add to the "To Frame List".  Need to get on the ball with that!

Have a lovely fall weekend!