Category Archives: sewing

Switching it up for the SAL. Pretty Spring House #2

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I have been working on my SAL Onions and Gourds all through the fall and winter months. I have gotten a ton accomplished on it but it’s time to put it away for the spring and summer because I need something light and fun to work on.

Last time I showed you Spring House by Brooke Nolan.

Here is where I started three weeks ago:

And here is my progress after three weeks:

Not a lot done but my garden has been calling me more.

I am not alone in this SAL, not by a long shot. If you click on the below links you will see some very talented stitchers! If you are interested in joining our group please contact Avis, the first link in this group.

See you in three weeks and Happy Memorial Day to my US friends! -MM

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

SAL Onions and Gourds #11, WIP Spring House

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It’s been another three weeks! I worked on my big project for the first half but got an itch to start a new project which I have been working on for the past week.

Onions and Gourds is coming along. I had to change the position of the fabric and I hope to get to the right side wall of the chart by the end of the next three weeks.

Here is were I ended last time:

Here is what I accomplished up to today:

I was getting sick of greens and blacks and yellows so I downloaded four free charts from brookesbooks.com. They are the four seasons house. I have started Spring House.

Adorable isn’t it?

MY SAL (stitch-a-long) group is full of very talented stitchers. Please do go and see what they are up to. If you are a stitcher and have a blog you would like to join our group with, please contact Avis, the first link below and see can fill you in on how to join us.

See you for another update in three weeks! -MM

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

Project Onions and Gourds #7

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I am so excited! I got a ton stitched this time. Things are starting to take shape although it’s still messy looking. It will be much more recognizable as gourds and onions next time.

Here is where I was last update:

And here is where I am now:

Another gourd is taking shape!

Please check out my other fellow stitchers in the group by clicking on the links below.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Connie, Jackie,

I want to welcome new member Sunny to the group! Here is the link to her blog. sunny

See you in three weeks! -MM

SAL Autumn Tree Project

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Well I thought I was doing pretty well with this project until I took a photo of it just now. This is my first time charting my own project and it just doesn’t photograph as well as I would like. 

Here is where I was 3 weeks ago:

And here is where I am now:

I still have all of the leaves to stitch and some sort of saying or verse at the top, plus a few other things.

Please have a look at what the other members of this fine Stitch-a-long are up to. We are all working on different projects and every three weeks we check in with our progress. See you in three weeks! -MM

Avis,Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate,Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose,Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen,Steph, Linda, Catherine, Mary Margaret,Timothy, Heidi, Connie

SAL Project Peacock Done!

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Woohoo!  I can do the happy dance because Mr. Salvador the peacock is complete. The only thing I would like to add to him is possibly some tiny beading to give him a little sparkle before I frame him.

I am still looking for the right frame for this project so I will post again when it is complete and I can give it to the intended recipient :).

Other than that, I consider this beautiful cross-stitch project done and I can’t wait to give it away!

Now I have to figure out what my next project will be. A gigantic new project or my own design project.

The above is a chart I had made of a photograph I took of my back shelf after I harvested these gourds and onions. I had the photo converted into a cross-stitch chart by an online company. It’s 10 pages long!  I think you all may get sick of looking at this if I choose it for the SAL though lol!

This other project is my own design. It looks simple right now but there is a lot I will be adding to it which will be fun to see.

What do you think?  Which project should I choose for the SAL?

If you are wondering what this SAL group thing is all about we are a group of stitchers that update each other every 3 weeks with an individual project we all pick for ourselves. I could not have finished Mr. Peacock as fast as I did without having that gentle push and reminder every three weeks from Avis and the rest of these lovely like minded stitchers.

This update we’ve added two new members too. Welcome Connie and Heidi!!

If you are a stitcher and would like to join the group please contact Avis via email which you will find when you click on her link below.  In fact I would encourage you to check out all of the wonderful stitchers in this group. Their blog links are highlighted with each of their names.

See you in three weeks! -MM

Avis,Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate,Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose,Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen,Steph, Linda, Catherine, Mary Margaret,Timothy, Heidi, Connie

SAL Project Peacock and New Project Update

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The last 3 weeks have gone by so fast and we have been so busy I only have worked on Salvador for a couple of hours. Sad I know but it is summer here in the US and busy is the name of the game for about another 2 months.  

I am slow finishing this project because all of the fun colors are done and I am left with the super light browns and creams and whites which are very unexciting.

I don’t know if you can see much of a difference but I did finish 3 more colors completely.  There is back stitching to do too.

Here is where I stopped 3 weeks ago:

And here is where I am today:

I have to admit I did start a new project and that took some of my SAL time.

I am learning to design my own cross-stitch designs and charts. For those of you that design your own I admire you greatly. It’s hard work and I have already modified and ripped a bunch of stitches out and restitched. It takes patience but I am loving it so far!

Here is a glimpse of what I have started to design:

It’s going to be an autumn tree with some sort of saying whether a Biblical quote or something else. Lots of red and orange and yellow leaves. I have already modified and ripped out the trunk once.

I have got to get a better chart drawn. When I asked the woman at Joanne Fabrics if they had any graph paper she had no clue what I was talking about. Sigh…

I can’t wait to keep going with both projects! Until next time… -MM

The members of the wonderful SAL group I am part of are doing some pretty spectacular projects. Click on the links of names below to visit their blogs and see what they are working on! 

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Timothy

SAL Update – Project Peacock

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Salvador the peacock’s tail is finished! His whole body in fact is done. All I have to finish now is the background vines and some back-stitching on his body and this piece will be complete! Woo hoo!

Here is where I left off three weeks ago:

And here is what I have done as of yesterday:

I should have the whole thing done next update. Keep your fingers crossed!

I have to thank this wonderful group of stitchers for keeping me motivated otherwise I may not have gotten this project done as fast.

Please check the other members of the group out by clicking on the links of their names below. You won’t be disappointed!


Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Timothy