“Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane” -- February 28, 2009

My last finish for 2009 was Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane by Melissa Shirley Designs as I finished the Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane on December 31, 2009.

Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane, #953C
Designed by Melissa Shirley Designs
Rainbow Gallery’s; Petite Very Velvet, Neon Rays, Petite Frosty Rays
Caron Collections Impressions

The second picture is of the threads that I added to my Totally Useless SAL container when I finished the Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane. So these are some more threads for the December, 2009 TUSAL. Yes, I know I’m really late but once again since I took the picture I figured I would share it. LOL!

I’m so glad that you stopped by my blog!

Cynthia
A Lot Less Snowy Windy Meadow

“Halloween Cat Bitty HS5772 by Heartstrings -- February 27, 2010”

Hello Everyone!

I’ve been busy catching up on life and work after our series of major snow storms. I’ve also been spending a lot of my evenings watching the Olympics and doing some new stitching which I hope to share with everyone soon. I finished one small project and I’m almost done with two more!

I’ve also started working again on the great “Needlework Organization Project” and I realized that I didn’t share with you all two of my recent finishes!

I finished the Halloween Cat Bitty, HS5772 by Pat Thode of Heartstrings on December 28, 2010. As you all know, I just LOVE Pat’s designs so this was a fun stitch.

Halloween Cat Bitty, HS5772
Designed by Pat Thode of Heartstrings
DMC Floss, DMC Perle Cotton #8

The second picture is of the threads that I added to my Totally Useless SAL container when I finished the Halloween Cat Bitty. So these are actually threads for the December, 2009 TUSAL. Okay, I know I’m late but since I took the picture I figured I would share it. LOL!

Totally Useless SAL
December, 2009

I’ll be back tomorrow with the second project that I finished on December 31, 2009.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you are having a fun Saturday!

Cynthia
A Somewhat Snowy Windy Meadow

“February, 2010 Christmas Green Ornament” -- February 14, 2010”

In between digging out from the second major snow storm of the week, I was able to finish up the February, 2010 Christmas Green Ornament this past Friday.

"Christmas Green Ornament"
Sally's 2009 Christmas Lights from Rainbow Gallery
Offered by The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland
February, 2010

The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland is offering 12 Christmas Lights for their 2010 Canvas of the Month Club. These were designed by Sally for Rainbow Gallery and are based on a concept by Susan Portra.

This was another very quick and fun stitch. Now I have to wait until March, 2010 for the next ornament. :-)

This is the Christmas series that I’ll be stitching for Yoyo’s 2010 Christmas Stitch-a-Long. I am now caught up as I’ve stitched both the January and February, 2010 ornaments. Actually, I’m thrilled as I finished both ornaments by February 12, 2010! LOL!

Dee asked if there is a different design on each light bulb. Yes, there are different designs and different threads used on each ornament. The only repeating design element between the light bulbs so far is the gold Neon Rays+ that is used for each bulb cover. This area is stitched in a long diagonal stitch. We will be using the gold for the first six ornaments so I’m “guessing” that we might be doing the next six with a silver cover. Or than again we might be getting a new card of gold to continue with the next six. :-)

Please note that since the designs are by Rainbow Gallery each ornament is stitched using threads from Rainbow Gallery. These are a fun way try the Rainbow Gallery threads if you haven’t used them before.

I hope with the two sets of photos you can see the difference in the stitches by clicking on the photos. With all of the “fun” weather we have been having, it’s been a challenge taking photos! :-)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that enjoy seeing my new finished project!

Cynthia
A Snowbound Windy Meadow

“January, 2010 Christmas Red Ornament” -- February 10, 2010”

In between digging out from all of the snow this past week, I was able to finish up the January, 2010 Christmas Red Ornament this past Monday.

"Christmas Red Ornament"
Sally's 2009 Christmas Lights from Rainbow Gallery
Offered by The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland
January, 2010

The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland is offering 12 Christmas Lights for their 2010 Canvas of the Month Club. These were designed by Sally for Rainbow Gallery and are based on a concept by Susan Portra.

This was a very quick and fun stitch. I’m already working on the February Green Ornament which I hope to share with you soon!

I know that I have the original patterns that were designed by Susan for Rainbow Gallery in my stash. Hmm, I’ll have to find those when I start organizing again! :-)

By the way, the top of the ornament is actually gold which just wouldn’t photograph well! Especially with the gray skies we have been having with all of this snow. I’ll post a second picture below which hopefully shows the gold better. Sigh…

I decided to stitch the Christmas Lights as the series that I’ll be stitching will participating in Yoyo’s 2010 Christmas Stitch-a-Long. Yoyo decided in November, 2009 that she needed some encouragement to work on her Christmas designs. So she decided to create the 2010 Christmas SAL. The rules are very loose and you can read them by clicking on the 2010 Christmas SAL links.

Basically, the participants are to pick a design or series of designs that they want to stitch that have a Christmas theme. The goal is to spend the first week of each month working on this project. Did I mention that the rules were loose? Yoyo just asks that we send her a new photo by the end of each month so that she can post the photo in our Christmas SAL photo album. Hopefully by the end of year we will have made a lot of progress and we meet some new stitchers and have some new fun blogs to read. :-)

If you think that Yoyo’s name sounds familiar that’s because she is the creator of the Totally Useless SAL!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you are staying safe and warm this winter and staying busy with some fun stitching!

Cynthia
A Snowbound Windy Meadow

“January Fortune Cookie” -- February 8, 2010”

This past weekend I had lots of time to stitch due to the 2010 Blizzard. That is when we weren’t digging out from all of the snow! LOL!

I was able to finish up the "Happy New Year" January Fortune Cookie canvas. This was a quick fun stitch and I would definitely recommend the Fortune Cookie Canvas of the Month Club from Fireside Stitchery.

"Happy New Year" Fortune Cookie
January, 2010
Hand Painted Canvas by Little Shoppe Canvas Company
Stitch and Thread Selection by Fireside Stitchery
2010 Fortune Cookie Club offered by Fireside Stitchery in Frazer, PA

The snowflake medallions are stitched in a silver metallic and the filler between is ThreadworX. Unfortunately, the camera is having problems with the silver metallic but it’s beautiful in person. Just shimmers and looks like silver fireworks or snow falling out of a night sky. Yes, we’ve seen plenty of night snow this winter. LOL!

My plan is to stitch two of the fortune cookies and then send them off for finishing.

Thank you for stopping by and I’ll have another post for you soon of another finish from this weekend!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

January Fortune Cookie -- February 1, 2010

Hi Everyone!

I was working very hard to be able to share with you a finish, my January Fortune Cookie from the Fireside Stitchery's Fortune Cookie Club. I had a lot of time to stitch this weekend due to the Saturday snowfall and lot's of activities being cancelled. As I said, I was hoping to have a finish but sadly there was a bit of undo stitching here in Windy Meadow. Sigh...

Since I haven’t finished all of the non-metallic stitches it’s not playing nice with the camera. So let me point you to Fireside Stitchery’s Fortune Cookie Club page so you can see what it’s going to look like. Have fun and I’ll be back soon!

Thank you for stopping by my little home on the web!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

"Spoiled Rotten” -- January 27, 2010”

Yep, I’m spoiled rotten!

Why you ask?

I was hoping you would!

Well, last fall was a “Magic” birthday for me which is a birthday ending in a zero.

Oh gosh guys, you are too too kind, no I didn’t turn 30! :-)

So my dear, sweet, clueless husband was trying to figure out what to get for me as he really, really wanted to make this a special birthday.

Now, this is especially hard as if we want something, we usually just buy it. He also, ahem, has absolutely no talent in picking out clothes or jewelry for me. And since I read between three to five books a week, well that wasn’t going to work.

So, to save the poor dear man, and at his fervent request, I pointed him to several websites for canvas and Canvas of the Month clubs gift ideas.

On the day of my birth anniversary, actually it was several days later as we were too busy on my birthday to slow down for a fun meal and presents, he presented me with my birthday gifts. I was absolutely amazed as not only did he buy the Fireside Stitchery Fortune Cookie Club, he also purchased the Fireside Stitchery Candy Cane Club!

Well, I was speechless!

And for those who know me, this is a very rare event!!!

This past weekend I received the first canvas from both clubs so I hope to share some stitching progress with you soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting Windy Meadow!

Where it is about to get very windy and cold this weekend!

And I don’t have to go anywhere so hopefully I’ll be able to stitch!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Snow Cone Santa -- January 23, 2010

“Snow Cone Santa” by Janet Zickler Casey!

I had sent him off to Pocket Full of Stitches to be finished into an ornament last fall. He came back from the finisher in plenty of time to be placed on the Christmas tree. He looked so good!

"Snow Cone Santa"
Janet Zickler Casey Designs
Finishing by Pocket Full of Stitches

Hope you enjoyed visiting with my newest Santa ornament! :-)

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

"Marquis" August, 2009's Canvas of the Month Club

I stitched "Marquis" back in October, 2009. This is the August, 2009 kit from the 2009 Bargello Ornament Club from The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland. The red, green and gold threads just sparkle on the red canvas.

"Marquis"

Sally's 2008 Bargello Christmas Ornaments from Rainbow Gallery

Offered by The Stitching Post in Catonsville, Maryland

October, 2009

Rainbow Gallery's Silk Lame Braid, Neon Rays, Panache, Petite Treasure Braid

Hope you enjoyed another one of my stitched projects from last year!

So glad you took the time to stop by and I enjoy reading all of the comments. :-)

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Trick or Treat Heart - Finished! -- January 13, 2010

I finished the Trick or Treat Heart in November, 2009!

The original stitch guide was by Sekas & Co which I followed except for the area behind the Halloween figures and around the outside of the heart. I added a brown background in DMC #612 Tan which exactly matches the brown canvas.

"Trick or Treat" Heart

by Sekas & Co.

DMC #5 Perle Cotton, DMC Floss, Caron Impressions, Caron Watercolors

I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this project!

Sekas & Co. has a nice range and variety of projects. Many of which are available as needlepoint canvases and have also been charted for cross stitch. Enjoy looking over their site!

Hmmm.... there are a couple more of the Hearts that I would love to have. :-)

Thanks for stopping by my VERY windy and COLD meadow this week!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Pink Patchwork Shoe -- January 10, 2010

The Patchwork Pink Shoe is from A Collection of Designs and was one of the designs available in 2004 through Fireside Stitchery's " Halloween Cookie Club". I finished the first several in the club series and then of course, life got busy. :-)

I pulled it back out earlier this fall and this is where I left the stitching when I last put it down. I've made a bit of progress on the pink background and some of the other areas. It's back on the table and hopefully I'll be able to make some more progress soon so I'll have something to share with you.

Patchwork Pink Shoe
A Collection of Designs
Halloween Cookie Club through Fireside Stitchery

DMC Floss, DMC#5 Perle Cotton

Rainbow Gallery's Grandeur, Petite Frosty Rays, Petite Sparkle Rays, Splendor

River Silk Ribbon,

Kreinik #12 Braid

YLI Corporation Ultra-Shimmer

Wichelt Corporations Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads

Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting my blog!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Lee Kimono

I don't think I've shared this with you all before???



It's another Lee Kimono that our daughter stitched.

I think she did an absolutely loverly job! But then again, I'm a bit biased in her favor! :-)

We are planning to send this off for finishing soon. We'll share it again when it's been turned into a Kimono ornament.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm just amazed sometimes that I have visitors. LOL!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Harlequin Star - A Final Finish!

"Harlequin Star" has finally been finished into an ornament!

Wahoo!!!



Okay, I know the picture is a bit washed out but it's the best I've been able to do. It's actually quite bright and colorful in person.

Here in the Mid-Atlantic we've been in a wet weather pattern for several months. Well, that's what the local weather personnel call it. LOL!!!

So of course, anytime I have some free time during the day and I want to take a picture it's raining, or just finishing raining, or just about to start raining. Sigh...

I finally decided that I'm going to start posting with the pictures that I've been able to take.

Yes, I enjoy all types of weather but the rain is starting to get a bit old. Can you tell that I went grocery shopping tonight in the rain and got rather wet loading the groceries into the car? LOL!!! They are forecasting an inch of rain tonight and I think I came home wearing about a quarter inch of it. LOL!!!

Thanks for stopping by, especially as I've been gone for a while! :-)

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Lee Kimono -- October 6, 2009”

This is a Lee mini-kimono which our daughter finished stitching last spring. Yes, it took me a while to send it off to be professionally finished into its kimono shape but we were rather busy this summer! :-)

I think this was only her third or fourth canvas that she finished stitching. It’s now in our display cabinet for all to enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by to visit us! I hope you are having a wonderful and healthy fall! The leaves are falling here at Windy Meadow and yes it’s getting rather windy. LOL!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Monday Memories – Green Holly Mini-Ornament” -- July 6, 2009

The “Green Holly Mini-Ornament” is another canvas that I stitched in the early to mid 1990’s.

"Green Holly Mini-Ornament”
Designer: Unknown
Early to mid-1990's
DMC #5 Perle Cotton, DMC Floss
Stitches & Threads chosen by Cyn.

The ornament is stitched entirely in Continental and Basketweave stitches using DMC #5 Perle cotton and DMC Floss.

The slightly padded ornament is about 2 ¼” tall by 2 ¼” wide. Red cording was added around the whole ornament and to form the hanging loop. The ornament was backed in red velvet.

I didn’t keep records for this project so I don’t know who the designer was, the cost of the canvas or the cost of the finishing.

I would have stitched this in the evening after the kids were in bed while watching TV or when the children were napping. With two little kids, I’m impressed that I was able to do any stitching! :-)

I have several more ornaments by the same designer which I’ll be sharing over the next several weeks.

Thank you for visiting with me for this week’s Monday Memory!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Nobody "Nose" the....

As we remember from previous episodes, I mean posts, problem number 1 with Uncle S. was  a dye lot issue with the DMC floss I was using for his face.  I can't blame anyone but myself as the original floss was a little bit old (okay 7 years old) and it didn't match up with the floss that I purchased to finish the face.  Please note that there was plenty of floss in the original kit but due to earlier ummm...  undo stitching I ran out of the original floss with the left cheek unfinished.

Soooo once I was done undo stitching his face, I started re-stitching his face after purchasing two, count them two, new skeins of DMC floss from the same dye lot.  We were stitching quite merrily along when I realized that, dang it, his nose was getting ummm...  rather ummm... there is no other word that works as well, his nose was getting rather fuzzy.  Sigh...

After much thought and two consultations with DD, I finally decided that I would have to undo and then redo Uncle S' nose.  Sigh...  Sigh...  Sigh...  

So I think I'm going to have quite a pile of undo stitching orts for the July installment of the TUSAL.  Sigh...

Uncle S. does not want the official photographer to stop by and take his photo until his face has been "fixed".  So you all will just have to wait a little bit longer to see him again.  And knowing Uncle S. he's going to want to have more than just his face stitched before he makes another appearance for his fans.  :-)

In other news the main computer, which was at the computer doctor, is home and we are working on reinstalling what needs to be reinstalled.  DH wanted to make sure that all of my emails were restored correctly so he did it twice.  Yep, twice.  I now have duplicates of all of my messages in all of my folders.  And yes, it's driving me crazy.  Soooo every night I'm working hard to delete the duplicate messages from at least one folder.  Did I mention that some of these folders are quite large and that this is taking a while???  He is a wonderful DH so I'm not actually complaining as he has been bringing me cold beverages every night as I spend an hour or so deleting duplicates.  LOL!

We are also working on another large family project which I hope to share pictures with very soon.  It's not a stitching project but my stitching design expertise has helped DD with the design of the project.  Or at least my ability to look at a picture and see it as pixels/stitches.  Once I can take some more pictures in the daylight I'll post an entry to let you know what we are up to.  Cause you know us, it's going to be interesting!  And all 6' by 12' of it is interesting.  LOL!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and I'm very thankful that you are still stopping by since it's been a while since I've posted a picture!  

Thank you as I appreciate all of your lovely comments!  Especially the ones that make me grin or laugh.  LOL!

Cynthia

Windy Meadow

Uncle Sam's Status -- July 3, 2009

Uncle Sam asked me to tell you that he will return shortly. All of the undo stitching has been completed but he does not want to pose for any publicity photos until he has put his face on. In other words, he has asked me to hurry up and finish the redo stitching!

Guess what I'll be working on all weekend? At least I'm stitching Uncle Sam on the 4th of July weekend! :-)

Have a Happy 4th of July!

In our neighborhood it appears to have started tonight as we are hearing lot's of people setting off fireworks in their backyards. The big ones will be tomorrow night!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Monday Memories – The Night Before Christmas MSD #9 JB Stocking” -- June 29, 2009

I stitched “The Night Before Christmas” MSD #9 JB Stocking in the early to mid 1990’s.

"The Night Before Christmas” MSD #9 JB Stocking
Early to mid-1990's
DMC #5 Perle Cotton, Kreinik Braids
Stitches & Threads chosen by Cyn.
Julia Needleworks

Most of the stocking is stitched in Continental and Basketweave stitches using DMC #5. The base of the candlestick, andirons, and the gold on the package were stitched using gold metallic Kreinik braid. The wallpaper stripes were stitched using the Slanted Gobelin stitch. The stripes were stitched vertically and alternated between two shades of blue. The red bricks were stitched using the horizontal Cashmere stitch.

The stocking is about 5 ½” tall by 3 ¾” wide. Blue cording was added around the outside, around the top of the stocking and then forms a hanging loop. The back is blue velvet. The inside pouch of the stocking was finished in red satin.

JB Designs created a different stocking for each stanza of the “Night Before Christmas” poem. In many of the stockings, the same view with the same elements is used such as the fireplace with the wreath above, but was shown from a different distance or from a different perspective.

I was planning on stitching each one of the stockings but was not able to find all of the stockings before the line became unavailable for several years.

I don’t remember the finishing cost, but I do remember that since were young with very young children, I had to carefully consider our budget before sending anything out for finishing. This was truly a luxury!

JB Designs was purchased by Julia’s Needleworks in late 2007/early 2008. The JB Design line became available again during the summer of 2008. You can see the first set of stockings and the second set of stockings on Julia's website under JB Designs.

JB Designs was and still is one of my favorite lines of needlepoint designs!

Thank you for strolling down memory lane with me. I hope you enjoyed seeing my “The Night Before Christmas” MSD #9 JB Stocking!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

"Patchwork Pink Shoe" -- June 27, 2009

Several years ago, I signed up for the “Halloween Cookie Club” which was offered by Fireside Stitchery. The canvases are Halloween hats and shoes and were designed by “A Collection of Designs”. You can see the Halloween ornaments that they currently have in their Trick or Treat Halloween Ornaments collection.

Okay, okay, I’ll admit that I signed up for the class about four years ago! LOL!

I finished two of the cookie ornaments that year which I can’t share with you right now as they are packed away until next fall. They were a lot of fun to stitch and I actually sent them off to be finished into ornaments!

I started working on the next ornament in the series, but I then put it away when I became busy with family life. :-)

That’s usually what happens when I don’t finish a project. We get busy, one if not all of us get sick, or the project(s) get packed up as I need to clean up for a family event. Once a project is packed up it may not get pulled back out right away and some times it doesn’t get pulled out for quite a long while!

While organizing my stash, I found my “Patchwork Pink Shoe” and I decided that I wanted to finish it this year. So it went back on the table. Once I make some progress, I’ll share a new picture with everyone.

"Patchwork Pink Shoe"
A Collection of Designs
Stitch Guide by Fireside Stitchery
DMC #5 Perle Cotton
Rainbow Gallery's Grandeur, Splendor, Petite Frosty Rays, and Petite Sparkle Rays
River Silk LTD's Silk Ribbon
Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads
Ultra-Shimmer
Kreinik Braid #12

Thank you for visiting!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

"Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane" -- June 25, 2009

I'm almost done with my "Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane".

I just need to add the orange beads in the center of the flowers and then it will be done!

"Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane"
Melissa Shirley Designs
DMC Floss, DMC #5, The Caron Collection's Watercolors and Impressions
Stitch Guide by Sekas & Co.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. :-)

Cynthia
Windy Meadow