Coffee and Cross Stitch

Tidings of Great Joy | Cross Stitch

Welcome fall!  I feel like yesterday it was March and I was losing my mind at work, and next Thursday it's Thanksgiving already.  This Thursday, they're calling for snow in the forecast.  I say no thank you and good day.  Snow is inappropriate for this time of year.  I better not hear that word for at least another month, preferably two. Kthxbye.

Anyway, since last we spoke, I've been to Italy and back (I may post about that soon - we were there for two weeks and had a wonderful time), and actually finished a stitched piece, Tidings of Great Joy.  I don't do religious pieces (i.e. ones that have verses), but this one kept drawing me to it every time I was at my LNS, so I finally got it in the early summer and started stitching it immediately.

You all know I love me some Christmas.  I mean, I've had my Christmas tree up at work all year (don't judge me!) - not lit or with decorations, but it's up - and just absolutely love this time of year.  I used to get so agitated that everything was Christmas everywhere starting 1 November, but the past few years, I'm totally over it.  I want to savor every minute of the spices on the stove making the house smell Christmassy, the tree, lights, and festivities.  I stitch Christmas all year, too, with at least one piece going at all times.

While I was stitching this, I couldn't help but hear Linus in my head, reciting this on the stage in "Charlie Brown Christmas".

I made some changes, but they're minimal.  I stitched this on 36 count WDW Confederate Grey, and switched the berries and vine from the called-for colors to GAST Currant and Blue Spruce.  Hands down, they are my favorite Christmas red and green to stitch with.  Ever since I stitched Songs of the Season, I've been obsessed.

The special thing about this piece is that this traveled with me across the Atlantic, and I even put a few stitches in on the plane and in Italy.  It's a transatlantic piece!  I think that's pretty cool ;-)

What are you guys working on? It's been such a long time since I've checked in with you all!  I'd love to hear about your projects!

 

Just a little fall, y'all.

Good morning!  I know it's a bit dreary out there today in Philly, so I thought I'd give you a little fall-like boost for the morning.

I finished this a bit ago, and love the way it turned out.

This is "Pumpkins Three" by La-D-Da.

The model for this piece was stitched using black, but I thought a more pumpkin-y color was appropriate, so I used DMC 918 for mine.  I then took some oh-so-cute fabric with maple leaves (very fall-like, if you ask me), and created a border.  I added tabs at the top (which unfortunately you can't see in this picture), stitched quilting batting on the inside to make it a little sturdier than with just backing fabric, and made it a little wall hanging!  Ta da!  Cute, right?!

 

This is one of my favs -- Cricket Collection "Autumn".  I stitched this on 32 count Desert Sand (no idea who the manufacturer is), and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color scheme for this one!!!  Makes me want to cozy in and make some mulled cider or wine right now!

Enjoy this day, no matter what you do, and be sure to pick up and do something creative!