Sitting at Home and Christmas Stitching

I am making progress with my Vintage Christmas Cross Stitching.

I started this project last December and after much thought ... 

I decided to use the blue Aida 11 that had been in my closet for years.

The pattern is 

Vintage Christmas Sampler by Lori Holt

This year when it came time to stitch the motifs,

I decided to limit my color palette to white, red, green, golden yellow

 and gingerbread brown.

My motifs are a variation of those in the pattern.

Some of the changes are intentional,

some are a "design option" created by a counting miscue,

like the left handed mitten.

It is not perfect but I am enjoying the process.

I hope to have this done before I put away my Christmas decorations this season.

That may or may not happen as I have an image in my head that will

involve extra stitching and finishing steps.

Happy Stitching! 

Slow Stitch Sunday in Texas

Row 1 is done!

It was a beautiful sunny day today.

I spent much of the day slow stitching.

Mostly outside or in a sunny window.

This photo was taken at the end of the day

after darkness fell and the soft lights were on inside.

Mr Scrapatch added the tent roof to the tower

and the Little Miss enjoyed the sunshade.

He also added the monkey bars but I forgot to take photos today.

I like the gingerbread house in the Christmas colors I have chosen.

I will add the button details after all the stitching is done.

This is the original pattern colors ...

Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch Pattern

I like the original but I am enjoying playing with the pattern ...

I love the snowman.

The striped scarf is my own variation.

I also made a larger carrot nose.

Linking up tonight with all the pretty projects 

@

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Sunday ... :-) 

Stitching in Texas

For hand stitching here in Texas, I packed the

Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch

which I started last December.

I started this project Here

by stitching the white border and grid.

Now I am adding the cute Christmas motifs in the squares.

I have learned to "stitch in hand"

without a frame, this year and it makes my project more portable.

After seeing one of these online on the

Fat Quarter Stitch Facebook Group

that had a limited palate that I really liked,

I have decided to also limit mine.

I am using mostly the aurifloss that I bought last year

but will be supplementing with some DMC floss in Christmas colors.

So far I am happy with my progress.

Have  Happy Thanksgiving Weekend with you and yours! 

Trying Something New ~ Stitching In Hand

"Stitching in hand"

which means stitching without a hoop or frame.

I learned this method from
Kimberly Jolly @ Fat Quarter Shop Flosstube
which I watch every week
whether I am actively working on a cross stitch project or not.

Then

I last worked on this project, 

 Vintage Christmas Sampler HERE.

and was using this heavy wooden frame.
It worked well, but I want my project to be easier to carry with me
to stitch wherever I happen to be.

Since I am a seasonal stitcher and quilter,

I put this away during the warm weather and growing season.

It is cold here now and we had a killing frost last night.

Time to bring out the cold weather projects.

and 

Now

So I am trying this new method.
So far so good.

Linking up today with



Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Lots of lovely projects in the links.

Happy Sunday Stitching!

One Monthly Goal ~ January

I am joining in the

One Monthly Goal Linky Party

hosted by

Elm Street Quilts

My January goal is ...

... to complete all the cross stitching on my 

Vintage Christmas Sampler started HERE

Too often I put aside a holiday or seasonal project once the day and time has passed.

I am back in my sewing room which was Christmas Planning Central

for a month and my machine is uncovered 

and I have projects to sew.

I need to take a few minutes a day and get this cross stitch done this month.

I do enjoy sitting and slow stitching.

This is a good goal.

Wish me luck!

I used to have quilty list for myself each month.

and I have let it slide the last year or so,

I am thinking I need to revise my monthly list.

Not to stress myself out.

Just to organize myself.

I need to keep it simple so I can cross things off

and feel accomplished.

Do you set monthly goals?

The Daily Blog ~ Day 2

Adding Color to my Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch Sampler!

I completed the frame last night.

I decided to do the borders first this time after 

I made a small count error on one of the border frames

of the Fall Sampler.

This method works much better for me

and I have saved the best part for last!

Win = Win

Cross stitching again has been such a pleasant past time for me 

that I am adding to my 2019 works.

I found these out-of-print  Snowman of the Month
cross stitch cards from Curtis Boehringer

and plan to stitch one a month
on the same blue Aida 11 background.

I find I can do this for a few minutes at a time before my eyes blur and hands cramp.

So this will be slow stitching.

Midnight has found me putting in a few more X's most nights lately,

and counting my blessings.

You may have noticed "The Daily Blog" title to this post.

I am going to make an effort to post everyday for 365.

Most days may just be a photo or short message.

My plans are to take things one day at a time

and one stitch at a time for 2019.

I have resolved not to make any resolutions 
but to sew and stitch whatever catches my interest at any given time ... 
which is pretty much what I always do in my sewing happy place. 

What are your plans for 2019?

Have a Happy Quilty New Year ... ♥️

Sittin' and Stitchin' with the Kitten

Nutmeg and I are all cozy and warm by the tree this cold winter night.

I am making good progress.

The outer border is complete!

This has been aided in part with the purchase of a wooden frame and universal stand

 from

Frank A. Edmunds Co.

I can sit in a comfy chair with my daylight craft light 

focused on my work ... 

... and set the stand so I get get close enough to see

what I am stitching.

Loving this early Christmas present to me.

My hubby,  who understands the need for the right tools,

helped me with the stand.

Happy Christmas Stitching! 

Xmas XStitch

My progress on my 

Vintage Christmas Sampler Cross Stitch

I am using 

Aurifloss 2021 Natural White for the borders

and a blue Aida 11 count that I had in my craft closet. 

My sewing room cutting room table is gift wrapping central

and my sewing machine is covered for the duration.

Also, our Katniss had to go to the vets and she is convalescing there

to keep her quiet and away from the other rambunctious kitties. 

I am loving this peaceful hand project ... <3 

Too Cute ~ Must Stitch!

Yes, this is a new project ... a new start. 

This 

Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch

is just too cute to say no.

I told myself I could not get the Christmas one if I did not finish the fall one.

This is my progress on my Farm Girl Fall.

I had a lot of fun stitching this, the first time I have cross stitched in over 40 years.

I even stitched in the airport and in flight.

I can only stitch for a few minutes before I must give my eyes a rest.

This may not look like much of an accomplishment,

but I am very happy with it.

But then I caught a Texas Sized Cold from my Grand-darling and brought it home with me 

and I pulled the blankets over my head and went to bed for days.

I only went out to see my doctor.

I am finally on the mend and ready to stitch and sew again.

But I am not feeling fall anymore.

I am ready for a fun, festive, snowy Vintage Christmas

here in my cold New England quilty corner.

So I ordered the Christmas pattern, floss and some 

Aida cloth ... and I am ready to stitch!

Here are my choices for aida cloth, in various size counts ... 

(Left to right)

Blue 11, Gray 11, Silver Dusted 14 (bought this one in Texas) 

and the recommended Oatmeal 10 and White 10

As usual, I am having a hard time deciding between the choices. 

I am leaning toward the Silver Dusted 14,

it is a natural off white with silver threads

and even my 

White 2021 Aurifloss

looks crisp on it.

In a close second place is the Blue Aida 10 cloth.

What would you choose?

Opinions Welcome!