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