Your project is adorable. Have you completed it?

Sorry..I got ahead of myself and didn't finish reading your post.. Still think it is adorable though..

Jersey, I love this pattern and have just added it to my wishlist. I said that I wouldn't buy anything else until ....... but I couldn't resist. I think jsimon is or has worked it and I was tempted to buy several months ago. As soon as I get a chance to go through my "stuff" to make a shopping list I will order it. The fabric sounds gorgeous but 32 ct???? I have to check if it comes in 28 ct. As soon as things slow down I am getting my eyes re-examined. I have to go through my pile of "things to keep", I read that refraction can now be done by computer. I'll make DD do the research as to accuracy, etc. My eye doctor is good but the refractionist I don't know. My brain cannot keep up with all this back and forth. I want to answer with H..., I don't know! I'm not spending a small fortune on 3 pairs of glasses and not be satisfied. I need distance, readers and sunglasses. I don't do so well with bifocals and progressives. I can still see TV, etc without glasses of course the screen size that DH requires might have something to do with it. :)
I just watered and pulled a ton of weeds, just the tip of the iceberg. We spent almost four hours at Chick-fil-A, GD likes the playhouse and refuses to leave. I felt like bringing my crochet project but that's a sure tip off that we go there for entertainment.

I'm working on Celtic Christmas and although the pattern are very easy to work, I do wish that they would provide a little more detail I'm supposed to use DMC 284Z ( a gold metallic on a spool) but do not know if I'm supposed to use one strand or two, I haven't opened it yet but wonder if I can attach the beads with it. Any suggestions.

jersey, I can hardly wait to see the picture of Enchanted Alphabet. Are you working on white roses? I bought an Artecy a couple of months ago. It's white roses in a bowl. A lovely pattern. It just hit me - I so dislike stitching with white floss. I can do it, I just know I can.

Hello Texas! Sounds like you have been "super" busy!! I read your post about Celtic Christmas. I wanted to caution you about using DMC 284Z metallic thread. Sometime ago, we had some postings about this thread. I used it in Santa of the Forest and found it V-E-R-Y difficult to use. Other users also complained about it. It was one of the original metallics created in the 80's. I would like for you to google: What is DMC 284Z thread? You will see a heading: "What is 284Z thread - Told in a Garden." Click on that and it will take you directly to the page on their website. It will give you other comparable options for thread like: DMC, Rainbow Gallery and Kreinik. I have some beautiful "Petite Treasure Braid" metallics (by Rainbow Gallery) that I love and would recommend them.

P.S. I have an eye exam coming shortly. I will take my pattern and 32 count linen to show my doctor what I am doing. It is a great help for them!!

Texas - I did the Celtic Christmas several years ago and used DMC - precious metal effects 3852. It worked really nice and I used 1 strand. The regular metallic thread recommended was too clunky and it was turning out very unfeminine. I worked my project on 18 count aida so it didn't need as much thread coverage as perhaps 14 count would need. I never make the same pattern twice but my sister in law loves the Celtic Christmas so I am going to make one for her this winter. My eyesight has changed in the last 5 years so I will be working on 14 ct aida this time so will see what kind of coverage this thread will need. I hope this helps with your decisions.
cheryl

jersey and Cheryl, thank you so much for your advice. You've been a huge help. I ordered three spools of the stuff and am so glad that I haven't used it yet.

I ordered the entire "package" and ECS substituted the gold. They knew what they were doing!

Rough day today. Had to get up too early and already dropped a car off for service. Now we have a little "dead" time then it's on to the eye doctor for DH and then the pre assessment at the gastroenterologist's. I don't do so well when we have more than one appt per day. The rest of the week we have the GD. I also need a few things from Home Depot. That's a problem. DH does not like to transport anything in the car that's left to us for the time being. I didn't get a loaner this time, it's more hassle than what it's worth. We are such creatures of habit and cars these days have entirely too many unnecessary features.

We sat outside and I enjoyed looking at my weeded flowerbed but then the sprinklers came on. :)

Have a wonderful day my friends and thank you again.

Cheryl, I have only stitched one project twice - birth sampler. I wouldn't want to stitch any of the Celtic girls twice. It goes quickly but still ..... I'm stitching it on 28 ct over 2 and almost wish that I had used 3 strands because some of the floss is so thin. 321 is just right using two. Complicated. If you plan on doing it on 14 ct then I would experiment to see which you like better. I dislike working with uneven numbers because I cannot railroad.

Okay, my fun time is up, gotta run! :)

Hi Cheryl! You are such a kind person. I don't usually make the same design twice either. One of my grand daughters has told me she wants me to make Santa of the Forest for her. So....I may have to break my "never" rule. She is 14 right now....we will see how she feels about this in maybe a year or two!!! The "big" thing about someone asking any of us to make something that we have already made is that you absolutely cannot buy these beautiful designs. It's not like you can run over to Walmart and get one! LOL! I have seen framed cross stitch designs sold at "estate" sales. I have not, however, seen anything sold that was made recently.

Texas...I am glad you are on the right track now with the "thread" issue! Take your time with all of these errands and get back out of that Texas heat ASAP. I worked all day yesterday doing housework. I told my husband "I am on strike today. I will be working on the Enchanted Alphabet!" I am not worried.....I am WAY too hard to replace! LOL!~!

Not getting much stitching done right now. My DS2 and his family are here on leave from the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa. Needless to say spending lots of time spoiling my 2 grandsons. Took them to Bob Evans for breakfast this morning.

As far as stitching a pattern more than once I have only done it once. I made the Gettysburg kit for my DS1 who is a Civil War re-enactor and one for myself. Like some of you have said I really don't like doing a pattern more than once since I give my projects away.

Hope everyone has a good day.