Archive for June, 2008|Monthly archive page
Now that’s more like it!
Comments (18)(NOTE: This post edited to increase the size of the photos. Thanks for the suggestion, Barbara!)
After I posted my “Happy Hearts” finish on Tuesday, I decided to work on my Drawn Thread “12 Houses Sampler” again, which I last posted about here when it looked like this:
So on Wednesday night, I did this:
On Thursday, I did this:
On Friday, I did this:
And on Saturday, I did this:
Which means that it now looks like this:
Designer: Drawn Thread
Pattern: 12 Houses Sampler
Stitched on 35-count Northern Cross (Norden Crafts) clay linen using 1 strand over 2 threads; mostly used recommended DMC floss with a few overdyeds thrown in; random color substitutions made for personal taste and to accommodate color of my linen choice.
Finishing this up so quickly was the fun part. The not-so-fun part is that since I’ve dragged out the project for so long, I’ve lost a charm, which came with the pattern and is supposed to go where the “O” would be in the alphabet. I’ve looked everywhere and even organized my stash a bit in the process (Wow, do I ever have some wonderful patterns and fabric awaiting my attention!!), but alas and alack, I couldn’t turn it up. I think it was an unwitting victim of multiple transfers between various stitching totes and plastic storage bags.
I’ll have to find some sort of substitute eventually, but for now, I’m counting this one as DONE!
Good news, bad news (long post)
Good news: At long last, I have a finish to report!!
Designer: Birds of a Feather
Pattern: Happy Hearts Sampler
Stitched on 36-count R&R Kansas City Blend using recommended overdyed threads; used one strand over two threads for most colors, but for lighter floss colors, I used two strands over two threads so they would show up better; minor changes made to personalize the design
(NOTE: Edited this post to add a new picture. First one, which was taken at night, was too yellow. This daylight photo taken with no flash still isn’t quite accurate, but the colors are better.)
WHEW! I can’t believe that I’ve finally finished this one. I started this in January 2008 as a stitch-along with Lelia and ’Chelle. Due to a severe lack of stitching time, it took quite a while to complete, despite the fact that it was my only active project. In fact, it’s taken me two days just to find time to add the year and my initials. [sigh] But it’s done, and I’m celebrating by blogging about it.
The bad news? Allow me to explain.
Last year, for the first time in my 25+ years of stitching, I started keeping a log of my stitching projects. I recorded the name of the project, the date I started working on it, and (in most cases) the date I finished it. In fact, here’s last year’s log:
2007 Tally—
(Note the complete lack of entries after August.)
Started: 13 projects
Completed: 9 projects
Remaining: 4 WIPs, status:
- nearly finished
- abandoned
- awaiting hemstitching refresher, which I’ve recently done
- awaiting action by ne’er-do-well neighborhood contractor;
recent sighting gives reason to hope
And here’s my 2008 log:
2008 Tally—
(Note the complete lack of entries. Period.)
Started: 1 project
Completed: 1 project
WHAT?!?! I couldn’t believe it when I saw that. I mean, I know I haven’t had any stitching time, but ONE project?? Really??
[sigh]
Guess there’s only one thing to do about that: STITCH MORE!! Fortunately, that actually seems possible . . . as long as I’m willing to continue ignoring my housecleaning duties. (And believe me, I’m willing!) 🙂
In other stitching news, I attended the National Counted Cross Stitch Show at Rockome Gardens. A lovely display of talent and a wonderful chance to spend the weekend stitching. (Can you say, “Aaaah”? I knew you could.)
I also visited my favorite cross stitch store (House of Stitches) because I HAD to spend a $50 gift certificate that my very thoughtful husband gave me recently. Picked up Sampler Girl “Hope Perches,” Elizabeth’s Garden “Carnation Sampler,” Blackbird Designs “Buttons and Pins: Reward of Merit,” Carriage House Samplings “One Sheep,” and cuts of some very nice linen (they have the best fabric there!).
Not sure what my next project will be. I’ve got about a MILLION projects kitted up. Wait! I shouldn’t exaggerate like that. Make that a THOUSAND projects kitted up. I may start one of those. (I’m in the mood to do several small projects, just so I can bulk up that stitching log.) Or I may return to some old favorites. (Best candidates: Drawn Thread’s “12 Houses” or my Prairie Schooler neighborhood.)
Blogging will remain rather random as I devote more time to stitching, but you know I’ll have to stop in now and then to share my progress.
Stay tuned . . .
