Smalls SAL and OPAMS

Greetings! WHEW! I've been busy and lovin' it!  Here's my Smalls SAL (hosted by the lovely Heather from Stitching Lotus).  It's a freebie from Brookes Books.

3.5 x 4.25 inches

On to OPAMS - Here's another freebie from Brookes Books.

Duncan Dog - 3.75 x 4.5 inches

Here's a Lizzie Kate design:

4.75 x 5.25 inches

Now for my next adventure!

Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party

Once again, it's Monday and time to link up with Super Mom - No Cape's link party. I've been a busy bee -

Here's progress on my dear step-grandson's Christmas stocking. It's on hiatus right now, as I've run dangerously close to running out of the background yarn. I have six strands left and am waiting for the shipment of more yarn so I can finish it. It's just about killing me not to be able to pick this up - but I know I need to be patient so I can use the old yarns with the new in case there's a bit of a dye lot change.

My dear friend and Stitching Sister, Kaye (Kitten Stitching), is hosting a Christmas Ornament SAL. This month, the subject matter for the ornament was Christmas tree and/or presents.

I stitched this little ornament (freebie from our friend, Lynn B at Happiness is Cross Stitching).

And, if you "take out a long bow", as Kaye would say, here's a Christmas tree - pattern by Sue Hillis Designs, Inc., featured in the 2013 "Just Cross Stitch" Christmas Ornaments magazine.

I've finished another ornament for the Smalls SAL....I'll post that on Wednesday. With any luck at all, I'll have a few more finishes this week - I'm on a ROLL, Baby!!

Meet Ayn

Finished Ayn, another one of Dana's of MiniatureArt.com.

She measures 5.5 inches high. Each teeny-tiny bead was glued on by me and the key ring is thin jewelry wire I twisted into a round ring.  Someone requested I put something next to her for perspective, as they didn't realize these dolls are so small. (Great idea! Thank you!).

 Ayn - 5.5 inches tall

Better Pictures

Greetings! I was so excited about Saphyr, I simply took photos with my iPhone. DH has the face camera - thought I'd share some better pics of Saphyr:

Meet Saphyr

Here's my latest 1:12 scale doll - Saphyr. She's a kit from Dana Burton.  You can go to her website here.

She was to have had a broom, but three failed attempts at making one left her with a magic wand instead. She is graced with a sparkly purse, sapphire earrings with drop pearls, a sapphire ring and a sparkly tiny flower at the base of her V-backed gown.

Saphyr - 5.75 inches tall

Now - back to my sweet grandson's Christmas stocking!!!

Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party

I worked like a wild woman on my sweet step-grandson's Christmas stocking this past week - Here's the progress -

Remember last week?

Many thanks to Super Mom - No Cape! for hosting this link party.

Meet Bernadine

Here's my third attempt at creating and dressing a doll - Bernadine. She's porcelain and I ordered her from Fashion Dolls in Miniature. However, I used my own material and made decisions on the draping and dressing myself. I used some of Dana's tutorials to guide me through the step-by-step process. The French hood idea came from here. I think I"ll attempt to make the next French hood from FIMO clay, as I found the tiny pearls and gold beads are very delicate and I had some problems keeping them attached to the cardboard.

Bernadine - 5.75 inches tall

Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party

Well, I've made some progress since my last post - I've been stitching like a mad woman today on dear Cole's stocking:

18 mesh needlepoint stocking

Several people asked me where I found this darling stocking. I purchased it at NeedlepointShop.com and the designer is "Alexander". There are even some ones with cute cats! (Kaye - that one was for you <G>).

A special "thank you" to Super Mom - No Cape! for hosting this great link party each and every Monday.

It's Not Gonna Slow Me Down!

I've been working on a Christmas stocking for my sweet step-grandson who turned two this year. I've hit a few road blocks, running out of various threads. DMC Perle Cotton #3 isn't carried in shops in my area, so need to order more via the internet. However, this little glitch isn't going to slow down my progress.

I plan on stitching his name and then starting the background (top right) and work my way down to where I've run out of threads.

It's a bit difficult to see, but the puppies, red ribbon, box and part of the evergreens are done:

20 x 13 inch Christmas Stocking on 18 Ct Mesh

Blackwork Embroidery Study Group and Tudor Tuesday SAL

Our local Embroiderer's guild has formed a blackwork study group. We meet once a month and had our first get together last Friday. Most of us worked on "Box of Delights" - something that was started at a workshop at one of our EGA meetings. Here's what I've done so far:

If you're at all interested in this type of stitching, there's a great website called Blackwork Journey. The free "Box of Delights" patterns can be found there.

If you have a minute, pop on over to Tudor Tuesday SAL blog. Believe it or not, Emily Pooley was able to recreate a life size Anne Boleyn in wax. She's GORGEOUS - and the story of how she created it is amazing! Enjoy!!