Stitching resolutions

My cross stitch resolution for this year is simple!  I must finish these two gigantic projects that I started many moons ago!

I feel a bit guilty every time I start a new pattern because I know that these two have been languishing for quite some time.  Love Never Fails by Barbara Ana Designs - I started it a few years ago before getting side-tracked by other lovely patterns.  I really need to get it finished!

This is the Day by Plum Street Samplers which I started a while ago has also been consigned to the "waiting basket" for me to take notice of and get on with!

New Year's Day seems like the perfect time to get these two gorgeous patterns back in the production line!  Might take me a while, but I'm determined to get on and try and complete them!

Wish me luck!!!!!

Love, Liz

In the nick of time!

Phew, just managed to finish off putting the date on this lovely little reindeer stitch.  

My last finish of 2024 and on the last day of the year!  This is a little freebie by Debbie St Germain and can be obtained from her blog Woolensails.  There are some other lovely free patterns there too.

Enjoy your stitching!

Love, Liz

Snow globe snowman

Isn't he just the cutest!  A really quick stitch too!  This lovely little snow globe snowman is from The Snow Ball booklet by Brenda Gervais.

The booklet is full of wonderful little cross stitch patterns with a snowman theme.

This is the first I've stitched, so many more to go!

Love, Liz

It's all about the snowman!

This Christmas seems to be all about snowmen as far as my cross stitching is concerned!  I just finished this cute little smiling snowman.

Isn't he gorgeous?!  The pattern is Frosty Greetings by Needle Treasures Nook.  I downloaded the PDF from their Etsy shop.  I really enjoyed stitching this happy little snowman.  I love his blue hat.  

There are some lovely winter patterns on the Needle Treasures Nook - why not take a look.  

Hope you are enjoying your winter stitching.  Let me know in the comments below if you know any other cute snowman patterns.

Love, Liz

Gingerbread house cross stitch

Time to get some of my Christmas cross stitch pieces out of boxes.  This cute little Gingerbread Saltbox cross stitch is a free pattern from the lovely Melisa at Pinker n Punkin Quilting Blog.  

I added little Christmas buttons to the corners then just pinned it to the back of a box frame.

I'm going to be on the look-out for some little gingerbread people to perhaps add to the frame.

Hope you are enjoying re-visiting your Christmas cross stitch pieces.  Please check out Melisa's blog as it is so lovely and Christmasy  (and there's a new freebie house)!  

Love, Liz

All things nautical!

I've got a cross stitch finish!

I was determined to finish Comfort Lighthouse by Carriage House Samplings before I started any Christmas cross stitch and I finished it off this morning!

I just love this ship!

I love it.  When I first collected my threads for this project and saw all the blues, I wondered how it would work out.  But it is amazing!

I'm now going to look for a frame and add it to my "nautical wall" at home.  (Well, when I say nautical wall - I have three other cross stitch patterns with ships in them on that particular wall!)

Love, Liz

Too cold for mermaids?

It's a really frosty day here in Greenock so taking the opportunity to get a little cross stitching time to myself.  Not in the Christmas stitching mood yet, so getting on with Comfort Lighthouse by Carriage House Samplings.  I've just finished this lovely mermaid.

I also stitched (a few months ago) this pretty mermaid from Teresa Kogut's Seaworthy cross stitch book.

Don't think there will be too many mermaids out in the River Clyde today - far too chilly!

Love, Liz

Cross stitch snowman - in July?

I was determined to stitch something for Christmas in July and so I looked out this beautiful pattern - Jingle Jolly Joy by Misty Pursel (Luminous Fiber Arts) and stitched this cute little snowman.  Misty has some beautiful cross stitch patterns - check out her site by clicking the link highlighted above.

All those white stitches!  I don't know about you, but my white stitches don't seem to lie properly, but I think these are ok.  I didn't stitch the word Joy, but added another snowflake in its place.

I like this blue fabric myself and I'm pleased that the white stitches show up well on it.  What did you stitch for Christmas in July?  Let me know in the comments section below.

Love, Liz

All the mermaids!

I've made a bit of progress on my latest stitch - Comfort Lighthouse by Carriage House Samplings.

I've got a few more nautical patterns I really want to stitch.  Seaworthy by Teresa Kogut is the most gorgeous pattern and I just love the mermaids.  Think I will stitch the mermaid on her own next and then try the whole pattern next summer.

Summer Quaker by Lila's Studio is another beautiful nautical pattern and guess what - there's a mermaid in that too!  I think I'm just going to stitch the centre part of the pattern, but I've seen it stitched up and it looks beautiful, so perhaps I'll be brave and stitch the whole thing!

Hope you are enjoying whatever crafty ventures you enjoy.

Love, Liz

Nautical Cross Stitch

I have wanted to start this lovely cross stitch pattern - Comfort Lighthouse - for ages but wanted to finished off my house trios first.

Got a tiny start today - just a couple of stitches, but at least I can settle down this evening and get on with it.  The pattern is by Carriage House Samplings.

I found this little pottery shard on a local beach a few years ago.  It brings back lots of lovely memories of a wonderful day out.  You can read about it here.

Hope you are having a good week and are looking forward to the weekend.

Love, Liz

Don't forget to check out my local history blog - The Greenockian.

Easter houses and bunnies

A bit out of season, but I've just finished stitching this lovely cross stitch pattern - Easter Houses by Waxing Moon Designs.

I love the bright colours and especially that bunny on top of the house - so cute.

I stitched all the houses together in a row rather than individually.  I've done this before with Spring Houses by Waxing Moon Designs.  I've also stitched Christmas Houses separately - you can see them here.

Again, totally out of season, but I'm currently stitching Halloween Houses.  Hope to be able to show you that soon.

Love, Liz

Cross stitch fabric dyeing

I had a piece of 16 count white aida fabric which I hadn't used and was unlikely to use any time soon.  I had already coffee-dyed some previously, so I thought I would try something different.

I bought a Dylon Hand Dye sachet in Vintage Blue and gave it a go.  I tried it first with an oddment of 14 count aida, just to see how it would turn out.  

I am so pleased with the result.  It has very light variations which is just perfect for the new nautical cross stitch pattern I'm about to start.  I didn't use the whole sachet of dye crystals, so have plenty left to use again.

I'm going to try some other colours now that I have had success with this.

Love, Liz

Coronation Tea Cosy

Just in time for the King's Coronation I knitted a tea cosy in patriotic colours - red, white and blue.

That should keep the teapot warm while I'm watching the Coronation on TV in a couple of weeks.  Isn't time flying by!

I've also got this Union Flag cross stitch which I made ages ago.  I love it!  You can read more about it on a previous blog post here.

Perhaps French Fancies weren't the best choice of cake!

Love, Liz

Merry Mini Santas

I've just finished all eight cross stitch Santas from The Prairie Schooler's Merry Mini Surprise pattern.  Aren't they cute!

I really enjoyed stitching every one of these little Santa figures.  Each is different and stitched up quickly.

My favourite is the Santa with the walking stick with holly around it (above) - he is so cute!  Funnily enough I asked Hubby which one he liked best and he picked the same one!

Hope to get these made into little ornaments soon. 

Think I might have a new Christmas tree next year with cross stitch ornaments on it.  Last year I stitched some other Prairie Schooler Santas and Snowmen.  You can see them here.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going well.

Love, Liz