Thursday, August 27, 2009

Stitching updates

Finally some time with needle and thread. It seems these two pieces are getting the most attention and once I catch up on SAL sail away I am going to have to spend some serious time on my class piece for EGA 17th Century Band Sampler. It took me forever to get all the supplies I needed for it and then to get scroll frame needed pieces to get started. Now that it is started it needs some serious attention. I love the class. I need someone to teach me what I am doing right and wrong with my stitching and Nan Euler is very kind with her comments. I am just a hard student as living where I do when she suggests a different shade of color I am at a loss for what that would be as I cannot just go to the store and look and it is hard to find good color representations of thread over the computer. At any rate, that needs to be my other focus piece until I get caught up and get if off in the mail. Then I can get back to my other stitching. I will still take CHS alphabets to work to stitch in my lunch hour as that is the only break I get there. It is easy to take as the color doesn't change on outlining the blocks or the vine and I can see progress on it. I thought about posts I had read of someone stitching on the train as we rode the subway in Chicago. I decided the ride wasn't smooth enough to stitch on the subway but it certainly would have been a good chunk of time to be able to use that way.

More stash and some framing






My latest framing. I got them back the day we left and I just got around to posting them. First is my belated Sweetheart Tree Anniversary sampler for my inlaws. Better late than never, I hope. Second is Needleprint Beatrix Potter and a closeup of the frame. I am so excited to have Beatrix home and ready to hang. I really enjoyed that pattern. I look forward to having Mary Wigham to hang beside her. Some day..... The last is pictures of the stash from our Chicago trip to Treasured Heirlooms

Pictures of stash enhancement








Here are the promised pictures of some of my stash from my trip and from birthday money spent that was received after I got home. I did not take pictures of the buttons I received as they will show on the finished piece I must get in the mail this weekend so will take a pic of that then. Two of the small pieces of fabric were for a couple of ornaments I had purchased. I am going to use them for my travel pieces.
The first picture is of the linens, Legacy linens Vanilla gold, Vintage LL buttercream and Vintage Elegant Bean, then the stash waiting for me from the Homespun Sampler. Next is Gracie by Goode Huswife, the colors struck me and it just seemed such a fun piece it had to go with pile. The second is an older pattern of Catherine Theron. The next is the Peony pattern bag that was perfect for a project bag. Next a picture of the stash from The Inspired Needle. I will have pictures of the rest of the stash on the next post.
Have a great day stitching, Marjo

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Back in town

Well, we are back in town, adjusted back to Alaska time zone and back to work with a vengance. I must say Monday was one of the worst days at work I have had for a long time. Whew, Too tired to stitch until tonight and can't wait to put needle to thread. While we were in Chicago we had fun with the boy and then moved him into his dorm, met the roommate and his family and tried really hard not to cry. I did really good (honest) until we got to the airport and it hit that only 2 of us were going home. But I must admit that the hardest part was Sunday when he wasn't at church with us. Then I cried. Goodness, gotta get over that. He keeps in touch and he is having fun pursing his dream so it is all good.
On our trip to Chicago I didn't get as much time to stitch as I thought I would. The first day the guys decided they wanted to go play disc golf so I sat in the park near a garden and stitched, I restitched actualy on the first vine on Sail away because I used the wrong color. It went back in easily and I have finished the words of the second line and am moving on with it easily. Loving it. The next time I put needle to thread was when I got on the plane to leave. We spent so much time being tourists that we were exhausted by the time we got back to the hotel and I couldn't keep my eyes open to get the stitching done. I did however stitch all the way home on the plane and got a few more blocks done on CHS alphabet sampler as well as a bit more on the Sail away SAL piece. I am off the next two days and hope to get some progress made on both those pieces. Will work this weekend so now is my stitching chance.
I did manage to hit three Needlwork shops while in Chicago and managed to pick up some things in 2 of the three, The first one we found was City Stitcher. It is mostly needlepoint so I looked at it all and touched some threads but didn't buy anything there. On our last day we headed out to two shops recommended by folks on the Legacy Embroiderer's Guild and loved both of them. First stop was Tomorrow's Heirlooms. Lots of older designs as well as the latest stuff. Was a little miffed when the lady working in the shop asked me what I liked to stitch and then snorted when I said samplers. Why ask if you don't want to know? She said she likes to stitch different things not the "same thing over and over". I refrained from saying she didn't see the same samplers I did and just shrugged it off to bad manners and proceeded to hunt happily through the racks. They do not carry Lakeside linens so I was unable to get the linen I was looking for but I did manage to get some older Sheepish designs/antiques I had been looking for( Be Unto You, Mary Norwood and Lydia Foster ) and the newest Prairie Schooler chart Fall Fields. I also found a Goode Huswife chart I had not seen before called Gracie that I just loved for the coverlet design. That may move itself closer to the top of the pile. I also got a small BBD wild rose journal cover there as well. Could have spent a lot more time there but didn't because my husband was waiting in the car. Dratted man.
The second shop was Inspired Needle and I was really taken with it. The owner was very pleasant and the shop was having a class for beginners that was fun to listen to. She had tons of things to look at. She was highlighting a trunk show of JBW designs and I bought some of the pumpkin ones,,, pumpkins are a weakness of mine and after all they are small. I ended up with three designs Alphabet Pumpkin, French country IV pumpkin and Autumn Harvest. Cute designs. I got ABC pinkeep by With thy Needle and Thread and the fabric to do it on. I got two older patterns by LHN Necessities Sampler and Gingerbread Trio plus the fabric and threads I needed to work them. She had Bohin needles in the crewel embroidery size which Nan Euler likes you to use embroidery needles for the 17th Century Band Sampler class I am taking and those type of needles don't seem to exist in Alaska (neither do the specialty threads or fabrics) That is why when I go 'outside', usually once a year, I always try to hit the shops with my list of needs. I shop online as that is all that is available to me but I do love to see and touch it all when I can. My husband just shakes his head. He doesn't object and he found the directions to all of them so no complaints.
She had quite a nice selection of linens and threads so I was able to kit all the charts I bought with the threads I thought I needed and the fabric I knew I needed for the designs I got. I found a cute Pink Peony project bag at a great price so since pink peonies are my favorite flower that little bag just had to come home with me. I love it. She had some darling mice with thread spools over their tails that were pincushions that I would love to own but I was really on a mission to get some fabric.
It became quite the sttch stash time for me as when I got home I had several stash envelopes in the mail. The first one is from Needle in a Haystack where I got some buttons to finish the bellpull for my BF birthday. Just in time for her late August birthday. I got a mailer from Elegant stitch with the latest BBD Loose Feathers and fabric which I love. I also got two cuts of fabric for samplers to be named later. I got an envelope from Homespun sampler with a stitching journal and 2 new charts that I had been looking at for a while. I stiil have my birthday order from Needlwork Corner to come and then no more stash for a while. Of course I am on automatic for BBD Loose Feathers and the monthly stockings.
I will try for pictures of my stash. Especially the linen I got from Elegant Stitch, Elegant bean vintage, Vintage Buttercream Lake side linens and Vanilla Gold by Legacy Linens. Oh for some sunshine so you could see the loveliness of the linen colors.
Have great day stitching, pictures soon I hope.
Marjo

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Sail Away

I am working on Sail Away as I pack to get ready to drop the boy child off at school. We leave early in the morning for Chicago and will be back in a week. Even the dog is moping around today. I will have updates when I get back. I hope to hit some real cross stitch shops. We had a small one up here but it closed and moved into her home. Not big on shopping in someone's house. I always look forward to being able to see and touch the silks and linens and all the patterns that I don't need. Of course need never really comes into it. Have a great week stitching.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A no stitch day

Today was my Saturday to work so stitching time was at a minimum. I did put needle to fabric on CHS Alphabets because I can work on it without using the pattern much. I got a few more black squares done. I pulled out some flower colors to see what I liked. There are so many choices. I may use a couple of colors to rotate.
Tomorrow I hope to work on the Sail Away SAL. I love the colors of that piece and can't wait to spend some time with it. It is really a lovely piece as I start with it.
I have some new stash coming and will post some pictures of it when it comes in. I have a birthday order from Needlecraft Corner and a kit and fabric from Essamplaire.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

A new start



Of course, just what someone with so many large projects and a basket full of WIP's needs is a new start. I just couldn't help myself. This is not your regular new start, at least not for me. I am starting Sail Away by Shepherd's Bush with a group of ladies for an online SAL. I really want to stitch this one in honor of my mother's heart. I know that sounds weird but my only child is leaving for college in a couple of weeks and the verse of this makes me think of him. I even think that is how the designer describes it when the piece first came out. Which is why I bought it plus I love Shepherd's Bush designs. We will take him to Chicago in less than 2 weeks and that will be Far Away. If you have ever been to Alaska you know Far Away doesn't begin to cover it. The closest part of the US to us is Seattle and that is 3 hours away by air: it gets worse from there.
The design is really pretty and the colors are nice. This one may need the Jill Rensel Mats for it.
I also decided to start the BBD freebie and chart it for my paternal grandmother. She was the stitcher/quilter/crafter in the family and although I never met her my dad always said I reminded him of her with all my sewing. I need to find the appropriate color to stitch this in...seems from all the quilts I have of hers she was fond of bright colors. So I may have to use really red for this. I will have to go see what I have that will work.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Sunday afternoon with the needle and thread





I am so excited to be caught up with the "need to do things" that I have gotten to the want to do part of my day. Last year for my best friend's birthday I stitched Lorri Birmingham's 4 seasons. I was so proud to get it done on time (I always seem to run late with these things). Then, I couldn't find the embellishment pack. I tore up my house looking for these things and still a year later they are not to be found. Then I couldn't find the pattern so I could just try to find some replacements. Teach me to clean up my sewing room, can't find anything now. I finally located the pattern and picture (the most important part as it is now OOP and I couldn't find it even on the internet) and was able to search and find some replacement embellishments. I couldn't find the exact ones she used but I am happy with what I got so I can get this done and in the mail in time for her birthday this year. Once I get those sewn in place I am going to work on ATS as that is crying my name and I would love to get the cloud finished as I think I would move faster on after that. I hope also to have enough time to put some stitching in on my EGA class piece. I finally got it started after having much difficulty finding the supplies I needed and now am ready to begin some of the whitework. Trouble is I have gotten there and no farther. We will see how it goes. It is another beautiful day in Alaska, clear blue skies and 60 degrees.

As you can see I did not end up with enough embellishments so I had to place another order to get something to put in the spot by the pumpkins. Frustration.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Progress report on a few WIP






Busy week and now some quiet time for stitching. I am amazed at times how easily I have fallen into the use of an Ipod or my laptop to find entertainment that a few years ago I would never have even thought about doing. So I have downloaded a few more books on tape for stitching time reading on my Ipod and am getting ready to watch Miss Marple on my mac on PBS.org as I missed last week's show while I get some stitching done. Todays tea choice will be the old standby...Lady Grey...
I have made some progress on my CHS Alphabets this week. I am finished with the right edge which should make the rest of the rows go quickly. I really need to finish Blackbird designs Where my heart blooms. I finally got the left hand side ripped out where I made a mistake and got a start on getting it back in. There has been only a little progress on Mary Wigham. I hope to work on her tomorrow and get a few more motifs done. I cannot get a good picture of the EGA class 17th Century Band sampler. The white on white just will not show up. I need to get more work done on that as well. I think I will continue on with my CHS Alphabet and try to get a few more black squares done. I want to pull out the colors I am thinking of for the flowers and see what I already have that would be suitable. The roses are in bloom in my front yard and the mountain is what I see every day when I look out my front window.
Happy Stitching from the Far North