19. Amanda Butler Edinburgh House

 

Amanda Butler - Edinburgh House

Stitched on 28 count grey evenweave

First in a series of 13 for Cross Stitcher magazine

14. Just Nan Miss Stitchy Witchy Mouse

 

Just Nan - Miss Stitchy Witchy Mouse

Stitched on 32 count grey linen

13. Hands on Design Snail Slime

 My eighth finish in the Scary Apothecary series.

Snail Slime

Stitched on 28 count linen in Radioactive by Chromatic Alchemy

I used the DMC conversion and stitched the potions in DMC Satin rather than cotton and metallics.

12. Just Nan Mermaid Heart

 

Just Nan - Mermaid Heart

Stitched on 32 count grey-green linen

The skein of DMC 926 is to try give a colour match to the linen which refuses to photograph accurately

The embellishment pack came with the mermaid and seahorse charms.

Framed in a box frame I painted myself:

11. Nora Corbett Virgo

 This is my purple conversion of Nora Corbett's Virgo.

I started with the fabric from Sparklies with the perfect name - Virgo.
I chose a 32 count Murano which is my favourite for Nora's designs.

I started with the dress which is charted for 414 and 415, shades of grey rather than the blue it looks on the cover photo.  I changed those to the lavenders in the new colours - 25 to 30

Her skin is as charted.

Her hair was the biggest change, I went for the 550 family of purples.

The Caron colours have been changed to two Stef Francis threads, one silk and one cotton.
I used the silk for the butterflies and backstitched in silver metallic.

I also used the silver metallic for the antenna, which I backstitched,
then whipstitched to hide the places where it entered the fabric.

The wings are now a purple blending filament with a touch of green satin in the "eyes".
I used a DMC Satin thread for the satin stitch!  Then surrounded them with purple beads.

The larger beads have stayed as charted but all the others have changed.  For the necklaces I stitched over the gaps left in the design for beads and simply strung them on thread and tacked down at intervals so they hung more naturally.

The lowest strand of beads was charted with squares of stitching with a bead in the middle.
I used sequins held in place with a bead.

Once I had finished her and taken loads of photos I decided that I needed the pearl earring to be more dangly!

Here's how she compares with the original:

Professionally framed:

10. Living on the Rainbow 3D Bookshop

 As a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people I purchased some PDF charts from various Etsy shops earlier this year.  THis particular design went straight to the top of the stitching list -  

Living on the Rainbow 3D Bookshop

Living on the Rainbow

The instructions are incredibly clear and seem easy to follow but there is quite a lot of sewing together bits of felt for the roof so I decided to change it up a little and make a rectangular shop instead.

Here are the pieces all stitched and ready to cut out:

The bookshop where I work is number 98 

The garlands are beads rather than French Knots

I added the brick details down each side to make the corners more decorative

stitched on 28 count Tan evenweave

What's your favourite detail?

I also made a base piece out of the same fabric, just backstitched a rectangle the right size.  I used thick card and double-sided tape to mount each piece, then whip-stitched the fours sides together.  Then I whip stitched the base to the building:

I am really pleased with my roof fabric.  My friend gave me some sparkly white leatherette she uses for making hairbows.  I mounted it on card cut to fit the roof area and then whip stitched it to the building using white sewing thread.  Usually I use DMC cotton in a matching shade to the fabric or stitching but sewing thread is sturdier, especially if you are pulling something taut.

Here is the finished piece:

I used clean old socks to stuff it.  Children's socks are perfect for these projects.

09. Amanda Butler Alice in Wonderland

 

Alice in Wonderland by Amanda Butler

13 part SAL in Cross Stitcher magazine

Stitched on 32 count Yellow Belfast

Things I love about this design:

It's Alice in Wonderland

It is based on the original Tenniel drawings

The charting is very good

The fun details in the border

Her use of colour

Things I don't like:

She uses one random Tim Burton design instead of all Tenniel

She used one block from Through The Looking Glass but no others

She didn't use The Caterpiller but did include the minor characters of the two footmen.

I also didn't like the final block of the King and Queen of Hearts.

I charted my own version of The Queen of Hearts to replace the Footmen.  

Then I charted the final scene of Alice in the Courtroom.

Beaded details in the crowns and clothing

08. Just Nan Tea with Honey

 

Just Nan Tea with Honey

Stitched on 28 count dusky pink linen

This was a Travelling Pattern in the Just Nan FB Group

One of the sides, they are all slightly different

I stitched this as six seperate pieces and then whip-stitched them into a cube. 

 I mounted the sides and bottom on thin card but wasn't sure about the top. I wanted it to be used as a pin cushion but if I mounted it on card it would bend in when I stuck pins in. 

 So I used thick mat board with a 1 inch square cut in the middle where the pins will go! I put some nice wadding between the card and the fabric so it feels soft.

I added my initials to the bottom

07. Stitch It Picasso Dragon #2

 

The design is #2 in a series of 12 from Stitch It Picasso on Etsy

stitched on 32 count Autumnal Woodland by Crafty Kitten

06. Just Nan Tiny Toile Heart

 

Just Nan Tiny Toile Heart

Stitched over one on 32 count white evenweave

I started and finished this one as part of my annual Just Nan-athon

05. Hands on Design Skeleton Polish

 My seventh finish in the Scary Apothecary series

Skeleton Polish

Stitched on 28 count linen in Radioactive by Chromatic Alchemy

I used the DMC conversion except for using 3041 for the purple as 3042 used at the top looked too grey.

04. Just Nan Lily Pond

 

Just Nan Lily Pond

Stitched on 32 count Pale Green Linen

I used all DMC for this one, using the same shades as Morning Meadow

Rose Blush - 3688

Rose Quartz - 3689

Spruce - 501

DMC 890 - 501
(I felt the 890 was too dark for this sampler)

Love all the beads, especially in those dragonflies

Framed in a charity shop frame with a fabric sample backing