April WIPs Mirabilia Queen Mermaid, Chatelaine and Brook's Books

Happy Wednesday to you! Last weekend, we finally got a little bit of Spring weather. It did get up to 97F already, but with the April showers it was a nice break. I was thinking of a title for this post, because I haven't really been doing to much stitching, it's been more of beading, beading and more beading.

I don't know what happened last week, but I started one day on my Brooke's Books ornament 'Faithfullness', and I stopped. I worked more on my Chatelaines and Mirabillia. A free week of stitching on my WIPs is planned for the last week of April, I just swapped it out for the first week. This all had to do with beading. When I started beading the Bride's Tree, I thought why not finish the beading on my Chatelaine, and then like a domino effect, I carried it over to wanting to stitch the beaded rattlesnake on my Desert Landscape.

Here is the second day I worked on my Bride's Tree. I noticed one of the roses needs to come up a stitch, which is an easy fix.

I'm stitching this as a Mother's Day gift for my mom! She loves roses! I'll give more of my thoughts on this WIP when I finish it. I do love all the Springy pastel colors in contrast to the pink of the rose.

Hopefully by the end of the week, I should have 'Tiny Rose Garden Mandala' finished. I just have a little more beading to go.

I've been working on Desert Landscape to get me to the point where I can start stitching the beaded Rattlesnake! Living here in the suburbian desert of Arizona, yes, my sister-in-law had a rattlesnake in her front yard! Being a Chatelaine, I know Martina would capture this gorgeous creature in her design and she always amazes me! I love the contrast of the Silk N Colors Copper Rose with the drab greys, and the sparkle of the Black TB really sets the snake off! It's the beads that really make it gorgeous! 

Since my LNS doesn't carry Delicas, and the gold bead in the design calls for actual gold plated beads, I opted to use the gold Mill Hill beads in my stash. I did find a limited list on Delica-Mill Hill conversion. The other bead on the rattlesnake is a rootbeer color, and I found a Mill Hill color bead that is a close match called Allspice. 

This is how far I've gotten. I do a small section a day, but I love the progress!

Finally we have more progress on 'Queen Mermaid'. Today I'm going to go back and add her arms. Last week I worked my way down to her lilac bustle.

I'm waiting to find out if this week, the new Mirabilia release is a Mermaid, because I'm trying to finish this one, so I have a reason to buy the new one. I have a feeling, I won't be able to wait, so I'll be working on two. If the new design released isn't a mermaid, than that's fine too, because I really want to focus on just finishing her first!

Wishing you a wonderful Springy stitching week!

Oh, next time I will be starting a new WIP, a beachy one for Summer to come!

Until next time!

xo, Christine

WIP Wednesday Mirabilia's Queen Mermaid and Gingerbread House1 Update and some New Stash

It's hard to believe we are coming to the end of February. Last week just flew by and this week is going just as fast. The beginning of March I have a baby shower and a 50th Birthday party to attend, I was thinking about doing a birth sampler for her, but I won't have it ready in time for the baby shower, I might be able to get it done for her before the baby is born.

Yesterday I worked on Queen Mermaid, and I was able to stitch most of her lovely face.

This coming week, I am going to work a little on her hair, and her shoulder.

Not stitching hardly last week, but me a little behind on my Country Cottage NeedleWorks

Gingerbread House 1. With 11 days to finish I am thinking I should be able to get it done by next week.

I got stash in the mail yesterday from Brooke's Books. I recieved my Bride's Tree Ornaments.

Here are the 4 I am going to stitch this year!

April I will start with 'Faithfulness' for my Mother as a Mother's Day present! She loves Roses, and I know she is just going to love this!

Be sure if you haven't already, check out my first Giveaway on Instagram.

You can find me on Instagram @atthecrossrhodes , or click HERE.

Wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week!

Until next time!

xo, Christine

WIP Wedndesday 'Queen Mermaid' and Update

Happy Friday! Whoa!! Where did the week go! I meant to post yesterday, but it seems that there is this cold bug that is being shared around our house. Thankfully, I haven't caught it yet, but my dear husband, son and daughters each in turn have got it all week. On top of that my youngest felt she needed glasses, when actually the optometrist said she most likely only needs visual exercises to strengthen her eye muscles, so we have an appointment tomorrow for her.

Last week I mentioned that my husband and I were going to try and eat heathier. I'm taking a 30 day challenge to give up refined sugar. I already sweeten my cuppa hot tea with honey, so I'll just add it to my coffee as well. Also, I am only using 1/2 tsp for a daily total of 4 tsp. Over the course of my day I drink 4 cups of coffee 2 in the morning and 2 in the early evening, and then 2 cups of tea in the afternoon and at night. For last night's dinner, I tried something new, and I was pleasantly surprised. One of the foods, {which aren't many} that I have a strong dislike for is cauliflower. The last couple of years, I've seen it as a replacement for rice, so I gave it a go, and grated a cauliflower to make a stir fry. I have to say it was absolutely delicious.

Here is what I've been stitching on for 

\WIP Wednesday Mirabilias 'Queen Mermaid'.

I stitched more of her skin for her neck, arm, and back. For next week, I hope to work on her face.

Here is more progress on the Country Cottage Needlework's Gingerbread Cottage #1, and

Brooke's Books 'Merry Christmas Grumpy Kitty'. 

Today I'm working more on the center octagon in Chatelaine's Desert Mandala!

Oh, and I am beyond thrilled and excited to find out the Nora Corbett has a new Pixie Fairy for the New Just Cross Stich Magazine. 

If you haven't already seen her, 'Queen Anne's Lace' it's a Free download pattern Here. I've got some fabric that I want to try my hand at dyeing. And even though last month I started 8 new starts, I'm adding this as my +1. The colors are gorgeous and fun I just can't wait to get started on her!

Until next time!

Have a lovely stitching weekend!

xo, Christine

Day 9/15 Finish #2 and a WIP for Queen Mermaid

Happy Day before Friday! Sorry, I've been lax on finishing up posting New Years Days, I'll be back to those shortly before the end of January. My last 4 for the month are Country Cottage 'Beach Cottage', Prairie Schooler 'When Witches Go Riding', I finally found my Lavender and Lace 'Forest Santa', and I'm thinking a small Chatelaine mandala! Any suggestions? Are you working on one, and which one??

I finally put the last stitches on Gingerbread Train, earlier this week. I am so excited to see how seriously cute it turned out! My husband is making me a custom frame for it. So hopefully I'll have it framed before the end of the month as well. Gingerbread Girl is almost finished. She should be done by Saturday!

This weekend, I am going to get ready for my daughter and her boyfriend to come and visit for a few days. Not sure how much stitching I will be getting done, but I've been making some great progress on Three French Hens, and Stardust Fairy, I'll have WIP pics of them at the end of the month.

On Thursdays, I'll have WIP pictures of Queen Mermaid. I was surprised to find out that she has been discontinued. Right now I'm stitching the Peacock/Emerald green sparkly area of her bodice, working my way up to her face. I like to look at a face while I'm stitching away! Sounds a little odd, but it gives me a smile!

Until next time,

Have a fun stitching day!

xo, Christine