Sunday, May 2, 2021

I've got plans...

Except for crocheting some on what will be my son's ripple blanket, and a little dishcloth knitting, I didn't do much crafting this week.  In fact, I contemplating skipping making a YOP post today because I had nothing to show, but then it occurred to me...  I have plans.  Why not write about that?!?

But first the inspiration behind my plan.  With time on my hands this week, I found myself perusing Youtube (when I probably should have been getting something done, but nevermind that).  I came upon a delightful woman in Germany, named Silvia.  Her Youtube channel is beckisland.  It appears she hasn't posted in about eight months,  but I found myself completely charmed by her and her lovely small cross stich pillows.  I was so inspired, I decided to pull out all my small stitches, and go through my fabric stash to see what I could pull together to possibly finish some small pillows.  

First off, the stitches I have that are waiting for some love:

After I took stock of my non-FFO'd cross stitches, I opened up the containers that have all the fabric I brought home from MIL's last summer and found some nice materials that I think will work for finishing the above into pillows.

First up is a stitch I did many, many (I'm sure close to 40) years ago and for some time, it was in a very ornate oval frame (oh boy...  thinking this might have been a Creative Circle kit, I looked it up, and indeed it was!  Check it out here if you like.) While I displayed it years ago (in the ornate frame), for way too long it was stuck in storage - probably in the garage.  I think it was a couple of years ago that I rescued it from obscurity and now I think I will make a medium size pillow out of it.  

While the colors in the fabric above are perfect, I'm having second thoughts about using it to make a pillow (with this stitch). For this stitch, I want to make it into a larger pillow (like something that might sit in a chair), and I want a significant amount of a print fabric to show on the front of the pillow.  I may have to actually buy some fabric to fit this project. But that's okay...  I have enough projects below to keep me busy while I find a more perfect fabric for this one. 

Meanwhile, check out the back and the snazzy way I stitched it up to be taut for framing:


I think I've found fabrics that will work with the various other projects.  Tell me what do you think:
If I still have this color thread in my stash, I think I'm going to add some stitching to some of the stars.  A couple of them seem a little stark to me.


Seeing the picture above, I may swap this fabric out for something else.

I think I made these "quilt stars" in the 80's.  My MIL was a quilter, and I seem to recall that I originally made an ornament of at least one of these stitches for her and then I got hooked on them for a while.  I know I have several as ornaments in our Christmas decorations.  I think I even sold some when a friend and I did a couple of craft shows together way back then.  I don't know why I never put these last ones together.  If I remember correctly this was a free pattern in some ladies' magazine back then.  Woman's Day, maybe?


This one (above) I haven't decided between the flowers or the polka dots.  The red in the polka dot fabric is exactly the same as the strawberries.  But the little white flowers in the other fabric remind me a bit of the flowers on a strawberry plant.  I suspect either will look great, but I'm curious if you have an opinion.  On this one, I plan to have some of the print fabric on the front, with the same fabric making up the back of the little pillow.


The patterns above came from a vintage Just Cross Stitching magazine.  I believe the animal ones are from Prairie Schooler, but house is from another designer.  For my purposes, I think they all go together perfectly.


And some may remember the stitch above from last autumn.  I finished it after October, I'm guessing, and wasn't overly motivated at the time to fully finish it for display at that point.  Well, now I am.

And there are two little candlewicking ornaments I stitched up - over 30 years ago, I'm sure.  Those need to be finally finished and put with Christmas/winter decorations.   

One of the things I really love about Silvia's little pillows is the simple ways she finishes most of them.  I like a simple finish, I've concluded.  Silvia shows that even the most simple finish can be lovely.  She does like to add fabric to the front and some ric rac or ribbon trim to some, and I do like that, so I headed over the local Hobby Lobby yesterday afternoon to see what they might have.  Boy, did I have good timing.  I hit the mother lode!  Spooled ric rack and ribbons were 50% off!  So I got bunches.  For the price, I decided to get all of the colors of ric rac and a few special ribbons, and figure out later how I might use it.


I have two thoughts as I look at the above ribbons and trims:  I have just derailed my plan to continue downsizing my stuff!  And... Why did I not buy MORE?!?!?  Seriously now...  look at those colors.  How could I resist?

And that, dear reader, is all I've got. 
Just plans for some fun finishes.  





34 comments:

  1. Excellent post. These cross stitches are GORGEOUS!! Glad you pulled them out. You have fantastic taste on fabric matches. I like the fabric that you picked for the Greatest Gift but agree you can check out others. Red polka dot!!!! Definitely. Agree the blue stars are a bit bland. The quilt stars are gorgeous. So many fun pillows but I also like as small wall hangings.

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    1. Hmmm... I'm going to have to give the idea of wall hangings a thought. ;^)

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  2. Oh my goodness. So much stitchery goodness. All of your plans sound fabulous. Your October piece steals my heart. The little hedgehog is too precious. Good luck choosing the fabric for the strawberries. Both look good to me. I also like the pinecone fabric you have with the xstitch quilt block. Thank you for posting. It gives inspiration to me. Plus I enjoy reading your posts whether they have crafting in them or not.

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    1. The pinecone fabric looks fine with the stitched piece in person, but in a picture I wasn't impressed. I'll figure that one out when I get to it. Thanks for your kind words, Marsha. :)

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  3. Plans are just as good (sometimes better) than the actual things! These are all going to look great. As to the strawberry questopn I am drawn to the little flowers!

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  4. Plans are always good! Seeing your little stitcheries reminded me that I want to make new advent calendars using cross stitched designs. I made the boys ones from fabric that use little pockets for each day but then I remembered AFTER I'd gifted them that the poor parents were going to have to come up with 50 'inserts' every year. Oops! So....cross stitched designs are going to be the replacements.

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    1. Ooooh... a cross stitched advent calendar would be really wonderful.

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  5. Good 50% off haul there.
    Down sizing doesn't mean creative materials are banned. :)
    Decision navigagtion. Use one fabric for the main pillow, and a small ruffle using the other fabric.

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    1. Oh thank you, May. And these are very small materials. Using more than one fabric is an idea I've thought of for some of the other projects, but these two reds, I think would clash with each other. I didn't mention that I plan to use some green rick rack as trim (between the stitched section and the fabric section).

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  6. Oh my if we lived closer all the ribbon and ricrac I decluttered last fall could have found a good home with you! I love the pillow ideas, and the materials you have matched with each project are perfect. Plans indeed are a good thing to report on - the are the beginning of what is next to be created!

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    1. Now let's just hope I have follow-through. I'm already itching to start stitching something else again...

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  7. That was fun for this non cross stitcher to study. The strawberry I think needs the little white flowers rather than the dots. Easy for me to give advice from here!

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    1. Well, that's two votes for the flowers so far. I was hoping my artist friends would weigh in. You have a way of seeing that I know I don't always have.

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  8. How fun to have found all these old projects that need finishing. What a sense of achievement it will bring to have these finished and displayed or gifted. Your ‘greatest is love’ would make a lovely wedding gift for someone, and if started 40 years ago it could be classed as something old or something new when made into a new pillow! I like your fabric matches except the first one with the 8 point stars. They are quite simple so perhaps would cope with a busier fabric, or as you suggest you could add more details to the stars to make them less simple, It’s all personal taste though, that’s what makes them unique.

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    1. That's an interesting idea for the one stitch. Funny, though... it's turned yellow in some areas (they don't show in the picture). I'm trying to decide if I will further stain the project and make it look more intentional. Weird how truly old and stained items don't look nearly as cool as newly and intentionally stained stitched projects. Thanks for the input on the stars (and the fabric). I do think I need to punch it up a bit by adding some stitching to the front piece. It's just too bland as is.

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  9. I loved seeing your plans. You have quite a stash waiting to be fully finished. I see your dilemma with the strawberry choice of fabric and I offer no solution. They are both lovely.

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  10. You have a lot to work with. I really like the pine cone fabric. I also like the way you pulled your project taut for framing. Much better than the glue I used to use.

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    1. I remember pulling fabric taut this way for several stitched items that I put into simple frames. Seems almost primitive when I look at the care that some go to to frame cross stitch today.

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  11. You have some lovely little pieces that will make darling little pillows or what some call "bowl fillers". I have a big shallow pasta bowl that I plan on putting mine in while lots of people get antique dough bowls. Each one of yours is darling and I love all your fabrics. Who could resist all those lovely trims! Not me! You go girl!

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    1. I was eyeing a wooden trencher at a resale shop recently. I doubt it was an antique, but it would certainly fit the bill. Until I get something like that, I think I'll probably end up displaying these very simply (propped up on a shelf, or with just a few in a smaller container).

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  12. Those little pillows will be adorable!! By and large, they should be quick projects too- you've already completed the labor intensive stitching portion!

    Thanks for sharing your ideas!

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    1. Watching Silvia made me feel good about preferring making these little stitches. She is unapologetic about these kind of projects being what she enjoys most. I think that's one of the reason I enjoyed her videos so much.

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  13. How exciting, I love all your plans! I like the flower fabric with the strawberry cross stitch but either would be lovely. I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Have a great week. x

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    1. That's three (or 4?) votes for the flowery fabric. I do think either would look cute, but a bit of a push in choosing one over the other might prove to be helpful. :)

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  14. I need to get back into some kind of craft instead of just watching TV. Putting my hands to work just might be the best medicine I need for my needy soul. Blessings.

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    1. I do like having something to do with my hands - especially when my mind is overly busy.😏

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  15. I like the sound of your enthusiasm! And for what it's worth, I also like the little flowers rather than polka dots for the strawberry stitchery.❤️

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    1. I think I'm going with the flowers, then! Thanks, Susan. :)

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  16. Love! The cross stitch projects are adorable and I'll look forward to see what you make. I have so many little cross stitch embroideries that I've never actually made into anything, I feel that this post was written for me.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Amalia. You are the queen of making adorable things, I'm thrilled that you've found anything I've written as personal encouragement. ;^)

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  17. What fun trims you stocked up on! I love that October piece you did. The hedgehog is cute.

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    1. Thank you, Stef. I know... the funest thing about these monthly stitches are the cute animals. :)

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