Over the River and Through the Woods - Progress! Other stitchery updates and the Destiny of Dear Nina

Hello dear readers and followers! I hope you all are doing well.

It has been way too long! I call it 'vacation' (from sewing)! 

As you may remember from my previous post, 'dear Nina' had to go to the spa. 

The handwheel (mechanical part) got fixed. Unfortunately, the S-board (motherboard) is pooped and has to be replaced. To make a long story short; the S-board is not available from Bernina Switzerland!! The S-board is not made anymore since the 440 model is +20 years. The S-board is available at Bernina SA, hence a dear friend has offered to take the machine to SA to see if Bernina there is able to do something! 

This has been dragging way too long and finally I have ordered a new Bernina! It should be here by the end of August. I'm sew excited! 

While waiting for the destiny of my old sewing machine and the purchase of a new machine, I'm keeping myself busy doing cross-stitching. 

One of my oldest UFO's is seeing daylight, again! 

This year, I've spent a few hours off and on in the evenings stitching on 'Over the River and Through the Woods'. 

The goal was getting it done before Christmas 2023, that didn't happen! (here). It didn't happen before Christmas 2024 either! Maybe 2025?? I doubt it, but I shall see... 

This is how it looked like end of December 2024. 

There are two sections; sceneries at the top and bottom.

 I started section #3 (bottom) May 9, 2024 (just for my records)

...and this is how it looks like now: All stitchery sections DONE! 

Can you guess I got tired of stitching all those tree branches?! lol

The middle section (verse) are fancy letters. First I thought it was satin stitches (YIKES!). On the pattern it looks like backstitches and not 'filled' completely. And there are those dreaded French Knots too! Oh well, it gave me some practice. 

While waiting for 'dear Nina' to return from the spa (if ever!), I picked up this one again. 

It went really fast stitching the letters; 4 evenings. I even managed the French knots! 

I pulled out the fabrics intended for this quilt to have a look. The pinkish-reddish fabrics are not as pink as they look on the photo.  Stash shopping in Oslo 2010.

The wall hanging can be used all year long since the fabrics are not typically Christmas fabrics. 

These are the fabrics intended for the quilt, but now I don't know.... 

The fabrics are beautiful, they have a rustic/vintage look, but.... a bit too pinkish for me, maybe.... 

I may use these. They are mostly brown, but also red, beige, gold and cream. I may mix some of them with the pinkish. Yet to decide what goes together. 

If I was to buy fabrics for this quilt today, I may have chosen something else, but not sure what.... I think it had been Christmas fabrics.

I'm using Threadworx embroidery floss #10351, a beautiful variegated rustic brown cherry. It may go together with the pink fabrics. Pink and brown, maybe not the red? 

That was a lot of 'maybe'! LOL 

UPDATE: I decided to use all the fabrics; red, pink and brown. All pieces for the stars and flying geese are cut and ready to sew! 

It took me some days getting used to being without the sewing machine, but there are always other things to do. I have prepped a lot of Christmas items for my shop and enjoying cross-stitching again. 

First up; I finished the 'Bits of Blue' sampler! (Plum Pudding Needleart). I've had the pattern for years and started stitching it January 2023 while 'Dear Nina' had another spa appointment. Since then, I didn't touch it, until a couple of weeks ago. It's finished! Another UFO off the list! 

Stitched on 28ct Pearl Linen using #7037 Freedom from The Gentle Art, Simply Shaker Collection. 

I may do the pincushion, mini pillow and peg hanger later. I ran out of floss and more is on the way.

I have a soft spot for Little House Needleworks designs. 

I finished (almost) 'Snowflakes' (Second row, right). I ran out of Crescent Coulors 'Bamboo' and 'English Ivy'. According to Crescent Coulors chart, the 'Bamboo' can be substituted with DMC #822, but it won't be the same. 

It is originally stitched on 32ct Natural Raw Linen from Zweigart. I don't have the 32ct, instead I use 28ct. I'm not sure my eyes had liked the 32ct. 

Another cross stitch pattern I bought years ago, is 'Cinnamon Stick Santa XVIII', 'Wishing Thee Merriness', designed by Sandra Sullivan / Homespun Elegance.

I'm stitching it on 28ct Cashel Linen Zweigart, 'Vintage Beige'. Originally stitched on 28ct 'Sandstone'.

I ran out of floss for this one too. Just not enough to finish the letters. 

Next up is Cinnamon Stick Christmas XIX - 'Rejoice in Peace'. 

As you can see, it's almost done. Satin stitches are used on the tree and sheep. I did not like how the tree turned out with satin stitches. I ripped it and did cross stitches instead. The sheep is done the same way, I'm going to do cross stitches using Wisper. 

I have a couple of cute Christmas ornaments / mini pillows that are done too, but that will be for another post.