Winnie the Pooh January

2019 got off to a great start with 2100 stitches on Pooh.... including the petit point section for Christopher Robin's head.
Previous:

Currently:

I'm participating in the School of Magical Stitches & Literature on FB and I've found many of the stitchy challenges to fit with this piece.  So it's been a great help in motivating me to rack up the stitch count.  It was fun to stitch the front edge of Kanga.  The empty area (above her “pouch”) will be petit point for Roo.  I can’t say I really love stitching on this anymore.  Perhaps I’ll feel differently after doing the backstitch, which should bring the characters into sharp relief.  

Winnie the Pooh II October Update

Hi friends!  I worked on Winnie the Pooh as part of a Stitch-a-thon weekend at the end of October.  My time was divided with sewing my son's Halloween costume, but I still managed about 1700 stitches.

Previous progress:

New progress:

I decided I needed another page finish for my Stitch from Stash budget so I went back to Page 1 and did the 1 x 1 section, swarm of bees I suppose.  

First time using a magnifier!  I was able to see it fine with the help of the magnifier and extra light, but it was so tight on the fabric (28 count) that I hurt my left index finger a little, from pushing the needle through from the back.  Next time I may use a thimble.  Page 2 has a much larger 1 x 1 section (the owl)... you can see the outline of his wing on the right side near the balloon.  

I love working on this piece, at my current pace (a few days per month).  That won't be enough to finish anytime soon, even next year, but I'm fine with that.

Winnie the Pooh II September progress

Hello friends!  My September rotation was fruitful since I was feeling a bit peaky at the time and spent pretty much an entire Saturday stitching (plus a few more days).  Previous progress:

I finished Column 11, stitched Columns 12 (over the page break), 13, and started on 14.  I'm over the midline of the design now.

You can see the beginning of Winnie the Pooh on the bottom right, with his blue balloon just above.  There is quite a lot of over 1 stitching charted for Pooh, most of the edges.  I think it looks a bit odd next to the over 2 stitches, but I'm sure it will be fine once I add the backstitch.  It was nice to finish with that orange/brown tree, which is full of confetti.  Next month it will be fun to finish the blue balloon and get into another big green tree.

Winnie the Pooh II August progress

Hello, friends.  This month I got about 1500 stitches done.  I started a new diamond painting and that is a huge distraction.  Previous progress:

New progress:

I finished one column and stitched most of another.  There are another 4 or 5 colors to fill in the second column.  The orange/brown tree has a lot of confetti.  I'm looking forward to next month since I'll start page 2 and Winnie the Pooh is charted in the next column!

Winnie the Pooh II July progress

Hello friends!  I managed about 1600 stitches on Winnie the Pooh this month.  Progress was quick because of large blocks of color in the sky.  It was fun to introduce some new colors (orange/gold) for the next tree.

Previously:

Now:

I had to pull some extra DMC since one of the new colors turned out to be a duplicate with a different symbol, for 869, which is used in the tree trunk on the left (and also some in the orange tree).  The Cyberstitchers Candamar - DMC conversion is wonky in places.  I checked the floss list from the kit; "medium dull brown" (869) doesn't sound like "medium dark gold".  The two colors from the kit floss were virtually identical and didn't fit either color description, to my eye.  Having a full DMC set comes in handy sometimes!  I decided DMC 420 would be a good sub for the medium dark gold.. it looked good next to the colors charted around it, yet still distinct, and also 420 isn't anywhere else in the conversion.
It's getting really hard to put this one away....

Winnie the Pooh II May Progress

Hello everyone! May was a crazy stitchy month.  With Stitch Maynia, I made 5 starts and worked on 10 WIPs over the first two weeks of May.  Still, Winnie the Pooh got some dedicated attention afterwards.  I've started using highlighters on the chart since more colors are being incorporated.  Previous progress:

Currently:

I'm happy with my progress.  I finished columns 3 & 4 (down to the midline), including the blended thread & blending filament, and got a good start on column 5.  The empty squares are charted for 1 x 1, which I will do later.  I think the detail will be a swarm of bees.  I'm loving this project and wish I had room in my rotation to dedicate more time to it, but it will be a focus piece someday.

Love with a Capital L Happy Dance!

Friends, I am so pleased to announce Love is finished, and before my anniversary too!  It's stitched 1 over 1 on 25 ct antique smoky white lugana with 3 colors of Gloriana silk floss- crimson, pumpkin, and copper.

 Stitching the bottom section involved a lot of frogging!  I kept messing up on the spacing.  I even spot cleaned it, because I thought it looked dirty after all the handling / frogging.  All the motifs in the bottom were charted by me, though I took inspiration from stuff I found online.  The rose border and hearts with calla lilies: roses and callas were the main flowers at the my wedding.  The candles because we had a candelit ceremony.  The colors were my wedding colors.  Cupids- why not? 

It was great to stitch along all year with you.... I hope this continues in 2017 as I'm planning to start a new full coverage next year- Winnie the Pooh II.

Love with a Capital L September progress

Hi, everyone!  At last my piece is coming together and I'm starting to feel excited about it.  I finally reached the bottom border and made good progress on the personalization section.  I also did some research looking for a mini cupid motif and I found a Brooke's Books' freebie, that may work, with a little tweaking. 

Previous progress:

Now:

I did try Valdani "Terra Cotta" for the big capital L and wound up frogging it.  I suppose I am terribly picky, but I felt it looked "muddy".  So, I finally decided I will stitch that section with the crimson (main color), and I will try to complete the top left corner this month, plus a bit more if time allows.

Love with a Capital L August progess

Hello!  August was a great stitchy month for me, made lots of progress during the Olympics, with the SAL event on Stitch Maynia (Facebook group).  I also visited a LNS and picked up some variegated cotton thread for the big capital L at top left (Valdani "terra cotta").... haven't tried it yet though.
Previous progress:

Now:

 I finished page 12 and set up my personalization section at the bottom, including some of the left border.  After I placed the first letter of each line (they are centered), I realized a few extra motifs would help fill out the space.  Some people commented on my Flosstube video and offered suggestions: entwined wedding rings and cupid with an arrow- I like both.  Does anyone have recommendations for books with sampler motifs?  I am looking forward to working on this project next weekend... maybe I'll try the Valdani thread.

Love with a Capital L July progress

Hello, BAP stitchers!  July was a weird month for me.  I traveled and lost my stitchy mojo; recovered my mojo and got sick.  I'm still not 100%.  But I did work on Love.  Page 11 is finished and 12 was started.  I also got some graph paper and charted my "personalized" section.

I'm hoping for a finish by November 19 (wedding anniversary).  Happy stitching everyone!

Love Update- June progress

Hi everyone and I hope those of us in the States had a good 4th of July.  I finished another page last month (bottom left).  There are now another 3 pages to go, plus my personalization section, and the bottom border.

I've sketched out my personalization in the margins of my chart: our names, "united in marriage" and wedding date; I'm also planning to add a rose motif.  Though, I need some graph paper so I can figure out the proper spacing.  No rush on that since I need to finish pages 11-12 first.  Happy stitching everyone!

Love with a Capital L April-May progress

Hi everyone.  It's been awhile!  The frog visited in April. The thread I bought for the big capital L, Silk n' Colors "Turkey Feathers" did not work out. 
Previously:

Currently:

You can see the faint remains of the frogged stitches.  I was so upset after frogging, I had to set it aside.  But I did take it out a week later and stitched a new page.  Then, in May, I worked on it again.  I also spent some time charting a new section for the bottom, with my wedding details.
Honestly I'm at my wit's end with that capital L.  I want a variegated thread with the colors in the piece (dark red, orange, gold).  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  Or I could just stitch it it with the crimson. 

Love with a Capital L March progress

This update is late, but I figured I'd better post before I work on it again for April.  I traveled in early April (for a stitchy retreat!) and the beginning of the month was crazy.  Previously:

Now:

I finished page 7 and started page 8.  At Keepsakes LNS in Cincinnati, I found something for the big capital L (at top left).  Next time, I'll see if that works out.

Love with a Capital L February progress

Hi, BAP stitchers!  "Love" was my focus project for February; why not, given the subject matter?  So I did work on it quite a lot.  I have 3 colors in play now- all Gloriana Silk- crimson (main), pumpkin (border and motifs), and copper (second color in the text).  I am happy with these choices but I still need something more variegated for the big capital L that will be at the top left.
Previous progress:

Currently:

In March I will try to finish the berry vine band (work across to the right side) and work on the next page.    Honestly, I got pretty tired of this project in February, so I don't expect to make as much progress in March.  I do want to finish this year, however.

Love with a Capital L January Progress

Hello!  Here is my January start on Love with a Capital L.  While I love how the colors work together in the border and decorative elements, I felt the pumpkin was too pale in the text (see Patient and Kind).  So I skipped around the chart, until I could find a better color.  And I skipped the big capital L (top left) because I want a highly variegated thread for that.  I am considering Caron Waterlilies "Hot Peppers".  Is anyone familiar with that colorway?

I'm happy with my new start; I worked on the first 3 pages though none are complete.  Eventually I did find a better color for the text: Gloriana Silk in Copper.  This will be a focus piece for February since it is all about Love.  

Stephanie's Introduction: Love with a Capital L

Hi, my name is Stephanie and thank you for letting me join!  A SAL is so helpful for making progress with huge projects.

I'm a married thirtysomething, living in the Washington, DC metro area, with one son, almost 2 years old.  He keeps me busy, and I mainly stitch in the evening after baby bedtime.  Other hobbies include sewing, quilting, knitting, and reading, but cross stitch is my primary creative outlet these days.


In mid January I will start Love with a Capital L by Papillion Creations.  Here is my floss toss: Gloriana silk in crimson & pumpkin, on 25 count vintage smoky white lugana.  This pattern has been in my stash for a long time.  The plan is to add some personalization to the bottom as a wedding sampler.  It's a large project (260 x 434 st), which I found a bit daunting.  I will stitch 1 over 1, full cross.  But we've been married 10 years, so it's about time.   I look forward to sharing my progress here and seeing everyone's projects come along.