An Enchanted Stitcher

I received my squares, from Pokua! That was really quick, especially coming from Australia! The colors are gorgeous. She knew I loved colorful gardens and flowers. I love my squares. She also made me a beautiful beaded FOB. Also in my package she sent some pretty fabric, and a post card of some Australian Wildflowers.

Chatelaine's Snowman's Way Home
I finished stitching all the sparkly stars last night.

Started March 1st finished March 23.
32 ct. Navy Belfast

On Friday I took a trip to my LNS for some new things. I picked up Country Cottage Needlework's Rose Cottage Threadpack. First I want to work on my Squares for my Fair and Square Partner Pokua from Perth, Australia. I am so excited, she has inspired me to add Prairie Schooler's The Earth Laughs in Flowers, and her love for French Sampler designers like A Mon Ami Pierre. Can't wait to start stiching on the design I had fun picking for her.

Wishing you a happy stitching Day!

What I love most about Chatelaine's designs are all the gorgeous colors she uses. I chose Snowman's Way Home , for the shades of blues and turquoises against the navy blue belfast linen. The design calls for 28ct., which I normally stitch on, and I've stitched on 32ct before, which is why I chose the Belfast to try something and get more used to working on 32ct. I'm not to fond of stitching on Dark colors of fabric, but I think my snowman turned out cute. Instead of using the DMC gold metallic thread, I used the Gold Treasure Braid I allready had, using only one thread. I tried two threads and it looked too bulky. I'm hoping to have this done tonight. I know the one side looks crooked, it needs a good ironing. Dont'cha just love the color of his cap and scarf.

Now I know WHY, Queen stitches are called, 'Royal' Pains in the Butt. By the time I had gotten the last half of them done, I found the trick to using the two threads the design calls for, without it looking too bulky. Which means I will need to frog the first half, and redo them, I'll wait to do that after I'm done with everything else.

Here's the progress I have gotten to so far. I had hoped to finish this by the end of Febuary, but I started quite a few more projects, but this will remain my focus piece.

One of my Febuary Finishing goals is this Quaker Heart, that I found from Piece Work magazine. I am using the Gentle Arts Sampler Thread in 'Cherry Wine', that it calls for, on 28ct. white lugana. The colors range for just what the colors suggest, from a bright cherry red, to a deep garnet wine color. Very pretty. I'm close to finishing the front part.

I'm feeling like I am making some good progress on this. It does stitch up really quick. For this band I still have the Queen Stitches to do and I'd like to finish up half the heart borders on each side, I'm hoping to finish the stitching minus the hardanger and the beading by the end of this month.

As soon as I recieved the chart of Patricia Andrle's Illuminated House Blessing, I started stitching on it right away. Here's my first progress pic after only 2 hours of stitching. The colors are beautiful.