I've Started STITCHING Again

After over three years of not stitching or designing, I've started doing both.

My best friend had a birthday on the September 24th so I designed a small pillow for her and stitched it up while I was babysitting her three fur babies. I forgot to get a picture of the pillow so will have to add one on a later post, but here are the boys just hangin' out with one trying to nap. Two Shih Tzu's and a little Shih Tzu mix.

I stitch a couple of Guardian Angel name pillows for my friends sister and her roommate, they are in a nursing home so small gifts are a must with their limited space.

I used goodnaturedgirls Alphabetical Order for the Angel letters and my own lower case and stars for the rest. DMC, Metallic thread, 28 count cream fabric, and small star charms for the angels to hold to with a sheer ribbon bow and satin ribbon hanger complete them.

Of course, when we went to visit on Wednesday I forgot them so will have to take them on the next visit.

That's it for now, take care everyone and stay safe.

Hugs, Sandy

2018 Smalls SAL Update

Hello Dear Friends & Followers;

I hope all is well with you. 

Thanksgiving was just the hubs and I per usual with our families living in California and northern Idaho. Cooked a turkey with stuffing, corn, deviled eggs, gravy and rolls as sides. Peach Cobbler for dessert.

A nice quite day.

I haven't done any stitching in the last few weeks, but still have a finished piece for my November Smalls SAL update, which is a day or two late. Oh well, so goes life.

"Flower & Berry Vines"

Designed By: Sandra Longan Designs (ME)

Stitched on 14 count rustic aida using my own hand-dyed threads.

This little pillow will be sent to my 93 year old mother for Christmas.

It has a stitched patch on the back that reads "Always Remember" with my siblings and my name surrounding the words. My mother is in a memory care facility in Sacramento California suffering from advanced dementia. 

Thank you for stopping by and maybe leaving your thoughts behind, I really do appreciate all the nice things you have to say.

Take Care & 

Have a Great Weekend

Hugs, Sandy

October 2018 Smalls SAL

Hello Friends, Hope you are all doing well. 

It's time once again for the Smalls SAL, and here is what I've been stitching.

 I stitched this little magnet using DMC's Coloris threads on 28 evenweave and used one coordinating thread from each one to make the cording. No chart for this one just stitched hearts.

 

"Samhain" by The Primitive Hare  

I finished as an ornament and added a cording of jute twine couched in place with a with the same DMC Color Variations thread that I used for the pumpkin. I wanted it to have a more primitive look.

 

Here is a shot of the back. I found this cute pumpkin fat quarter at Walmart for .97 cents.

I've been doing a lot of 'free hand" needlework since I don't have a printer yet and came up with this fall inspired piece with a little help from Lizzie Kate leaflet #543 "Gather a Harvest".

 I fell in love with the pumpkin on the end with the curly stem and fat black birdie, so I added one on each end of a scrap of 18 count rustic Aida then added a tall pumpkin in the middle using the same leaves then a couple of gourds in between with curly stems and baby black birdies. I added a saying that popped into my head while stitching with the help of an alphabet leaflet, then hand stitched the piece onto a some of the pumpkin fabric I bought, frayed the edges and added a bow. I backed it with a piece of yellow fabric I had in my stash.

This piece was stitched with my own hand-dyed threads and one DMC Color Variations.

That's it for now, so until next time.......

Take Care Everyone &

Have A Great Weekend

Hugs, Sandy

A New Halloween Gift

Hello Friends; Hope all is well with you all.

So, my laptop has been in the shop since Monday and I've not heard back from them yet. When the hubs dropped it off they said it could be a problem with Windows 10, said they've seen a lot of this with the PC's that had the upgrade from Windows 8/8.1 to Windows 10 from the factory. But also said it could be the processor and if that was the case the labor alone would cost almost as much as mine new, mine was $300 at Walmart in 2015. Hopefully it's the easier fix.

Since we haven't chosen a printer yet I'm back to posting charts the way I started.

I'll most likely replace this chart with a better version once I get a new all-in-one printer.

 

No part of my designs may be reproduced except by needle and thread without the written consent of Sandra Longan of SLonganDesigns@gmail.com 

"We All Go A Little Batty"

50 x 50 stitches

Use black for the Bats and choose your favorite Halloween variegated/hand-dyed for the words or choose four similar colors for an ombray effect.

I think this would make a cute knob hanger, bowl filler or ornament for your Halloween display.

 

As always, if you choose to stitch up one of my designs I would love to see a picture of it, so I can show it off and give others inspiration for colorways and finishing.

That's it for today, I hope you enjoy the design.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

2018 Smalls SAL Update for September

Hello Friends; Hope all is well with you? 

I've been having issues with my desktop PC (it's my backup) and we went camping over the weekend so my Smalls SAL update is a few days late. If things go as planned my laptop will be in the shop today, after being down for a year, to find out if it can be fixed or if a new laptop is a better choice. It only lasted about 3 years before it started having issues, it is an HP. Might want to get the desktop PC fixed instead, it's one my hubs put together for me and has lasted far longer (all most 10 years) before it started having little issues. 

So on to the 2018 Smalls SAL update for September.

There are three stitched finishes all free charts from The Primitive Hare.

First is Samhain for the Halloween season.

"Samhain" by The Primitive Hare

Stitched on 16 count black Aida using DMC Color Variations and a grey DMC solid. Added the leaf for an extra bit of fall, don't know if it will stay or not.

I stitched this next on twice.

"Merry Solstice" by The Primitive Hare

 

Stitched on 28 count Monaco in beige using DMC Gold metallic. Will add the snowflakes for a taste of winter and turn it into a flat hanging piece to add to my door wreath.

And the second version

"Merry Solstice" by The Primitive Hare

 

Stitched over one on the same 28 count Monaco in beige using one of my own hand-dyed threads. I will also add the snowflakes again for a wintry touch and turn it into a stuffed ornament for the tree.

 

That's all for today's post, so until next time......

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

Always Kiss Me Goodnight

Hey Friends; Hope you all are doing well. 

I thought I would share one more design with you all for your summer stitchin'.

"Always Kiss Me Goodnight"

I have always loved this saying and plan to stitch this and hang it from the center cubby handle over our bed in the Vacation home (aka: the 5th wheel).

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

A Patriotic Gift for Independence Day

Hello Friends; I hope all is well with you. 

Were having storms roll through each evening with high winds, lightening, thunder, and rain. 

I hung some laundry out earlier and just said screw it and left it out for the rain to freshen instead of running out in it to bring it in.

I finally got ink for my printer so I'm able to print my charts again and since my printer is multi function I can also scan them so hopefully this will print off just fine. If not let me know and I can try and fiddle with it to get it the right size. It's set for ruffly 11" x 8" in landscape mode.

Forgot to add the color inspiration.

Should be an easy stitch with only three colors and whole cross stitches, but there is quite a bit of back stitch. I think it would look great in variegated or over dyed threads, so pick your favorite red, white, and blue and start stitchin'. This could be turned into a pin pillow, mini banner, or a bowl filler, you decide.

As always, I would love to see your finished work of any of my designs and if you post a picture to your blog, Facebook, etc. a link back to my blog would be much appreciated.

That's it for today, thank you so much for stopping by the cabin to see what I've been up to.

Until next time.......

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

Bless Your Heart

I have finally been stitching again and have a finish to show for it.
I have one more to finish, hopefully before Christmas.


"Bless Your Heart"
Designer: Sandy in Montana
Log Cabin Needlework's
Copyright 2010

Stitched on 32 count cream Linen using DMC threads.
Finished as a small pillow.

This will more than likely be sent to my dear mama for Christmas since she keeps saying she has no more wall space left to hang things.

Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching Everyone
Hugs' Sandy

A Couple of Stitchy Valentine Finishes

Since it tis the Valentine season, I was inspired to stitch a little more Valentine's Love.

I stitched up the freebie from the Stitcherhood that seems to be popping up on blogs everywhere. I extended the border all the way around and backstitched around the inside. I stitched it on 18ct. Aida hand-dyed by me, using DMC threads. I backed it with the same fabric used in the border and added buttons to complete the look.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This one is for my DH.

Design: "Be My Valentine"
Designer: Sandy In Montana
Stitched on 28ct. Coffee dyed & baked evenweave (I did it) using DMC 115 & L310.
Finished as a small pillow using the mini hearts fabric.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone !!!!

Take Care & Happy Stitching ... Sandy

A Little Stitchy Love

I finished stitching this last night and turned it into a little pillow this afternoon.
This is the first time I've stitched a Valentine related piece.
I used the fabric in the background as the backing fabric.

Design: "Love"
Designer: Jackie Hendricks
March 2010 - Cross-Stitch & Needlework
Stitched on 28ct. Carolina Linen from Charles Craft using DMC 115, 4045 & 4180.
Stitches used: Cross stitch, backstitch, Smyrna Cross, & Rhodes Hearts.
Added a little pink Cupid just for fun.

Take Care & Happy Stitching .... Sandy

The Last Finish of 2009

This was my Santa Themed mantle this year.
We are the proud owners of eight Santa's and two Angel's (so far), and since we never managed to bring our tree up from the basement this year, I went with a large pine wreath and a few cross stitched ornaments.

This is my last finish of 2009. I finished it on Christmas Eve.

Design: Merry Christmas (12-24-2009)
Designer: Sandy in Montana
Stitched on 28ct. Carolina Linen in Sand from Charles Craft using DMC threads, Mill Hill beads and two snowflakes from Jesse James Company.

Take Care & Happy Stitching
Sandy

Two More Stitching Finishes for 2009

Hello my sister's in stitching, I hope everyone is getting in at least a little stitching for your soul's.

I want you all to know that I do read every little note you leave behind before I add them to my blog, so I have been paying attention to what you have to say.
I'm trying to figure out how to export a few of my original charts so that I may share with the rest of you here on my blog, but it's taking a bit of time to get it worked out.
For those of you that fell in love with "The #1 Reason Not To Clean" I found the saying on a plaque in The Stitchery catalog and just charted it out, stitched it and added whatever buttons I thought looked cute.
And yes Lee ;-) I've heard your request wanting to learn to make the mini needle roll ornament and I'm trying very hard to put what I see in my head into words that will make since to someone trying to follow them, I have the pictures, just need to get the words right.

Now, on to my latest finishes!!

This has been my favorite saying for year's and year's and I've finally gotten around to charting it out and stitching it up. It now hangs on the door to my stitching/craft/sewing room and boy o' boy is it ever appropriate. I try to ignore the voices of the stitching imps telling me to go in "and "just look" at all the pretty floss and fabric". Of course they always seem to win. Maybe that's why I've gotten so much stitching and designing done this year ;-)

Design: "In My Own Little World"
Designer: Sandy In Montana
Stitched on 32ct. hand-dyed (by me) linen, using DMC Color Variations #4135 Chilean Sunset. Embellished with buttons from the Jesse James Co's. Dress-It-Up collections and two tiny gold stars. The hanger is made from braided jute twine and it was turned into a mini pillow hanger.

Here is the last of the memory ornament's that I have made for my family. This one is for my sister.

Design: "In Loving Memory"
Designer: Sandy In Montana
Stitched on 32ct. cream linen from Zweigart using DMC threads and Delica beads.