Storykeep Masquerade ~ WIP

I haven't done much cross stitching since March of this year.  I have been painting instead... But the past 2 weeks I have started stitching again.  I have been working on "Storykeep Masquerade"  by Heaven and Earth Designs, artwork by Ching Chou Kuik.

I had started this piece in December 2013, so it has been a while since I stitched it.  I am stitching it on 25 count Evenweave with 2 strands over 1.  Here is my progress as of today:

However, I noticed a problem.  I am using a circular frame to hold the fabric taut while I stitch.  When I removed the frame to take this picture, I noticed two small circular stains on my stitching on the cat's face!  I then realized that it was the the little round metal bits on the frame that must have stained my work with what I'm thinking is rust!!! :(
Look at both photos below:

In the pic above I have written "HERE" with arrows pointing to both circular stains.

In the pic above, you can see the metal bits that I believe caused the stains.

Has this happened to anybody?  What should I do?!?!  Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Annie

Faces of Faery 162 WIP

It has been a week now (since March 1st) that I decided to continue working on my FOF 162, from Heaven and Earth Designs (artwork by Jasmine Becket-Griffith).  I had started this piece in February/March 2013 and had stitched it until July 2013.  So it has been almost 2 years since I have stitched this...  Here is the progress I have made in 1 week's time:

I wanted to stitch her other eye, so here she is with both eyes finished!


Here is a close-up:

And here is what I had the last time I had stitched her (July 2013):

Annie <3

"Scarlet Lips" FINISHED!

 HOORAY!!!!

I have finally finished "QS Scarlet Lips" by Heaven and Earth Designs!   I had started stitching her in 2011, and worked on her on & off for 3 years!  Here she is:

"QS Scarlet Lips"

by Heaven and Earth Designs

Art by Ching-Chou Kuik

2 over 1 on 25 count Lugana

Started sometime in 2011

Finished December 15, 2014

Here are some detail pics:

This is the first QS piece I finished from HAED, and I couldn't be happier with the results!

Annie <3

"French Lavender" WIP

Hi!

I finished the cross stitch part today!
It was so easy & fast to stitch up!  Very lovely!

Here is the entire band:

And now I will need to add the buttons, stitch it up into a pocket and add the handle.  Then I can stuff it with some lavender!

Annie ^_^

NEW START! "French Lavender Pocket"

Yesterday I started a new cross stitch that I had purchased a long time ago.
It's called "French Lavender Pocket" by The Sampler Girl.

It's going to be a pocket, so I purchased a 27 count Linen Band in Natural color.  The band is 7.8 x 18 inches.  I will be folding it to make a pocket:

I am using The Gentle Art in Lavender Potpourri for the lavender flowers.  For the rest, I chose some colors I liked in DMC.

Annie ^_^

Sea Captain WIP

Hi everyone!

I want to start off by saying "Thank You!" to all the lovely people who left such sweet and thoughtful comments on my last post about the Sea Captain!  I feel like the cross stitching community is exceptionally kind and supportive, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it! <3

I have been continuing my embroidery stitching with the "Sea Captain".  Like I said in my last post, I wanted to make his hat red.  So I ordered what I thought was a perfect red thread online, "Blaze" by Week Dye Works.  It arrived looking orange... So I decided to use the DMC 817 which is a very nice red, but stitched some of the stitches in Blaze orange.  It came out really nice!

What do you guys think of the detail on his shirt?  I decided to add a big contrast by using the orange "Blaze".  I would love to hear some suggestions of other colors if you think the orange is too much! :)

Here is a close up of the hat with mostly red but a few orange stitches in there:

 I also stitched the pipe in a cute mahogany:

 So I will be stitching the stars next, and finish up with the waves.  The stars will be in yellow!



Have a great Valentine week end!
Hugs,
Annie <3

Storykeep Masquerade ~ New Start

I started a new cross stitch on December 6th.  It's Storykeep Masquerade from Heaven and Earth Designs. 

I am stitching it on 25 count Evenweave with 2 strands over 1.  Here is what I have done in 2 weeks time:

I am having so much fun stitching this chart!  I have almost finished the first page.  Her hair has so many fun colors! Soon I will start with her face!

Annie ^_^

FINISHED Butterflies Galore SK!

HOORAY!  I finished my Butterflies Galore SK from Heaven and Earth Designs!

Two weeks ago I finally had my surgery on my right shoulder.  It was very painful and still is, but my doctor gave me the OK to do cross stitch a week ago, as long as I keep my arm close to my body, and not do big movements (which means I still won't be able to paint for a while...).

So I finished my Butterflies Galore SK on December 5th!  Here it is:

"Butterflies Galore SK"

Charted by Heaven and Earth Designs

Artist:  Jasmine Becket-Griffith

Stitched with 2 strands over 1

on 25 count evenweave fabric

Started:  October 2011

Finished:  December 5th, 2013

(worked on it on & off...)

On December 6th, I started a new project, but I will post it another time...

Hugs,

Annie ^_^

I Wish You Joy_Jane Austen ~ Finished with Ribbon & Sticks

I completely forgot to post the finished piece of "I Wish You Joy_Jane Austen" in my blog! 
A week after I had finished stitching it back in September 2012, I went outside and found a couple of sticks to sew the fabric around on top and on the bottom.  I then found a purple ribbon to tie on the top sticks to hang it with.  As a finishing touch, I decided to put in a pretty little heart-shaped brass key hanging at the bottom.  Here it is!

The purple ribbon is the exact same purple as the centers of the flowers!  Here are some detail shots:

I hope you like it! <3

Annie ^_^

Scarlet Lips WIP Update

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in a while.  From October to December 2012 my arm took a turn for the worse and I couldn't stitch at all!  But with new meds, I am feeling better.  In the month of January 2013 I started stitching again, and decided to continue on CCK's "Scarlet Lips" from Heaven and Earth Designs.  I wanted to get quite a bit of it done before I posted an update pic.  Here she is with all first 3 pages done, and most of pages 4 to 6 and some of 7 to 9"

I am so happy with her so far!  She is stitching up so nicely!  Here is a further shot of her on my Huge Fluffy Heart-shaped pillow.  I find she looks like a painting from far!

So pretty!  Now mostly I have her tail and tail fin and a bit more of background to stitch.
That heart pillow is so soft and fluffy, that my cat won't leave it alone!  He keeps kneading it, then going to sleep on it for hours! :)



My last update on "Scarlet Lips" was a year ago, and this is what she looked like:

So you see I stitched quite a bit of her in the month of January 2013!  I can't believe I hadn't done any stitching on her in over a year!  I will be putting her aside again and work on other stuff...




Annie ^_^

I Wish You Joy_Jane Austen ~ New Start & Finish

Here is an adorable pattern I found on The Sampler Girl website!  I LOVE Jane Austen, so I bought this e-pattern which was very easy and enjoyable to make.  I started it on August 29th and finished it on August 31st. 

I used a 27 count linen banding 4 inches across in Natural color.  The designer of the pattern had suggested different types of thread from Crescent Colours to The Gentle Art & DMC, but also had the conversion to DMC of the former ones.  I decided to use the colors she suggested, but unfortunately, I couldn't find the Crescent Colours "Capri" (which was a beautiful blue) on 123stitch.com where I placed my order.  I searched the other colors, and comparing it to the picture of the finished piece, I chose "Tyler Boy Blue".  But sadly, when it arrived, it wasn't the color I was expecting... I used it anyway, and though I am happy with the results, I am not completely in love with it...

27 ct. Natural Linen Banding

2 strands over 2

Crescent Colours, The Gentle Art & DMC

Started August 29th, 2012

Finished August 31st, 2012

Here are some detail shots:

 

 I really love this linen banding!  It has very pretty pyramid designs on either side.


This is what the finished piece looks like.  I think the designer did such a beautiful finish!
So now I need to go outside and find me some little sticks, and then a lovely ribbon to tie it with!

Annie ^_^