Bea's Stitcheries

My Latest Flea Market Find

2011-11-17T11:25:00.002-05:00

... it cost me a whooping $4.00.

The Magi .... completed

2011-11-06T21:24:00.004-05:00

Caspar

Melchior

Balthazar

I really had been dragging my feet lately about finishing this piece ... not exactly sure why. Well, here they are, in all their glory (but without frame, yet). I ended up putting the gold kid glove leather piece on the crown of #1 but stitched a different lid for the box.

Magi #2

2011-08-28T16:49:00.002-04:00

Just like the crown on the first magi, here the lid on the box is supposed to be gold kid leather and I just don't like it. So, I have to figure out how to finish it.

Once all three magi are stitched and the background is done I will complete them with fancy cords and some "glitter".

First Magi

2011-07-18T14:31:00.002-04:00

The crown is still not attached. That has been kicking my behind ... he might just get a different crown all together, just as the ewer is done in a different stitch as designed.

The coat will get more embellishments and trim, I am guessing that will be done before we move on to King #2.

Tokens and Trifles Paper Needle Book

2011-07-18T11:29:00.006-04:00

I had ordered some paper blanks and was playing around with sampler motifs from The Sampler Company's "Book of Alphabets, Motifs & Borders". This is what I came up with.

You are welcome to use the pattern,

please ... no selling or kitting, though.

Magi 1, part 1

2011-06-29T19:31:00.002-04:00

This is too much fun and actually works up pretty fast:

I already "got in trouble" with the teacher as we were not supposed to work ahead - something about little bits from the silks transferring to the light brick work ... so far I have not had any problems with that (knock on wood). For me it was just a matter of timing as I want this piece done by Christmas and other stitchings are in line to be worked on.

The Magi

2011-06-21T12:38:00.004-04:00

The Shining Needle Society (Yahoo group) offered this Dorothy Lesher piece and after seeing it in person I was hooked.

I've got the brick work done, now it's on to stitching Caspar, Melchior & Balthasar ... not sure which order they are standing in .... Wise Man on the left :-)

Bee Fob

2011-05-07T16:36:00.005-04:00

I recently found this cutie in my basket, thinking that it was long finished ... well, it just needed to be sewn together

Priscilla Hardanger Book

2011-04-16T13:59:00.007-04:00

I just love antique malls. You just never know what you'll find. Of course I am always on the look-out for some vintage embroidery pieces or anything else stitchery related.

Recently I came upon a 1909 copy of PRISCILLA Hardanger Book, actually more like a booklet, as it only has 48 pages. It is stained, dingy and falling apart, but the pictures are so detailed, no chart is necessary to stitch these wonderful pieces.

Luckily the booklet is old enough and the copyright has expired that I can share some pictures.

Quaker Diamonds

2011-04-06T19:40:00.004-04:00

All done!

... and it's one of my favorite pieces ever stitched. The colors are so rich and the pattern was a lot of fun.

Easter Carrot

2011-03-13T17:01:00.005-04:00

This pattern I had found some time last year, snooping around through blogs and websites. It's the 2010 Carrot by Cricket Collection, unfortunately I can't find it anywhere now, otherwise I'd post a link to the pattern - it was a freebie.

South Bend Museum Piece

2011-02-06T16:48:00.006-05:00

Last fall our EGA chapter was invited to the Northern Indiana Center for History to look at the embroidery pieces in their collection. It was amazing to see them up close and personal. I took lots of pictures and, when I got home, digitalized this design and then set out to stitch it. The guild will use this to help raise funds which will be used to preserve the needlework that is now just kept in storage boxes out of sight of the general public.

If you are interested in purchasing this pattern for $17.50, please let me know (blies@att.net)

Pagoda Pincushion

2011-02-06T16:45:00.003-05:00

From the March 2009 issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine ... a quick, little project.

Latest UFOs

2010-12-11T20:21:00.003-05:00

These two projects are in the category "big & will take forever".

This is the first panel of "The Shores of Hawk Run Hollow" by Carriage House Samplings and done with 1 thread of floss on 40 count linen ... only possible with bifocals along with a pair of reading glasses and lots of light.

"Quaker Diamonds" by Rosewood Manor ... easy to see 28 count linen stitched with Valdani thread.

The Christmas Stockings

2010-10-28T17:00:00.006-04:00

I got them both finished a few months ago and now they are hanging in my living room - they are too nice to hide them all year and only bring them out for Christmas.

David's:

mine:

Pennsylvania Show Towel

2010-08-17T15:11:00.002-04:00

This towel measures 60 inches in length. Unfortunately the majority of that is blank linen. That is the reason why I tacked it under and am only displaying the embroidered top and bottom.

Michael's Sampler

2010-05-16T22:26:00.002-04:00

Just as with my eldest, I stitched a "baby" sampler for my youngest son. And, just like with Christopher, this is going to be Michael's graduation present. Unlike Christopher's sampler, though, this one got done with less than 2 weeks to spare. There's nothing like stitching under pressure with the risk of running out of thread. BUT ... I finished it - with only scraps of Sampler Threads (midnight) left over.

Kelly's Wedding Sampler

2010-01-29T09:18:00.003-05:00

This sampler had been a UFO for some time. This is the year that I will finish if not all but most of what I have hanging in baggies in my closet. Since this is a project with a deadline I figured I get it done first.

The pattern came out of the "Just Cross Stitch" January 2009 issue and was designed by Tracy Riffle.

15-sided Snowball Biscornu

2010-01-14T16:58:00.004-05:00

Featured in the December issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine, this biscornu, designed by Joanne Davenport, features 15 different snowflakes.

Antique Mall Find

2010-01-13T15:21:00.008-05:00

The weather was so beautiful today, David and I decided to go on a field trip and check out a couple of antique malls in the area and this is what I found: a vintage Jolles, Austria, Petit Point purse. It has a farm harvest motif and both sides are embroidered. The stitches are so super fine, it had to take forever to stitch the panels, along with a flower vine for the gusset. I did some investigating on the net and my best guess is that it is worth five times as much as what I paid for. The purse is in mint condition, and even the little coin purse that came with it is still there, along with a small wooden (Chinese) comb.

Goldwork 101

2010-01-02T17:23:00.004-05:00

Our chapter offered a class led by Deborah Wilson this past autumn. I really didn't have a lot left to stitch, was just putting it off. This afternoon I finally put the last few pieces of gold on to complete this pretty piece.

TGOSM Christmas Ornament Exchange 2009

2009-12-03T09:37:00.002-05:00

This year I received an ornament from Lynn, which, incidentally, also is one of my Facebook friends. The pattern came from the 2004 Ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch.

TGOSM Challenge

2009-12-01T06:52:00.004-05:00

We were given a small pattern to "do something with". This is what I came up with. I turned mine into a Christmas ornament for our tree, since I totally forgot to make one this year.

Rick Rack Jack

2009-10-28T20:58:00.003-04:00

Finished just in time for Halloween, this was our chapter's October class. He gave me a bit of a hard time, but that's just because I can't seem to count very well.

Peacock Sampler

2009-09-07T17:44:00.004-04:00

It's been completed for a few days now, just didn't get around to posting the picture. If the speed in which I stitched the piece is any indication ... this has been a fun piece to do! I especially loved the drawn thread sections.

Carolina Lily by Tony Minieri

2009-09-07T17:25:00.002-04:00

Another UFO finished. Not sure why I didn't get this one done sooner, there wasn't much left to stitch. The only thing I changed from the pattern was the background. For a white-on-white stitch the pattern was way to complicated. I simply did a 3/4 cross stitch. It gave the empty spaces some texture and I did not go nuts stitching it.

A New Beginning

2009-08-10T15:40:00.004-04:00

It's not as if I don't have other projects that are begging to be finished ... far from it. But, this piece has been ready to go for some time now and it was just calling to me to get it started. I have a feeling that it won't be in the UFO pile for long, as the color are just too delicious and the pattern too much fun to stitch.

Assisi Peacock Sampler - Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly, Vol. 28

Bee Ornament

2009-07-26T16:40:00.001-04:00

After working on the stocking I needed some "instant gratification". I had this needleroll kit, which, due to operator error, had to be turned into an ornament. It does pay to pay attention and maybe not do the cutting shortly before bedtime ...

Christmas Stockings

2009-07-21T19:58:00.005-04:00

I finally finished something again. My stocking had been done for a while, David's has just received the last paillettes. Now I just need to find someone that can turn these pieces into actual socks. If only I knew how to sew more than just a straight line ...

It's finally framed

2009-05-16T14:15:00.001-04:00

Took long enough, but this "monster" is finally on the wall.

David's Christmas Stocking

2009-05-09T10:38:00.006-04:00

The main motif of the stocking is done:

Carolina Lily - Tony Mineri

2009-04-29T15:19:00.003-04:00

I had this pattern laying around for some time and found it again a couple of weeks ago, while straightening up some of my stash. Since I hadn't done any needlepoint in quite some time I figured this would be a good piece to get into my rotation ... even though I really don't need yet another unfinished project floating around. Oh well, the more the merrier. At least when I get bored with one piece I can just pull out the next one.

Carolynn's Heart

2009-04-03T18:09:00.003-04:00

For their 1st dating anniversary my son stitched this little heart for his girl-friend.

Wedding Sampler

2009-03-22T09:54:00.002-04:00

My niece will be getting married in July of next year. To make sure I don't run into a time crunch I got started on her wedding sampler. This is the pattern I chose. I am altering it, though. Instead of the letters on top I will put in their names. And the numbers on the bottom will be exchanged for the wedding date.

Round Robin Friendship Sampler

2009-03-22T09:48:00.005-04:00

My sampler is ready to go on the road to be worked on by my friends in guild. I am not sure how many members will participate and how often we'll swap samplers, so it may be quite some time before I see it again.

A Couple of Smalls

2009-03-02T17:08:00.006-05:00

The stocking is coming along, I started my niece's wedding sampler (have till July '10 to get it done) and completed a couple of little pieces in between.

I picked this little brooch by Mill Hill up at the LNS when I went in for supplies.

I received the kit for this Just Nan ornament at the Christmas luncheon last year. I'm not at all happy with the finishing, though. I'm just not a sewer :-(

Christmas Stocking

2009-01-28T13:31:00.004-05:00

No time like the present to get started on Christmas projects. Since I have mine and David's stocking to stitch I figured I better get going. Here is the top section of mine.

4/21 - The stocking is done, I will post a picture when it's all put together, which might take a while as I don't sew :-)

2009-01-11T10:05:00.002-05:00

Happy 2009 everyone!

Here is my first completed project of the year. Actually - I got that done before the end of 2008, BUT ... I replaced an alphabet with my name & year and because I could not come up with an "8" that looked right... so, I pre-dated the sampler.

TGOSM Christmas Ornament Exchange

2008-11-26T17:13:00.006-05:00

A couple of days ago I received my ornament from Barbara in the Netherlands. I love it! I will suggest to our EGA program chair to do an exchange next year.

This ornament is "Santa's Winter Garden" by Schoolroom Samplings.

Christmas Biscournu

2008-11-26T09:42:00.003-05:00

I found this pattern on the web somewhere (if anyone recognizes it, please let me know who the designer is, I'd like to give proper credit). It perfectly lent itself as a biscournu design. I jazzed it up with some beads and crystals to go on my Christmas tree this year.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-14T09:50:00.002-04:00

During a recent trip to the House of Stitches in LaPorte, IN, David (DH) talked me into buying this Halloween sampler by Prairie Moon. I don't think I will be able to finish it for this year's holiday ... oh well, there is always next year.

Celtic Knot Quilt

2008-09-23T13:03:00.002-04:00

Another of the UFOs I had laying around that finally got finished. I decided that doing canvas work in the evening is much better for my eyes while I'm still adjusting to my new bi-focals. Fine linen just does not quite work (yet) after a long day.

Personal Sampler

2008-08-27T19:39:00.004-04:00

I started this project in 2005, using things that represent me and what I like. There is some Hardanger, some pulled thread, drawn thread, fish and waves to represent the ocean (I grew up along the Baltic Sea), the pinapple for Southern hospitality, a bee for Bea :-)

I could never think of how to complete it, until I pulled it out a few days ago and my husband said: "why not just add our names?". So, that's what I did. I even have room left on the bottom for future daughter-in-laws.

2008 Mystery Sampler

2008-08-27T13:58:00.005-04:00

Well, it's finally complete.

I signed it by adding the date and my cyphen (monogram) to the bottom right corner. If you scroll down to the 27 April post you can see the shades of blue, which don't show up very well in this shot. The red is DMC 815, the blue is Sampler Threads "black board".

Quaker Heart, Susan - Complete

2008-08-10T10:47:00.000-04:00

All done !

Quaker Mystery Sampler - through page 32

2008-07-09T22:06:00.000-04:00

only a few more pages before this project is done.

Quaker Heart, Susan - Part 3

2008-07-09T06:38:00.000-04:00

Slowly getting there.

Quaker Heart, Susan - Part 2

2008-06-22T22:12:00.001-04:00

A little more done.

Quaker Heart, Susan - Part 1

2008-06-14T18:00:00.001-04:00

I was asked to model stitch this pattern for www.Wiehenburg.de.

Moonlight Sonata 2

2008-06-07T19:52:00.001-04:00

Moonlight Sonata

2008-05-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

This is a Group Correspondence Course I am taking through the EGA. The Toledo chapter was kind enough to let me piggy back on their sign-up.

Check Twice - Stitch Once

2008-05-25T11:03:00.004-04:00

Even stitchers can benefit from spell checkers ... what a difference one little letter can make.

I stitched this 8.5 x 11 inch pillow for my husband many years ago when he was in the Navy and about to deploy for a 6 month run, and at times it was tough that he was not there ...

2008-05-19T10:04:00.001-04:00

I know this has nothing to do with stitching, but it is, none the less, something I "made".

My son, Christopher, went to his senior prom on Saturday and he looked very nice. OK, it's a mother speaking, and therefore just a little bias :-)

Christmas Ornaments

2008-04-29T21:42:00.000-04:00

While looking through an old backup disk I found this picture. Now, if only I knew where they were I could put them out again next Christmas ... they were nowhere to be found last year ...

Mystery Sampler, Page 21

2008-04-27T17:59:00.000-04:00

Here is last Friday's installment. This is, so far, my favorite motif of the SAL.

Beginning Drawn Thread GCC

2008-04-26T19:34:00.000-04:00

I finally finished this Group Correspondence Course. For a while the bag of threads I was using was missing - I found it under the couch when I cleaned house (hm, a reason to clean more often?). The bottom band took several attempts before I was happy with the look. I found out that doing this in silk is not a good idea as the thread slips too much. So, I switched to #30 Perle Cotton instead for this.

Autumn Quilt

2008-04-24T08:11:00.001-04:00

Occasionally I do some needlepoint, or as I like to call it "idiot work". Worked on 18-count mono canvas, these are projects where I don't have to think a whole lot or have to pay too close attention. Long satin stitches cover a lot of ground so these piece usually work up pretty fast.

Christmas Heart Ornament

2008-04-22T15:20:00.001-04:00

Before we know it it will be Christmas - again.

This heart was stitched on 18-count canvas, padded and backed with red felt.

Christopher's Sampler

2008-04-19T12:18:00.000-04:00

Well, it is not exactely a "baby" sampler, but it is. I never did stitch samplers for the boys when they were little. But when I found this pattern, it was perfect for grown "babies". I will stitch a similar one for Michael. He, too, will probably get as a graduation gift.

Mystery Sampler Update

2008-04-10T15:25:00.000-04:00

Here are pages 1 - 18 (of 47). I really like the way things are coming together and I am really happy with the colors I chose. The dark blue and red work well together. The piece is about 25 inches wide and will be 25 inches tall.

Hardanger Ornament

2008-04-08T08:28:00.001-04:00

I will be teaching this piece in October at our EGA chapter.

It was designed by Colette Robinson of http://www.colscreations.co.uk/

I just finished it a bit different than the original design. I added the buttonhole border and the "eyelets" at the top.

Some Older Pieces

2008-04-05T16:32:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of pieces I had done some time ago.

The Hardanger was done as a Group Correspondence Course through our EGA chapter in early 2005. It is "Options in Hardanger" by Dale Sokolow. True to form I did not use her suggested layout but arranged the squares myself:

I don't remember where I found the pattern for the basket lid but it was just perfect for a Nantucket basket I had sitting in the basement and hadn't done anything with:

Icelandic Biscornu

2008-04-04T15:15:00.000-04:00

I found this pattern in the May 2007 issue of The Gift of Stitching,
a digital (online) cross stitch magazine. It was designed by Linda Björk Eiríksdóttir.

This biscornu will go to my aunt in Germany who traveled to Iceland last summer. She, like myself, does a lot of crafts and I hope she'll be able to put this pin cushion to good use.

I stitched this on 28 count evenweave (left-over fabric I found in my stash) using 2 ply Sampler Thread "Midnight".

It was cross-stitched over 1x1 thread - my eyes still hurt :-)

Quaker Mystery Sampler - page 14

2008-03-14T22:23:00.000-04:00

What a project to stumble over and fall head over heals in love with. The group was already several weeks into this when I signed up. BUT, it took me no time what-so-ever to catch up. This piece is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Here is the page we got today.