Archive for the ‘Finishes’ Category
Busy Sunday!
Filed under: Birds of a Feather, Drawn Thread, Finishes, Hands to Work, La-D-Da, Prairie Schooler, Sheepish Designs |
Comments (7) Surprise! Here I am again. And there’s only a little more than two months between posts this time, so I’m getting a little faster. 🙂
I’ve been stitching regularly and have finished off a number of small projects recently, including these two:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Designer Series: Forget-Me-Nots
Designer: La-D-Da
Pattern: Letters & Leaves (freebie)
After finishing these two and two others (gifts I can’t show) rather quickly, I became curious about just how many pieces I had in my unfinished finishes boxes (yes, plural). You can see some of those in this picture and read about them here and here:
Turns out I have more than 50 pieces that are rolled up or stored, not forgotten exactly but certainly not ready for display either, so I decided to start chipping away at the pile. I managed to frame these today:
Designer: Drawn Thread
Pattern: 12 Houses
Designer: Sheepish Designs
Pattern: Those Bloomin’ Flowers
Designer: Hands To Work
Pattern: Patience 1898
Designer: Birds of a Feather
Pattern: Alphabet Sampler
Whew! I’m glad to have those finished, and it’s given me some motivation to finish even more. Only 46+ to go!
Now back to stitching. I think I’ve earned it, and besides, I have more room in those storage boxes now.
P.S. I’ve gathered together some patterns for sale and hope to update my sale blog soon. Stay tuned!
The best-laid plans of cross stitchers
. . . often go astray, and I’m afraid that’s what happened to me. Instead of this being a post filled with photo after photo of one lovely finish after the next, it’s a post to say that my weekend didn’t turn out as planned.
Unfortunately, a family member became ill, so that consumed most of my weekend and kept me away from my house for long stretches. Fortunately, though, that person is doing a little better now.
I did manage to put more stitches in “I Wait for the Lord” while I was away from home, though, and I still hold out hope for another stretch of free time for finishing. And believe me, when that happens, you guys will be the first to know.
Remember me?
Filed under: Drawn Thread, Finishes, La-D-Da, Ornament, Over one, Prairie Schooler, Quaker |
Comments (17) Shall I give you a lame-o excuse about why I’ve been MIA, as chosen from the following list:
- working too many hours
- nonstop personal commitments
- negligible stitching progress
- a kaput-and-now-replaced computer
- photo editing software inoperable with new system and not yet replaced
- blah
- blah
- blah
Or shall I just cut to the chase and show you stitching pictures?
WAIT! WAIT! I know the answer to this one, so here goes . . .
(DANGER, Will Robinson! Bad photography ahead! Proceed at your own risk!)
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 115, Pins and Needles, “My Thread Is Cut” Scissors Case
(Stitched on 32-count white linen of some sort using the recommended DMC threads)
Yes, it’s rather wonky. What do you expect? I finished it somewhere around 4 a.m. on Christmas Eve. (Yes, I know I said in my post from that night that I was headed to bed at 2 a.m., but I was so sleep-deprived that I forgot to go and stayed up to finish this instead.)
Bad Photography Excuse #1: It was 4 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning. By the time the sun came up, this was wrapped and nearly delivered.
Designer: Drawn Thread
Pattern: Thanksgiving Sampler
(Stitched with 1 strand over two threads on R&R 40-count Crème Brûlée linen using floss on hand)
Borrowed a pattern to do this quick little finish. Made for a very dear friend. It brought tears to her eyes, so I kind of think she liked it.
Bad Photography Excuse #2: Late-night finish. No sun. No sleep. (Are you seeing a trend here?)
Designer: La-D-Da
Pattern: Quaker Alphabet
(Stitched with 2 strands over 2 threads on 32-count Zweigart overdyed linen of some sort; changed from the specified blues to a green colorway, using WDW Kudzu for the Quaker motifs and WDW Bark for the alphabet)
This was HUGE! I’ve been working on 4o-count for so long that working 2 over 2 on 32-count seemed GINORMOUS! Chose the larger size so I could work on it in the car . . . then only worked on it in stationary buildings. Go figure. Finished size is 7×9, so it isn’t so ginormous.
Note to self: If you want to have a car project kitted up and at the ready, then you simply must set aside said project when you are not in the car. Otherwise, said project gets finished and you are once again left with no car project.
Bad Photography Excuse #3: DH took digital camera to Thailand. (Honest!) This blurry, shaky, sorry-excuse-for-a-photo was the best I could do with DS’s camera phone in the interim.
Designer: Drawn Thread
Pattern: Random Thoughts
(This is a kit, so I’m stitching it as kitted, using 1 strand of Needlepoint Silk over 2 threads on 32-count Belfast Summer Khaki linen)
Pulled from the depths of this pile (second one from the left) in honor of the current Winter Olympics games. Started during the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia. Intended for a finish during this Olympics, but that would mean that I’d actually have to find time to watch some (any??) of the current Olympics. [sigh] Ah well, maybe I’ll have this finished by the 2012 Olympics in London.
Bad Photography Excuse #4: See “Bad Photography Excuse #3.”
* * * * * * *
P.S. Thanks to those of you who e-mailed or left a comment to say that you missed my posts. Honestly, I’ve started to wonder why I even keep a blog anymore (and yes, I’m defining what it means to “keep” a blog very loosely). I simply couldn’t believe that I hadn’t posted since Christmas. Feels like maybe a week has gone by since then. To quote Calvin and Hobbes, “The days are just packed.”
By way of explanation, I started my blog when I was a self-employed freelance editor, working part-time from home and setting my own hours. Nearly three years later, I’m working more than 40 hours weekly and putting in time on far too many evenings and weekends as well, including the past three weekends and, by tomorrow, this one as well. Don’t get me wrong, though. Not only am I very grateful to have a job in this economy, but also I am extremely thankful to have a job that I like working with people who are simply wonderful.
So for now my stitching is getting neglected and so, by default, is my blog. But thanks to all of you faithful bloggers out there who have allowed me to live vicariously through your awe-inspiring stitching progress pictures and inspirational finishes.
Last-minute finish
Too bad I don’t have more deadlines. Maybe I’d have a few more finishes like this one:
Made this for the same person who received this (recognize the fabric?):
And this:
But now it’s nearly 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning, so I guess it’s time to nestle myself into my bed and dream of sugarplums.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
Calendar confusion
I know that this past weekend marked the traditional start of summer in my neck of the woods, but I seem to be a bit confused, because I’ve been stitching this:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, September block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC floss)
. . . and this:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, October block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC floss)
. . . and this:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, November block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC floss)
. . . and this:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, December block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC floss)
. . . which means if I put this:
. . . together with this:
. . . then, I’m done!
Whew!
Actually, this was supposed to be my travel project, but since I hadn’t been (traveling, that is), it simply became another project in a growing list of WIPs.
What happened to my one-project-at-a-time approach to stitching? Where did it go?
Oh, wait! I know! I started reading blogs, and suddenly, I think I’m the equivalent of Superwoman Stitcher. You know, faster than a new release, more powerful than the lure of silk thread and overdyed fabrics, and able to complete multiple projects in a single sitting!
At least, that’s what I thought, but the truth is that I’m more of a Clark Kent kind of a stitcher—well, if he stitched, that is. What I’m trying to say is, I’m just an average stitcher who’s lucky to complete the random project now and then . . . especially if I have the occasional four-day weekend to work with.
So, I have absolutely no idea how many WIPs I should be reporting on in the Daily Planet, but whatever the current number, I’m going to try to pare it down just a tad bit . . .
. . . right after I start this:
P.S. This should tide me over till Thursday, when I check in with an update on my CHS stocking project. (Yes, Annemarie, I have NEWS!!)
Pocketful of Posies
Here’s a brief post to prove that I’m still stitching:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, May block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC threads)
Started:Â January 27
Finished:Â February 15
Yeah, I know. I got sidetracked with my framing projects.
And then I got sidetracked by life.
But then I got unsidetracked again:
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Pattern: Book 13, A Prairie Year, June block
(Stitched on 32-count natural linen using recommended DMC threads)
Started:Â February 19
Finished:Â February 21
A bit more respectable, but then that could also explain why I haven’t finished framing anything lately.
[sigh]
Here’s the progress for my halfway point:
If there were just six months per year, I’d be done now. But there aren’t, and I’m not, so I’ll press onward, ever onward . . .
The Sampler Game Answer Key
Filed under: Bent Creek, Birds of a Feather, Blackbird Designs, Brightneedle, Cricket Collection, Drawn Thread, Finishes, Hands to Work, La-D-Da, Little House Needleworks, Prairie Schooler, Quaker, Sheepish Designs, The Examplarery, With My Needle |
Comments (7) It’s time to reveal the answer key for my Sampler Game. One last time, here’s the pic:
. . . and the list below has the answers (numbering samplers from left to right). If I’ve already posted about the finish, I’ve added a link to the entry. If not, well, I guess I have some fodder for future posts!
NOTE: Some of my older posts have tiny pictures. To see a larger image, simply click the photos.
1. Prairie Schooler, “Johnny Appleseed”
Recognized by Karen; most recently mentioned here.
2. Drawn Thread, “Random Thoughts”
Recognized by Karen; no blog entry yet.
Actually, this one is a finish wannabe. It should have been in the WIP pile.
3. Prairie Schooler, “Autumn Sampler”
Recognized by Glenna; post found here.
4. Blackbird Designs, “Live Each Season”
Recognized by Brigitte; no blog entry yet.
5. Hands to Work, “Patience 1898”
Featured here.
6. Birds of a Feather, “Alphabet Sampler”
Featured here.
7. Birds of a Feather, “Sarah Spencer Sampler”
Featured in my very first post, found here.
8. La-D-Da, “Bless This House”
Featured here.
9. Cricket Collection, “A Walk in the Woods”
Recognized by Barb and Janice; featured here.
10. Birds of a Feather, “Happy Hearts Sampler”
Recognized by Karen; featured here.
11. Brightneedle, “Lo, How a Rose”
Recognized by Karen; featured here.
12. Sheepish Designs, “Those Blooming Flowers”
Featured here.
13. With My Needle, “Quaker Samplings I”
Recognized by Karen; featured here.
14. Prairie Schooler, Book 76, “Farmer’s Alphabet”
Featured here.
15. Little House Needleworks, “Moon and Stars”
Featured here.
16. Bent Creek, “Flag 1998”
No blog entry yet.
17. (folded) The Examplarery, “Tudor Rose”
No blog entry yet.
Thanks to everyone who played along. And thanks, too, for motivating me to do some finishing. I promise to keep chipping away at these until they’re all done!!
The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat
After having no time to cross stitch for most of this month, I decided that I needed a break and some stitching-related activity. Here’s what I did—
Weekend Project #1: Organize and label cross stitch fabric!
After 25+ years stitching, I have a large collection of fabric that was getting out of hand, so it was time to reorganize. Here are the results:
35- to 40-count linen (my FAVORITE!!)
32-count linen
28-count linen or less.
The green tags that you see are my newly added labels. Thanks to my organizational efforts, each cut of fabric now has a label pinned to it that tells the stitch count and the size of the cut.
I placed each of the three groups above into plastic storage drawers that look like this:
So kitting up projects just got a lot easier!! Chalk up Victory #1.
Next up, Weekend Project #2: Stitch a present for a friend.
I wanted to give a friend who has had a difficult year a stitched ornament for her birthday, and I knew the perfect pattern: “Hope Perches” from the Sampler Girl. I didn’t have the proper threads on hand, but after a trip to the front porch to view possible substitutions in the daylight, I finalized my selection and got down to stitching. I stitched quickly, because I wanted to do the finish-finishing today, too, and in record time, I had this to show for my efforts:
Designer: The Sampler Girl
Pattern: #3 Hope Perches, Literary Littles
(Stitched on 35-count Norden Crafts Northern Cross clay linen with GA Old Blue Paint, GA Midnight, and DMC 420)
Chalk up Victory #2.
Moving on, it was time for Weekend Project #3: Finish “Hope Perches” into an ornament.
I ironed my finished project, pulled out my finishing materials, and suddenly, when I least expected it, I came face to face with the enemy, which looked a lot like this:
Now, if you look closely, you’ll see that this machine is a Pfaff Hobby 4240. Yes, “Hobby.” I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a seamstress. Nope, I can sew a straight seam like my 7th-grade home ec teacher taught me (mumble, mumble) years ago. But I purchased this machine to do my occasional sewing projects, which are sometimes related to oversimplified window coverings but are primarily related to my needlework.
However, I never got my chance tonight. My machine was VERY uncooperative. I spent the next two hours doing the following:
1. adjusting the bobbin thread tension
2. adjusting the needle thread tension
3. repeating steps 1 and 2 over and over
4. pulling out the manual
5. cleaning and oiling the hook race
6. repeating steps 1 and 2 over and over
7. calling a friend for guidance
8. stumping the friend, who is a reasonably accomplished seamstress
9. changing the thread
10. changing the needle
11. repeating steps 1 and 2 over and over
12. giving up but still pausing occasionally to throw hateful glances at my sewing machine throughout the rest of the evening.
Yes, folks, it was clearly the agony of defeat.
So I have no finish to show you. I have no birthday gift to give to my dear friend. And I have no patience to try again any time soon.
Is it any wonder that I rarely finish-finish any of my needlework projects?
[sigh]
Now where did I put that hot glue gun . . . ?
Checking it off my list!
Had a finish this weekend. And here it is:
Designer: With My Needle
Pattern: Quaker Samplings I
Stitched 1/2 on 40-count Zweigart Summer Khaki linen using GA Sarsaparilla overdyed floss
This was my first Quaker, and I’m thinkin’ it won’t be my last. I’ve really been on a monochrome kick lately, so this was a particularly enjoyable stitch.
I struggled with choosing the color, but this was exactly what I envisioned: a warm brown with faded sections. I wanted to buy three skeins of the same color, but although I found three skeins at a LNS, only two appeared to be from the same dye lot, with the third skein being noticeably darker. Hmmmm. No matter, I thought, thinking I’d only need the two “matching” skeins anyway.
Thank goodness I bought the dark skein. I really liked the variation that it added, since it had more reddish brown tones. I decided to add it in throughout the piece. I liked the effect so well that I ended up buying two more dark skeins at a different store to add as well. And I’ve decided that I would happily mix up the shades on the next monochrome project that I do.
I ended up adding a couple more motifs to the lower right of the center design. I decided to add the date at the lower left, and after I did, it didn’t seem balanced.
By the way, I intentionally chose not to do the alphabet border. While I love that element of the design, I have a specific finish in mind, and right now, this size is perfect. More on that later.
Progress, Plus My New Finish
Filed under: Finishes, Smalls, Theron Traditions, With My Needle |
Comments (7) I had some stitching time this weekend (hooray!) and manage to inch a little further along on WMN “Quaker Samplings I.” I like the way it’s shaping up. Here’s my progress picture:
Let’s see, I did the fly in the upper left corner, the acorn and some hearts in the upper right corner, the rest of the motif at the lower left, and the beginning of the main motif in the center. Whew!
I’m still loving this pattern and the color I chose for it. I’m waiting to stitch the alphabet border till last because I may leave it off. As much as I love it, I may need a smaller finished size to display this one the way I’d like, so I’m going to stitch all of the center before I add the alphabet.
I also took a little time out this evening to try out a new finish on a small design I completed not too long ago. I think I’ll have to call this one my Pin Tin:
Designer: Theron Traditions
Pattern: Stray Pins (& Mom’s Scissors)
Stitched 2/2 on 32-count linen using overdyed flosses that were similar to the recommended ones.
I decided to try out a new finish on this project (at least, I’ve never seen one done like this before). I wanted a pincushion, but I wanted it to be flat on the bottom. I have a round pillow-type pincushion now, but I don’t like it that much. I was going to try out a mattress finish—and I still plan to attempt that type of finishing—but for this one, I had a tin that was the perfect size to “frame” this design.
I ended up wrapping the tin in a coordinating fabric, folding the ends up as if I were wrapping a present, then gluing the fabric down inside. Next, using the same fabric, I sewed a small pillow. I inserted a piece of acid-free foam board to create a flat bottom, then I used batting to stuff the top.
After I hand-sewed the last side closed, I glued the pillow into the covered tin to complete the finish.
It was a learning process, since I was making it up as I went along. My pillow was just a little too big for the tin (which means I’ll need to measure better next time). But I’m happy with the outcome. Hope you like it, too!
