Monkey's Numbering Three

Stitched in 28 days on 28ct Lugana Springfield Sage for the little one that made me an auntie.

The colors in the blanket were changed to match the puff quilt I made the baby, using Gentle Arts chalk and pewter.

I framed the piece myself, using the pin and lace technique.

And here is sits on the wall shelving of the nursery, it fits perfectly!

My conversion also included the following colors from Gentle Arts: walnut, butternut squash, old red paint, and antique rose. The bassinet was stitched using #4 Kreinik 201C.

The Maiden

And Baby Makes Three

My first niece was born a few days ago and I have spent the past 9 months crafting away for her nursey!  Above is a towel holder for the bathroom, and all those cute hooded towels!

The puff quilt I made using Dumbo fabric as the inspiration.

Can you sense a theme? I found this adorable set at target for newborn photos, but the hat was out of stock! The Mother came to the rescue-Muwhahaha, the baby will be an elephant! 

I designed and made her baby book, it has a Georgia Peach theme!

Little bottles hang from a pink onsie on the last page to house a lock of hair and baby's first tooth.

The Mother also made this divinely soft baby blanket as a surprise, my sister adored it! Auntie Maiden

Tea for Three

The Crone tasked me with making a few tea wallets for gifts this year.

The tea and beignets were motivation! The Maiden

It's Snowing!

As the first snow falls on the mountains so does the snow fall in this frosty forest! The Maiden

Stitching Snowfall

While I have had ample time to stitch of late my needle has sat idle, but with the birth of my niece just 2 weeks away I had to get stitching! I finished the sampler yesterday and picked up Forest Snowfall by Country Cottage Needleworks.

I had given up on this stitch along last year after the top boarder was in, my snowflakes just disappeared! I may have a solution now and the stitch is so quick I thought I should get a post in before it's finished! The Maiden

Queen of Ween

 The Crone came to town for Halloween and we worked into the late night hours to create these tea boxes!

I had an inspired Hallows Eve, filled with all my favorite things: friends, baking, writing, sewing, and stitching!

Superstitious as always, I believe that how you spend this day will set the Course for your whole year... I cannot wait to see what the next 365 days has in store! The Maiden

Bottom of the 3rd

Just under 6 weeks to go! The Maiden

Stitching & Showers

I am at the halfway point on my niece's birth sampler, just in time for her baby shower!

The favors were designed with the idea that my sister dearly loves cacti and this baby is going to be a "Georgia Peach!"

The cake was divine 

and what party would be complete without a candy bar!

The Maiden

For Those We Have Lost

Red, White & Blue by the Cricket Collection was started in October 2017 as a Memorial Piece for the victims of the Route 91 Shooting in Las Vegas. Stitched on 28ct Thyme, it took 12 days to complete.

 

 

As the 1 year anniversary draws closer I will be reminded every time I look at this project that we are and forever will be Vegas Strong!

The Maiden

MIss Mariposa

The Mother has begun a "frankenstitch" of sorts, devising a way to combine the bottom half of Mirabilia's Queen Mariposa with the torso and head of Miss Christmas!

 

 

The Skin and the butterflies are one over one, the tiny delicate stitches creating a painted effect. I joked with the Mother that it is only a matter of time before she attempts an entire Mira with one strand of DMC floss over one strand of 32ct fabric! The Maiden

Skull on Display

I really cannot get past how amazing this design looks in this frame, the Mother's finish is superb for this Skull!

Foam board and pinning make this look professionally done, I may need to reconsidered the sticky board! The Maiden

World Cross Stitch Day

World Cross Stitch day has come and gone, but what better Day than August 10th to spend some long distance stitchy time with new friends! The plan was to meet at Hawk Run Hollow, where I began at the Shores.

Nessa (from Nessa's Needleminders on Etsy and Facebook) spent the day preparing for Halloween in the Hollow and added a cauldron to the décor!

 

The Maiden

 

Fingers worked to the bone!

The Mother flew through this Skull Banner in a matter of days! Stitched on Under the Sea fabric's Hecate.

Now where did I put mine...

Happy 4th of July!

I wanted to finish Red, White & Blue for the 4th, but alas... 

This Cricket said No! 

Feeling Patriotic

I took a break from sisters birth sampler to sneak in some stars and stripes stitching! The Maiden

Just monkeying around!

Making some progress on  sister's monkey birth sampler!

I am trying a new way of stitching with varigated threads where you outline the area to be stitched and then work from the outline in towards the center. So far I love it, and it prevents lines of color appearing unnaturally in your stitching. Who wants a stripped monkey? The Maiden

Still headless..

I figured I better post some progress pictures before I  finish! The Mother was right, the retreat was so inspiring! 

The Maiden

Get Kraken!

I was not the only  one to join Maynia at the last hour! The Mother has started Get Kraken by Ink Circles, stitched on 28ct Rhiannon by Stepanie.

While we were in Texas she kitted up this gem with a cotton floss conversion using Weeks Dye Works threads. 

Surprise, I'm going to be an auntie!

After much deliberation my sister has chosen the Tree Top Birth Sampler for her nursery by Tempting Tangles Designs. As she is 12 weeks along, I need to get cracking!

I wanted to join stitch Maynia this year, but with the retreat and all my sewing I missed the boat! I did manage one new start though! The Maiden #Maynia

Mira Fever

Tired stitcher's across the country make their way back home today (or try to, the San Antonio Airport is a mess of delays, mechanical malfunctions, and bad weather!) as the 2018 Mirabilia Minions retreat sadly comes to a close.

I was able to get more beading done on The Kiss, and even got to hear Nora muse on designing more men!

 Since this is my oldest project, and arguably one of the most meaningful ones for me as I stitch the "tapestry of my Life" I asked Nora to sign my pattern. I will treasure it always! I guess I have to finish it now, hahaha!

We snuck away to see the sights, with a little stop at the Alamo! (if you squint really hard you can see me by the door, all long dark hair and even longer dress with red flowers)

 

My need for Coke in a Pepsi world became a personal mission and source of amusement for all!

We even stopped to take a ride down the River Walk! The weather was perfect and there was a soft breeze as we wove through the city on our electric boat!

Like all good things, this too must come to an end. I thankfully had Peony on me as I was stuck in the airplane on the tarmac for 3 hours (with the exception of a quick deplane and replane)! I faired far better than the Mother, whose flight was so delayed she missed her connection and must stay another night away from home!

 

The retreat was so inspirational, and I can now say the Mother and I have Mira Fever (as I work at an infectious disease research center now I feel that I am qualified to make this diagnosis!).  Look for some finishes in the near future!

The Maiden

Miras, Miras Everywhere

Day 2 of the 2018 Mirabilia Retreat in San Antonio TX was packed with stitching, prizes, and a little hockey!

Go Knights Go!!!

The biggest surprise was a design Nora created just for this retreat plus all the floss kitted for us by Leslie of Under the Sea Fabrics!

The walls are lined with Mira upon Mira, the stitchy bug has truly bit the Mother and I!

The bags were a hit with Potter fans!

And how could I resist this hand turned stitching accessories caddy! (More on this gem later)

I visited my second cross stitch store ever, Stitches from the Heart and picked up 2 patterns that lined the walls.

I would have normally never picked up this pattern but it is stunning in person ( that spinning wheel)! Plans for a SAL with my new friend Vanessa of Nessa's Needleminders are already in the works!

Finally, our stichy progress! The Mother is really making progress on her mermaid, or the never ending tail as I called it!

And Venetian has seen progress for the first time in a decade!

The Maiden