The Cat's Out of the Bag

Calling all  Little House Needleworks/Crescent Colours fans!

Remember when I mentioned that I was doing model stitching and I showed you all of my orts as proof that I really was stitching?

Well, take a look at this.....it is called Four Corners.  It is a thread pack and will be released in three parts.

Borrowed from Little House Needleworks (here)

I had so much fun stitching this.  I would like to thank Sharon Crescent of Crescent Colours for letting me stitch another fabulous model.  Thanks Sharon!

Here are a few of my favorite shots.....

Now I'm off to try and catch up on my blog roll.

Happy Stitches!

'Tis a Finish

While I was away at PALS in Myrtle Beach I got tons of stitching time.  The whole time I worked on only one project because I felt like I was on such a roll.  I had other projects with me, but this particular project just kept tugging on my needle. 

By the time the retreat was over I was about 85% done so I kept the focus on this piece all week long.  Now all I have to do is find a frame and I will have a wonderful piece to display this Holiday Season.

I am thrilled to present to you 'Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs (from the Joyeux Noel booklet).

'Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs
Stitched on 40ct Vintage Pear by Lakeside Linen

I just love this Cardinal!

I've been trying to expand my skills with my camera, so I took this fun little shot.

Looks like I have another Crazy January Finish!  I hope that I may have inspired someone today.

Happy Stitches!

The Letter "F" (Picutre Heavy)

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "F". (Oh yes.....I'm still stuck on Sesame Street for some reason.)

Our first "F" is for FINISHES.  I was a good girl this week and put my finishing skills into overdrive.  I managed to finish two pieces.  (Which is pretty darn good in my book!) 

ABCD by La-D-Da
on 40ct Lakeside Linen Vintage Dark Ltd Run

Up first is "ABCD" by La-D-Da.  My first intention was to make this into a cube rectangle finish.  I found the perfect ribbon at my local Michael's.  It was wired and would have made the perfect bow.  But, by the time I got home I changed my mind and decided that I would rather turn this project into a pincushion.  It is a mighty long one, but it is a cute one!  I had the perfect fabric in my stash for backing this one which is always a plus.  The dragonflies have all the same hues as the Belle Soie Peacock.  I currently have this one sitting on the arm of the couch and it is holding all my pre-threaded needles for my fifteen minute project.

Delivering Fleurs
by
Homespun Elegance

Next up is "Delivering Fleurs" by Homespun Elegance.  You may remember that I put a poll up on my side bar asking how you thought I should finish it.  Only 43 of you voted, but the clear hands down winner with 22 votes was a flatfold finish.  While I like the flatfold finish, I wanted to go with something different, so I went with the third place winner, a "cube" finish.

I just knew that this design would lend itself perfectly to this type of finish.  I would like to thank Vonna of The Twisted Stitcher for her wonderful tutorial.  It was so easy to follow!  However, I did make one change.  She has fabric wrapped around her piece while I chose to wrap mine with coordinating ribbons.  I really love how this came out and I know that I will be using this finish again.  Here is a close up of the front and another of the back.

The letter "F" is also for FIRSTS.  In fact, it is for my first quilting project finish!  WOO-HOO!!!

 While I am very pleased with how this came out, I know that I still have much to learn.  Practice makes progress don't you know.  I'm just hoping that next time I can line up my triangles a little better than this:

Our third "F" is for FIFTEEN.  I've been making lots of progress in my self imposed fifteen minute challenge.  I've been able to stitch on "ABC's of Aging Artfully" by Lizzie*Kate all week.  Each morning, after a wake up cup of coffee, I spend at least fifteen minutes stitching while I watch the news.  Sometimes I get lucky and I can stitch for almost a half hour.  I even managed to get a second fifteen minute session in last night.  I even plan on keeping my fifteen minutes on this project over the holiday weekend even though I will be giving most of my attentions to other projects.  So, here's my progress as of this morning. (Sorry for the bad picture, it was hazy this morning so I didn't have good light.)

Finally for my last "F", I would like to wish all my fellow Americans a Happy Fourth of July!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  Stay safe and enjoy some fireworks!

Happy Stitches!

Minute Madness and a Quick Finish

I'm quite proud of myself these last few days.  I've managed to keep up with my fifteen minute a day promise for the time being.  While it doesn't look like much to me, I know that every little bit helps.  This "E" shot is the result of three days of fifteen minute (or sometimes half hour) stitching.

ABC's of Aging by L*K

When I finish my daily fifteen, I make myself ready for the next day's fifteen.  In today's case it meant that my needle is ready to continue with the "ate" in chocolate.  I find that the simple act of starting the needle makes the next fifteen minute session so much easier. 

Speaking of quick and easy, I'm so excited to say that my "ABCD" by La-D-Da was a quick, easy and extremely fun piece.  In fact, I finished it last week, but this was the first chance that I have had to post a good picture.  Too bad it wasn't part of my Crazy January Challenge!

ABCD by La-D-Da
Stitched on 40ct Vintage Dark Ltd. Run
using Peacock and Petunia Belle Soie

I also spent some time "finishing" over the weekend, but that will have to wait for another day.

Happy Stitches!

Two More Weeks and CJC #2

That's right fellow stitchers.....only two more weeks until I am free for another year.  Yes, I know that I've been griping about it constantly this year, but this just seems to have been an odd year.  So many issues and so little time to deal with them all! 

Too boot, today is going to be in the low 80's with about 45% humidity!  (This is about 20 degrees warmer than the usual average this time of year.)  I think that mother nature is teasing all of us today with a taste of early summer.  This is one of those days that I wish the office had windows that opened.

In other news, I finished my second piece in the 2011 Crazy January Challenge.  (Now there is only thirteen more to go!)

Rose Garden by BBD
28 ct Lt. Examplar by Lakeside Linen
Belle Soie Rosebud by Crescent Colours

A close up....

This one was a fun stitch and I will be stitching it again.....in the same color.  I had intended this one for another purpose, but as I began stitching on it I realized that I must do it again in honor of my Grandmother.  So, after I finish up some exchange stitching, this bad boy is going back into this summer's rotation!

Happy Stitching!

Attention Hog

I've noticed that MR (Mouline Rouge) has garnered your attention as much as it has mine. I'm glad to see that you love it too. I have to thank you for all your wonderful comments on it. I'm quite enthralled and I find myself drifting to it each and every time I sit down to stitch. It is getting harder and harder to work on my startitis with this project in my bag.  I'm sure that many of you have had a project like this at one time or another.

I've had a few questions about MR, so hopefully this will answer them all. It is a rather large project, but it is not the biggest Long Dog that I have in my stash. The biggest would be Bagatelle at 322 x 443, which equals 60,156 stitches!  I've had Bagatelle in my stash for sometime now (since at least 2007). However, I've decided that I no longer wish to stitch it on the color fabric that I originally chose for it. Maybe I will come to a decision as I stitch MR. Who knows?

On to the details........ MR is 364 x 364 stitches. I'll be stitching a grand total of 39,084 stitches. WHEW!!!! That is going to be a ton of thread!  With the help of dear Hubby I picked Rose of Sharon (Belle Soie) to stitch with.  Thank goodness I have a wonderful friend who helped me get all of my thread from the same dye lot. (Thanks Sharon! **waves, blowing kisses and sending hugs**) I'm stitching MR on 40ct Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linen.  I really love this color fabric, don't you?

Now that I've talked about my current beloved project, I've got a hankering to get settled into the happy chair!

Happy Stitching!

Deep Breaths

I'm totally overwhelmed!  Things have been crazy around here since last week and they don't look to let up anytime soon. I was so busy with friends and family over the weekend so my house is a "disaster run rampant".  I'm not even going to mention all the stitching and finishing that still needs to be done for X-mas gifts!  Plus, work is going to be more intense from now (tax projection time) until April 15th.  I just hope that there is a little reprieve in the first couple of weeks in January so that I can work on my 2011 Crazy January Challenge.

So, here's a little glimpse into what I have been working on........

I finished one of the ornaments that I featured in my last post.  It was for my dear friend Maggee.  I pulled her name for our first annual ornament exchange.  I knew as soon as I saw it that it had her name written all over it, especially after I changed the colors so that it matched her themed tree.  Let me just say that Maggee is doggone lucky that I decided to let this one go!

Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace
by Primrose Needleworks
2010 JCS Ornament Issue
Stitched on 36ct Whimsy by Picture This Plus
Belle Soie: Empress
Backed with the fabric it is sitting on

I also gifted my stitching sisters a copy of the cookbook that is being sold by The Attic to benefit Breast Cancer Research along with these pincushions that I love so much.  (I even stitched one for me using Belle Soie's Empress and Fern Frond, but I haven't had the chance to "finish" it yet.)

Rosemary Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs
Stitched on 40ct Olde Towne Blend by R&R Reproductions
Stitched using Belle Soie
"D" - Fern Frond and Mer Blue
"S" - Fern Frond and Elegant Eggplant
"M" - Fern Frond and Rosebud
Finished in Ball Jar lids

I also finished another ornament for Hubby's side of the family.  This one is from the 2007 JCS ornament issue and again I took liberties with the floss colors since I didn't have the called for colors on hand.  I really love the way it turned out.  Oh how my "finishing" pile keeps growing!  I'm going to need a holiday before the holiday so that I can get all these done in time for Christmas.  At least I only have two more to go for Hubby's family.

Joy by Lizzie*Kate
32ct Pearled Barley by Lakeside Linen
WDW Used: Bullfrog and Amber
Crescent Colours Used: Cupid and Bamboo

Whew!  All that and I still haven't caught my breath!  I guess you will have to wait until a future post to see what I got while at the first annual ornament exchange.

In the meantime.......

Happy Stitching!

Memory/Memorial Sampler Revealed

Side Note:  Before I reveal my memory/memorial sampler, I have to apologize for the crappy snap.  I've tried several times to get a good one, but I haven't been able to.  This was the best that I could do and to make matters worse, it's from my cell phone!  I will try again to get a better picture, but I just couldn't wait to show it to you all!

For those of you who are recent followers, here is the back story on my memory/memorial sampler.  Back in mid September I found out that I was pregnant with our first child.  To our dismay, we found out during week 7 of the pregnancy that I had a blighted ovum.  The following week I went in for a D&C.  In the meantime, I knew that I had to do something to deal with my grief.  My way of dealing with things was to stitch.  So, I dug into my stash for the perfect piece to remember my little angel and this is what I came up with........




Blessings & Kind Wishes
by Blackbird Designs

 I stitched it on 40ct Vintage Dk. Limited Ed. by Lakeside Linen with a conversion to Belle Soie.  I also removed the second verse and used the months that I was pregnant instead.  I finished it in just a few days.  Hubby picked out the frame and I did the framing on my own.

Things are much better these days and we are back to trying again.

Happy Stitching!

One Step Closer

After this weekend I'm more than just one step closer to my goals for November and December.  Woo-Hoo!

I finally made a finish of LHN's December and it should be on its way (along with September, October and November) to my dear friend Sharon.  Now her set of models for the Monthlies will be complete.  Whew!



"December" on 30ct WDW Mocha

 This finish gave me ample opportunity to work on some other stitchy projects around the house.  I was able to frame my memory/memorial sampler and I'm so very pleased with how it turned out.  I took a picture of it last night under the Ott light, but it didn't turn out.  I guess I'll just have to wait for the light of day instead. 

I also took some time to stitch on one of my Blackbird Designs works in progress.  Remember the Keepsake Box from the 2008 Shepherd's Bush Retreat?  Well, with just a little stitch time during the late Sunday night Giants/Eagles football game I managed to turn my work into this:

Now all I have left is a little bit of fill in on a couple of the flowers, the flower pot and my initials.  I figured that I deserved to reward myself with a little bit of "off goal" stitching since I've been good at keeping my goals so far.  Plus, not only did I finish December, but I finished stitching my Blackbird Designs Exchange piece!  I think that deserved a reward, don't you?

So, here's my piece for the exchange:
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HA, HA!  FOOLED YA!  You don't think I was going to show it before my recipient got to see it, did you?  I couldn't do that!  I'm pretty sure that this person reads my blog.  Plus, her initial is on it and that would have given it away.  So, instead, I'm just going to show you a few of my supplies for the piece instead.  I plan on "finishing" it up this week so that it will be in the mail for our November 30th deadline.

I guess that means that I will have to start stitching on all of those ornaments this week.  Wish me luck!

Happy Stitching!

"November/December Goals" Update

Just a quick little update on how I am faring.....

By the end of last week (after kicking out October's frogs) I finished up November.

November
by Little House Needleworks
Crescent Colours Cotton Thread Pack

Stitched on 30ct Mocha by Weeks Dye Works

 And, in keeping in line with the goals, I got a good start on December.  I'm much further now than this picture shows and I anticipate being able to send these models out shortly.


It's the last one!!!

Looking back on my goals, I'm just about done with number three. Yipee!  I also started on goal  number four over the weekend and I picked out the fabric and fibers for my Blackbird Designs exchange. 

Speaking of exchanges, I have received my exchange from Karen over the weekend and boy is it amazing!  Stay tuned for pictures......

Happy Stitching!

Picture Proof Positive

I have more proof that I have been hard at working stitching and finishing.  A few posts ago I mentioned that I took pictures of a personal exchange that I had stitched for Karen.  I got a lovely email confirmation that she received her package.  Here's the big reveal for those of you that don't read her blog.

"Seaside Retreat"
by Blackbird Designs

I thought that this was an appropriate piece for our exchange since she lives in Arizona and I live on the shores of the Mid-Atlantic.  I had a very hard time trying to decide how to finish this piece.  Nothing I wanted to do seemed right for it.  Then I dug into my small (but ever-growing) stash of frames and this one was the perfect match.  This was my second attempt at framing and I think that it turned out nice.  I decided to pin my work on acid free core board and I even "puffed" the piece out from the inside of the frame using quilt batting.  I backed the frame with the scrapbook paper that it is sitting on in this photo.

Here's the details on "Seaside Retreat".......Many of you may remember that I stitched this pattern for myself earlier this year. (See the June 4th and June 7th posts for pictures.)  I had tons of inquiries last time I posted this pattern and I can still honestly say that I am not ready to give up this pattern, especially since I have a feeling that I may be stitching it again someday soon.  The pattern was from a retreat that I attended in 2009 and has not been released to the general public as of yet.  I have heard rumors that Barb & Alma are going to release a book of their class pieces, so maybe this one will be in there.  I stitched this on 40ct Vintage Tundra by Lakeside Linen.  I also used a Limited Edition Color of Belle Soie.  This piece took about two weeks to stitch, but I was also working on other stitching projects during those two weeks.

I'm so glad to hear that Karen is enjoying our exchange!  I hope you like it too!  I'm always open to private exchanges as long as I have the time.

Happy Stitching.

Visiting Frogs & Broken Curses

The frogs visited over the weekend and this time it was a good thing.  They only stayed a short while.  Just long enough to rip out the wrong color border and then I sent them on their way.

The correct color is on the upper left and the wrong color is on the lower right.

 After the frogs left I got to work finishing up October.

October
by Little House Needleworks
A Crescent Colours Cotton Thread Pack
Stitched on 30ct Mocha by Weeks Dye Works

 Next I had a great start on November.  Since it looks like the border is lining up, I guess that means the curse may be over.  Hubby is working at job #2 tonight, so I should be able to get through most of this pattern with little to no interruptions.  Yeah!!!!

A great start on November.

Happy Stitching!

More About Silk

Yesterday I gave a short tutorial on using Belle Soie. I invited one of my dearest friends to add to my lesson. So, if you didn't read the comments, you really must go back and do so. Sharon gave some wonderful pointers that I left out. Thank you so much my friend!

I also need to thank everyone else who commented with their individual experiences as well.

Happy Stitching!

A Lesson in Silk

Lately I've been hanging out on a few stitching boards.  I know, I should really invest my stitching time a little more wisely, but sometimes I'm just too tired to pick up that needle.  I'd much rather spend my time reading than having to frog mistakes that I made!

While reading, I have noticed that there are some people complaining that the Belle Soie by Crescent Colours has been shredding on them.  I can honestly say that I have never had this happen.  And, if it is going to happen to anyone, it will happen to me.  I can also honestly say that I'm a self confessed "Silk Snob" and lately all I have been stitching with on my personal pieces is Belle Soie.

All of this led me to think (yes, that is smoke you smell and it is coming from my brain!) that maybe people are having trouble pulling individual strands of the silk.  Even though I don't know all the fancy terms, I thought I'd give a little lesson.  Maybe you will learn something and then maybe you won't.  So, if you already know about this, please forgive me.  I'll just be glad if this helps one person out there!

Did you know that Belle Soie (and a few other silks) have twelve strands?

This the Belle Soie Tortoise Shell that I used on my memorial sampler.

 When you tap the end with your finger, the twelve strands naturally break up into three separate groups.  I always separate one of the groupings and work with that until it is gone.

The three groups.

 After I have selected one section I just tap a little on the end.  Tapping reveals that there are four strands of silk in each group.

On the left are the two other groups.  On the right I have already separated the four strands in the third group.

 Once I have distinguished the four strands, I carefully pull out one of the four threads.  Then I'm all ready to thread my needle and go to work.

One thread down....three more to go!

When I first started stitching with Belle Soie I didn't know any of this, so I imagine that there are others that don't know either.  I just used to jump in and pull a strand.  But, sometimes when you do that, you don't get the full strand that you should and that could lead to the "shredding" that people are experiencing.

Like I said earlier I just hope that this helps just one person!

Oh, and Sharon, feel free to jump in with any additional comments or corrections.  After all, you are the expert and the Queen of the Threads!

Happy Stitching!