Busy Summer…Sad News…Photo Finishes!

31 Jul 2016 21 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Family, Finishing, Flat Folds, Patriotic Tags: , ,

Golly, tomorrow’s August already! It’s been a busy summer. My DH and I traveled to southern Indiana with our RV for a week to the NMRLA June festival and then again in the RV we spent four days in Shipshewana, IN in July.  I won’t bore you with photos, but we had VERY relaxing trips. A good part of my days this summer have been spent preparing for a class that I and my friend, Elizabeth, will be teaching for the Great Lakes Region of the EGA in September.  More about that in a future post.

In the last few months I have also done a LOT of dog sitting. It’s funny that now my grandchildren are growing up and have no need of “babysitting”…I now am requested for “dog” sitting. I was just beginning to fall in love with “Ollie” the King German Shepherd and alas, he passed away suddenly last week. Previously I didn’t understand what grief was in losing a pet, but I sure do now! Rest in peace my friend….

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There have been LOTS of finishes gone through my studio, but since I haven’t posted for so long, I will show them just a few at a time.

Marcia stitched this lovely patriotic piece (from With Thy Needle and Thread designed by Brenda Gervais) and I added a little ribbon with a rusty pin and some buttons on the back.

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Candice was busy with these beautiful pieces from the Plum Street Serial Bowl Collection.  On the first flat fold  I added some little buttons across the bottom and on the second flat fold some french knots did the trick.  It’s so nice to have flat folds that can be folded up and put away so you can change up your cross-stitch displays often.

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Pat requested more pillows and provided fabric for me. The first is a stunning Patriotic theme by Shepherd’s Bush to which I added three large buttons on the back. The second one is a lovely sentiment from Victoria Samplers by Cathy Jean’s Designs. I found the perfect little secret heart charm to add!

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There are LOTS more finishes to post, but that is all for now! Thanks to everyone for your faithful following! Love hearing from everyone!

Amities, Averyclaire

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Hello Summer!

25 May 2015 20 Comments

by averyclaire in Canvas Work, Cross-Stitch, Eiffel Tower, Needlework, Patriotic Tags: , , , , ,

It always seems like Summer to me when Memorial Day is over.  Time for sunshine, warm/hot days, swimming, garden flowers in bloom, kids out of school, ice cream (lots of it), and long lazy walks.

A day late, but in the mood for a “patriotic summer” I completed a few smalls. The first one is a free design by Barbara Ana and retrieved from the “files” of the Facebook page group entitled “Star Spangled Stitchers.”  I made some small alterations to the pattern, added the red stitching along the border, and stitched it on 35ct. Abecedarian linen.

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This next one is called Flag and Liberty designed by Glory Bee (also a freebie from www.glorybeestitch.com). This one is done on 28ct. white Lugana. I did choose my own DMC colors.

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A few weeks ago I did another patriotic small called Itty Bitty America by Twisted Threads.  It was done on 25ct. Dublin Linen over one thread using the called for colors.  The cording was made by me using three skeins of the same red/white/blue flosses.  That was a real trick trying to make cording using three colors!

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Along with the patriotic pieces, I did a “summer” one. It is called Itty Bitty Bee by Twisted Threads, but it is not so itty bitty. I did not do it over one. It is done on cream colored 32 ct. linen over two threads. I love bee embroideries and decided I should have some of my own. Voila!

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Getting back to my PHds (projects half done), during the last month I did manage to finish my Lily of the Valley Collage (designer is Laura J. Perrin).  This was one of my first canvas pieces in many years.   It was a challenge for me, since I have done only old-fashioned tent stitch needlepoint.  I love Lilies of the Valley and this is already framed with a lovely white-washed frame and is hanging in my bedroom.  The colors are not quite as true as they should be…I am experimenting photographing with my IPhone.

 

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Next I had framed my long ago finished Eiffel Tower cross-stitch. This is a pattern from Le Jardin Prive.   The DMC colours were done with three different shades of blue.   The navy blue frame and mat is absolutely gorgeous with it.   And the slightly sanded edges that show the light colored wood underneath, bring out the cream colored background.  It is SO HARD to photograph with glass covering the pieces, but it did not turn out too bad especially since it is done with an IPhone!

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Well that’s it for now. I still have a lot of work on unfinished items, but the big king sized quilt is coming along, not so the red and white one, nor the pink rose pin cushion. I must get busy!       Amities, Averyclaire