Christmas everyday

   I've committed to another monthly series and my first stitch-a-long.  This time, it will be Christmas all year long!  Country Cottage Needleworks is releasing a series of 12 charts entitled "Santa's Village" and I couldn't resist the tiny Santa in the sneak peek.

Country Cottage Needleworks, Santa's Village image found here.

   Each of the 12 pieces flow into the next, so I'll be stitching them all together on one piece of fabric like my monthly cottages.

    I filled out my floss collection with the colors I didn't already have and I ordered a piece of 32 count Amber linen by Wichelt.  I knew I wanted to go with a darker fabric than what the pattern calls for because I really want the white (snowflakes!) to pop.  Not sure I'm sold yet on this color, but I'll wait until I see the first chart ("Santa's House") before I decide but its growing on me.

   I'm super excited already and the first chart won't be released until the middle of the month! I guess I'll have to keep working on my cottages to pass the time.

it's nearly halloween time

   Last night I put the last few stitches into the Very Scary Mystery Sampler.  This last piece was my favorite of the sampler to stitch.  I mean... do you see that kitty?!

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 3

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC, using conversions provided by pattern

   I stitched the entire piece as charted using all DMC floss, colors as called for by the pattern.  I think I did pretty good considering this is my first cross stitch piece worked on linen and it's the first time I've worked a pattern that calls for a few special stitches.   

   Here's the whole piece.  Embellishments and beads are coming soon...

   My finished size comes to 6.25" by 18.25" after stitching over 2 on 28 count linen.  And amazingly, I found an 8" by 20" frame online which has been ordered.  So, I'll be experimenting with mounting and framing this piece.  It will be finished in time for Halloween!   

1/3 left to go

   Last night I finished up Part 2 of the Very Scary Mystery Sampler.

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 2

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC, using conversions provided by pattern

   This part of the sampler seemed to drag on forever, even though it only took a week (at most) to stitch.  I think it's because Part 3 is so great, I can't wait to get started on it!

   Not sure how I'm going to finish this once it's done.  It's a large piece especially since I stitched it on 28 count.  I'll probably need a custom frame.  I don't own a sewing machine, so my finishing options are pretty limited.  

   It will definitely be displayed somewhere for Halloween even if it includes my unfinished, masking taped edges.  Here's the entire piece so far:  

branching out

   I recently got the bug to branch out past cross stitch kits (mainly from Dimensions) and fell down the rabbit hole with the Lizzy*Kate Very Scary Mystery Sampler. Being new to working "kit-less" I stocked up on DMC floss and picked up some linen from my local big box craft store. I can safely say that I will never go back to working on aida. I'm not too happy with the linen used for this piece, but working with linen nonetheless has solved my cross stitch issues I encountered while using aida.  

   Here is my first installment, sans beads and embellishments.

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 1

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC using conversions provided by pattern

  I love this first piece of the sampler! Lots of variety and color changes to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, the linen is practically transparent. So, I've had to develop some interesting stitching techniques to keep threads on the backside from showing through. It's getting a bit more tricky on part 2 of the sampler.  

Look for an update soon!