OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: Mill Hill Buttons & Beads kit
• Materials: DMC, Mill Hill beads as kitted
• Size: 5″ square
• Time to stitch: 4 days

Here’s my 8th building in the Village and last one for 2018!

Bakery was a quick stitch.  The pattern is simple, not too many details.  It’s also slightly smaller than some others.  Stitching & beading took an equal amount of time.  My favorite detail is probaly the lamppost, wound with garland and glowing at dusk (or so I imagine).  And the little path carved in the snow is such a clever effect. The cakes in the window, one chocolate and the other vanilla, are super cute.  I prefer chocolate, how about you?  The sign and its awning are heavily beaded, so much that I was afraid the backstitched letters would get lost.  Nevertheless, the shop name is still legible.

The materials as kitted are fine.  I pull the DMC from my master set and wind the cut strands from the kit onto my stitchbows.  The beads included are more than sufficient in quantity, though I had to toss a few due to malformation.  So, there are a lot of beads on this one, 7 colors: red, petite bottle green, petite ginger, pewter, Victorian gold, petite green velvet, and petite white.  Most are attached with full cross.  The pattern also included an adorable gingerbread man button that will go on the hanging sign but I won’t attach the buttons until the village is otherwise complete.  

The red beads are also used for swags all along the graduated roof line.  As always, I tacked them down in the middle to create the draped shape.  The wreath on the left side stitched up cute and sparkly with green and red beads.  Let’s talk about the entrance way. I love the steps, the narrow wrought iron railing, the mounted light, and the cute little sign on the door. It’s so inviting, I’d be happy to stop by for a holiday treat. 

After I finished the Bakery, I spent another day extending the border down for another row, I also did some gridding to prep for the next few buildings.  Next year, in the bottom left corner, I’ll start the Queen Anne house which I fancy could easily be a bed & breakfast.  Next door will be the Palace Theatre.  I’m so excited that the village is 2/3 complete and the end is in sight!