Finished Cross Stitch Smalls

August Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

Finished: April 2nd, 2025

Materials: Aida fabric and DMC threads

Notes: left "August" out, rearranged the sun and clouds

Reading by Little House Needleworks

Finished: April 12th, 2025

Materials: PTP Aida fabric / Called for and a couple of subs. threads

Notes: minor design modifications 

These two projects were started a few years ago, so glad to have them done. Thanks to the encouragement and motivation of a very special group of friends! 

In April, thanks to the sweet enabling of my new group of friends, I started on my first ever full coverage project! A kit from Luca-s : The King of Flowers (link to their website here). Did changed the fabric to a light grey Aida instead of the white that came in the kit. 

Have not made much progress yet.

PS: Was missing for a couple of months... March and April are always busy around here with celebrating wedding anniversary in March and increase time on volunteer work in March and April.  In April we experienced the unexpected loss of a loved one. 

Summer Splendor: May 2019 to October 2020

Will consider Summer Splendor by LHN finished! Did not stitched the alphabet in the design because will be stitching an important family date on that space.

Really like that cute tiny house, not only because of looks (with all the not so perfect tiny stitches) but because of the feeling of home. A happy haven where love abounds.

A picture of the last few stitches being added ;-D.

The colors in this design are so me! Clicking on the tag "Little House Needleworks" (below in blue) you may be able to see all the progress pictures of this project. 

May Flew Over

I've been away from this blog for a little over a month. Time fly by when keeping busy. Here are a couple of overdue updates. In fact these projects' progress took place few months ago, but I forgot to post the update until now. Above is the vintage bluework bluebird, almost finished. The beginning of the bluework bird project is here.

"Summer Splendor" is almost finished as well. I'm using all DMC floss on this one, love the colors on this design so much! (Showed the materials/supplies towards the end of this post. The beginning here. And a progress update here.)

Finally decided to start a new cross stitch project on Lugana. My very first official project on even weave fabric. Switched some colors from the ones listed in the pattern, and now I don't like them. Plus I was dealing with a mild migraine that day and it got worst after completing a couple of the elements in the chart (should have known better, instead of stitching I needed to rest). 
So later, started it again on Aida in the called for DMC's, but now I feel disappointed in myself for switching to Aida because the whole purpose for doing this pattern was to practice stitching on even weave... sigh... a new cross stitcher's dilemma. When I finally decide which direction I want to go with it, then perhaps I'll write a post on it.

Let see if June proves to be more conducive to hand embroidering and cross stitching. Until next time! Stay safe and help others be safe!

The Little Things

Last night my "sprouts" and I had a Sit-n-Stitch Evening. It's been quite some time since our last time. The hand embroidery lap quilt project is calling me, however, for some reason felt like adding some more stitches on this cute little piece I started few months ago (here). Small cross stitch sampler "Summer Splendor" by Little House Needleworks. So happy to have been able to put a few stitches in without much trouble from holding things with my hands. Red is my most favorite color, it cheers me up! I think that is why I decided to work on this particular project.

Below is a simple no bake pie, using simple ingredients. Recipe is from Publix (link at the end of this post). Very delicious! I love the mix in flavors and textures in this pie. The small one on the right is modified, using crushed GF cookies as crust, for my GF child. Easy to put together with your kids! We made this recipe this past Sunday afternoon. The only thing I will do different next time is add one more container of raspberries, yum. The girls and I are also already brainstorming on fruit and flavor variations for next time! 

I had a few rough days with this last flare. Couldn't even hold anything long enough to complete any task. On one particular day even holding the toothbrush with a light grip was painful, had to pause a few times to rest my hand. That was just the beginning of a day where it was a real struggle trying to perform everyday simple tasks. 

So thankful for a very understanding and helpful family! By last night my hands felt much better, so I was grateful to be able to stitch for a bit. Got that tiny house filled in and started the roof! Remember I'm a cross stitch newbie, so please don't snub my stitches ;-).

Autumnal sunsets are spectacular! Aren't they? They honestly take my breath away!
So many little things to be grateful for, not only for a day or two, but daily. The little things that remind me of what really matters in life, and not to take things for granted. That are a constant reminder to give my best everyday, live a life in a way that genuinely shows, not in words but in deeds, that I truly adore the Giver of it all! 

Non-affiliated link:
Publix's Chocolate Raspberry Pie Recipe

Coffee, Stitcheries, Life

Pour over morning coffee: 1tsp Cafe Bustelo mixed with 1 1/2 tbsps Decaf Cafe Bustelo, plus warm (yes, my creamer must be warm) Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Vanilla Almond creamer to taste. Mmmm, better than in any coffee shop!!! Pour over coffee taste much much better than using a coffee maker.
Trying to work on these 3 projects above this week. On the left, a Little House Needleworks design that was started couple of days ago, will be a gift for one my daughters. Center, Kathy Schmitz's "Garden Sampler", will be redoing the bees. On the right, a pre-printed cross stick kit from Amazon, only a few cross-stitches left on the bear's face and need to finish the back stitch... will be a gift for my other daughter. 
Homeschooling is in full swing. We went on a couple of fun outings, and there are a few others planned. Fibromyalgia flaring a bit more often due to cooler weather, but manageable so far. Autumnal days are so beautiful, some occasional rain, but mainly lovely days. The beauty of this season helps with keeping a positive attitude thru flares.
May you all be doing well! Until next time!

Summer Splendor Update

Brief post to blog Summer Splendor's tiny bit of progress, but progress nonetheless. Need to fix a mistake, are you able to spot it? 
Ended up swapping some of the DMC colors for others that appealed more to me. Keeping threads tidy inside the 
Bitzy Bob, and the entire project in a mesh zipper file bag from Amazon. 
Hope y'all all doing well! Until next time!

Stitches From The Harvest: Give Thanks (Progress)

We had a mini getaway, brought my embroidery with me. Our schedule was a bit packed so not much time to stitch. However, I made progress nonetheless. 
Below is a close up Stem Stitch in progress.

If you like to see the difference in progress since my last post on this project, you'll find that blog post here. 

Also brought some cross stitch projects. The Count Your Blessings work in progress one, but didn't even touch it, and a new start: Summer Splendor by Little House Needleworks. This one I will like to try to stitch it on hand instead of mounted in a q-snap frame or embroidery hoop. Started the border but didn't make much progress, hopefully soon I'll pick it up again... such a cute design!

Below is a small collage of some of our outings while away.

Until next time!