Birds SAL Part 4 & 4th Finish of 2013!

Happy Friday Everyone!  Well this week I was working on my Birds SAL project and I got about 2.5 of the birds done by Tuesday.  BUT...I kept looking at the birds thinking that they looked a bit off.  They seemed to be not centered like I thought they would be and a bit to the right.  I remember thinking that after I finished the first one but as this design is only given in parts and I cant see how exactly it will fit with the rest of the pieces I figured it would work out.  Anyways after I was about half way I had a nagging feeling that things were off so I thought I would check it on the one little piece the designer gives of each part where you can see how other parts interact...and lo and behold my count was off!  I was so frustrated but still decided to rip out and start over since this is the center of the design and I don't know if I will be able to fudge the other parts around it.

So unfortunately I've gone backwards.  Here is where I was last week...

And here is today as I am still trying to remove all of the birds to start over...

Does anyone have any advice for getting all of the thread fibers out of an area where you have undone your stitching?  That is a really annoying part of undoing my work.  Oh well hopefully by next week I will have taken out all of the old wrong stitching and will have at least 2 birds done as a goal.

But onto some GOOD NEWS!  As I took a break from Birds I was able to finish up my Gingerbread Ornament that I started I think back in March or April?  This is my 4th Finish of the year!!  

Here she is!

This design is called "Freshly Baked" and it is designed by Sue Hollis Designs.  I found it in the 2012 Christmas Ornament edition of Just Cross Stitch Magazine.  I substituted the suggested fabric for some beautiful hand-dyed 16 count Melon fabric from  Stitchn Momma and used as close threads as I could manage from my stash.  I made a few small changes like outlining the rosy cheeks and using 2 threads not one on the writing but I really love this design and may make more for Christmas gifts this year!  I am also excited that this fulfills one of my stitching goals this year towards stitching ornaments.  

Last night I also finally signed up for my two World of Charity Stitching quilt squares towards my yearly goals.  I'll share more about those as I get started though.

Happy Stitching!