A Time to Sew............(600-606)

  

Another month has flown by...still stitching away and avoiding the heat/humidity as much as possible. We did make it to my uncles in Mt. Airy, Md ...now my cousins...beautiful home for the Fourth of July. This was the place we traditionally went for all the summer holidays when I was growing up and holds very special memories for me. There would be loads of families there....aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, first cousins, second cousins....and we would gather for softball, horseshoes, s'mores, berry picking, fireworks and walks on the railroad tracks that were up a short hill from the field. My cousin's family graciously invited any who could come to revisit those wonderful childhood memories. ...though one I'd rather forget was the time we got stuck in a train tunnel while a train was coming through!!!!! My Dad and uncle plastered us up against the wall to ride it out and no one was the worse for wear!

Here are some photos from the day...not too many made it, but those that did were very thankful.

House built in late 1700's

The softball field and railroad tracks right up that hill towards the back

You can see the tip of the old stone fireplace where burgers, baked beans and s'mores reigned supreme

 Now on to my stitching.....I'll start with my FFO's.....Measure Twice and Cut Once Etui by Sue Hawkins. This was stitched on 18 ct. canvas with supplied fibers and was a car project.

Next is Olde Glory  by Kristy Greene. This chart and the supplies were gifted to me by a friend (thanks Lisa). Not sure why I started it over one as I had seen Lisa's and it was definitely over two, but I did it twice...once over one on 36 ct. Lakeside Examplar and then over two on a 36 ct mystery linen. The over two version became a pin keep and I'm still deciding what to do with the over one. I stuffed it with walnut shells.

 

White Christmas by Ewe and Eye and Friends is my July ornament for the #12in21ornamentsal on IG. I had seen Carol's, from Stitching Dreams, finished piece and was inspired. I found the chart at Salty Yarns and stitched it on 32 ct R&R Settlers Green with white silk floss. I added  pom-pom trim around the edges and stuffed it with polyfill.

This was a class project with Beth from Summer House Stitche Workes, Crowning Glory. The class finally happened last Saturday after being postponed twice due to Covid. It was so nice to get together in person and see my fellow Guild members. We had to pre-stitch the needlework crown and then mounted it and placed in the metal crown. we also covered the box with lovely paper and learned how to make the scissor fob and thread keep.  A great class all around!!!

Last, but definitely not least, is Dreaming Girl by Barbara Ana Designs. I fell in love with this when I saw it floating around on IG. I bought the chart and started searching for the perfect fabric; I found this PTP 32 ct Twilight fabric and it was the bomb. I used Anchor threads and framed it in a small frame I bought at Hobby Lobby and painted yellow. It is purposely not centered in the frame, per the designer, and I love the way it looks.

I am still chugging along on some SAL's and here they are: 

Houses of Hawk Run Hollow by Kathy Barrick. I am down to one block, but am doing different wording than what's on the chart...still thinking through that. But here is block 9:

Next is the July Wordplay by Brenda Gervais.

Finally is Jade Band Sampler by iStitch Designs...one more week to go!!! I knew I had just enough of the darker blue to finish this, but it disappeared and I haven't been able to find it...after exhaustive searching in the sofa with flashlight. So the final sections will be a tad darker blue...can you see the difference???

 Then... I had an inkling to sew a few project bags and here are the fruits of my labor. The blue one with houses is Stars Hollow and lined with fabric that says "Lukes"...you'll know what I mean if you're a fan of the Gilmore Girls. :)

I started keeping track of my needlework projects in 1997; I would enter the chart name, designer and number of hours stitched in a journal like this......

Then, back in 2019, I stumbled across a few of these cute spiral notebooks at TJ Maxx. I started a page for each project and had room for info on fabric, fibers, start and finish dates, etc..

I depend on my blog for photos...and hope it never goes bye-bye!!!

For those who do not know what the numbers in parentheses mean in my title line, they are a partial accounting of my finished projects, called Stasi's Stitch Stroll. Back in 2017 I had the brilliant (?) idea to post a  finished project a day, never thinking I'd have one for every day of the year. Surprise!!!! I had that number and more, so as I finish new projects, I make note in the title line of what number I'm on now so I have a record, so to speak.  Sadly, I stitched many pieces before I started keeping track and gave lots away as gifts, so they are only in my memory (what little I have left). :) Every now and then, I'll come across one, which is the case with this next photo. I stitched this for my nephew back in 1993. He just had his first child, and my SIL brought the pillow out I had made all those years ago. I don't recall the designer, but there was a series for different celebrations and they all looked like a piece of mail. (If anyone knows what they are, please let me know). This piece is now officially #606 in my stroll!

Well, I took a break and went to the gym, am back now and ready for a nap!!! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi