First Finish of the Year!

I'm happy to report I've had a finish already this year.  I'd wanted to stitch this one back in November when I got the substitute floss on the Auburn retreat.  I wouldn't let myself start until I got the peep's ornaments done.  That was my motivation to get those ornaments done!

This was my progress on the first day!

Here it is shortly after midnight one New Year's Eve!

Design: Her Majesty - Pincushion

Designer: Blackbird Designs from the Honeybee Hill chart

Fabric: 32 ct. Hive by Fabric Flair

Floss: WDW & GAST as charted

Started: 12/29/15

Finished: 1/9/16

Completed: TBD

Here she is all done!  I really loved stitching on that Hive fabric.  It was gifted to me by my peep, Linda.  I'm planning to finish it as a mini pillow.

Funny story about the fabric, I had to laugh at myself, when I was putting the first few stitches in the honeycombs on the left side I realized I had the fabric going the wrong direction.  It is printed with the combs going vertically and I stitched it with them going horizontally.

Now I know that's getting picky and probably nobody would notice but me if I didn't say something. I had a really good laugh when I discovered it.  The way I discovered it was that the top and bottom had more fabric than the sides.  It was easy to see that since the design is a rectangle.  Guess I was in a hurry to get started and didn't even notice.  Oh well, I'm not taking it out and it doesn't bother me at all.  It's just a funny thing to note here. 

I found some fabric this past weekend that matches the flowers in the borders.  Now I just need to have a finishing day to complete it.  Maybe this weekend.  We are forecasted to get snowed upon again.  We've been spoiled up to this point.

It's a short and sweet one today.  I hope you are all well and happily stitching on something.  Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit with me.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Queen Bee

My peep, Marsha gifted me with the chart and fabric for this little cutie a while back.  She and I both dearly love anything bees!  She and I made a pact to keep an eye out for it for each other.

Design: Queen Bee mini card freebie

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 28 ct. even weave

Floss:  as charted (1 over 1)

Started:  4/29/13

Finished:  5/2/13

Completed:  5/29/13

The minute I saw it on the spring Market previews I knew exactly what how I wanted to finish it!   I had intended to complete this one sooner but it got lost in the shuffle that is my messy stitch room.  When I did some much needed sorting this past weekend it resurfaced so I finally got it finished.  It took me all of about five minuted to finish it up too.  Silly girl!

Here it is close up!  I ran across this pocket watch a while back and knew I'd find some thing to put in it.  This seemed to be the perfect chart when I laid eyes on it.

Here's the packaging in case you want to find one for yourself.  I found mine in the scrapbook aisle at the local Hobby Lobby.  I'm sure the online scrapbook shops probably have it as well.  I'd do a search for "Tim Holtz idea-ology pocket watch."

Just for fun, here's Marsha's version worked on the very same fabric stitched 2 over 2 and mine done 1 over 1.  I really find it interesting to see them side by side like this.  It really gives you perspective on how the size changes.

Thank you so much, Marsha for gifting me with this little cutie!  I'm so lucky to have a friend who shares the love of bees.  We enable each other quite often!  LOL!


Thanks for your visit with me today.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  I'm looking forward to mine.  It's going to be a busy one packed full of lots of fun!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Carre d' Abeilles by Jardin Prive...DONE!!!

Bottom

Sides A-G & H-M

Pins gifted to me by my buddy Pam S.!

Sides N-U & V-Z

Top

Design: Carre d' Abeilles

Designer: Jardin Prive

Fabric: 40 ct. Cream

Floss: DMC as charted

Started: 1/1/12

Finished: 4/20/12

Completed: 4/24/12

I'm so thrilled to share this finish with you today!  As you can see from the dates, this was my January 1st start.  It took me a bit longer than it probably should have due to several unexpected events in my life this year.  However, I was determined to keep at it until it was done and I'm so happy I did.

I fell in love with this one the minute I saw it and knew it was one I just HAD to stitch!  I got lucky last fall when I visited The Strawberry Sampler that they had the pattern!  I was over the moon when I saw it there that day.

This is a French chart and most all of the instructions are written in French.  I was able to figure out the backstitch colors and the finishing without too much trouble.  Thank goodness I read French better than I speak it! 

This is the second mattress style finish for me and I really like the way this one went together. I can definitely foresee myself doing this finish again!

You'll notice in the picture there are little backstitched letters just outside the main backstitches.  Those are there to aide in putting it together!  I wasn't going to stitch them but decided that the designer put them on the chart for a reason so I went with it.  I'm so glad I did!  They made the finishing so easy!

You'll also notice that sides H-M and V-Z are oriented vertically instead of horizontally like the other two sides.  I didn't understand that upon first glance.  Turns out the designer's reasoning is that not all fabrics are woven the same vertically and horizontally so by stitching them this way you get even tension when putting the pieces together.

It reminded me of the "grain" on quilt fabric.  It really does make a difference in quilting and I get where this designer is coming from for that reason.  I wonder if this person has a quilting/sewing background?  Hmmm...thoughts to ponder!

I stuffed this one with quite a few layers of quilt batting and used a really stiff interfacing to make sure the sides didn't bow out but would stay fairly crisp.  I think it worked like a charm!

Overall, this is probably one of the most enjoyable stitches I've done in a while.  I love the little bee skep and the shading on the bees.  I also love the pinks and greens together...one of my favorite color combinations.  I will definitely stitch more from Jardin Prive given the opportunity.

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On an unrelated note, I received an unexpected stitching related gift from a colleague today I want to share but I'll save it for another day! Stay tuned!

Thanks to all for stopping by today and welcome to my new followers.  You all just make my day with your visits.  Truly!

More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

I've been RAK'd

Look what came in the mail yesterday!  A very sweet RAK from BeckySC.  I love that card.  It just makes me smile.  I just love that little bee!  Mary Engelbreit is one of my favorite illustrators too.

A while back Becky posted on her blog that she was destashing and wanted to know if anyone was looking for anything particular.  So I left a comment hoping to find what I was looking for.  I live by the philosophy "don't ask, don't get."  Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you have to wait a bit longer.

Unfortunately, Becky didn't have any of the charts I'm looking for but I was blessed with plenty of good things anyway.  Just look at all this stitchy goodness!

I've known Becky for a while now and she has the sweetest most giving spirit ever!  She knows I love bees and she totally set me up with bee charts.  Just look at all those cuties.  A bunch of them even had charms and beads with them.  There was even a chart with acorns thrown in just for good measure.

Thank you so much dear friend!  You certainly know how to make a person's day.  I appreciate your kindness and generosity.  I love everything you sent.   I am just blown away!

I'm looking forward to the weekend.  I plan to kick it off at the LNS for our monthly stitch-in tomorrow night and Saturday I'm going to try to make it to the quilt show.  I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Bee Floss Tag #2 Finish!

Design:  #45 Garden Verses

Designer:  Prairie Schooler

Fabric:  32 ct. Cream

Floss:  DMC as charted (except wings are DMC 415)

Started:  8/27/11

Finished:  8/27/11

Completed: 10/16/11

As you might remember from this post last week, I gave my first bee floss tag to my "Bee Buddy," Marsha.  I just couldn't resist stitching this one again.

The fabric in the picture is what I used for backing.  Since I used a scrap of 32 ct. this time around it's a little smaller than the one Marsha has.  I think this one turned out just as cute.

Thank you to all who commented on yesterday's post.  You all really made my day!  I am so humbled.  It was like getting hugs in my inbox.  Thank you so much!

The Inspired Stitcher

Gifts given and received

I want to share a couple gifts I've stitched.  Since both the recipients have posted them to their respective blogs, I thought I'd share them here.  Mostly so I can remember when I stitched them.  I thought you might like to see them too.

Design:  “From Me to You”  from the Forget-Me-Nots chart (front)

Verse from #85 “More Friends” (back)

Designer:  Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 32 ct. Lambswool

Floss:  DMC as charted (verse 1 over 1)

Started:  8/9/11

Finished and Completed: 8/27/11

 First up is the pincushion I stitched for Jenny's birthday last month.  I know she has a fondness for birds and we share a love of Praire Schooler designs so this seemed to be the perfect fit. 

When I make gifts I often like to put the date and initials on the back. Since that information was charted on the front, I couldn't leave the back naked!  I found the verse on another Prairie Schooler chart and stitched it over one.


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Design:  Bee from #45 Garden Verses

Designer:  Prairie Schooler

Fabric:  28 ct. cream scrap

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started: 5/14/11

Finished and completed:  5/30/11

This one I originally made for myself but ended up gifting it to Marsha at the Tiara Retreat.  She had admired it when I brought it to a stitch-in this summer so I knew she liked it.


She and I have a "thing" for bees so I took if off my floss ring and gave it to her.  I had already started stitching another one for her but hadn't gotten it done yet so I just gave her this one.  I can always finish the other one for myself another day.  Now she has a floss tag too!

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I've also been remiss in thanking Jenny properly for these wonderful gifts.  I love it when the mailman bring surprises!  Don't you?


I had coveted both these as soon as I saw them and my sweet friend gifted them to me.  I will always think of you, Jenny, when I see them.  Thank you so very much!


I hope you've enjoyed your visit today.  Thank you for stopping by!


The Inspired Stitcher

For the love of bees

"Busy Bee" by Lorri Birmingham

I thought I would share with you a couple of finishes from the archives.  When I travel I like to take a small stitching project with me.  Both of these were car projects on different vacations a couple years apart.

The first one is a tin topper that came as a kit.  It's stitched on Aida with DMC as kitted.  It worked well in the car since I could easily see the holes without stabbing myself. 

This was my first tin topper finish.  I finished it after we got home of course.  It's not the greatest finish job in the world but I attribute that to the Aida not smoothing around the corners very well.

The second one is a fob I made for BeckySC as a thank you for having won a giveaway she did last year (it was a most generous giveaway).  I stitched this one on a random linen scrap.  I think it might have been 28 or 32 ct.  I used the exact same called for DMC.

I decided to turn it into a fob instead of a tin topper.  I used different bees on this one too.  These are from Just Another Button Company.  The ones on the tin are charms that came in the kit.  I actually like the buttons a little bit better.

I'm sharing this with you today to encourage you to try finishing something differently than what is recommended.  The results can sometimes be just as cute if not cuter!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Inspired Stitcher

Baltimore Market Wishlist Additions

A little enabeler I know sent me some links today.  Now I have some new things added to my ever growing wish list!  What did she send me to look at you may ask?  Check these out!

 

Puffin & Co. Magnetic Needle Nannys
Acorn

Puffin & Co. Magnetic Scissor Pal
Acorn

Seriously, are these not the cuest acorns?  She knows me all too well. 

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She didn't send me a link to this but I already knew about it from reading the Blackbird Designs blog.  

New BBD book!

History and stitching, what's not to like about that?! Oh yes, and the purchase helps out a museum. Well, count me in sister!

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So then I got curious and started mousing and clicking and found this.

Jardin Prive' - Carre d'abeilles

 I love those pink flowers and those bees are just too dang cute to resist!

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I'll leave you with this quote that is now running through my head:

“God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind that I will never die.”

 - Bill Watterson

I think that applies to stitching stash don't you?

The Inspired Stitcher