Spring Robin is another one of the designs by Pigeon Coop Designs. Max Pigeon, owner, offers his designs in both kits which include everything you need and pdf files. I have always purchased the pdfs, mainly cause I am not fond of kits. The stitch count is 57w x 70h and uses 6 different DMC colors. I chose to use a piece of 16ct Highland aida by Picture This Plus. I had intended to mount it on the same round board I used for the cardinal but it is a bit too big. I chose to leave off the six confetti stitches scattered around the bird. Instead I have some tiny green buttons, I plan on using i ..read more

Looking for Spring by Blackbird Designs is a small chart included in the 2023 Nashville Needlework Market Cookbook (page 26). The stitch count is 85w x 67h. The called for fabric is 36ct Oatmeal by Fiber on a Whim. I chose a piece of 16ct aida I had in my stash. I used some of the called for floss and some DMC for what I did not have in my stash. I see that I missed three stitches in one of the leaves so need to fix that. Since it is small, I will probably finish it as a pin pillow to add to one of the overflowing dough bowls ..read more

Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage is the 4th one in this series I have stitched. The recommended fabric is 28ct Mushroom using Classic Colorworks Blooming Crocus. I chose to use 28ct Antique White Lugana and Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss. I chose three shades of purple: Purple Mix (dark) for the two butterflies Favorite Flowers (medium) for the three birdhouses Wild Phlox (light and identical to the called for floss) for everything else This will be finished as a small pillow and join the others I have stitched in this series – Winter Quaker, Christmas Quaker, Autumn Quaker, and Vale ..read more

Bringing Good Cheer by Blackbird Designs is #3 in the Christmas Sampler series. This is the 2nd one of this series that I have stitched. The first one was Christmas Rose. I chose a piece of 18ct antique white aida with the called for Weeks Dye Works floss. I did not have Cayenne so chose to use DMC 3777. I love the rich red of the flowers. Alma writes of this design” Bringing Good Cheer was inspired by the antique sampler stitched by M. Bowker in 1842, when she was only 9 years old. The wild floral border captured my attention right away. I love it when the border is bold and almost grabs the ..read more

A Simple Wish by Blackbird Designs is included in the quilt book, Garden Club published in 2010. I’ve wanted to stitch it for some time and a friend loaned me the chart. I chose a piece of 28ct white Lugana from my stash with mostly called for threads. I guess I did not realize how many eyelet stitches this particular design has and I’m really not enjoying stitching them ..read more

Several years ago, someone in one of my cross-stitch groups was selling her kitted-up Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers charts. I bought several of them. Fast forward to now and a stitching friend posted her finished Bluebird’s Message. I decided to pull mine out and stitch it. Since the original kit had included linen fabric, and I don’t stitch on linen, I pulled out a piece of 16ct Colonial Parchment from Fabrics by Stephanie to stitch mine on. I used all the called for colors since they were included in the kit. I LOVE the bright colors. Now to find a suitable frame ..read more

Autumn Quaker by Primrose Cottage is the 4th one in this series I have stitched. The stitch count is 81 x 79 and the called for fabric is 28ct mushroom using 2 skeins of Colour and Cotton Pumpkin Pie floss. A finishing kit was not available when I bought the chart. I decided to use a piece of 16ct mystery aida which was a mottled orange/gold color with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss in Rustic Charm (dark rust) and Pumpkin Head (brighter orange) This one will join Christmas Quaker, Winter Quaker, and Valentine’s Day Quaker in a dough bowl or tiered tray. While I like how this turned out ..read more

Valentine’s Day Quaker by Primrose Cottage is the 3rd one in this series I have stitched. The stitch count of this one is 80 x 80. The recommended fabric is 32ct Blush using Classic Colorworks Ripe Melon. I chose to stitch mine on 28ct white Lugana using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss Dresden Plate and Cerise and VMSS Tans for the two birds. I did not buy the finishing kit for this one as I did for the two previous ones, Christmas Quaker and Winter Quaker ..read more

Winter Quaker is the second on in this series by Primrose Cottage that I have stitched. I bought the chart and the finishing kit directly from their Etsy Shop. The recommended fabric is 28ct mushroom with Color and Cotton Battleship floss. I had the Lugana fabric in my stash. Stitched on 28ct over two makes the finished size about a 6-inch square. I do plan on finishing them as pillows. Winter Quaker will join Christmas Quaker for display, and I have two more in this series to stitch ..read more

Lindsey Weight of Primrose Cottage is a new designer to me. I LOVE her Quaker series and plan to stitch all of the seasons. Christmas Quaker is the first one I have stitched. I bought both the chart and the finishing kit for this one. The finishing kit included the floss, backing fabric, a piece of wool for the back and the rickrack trim. The chart recommended 28ct mushroom 2 over 2, I chose a piece of 28ct white Lugana I had in my stash. I used the cherry cobbler floss for everything except the tree. I stitched that with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Kris Kringle Green. I’ll probably wait ..read more