Wow! It's Been a While

I never intended to be away so long... but lets get caught up. The last time I was here was before Stitch Con which I attended, it was FAB-TASTIC! I posted a video with lots of pictures of the brag table, smalls exchanges and the Keepsakes' annex for SHOPPING! I even brought home some items from the freebie table. You can watch the whole thing on my YouTube channel, the link is on the right. 

I worked on and finished "The Right to Vote" from Mani di Donna. It is a tradition to ring Pam & Steph's (Just Keep Stitchin') bell when you have finish at Stitch Con and of course I rang the bell. 

I also participated in another Stitch Con tradition which is to have a new start and mine was "A Haunting We Will Go" from Keslyn's. I didn't have to be a big start but this was just enough.

I put in a few stitches into the "Suffrage Act" from Little House Needlework's

As I said above all of the details from Stitch Con are in the video so don't miss all of the other excitement go take a look. That was the end of June and of course the July WIPGO  numbers were called and I had to work on them so I wouldn't fall behind, they were #12 and #2. My number 12 was "Yin/Yang" from Stitchrovia and my goal was to stitch 1000 stitches.

I think I accomplished this goal, what do you think. This is being stitched on 22 ct white Hardanger cloth. My number 2 was "Crystal" and this goal was 1000 stitches also

I think I reached this goal too. I love stitching all of my wips and setting these goals for them keeps them exciting and I don't get burnt out on any of them. I had a birthday start in June, when I saw the eyes I was hooked, it is "Phantom" from Kitty & Me Designs.

The picture on the chart reminded me of my Smokey and I couldn't resist. I got rave reviews at the Needle Fest-Summer Get Away Retreat hosted by "The Boys" from Needleworkers Delight/ Silkweavers. The fabric is a little unusual for this design but it works perfectly. It is called Pele's Fire from Under the Sea Fabrics. This goes to show not everything has to be stitched on white. Speaking of white fabric, I started a new design at Needle Fest, this design was just finished by Shelia of The Sunshine Stitchers on You tube and it is gorgeous. It is ABC de la Brodeuse from Jardin Prive', it was a  SAL with my friend Jan to start at Needle Fest. We decided it was easier to call this piece "Aida Button" and not try to pronounce the actual name which is French.

I have stitched on it since the retreat and this is where it is right now. Because the white even weave fabric is so narrow and long I'm stitching this on a scroll frame and to help keep the fabric taunt I am using what are actual magnetic cable ties, they can be purchased from Amazon. This is so much fun to stitch. I had another finish in July and it was "Harriet Tubman" from The Primitive Hare, she is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait for the next in this series.

 Next is the month of August and the WIPGO numbers are #7 and #8. My number 7 is "Sampler Roundy" from Shakespeare's Peddler on 32ct white even weave and the goal was a finish.

It just needs a center button and to be FFOed. My number 8 is the final part of the 2014/2015 Mystery SAL from The Primitive Hare "On Wednesday We Stitch Black" and I FINISHED!

The SAL is completed after all of this time. I also had an accidental finish... when I was pulling out my pieces for WIPGO I accidentally mistook "Fireside Sampler" for "Sampler Roundy" how, I don't know but it happened and "Fireside Sampler" from Silver Creek Samplers was also finished.

I love the wording of this and you will see it again when it is FFOed. I have a plan. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you already know I was attacked going down the stairs here at home by OLD AGE, it was like an old rusty hinge falling apart. So I had it checked out, nothing was broken or torn it just needs a little rest, fortunately I don't need that knee to stitch, so stitching is what I've been doing. I finished another wip "I Put A Spell On You" 

I love the Sanderson Sisters and the movie "Hocus Pocus". I have two final new starts for the month of August so far. They are "Forever and Ever" from Cottage Garden Samplings

That Cardinal is gorgeous and I can't wait to work on the red one and the flowers. The other start is "Drink Up Witches" from Waxing Moon Designs

I guess you can tell that I love, love, love Halloween.  Well if you are still reading, thank you very much for taking the time to visit and I hope it was worth it. For more up to date post you can also follow me on Instagram at minniegray5806. Now you know what I've been up to and it's time to make more of those wonderful little xxs.

   

 

Flosstube update #67

 Hello bloggers,

I'm here on this rainy Friday afternoon to share with you what I've been up to since we last spoke.  Now that I am fully vaccinated I have ventured out a few times (still wearing my mask). I went to the Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition and I met face to face with two of the lovely ladies that had ribbon winning entries at Woodlawn. They are Deb from stitches_of_heritage on Instagram and Miasia from stitching_in_color on Instagram. I've also had a couple of lunches in restaurants with the hubby.

 I will be flying to Cincinnati next Thursday for STITCH-CON! Mask and gloves on and a package of sanitizing wipes.  My flosstube started off with what I like to call the "Magic Q-Snap" loosely based on the magic mirror from the old Romper Room shows. (Probably way before your time) Anyway I give a shout-out to all of my previous video commenters, just a little extra thank you.

 I shared my WIPGO pieces for April, May and Junes. Here are the ones from April: A Woman Named Ella by Brittany Church and Ebony Short

There are a lot of stitches in the front of this dress and the sleeves, but it was well worth it. The other piece for April was: Repeat the Sounding Joy by Kathy Barrack

There is a lot of black in this design and to keep from having a straight line when I finish each section I stagger the ends of each line. 

 The first May design was:Christmas Dreams by Joan Elliott

         

There were stars to be stitched around Santa, but I was to lazy to stitch them and I decided to use buttons. I then couldn't decide which ones, so I used them both. There is also silver beads.  My second piece for May WIPGO was: Tribal Beauties by Jeanette Crews Designs

Tribal Beauties was stitched on 30ct Week Dye Work- Coco linen.

 My first June WIPGO piece, you've seen finished and it's Henna Cat from Soda Stitch.

There is so much sparkle in this piece, it's stitched on Fairyland Opalescent Lugana from Silkweavers.

 My second June pieces for WIPGO is: African Angel by Barbara Baatz

I am currently working on this one so no after picture yet, (will save that for next time).  

I have a few other new starts, finishes and wips to share:

Ethnic Woman - WIP

Turn Your Face Toward the Sun - needs beads

May Day - finish

Girls Night Out - finish

I've been a little busy these past few weeks, wouldn't you say?

To see the gift and haul section go to my flosstube channel the link is in the sidebar. 

As I said above I will be going to STITCH-CON and I have made some plans as to what I will be taking to "work" on. There may be too much talking to stitch, but I have plans... I will be taking the "Comparatively Small Ship of Life" and maybe an Etsy chart "I Put A Spell On You" and "A Haunting We Will Go" from Keslyn's. I'll show my progress next time.  There was also one announcement I made: I now have 2000 subscribers on my YouTube channel and you can subscribe and like me there or follow me on Instagram.  

Well now you know what I've been up to and it's time to go make some more wonderful little xxs.

Stay safe, healthy and keep stitching!

Haul Heavy

 This post is a little late but better than never. I posted a new video on flosstube (Youtube) and almost let writing this post for it get away from me.  First, I want to say thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post.  If you have any questions about anything I post, please leave it in the comments and I will answer as soon as possible.  The first thing I shared in Haul Heavy Flosstube #66 was my two WIPGO projects for the month of March. The numbers called for March were 10 and 24.

 My #10 was a free design from Owl Forest Embroidery called "Emerald City" it is their take on the "Wizard of Oz" and I stitched it on a 32 count Jobelan called "Hurricane" from Under the Sea Fabrics. The floss is all DMC. As you will see in the photo I changed the skin tones to reflect me a little more and I am very happy with the way it turned out. My goal for this one was to finish the stitching, goal accomplished!

My #24 was Fairy Delight Biscornu from Joan Elliott Design, it is stitched on 14 count Aida that I got with the chart as a gift. The floss is all DMC. I changed the skin tone on the fairies. The goal for this piece was to add beads and assemble the biscornu. Goal was accomplished! I think it is fabulous. 

I also started a new design called "The Comparatively Small Red Ship of Life" from Ink Circles, it is stitched on 32 count evenweave called "Ruth" from Fortnight Fabrics. The floss is silk from Almond MnMs on Instagram and the colors are "Wine" and "Frosty Slate". This is only my second time stitching a design with silk, it is so easy to stitch with, it glides through the fabric. This design was started as part of a SAL (stitch-a-long) hosted by a fellow flosstuber by the name of Abi Bellastitch as a tribute to Asian Americans that have been attacked and mistreated in this country during this pandemic. The SAL is #Stitch Asia and it could be any Asian related design, by an Asian designer, using fabric or floss dyed by an Asian dyer, etc. I love this design and the silk but after about two weeks I had to move on to something else, for the rest of the month.

 So I decided to work on and finished another one of my wips that could also qualify for #Stitch Asia and it was "Henna Cat" from Soda Stitch. I stitched this on 28 count Opalescent Lugana from Silkweavers, the color is Fairyland. It is stitched with all DMC flosses. This is also a WIPGO piece and I will get credit on my WIPGO board when it's number is called. 

At the end of March the April number were called for WIPGO, #3 and #21. My number 3 is "Repeat the Sounding Joy" by Kathy Barrick, my goal was to add 1000 stitches. I think I made it.

My number 21 is "A Lady Named Ella" it is a collaboration between a fashion designer Ebony Short and a cross stitch designer Brittany Church. The goal is to add 1000 stitches to her also but I haven't done those yet.

In the meantime I have not been sitting idly by doing nothing, I joined another SAL with another flosstuber  "Stitching In Sequins" who is also the owner of  1884 Stitchery (an online cross stitch store). The SAL is #Arelata April and I selected this design from1884 to stitch.It is called "Ego Sum" from Arleleta Studio and I am stitching it on 22 count Hardanger fabric, the color is "Off-White" with all DMC flosses.

As I was strolling through Instram one day I saw a design that instantly caught my eye and I had to have it. It was on an Esty store called Cross Stitch Obsessions. The name of the design was "Ethnic Dancer" not only did I purchase that one but the other "Ethnic Dancer" too, but it didn't stop there was another chart that screamed at me so she came home also. It is the new one I started and it's called simply "Ethnic Woman". I won't show the progress now, that will be in the next post.

In between all of that stuff I discovered and made what is called a "No Sew Ornament" with a foam ball, some little rectangles of fabric and a lot of pins. Check out the tutorial on Youtube channel "OrnamentGirl". 

I know this post is named Haul Heavy, it matches my flosstube video and if you really want to see haul you can check it all out on my flosstube channel "Minnie Gray-All XXs".

A little personal update- I have received both Covid vaccinations and plan to attend Stitch Con in June.

Now you know what I've done in March and early April, it's time to make some more of those wonderful little xxs. 

 

Black History 365

As promised I have another post for you, I posted a new flosstube video on YouTube and you can go check it out at Minnie Gray - AllXXs If you don't "do" YouTube here's what going on over there.  First up was an episode of "Magic Q-Snap" where I give a special shot out to my video commenters, if you watch the video and leave me a comment I'll surprise you. I shared pictures of my wips from my WIPGO board that were called for the month of February. They were #4 and #20:

#4 

The Sun & Moon - Before

After

#20  

MLK Memorial -Before

After

The  goals for these two wips were to stitch 1000 stitches on each.  I think I made it and then some.

For the beginning of Black History Month I participated in a SAL #Black History 365 SAL and for that I stitched what is being called a SAF (Start and Finish) in one sitting.  

Former President Barack Obama

My other wips and new starts for February are:

Scissors & Bobbins - Jardin Prive'

 Suffrage Act - LHN

2020 Pandemic Sampler SAL - Sarcygurl (IG)

Harriet Tubman - The Primitive Hare

The new numbers for March WIPGO have been called and they are #10 and #24:

#10

Emerald City - Owl Forest Embroidery

The goal for this is to finish the stitching, wish me luck, I may have set that goal too high.

#24

Fairy Delight Biscornu - Joan Elliott Designs

The goal for this is to attach all of the beads and assemble the biscornu. I've made one before so I think this will be pretty easy. But still wish me luck on this one too.

Well now you know what I've been up to and it's time to go make some more wonderful little xxs.