2nd Finish of 2017 Darth Vader by Natali Needleworks

Hello and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!  I am desperately trying to catch you up with my finishes from 2017.  My second finish of the year was way back in April.  I started Darth Vader by Natali Needleworks on Etsy on April 2nd and finished it on April 30th, 2017!

My husband is a big Star Wars fan and I had been planning to make this for him for awhile.  I had originally ordered some hand dyed fabric from the now closed Dye Stitch Love.  This is the piece I ordered called Full Moon 18 count Aida.

Now we all know that hand dying fabric is an art and not a science but I was really sad when I received this fabric.  The photo on the website was more of a smoky white and black which was exactly what I was looking for.  I took a photo with the Black 310 DMC that is about 95% of the design, and I didn't think it would contrast well with that fabric.

So I decided to try one of my favorite fabric and floss dyers Nguyen at Fiberlicious. And she really came through in a big way for this project!  Here is the fabric I purchased from her "Ashes to Ashes."

With more lighter white areas I felt that the Black floss would pop more.  Here are some of my progress photos of this design...

And here is it completely finished!!

This is the needleminder I used of Princess Leia from Gina's Unique Boutique.

When I returned to my hometown this summer I was able to take this piece to be professionally framed at Wheaton's Frame Shop, and here is the FFO Finished project!

I hope to update you with the rest of my 2017 finishes before the end of this year!  Until then...Happy Stitching!

First Finish of 2017 Mom and Baby Turtle

Hello Stitchers and Crafters!  I figured I would take a little time to backtrack and get you caught up with my finishes so far this year.  It took until April for me to have my first project finish and it was.... my Heaven and Earth Designs Mom and Baby Turtle by Annya Kai!! I started this way back when on December 30th 2013 when I was still living in Norway.  I worked on it in Nepal and I finally finished stitching it on in Taipei on April 1st 2017!

Here is the finished stitching in all of its colorful glory...



This is where I had left off with it back in August after the Summer Olympic Challenge.



I had done everything so far with the cross country stitching method but then I decided I like the finished feeling of parking in a 10 x 10 square so I did the rest that way.  Here are some progress photos...







When my family went home for a visit back to Michigan I took this to my favorite framing shop.  And this is the result!



I went back and forth with choosing the pink frame or a dark green one but I decided I wanted to highlight my favorite part of the turtle which is her colorful shell.

Thank you all for your lovely comments and inspiring words during the past 3 years that I have worked on this piece.  Happy Stitching!

First Framed Finish of 2013!

If you can remember way back in January I had my first project finish of the year with my WIP of Carl Larsson's Letter Writing.  When I went on vacation in the US last April I took it with me to my favorite framer who does and AMAZING job on all my pieces and here is the final result!

Here is a close up where you can see the stitching and design a little better.

I received this in the mail last week and I just wanted to show off the finished product.  Enjoy!

I'm back!

Hello everyone out there!  I have been really horrible about writing since I came back home to Norway from our vacation to the US.  I can't believe we have been home for almost a whole month yikes!

Anyways we really enjoyed being back in our homeland, hosting a "Berry" fun Strawberry Shortcake party for our little girl's first birthday, and seeing lots of family and friends.  Of course luckily I did get to do a little craft shopping while I was home :)  I really do appreciate the access to all of my faves, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Jo-Ann Fabrics, especially after squeezing my stroller in the tiny hobby shops in Norway.

I wasn't up to much of any crafting or stitching wise while on vacation but I did stop in to get some cross stitch pieces framed by Wheaton's Framing.  The first piece was my YOTA piece Baby Monkey Sampler and I can't wait to see how it turned out!  I also had Letter Writing by Carl Larsen framed and I am still waiting for it to arrive in the mail.  The owner of the frame shop was gracious enough to mail it back to me in Norway for no additional charge :)  I really hope it doesn't get lost in the mail...

When I came home I started stitching a small Christmas ornament from the JCS Ornament issue but I don't have any pics to share with you yet.

I plan to write a post about the fun I had decorating for my little girl's Strawberry Shortcake theme Birthday Party but here is a teaser pic of the amazing cake we ordered from a local bakery in Michigan.  I wish I could take credit for how beautiful it looked and how great it tasted but I can't!

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I also have started to slowly work in a project for a SAL.  I was supposed to finish the first part in February but I just finished charting the whole design out.  (It is a big one at 360 x 310 stitches).  I will show it off when I have some more progress done and hopefully I can stitch quickly to make up for being 3 months behind on it!

Happy Crafting All!

First Cross Stitch Project Finish of 2012!

This project reminds me that I DO actually finish projects once in a while!  And this one was completed in a short period of time.  I have had this kit since I got married (over five years ago!).  My mom was going to make it for me but she ended up giving it to me a few years back figuring that I would probably complete it before she would.  It was a relatively easy stitch since there isn't any background to work on.  I started this project during the last week of December when I went to a city in Eastern Europe and wasn't sure how safe it would be for me to walk around.  So I brought this project to work on in case I would be stuck in my hotel room.  Luckily it was safe and I could explore a little bit so I didn't get much done while there, the bulk of this though I stitched while I was back in the US very pregnant and waiting to have my baby.  I finished it in March 2012 so it only took me 3 months to start and finish!  That is the earliest that I have ever finished a project of this size.

Here are some photos of its progression...

Here is a close up of the beading.  This is the first time I have ever added beads to a cross stitch project.

 Here is the finished piece all framed by my favorite framing company in the whole world Wheaton's Framing and Art Gallery and ready to be mailed back to us in Norway!

Project Details:

Two Hearts One Love

Distributed by Janlynn

Designed by Stoney Creek Collection

Stitching Finished Size: 14" x 12"

 

This last image is one of the many beautiful sunrises I captured while staying at my "Downtown" hotel where I stitched the bulk of this piece back in Michigan.