Gardener Threadkeep, Coffee Coaster, Uncle Sam

Sometimes a design just calls out to me to be stitched.  This one, Blackbird Designs Garden Club #9, "The Gardener", was one of those.  Maybe it's because BBD does not usually put a human figure in their designs.  I can't think of any other that does, but I'm sure I haven't seen them all.  I decided to turn this into a little thread keep for our blogging friend Carol.  I discovered that JoAnn's sells those plastic rings in a number of sizes which makes it very convenient to select the right thing.   I think this is 32 count Jobelan or Lugana.

Another design that called out my name for some stitch therapy was this cute coffee design from Stone Street Stitchworks called "Coffee Corner".   You can find it in their Etsy shop.  There are two versions on the pattern, one in red with a December holiday theme, and the one I stitched that is kind of  all-season.   Finished into a little mat/coaster because I couldn't think of anything else. This is stitched on 36 ct linen from my seemingly endless pile of HDF linen.

I saw this adorable freebie from Annie Beez Folk Art,  "Uncle Sam Rides a Crow", and I really wanted to stitch up the center motif.  It always makes me a little queasy to see a crow with an Uncle Sam, so I played with the chart to turn the crow into an eagle.  Kind of looks like an odd-colored pigeon now, but in context, I think it passes as an eagle.  I think it makes  a cute July 4th card with the addition of the stickers too.  This is done on another scrap of 36 ct HDF linen.

Next project will be on 28 ct over 2 to give my eyes a rest!