Happy Dance! - B is for Blackbird

Design: B is for Blackbird (from A*B*C)

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Threads: DMC as charted, modification noted below.

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, cream

Stitches: Half cross stitch

This is my final stitching happy dance for 2009. I finished it on the 28th, and I'd hoped to have had "A is for Anchor" done too, but work commitments have got in the way... sigh. It's not very flat, as I laid it out on my fluffy duvet...

I loved working on this, despite a visit from the frog. I only made one modification from the design as it was charted, and that was to turn the red eyes of the blackbirds into one of the gold colours, as blackbirds over here have yellow rims to their eyes. It was nice working on this to think of the nesting pair of blackbirds my parents' garden hosted - they used to make their nest in an old honeysuckle bush.

And is is how it looks with the first letter I did.

I'm so enjoying this, I'm not sure I'm going to want to knuckle down to my Year of the UFO project, but I must...

Bitty Bird Sampler - Twisted Thread

Design: Bitty Bird Sampler (from Harvest Trio leaflet)

Designer: Twisted Thread

Fabric: 28 count evenweave - I think the colour is bone

Threads: Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in Soot and The Dye is Cast in Marigold.

I loved this - it was a very quick stitch and I think the colour scheme is very effective. The chart shows it stitched over one, but I'm not a huge fan of that, so over two it was!

If I can find a suitable frame, I think I will frame it.

Blackbird Parade - Heart in Hand

Design: Blackbird Parade
Designer: Heart in Hand
Threads: Gentle Arts Sampler Threads
Fabric: 14 count aida

I seem to go in phases with themes - last year, I stitched quite a lot of strawberries. Currently, it seems to be bunnies. And earlier this year, I had a thing for a week or two about blackbirds!

This was a super quick stitch - I did most of it during one evening at a local stitch and bitch group. Most of the other girls knit, but I'm not a big knitter - it puts too much stress on my arms and shoulders and really increases the pins and needles feeling that is my permanent companion anyway.

I stitched this using Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and added beads for the corn the blackbirds are eating, rather than stitches.

I'm either going to frame this, or make it into a pinkeep, I think.