July

I started this one a few years ago.  This is going to be the first piece I work on.  I have about 90% of their charts so I have a lot to choose from.  I just finished stitching the Santa's 12 Days of Christmas.  It only took me two and half years.  lol  Sure hope this one doesn't take that long to finish.

Linda

I Couldn't Decide

Decisions, decisions! I couldn't decide which Prairie Schooler piece to focus on for the SAL (I have a few started), so I picked two. On the left is Santa's 12 Days of Christmas Day 2, on the right is 1984 Santa.

Happy Stitching!

Kate

Here Comes Santa Claus - August Progress

Not as much progress on this as I would have hoped, in fact this is just one day's stitching. I did stitch one more row at the bottom, but a visit from the frog meant that I had to unpick it. Have been busy with visitors, (my son, daughter-in-law and gorgeous granddaughter) over the weekend, but now that they have gone I hope to pick this up again and have more to show next month.

Nicola

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 11

Hi everyone,

I had hoped to have a finish of Day 11 by the end of this month but I think I have been distracted by a few other things going on - lol!  For some reason, I am really struggling with Day 11. This is part of the Sunday SAL which I stitch with my dear friend, Linda.  Maybe he will be finished by the end of September?

I am loving all of the wonderful Prairie Schooler Stitching which I see everyone else is doing - so beautiful!

Have a good week, 

hugs, 

Santa is complete

PS Santa is done.   I have to admit that I don't like him as much as when I started.  Mouth looks strange, as well as out of proportion and the blue looks strange. But he's done.  I'll think about making a second one for me.  Definitely different fabric and different count.  40 ct is not for my eyes right now.

December so far!-August15

Hi ladies!
As August is coming to its end I am posting now my PS stitching so far.
I didn't manage much as I had gall bladder surgery and also because I had other things to finish.
It helps that I am stitching on a big count aida!!!! I did all the frame around and the black on two squares, well almost !

A Minor Disaster

Oh Oh!

Okay maybe it's not a disaster but I made a mistake when I calculated the amount of fabric I would need for my Prairie Schoolers and it means a complete change in plans.  I think I mentioned that I was going to stitch all 4 of the designs on the same piece of fabric.  I had discussed it with my framer and we decided it would be easier to frame that way.  Well, I forgot to take that into account when I was figuring out how much fabric I need to cut.  I only measured it as though I had one design going across and top to bottom instead of two.  I was getting ready to start stitching and realized the fabric looked really small for what I wanted.  I do have enough of the same fabric for all 4 pieces.  I'll just have to stitch all the pieces separately.  That's not a big problem but it will make it harder on the framer.  Oh well, what's the old saying, measure twice cut once.  I should remember that for next time.

It's me again!  Gillie, the one from Michigan, my blog is Random Thoughts from Abroad, and I'm back with my first choice of PS charts that I want to stitch.  I'm a fairly recent convert to Prairie Schooler designs, I've always enjoyed seeing what others stitched but somehow never got around to doing much of my own........until I acquired the charts for some of the older Santas.....oh, my! AND what I am choosing to stitch right now......

Two of the Prairie Fairies!

1994 and 1995
Prairie Fairies

I love the look of determination on the face of the PF as she scatters sunflower seeds over open fields the night of the first full moon of summer!  The other PF is the Stitching Fairy, who rides on the wings of her sewing bird, completing all those unfinished projects with the needle and thread that she always carries with her.  Oh, don't we wish!

I have fabric so am off to see if I have the DMC threads required or good substitutions..........see you soon!

A PS Santa giveaway

Good evening from a slightly drippy and windy south east Michigan and big thanks to the Queen of SALs, Miss Kaye, who kindly let me join ALL her SALs, gee, thanks, Miss Kaye........MORE stitching and posting, lol!

Seriously, I am very glad to be here and before I show you what I want to stitch in September......a small giveaway.......I know some people either don't have much PS stash or find it difficult to purchase the charts where they live.....so.........the very last (sniff) annual Santa could be yours!

2015 Santa

Please leave a comment on this post only.  Thank you to Kaye for allowing me to do this giveaway!  I'll draw a name next Friday.

A finished Christmas ornament:)

Hello PS fans!

I have now finished my first Prairie Schooler design! I am very happy with the finished stitching:)

The design is from The night before Christmas. I made some changes to the original chart. I decided to stitch the Swedish equivalent phrase of 'Merry Christmas' at the top corner and I used DMC Satin threads for the snowflakes.

 

Since this was my August ornament for Christmas ornie SAL 2015 , I had to turn the stitching into an Christmas ornament.

I REALLY enjoyed stitching this PS design, and I just wish I had more of their Xmas designs in my stash!!! One of the other designs from this series is a snowman so at least I'm going to use that chart for the November ornament for the Christmas Ornie SAL:))

Enjoy your PS stitching!

Annie

A Couple of Small Finishes for Exchanges

Johnny Appleseed is from the "September" leaflet and will be sent as a "raw" block for the recipient to "finish" as she chooses.

The fall piece comes from the "October" leaflet.  I'll have to think of some kind of ornament "finish" for this one.  I'm rather "finishing impaired" so will mull over for a while before attempting it.

The other day I made a rare visit to Spring, TX to 2 LNS's.  (It's about a 1 3/4 hour drive for me so I don't go very often.)  I came home with 3 PS leaflets...after buying a couple more that am on ebay.  I'm so afraid that they'll be almost impossible to find after they announced their retirement that it's hard for me to turn any away.  I don't think I'm alone in my "problem".

Happy stitching!

Hello, fellow Prairie Schooler lovers!

Good morning, everyone! My name is Carol (from the United States) and I know many of you from my blog, Stitching Dreams, but I'm excited to meet more Prairie Schooler addicts, too. If you've read my blog, you know that Prairie Schooler stitching is my "comfort stitching"--nothing makes me as happy or as relaxed as stitching one of their designs. I'm so sad they are retiring, but, luckily, I have quite a nice stash of their charts to keep me busy for years to come...

I recently finished this small lakeside scene from the "Weather Wise" book no. 145. You can read more details in this blog post. 

I finished it into a small pillow to set on a shelf or in a basket and added a big white reef knot for a cute accent.

Two other blogging friends and I have been stitching PS Santas on Sunday and here is my latest finish from the "Old World Santas" book no. 80. What a handsome guy!

And here are all four that I have stitched so far this year--which is your favorite?

Hope you enjoyed my PS finishes this morning. I am very happy to be part of this group and love the fact that there are stitchers from around the world participating... Thanks so much, Kaye, for bringing us all together!

Enjoy your weekend!
Carol

My name is Jackie and this is my first post on this blog.   Over the past year I have been working on several PS Santas to add to my ornament collection.  This is the latest.  August's contribution

August is always an extra busy month for our family - several wedding anniversaries, even more birthdays!  But at long last I have started my Santa.

This lovely Santa is covering a lot of ground.  He is my Santa for the Christmas ornament blog, an entry for the Prairie Schooler blog, and he will be a gift (Gifted Gorgeous or something like that) plus he is going on my regular blog as a current work.  And I will probably make a second one for myself but not necessarily in August.

Obviously I haven't gotten that far but then again, he isn't huge either - after all he will be an ornament!

So happy to be here!

Hello fellow PS fans!

Can you imagine that two months ago I did not know ANYTHING about The Prairie Schooler designs?! They are not known here in Sweden and I had not come across any of their designs in English cross stitch magazines.

It was when I joined the Christmas ornie SAL 2015 that I discovered three of their Santa designs (The Night Before Christmas). I fell in love and started to stitch one of the PS Santas, and as I stitched I fell even more in love. Then I started to check out their charts in online shops and I was thrilled with all the sweet designs that I found, especially since I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Xmas and Santas:)

Then I found out they are retiring - oh, no! - so when our lovely host announced this SAL I just had to join in and share my love of the PS designs with my fellow stitchers:)

I am close to finishing my PS Xmas ornament for August...

...not long to go now!

I also have to see about aquiring some more Xmas PS charts - at the moment I have five charts including the free chart on their website.

Although, how I am ever going to be able to decice which charts I am going to purchase, I don't know...!

Happy PS stitching!

Annie

And to All a Good Night - First Progress

"And to All a Good Night" designed by Pamela Byrd Smith!

2010

*-*

Hello Everyone,

My name is Nurdan. I greet you from Istanbul.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I would like to introduce myself to you.

I am a specialist of international and intergovernmental economic relations! In this context, I lived   and worked in many countries!  Since 2009 ,  I'm one of the partners of a group of companies operating in Europe and Eurasia!

Cross stitch is the most favorite hobby for me since my very young age. For many years our relation with it, was a bit distant ! I was cross stitching only in evenings or  weekends within my limited free times. 

Since 2009, I have more free time than before! Having a wider time, happily allowed me to try  designing  cross stitch projects for myself! (Now, I have pretty large collection, more than 300)

Out of my own trials, there are two exceptions for me among other designers! Classic Berlin Wool work templates from 19th century as well as  Prairie Schooler templates! So far, I' ve stitched many of  PS templates as Christmas gifts to my friends!

(you'll find below some related images)

So, when Kaye made the announcement of this event ; I 've immediately jumped into! 

Because, I had a PS  pattern  in my hands waiting to be stitched!

And in the end, I am sharing its first progress! 

Hope you like it ♥

 *-*

Kaye, thank you very much for giving us this opportunity!

♥Wishing you a very happy new week♥

My first project

Hello, dear friends

I am very happy to be here. I have been a Prairie Schooler fan since I started stitching about 20 years ago and the very first PS book I bought was #15 Village Sampler. So far I haven't stitched it yet but maybe it will be one of my later projects in this SAL.

When I was accepted and joined the group I went through my kitted projects and found this:

A Prairie Garden will be my first project for the SAL and I will start on it as soon as I will have finished my current summer piece.

Have a great start into the new week,
Brigitte

Fabric Decision

Well, I think a mentioned this in a previous post that I was having trouble deciding on a fabric for my Prairie Schooler I'm stitching for the SAL.  These are the 2 fabrics I was deciding between,

Floss Toss Heatherfield

26 count Natural Heatherfield

Floss toss 14 count Linaida

My problem has been I really, really, REALLY love both of these fabrics.  I normally do not like brown fabric.  I don't like natural/dirty linen or any of the recommended browns.  These are really the only 2 browns that I like.  And guess what?  They're both discontinued!  So I'm taking some precious pieces out of my stash to stitch this.  I think I will go with the Linaida.  I love the heatherfield but I'm afraid the darker browns won't show up too well on it.  So I'm going with the bottom choice.  So my heatherfield is safe for now.    

And for anyone who is interested, Nancy over at the Victorian Motto is having a give-away over at her blog, Victorian Motto.

Hello!

Thanks for letting me join this group.  I'm a long-time Prairie Schooler fan and, like the rest of you, am sad to hear that they're retiring.  I'll be slowly acquiring some of the ones still available in the near future. 

The last few I stitched are below:
 

I need to choose either a small design or a part of a larger design for an exchange block for one of my groups for Sept.

I recently started a FB page called Prairie Schooler Students if anyone would be interested in joining that too.

I look forward to seeing pictures of everyone's PS stitching.

The Four Seasons

  

I am so glad to have joined this SAL.  I love Prairie Schoolers designs and am so disappointed that they have decided to retire.  That being said, I have never actually stitched one of their designs.  I have lots of them but have never gotten around to working on them.  So I decided that this was a perfect way for me to actually stitch one.  I've decided to stitch the Four Seasons.  I have had it for years.  When I first saw it, I didn't get it so when I wanted to stitch it, I couldn't find it in any of the stores.  Then many years later, I located one in a used bookstore.  I snatched it up and have been wanting to start it ever since.  But other things always took priority and it just kept getting shoved back in the filing cabinet.  But this is going to be the year I actually stitch it.  I have all the floss pulled.  I just need to decide on the fabric I'm going to use.  It's between 14 count Linaida or 26 count (over 2) Natural Heatherfield.  I think it will look great on either one.  I'm going to stitch it as one piece.  I've already talked to the framer at work and we decided that it would be easier to frame that way.  I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else will be stitching.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Hello Everyone! I'm Nicola from Staffordshire in England. I am very sad to know that Prairie Schooler is closing, but then again I will be able to stitch all the PS designs that I have in my stash without being tempted by new ones. For this SAL I have decided to start with "Here Comes Santa Claus", a limited edition chart that I got as a gift, along with the 32ct linen to stitch it on. I've had it a couple of years now but have only just got the Crescent Colour threads to stitch it with. I'm not the fastest stitcher in the World, and am also stitching other things, but I am really looking forward to taking part in this SAL and sharing my WIP's with you all. 

Nicola

All The Santas

Hi everyone, my name is Karyn and I live in Southern California.
I am so excited about this SAL, and look forward to sharing and seeing everyone's progress, as we celebrate The Prairie Schooler designs together.
A huge thanks goes out to our dear friend Kaye for organizing this fun SAL for us...hugs and kisses, especially because I adore The Prairie Schooler and feel so sad to have to say Goodbye to them.
I have decided to stitch all 32 of the annual Santas that I have collected over the years. I am starting with the current and final year of 2015. I am not putting a time limit upon myself, but will try to stitch and finish at least half by the end of the year. My plan is to purchase a small Christmas tree dedicated to all of my cross stitched Christmas ornaments, and these hanging upon it as well.
I am going to stitch them all on a Tea Dyed Monaco, 2 over 2, using the charted floss, most of which I either had in my stash or have just purchased at JoAnn.
I'm off to start stitching...woohoo!

December

Hello everyone!
This is Ariadne from Greece!
I am so glad I am taking part in this SAL.
Thank you Kaye for organising this!
I haven't stitched much of Prairie Schooler so far. It is not something you find in Greece.
But I have admired others working on their pieces.
A couple of years ago a lovely lady who is not in blogland any more RAKed me with a set of patterns of Prairie Schooler.
I thought that now that they are closing down maybe it is high time I stitched something from them.
I chose to stitch the square piece of the pattern and so far I just washed my fabric and chose some of my threads from my stash to see which ones I am missing.
It will be fun to stitch this and hope to have it finished by December!

See you in the end of August with my first photo of my stitched piece.

Welcome everyone to the Prairie Schooler SAL blog....

As I am sure that most of you know by now I decided to start this SAL when I heard the sad news for us stitchers that The Prairie Schooler is closing down:




An era is ending, but I know that so many of us love Pamela and Nancy's designs and have lots of them in our stash.  Surely enough to get us through a few more years of stitching  - lol!

So, the idea with this SAL is that once a month (whenever we feel like it), we post our progress on our  Prairie Schooler projects on this blog.

I will start sending out the invitations to join this SAL blog to those stitchers who have already let me know that they want to join in the fun.  If anyone else is interested you can email me at the address on the top of the sidebar.  Please let me know the name of your blog, as well.

Also, please feel free to use the badge I have created, which is also on the sidebar, on your own blog.

I hope that you all have fun with this blog, I know that I will - there may even be some games and giveaways along the way!

hugs,