Video updates to finish the year!

Well it seems I'm letting the dust collect on my blog again!  My preferred way of sharing my projects these days is via my YouTube channel, so rather than writing everything down that I've done from August through the end of the year, I'll just post my 2 most recent vlogs. I also like to share lots of pictures on Flickr and Instagram (calico_whimsy) Please follow me on either one or both! Thanks for stopping by! I'll see you in 2016!!! Happy New Year!

Nov stitching update!

Dec stitching update!

If you want to keep up with my stitching through YouTube, please subscribe to my channel or check back here to get the links!

July Flower of the Month-Larkspur!

This post will be short and sweet but I promise to be back very soon with the rest of my July progress! Here is my July Flower of the Month...Larkspur! Head on over to Brownie's Chair to join this SAL! See you soon!

New (to me) Techniques!

I don't know about you, but I'm terrified of framing my own needlework. I've recently watched a YouTube video ( Part 1 and Part 2) about how to do your own framing and so I gave it a try on this very small (3in x 3in) piece. It wasn't much of a challenge but I've decided I still do not care for doing my own framing. With more practice I hope to get better at it.

Another new-to-me finishing technique is this no-sew cube. Well I used the cube technique and tweaked it a bit to make this little Halloween 'flat cube' ornament all ready for Halloween! If you would like to try this yourself, here is a couple of great videos! Video 1 and Video 2

Last but not least I stitched my first Blackwork design (Pattern here) in preparation for a Blackwork Hummingbird pattern from World of Cross Stitching issue 231! I've joined a Facebook SAL and we will start stitching Sept 1! Come join us if you want!!!!

June Update for Flower of the Month!

Just a quick post for the Flower of the Month SAL check in! I finished May-Lily of the Valley in early June and went right to work on....

June-Wild Rose! I finished this up before the end of the month so I'm staying on track. I've got lots more to blog about so I'll try to get some more posts up soon! Thanks for stopping by!

May Progress!

Progress on the May flower-Lily of the Valley from the Flower of the Month Sal. This is the first month I didn't get my flower done and I blame it on Honey Bear (Dimensions)....

 Once I started working on this project, I couldn't pull myself away!

I got nearly half done with it! I love this project and really struggled to pull myself away to work on the flower. My plan for June is to finish the May flower, get a start on the June flower and get back to this and maybe the Blue Jay's Birdhouse. Next blog post will be a Haul post to show my recent purchases!

New Start! Honey Bear Cross-Stitch!

Here's a new, totally unexpected new start for me! After finishing up the first season of Four Seasons Birds, I was all ready to get back to my two current WIPs, May's Flower-of-the-Month and Blue Jay Birdhouse. That's when I came across two different people on line (can't remember where) that are stitching this design. I, of course had to add it to my stash immediately. I found it very hard to come by because it seems to be discontinued now. I did find (what seems like the last online kit) available on Amazon Prime no less. Needless to say I snatched it right up! I fully intended on filing it away to stitch at a later date but that didn't happen. When it arrived, I had this overwhelming urge to delve right in and start stitching it! It came with 14ct beige Aida which I would normally swap out for 18ct but the stores were closed and I didn't want to wait another minute to get started! (Does that ever happen to you??). So here it is....Honey Bear by Dimensions!

Restart of Four Seasons Birds

 Way back at the beginning of 2012, I started this project, Four Seasons Birds by Janlynn, on the Aida that came with the kit. I quickly gave up because I had difficulty stitching the fractional stitches. My intention was to restart it on 28ct even-weave at some point. Well...3 years later, I'm finally doing it! 

Here is my new start AND finish of the first season...Spring!

 I chose to stitch it on 32ct white Lugana. It was still a bit more tedious than I like so I'm going to take a break before I move on to the next season.

Next up......a new (unexpected) start! :)

April Flower Finished!

 I finished the April flower for the Flower of the month SAL - Sweet Pea just a few days before the end of the month!

I had finished up March's flower early so I went ahead and did the frames for the following 3 months before starting April's flower. I'm glad I did that because in the latter part of April, my life got crazy busy and my stitching time decreased quite a bit. I think things will settle down a bit now, hopefully!
I will be back shortly with an update of my other current WIP ( a restart of an old WIP)!

Springtime Joy Progress & Finish!

Completed at the end of March! I really enjoyed this pattern and it was just what I needed to get my Spring/Easter stitching fix! It is so colorful and the pictures just don't do it justice! My plan for this is either a pillow, flat-fold or wall hanging! Thanks for looking and Happy Easter!

*Pattern from Just Cross Stitch magazine April 2015 issue
 Stitched on 32ct Chalice Belfast Linen from Picture This Plus
Hand dyed floss from Crescent Colors, Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts

March Flower Completed!

Just a quick check in to show off my latest completion (sans the flower name underneath) for the Flower of the Month SAL.....the Daffodil (or Jonquil if you prefer!)

Another update coming very soon as I'm so close to finishing Springtime Joy!

Mid-March Cross Stitch Progress!

First and foremost is the progress of the project I spent most of Feb working on. Blue Jays Birdhouse!

This is where I left off at the end of Feb. I REALLY love working on this and it was hard to put away to work on this month's flower....

 However, once I started working on the Jonquil (Daffodil as I know it), I can't pull myself away from it! I'm so ready for Spring and my Daffodils are poking through the dirt as I type this, yay!!!!

 This is my progress as of the middle of March. The last of the second flower, one more shade of green in the stems and the rest of the border to finish it off! I love it! I need to add the flower names before I start next Month's flower.

 I WAS going to go back to stitching the Blue Jays after finishing the flower......but......after seeing Springtime Joy in the April 2015 issue of Just Cross stitch.....It moved to the top of my list!

 I will be stitching this on 32ct Chalice Belfast linen from Picture This Plus, with these scrumptuous hand dyed floss colors from Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colors and Gentle Arts! Update coming soon!

 Here's my corresponding cross stitching VLOG on YouTube

February Flower of the Month Finish!

 I finished up February's flower....Violets, with time to spare!

Once again, I'm leaving the bottom border un-stitched until I decide what, how, or if I will put the flower/month names. Looking forward to starting March's flower!

If you would like to join this SAL, head on over to Brownie's Chair for the details!

Blue Jays Birdhouse Cross Stitch Start!

Yes, I started ANOTHER project on Feb 7th!!! I just couldn't stop myself when I saw this pattern in the Feb 2015 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. It's called Blue Jay Birdhouse by Donna Giampa. And if that's not bad enough, it's the first of FOUR in a series this year!! Oh boy, just what I need, lol!

 I want all the pieces to match, so I decided to go with a neutral fabric so I chose 18ct Fiddler's Aida by Charles Craft. It's one of my favorite fabrics, I have quite a bit of it in my stash and it's easy for me to get locally. 

That being said, after getting it all kitted up and settling down to take my first stitch, what do I see? Fractional stitches! If you've ever stitched fractional stitches, you know they're not easy to do on Aida and especially not 18ct. I was so bummed at the thought of having to find another fabric, so I evaluated how many fractionals there actually are and how difficult it would be to do them on this fabric. The conclusion I came to is the majority of the design is NOT fractionals and most are in the face and outline of the birds. I experimented with one bird head to see if it was doable and with good lighting and a good magnifier, it wasn't too horrible. Actually, I think the result is quite worth it so I'll press on....

Flower of the Month progress!

I have completed the Jan flower, Carnation! Well, almost finished....

I left the bottom border un-stitched for now because I'm planning on adding either the month name or flower name there somewhere. I'm just not sure how to go about it yet such as where to put it, how big, what color, etc. Until I work out the details, I'm moving on to the Feb flower, Violets!

This was my progress Feb 6th. I've decided to have them share a border because I'm cutting it close with the width of my fabric.

And finally, my progress on Feb 10th. All the leaves are done!

If you would like to join the SAL, here's the host link!

Holiday Cheer-Finish!

I have a finish! I finished it up at the end of Jan and I love the way it turned out! Below I've put lots of pictures to show all the details of the beads and metallic threads.....

You can find this design by Ursula Michael in the 2012 issue of Just Cross Stitch mag or online here
Next up, progress on the Flower-of-the-Month SAL
Thanks for looking and Happy Stitching!

New Stitching Stash!

Here are my latest stash acquirements from the latter part of 2014. First, another Mill Hill beaded kit called Nuthatch! I still have not stitched the Chickadee kit but when I do, this will go nicely with it. Oh, and I recently noticed there is a new one just out featuring a Robin with her nest that will be added to my stash in the near future! :)

I fell in love with this pattern by Scattered Seed Samplers, a new designer,  and I  had to own it! It's called Mary Mustardseed and it is so me!! The quote says "Scattered seeds I sow for thee, Oh gather birds and sing for me". I will stitch this in 2015, guaranteed!

Another MUST to stitch in 2015 is this Colorado sampler by Fireside Originals. It was kindly gifted to me by a stitcher from The Cross Stitch Forum. She also lives in Colorado and has this same pattern. Our plan is to each stitch it by the end of the year.

 Front

Another gift from yet a different stitcher from the same forum is this pattern booklet called Majestic Birds of Prey. It only cost me the price of shipping and has some great patterns I hope to stitch one day!

Back

Finally, While browsing Virpi's blog and all her gorgeous projects, I came across this kit and ordered it the very same day! I think it is soooooo adorable!

Happy Stitching!