Last minute finishes

I can definitely say, I've finished all I could this year. Not enought time to do more.
Today's stars -

January fox from Joyful World Calendar (free) - http://thesnowflowerdiaries.blogspot.com

And second sashiko panel. I named it Cherry Blossoms

Happy New Year!

Christmas Ornaments. Part 2.

My plan for 2016 is complete.

Second ornament is stitched, although it will be turned into a real ornement next year.

This is the fifth piece of the Dimentsions Gold Christmas Village (out of 6).

As usual, pictures are before and after backstitch. Love the transformation.

Previously stitched one per year. From left to right - 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Merry Christmas!

Floss-tube introduced me to a lot of beautiful patterns. But I was surprised how many free beautiful patterns are out there. Brooke's Books Animal Advent Calendar is one of them.
The idea was to stitch it one hour per day from 1st to 25th day of every month, to give a bit of progress to every day animal until all of them are finished. I managed to stick to the plan for three months, in November I got anxious and decided to finish the whole thing for Christmas, completing each animal on every day of December - my personal Christmas countdown.
It did work, althought after two weeks I began to feel a bit overwhelmed.

It is stitched on 32 Belfast in Vintage blue. Fabric size is 40x70 cm, althought I should have cut at least 45-50 cm. A bit tight on the sides but I am planning to turn it into a wall-hanging next year and this should be OK.
I made slight changes, like sparkly Kreinik to the snow and star.
It was stitched from 3 August to 24 December 2016.
Last time I stitch something as cutesy as this was back in 2002 - I call them Quilt babies.

Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching!

One hour progress

Two hour progress

Three hour progress

Ready

Quilt babies

Meadows

Another tiny finish.
This is my car project. Second of three.

Permin of Copenhagen kit 14-4169. 22ct Aida one over one. 

4 Sept - 18 Dec 2016

Christmas ornaments. Part 1

For many years already I stitch Christmas ornaments, usually one or two and mostly from Dimensions Gold kits.
First one is done. Dimensions Gold Playful Snowmen No 4.

Love the before and after backstitch transformation.

I hope to turn it into a proper ornament later.
Here are its friends. From left to right - 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Calendar. December.

Joyful World Calendar (free) - http://thesnowflowerdiaries.blogspot.com

Tokyo and Todai Cushions

I know it is winter already but I am happy to finally finish my autumn cushions.

It took me years to sew those two. But I love them.

Both patterns are form Zweigart's Book No 193 and stitched on special Tokyo (leaves) and Today (the other one) fabric squares. Tokyo is the favorite one.

Tokyo. Stitched 20-31 October 2014

Todai. Stitched 20 March - 5 April 2015

Patchwork sampler (by Jan Houtman)

My Patchwork sampler is finished. It was a joy to stitch. It is done on 22ct Zweigart Aida one over one using mostly leftover floss from the Dimensions kits and some DMC.
Started 8 June 2016, finished 29 November 2016.

A rare case when the back looks almost as nice as the front.

Below is my page by page progress report.

Page 1

15 June 2016

Page 2

11 July 2016

Page 3

5 August 2016

Page 4-5

21 September 2016

Page 6

21 October 2016

Page 7

27 October 2016

Page 8

2 November 2016

Page 9-10

Forgot to take picture or accidentally deleted

Page 11

16 November 2016

Page 12

21 November 2016

Page 13

24 November 2016

Page 14-15

29 November 2016

Monkey trouble

I thought I deserve a pair of socks at least once a year. Last time I knitted one was January 2015.
But thoses Monkey socks are nothing but trouble.
1. I broke one of my 2.25 bamboo needles.
2. After I finished cuff, I fitted the sock - too tight. Back to the beginning.
3. Changed to 2.75 needles.
4. Half way throught the cuff I found extra stitches on one needle. Going five rows down.

Finally I caught up with the cuff. What else is waiting for me, I wonder...

Not quite successful project

What is the next stage in spinning cotton? Of course, growing it!
I planted 3 seeds back in May, only one was viable, and more than half a year later - I have a flower! It is sad that it won't become a cotton ball as it is too dark now for it to properly develop but the lesson learnt - next year I will try to start much earlier.

Stitching update. November 2016

1. Patchwork sampler. 2/3 are done. Down to the last row of pages.

2. Pretty, pretty animals. Doing the third hour on them. Animal Advent Calendar from Brooke's Books.

3.Weekend project. The third corner of the second cushion is half done. Zweigart  Naturlich Rot leaflet.

4.Just five hours added to TW Tea Scene.

5. XiuCrafts Wisteria. Strange thing - the same five hours but much less progress. Leaves, leaves, and more leaves...

6. And the tiniest project - Permin mini. I have a fence!

Calendar. November.

I am not quite sure how a peacock relates to November, but I like it.
Joyful World Calendar (free) - http://thesnowflowerdiaries.blogspot.com

Sashiko pattern Temari

The first one is finished. Could not stop stitching, so easy and so fun. A bit hard on my hands but totally worth it!

Going Japanese

Japanese embroidery was on my wish list for a very long time. I stitched a couple of costers some time ago. Loved the result but it was way too hard to stitch because I used old jeans as fabric.

Then I saw Kogin projects on Pinterest and fell in love.
Several months and mail parcels later I have fabric, kits, threads, everything for both Kogin and Sashiko.
Love the pillow but will start with one of Sashiko cushion tops, one will be in blue, another in red.

Love the instructions.