Design Name: Have a break - Coffee
Designer: Rhona Norrie
Description: A retro cafe style hanger with the phrase "With enough coffee I can last the day" and a mug of coffee with its steam swirling through the letters.
Date Started: August 2007
Date Completed: August 2007
Fabric: White evenweave
Count: 28-count
Threads Used: DMC 105, 350, 415, 434, 435, 3862, 3863, 3864
How finished: Iron-on Interfacing applied to the back, metallic brads put in each corner, framed in a floating walnut-wood frame
Stitched for: Susan and Glenn
Special occasion: Home-warming gift

After stitching a really detailed and big project, this one was a nice break! I love the effect of the metallic brads! I have never incorporated them into my cross-stitch before! I also used varigated thread for the first time ever on the border. I was very pleased with the result and how easy it was to use!

Design Name: Witzy
Designer: Suzy's Zoo®, San Diego, California, USA
Description: Witzy the duck cuddles in a wicker basket among freshly-laundered, soft blankets in a field of green grass.
Date Started: Summer 2006
Date Completed: Friday, February 16, 2007
Fabric: White evenweave
Count: 28-count
Threads Used: DMC White, 310, 369, 437, 666, 677, 727, 739, 762, 775, 913, 955, 3078, 3853, 3854, 3856, E746, E747, E966, E5200
How finished: Framed and hung in the kitchen by the washer and dryer
Stitched for: Me, Dylan, and the kitties! :)
Special occasion: None

Finally this cross stitch is finished! As you can see, I started it so long ago in summer! But it was worth it! I probably would still be working on it but I got a cross stitch stand from my sweet Dylan for Christmas! It took some getting used to, but I can stitch double as fast now using two hands!

Now I am working on a small project, a coaster with a design by Margaret Sherry. It is the letter "C" with a cat. And it is for a Coaster! HA HA! C is for cookie, too!

I just bought the "Quick & Easy CrossStitch" magazine, Issue 146. There is a free giant kit of poinsettias with thread already loaded into a thread sorter! Sounds great right? Well, the thread is not on the sorter in the same order as it is listed on the color/symbol chart! Ugh! Some of the colors are so close together! I compared them with the DMC threads that I had to try to match the thread with the symbol. Here is what I have come up with.

First turn your thread sorter so that the magazines logo is facing up and the threads are hanging out of the sorter to the right-hand side. Here is what I think is the order of the colors by Anchor and DMC # :

ANCHOR/DMC

1009/3770 (light peach)
1098/3801 (dark melon-pink)
230/910 (medium green)
238/703 (light green)
683/500 (dark green)
111/3837 (purple)
109/209 (light purple)
069/3803 (dark maroon)
001/blanc (white)
298/972 (bright yellow)
311/3827 (light yellow)
062/603 (light pink)
033/892 (light melon-pink)
062/603 (dark pink)
1005/498 (red)

Design Name: Bathtime Buddies: Room for Two?
Designer: Margaret Sherry
Description: A little girl takes a bubble bath while her cute kitty sits on the edge of the claw-foot tub. One design in a set of three.
Date Started: Monday, June 19, 2006
Date Completed: Sunday, June 25, 2006
Fabric: White evenweave
Count: 28-count
Threads Used: DMC White/Blanc, 310, 317, 341, 415, 726, 727, 754, 775, 932, 948, 963, 3325, 3328, 3354
How finished: Framed and hung in bathroom
Stitched for: Me, Dylan, and the kitties! :)
Special occasion: None

After doing the Tatty in Bloom cross-stitch, this one was fast and easy! It is one in a set of 3. I am currently working on the second one. I did this one so fast that I didn't even think of taking photographs of my progress! Even though it was very simple, it is one of my favorites! The kitty looks so happy and I love his long whiskers! It reminds me of Peanut since he LOVES water! Do you notice the trend of me doing things designed by Margaret Sherry? Every time I look through my magazines, I am always pulled in by a design and it turns out to be one of hers!

Design Name: Tatty in Bloom Designer: Coats Crafts UK
Description: Adorable Tatty Teddy is surrounded by beautiful spring blossoms of blue and yellow daises and pink roses. He is cradling in his arm a bouquet of yellow daises while smelling a gorgeous pink rose! So cute!
Date Started: Sunday, March 26, 2006 Date Completed: Sunday, June 18, 2006
Fabric: White evenweave Count: 28-count
Threads used: DMC Blanc, 317, 318, 413, 414, 415, 472, 519, 726, 741, 772, 799, 895, 963, 966, 988, 3024, 3078, 3348, 3716, 3756
How Finished: Framed
Stitched for: Mommy Special Occasion: Mothers' Day (belated)

Even though it took me a LONG time, "Tatty in Bloom" is finally completed! I am really proud of it! There were so many French knots that I did with ease! The half-stitch turned out to be a pain because there are 3 different shades of green in the grass and it was really hard to tell them apart. I am happy with the long-stitch for the stems. I had never done long-stitch before!

I hope you like it my Mommy! I love you!!! :)

Now there is some back-stitch done! Tatty Teddy has come to life with French Knot eyes and everything! Now I just have to finish back-stitching the flowers and leaves and then long-stitch the stems of the daisies he is holding. Wait until you see what I am doing next! :)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MY MOMMY!

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I have posted a cross-stitching update! Well, yes I can with being so busy! It is not done yet though. I still have some grass half-stitches to do on the left corner and then all of the back-stitching. It's summer soon though so lots of time to swim, read, and stitch!