August 21, 2015

One Done, Three Started

Here is the final Hummel cross stitch project that I was commissioned to do.  I got it done one day before she arrived in Massachusetts for a two week visit and I was so pleased to be able to give it to her in person.  To say she was thrilled is an understatement, and that made me feel so good.  


I immediately jumped into some new cross stitches.  This one is beyond difficult, despite the fact that it's being done solely in black thread.  It's really hard to count the stitches on the pattern and I have to use a white pencil to cross out each row as I go along.  The first row was the worst but I think I can work off of it OK.  


Another sea-themed project by the now defunct Bucilla brand.  I hope I have enough of each colour floss in this kit.  My goal was a shell a day but I think we can all agree that's not gonna happen.  

This project has been moved to the front of the line because it's going to be a housewarming gift for one of my best friends who is moving this week.  She loves her wine. I hope she's too busy packing to check my blog!  

The weather's been too hot and humid to do anything fun.  Nothing has gelled this summer to allow me to go on any day trips.  I was about to leave for Newport, RI a week or so ago, when I discovered I'd forgotten to charge my camera battery.  By the time it was charged, it was too late & too hot.  The days I'm free, it's raining or humid.  The days I'm busy, it's nice.  Summer's nearly over; it went by way too fast.  

14 comments:

  1. Oh that Hummel! It turned out so cute! That skull does look a little scary, but I love that fabric! I'm excited because I started a cross stitch kit about - oh, dear, close to 35 years ago - that my mother has been waiting for with bated breath. I started it, but it was waaaaay over my head for my experience at the time, and now it is lost in the bohemoth storage unit I have. I managed to find the chart for it on eBay for just $4! It's on its way and I can't wait to start it. Hopefully I'll finish it before Mom turns 100! Sorry your day trips haven't turned out; I can relate.

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    1. Thanks Heather! I really do love cross stitch. It's all I've wanted to do this year. I've hardly done any crafts at all. Just so uninspired by everything.

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  2. JoJo, I love your amazing creations. You have quite the talent... :)

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    1. Thank you very much Dee! You are so kind to say. :)

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  3. The Hummel cross stitch is just beautiful!!! What a lucky person to get such fine work.

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    1. Thanks Lady Jane! Fernanda said that it reminds her so much of her and her 3 sisters when they were growing up in Italy!! That's why she fell in love with the pattern and had to have it.

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  4. Your cross stitch work is beautiful. I cannot imagine what it must be like to do counted cross stitch on that dark coth with black floss, that would truly drive me batty, or at least battier than I already am. :D
    Noticed that you embroidered the Hummel artist's name on the finished cross stitch art. I think, beneath the signature of Hummel, you should have added; "X stitched by JoJo" . :)

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    1. Thank you so much! I love that purple cloth, it's easier to work on than black cloth. The Hummel signature was part of the chart. I didn't think it would look good if I'd tried to sign it. Fernanda knows who stitched it for her; I didn't bother putting my initials on it.

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  5. Summer hasn't been great here this year. Either quite cool or stinking hot and not too much of the latter. I think I told you about an embroidery a friend did which I loved and then she gave it to their realtor who apparently really expressed her fondness for it. It looked almost like a painting to me.

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    1. Some of the kits I've seen do look like paintings when they are done...I don't have that kind of patience. Today is one of those horrible, humid, hot days. :( You can't even enjoy sitting on the deck in the late afternoon cause it's still way too hot.

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  6. Hi human, JoJo,

    Just like my human, Gary, I absolutely marvel at your creativity. I hope the stitches don't get too cross. Arf, I tried to make a joke....must be my human's bad influence.

    I think it might be a good idea, to have a spare camera battery fully charged for such situations. The weather here is basically wait ten minutes if you don't like it.

    Have a lovely,artistic weekend, my kind human friend.

    Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses,

    Penny xx

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    1. Hi Penny!!!! So great to see you and thank you so much for your kind words, and your joke. lol I do have a spare battery but it, too, was not charged. I have been a little out of sorts the past few months and making stupid mistakes like that.

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  7. It's me again. You can look up fresh strawberry yogurt cake on Pinterest or you can look on my Pinterest page under Dee Dobson. You'll find the recipe on my 'more yummy food' board. The strawberry cake was so delicious and moist and very easy to make so I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Hugs... :)

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    1. Great! Thank you! I found you on there and the recipe. I'm going to have to try and make it ASAP while there are still decent strawberries in the stores. Overall I've been disappointed in the berries this year. The blueberries were pretty bad - very tart, or shriveled and hard.

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