Backstitch, beads and more.

Surprise! I'm back again with a little update.  After my last post I realized that I had missed showing a finish. This one I think I showed before when I finished the stitching and it was still without the beads. It now has all of the beading done.

Bella Bee

"Bella Bee" is designed by Nora Corbett, she is stitched on 28ct Lugana from Under the Sea Fabrics "Daphne". She is a complementary design to my "Bella Butterfly". Also by Nora Corbett.

Bella Butterfly

The next thing I worked on was a new start, this is a design I picked up on my last trip to New Orleans, when I got to visit Accents Inc. in Metairie, LA. 

Jazz Funeral

"Jazz Funeral" is designed by a local designer in New Orleans, Rose Le Blanc. It represents an African American tradition and I started stitching it for #blackhistorymonth365sal. 

 The last design I worked on is a WIP (work in progress) that I inherited from my friend Connie G. This is a Joan Elliott Design called "Blackwork Peacocks", Connie started the stitch on 32 ct. Jobelan from Fabrics by LJ in "Razzleberry"

I am loving stitching on this beautiful design, I am amazed at the way the peacock is coming alive. The fabric is also GORGIOUS! Connie gave me plenty for another project and I love it.  Well time to get back to making those wonderful little xxs. Happy Stitching!

 

Finishes, Starts & WIPs for 2022

 I finally have a chance to share some new things and some old things. I hope everyone has been safe, healthy and productive so far in this new year of 2022.   There is a lot to share so let's get started. I have three new finishes from my wip parade, they are in no particular order:

 This piece is "Suffrage Act" designed by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks, it is stitched on 32ct. Under the Sea  Fabrics "Selene" with DMC and Glorianna silk "Rain Forest". 

This piece is from Owl Forest Embroidery and I have been calling it Sun and Moon, however I believe the actual name is "Visiting A Fairy Tale" and it is stitched on 32 ct. Jobelan "Lambswool" I really enjoyed working on this one, the sun is beautifully designed.

This design is taken from a much larger reproduction of an antique sampler by Theresa Venette of Shakespeare's Peddler. It's stitched on 32ct. Lugana from Stoney Creek Designs in "Taupe" It may be FFOed into a small for my Stitch Con 2022 exchange.

Last be not least is "Words To Live By-Justice", it is designed by Beth Twist at Heartsting Samplery. It is part of multi-piece series of Words To Live By. This one really stood out to me, it is stitched on 32ct. even weave from Fortnight Fabrics "It's About Thyme". I have four new starts for 2022, the first one was started January 2nd.

The first picture is what the finished piece will look like, it called "Skate Crew" by Rachael Moore from Sengi Stitch. The second picture is where my wip is now, it is being stitched on 32ct. Lugana from Stoney Creek Designs "Taupe". My daughter was a skater and this reminds me of her.

This as you can see is a design from Cottage Garden Samplings called "Gathering Acorns". There was just something so cute about that little squirrel. I am loving the way he is turning out so much I am still working on this one today. It is stitched on 32ct. Seraphim Linen "Dusty Road" with the DMC alternatives.

Yet another animal spoke to me, this one is "Dancer" from Barbara Anna Designs and can be found in the Christmas/Winter 2021 Punch Needle and Primitive Magazine. I am stitching him on 28ct. Lugana from Picture This Plus Hand-dyed Fabric "Twilight". I think it was the turtleneck sweater that got me.

My last new start is very special, it is a reproduction of a sampler stitched in 1820. What makes it unusual and special is that it was originally stitched by a young Black girl at the New York African Free School and is on display at the New York Historical Society.  The reproduction was created by Arlene Cohen of Works By ABC, the design is "Rosena Disery 1820" "Rosena" is being stitched on 28ct. Lugana from Silk Weaver Fabrics "Days Gone By". The poem, the design across the top and Rosena's name is all stitched one over one. I am not a real sampler stitcher but "Rosena" is special.

I also worked on "Moonshine" from Silver Creek Samplers stitched on 32ct. even weave from Fabric Flair "Charcoal" and "Pray" from Teresa Kogut on 32ct. Linen from Weeks Dye Work "Angel Hair".

Well I hope you have enjoyed checking out my cross stitch updates. If you would like to see quicker updates you can find me on Instagram @minniegray5806 and YouTube at Minnie Gray - AllXXs , it is now time to go make some more of the those wonderful little xxs. 
Thanks for stopping by, Happy Stitching!

WIP PARADE

Happy New Year Everyone! 

I use to think that once you are retired, you will have all the time in the world to do everything you want to do. WONK, WONK, WOOONK! Not even close to being true. I have tried to post on Facebook, Instagram, make Flosstube (Youtube) videos and keep my blog updated. Of course something is going to suffer, unfortunately it has been my blog. I appreciate all of you that have not deleted my page and come back to see if there is anything new. I apologize of any inconvenience, if you so desire, you can follow me on: 

Facebook -Minnie Gray

Instagram-minniegray5806

Flosstube - Minnie Gray -All XXs  

Now that all of that is done, lets get to the good stuff,  WIPS

2020 Pandemic Sampler
sarcygurl

A Haunting We Will Go
Keslyn's

A Lady Named Ella
Ingleside Imaginarium

ABC de la Brodeuse (Aida Button)
Jardin Prive'

Advent Animals
Brooke Books

African Angel
Barbara Baatz

Bella Bee
Mirabillia

Blackwork Peacocks
Joan Elliott

Crystal
Cross Stitching Art

EGO
Arlate Studio

Franky the Thinker
Glendon Place

Hogwarts Crest
Colleen Carrington

Ironwork Gate
CW Designs

Just Me
Pick to Pattern

Forever & Ever
Cottage Garden Samplings

MLK Memorial
Posy Collection

Moonshine
Silver Creek Samplers

Natural Beauty 2
Fil'anthrope Broiderie

                                                                                   

T'was The Night
JBW Designs

Pain
Night Spirit Studio

Phanton
Kitty & Me Designs

Pray
Teresa Kogut

Pretty As A Peacock
Maria Diaz

Repeat The Sounding Joy
Kathy Barrick

Suffrage Act
Little House Needleworks

Sun & Moon 
Owl Forest Emboidery

The Comparatively Small Ship of Life
Ink Circles

Turn Your Face Toward the Sun
Mar Nic Designs

                                                                                    

Words to Live By
Heartstring Samplery

Yin Yang
Stitchrovia

Some of these WIPS you have seen for years, they are finally getting close to being finished. Some you've never seen before, I love them all and plan to add to this list over this next year. So stay tuned for more excitement. If you have any questions about any of the pictures I've shown please leave me a comment and I will answer as soon as possible. Thank you for stopping by, now to make some more of those wonderful little xxs.

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.