Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

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calico
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Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by calico »

:oops: My 4th new start for the year!
I just couldn't stop myself when I saw this pattern in the Feb 2015 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. It's called Blue Jay Birdhouse by Donna Giampa. (Karen, I bet you saw this!) And if that's not bad enough, it's the first of FOUR in a series this year!! Oh boy, just what I need, lol!

Image

Image

Since I just wrote a post about this on my blog, I just copied it here:
I want all the pieces to match, so I decided to go with a neutral fabric so I chose 18ct Fiddler's Aida by Charles Craft. It's one of my favorite fabrics, I have quite a bit of it in my stash and it's easy for me to get locally.
That being said, after getting it all kitted up and settling down to take my first stitch, what do I see? Fractional stitches! Those of you that have stitched fractional stitches, know they're not easy to do on Aida and especially not 18ct. I was so bummed at the thought of having to find and wait for another fabric, so I evaluated how many fractionals there actually are and how difficult it would be to do them on this fabric. The conclusion I came to is the majority of the design is NOT fractionals and most are in the face and outline of the birds. I experimented with one bird head to see if it was doable and with good lighting and a good magnifier, it wasn't too horrible. Actually, I think the result is quite worth it! Thanks for looking!
Calico

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karen4bells
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by karen4bells »

Oh good---I just saw this again in the magazine and I am VERY tempted---wonder what the other ones will be in the series!! GREAT start!!!!! :applesauce: :applesauce:
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rcperryls
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by rcperryls »

:applesauce: :applesauce: Lovely start!!! Blue Jays are lovely birds. We usually have some nesting in the back yard and it is so much fun to watch them as they beg for food, especially when they get older and can feed themselves, but prefer for Mom or Dad to still take care of them.
Looking forward to watching this, and to seeing what the other three in the series are.

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CarrieGF
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by CarrieGF »

Oh.... I can see why you succumbed to temptation.
Those blues are so rich. :wub: this project will be fab. The neutral tones in the Aida will help the birdies stand out.
Great startg :lol:


I sometimes use a spare "sharp" needle to pierce the Aida for the fractionalise (especially where there is a series of them, not necessary with odd ones)
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Rose
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Rose »

Gorgeous, gorgeous work so far an the finished piece is awesome!!!!!!! :applesauce: :applesauce:
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tiffstitch
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by tiffstitch »

Great start! And good idea to test it out first to be safe. :)
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mouselady
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by mouselady »

I cannot wait to see this progress. It is beautiful already!
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Squirrel »

I am not going to look for that magazine I am not going to look for that mag - - - - -

A wonderful start on this one and its gorgeous. :wub: it and no doubt all others to come. :tantrum:
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Talinellana »

Beautiful!! Glad you're able to get started with your 18ct Aida, hopefully it doesn't cause you too many problems. The colours are amazing, as usual the photos in the magazines just don't do the real thing justice do they, going to be amazing and I look forward to seeing what the other three patterns are :)
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lavenderbee
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by lavenderbee »

Really lovely, the blues are so bright. Well done with the fractional stitches they are hard to do on Aida, even my 14 ct, but they do make for nice shaping. The bird head is lovely & nicely stitched. Look forward to updates & to other you buy in the series :D Like the colour of your Aida, looks good against colours of bird. :D
lavenderbee :-)


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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by curly sue »

I adore birds! That is going to be gorgeous. I usually buy Just Cross Stitch at Wal Mart. Maybe they will have it in tomorrow. Last week they still didn't have it or any of their other craft magazines.
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Carole
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Carole »

That's a lovely design. We don't get blue jays here but I love to see pictures of them. Great start :applesauce:
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wendywombat
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by wendywombat »

Carole wrote:That's a lovely design. We don't get blue jays here but I love to see pictures of them. Great start :applesauce:

Nor here!! But I love all birds. Superb colours!

Great start! :applesauce:
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richardandtracy
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by richardandtracy »

That looks simply lovely.

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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by fccs »

Great start and I think it's going to be fabulous on that fabric!
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by RosemaryD »

Great start on a lovely design. :applesauce: :applesauce: Looking forward to seeing your progress.

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calico
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by calico »

Wow, Thank you all for the kid words!!
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Imme
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Imme »

Great start on this one. It would be cool to get a collection of 4 patterns done.
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Re: Blue Jays Birdhouse *New Start*

Post by Oriettait »

Great start! it is a lovely design! :applesauce:
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