Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - A Pair of Wolves

I've once again failed to post this on Saturday.  Better late than never?

This one is just a small 7" x 5" (13cm x 18cm) Dimensions kit:

Pattern: A Pair of Wolves
Pattern by: Dimensions
Started Stitching: May 20, 2007
Finished Stitching: September 8, 2007
Fabric: 16ct. Dove Gray Aida
Floss: Kit Floss 2 over 1

It isn't anything too special, but I like it.  I lost interest in it for a while so something that should have taken a week or so to stitch ended up taking over 4 months.  If I remember correctly I stitched the wolves up pretty quickly, but when I was supposed to go onto the background I let it sit around.

You've seen in adition to fantasy projects a love for animals.  While I mostly focus on lions, other animals tend to sneak their way into my stash.

Maritime - Benthic: Second Post - Complete

Another one down!  I finished Benthic just minutes before midnight on June 27th.  I was actually going to go to sleep early too.  But I had to post so I'm still up. :)


Here's how he was left the night of the 26th:

1820 Stitches

 And here he is all done:

Complete

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Benthic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 24, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 27, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Icon Cashel Linen
Floss: Weeks Dye Works Peacock, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,550 out of 2,550 complete

Now I must crochet!  It's getting hot here, it was in the high 90s today (um... over 32 degrees in celsius), so I'd like to get my nephew's blanket done before we get to the few weeks every year where we get to triple digits.  Saturday's completed project will be my next post.  Now I must sleep.

Maritime - Benthic: First Post

So it seems that I'm obsessed with the Signets at the moment.  I started Benthic pretty much right after I posted the Pilot finish.  Benthic is part of a two pack set along with Pelagic.  These are water dragons, with Benthic meaning the bottom of a sea or lake, Pelagic means living or growing at or near the surface of the ocean.

The fabric I'm using is 28ct Cashel Linen Icon.  The thread is Weeks Dye Works in Peacock.  I find it kind of funny that I'm using a color named after a bird for a water dragon.

When I stitched this I didn't exactly start in the middle.  The piece of fabric I ordered had a tiny pink spot that I wanted to make sure was covered.  I figured what would approximately cover that spot if I had started in the center and did that first.  It ended up being the right fin... or is that a dorsal fin?

262 Stitches

I next worked on most of the body and a few more fins.

1,063 Stitches

Next up, his head.

1,497 Stitches

The fabric color isn't really showing up in the pictures, it's just a very light blue.

I'm not sure if I'm going to have time to finish him up tomorrow or Thursday.  After that I need to make myself work on my nephew's blanket.  I'm going to try to finish up another skein before I let myself work on the next Signet.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Benthic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 24, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Icon Cashel Linen
Floss: Weeks Dye Works Peacock, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.7% complete
Stitches: 1,497 out of 2,550 complete

Pilot: Second Post - Complete

I didn't think I'd be posting this early on Pilot today.  These just go so quickly.

I fixed the first swirl that I stitched and continued on with the main structure of his left wing.

1631 Stitches

A little more of his wing was added.

1992 Stitches

And here he is finally done!

Complete

Project Stats:
Pattern: Pilot
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 21, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 24, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Monet Cashel Linen
Floss: Caron Waterlilies Aubergine, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,307 out of 2,307 complete

I think Benthic is going to be next.  Originally I was going to do Messenger next, but I don't have the thread for him yet.  I forgot to order it with my last order.  It's not like I don't have plenty of things to work on.

Pilot: First Post

As I mentioned, Pilot was going to be the next Signet I was going to work on.

I decided to use the same color fabric as the sample, Monet.  While I did decide to keep the thread color similar, I did use a different thread from the sample.  I'm using Caron Waterlilies, Aubergine.

I first started with the large curl in the center, then went on to the tail.

840 Stitches

Next, I stitched his right wing.

1128 Stitches

I was going to take a picture right after I finished the wing, but I forgot.  So instead you see a little bit of his neck already started.  I just took a tiny break to take a snapshot when I realized.

I continued on with his head and finished it up.

1361 Stitches

Project Stats:
Pattern: Pilot
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 21, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Monet Cashel Linen
Floss: Caron Waterlilies Aubergine, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.99% complete
Stitches: 1,361 out of 2,307 complete

While I was writing this post I noticed a discrepancy in the photo on the chart and my stitched version.  Well, I'd made a mistake.  So I'm going to need to fix the large swirl in the center.  Then I will continue on to his left wing.

Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - Orca Splash

Yay, I'm posting this on time today!

I think this is going to be the last of the, I have no idea when I started this, pieces.  While I did do this a long time ago, it is still available to purchase.

I also found that there is a dolphin splash, which I just might have to do as well, but that would be way down on my list of to dos.

Pattern: Orca Splash
Pattern by: Pegasus Originals Inc.
Finished Stitching: 1999
Fabric: 14ct. White Aida
Floss: Kit Floss 2 over 1

Nocturne: Third Post

I've had a busy few weeks, unfortunately they weren't busy due to stitching, but I did get some work done:

Nocturne finally got two dragon bodies:

2939 Stitches

And now it has three:

I've gone back and forth in my mind about adding sparkly to the wings.  Just when I finally thought I'd decided to do it, I was talking to my mother and she asked me if any of the others would have it, and when I said no, she said since none of the others would have it, this one might look strange with it.  So it's been decided, no sparkly.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 44.31% complete
Stitches: 3,902 out of 8,799 complete

Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - Whales Song

I missed my Saturday post.  I'm a day late... forgive me.

This chart kind of seems to accompany the Dolphin chart from last week.  It's by the same company, and the only place I found the chart was on ebay.  So it's still out there... somewhere.

This is another one of those, I'm not sure when I started it, but I know when I finished it by my signature on the piece.

Pattern: Whales Song
Pattern by: True Colors Cross Stitch
Finished Stitching: August 2002
Fabric: 14ct. Navy Blue Aida
Floss: Kit Floss 2 over 1

You Are My Gift: First Post

This is a Christmas present for my sister.  When I saw it, the mother dragon with the stocking and her newly hatched offspring, I thought of my sister and nephew.  I originally came up with the idea since my nephew was born on Christmas Eve 2010.  So, that year, he was my sister's biggest gift.  It's also the type of gift that my sister can then easily pass down to him.  And now with the second on its way I, of course, have to make another.

I haven't really been enjoying stitching this.  It has nothing to do with the pattern, it's the fabric.  I'm using 40ct. Newcastle from Picture this Plus.  While I love their other fabrics, this one is not working as well as I hoped.  I'm stitching this 2 over 2 and I thought it would stitch up similarly to Transcendence which is 20ct.  But the weave just seems a little too tight and the needle doesn't go through without some muscle.  Luckily it's small, but I'm making two, but I can soldier though it.

Here's the first progress picture:

I changed the color of the stocking, mostly because I couldn't find the recommended color in my stash.

The little one has been stitched:

And everything except backstitching and the stocking rim.

Ready for the final pic?

I used Rainbow Gallery's Fuzzy Stuff for the top of the stocking.  It was a little too thick for the 40 ct, so I ended up not doing full crosses on the top of the stocking, but I think it turned out well enough.  I did have to trim it a little bit since the threads were so long for such a small piece.  I also gave the little guy a little bit of a smile.  He just seemed like he needed one.

So one down and one to go.  At least one down with the stitching part.  I'm going to have to wait until the Christmas trims come in at Michaels before I'll be able to finish this.  I'm not sure if I should put this on the completed page or not.  It is completely stitched, but the project is not done.  I'll figure it out eventually.

Project Stats:
Pattern: You Are My Gift, Ornament #1
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: June 2, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 13, 2013
Fabric: 40ct. Legacy Newcastle Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2; Kreinik 1 over 2; Fuzzy Stuff 1 strand
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 740 out of 740 complete

Warrior: Second Post - Complete

He's done!  Ready for the pictures?

I did the long thin line that outlined the left side of his wing.

As of June 11, 2013, 1684 stitches

Next I did the talon on the wing and the top half.

As of June 11, 2013, 2190 stitches

Finally here he is complete!

As of June 12, 2013 - Complete

Pilot will be the next new Signet I work on.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Warrior
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 9, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 12, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Cauldron Cashel Linen
Floss: Threadworx Rocky Mountain, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,649 out of 2,649 complete

Warrior: First Post

I'm such a bad stitcher.  I started another Signet.  This time it's Warrior.  I'm using the thread used in the stitched sample.  It's called Rocky Mountain, it's rather pretty.  It has three different colors, brown, a smoky blue and green.

I didn't like the fabric color it was stitched on.  It looked too yellow.  After much consideration, I picked a fabric by Pucture this Plus called cauldron.  It's referred to as a medium silver gray with burnt orange smudges.  I thought that might look good on a piece called Warrior.  Maybe he's an older warrior in grayish armor that is slightly rusted, the burnt orange smudges.

Initially I started him because I was afraid the fabric was too dark, but he just came alive and I couldn't put him down.  I'm still in my I don't want to work on anything except what I want to work on mood, so if I find something I really want to work on I might as well.

The first picture I took has his tail and, I think I can call that a shoulder, done.

As of June 10, 2013, 705 stitches

This is pretty much where he is now, I've worked on him a little bit more, all that's left is his wing.  At least his head isn't last like the previous two.

As of June 11, 2013, 1549 stitches

I think I'm going to finish him up, he's very close to being done.  You might see him completed tomorrow!

Project Stats:
Pattern: Warrior
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 9, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Cauldron Cashel Linen
Floss: Threadworx Rocky Mountain, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.47% complete
Stitches: 1,549 out of 2,649 complete

Nocturne: Second Post

I did one of the dragon bodies on Nocturne.

I was hoping to have all three bodies done by now, but I caught a cold and mostly slept the past few days.  Hopefully I'll have more to show and be more chatty next time.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 22.35% complete
Stitches: 1,969 out of 8,799 complete

Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - Blue on Blue

I almost didn't get this posted on the correct day.  I had to work much later today than I thought.

I did this one a very long time ago.  I finished it in 1994 but I have no idea when I started it.

I haven't been able to find this chart anywhere, nor have I been able to find the company's website.  But I have found a few places selling True Colors charts, so I'm thinking either they're really old charts or they're still around and I just can't seem to find them.

Pattern: Blue on Blue (Discontinued)
Pattern by: True Colors Cross Stitch
Finished Stitching: 1994
Fabric: 14ct. Navy Blue Aida
Floss: Kit Floss 2 over 1

Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - Lion

Here's another complete to share.  It's by Jayne Netley Mayhew and is one of the pieces in her Animal Collection book.  He's just a small guy, but I really like him.

I stitched him back in 2008, and I know he only took about a week to stitch, but I have no idea the actual stitching dates on him.

Pattern: Lion
Pattern by: Jayne Netley Mayhew
Started Stitching: 2008
Finished Stitching: 2008
Fabric: 28 ct. Khaki Evenweave
Floss: DMC 2 over 2