Happy New Year

So 2012 is quickly coming to an end, and we will soon be celebrating the start of 2013.  I am once again ignoring the urge to make a long list of resolutions and trying to concentrate on smaller goals. 

One of my stitching goals is to progress on a few class projects that have been languishing, most of them from 2011.  I decided that the first project I will work on is Lord of Fire from Leigh Designs. 

I bought this canvas in 2010 at Bedecked and Beadazzled while in Baltimore for a long weekend. Ruth Schmuff, the fabulous owner of the shop, told me that Brenda Hart was working on a stitch guide for the canvas.  I called regularly to find out when the stitch guide would be available and was absolutely thrilled when Ruth told me that Brenda would be at the shop to teach the canvas.  I immediately booked a space in the class.

Brenda's class was just wonderful, and her stitch guide is amazing.  We worked on small areas of the canvas in the one-day class, including the dragon.  I started stitching on this piece again this past Christmas Eve and finished the large red circle as well as some more of the dragon.  Brenda uses lots of beads, which is not my best skill, so the stitching is somewhat slower than usual.  But the beads add lots of glitz!  Here is my progress to date.

 



 You can see that not much has been completed.  But I think once I start working on it in earnest, progress will be made.  The red is Soie d'Alger silk in long stitches and the blue in the middle of the top circle is Sundance beads with Kreinik #8 braid surrounding it. 

 



The dragon's head is Soie d'Alger with Bijoux stitched over it.  The body is Four-Way Continental in Kreinik #4 braid; a Sundance triangular bead is attached inside the diamond shape.   The toes and strands coming out of the dragon's head will be French knots in the same silk.  We had done some of the French knots in class but I took them out this week as I wasn't too pleased with how I had stitched them.  Hopefully I can do a better job here at home.

  



I am looking forward to stitching on this piece.  I really love Asian-inspired designs, and have several in my stash. 

 

I wish everyone a Happy New Year - may 2013 be filled with joy and happiness for each of you.

 

Graphic from gograph.com

Until next time, happy stitching!

 

Happy Holidays and a Big Reveal

I hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  I can't believe that 2012 is quickly coming to an end! 

We had a wonderful Christmas Day with our small family.  We are now down to just five of us - the DH, the DD, my sister and my father.  Although we are few in number, we still enjoyed the day as a family.

Since the house renovation is continuing (we have entered our third year of construction), I still can't decorate as extensively as I'd like.  But the DH and DD did a fabulous job with the artifical tree and the DD went crazy with entwining ribbon over everything! 

Christmas Tree - 2012

I am hoping that next year I will finally be able to find all my decorations and really dress the house up in style.
 
The Big Reveal

I have been working on Achoo by Dimensions for my sister for her Christmas gift.  I am happy to say that she loved it.  

The kit came with 14-ct white Aida.  I don't particularly like working on Aida if I can help it, and I really didn't care for the white.  I thought it was too stark.  I kept looking for the perfect linen for this kit.  I was able to purchase some Picture This Plus 36-ct Edinburgh linen in Fresco while I was at The Stitching Post outside Baltimore.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  I think the shades in the fabric really enhance the picture.  My framer (The Framed Image) did a great job with the piece and even photographed it beautifully so that I could post it on this blog.



Achoo
Design by Dimensions
Stitched on 36-ct Fresco Edinburgh Linen

For the coming year, rather than start a new project, I am going to revisit some spectacular canvas projects that were class pieces I have not completed.  I haven't decided just yet which one I will be working on first, so stay tuned ... I have the next week off so that I can mull over the canvases that are sitting around.

Until next time, happy stitching!