Sunday, March 17, 2013

St Patrick's Day

 
 
Happy St Patrick's Day
 
I really did spend a lot of time stitching or preparing to stitch things since this was a IHSW.

You know all that time we spend reviewing the patterns and collecting the threads, choosing and rechoosing a fabric that will work in both size and color. All of this is really a big part of the fun of cross stitching. Of course I always get side tracked by having to put away all the things from the last finished project. Ironing and planning the finishing work.

All of this is to explain why I have so little to show from my weekend devoted to cross stitch.

I did get a start on a new project from Summer House stitche workes called Sylvania, which is part of A Baltimore Bride series. I have ordered part two and thought I had better get going on this before the next one arrives. This is very simple with only three DMC colors to work with 2 over 2, but it has a very spring feel and was all in shades of green so very appropriate for today.

 
 
Spring is most definitely on the way the birds have been visiting even the little finches. They even let me hold the door open to get this picture, although they rushed off when I try to get a little closer.
 
 
 
I will give you one more look at the peacocks before I cut it apart to finish. I completed the little pin pillow stitching which I think will be cute. It will make a tiny biscornu about the size of a quarter. I read through all the finishing instructions and will give it all a try next weekend.
 



The final project only made it to the getting ready stage. It's from Jeannette Douglas Designs and is called Celtic Friend. She made it a challenge to figure out since all she gave was the DMC numbers and supplied the threads in the kit along with the charm and beads. It is very hard to know which color is which when all you have is numbers and a clump of threads. So I had to go find all the colors in my stash and then mark which threads are which by using this little thread palette. Not hard just time consuming. I think it will be worth it later, I like that a lot of this is blackwork.
 
 
Will update you on my progress soon, CJ in OK
 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

2 Finishes and 1 Start

Well this is rare for me. I actually have two finishes and only one new start. I am sure I will remedy that in no time. But first things first.
 
Faster than I had expected I have "Red Border Study II" from Heron House Designs completed. This was very fun, and once I decided to make it my "at home" main project it went really quickly.
 

The framed one on the right, as you can see, is the one I did some time ago that I found in a magazine. They offered the part II as a companion piece you could order. I have never liked the framing on this one, a DIY project of mine. So I am looking forward to having them both framed to match. Some day, there will be one for each of my children's homes.

With this finish I was able to get started, a little, on the La-D-Da piece for my dentist called "My Pocket"

My Pocket_sm
 

This is being done on the 35ct Weeks Dye Works linen called Tin Roof, over 2 with one strand of Needlepoint Inc. silk, as called for on the pattern. 
 
 
Finally, it's no surprise I finished up "A Little Easter" designed by Lizzie*Kate, since it was very close to finished last weekend. This was fun and I am really going to try and finish-finish this up before this Easter. Maybe a box or flat fold finish, we'll see.
 
 
 
I also have a few other "Little" designs from Lizzie*Kate so I may try to fit them all in this year. They are fun little projects and come with the fabric and button.

Now, I have no reason not to get started on my Pineapple Welcome project from Glendon Place. So I may try to get a real start on that by next Friday and Saturday, if none of the new things I ordered don't sidetrack me. Yes, that's right, I ordered a few new things. I just couldn't resist, Lizzie*Kate's a Needleworker for one. I will share them all when they arrive next week.

Talk to you again soon, until then, Happy Stitching.
CJ in OK



Friday, March 01, 2013

What's New



This is a Little Easter from Lizzie Kate or will be when it is finished. I got this started to stitch on Tuesday evenings with friends but I couldn't seem to get there with weather and schedules so I picked it up a few times just for fun. Should have it finished soon. Those checks will have legs and beaks next time and the flowers will have vines to connect them.

Here is what's up with my Border Study in Red II.


I made it past the numbers and will be starting the Assisi section right after this squiggly row. I am having so much fun with this. The ilets slowed me up some but so will this Assisi section so it may be a couple of weeks for another update on this.

Lastly is the Peacock and you would think it would be all put together by now but I decided to stitch a little pin pillow to go with it. It will be shaped like the center flower at the top but twice as big and using all the colors from the peacocks. But here it is before any of that gets started. I just couldn't waste that fabric you know.




The silks for the La-D-Da smile design are in so I will be starting that this weekend. Will be back to update you sometime next week.

And if I didn't say so before I just love reading and seeing all your blog posts. They keep me going and I try to post comments to as many as I can fit in. Everything is so pretty and creative. All of you have such grand plans, so I will stay tuned.

Happy Stitching CJ in OK