Finished... and Framed!

Close-up showing frame detail

Little House Neighborhood © Little House Needleworks
Stitched on 28ct. “Pearled Barley” Linen with the recommended DMC threads.
Framing by House of Stitches, LaPorte, Indiana

It’s been over five years since I’ve had anything framed. I knew as I was working on this piece that I would get it framed when I had finished stitching it, and so the framing of this piece was my birthday gift to myself. I had another frame in mind when I went to House of Stitches, but they no longer stocked the frame, so when I saw this frame, I thought it was perfect for the piece. Normally, I would get a piece matted when I get it framed, but the frame and the stitched piece itself was sufficient – I didn’t think a mat was necessary in this instance.

I must say that I’m really happy with how it turned out, and it’s now hanging on a wall in the living room in my new apartment.

Just getting started...

Hi everyone! I've had my "Neighborhood" kitted up for months but made myself finish something else first. So, a few days ago I started mine and here's a picture after about 3 hours of stitching:


I'm enjoying it so far. Couldn't wait to get to something besides the border so I'm going on to a tree for now. I also have tons of other things I need to be doing (like a few Christmas gifts and I'll be moving in the next couple of months) so I may be slow at listing this as a finish. I think I'm going to use this piece as a sort of commemorative neighborhood piece. We've been forced to sell the home we've lived in for the past 17 years to the State of Utah for a road project. We've put an offer in on a new home just a couple of blocks away. I was thinking of putting the name of streets I've lived on in my life under each home. I've lived for a significant amount of years in 4 different homes..so I'm thinking of my childhood home: South Main; my first home as a married woman: Walnut Circle; this home: 11400 South; and my new home: Gracie View Lane. I'm thinking about putting each address under one of the homes. What do you think? I think it might be kind-of fun...so we'll see once I get everything stitched...what I will finally decide. Thanks for looking and listening! For now...back to stitching!

Latest Update

I am only working on LHNN on Friday evenings as part of the Let's Stitch blog Stitch A Thon. And as we get closer to Christmas, and I have a number of ornament exchanges to complete, I am not getting much time to stitch on anything else. So, as of last Friday evening, this is where I am at...


Until next time,

Bernadette(Bette)

Construction done on two homes!

Wooohooo I have completed construction on two more of the houses so just one more to go.

Bette's Update

It has been a long time since I have posted an update, but this is where I am at. I am slowly working through this sampler, having about 3 or 4 other large pieces that I am also working on, to say nothing of the exchanges! Sorry about the quality of the picture, it has been folded for several weeks. I am working on this as part of the weekly SAL over at the Let's Stitch Blog, and have not touched it since I last participated on the SAL several weeks ago.

Bernadette

Neighborhood in progress...

I finally feel like I am making progress on this piece. LOL!

Monica's progress

Hi...is there anyone in...?
My LHN Neighborhood is going ahead, stitch by stitch... It is such an enjoyable design! I cannot wait to see it and yours finished. I changed the colour of the fence in the lower section, as "white" did not stand out enough against my coffee dyed linen. After a few "tests" with other colours, I decided on DMC 612.
Thanks for looking, bye!
Monica

Progress

It has been a while since I posted. I have been working away on this sampler, but as I have other projects that I am also working on, I am afraid I have only got this far. Not too sure about the squirrel. The colours seem a little off to me. I will see what I think when I have finished the entire sampler. Currently I am working on Neighborhood as part of the Let's Stitch blog Friday night SAT.

Monica's little progress

Hi everyone!

I am so sorry I have been without posting any picture for so many days... Actually I have been stitching on a couple of other little projects that I would like to give as Christmas gifts to my sister and my MIL. In addition, my dear kids shared with me their "stomach-flu", and with my stomach upside down I could not even to look at my needle and threads for days! ;)

Anyway, I am happy to share my little progress with you now!

My only variation so far:
House of Embroidery hand-dyed thread col. "Bush" instead of DMC 937.
Never used this brand of threads previously. My eyes were caught by them at my LNS and I picked up a couple of "greens" that seemed good for my Neighborhood, just to try. They are very soft and pleasant to stitch.

I am enchanted by all your progress and variations. Thanks for sharing! I love this SAL, it is so relaxing, without rigid deadlines... It suits me...!
Thanks for looking and Happy Stitching to all of you! Bye! :)

Thread and Fabric Choice

lhnneighborhood1.jpg,
originally uploaded by Bette_h.

Several weeks ago, I joined the LHN Neighborhood SAL. I have been meaning to post my fabric and thread choices, but keep forgetting. I have chosen to use the recommended DMC floss, but am using 32ct Heritage (I think) linen from Stitches and Spice.

A long overdue update from Meredith...

Hello! I have not posted in a long time mostly because I wanted to be further along when I did...but I decided this morning it was time to post what I have done thus far. I am still loving this project it's just that (as with many of us) I am working on more than one piece at a time. I'm finding this is a great project to bring with me places to stitch on. Once I get an outline of a house done it's very easy to fill it in while I'm chatting with the other mom's at my daughter's ballet class! (Maybe I've been chatting too much though ;-) The only change I've made so far is that I am stitching two dogs (from CCN's You Are My Sunshine) rather than the squirrels. I just love the dogs from that pattern and since we have two dogs I thought they would be great for this. The first dog fits perfectly so now I just need to figure out the mirror image for the other side. That's it for me... I love reading everyones updates and seeing everyones beautiful work. Thanks for sharing!

Neighborhood update...

I finally made enough progress on this piece to share a photo with you all. My first house is almost completed and I'm really enjoying it. I substituted DMC 3032 with Wood Smoke by GAST and DMC 3790 with Maple Syrup also by GAST. Now to plan the colors for my other homes.

Happy stitching,

LHN Progress

So far, this is my progress on my Little House Neighborhood. I am happy with the way it seems to be moving along so easily. Excuse the shadow but I had to take the picture indoors.

First Progress Pic

In my previous post, I had said I hope for some progress pics soon. Well, as luck would have it, I did get some stitching done on Little House Neighbourhood.
Nothing much to show yet. Only the middle tree is done but as promised...

Nina had asked for some close up pictures. Who am I not to comply? ^.^

As you can see, I stitched my sheep's coat with a different floss - silk chenille. Vikki's Silk Chenille to be exact. I love the woolly effect. It's perfect for it, don't ya think? :D

Cherry - first progress - September 21

Not too much, unfortunately, but in this manner in a September heavy to reconcile with the other ones. I am glad that there are others yet in an early phase like this. :)
And I see it gladly, and congratulate it was ready to works!
Happy stitching!

Susan's progress - September 21

I finished the final house today! Now, I just have to do the landscaping, add some critters, finish the border, and add the verse. Wow, when I say it like that, I guess I still do have a way to go!

I started

I finally got started on my L.H. Neighborhood! Yea for me! I know there are a few things I want to change around but I haven't made any solid decisions yet.

I am working on 18 count Aida that I coffee dyed.

Sherry

Little House Neighborhood Framed!

I was so happy when I got a text message from my framer this morning saying that my Little House Neighborhood was ready for me to pick it up. So, as soon as I finished work I drove there and got it. I love love love it! It is now hanging on my well, next to my stitching spot :)

I just love the look of this frame. The minute I saw it I just knew it would be right for the piece. I thought about some mats but when I tried them with the piece I just saw that the piece didn't need any. It is just so pretty that it didn't need any more 'decoration'. I think it is perfect like this. Here is a closer look of the frame.

Well. Back to stitching I guess!

Finally Started

I finally started on my Little House Neighborhood SAL. I don't have much done but I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am having doubts about the fabric choice, perhaps it will look better the more I stitch...

Anna

Hoping to get done before the next SAL :-)

I finally started

I finally got a chance to start my LHN Neighborhood. I don't have much done so I will wait a bit to post a picture. I am stitching mine on 25 ct. mint lugana using some DMC floss and a few overdyes.

My First Post!

I've been with this SAL since the start but have yet to post. Reason? I've got nothing to post... until now >.<
My fabric has finally arrived so I now have all the necessary materials to start this SAL. I'm so late that Nicole and Linda has both finished stitching it. Sigh!
I guess an introduction is in order. I'm Veronica from Malaysia. I've been stitching on and off for more than 10 years. Besides cross stitching, I love reading and playing computer games too.
Anyway, here's a picture of my fabric and floss. I'll be stitching it with Vikki Clayton silk on Picture This Plus 28 count Legacy Cashel Linen.

I've stitched a little on it but not enough to warrant a picture. Hopefully, more pics will be on their way soon.

Finished!

Yeah! I finally did it! I got it finished last night! I stayed up way too late stitching! I ended up leaving the hearts off by the words. I was going to put crows there, but I decided to just leave it plain. The only other changes I made was putting the bunnies on the hill instead of the squirrels. Everything else is as charted.

I've had so much fun stitching along with you all! Thank you all for the inspiration you gave me every day! I will continue to check on you all and cheer you on as you stitch your neighborhoods. They are all looking great! :) Maybe we will be able to SAL again in the future on another of Diane's great designs!

Debby's LHN - WIP

I have been stitching on my Little House Neighborhood and I finally got all the leaves stitched on the tree! Hip Hip Horray! There are many many of them but I love the tree. Now I can do the birds and the other sheep and then on to the red house! I kept thinking I should take a photo but I just kept stitching so before I get to stitching today, I got this picture taken first thing.

Nickys 2nd Monday update

I had hoped to have the whole second row finished today but it wasn't to be. It is growing however and I am inspired by the finishes (and near finishers) who have posted to the blog already.

Did anybody else have trouble with the dark, roof stitches showing through to the the fabric. Do you think this is because I have a slightly too tight tension? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Nicky

Finished!

I did it! I just finished this piece about 15 minutes ago! I must admit, it was almost difficult to finish it. I have enjoyed stitching this piece so much that I almost did not want to finish it. But I did and here are some pictures. I had to take them with flash since it is almost midnight, but I am going to try to get better shots and some close ups tomorrow if the brightness will be enough and if it will not be raining like it has been lately.

Little House Neighborhood by Diane Williams, Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32ct Light Mocha Belfast
Threads: DMC, Crescent Colors and GAST

The text was changed out for a line in an Icelandic kids song. It says 'Ein ég sit og sauma, inni í litlu húsi' and that would translate to 'Alone I sit and stitch, inside a little house'. It is a song that is very dear to me and has been for as long as I can remember. I decided that I wanted to change some elements of the design and bring it a little closer to home so to speak, make it a little more Icelandic. So that is why I changed the squirrels out for a cat and a bee since we do not have squirrels here. I decided not to stitch the white star on the blue house as I thought it looked a little too American. And I decided to stitch the houses in over-dyes to get the look of painted houses, or the houses here in Iceland (especially in the city center) who have corrugated iron on them. And the final touch was the changing of the words. And since I decided not to stitch the women on the original design, but send them inside stitching, this lyric seemed perfect for my piece. I am so in love with it. Now to go to my framers and find the perfect frame for it!

I'm getting close to finishing! :) I hope to get it finished up this weekend!

Debby's Little House Neighborhood - WIP

I have been working on my Little House Neighborhood and almost have the blue house finished. This is such a fun stitch and I am loving it! This row is so cute anyway and I look forward to doing the tree with the lambs and flowers as well as the red house in this. This is being stitched on 40 ct. Light Exampler Linen from Lakeside Linens with one thread over 2

Georgie's LHN

Here's my update:

Linda's fifth update

Here it is! An updated picture of my Neighborhood!

The fourth house was stitched with GAST threads Wood Smoke and Sable. I love how it turned out.

Now I need to draw up the text I am going to use (a line from an Icelandic children song that is very dear to me) and make it fit, stitch it and finish the boarder and I will be all done!

You are all making great progress. I love seeing your pieces grow!

Nicky's Monday Update

Here is my progress for Monday

I have been working for a little over a week on this design and I am just loving it! I have never worked a design so big before. How are all you girls in summer time doing with such a large linen piece on your laps? I don't mind so much because its winter here.

I have been using the required DMC threads and stitching in hand. Sometimes the stitches don't quite sit how I want but I have resisted the urge to unpick and re-do. They aren't that bad! I think I will add to the border as I go and I will put in the wording after finishing this bottom row. Last night I added the white fence and the door to the house. This is a great project, I am loving it and can't stop working on it!

Happy stitching!

Nicky

Hi Everyone! I have finally decided what to put on top. I decided to stick with the rooster after trying two different cats. They just looked huge next to the girl. I also decided to go with bunnies instead of the squirrels. I'm working on the trees now. I hope to get them finished or close to finished today.

I got the bunny chart from my CCN Summer Garden pattern. I was so happy that they fit on the little hills. :)

Susan's Progress - August 25

Everyone is making such great progress on their "Neighborhoods"! I was hoping to have the middle section finished over the weekend, but I ran out of time.

Here's my progress as of last night:

I am back!

I just got back from a fantastic weekend away with a part of my stitching group. I worked a lot on Little House Neighborhood while there. I planned on finishing it, but didn't quite make it. The picture you can see in the post was taken on Saturday at 5pm and since then I have done loads more. I will post another updated picture tomorrow.

See my post on my blog here with the progress picture. (Blogger is not allowing me to upload a photo to this post, sorry!)

I have almost finished the grass on the top portion. I hope to get more done later today. :)