Cross Stitch Christmas Gifts 2013

Here are the two cross stitch pieces I did for my daughter, Stephanie, by request, this Christmas.  They were both framed by Joe at Keepsakes. Needless to say, they were a big hit. And, yes, next year's requests are already in.

"The Wizard of Oz"

The Little Stitcher

"Lemon Meringue Sampler"

Casey Buonaugurio

An Oldie But Goodie ~ PS Johnny Appleseed Is Finished !!

Johnny Appleseed

Prairie Schooler #9

28 ct. Platinum Cashel Linen

Have A Spooky Halloween!

"Salem Semetery"

by

The Stitcherhood

Johnny Appleseed (PS #9) -- Progress Report

I spent most of my Labor Day Weekend making real progress on an old timer, Prairie Schooler's Johnny Appleseed. I'm stitching it on Platinum cashel linen, 28-count. This old design from 1985 shows how PS effectively used very muted tones of DMC. The row of deer was especially fun to stitch.

A Union Fife and Drum Finish

This was a stitch that combined my two passions - Genealogy and Cross-stitching. I have been documenting my family tree at my other blog, Digging Down East, for four years now, and this summer I found the grave of my 3rd great grandfather, Howard Winslow Brackley, in a tucked-away cemetery in Freeman, Maine. He served with Company D of the 28th Maine Infantry.

Jameson's Sampler

This is the finished and framed

Savannah Birth Record

for my great nephew Jameson Torrey Queen.

 I brought it to Maine with me, and gave it them today.

I love the way my framer, Keepsakes in Sharonville, Ohio, cut the mat around the shapes. It really makes it unique.

Ryan, Amanda, and Jameson just moved into a new apartment, so now this can hang in Jameson's own room!

Judith Kirby's Victorians (House Number 14) ~ The Piece That Lured Me Off Rotation

Judith's Summer Sunset, stitching with 3-ply DMC, on 28 count Heather, from Picture This Plus.

Old Salty Santas ~ Gotta Maritime Theme Goin' On Here

I fell in love with these guys a long time ago. I reverted back to Aida for it, and am glad I did. It's 14 ct. Misty Taupe from Charles Craft, which is what the model was stitched on. It's super stiff, which I don't like, but the colors sure do pop!

Chowder House ~ A Cricket Design for a True Downeaster

This is Cross-Eyed Cricket's Kiss The Cook (#78), but I chose to stitch the adorable

 Clam Chowder shack. The most surprising part of starting this design was that the picture on the cover is not color-accurate. The shingles, for instance, are not brown, but an olive green.  That's OK with me, but a reminder to always pull my colors ahead of  time.

This represents about 10 hours of stitching, and is part of my current rotation, which includes 10 projects, some New and some WIPs.

Prairie Schooler #9 ~ Johnny Appleseed: Next Stop on the Rotation RR

I have an extensive, if not exhaustive, Prairie Schooler collection of cross-stitch patterns. So I thought it only appropriate that I add a real gem to my rotation.  It's an oldey but goody, Johnny Appleseed, published way back in 1985, even before I started stitching (1987). We've sure come a long way since then, because this design has a grand total of 9, count 'em, 9 DMC colors!

I was also inspired by my recent, first trip to Spring Grove Cemetery, in Cincinnati (yes, I LOVE cemeteries), because he is supposedly buried there. I couldn't get a picture of his grave on the day I was there without disturbing a family gathering nearby.

Anyway, after about 10 hours, stitched on 28 ct. Platinum Cashel linen, here's my progress:

I’m Down With Downton Abbey ~ A New Start

This past Christmas, my daughter purchased quite a few perfect gifts from sellers on Etsy.com. When looked under “Cross Stitch” she found this adorable pattern called “I’m Down With Downton Abbey.”  I have added it to my rotation, and here’s the result of my first 10 hours, on 28 ct. Light Grey Lugana.

Birch Point: A Charles Wysocki WIP

The start of this Dimensions Gold Collection kit, entitled Birch Point, predates the beginning of this blog. So, you can imagine how far down in my WIP pile I had to go to discover it. But, I have to say, when I pulled it out, I knew I had to add it to my 10-hour rotation. 

The last 10 hours were some of the longest stitching time I have spent. Mostly, I worked on the the treeline to the left of the house, then completed the lefthand window, and have worked my way up to the roof. This is 18 ct. beige Aida we’re talking here, not my favorite fabric these days.

But I know it will be lovely when it is finished.

Union Fife & Drum Corps

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I will be stitching a few Civil War and Lincoln designs.

Here is my start, reflecting 10 hours, on “Union Fife & Drum Corps,” an old Jeannette Crews booklet called Portrait of the Civil War, stitched on 25 ct. Victorian Red Jobelan.

Elation Over Rotation !!

You may not have noticed, but there is now a tab at the top of this blog call "Rotation." If you do not know what a stitching rotation is, let me tell you. Many stitchers are also collectors and have what is commonly referred to as a "stash" of patterns and kits, as well as a pile of WIPs (works in progress), and the (need we mention) UFOs (unfinished objects).

Although it is close to heaven for a stitcher to browse (paw through) his or her stash, there is the inevitable feeling that we will never, and I mean never, live long enough to stitch it all.

One solution to try is a rotation, where you pick out a group of pieces you really want to stitch. You then stitch on one piece for a decided-upon length of time (say 10 hours), and then move on to the next. 

It gives the stitcher a sense of accomplishment and organization, and also offers variety in what you are working on.

I have tried rotation in the past, and have decided to return to this method.  So far I have been very successful. My list of projects is enumerated under the tab above. It is a mixture of WIPs and new projects, because variety is the spice of life, right?  This will also give me the added benefit of giving me plenty to blog about!

My first shift of 10 hours (my decided upon shift length) produced some real progress on my Angel of the Sea.

I should mention that I have joined a "support group," called Rotation Stitchers, and they are a very supportive group. You might want to check them out if this approach appeals to you.

I am also using the iPad app called HoursTracker. Here I can list all my stitching projects, and let it keep track of the time spent on each. So far it is working out great. The following shows the screen where it logged my 10 hours on Angel.

So, here is my total progress so far:

At this writing, I have moved on to my next piece, a Civil War design called "Union Fife & Drum Corps," because we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and I am a history nut, so.....stay tuned for the next Rotation Progress Report !!

Where There Is Life ~ A Finish for 20 Years of Survival

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of my Breast Cancer diagnosis. To celebrate, I am stitching up all the Breast Cancer designs that I have collected around that time and since. This is Where There Is Life by Dragonfly Stitches. It was a really fun stitch!

My Grow Your Blog Prize is Here !!

Not only was it a blast to participate in the Grow Your Blog event, it was fun to come up with a “door prize,” and for it to be so sincerely appreciated.  Remember, MJ, I want a picture of your finished piece!

Well, as it turned out, I was the VERY LUCKY winner over at Cathy Habermann’s blog, Hands On Design !!  She promised a “Taste of Sioux City” package (which was great, cuz I’ve never been) and boy, did she deliver!!

Sitting on my first porch Friday night was a jar of Sue Bee Honey, two packs of Jolly Time popcorn, a pound of Jumpy Monkey coffee, four Twin Bing candies, and ……..

The Lizzie Kate 2008

 Special Edition

 Christmas Is Forever Kit.

ZOWEE !!

Stitchers are great

 and those who blog about it are a special breed.

Grow Your Blog Drawing ~ We Have a Winner !!

Hello Everyone!!

The Grow Your Blog Party on January 19th was super fun. I gained 27 wonderful followers, and that makes me very happy. It's nice to know 107 followers are keeping up with my stitching. 

Today is my Cross-Stitch Blogoversary. I started blogging on this date in 2007! So,

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

Now for a drum-roll .......................................

Here's a little Valentine finish to celebrate February, with all the new followers' entries in my new Dunkin mug from Maine:

Here's my son, Nathaniel, stirring the slips up just a smidge:

And ........................ the WINNER is ..........................

CALAMITYJR !!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!

YOU HAVE WON THE STITCHER'S VERSE CHART

THIS WAS SO FUN !!

HAPPY STITCHING!!

Wednesday's WIP report ~ Pink Ribbons for 2013!

Where There Is Life

by

Dragonfly Stitches

Another Liebster - This is So Fun!

Kerrie has nominated me for a Liebster award, and I am very flattered - thank you Kerri!

Here are the rules: 

1. You must post 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 11 new blogs & link them in your post
5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster award so I can learn more about YOU!

11 Things about ME:

1       I am from Maine, which is a very special thing.

2       I have been a law librarian for over 30 years – YIKES!

1       I have a 28 year old son who is heading to film school.

4       I have a 25 year old daughter who is heading toward restaurant management.

        I am a family historian.

  I     I am looking forward to retirement in a few years.

7       I am a Democrat.

8       I am a cross-stitcher.

9       I am on Facebook.

        I am on Twitter for genealogy (downeastdigger).

        I am a blogger (Crossroads of My Mind and Digging Down East).

Here are my answers to Kerri's questions:

1.     1. What did you have for breakfast today?

Since it’s MLK Day, I have the day off, and it’s Inauguration Day, so I made myself a decent breakfast, including a 3-egg frittata, bacon, coffee, and a Bloody. It’s gonna be a great day!

2.     2. Do you have any pets (please list them)?

No. My mom always said if we could find a pet that could cook, make the beds, do the laundry, and vacuum, then we could have one, and she would leave, so I did not grow up with animals. Now, my daughter, that’s another story, as you can see from my kitty stitching for her.

 3. What is your favorite food?

What? Isn’t pizza the perfect food? Seriously, I am a huge seafood nut, having grown up on the coast of Maine. Nothing like a freshly boiled Maine lobster all picked out on the picnic table.

4    4. What is your favourite colour?

Pink, pink, pink…may have something to do with being a 20-year breast cancer survivor.

5    5. Where do you like to go on holidays?

Maine, which is home, although I haven’t been able to do so in several years.

  

6    6. Do you play any sports or do any outdoor activities?

If you count tramping through cemeteries (I am the self-appointed family historian).

7. What is the latest movie you have seen?

Lincoln, which is a masterpiece btw.

8    8.What skill do you want to learn this year?

I would like to improve my photography skills.

9    9. Do you have a New Year's resolution you think you will keep this year?

I have compiled a “bucket list” of places to go around Greater Cincinnati before I retire to Maine, and have already clicked off a couple.

1    10. If you could be any TV character, who would you be and why?

Lady Mary Crawley, from Downton Abbey.  Just first class.

1    11. What is your idea of the perfect day?

The perfect day would be filled with stitching and genealogy, and would never end.

###########

11 Questions for my nominees:

1     Why did you decide to blog about your stitching?

2     How do you find time to stitch?

3     What cross-stitch designer do you like to collect?

4     Have you ever been to a stitch-in?

5     What’s the most you’ve spent on a pattern?

6     What’s your favorite stitching tool or gadget?

7     How do you organize your stash?

8     How do you give back? (e.g. teach young people to stitch, donate used patterns, etc.)

9     What do you do while stitching (TV, movies, radio, audio books, travel)?

1     Have you ever had a cross-stitch disaster (lost patterns, chewed, stained, or burned stitching)?

`

1     Have you made new friends (local or online) through your love for stitching?

My 11 nominations:

Kinley at http://aplacetostitch.blogspot.com/

Deborah at http://thefitfulstitcher.blogspot.com/

Kat at http://katstitching.blogspot.com/

Erin at http://lessb1tchingmorestitching.blogspot.com/

Edie at http://freelikeabutterfly.blogspot.com/

Monica at http://thehooplessstitcher.blogspot.com/

Lija at http://stitchingincrossesandmore.blogspot.com/

Helen at http://leftoverchocolatestitches.blogspot.com/

Angie at http://loviedewstitchery.blogspot.com/

Jennifer at http://heartlandstitching.blogspot.com/

Angela at http://stitchinginthezoo.blogspot.com/

Have Fun Everyone !!

Welcome to Crossroads! Thanks for Growing My Blog!

Hello and Welcome. My name is Pam and I have been cross-stitching for about 25 years. I am totaling hooked on stitching and collecting cross-stitch patterns. I love to stitch in my recliner in front of the TV, with a movie popped in, listening to NPR, or watching good, quality television.

I live in Mason, Ohio, which is a northeast suburb of Cincinnati, and have lived in Ohio since 1985. I am a single mom of two wonderful young people, a son looking to attend film school this year, and a daughter who has two cats and works at the Bangor Olive Garden.

In about 5 years I look forward to retiring to Maine, my home state. Naturally you will notice a predominantly nautical theme to my stitching, although my tastes are all over the place.

My other obsession is genealogy, and I have a link to my geneablog, Digging Down East, in the sidebar.

2013 marks the 20th Anniversary of my diagnosis of Breast Cancer. Additionally, as an American History buff, I am commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. So, if you decide to follow my blog, you'll see lots of Breast Cancer and Civil War stitching this year.

I am thrilled to participate in this Grow Your Blog party, and would love to offer the follow pattern to a lucky visitor as a door prize.  Anyone can enter, anyone can win, you don't have to have a blog.  Leave a comment or send me an email.  I'll put all the names in a hat and have a neutral person make the drawing.  The winner will be announced in this space on February 1st.

Again, thanks for stopping by and of course,

HAPPY STITCHING  AND BLOGGING ABOUT IT

For a list of all the participating blogs and giveaways ... just click the button in the sidebar.

Wednesday's WIP Report ~ Where There Is Hope

This doesn't look very exciting, but it really is a fun stitch.

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of my diagnosis of breast cancer, so this year I have decided to stitch up all my cross-stitch patterns celebrating my survival from this terrible disease. When I was diagnosed in 1993, 1 in 9 women got this dreaded diagnosis. Twenty years later, it is now 1 in 8. Here's to all the beautiful women fighting the good fight.

Where There is Hope by Dragonfly Stitches

Crazy Cat Love ~ Christmas Gifts for Stephanie

My daughter is Mama to two cats, Moe (short for Mozart, although she is female) and Muffin. The three of them live in Bangor, Maine, where Stephanie works, having graduated a couple of years ago from the University of Maine. She really is a "crazy cat lady," so, of course, I just had to stitch up a couple of my favorite cat designs for her apartment.  They were under the tree for her this Christmas. Apologies for the glare, but I needed to photograph them quickly, so they could be shipped asap.

Crazy Cat Lady, by Raise the Roof

If Cats Could Talk, by Designs by Lisa

Wednesday's WIP Report - Angel of the Sea