Handprints poem - 9th time

I’m very excited because my next cross stitch project has a due date, but that can be earlier or later depending on the baby. One of my sons’ close friends is expecting his first child August 14. I have known him since he was in high school, so I wanted to stitch something for him and his wife.  

I always stitch the handprints poem, but I also personalize it each time with the baby theme.  I think this is the 9th time I’m stitching this baby pattern. I originally bought and stitched it in 1998 for my oldest son’s kindergarten teacher. 

This time the baby theme is Woodland Animals. This is my design concept using animals found in my cross stitch books.

I hand dyed a piece of white 28ct evenweave using coffee, but that was too light, so I re-dyed it again with tea.  This is how it turned out.

I will be stitching the poem in DMC 988 because it is the closest colour to a peridot (August birthstone). 

December - poinsettia

 I just completed the last monthly flower.

Next week I will assemble the 12 monthly flowers into a wall hanging.

November - chrysanthemum - Happy Dance

 I just completed another monthly flower. I’m on vacation for the next 2 weeks, so I may not have time to start the last flower until I get home.

November - chrysanthemums

 I started the next flower on May 29th.

October - calendula (happy dance)

 I was able to finish the flower this evening.

October - calendula

 I made a start on the next flower.

I also completed a 1000pc puzzle of wild birds.

September - aster

 I finished this flower the middle of April but forgot to post a photo.

I only have 3 more to do. I really like how the flowers looked backstitched, so I am going to back stitch around the flowers I already completed before starting October. I did January this afternoon, and now I’m working on February.