October was a Blur

 I had three quilt retreats in October. 

I got a lot done but no time for blogging. 

I am going to dedicate this post to my handwork projects and hopefully write a quilt-related post in a few days.

After Christmas, I usually pick one or two large Bucilla kits from my stash to make. This year, my second Bucilla project was a wall hanging designed by Mary Engelbreit from 2006. 

The kit...though brand new...was in bad shape. The brown ink stamped on white felt was bleeding badly...it smeared when handled for stitching. 

The ink is easily removed by soaking the felt in cold water...but the lines to follow for stitching disappear.

I embroidered on the main white piece...

grabbed a piece of vinyl and outlined the placement lines.

For the small parts of the white felt that would be appliqued in place...

I stitched on all the embroidery and then dunked the pieces in cold water. 

Once dried, the pieces looked great and the yucky brown ink was gone.

It was a huge challenge to place all the elements...the vinyl overlay helped but these kits often don't line up exactly as printed.

It is appropriately named, as it really is a Joy to see it finished.

The details are so amazing. The fancy wrapping paper for the present.

A joyful elf.

Gingerbread folks.

Thankfully the face was easy to stitch. The blue eyes pop with the dark hair. 

I have two more Mary Engelbreit hanging kits in my stash to make...and the ink is not an issue in those kits. At least one of those will be made in 2027.

My next felt project was a Merry Stockings Mantel Series...the Halloween Village 2026 , Spook School.

These kits are pretty quick to stitch up and I think it was late August when I started it. 

Frankenstein's House.

Just a fun set of spookiness. Very easy to store away.

Next are cross stitch projects I finally fully finished.

 I think the toughest part is trying to decide how to finish a piece.

This was a free pattern in 2020 for a stitch-along from Sandy Workman of Pine Needles Designs.

Halloween Stitch-Along. I stitched it on the called for fabric, 25 count, Stormy Lugana.

This was a fun piece...just stitched one block at a time.

The next two pieces have been stitched for at least two years... I just struggled trying to find a fun way to display them. I finally decided on a simple free standing design.

Girls' Night Out is a free pattern when you purchase the button set from Just Another Button Company 

I used the called for fabric, Weeks Dye Works Lilac linen, 30 count. 

I also use the called for Weeks Dye Works floss. 

The linen has more of a purple tone than the photo is showing.

And of course...I had to stitch the companion,

 The Boys are Back in Town. Also from Just Another Button Company 

This was also stitched on the called for fabric, Weeks Dye Works Gunmetal linen, 30 count. 

Also stitched with the called for Weeks Dye Works floss. 

A fun duo.

For some reason the next two charts really drew me in.

Stitching on this linen was a real challenge for me.

Toil & Trouble, from La D Da. 

Stitched on the called for linen, Havana 35 count and NPI silk floss.

Something Wicked, from La D Da. Same linen and NPI silk floss. 

I finished both as standing pieces. 

The trim is from Purple Paper Mountain, Thick Eyelash Trim.

It totally makes the finish on these two pieces awesome.

Put on the Hat from Hands on Design, was a quick stitch.

 I didn't get this one fully finished but planning to do a drum finish.

And I started a rather large Halloween piece, 

Haunted Cuckoo Clock by Tiny Modernist. 

My grandson loves clocks...especially cuckoo clocks.

Almost halfway done but will put this away for now so I can tackle Christmas projects.

No critter photos...though the bears are still moving around the neighborhood.

We've only had a few dustings of snow followed by warm spells. 

I don't like mild winters...too dark with icy driving conditions.