Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who made 2012 Year of Smalls possible.  It was such a fun journey.  I am sorry this gratitude is so late.  

I hope you all can carry on with the fun of stitching and finishing smalls on your own.  There are so many fabulous charts out there.  

It was a lot of work to coordinate the year of smalls; and that is one reason I did not continue with another year of smalls.  But don't let that stop you!  I had a couple of ideas for more themes.....the two I liked best was year of patriotic smalls!!!  My other favorite, and one that I did not think would translate too well, was year of people smalls.  That would be where you take just part of a chart or sampler.  The part where there is a cute woman or child....and just stitch and finish her into a little fob or pin cushion.  I still have to get going on that one myself.  

So, thank you small stitchers for your enthusiasm and your posts!  What a fun time it was!!!

love,
laura duet

December 2012 Small

Here is the December small!  Christmas Songbirds Ornament by Historic Stitches.  Absolutely stunning!  Cathy of Inspired Needle picked this month's small, stitched it and finished it beautifully!!!

Here is a picture that shows you the size/scale of the ornament as you can see it grouped with a darling pair of Christmas scissors.  (Santa, if you are seeing this could you put a pair of these scissors in your pack for me?) 

As you can see....this is a two-sided ornament so you can add a personalization on the back. 

Cathy has kits available for this ornament at the shop.   The pattern calls for 32 count linen which makes the size of the ornament 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".  

Included in the kit will be the two pieces of 32 count linen you will need to stitch the front and back, Gentle Arts Buckeye Scarlett floss and, of course, the chart from Historic Stitches.

Kit prices are as follows:

14 count aida kit is $17.00

28/32/36 count linen kits are $19.00

40 count linen kits are $23.00

In addition to being a beautiful ornament, this looks like a fun stitch too!!!  

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving a great time getting ready for Christmas!  Happy Stitching!!!!

I don't remember which month this small was for but I stitched it for an exchange and created a box top.  It is stitched on 32ct antique ivory using GAST and DMC.  The inside is finished with an autumn leaf print. 

November 2012 Small

 This month's small is by C Street Samplerworks.  It is called ABC I Love Thee.   I picked this one because I just found it so sweet and gorgeous!  It could be an early Valentine start, but I don't think it just has to be for that holiday.  I see it as a year round sentiment and design.

 Cathy very kindly stitched this up over the weekend!  Doesn't it look totally fabulous???

I love this "arty" photo she took.

I hope everyone else is taken with this design too.  

Here is the information for ordering kits:

Pattern, 30 count Weeks Linen & silk thread for $21.00

OR

Pattern, 35 count Weeks Linen & silk thread for $19.00

If you prefer cotton overdyed thread, Cathy can substitute the silk with 2 skeins of Crescent Colours for no additional cost.

Interview with Brenda

As you know, this month's small was selected by Brenda.  Beside cross-stitching, Brenda LOVES University of Michigan football.  Hence, the picture of the fabulous stadium where the team plays.  If there is a game on, I know that Brenda will be glued to the TV with a project in hand.  It sounds like a really good time to me!!!!

Here is the interview with Brenda.  If you would like to visit her website, click HERE!

Q:  How did you get interested in cross-stitching?  When did you first start stitching?

A:   I got interested in stitching when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter back in 1984.  My first cross stitch piece was a Dimensions kit for a birth sampler for Ashley.
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Q:  Okay, quick, it is 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning.  Your boss tells you that you don't have to come to work today.  What are you going to do with yourself?

A:  On an unscheduled day off I would probably go to a LNS for some stash enhancement and then come home and stitch all day long with NO GUILT!
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Q:  You are famous in certain circles for your "kick-ass" stitching room. Can you tell us a little bit about how long you planned for it and thought about it before you were able to implement it?

A:  Well my stitching room is something I had dreamed about for years.  When my oldest daughter moved out I very quickly (like the next day-- LOL) moved all my stash into her old room.  The room has sort of evolved over the last couple of years with the addition of furniture and my wanting to change things around.  I get a lot of my inspiration for what I've done in that room from seeing different stitching/quilting rooms online.   
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Q:  What is your favorite thing about having your own stitching room?  

A:  The best part of having my own stitching nest is being able to retreat there when life gets crappy.  All is good with the world when I'm stitching in my nest:)
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Q:  Can you tell us a few of your favorite designers?

A:    I have so many "favorite" designers.  This is hard but if I had to limit it to what charts I would buy "sight unseen" then that would include Blackbird Designs, The Drawn Thread, Little House Needleworks and The Victoria Sampler

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Q:  What is one of your favorite small pieces you stitched before we started Year of the Smalls?

A:  One of my favorite smalls would have to be a 15-sided Christmas Biscornu by Just Nan.  I enjoyed stitching all the little sides and was so proud that I was able to assemble it on my own.  

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Thanks so much Brenda!!!!!  You are such a wonderful stitcher and friend!   

Fancey's Flowers

Fancey's Flowers

Pineberry Lane

40ct Linen

Required DMC Threads with 1 change

 

I know I am behind with my smalls, but momma is back in the game and trying to catch up. I started with Fancey because of her Fall colors and she is just darn cute! I did change her to a lady because I don't do witches and just decorate for the Fall season. I also changed the color of her basket so it would stand out a bit more. She was a fun stitching project!!

 

I will get started with the current project, but will post the past projects as I finish them. I hope we will continue this into 2013! I just got severely sidetracked with prom, graduation, and preparing 2 for college and the last for high school.

 

Hugs & Stitches!!

October 2012 Small

October's small is Autumn Splendor by With Thy Needle and Thread.   This small was selected for us by Brenda!  Please go to her blog and scroll down for her more pics of her finish.  She opted to finish it as a box topper and it is just gorgeous!

 

You may contact Inspired Needle and purchase this as a kit with chart, fabric and threads.  The kit will include full skeins of the overdyed threads, so the cost is a bit higher, but it is definitely worth it and you will have some extra thread for your stash!

You may select 35, 30 or 14 count fabric with Gentle Art Threads.  

30 count linen is $39.00

35 count or 14 count are $37.00.  

Also, if you would like just the chart, just the linen or just the threads please let Cathy at Inspired Needle know.  

I am sorry for the delay in this announcement!!!!!  Darn it when "real life" gets in the way of the stitching!!!!!!