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!

Thanksgiving Stitching

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are another step closer to the end of yet another year.  I know I've said it before, but --- where exactly does the time go?

I finished one of my larger pieces and sent it off to the framer on Friday.  It is a Christmas gift for a special person, who may find her way to this blog.  So, I will have to wait until after she receives it to show it here.

I decided that I need to take a bit of a break from all of my "big" projects.  I am going to start back up on some of those class pieces that are still sitting in my stitching area - but probably not until the holidays are behind me.  Of course, I can't not stitch (that would just be wrong!) so I am going to work on some "quick" projects through the end of the year. 

While I was at my Stitcher's Hideaway retreat in October I purchased a number of Pine Mountain Designs' Tie One On kits.  These are great pre-finished pillow shams that work up into very cute decorative pillows.  I finished the one called Winter Nights over the weekend.  I purchased one for each season and then one each for the months of March (DD's birthday), June (our wedding anniversary), and November (DH's and my birthdays).  Eventually I'll display them in my stitching room when the house renovation is finally done.

Winter Nights
Pine Mountain Designs

I am also hoping that, over the next few months, I can corral all my stitching projects and supplies in anticipation of finally having a space of my own.  I really need to figure out what I have (and how much) before I can decide on what storage space I need. 

Until next time, happy stitching.

The End of Summer

I realize that summer officially doesn't end until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22.  However, for me Labor Day has always signalled the end of summer - school will be starting next week and we will be returning to routines happily discarded last June.  The DD is now a high school sophomore and has selected courses that are sure to keep her busy.  The "en pointe" workshop earlier this summer was a success so she will be adding that dance class this year.  It looks like we will be very busy this school year!  It is a good thing that I have my stitching to keep me grounded.

Framed Pieces

We were on vacation the last two weeks in August (more on that in a later blog).  Just before we left I was able to retrieve a few stitched pieces that I had framed.  Some of these pieces were completed more than a year ago, but for one reason or another I put off getting them framed.  Rob at The Framed Image was a tremendous help in deciding on frames and mats, as well as photographing the pieces for me.

Florentine Fantasy was a class I completed at one of my LNS - Mrs. Stitches - designed and taught by the shop owner. 

Florentine Fantasy
Design by Anne Marek
Silks and Metallics on 18-count Canvas
Design Size 14" x 14"

Another class taken at Mrs. Stitches was a Jane Zimmerman design Florentine and Lace Sampler.  This piece was my first attempt at pulled canvas.

Florentine and Lace Sampler
Design by Jane Zimmerman
Silks and Metallics on 18-count Canvas
Design Size 7" x 19"

I completed another Zimmerman piece taught by Ms. Zimmerman through a Shining Needle Society cyberclass.

Moorish Splendour
Design by Jane Zimmerman
Silks and Metallics on 18-count Canvas
Design Size 11" x 11"

Shining Needle Society hosted two cyberclasses by Carole Lake and Michael Boren of StichPlay Designs. 

St. Margaret's Star - Red Colorway
Design by Carole Lake and Michael Boren
Silks, Polyesters, Cottons and Metallics on 18-count Canvas
Design Size 4" x 4"

Daphne Reborn - Flagstone Colorway
Design by Michael Boren
Silks and Metallics on 18-count Canvas
Design Size 6" x 6"

I also completed two pieces on linen.  The Four Seasons of Mystic is a Jeannette Douglas design that was taught by Ms. Douglas at the Stitcher's Hideaway retreat in Mystic, CT in 2011.

Four Seasons of Mystic
Design by Jeannette Douglas Designs
Silks, Cottons, Metallics and Wools on 32-count Linen
Design Size 11½” x 6¾"

And Sleepy Hollow which I started in August 2011 and completed on December 31, 2011.

Sleepy Hollow
Design by Glendon Place
Cotton, Silks, and Metallics on 28-count Cashel Linen
Design Size 12” x 17½"

I hope to post again this weekend on my current projects as well as show the needlework projects I purchased as my vacation souvenirs!

Until next time, happy stitching.

Stitching During the Olympics

I usually have some DVD playing while I am stitching.  It provides some background noise for me and I generally choose something that doesn't require my full attention.  Since Friday night (EDT), I have had the Olympics on while stitching.  I am not a big sports follower, so I haven't really had to give my entire attention to the television.  Of course, Friday night I didn't really stitch much since the Opening Ceremonies were just so fabulous that I didn't want to miss anything.  IMHO, the British Olympic Committee did a fantastic job and the ceremonies were worth the wait. 

While watching on Saturday and Sunday, I managed to finish two pieces. 

Knotted Heart

This first piece is one I did for a quilt to be sewn for the World of Charity Stitching Yahoo group.  Stitchers are able to use their own colors - I chose DMC tangerines (740 and 742) for this combination.  The pattern is a free cross stitch chart from Loretta Oliver at Stitching The Night Away.  The stitch count is 45 x 45, and I used 28-count white evenweave.  I am not much of a sewer so I send coordinating fabric to the wonderful women who make up the quilts.

Knotted Heart
Designed by Loretta Oliver
Stitching The Night Away

Stella Polaris

My second finish was Stella Polaris which I did in the Mulberry colorway for the DD who is a huge purple fan.  This is a cyberclass through Shining Needle Society.  The designers are Carole Lake and Michael Boren of StitchPlay Designs.  The Mulberry colorway uses Watercolors and Waterlillies in Mulberry, along with Soie Crystal, Grandeur, Elegance, Vineyard Silks, Kreinik Metallics and Bijou in complementary pinks and purples.  I have the canvas and threads to stitch this in the Savannah colorway as well.

Stella Polaris - Mulberry
Designed by Carole Lake and Michael Boren
StitchPlay Designs

I just love their geometric designs and have already signed up for the latest Vineyard Quilt Patch.

I am now stitching on Achoo! for my sister, the veterinarian.  I will post pictures once it starts looking like something!

Until next time, happy stitching.

Moorish Splendour is Finished

Last night I put the final stitches into Moorish Splendour.  This was a fun design to stitch - and I will be stitching another one in the purple colorway sometime later this year.  The colorway that is shown reminds me of paprika and is a great autumn piece.

Moorish Spledour
Design by Jane Zimmerman
11" x 11"

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.  Here in New Jersey we are expecting record-breaking temperatures!

Summer Begins

Somehow I missed posting during the month of June.  Where does the time go?

Family Update

At the beginning of the month we had DD's dance show which, as expected, was fabulous. Everyone did a wonderful job and had a great deal of fun. We no sooner finished with the show than school was winding down for the year. DD finished her freshman year in high school. We got her report card at the end of the month and she did a great job in all her classes.

DD got about a week off from school and then started her first summer job as an assistant in the day camp she had attended for the past nine years.  She will be working for eight weeks.  And if that isn't enough to keep her busy, she will be participating in dance workshops on Tuesday evenings for four weeks.  She wants to go up "en pointe" in ballet, so she is taking a workshop in ballet and a second in "en pointe", as well as a third workshop in jazz.  One of the days at the end of school we had to visit the dance store so that she could be fitted for the pointe shoes.  It's critical that the shoes fit well, and the teacher has to approve the shoes/fit.  I don't think in my entire life I have ever spent so much time getting shoes fitted!

Moorish Splendour

The Moorishp Spelndour class from Shining Needle Society ended but I still have to complete my piece.  I am nearing the end and had hoped to have it finished by the end of June.  Alas, it was not meant to be, but progress is certainly being made. 

Moorish Splendour
Progress 07/01/12

Moorish Splendour Detail

Moorish Splendour
Detail

Hopefully, the photos are legible.  I really need to take a photography class!

Summer Stitching

In addition to finishing Moorish Splendour and Birds on a Cherry Blossom Branch (finally), I hope to start the cross-stitch Achoo!, mentioned in my last blog.  I will also be cross-stitching a square (maybe two) for World of Charity Stitching.  And today I'm supposed to start stitching Stellar Polaris, another Carole Lake/Michael Boren piece from Shining Needle Society.  I think that should keep me busy!

Until next time, happy stitching to everyone.  And a very happy Independence Day for those who are celebrating.

Photo from AllFacebook.com