Finishes - recent and otherwise

Just two for today. :-)

One I finished today, starting it around the 27th or 28th of December 2013. I have had the pattern for about a decade now, so it's about time I did it. There is a second, complementary one, that I will be stitching in the new year.

The other is one I stitched many many years ago for my sister, and having Christmas Day celebrations at her place this year meant that I was able to take a photo of it with a digital camera, being that when I stitched it I had neither scanner nor digital camera at my disposal!

So here they are:

1. NON-FREEBIE - Stitched for me by me:

Design - Vase of Flowers Picture

Designer - Cross Stitch Collection 52 week part set thing

Fabric - 14 count ecru aida

Threads - as per the chart

2. NON-FREEBIE - Riolis - 'Oriental Lady' - for my sister:

(apologies for the angle of the photo)

Design - Oriental Lady

Designer - Riolis

Fabric - white aida (possibly 14 count)

Threads - red and black

Presents and the like

Now that Christmas is over, pretty much, I can show all the things I made as presents for people and family.

So here goes:

1. NON-FREEBIE - Round Robin:

Design - Round Robin Kit

Designer - Mouseloft via Hobbycraft.co.uk

Fabric - 14 count blue aida

Threads - what was in the kit

2.  FREEBIE/NON FREEBIE - Geisha Girls:

Design - Geisha Girls (from Joan Elliott's Oriental Collection)

Designer - Joan Elliott

(free with #177 of The World of Cross Stitching)

Fabric - 14 count ecru aida

Threads - as per the chart (DMC)

This chart came from a booklet that was free with a magazine. So really the chart isn't free as you have to buy the magazine to get it.

3. UNKNOWN - The Angels Have The Phone Box:

Design - The Angels Have The Phone Box

Designer - UNKNOWN

(possibly from Etsy though?)

Fabric - 18 count Ecru Aida

Threads - DMC

Oddly enough, the Geisha Girls above took me two days to stitch, even though there were a multitude of colour changes. The Dr Who cross stitch, however, took me four very long days to stitch, the TARDIS taking up three of those days all by itself. I'll be happy not to have to stitch any Weeping Angels or TARDIS' again any time soon!

4. FREEBIE - Cyberman Head:

Design - Cyberman Head

Designer - Hancock's House Of Happy

(http://hancockshouseofhappy.blogspot.com/2011/10/free-cross-stitch-chart-dr-who-cyberman.html)

Fabric - 14 count Ecru Aida

Threads - three shades of grey, black

5. FREEBIE - Dalek:

Design - Dalek

Designer - Hopper Artz

(http://hopperartz.deviantart.com/art/Doctor-Who-Cross-stitch-Patterns-290605273)

Fabric - 14 count ecru aida

Threads - Red, Yellow, Black

6. FREEBIE - Star Trek: The Next Generation Communicator Badge:

Design - Star Trek: TNG Communicator Badge

Designer: Starrley

(http://starrley.deviantart.com/art/Star-Trek-TNG-combadge-pattern-for-cross-stitch-289413905)

Fabric - 14 count Ecru Aida

Threads - two shades of yellow, two shades of grey, black

7. FREEBIE - Racing Greyhound:

Design - Racing Greyhound

Designer - Gorgeous Greyhounds

(http://gorgeousgreyhounds.blogspot.com/2010/10/knitting-patterns-for-greyhounds.html)

Fabric - 14 count Ecru Aida

Threads - 310 Black

8. FREEBIE - Squirrel:

Designs - Figure 71

Designer - Priscilla Filet Crochet Book 1

(http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/catalog.htm)

Fabric - 14 count Ecru Aida

Threads - cheap thread pack

I think that's most of them. If there are any others I have forgotten, I will add them in the days to come.

Finishes, mostly old

I've been finishing off stuff to go in the post for overseas Christmas presents. Unfortunately, I cannot yet display them, however, in my travels I found some other things I CAN display.

I have no idea about designers and such, and they are old, old, old. Both are, I think, from British craft magazines, however.

1. NON-FREEBIE - pink rose

Apologies for the quality of the picture. Mum did the crocheted edge and the crocheted tie, but I did the stitching, on white 14 count aida. It was made for the mother of a friend, back in around 2000.

2. NON-FREEBIE - Santa Claus

I know this comes out of a freebie booklet from one of the British Magazines - possibly Cross Stitcher or Cross Stitch Crazy? Can't tell you when I made it, but maybe around 2004-2006?

After Christmas there will be more pictures to display, because everything that has been made will have been sent and received.

Stay tuned.

More UFO finds

I've found some more unfinished projects while going through my cross stitch hoard, and thought I would share (again). Will I ever run out of UFO's? I doubt it. Will I ever FINISH the UFO's? Possibly - slowly.

:-)

1. NON-FREEBIE - "Rooster" - ('On The Farm' booklet - DMC):

Design - Rooster

Designer - Jeanette Crews Designs (On The Farm DMC booklet)

Fabric - 14 count green aida

Threads - 310, 321, 414, 415, 712, 762, 841, B5200 (white)

(original design in rayon threads)

I started this one for my Dad, who breeds hens and roosters. Back in the day when it was possible to walk into any craft store and buy various coloured aida fabric, I bought a gorgeous green (never seen the same colour since though, which is a shame, as it is a stunning green, not at all shown to its best in the scan above). This rooster, when he is finished, is destined to be the centre of a cushion, the fabric around to be farmyard-based. From the booklet, I know I had planned this to be Dad's Christmas present in 2004, so I must have started it that year. 

2. NON-FREEBIE - "Christmas Alphabet" - (Cross Stitch Alphabets)

Design - Christmas Alphabet

Designer - (BOOK) - Cross Stitch Alphabets

Fabric - 14 ct ecru aida

Threads - as per design

This one will eventually declare itself as "Merry Christmas". I might even get it finished in time for a future Christmas :-)

Recent Finishes, or lack thereof

Unfortunately, I cannot show my most recent finish, as it will be sent overseas soon, along with others, as Christmas presents.

I've been struggling with lack of sleep recently, and then being so tired during the day that I tend to fall asleep at bad or inconvenient times, and end up getting very little accomplished during the day.

It makes for less than stellar stitching sessions!

I promise to post stuff soonish, when I can get things done that I can show off :-)

FREEBIE - Colourful Christmas Tree

Having trawled through my Works In Progress box, I came across this rather pretty tree, half stitched. So I thought it time to finish it, and just in time for the Christmas season!

Design - Colourful Christmas Tree

Designer - Judi Utter (for Cyberstitchers)

(http://www.cyberstitchers.com/free_patterns/pattern/colorful_christmas_tree)

Fabric - 16 ct white aida (possibly)

Threads - as listed in chart

Freebie Finish

I treated myself to almost all of the DMC threads I was missing from my collection today. I'm still missing about 10 (not including the 16 new ones being released in October, and some metallics and all of the new varigated colours). But at least now, I have very little excuse for not finishing projects, if I have nearly all of the DMC range of colours!

Anyway.....

FREEBIE - The Prairie Schooler - Jun 2013

Design - Jun 2013 freebie (Halloween design)

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

http://www.prairieschooler.com/free.htm

(this changes a few times a year, but currently it's the Halloween design)

Fabric - 14 ct ecru

Threads - 3371, 921

FREEBIE - The Prairie Schooler

I have a work in progress (WIP) to show. This is what happens when you have a chart with two colours in it, and you only have one of the colours!

When I can next get to my local craft shop, I will get the other colour and finish this freebie from The Prairie Schooler:

Design - Jun 2013 freebie (Halloween design)

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

http://www.prairieschooler.com/free.htm

(this changes a few times a year, but currently it's the Halloween design)

Fabric - 14 ct ecru (not that you can tell)

Threads - 3371, 921 (currently missing from my stash)

You know when.....

You know when you find that even after two cups of coffee first thing in the morning, you still aren't making sense to yourself or anyone else around you, and it takes every last brain cell just to form a very basic sentence with the words in the correct order?

I'm having one of those days.

I'm struggling to find the willpower to sit and stitch, as well. Right now it seems that a project that will take me about an hour to stitch, is one hour too long!

I'm currently working on a couple of things from The Prairie Schooler. One is the current freebie - a halloween project (it has two colours, of which I only have one. Did I say 'grrrrrrrrrr'?). The other is a non-freebie from a fairly early book. I'm stitching something from this book as a Christmas present to go to my boyfriend, so I cannot post even an "I'm in the middle of it - here's how it looks so far" picture.

I'm also looking at my filet crochet patterns for inspiration again.

But for now, I will include some finishes from many years ago (or should that read 'from the annals of history'?):

FREEBIE - EMS - Christmas Card:

Design - Happy Christmas

Designer - EMS

(you now have to register to access freebies:

http://www.cross-stitch-board.com/)

Fabric - 14 ct white aida

Threads - as suggested in chart

NON-FREEBIE - Kokopeli:

Design - Kokopeli

Designer - Dimensions

(Native American Motifs)

Fabric - 14 ct white aida

Threads - as listed

Freebie Finish

Every month, San-Man Originals sends out a newsletter to those who have signed up for it, in which is contained a freebie. The following is this month's freebie -

Design - Happy Halloween (2013)

Designer - San-Man Originals

(freebie in September 2013 newsletter)

Fabric - 14 ct white aida

Threads - Orange, black, green

Other Finishes (re) found

Some more things I found in my folders, while sorting out hard drives this past week:

NON-FREEBIE - Yikes! (Bent Creek):

Design - Yikes!

Designer - Bent Creek

Material - 14 ct Rustico Aida

Threads - as listed (DMC)

(complete with hand-painted black frame!)

NON-FREEBIE - Lighthouse (Dimensions)

Design - "Lighthouse"

Designer - Dimensions

Material - 14 ct white Aida

Threads - as listed

This is actually part of a larger chart, though I do not remember the proper name of the original ("Peaceful Retreat", perhaps?). I always liked the lighthouse best though!

FREEBIE - 

I have no memory of where this came from, who designed the original, whether it started life out as a filet crochet pattern, or what. I do know it is stitched in purple thread, possibly on white aida, though it could easily be on palest pink too. I'm not even sure what has happened to this little piece, as it is not in my 'finished' box!

UNSURES - 

Not sure where these two come from, though I do know that there are a couple more in the set. It also looks as though I might still have backstitch to go on the little snowman. Both are stitched on an interesting shade of red 14ct aida.

NON-FREEBIE - Betsy (front view) - 

Design - Betsy (front view)

Designer - Big Color Charts (I think!)

Fabric - 14 ct white aida

Threads - as listed

I loved Betsy from the moment I laid eyes on her, and just HAD to stitch her. The booklet she comes from has a front, side and rear view of Betsy, plus a few other charts in it, including a wonderful cow-related version of a rather famous painting - American Gothic. This chart, however, is called 'Americow Gothic'. Somewhere I have started stitching it too!

More to come at a later date.

FREEBIE Finish

I've been stitching again!

This time it's a freebie from Samplerbird Stitchery, entitled 'Holiday Spirit'. I chose totally different colours from those suggested, and I love the finished product. I can't wait to make it up into a tree-shaped ornament!

Design - 'Holiday Spirit'

Designer - Samplerbird Stitchery
http://stitchesandcatsohmy.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/my-october-gift-and-free-holiday.html

Fabric - 14ct White Aida

Threads - gold metallic, red, green, brown, ice blue

Updates on various finishes

I've been going through my folder of Cross Stitch Finishes, and realised that I've not posted the final product of a few things that I have made over the years, plus there are some finishes in this folder that I'd forgotten about completely, so I thought I might add them here today, as I've not done any stitching this week!

NON-FREEBIE - "Christmas Cross Stitch" (hardcover book) by Claire Crompton:

I made this for my boyfriend last Christmas. Here it is completed.

NON-FREEBIE - Egyptian Royalty

I thought it came up rather well, all told.

FREEBIE - A Spot Of Tea

Design - A Spot Of Tea

Designer - Dragon Dreams

http://www.dragondreams.ca/Sample_Charts.html

Fabric - 14 ct pink aida

Threads - as suggested in chart

I made this one many many years ago - so long ago, I don't actually remember when, but possibly around 2007? I've always loved Dragon Dreams designs. They are fun to stitch, and very cute!

UNKNOWN - Guinea Pig

Many years ago I had guinea pigs, and I stitched this chart at the time. Who the designer is, I have no idea. If it was a freebie - who knows. Either way, it's lovely!

UNKNOWN - Bookmark

All I know about this bookmark is that I stitched it in 2004. I believe I might have made it for my sister - I can only hope I gave it to her then!

NON-FREEBIE - Quilted Christmas Pillows

I started stitching them back in the late 1990s, I think, when the magazine they come out of was first published. I do know it's an American magazine, and was a special Christmas edition, but other than that, I have no idea. I finally finished stitching them last year. They still need to be made up in to the pillows though, but the stitching is finally complete.

I think that will do for now! 

Finishes - FREEBIES

I'm really enjoying stitching from the Priscilla Filet Crochet Books. Here are two more completed charts:

Designs - Figure 17 & Figure 30

Designer - Priscilla Filet Crochet Book 1

(http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/catalog.htm)

Fabric - 14 count Ecru Aida

Threads - cheap thread pack

Update (7 Sep 2013) - Figure 30, Priscilla Filet Crochet Book 1:

I decided to add a border to this pretty little pattern, as the pale pink seems to disappear into the fabric, so adding a border at least gives some structure to the pattern, I feel.

colours used - pale pink, mid pink, dark purple, pale blue

FREEBIE FINISH

Another freebie:

FREEBIE - Priscilla Filet Crochet Book 1 - Figure 51

threads - cheap unnamed thread pack

cloth - 14 ct white aida

More finishes

I'm trying to stick to my "Year of Freebies", with just the odd non-freebie. However, I have two new finishes to show off, both of which are freebies.

I've been going through a phase of turning filet crochet patterns in to cross stitch recently, as I find it a quick way of making christmas decorations and small presents for people. Enjoy!

1. FREEBIE - Le Filet Brode (1900) - Ship

Design - Ship

Designer - Le Filet Brode (1900)

(A Crespel DAe)

http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/catalog.htm

(look under F)

Threads - cheap unnamed brand

Fabric - 14ct white aida

2. FREEBIE - #107 Sajou, page 3 - Letter J

Design - Letter J (page 3)

Designer - Sajou 

www.patternmakercharts.blogspot.com/2009/09/sajou-no-107.html

Threads - cheap unnamed brand

Fabric - 14ct white aida

FREEBIE - Celtwich (Crinoline Lady)

Design - Crinoline Lady from Crinoline Days Chair Set

Lily Filet Crochet Design Book No. 66

Designer - Celtwich

(http://web.archive.org/web/20071107131557/http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/Crinoline.html)

Threads - purple, metallics (silver, gold, blue, green, red)

Cloth - 14 ct White Aida

I found this one in amongst some free filet crochet patterns I had. I like playing with filet crochet - it gives me the chance to use up old threads that have long lost their numbers, or else unnumbered threads from cheap thread packs. 

More Finishes

I've been busy with various things, but have managed to complete a couple of small objects, plus finish some WIP that were lying around.

1. FREEBIE - Elisa Tortonesi

Design - Flowers (Daisies)

Designer - Elisa Tortonesi

Threads - unnamed cheap pack of threads

2. FREEBIE - The Priscilla Netting Book (1914)

I turned a design from this lovely old book into the beginnings of a bunch of Christmas Decorations:

Design - 27 mesh square

Designer - The Priscilla Netting Book (1914)

Threads - unnamed cheap pack of threads

FREEBIE - Rico

I have another freebie finish to share. This one is a Rico design, though it is offered for free through a German site that offer a variety of freebies at one a month. It is one of a pair of chickens. I chose the blue & white one, rather than the white & blue one, though I might yet do it as well. I stitched it with threads I had to hand (not DMC or ANCHOR or any other name, just a job lot of threads from my local bargain shop). I did, however, stick to the dark blue, light blue, white and basically chicken leg/beak-coloured brown, though I changed the central stitch of each of the little flowers to a pretty egg-yolk yellow.

Anyway, enjoy:

Design: Blue Chicken

Designer: Rico

Chart: https://www.kreuzstich-kreativ.de/galerie/monatsbilder.html

(go down to February 2009. It will be listed as 'blaues huhn')

Fabric: 14 ct Ecru

Colours: Dk Blue, Lt Blue, White, Med Brown, Yellow

FREEBIE - Merry Xmas

I've been stitching again, this time a freebie!

I know it's not Christmas, nor any time near it, but last year when I put my tree up for the first time in about ten years, then had a look at my existing decorations, I realised just how sad they were all looking. 

I've been meaning for the last few years to make some new decorations for my tree and house, and while I've made a few, I've not made anywhere near enough to replace my old and rather tatty ones I currently have.

Anyway, as this is supposed to be a year of freebies, I've started to make a concerted effort to stitch said freebies.

Design: Merry Xmas

Designer: Romy's Creations

Chart: http://www.romyscreations.blogspot.com.au/p/freebies-by-romys-creations.html

(it's about half way down the page, after the non-English versions)

Fabric: Ecru 14-ct aida

Colours: DMC (I chose 5270 (holly berries), 5269 (holly leaves), 436, 817, 3839, 699)

NON-FREEBIE Finish

Here is another non-freebie finish. It is one of a set of four, though I am only planning (at the moment) to do two of the four.

Design: Winter Scenes (Telephone Box)

From: Cross Stitch GOLD

Issue: #45

Page: 60

Happy Valentine's Day! (NON-FREEBIE)

I made these for my boyfriend across the waves. Happy Valentines, sweetheart!

Design: Union Jack Heart

Designer: Britain's No 1. Cross Stitcher, #237 (p34), April 2011

Fabric: White 14-count Aida

Threads: DMC, colours as supplied in chart.