New *Spring Collection* Prim Finishing Boards

Happy Friday, friends!

I recently finished up my new "Spring Collection" finishing boards for my Etsy shop which required me to stitch a few spring smalls -- and those of you who know me best know that I really do NOT enjoy stitching spring, so it was a challenge. Although I must say, even with the pastel colors I'm super proud with how they turned out, AND that once again I didn't chop a finger off! I'm actually enjoying making different boards so much I've recently started using my scrap wood for OOAK boards for my Etsy shop!

The four colors I came up with for my Spring Colection are Petal Pink, Pale Yellow, Spring Green and Lilac. (https://www.etsy.com/shop/StarryNightsStudioCo)

"Spring Wishes" 

Primrose Cottage Stitches

"Duo Petites Poules" 

Collection Tralala

"Gertrude's Garden"

Stitching with the Housewives

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Spring Has Sprung

 Hello Friends!

Today I'm working on switching out my spring shelves upstairs, so that means "Spring Has Sprung" from Plum Street Samplers has to go!

I found this lattice piece at Hobby Lobby a few months ago, and it was the perfect size for this piece. I was even able to double mat it and attach greenery.

I stitched the pattern on 32 ct Vintage Country Mocha Lugana and made a few adjustments to the chart. The original pattern calls for some winter aspects but since this piece stays up from March to May, it didn't seem appropriate with all of my other decor. Just something to think about if you want to stitch this piece but are hesitant because of the winter elements!

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Two More Spring Finishes

 Hi everyone!

Today I'm featuring two more spring finishes that I've added to my decor this year! 

The first is "Welcome Spring" by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread. This piece took a totally different turn from what I had originally intended -- but that's okay. I found this frame at Michaels (it was actually a print that I covered), and it was the perfect size height wise, so I decided to add some buffalo check fabric to the side to extend the piece to fit. I edged the finish with some coordinating handmade trim and then added a bow with a large decorative egg button. The small nest is not permanently attached yet. I'm still trying to figure out if I actually like it there!

The second piece was "Basketful of Spring Time", again by Brenda Gervais. I stitched this piece on Vintage Country Mocha Lugana and changed some colors to match my decor. The piece its on came from Michaels, and it had a dark brown stain around the edges. I wanted it to be a lighter wood so I dry-brushed it white, and then mounted the stitched piece on buffalo check fabric. The metal flowers were tricky to work around, but I was able to get the piece glued in the center nicely. The only issue I had was the aqua from the bunny's sweater didn't come out in the flowers, so I quickly made a coverbutton of some coordinating fabric and glued it to the center of the blue flower to tie it in. PIece of cake!

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Still Springing Along

 Happy Friday!

Today I'm sharing two more of my Spring finishes from this year. The first was "Holiday Hoopla - Easter" by Brenda Gervais from With Thy Needle and Thread. 

This piece has been through many variations of finishes before I finally settled for a mounted round flat in a watering can. In retrospect, I wish I had stitched it on smaller count fabric so the piece itself would be larger, but since I don't have time to re-stitch it, it is what it is! The galvanized watering can came from Hobby Lobby, and I just used Styrofoam for the base before loading it with some wildflowers.

The second piece is the top portion of "Tulip House" by Hands on Design. 

I stitched the piece on 28 ct black Jobelan and changed a couple of the colors to bring in some aqua. I mounted the stitched piece to the buffalo check off-center because I knew I wanted to add a small galvanized vase to the side to bring in some flowers to mirror the flowers in the piece. The little vase is from Hobby Lobby and is just hot-glued directly to the mounting board. I added a small gingham bow and then just cut some smaller buds to fit inside. Really easy finish!

A few of my favorite Finishing Services this week....

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Springing Right Along!

Hello Friends!

For the past week or so I've been slowly but surely transforming my home decor from winter to spring. This process will continue into the next week or so as I continue to tweak things as I go, and find different pieces to use as finishing items for the unfinished pieces still sitting on my craft table.

My first two spring finishes both came from Stitching with the Housewives patterns. 

I finished "Carrot Patch" on 32 ct Charcoal Lugana that I dipped in black Rit dye to make it darker. I mounted the piece on black and white buffalo check fabric, attached some handmade cording, and then glued a wood stick in between the pieces so that I could stick it in this wheelbarrow I found in the Ashland Spring section of Michaels. I used a Styrofoam piece on the button and covered it with some greenery and carrots I found at Hobby Lobby. 

The second piece, "Bunny Bakery," also by Stitching With the Housewives, was super easy because I was able to finish the piece exactly the way Priscilla of Stitching with the Housewives did. Finishes where you don't have to use your brain are the best finishes! I knew the second Priscilla showed her finish I had to finish it the same way, so I went to Hobby Lobby to buy the white enamel cannister, mounted the stitched piece on some more of the black and white buffalo check, edged it with white cording, and used magnets to stick it to the front. (I'm assuming I'll want to use this tin again.) For the top I just added a large carrot I also found at Hobby Lobby, and some spring picks. So easy, and oh so cute!

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Spring Has Sprung

Hello Friends!

The spring decorating has officially begun at our house!

Since I was able to get three spring stitches FFOed this past week, I started with the upstairs display. I still need to fill in, but the basic setup will stay this way... for now at least!

I stitched up "Spring ABCs" by Country Cottage Needleworks on 32 ct Vintage Country Mocha lugana using the following floss colors: 

Weeks Dye Works: Onyx, Grasshopper, Cocoa

Classic Colorworks: Hickory Sticks, Ladybug, Queen Bee, Rainshower

DMC: 3865

The stitched piece is matted with black and white gingham fabric and attached with magnets to the front of this whitewashed shutter I found at Michaels last year. I plan to stitch the other three seasonal ABCs and switch them out for each season.

The next piece was "Spring Whirligig" by Heart in Hand and I used the same floss colors to stitch this one up on more Vintage Country Mocha lugana. Again the piece is matted with black and white gingham and attached with magnets to the front of this whitewashed wooden square block.

The last piece was "Bluebird Out My Window" by With Thy Needle and Thread. I stitched this on tea-dyed monaco and mounted it to the inside of a light blueish/grey wooden frame. I added some white trim and a few bows and ribbons.

Downstairs, I started spring decorating with my kitchen hutch. The only piece that's stitched by me so far on this display are the monthly cottages that I switch out.

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Happy Fall!

Hello Friends!

It's been busy in the studio these past few weeks. This time of year always seems to sneak up on me but I'm doing my best to manage Halloween, Fall and Christmas as best as I can -- even though it's still breaking 100 here in Phoenix! 

In preparation for fall -- even if I don't have my New England leaves this year -- I started bringing out the apples, pumpkins and scarecrows, starting with my September Cottage of the Month.

STITCHY DETAILS:

Pattern: September Cottage of the Month

Designer: Country Cottage Needleworks

Then I FFOed my Prairie Schooler rooster into a small rustic whitewashed box. 

It's mounted to the front and edged with some blue cording. Then I just added a red and white gingham box with a blue floral center. I'm not the biggest fan of stitching on black, but I do like the farmhouse look it gives to stitching so I'm glad I did it.

STITCHY DETAILS:

Pattern: Signs of Spring (rooster)

Designer: Prairie Schooler

I also made a ton of custom order Halloween gift tags and then FFOed some items for my stitchy friend Robin.

I find it very hard to send her items back to her --- especially the "Birdhouse" ornament. The color fabric she chose compliments her stitching perfectly.

STITCHY DETAILS (Most Wonderful Time of the Year):

Pattern: Wonderful Time (Tiny Tidings XVII)

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 32 ct dirty linen

Fibers: DMC (500, 367, 304, 3865)

STITCHY DETAILS (Birdhouse):

Pattern: Birdhouse

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Fabric: Blue Monaco

Fibers: DMC (Ecru, 612, 310, 3777, 934, 613)

STITCHY DETAILS (Snow Merry):

Pattern: Snow Merry II

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Fabric: 28 ct Mixed Berry Jobelan

Fibers: DMC (3031, 3051, 3857, 5200)

STITCHY DETAILS (Noel):

Pattern: Noel

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 32 ct sand linen (Picture This Plus)

Fibers: DMC (347, 221, 987, 500, 367, 783, 321)

STITCHY DETAILS (Joy):

Pattern: Joy (Flora McSample 2011 Ornament)

Designer: Lizzie Kate 

Fabric: 32 ct exemplar linen (Lakeside)

Fibers: DMC (3865, 321, 500, 898, 367, 436, 932)

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