Welcome to Cranberry Samplings

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Lots Going on.

I just don't know where the time goes. Went to a retreat, did lots of stitching and added to my stash. I went to the Dying to Stitch retreat in Virginia beach earlier this month. I went with mu friends, Nataly and Ellen. I drove, so I thought I would stop at some of my favorite shops on the way. We ran into a lot of traffic so I had to cut one shop out. We did make it In Stitches in Virginia. I just love this store. I only get there once a year or so but they always remember my name.
We were invited to stitch group that night. We were too tired to stitch but had a lovely time talking to the girls. I was so pleased to meet Glenna. Her blog is Eye of the Needle. Please check it out. She also does the store blog, as well. I bought many pieces of fabric, floss and a few charts. If you are in the area (Arlington, VA) you really need to stop by. We then traveled on to the retreat. I had the best time. We took Paulette's class and Jeanette's class. Both were great pieces and both classes were so much fun. If you go to Plum Streets blog and Faye's blog you will see all the pictures. They took much better pic's than I did. The weather was hot and humid. We walked the board walk. Found great places to eat. Hopefully, they will hold another one in 2 years!
The view from our roon. On to the stitching part of the blog. I have been busy. I finished Bittersweet September by BBD. This is a Ladies Prim Club design.
So cute. I finished and had framed Noel by WTN&T.
She is large and beautiful. I love the red house. Here is a close up of the frame.
This is Thankful for thee by PPS. Paulette previewed 4 new designs at the retreat. Of course, I had to get all four. I love anything with turkeys. Here is a closeup of the frame.
I just love this molding.
This is Paper Snowflakes by WTN&T. I love this design. The borders are beautiful and you just have to love a large snow woman who is so well dressed. I will end with some ornaments that I did last year. I sent them off to Vonna for finishing.
I wanted them all finished flat with lots of felt and great bows. Aren't they pretty. Vonna did a great job. Thanks so much! I will be back sooner. Thank you all for visiting and leaving all those wonderful comments. Until next time ...... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Lots of pictures!

Life's been very busy the last month. Still doing some birthday stuff, took a trip to Nantucket and forgot my camera, stitching with friends and all the normal life stuff. I have stitched, of course. Lets start with my Chessie and Me club piece.
This piece was so fun to do. Nataly attached it to the hornbook for me. Thanks friend. I had Vonna finish the small Drawn Thread piece for me. Her work is wonderful.
She used 3 different pieces of felt and i just love her bows. Thanks Vonna. I love it. I did Thomas and had him framed. He will be a wonderful addition to my Thanksgiving pieces.
He was framed in a simple black frame. I am obsessed with black frames. He is a handsome fellow.
I couldn't wait to do Beggar's Night. I just stuffed him and used orange ric rac for a hanger. He will be a great addition to the Halloween tree.
I had Autumn by Drawn Thread framed. This piece is small, so I used 2 mats and glass with the frame. It really is pretty. Had to get a good pic due to the glare. The frame goes really well with the orange mat. I am currently working on Noel by WTN. I am not a huge Christmas stitcher but i loved this design. It's large but so much fun to do.
Sorry about the wrinkles. I don't iron until I am finished. Love the red house, the deer, the borders! I just love it all. This post is long, so thanks for hanging in with me. I am always slow to start,so I recently discovered Instagram. It's so much fun. I am at cranberrysampling. Let me know if any of you are on instagram. I would love to see your pictures. Thanks for visiting and leaving wonderful comments! Until next time ...... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

I would like to thank everyone who send email and comments for my birthday. Stitchers are the best! I spent some time in Chatham on the Cape with family. It was a beautiful week to be on the Cape. Went to New Hampshire for a day of shopping and great food. Of course, I managed to get some stitching in.
I finished Ghoul Tidings and had it framed. So cute. The frame isn't a shiny as the first picture suggests.
Town of Halloween was framed in a simple black frame.
I did this small piece over one by WTN to fit on a wisk broom. Way to cute. I have a snowman by WTN that will fit on the broom. Nataly did the finishing for me. Thanks, as always!
This is Halloween Screen by the Drawn Thread. Mine is really to small for a candle screen, so I will be doing it as an ornament.
I did stitch something that is fall related. This is Autumn Jumble by DT. This another really small design. Sorry about the wrinkles. I am thinking that it will be framed with a mat or two. Time will tell. I would like to think that my Halloween stitching has come to and end but have you seen the new BBD pieces that are coming out at market? Awesome! I won't be able to pass them up. That's it for now. Thanks for visiting and leaving the best comments. I love them. Until next time .... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Some Halloween.

I must say that I am obsessed with Halloween stitching. I always have been. So, my Halloween stitching has started. On my last post I did All Hallows Eve by Barbara Ana. It is now framed and waiting for October. You can click on any of the pics for a larger view.
A simple black frame looks good.
I finished The Town of Halloween by Primitive Hare from last years Halloween book. I used one of my favorite fabrics - 32 ct Days Gone Bye and DMC fibers.
I have started Ghoul Tidings to You by PSS from this years Halloween book.
I am having the best time stitching this piece. I did change up the colors some. I did do some other stitching before the Halloween marathon started.
This is first of the new BBD series. I love the bird.
I finished up part two of the LHN mystery except for the brown frame on the left hand side. Just noticed that.
Nataly finished this little guy for me. Isn't he the cutest. Don't remember the name of the pattern but it is a WTN design. I will be gone from the blog for the next couple of weeks. Spending time with relatives on the cape and having a birthday next week. Thanks for visiting and leaving wonderful comments. Until next time ...... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Another Long One.

I need to thank everyone for all the great comments. It's those comments that keep me blogging. I also want to welcome my new followers. It's been extremely hot and humid in MA this summer. What that means to me is more stitching time in the air conditioning. I was never a summer person. I don't enjoy the beach. I burn very easily. I really don't like the heat and humidity. I can't wait for the fall! So I have been doing fall stitching.
I needed to finish the PS monthly series. I had only August and September to do to complete the series. They both are done on 32 ct lambswool linen using DMC fibers. I have an in and out frame for them all.
I had a hard with September. I don't like guns and really didn't like the hunter holding the rabbit he shot. I tried to change it but nothing else I came up with fit in so I stitched it the way it was charted. It's not my favorite month.
I started the LNH mystery sampler. I am doing it on 36 ct buttercream linen from LSL with the suggested fibers. It worked up very quickly. I hear part 2 is on the way.
I did Betsy by PSS. Another great little design by Paulette. I did it on 36 ct pecan butter by LSL using the suggested overdyes. The frame came from my closet. It is a tight fit but still looks okay.
This little darling is the first installment Seasons of Chessie club. I love this design. It came with everything to finish it. So cute. My friend, Nataly finished it for me. Again, she had never finished a hornbook before and did a perfect job. I can't thank her enough.
I finished my first Halloween design of the season. A wicked Plant by Barbara Ana Designs. I used 36 ct. pecan butter using GA fibers. Hopefully, I can do many more before the holiday.
This is something I do like about summer. For me, this is the perfect meal. A lobster roll and corn on the cob. It doesn't get better. I will end this blog with a picture of Stella. She hasn't made an appearance in quite some time. She is getting so grownup.
Thanks for reading my blog. Until next time .... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Sunday, June 16, 2013

I Have Been Busy!

I can't believe it's been 6 weeks since my last post. The time has flown by. Been busy visiting family and friends in New York City.Went to a 90th birthday party and a christening. Both were wonderful. Done lots of Spring cleaning. Things that needed to be cleaned for a very long time. The yard and gardens have been tended too and look pretty good. Been antiquing with friends. Found some great stuff. Went to Celebrations in May and had the best time with friends. bought some wonderful new stash. And, of course, I have been stitching! I finished Nantucket Girls by PPS. I will do a another post on that piece later. It deserves it's own post. I will start with May Basket by BBD. So cute.
I had this little frame in my stash. I love when that happens. Next is a design I bought at celebrations. It was a special from Rosewood Manor just for Celebrations called Afternoon Tea. It came with the fabric and wonderful silks. It was packaged with the tea cup.
I picked a simple white china cup. Just lovely. Next up is My Little Sampler by La D Da.
I used 36 ct mystery fabric and NPS silks. Framed in a simple black frame. I have joined some of the prim clubs. The next design is from the Little Stitches Handwork Club by Notforgotten Farm. This is Strawberry Basket.
The fabric is not pink. It has been raining almost daily here and I couldn't get a good picture. It's a 30 ct fabric that is a beige color. Thanks to Peggy Lee I used Distress It on the piece and i fell in love with the stuff. It makes the piece look so old. My friend, Nataly, made the strawberry. It was the first time she did one and it is perfect. Thanks, Nataly! Next is The Bee Skep by BBD. This is a sweet design. I used 36 ct strawflower linen and GA fibers. The frame is a cherry color. It goes well with the piece. You will note that I forgot to do the bees in the design. Oh well. I still love it.
One of the other clubs I joined is the Seasons of Chessie and Me club. I adore her designs and couldn't wait to do the first design. It's called Days of Liberty. The kit came with everything including felt and a beautiful hornbook.
I will post a picture of the piece after it's finished on the hornbook. Lastly, is a new design by WTN called The Sewing Bird. So cute. It will be finished into a little pillow. I used 36 ct exampler fabric withe called for GA and Wks fibers.
This post is long enough, so I will close for now. You can click on any of the pics for a larger view. Thanks for sticking with me after this really long absence. I appreciated all the comments I received on my last post. Until next time .... Happy Stitching! Deborah

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Nantucket Girls

I want to thank everyone for reading my blog and leaving great comments. They mean so much to me. Before I get into my stitching I would like to say a few words about Boston and the wonderful people who live here. I was born in Boston, went to college in Boston and worked in Boston for a time. I now live on the Southshore. Boston is a kinda large city with a small town feel. When it was attacked last week my heart was heavy until I saw all the wonderful first responders, medical personnel, runners and viewers run toward the blasts to help however they could. I couldn't be prouder of the people and the city of Boston. Now that the bombers have been killed and captured, the city and state can start to heal. Please say a prayer for the lives lost and the 178 people who were injured. This is the Nantucket Girls Song by PPS. This is going to be a BAP. When finished on 36 ct fabric it will be 24 " x 14". I am about 3/4 of the way though. I am enjoying stitching this piece. These are the 3 sections I have done so far. Section 3 isn't finished yet. I love the nest in section 2. I am not sure why there is a windmill in the design. Eliza is vain. She is always looking at herself and combing her very strange hair. Sorry about the bad pics. I tried to take them outside but it was wicked windy. You can click on any of the pics for a larger view. I will be back soon. I have a wonderful win from Fiona in Australia to show you and a couple of flower frogs that I recently picked up. Until next time .... Happy Stitching! Deborah