Blackbird Designs Moonlit Garden Finish!

Blackbird Designs Moonlit Garden

Lakeside Linens Vintage Pear

WDW threads

Here is today's new finish-for the first time ever I actually ran out of thread! The word heaven is a substitute brown and I am not sure about how it looks. I was using WDW Havana that was ordered online. So I felt pretty sure that my LNS would have a different lot number for the thread and it might not match. So, I pulled out the DMC and came up with this 839 as the closest brown I could find. I looked at my floss conversion chart and it said 869--but that was too red. What do you think?

New Start Winners!

This Contemporary bargello piece was the clear winner of the voting for my new start! To see an absolutely beautiful example of this piece all finished click here

Second place was a tie between Jenny Bean's Halloween sampler and Nancy's Needle Tulips and Fans Quilt-see below. Everyone is yearning for spring-do you think that explains the interest in bright colors for 2 of the 3 winners? I have made an executive decision and will be starting all 3! OK-now you aren't really surprised are you? lol

This project was a surprise winner to me. (Thanks for voting, dear daughter-you were the tie vote. :) For some reason I am always attracted to big projects. Check out my list of WIP's in the right column-they are mostly big! That is fine for at-home projects, but when traveling (in a plane or car) it is nice to have something that will fit in my lap. Jenny Bean should work just great!

I can picture a beautiful pillow from this project! It also fits the bill for an easy stitch when in a group of friendly stitchers! Which will be exactly the case for me when I will be going to a weekend stitching retreat at the end of April.

I am very close to another finish to share with you--hopefully tomorrow!

New Slideshow & Problems with my Blog

I added a new slideshow yesterday of 2009 Finishes. It was working last night, but not today. AND some of my pictures have disappeared. I checked my Picasa photo albums and some of the pictures have disappeared from there too. When I tried to edit the posts to add the pictures back on, they do not upload.

So please bear with me as I try to figure out what is going on!

My Sampler Wall

I took down a children's quilt that had been hanging on this wall for 6 years and changed to a sampler wall. OK--it was not an original idea. I copied the idea from several bloggers who have much bigger and more beautiful samplers to display on their walls. I'm sure you recognize some of these samplers--starting from the top (left to right)-Betsy from Sheepish Designs, Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs, Walk in the Woods by Cricket Collection, Quakers and Quilts by Rosewood Manor, Willow Tree House by Blackbird Designs and Floral Sampler by M Designs.

Now I am not finished! There are 3 more completed projects that could go on this wall, but shhh! don't tell my husband! He has been great about framing my stitching, but thinks that is all he does. So I have to wait for the right moment. :)

Don't forget to vote on which kitted up project I should start next. Scroll down to see the possibilities. So far, all the votes are for different ones--no clear consensus yet. :)

Have a great weekend and get lots of stitching done!

Small Finish and Several New Kitted Up Projects

Warning: Long post, lots of pictures! First up is my small finish.

La-D-Da

Psalm 103

28ct. linen

DMC & GAST threads

Now, the result of my bout of "startitis"--I have totally too many WIP's (check my list on the right-hand column), so I can't start all of these. But, I would be interested to hear which ones you would vote for-

Shakespeare's Peddler

Jenny Bean's Halloween Sampler

32 ct linen

GAST threads (there are more threads but these were all I could put my hands on for the picture :)

Gay Ann Rogers

Snowflake Girl (this girl has 3 sisters!)

white Congress cloth

various misc threads

Jeanette Douglas

Take Time to Quilt (all 4 seasons)

32 ct antique tan linen

AVS, Splendor, Silk N Colors

Nancy's Needle

Tulips and Fans Quilt

18ct Ecru canvas

Watercolours, #5 perle cotton, Kreinik metallic

Jardin Prive

Christmas

32 ct linen

DMC floss

Contemporary Bargello

Susan Hulme

Grey Congress cloth

Caron Waterlilies, Needle Necessities and DMC floss

Needle's Prayse

Berlin Woolwork Sampler (Pt 1 of 9)

Ecru Congress cloth

Vikki Clayton Hand-Dyed Fibers Silks

Whew! This is my longest post ever! Looking forward to your thoughts! Have a great stitchy day! (It is 69 degrees here in Seattle today-see spring is here :)

Gay Ann Rogers Pumpkin Delight Finish

As I mentioned yesterday, Tree Top Angel was my second Gay Ann Rogers project. This was my first GAR project. Since Halloween is my birthday, I changed the bottom words from Pumpkin Delight to Birthday Delight. And I used silk threads. Otherwise it is stitched as charted. And I finished this myself. The beads used for feet were in my stash, but were brown. So they were painted black.

I am having a bout of startitis and after finishing a very small project (which I'll share with you tomorrow) spent the rest of the day yesterday kitting up new projects. Come visit tomorrow to find out more!

Gay Ann Rogers 2010 Finish!

I can't believe how fast this tree top angel finished! This is my 2nd Gay Ann Rogers project and my confidence is building! I started this angel on February 25th and it took less than one month to complete! The first GAR project I finished (last year) will be posted tomorrow.

I have kitted up Snowflake Girl and Mystery in A Corner, so which one to start next? Happy indecision. :) Have a great day!

See What I Mean!

Here's more giveaways--check these out-

http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-means-giveaway-time-and-more.html

http://coloradostitcher.blogspot.com/2010/03/colorado-stitcher-is-1-year-old-today.html

Don't Miss This Giveaway!

Stitchers are the most generous people I know. Check this out-


http://terrie-pruett.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-give-away.html

2009 BBD Spring's Promise

BBD Spring's Promise

24 ct white Congress cloth

various overdyes from stash

Design measures 3 1/2" x 5 1/4"

Today is supposed to reach 62 degrees. That is definitely spring in my book! So here is a photo of a springy project-Blackbird Designs Spring's Promise. And another thrift store frame score-$1.99! This was my first use of overdyes in the basketweave stitch and see the diagonal lines in the base. Live and learn. :)

St Patricks Day Green

I was trying to come up with something green for today and found this:

Does a green witch count?

My husband and I visited New York city in December of 2008 for the first (and probably only) time. We thoroughly enjoyed being tourists at many sites including the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Bldg, Times Square, etc. But the highlight of the visit for me was seeing Wicked on Broadway. I purchased this painted canvas by Raymond Crawford at Annie's needlepoint shop there.

My husband's highlight was:

Happy St Patricks Day!

Gay Ann Rogers Tree Top Angel Update

It may not seem like it, but there has been a lot of stitching going on at my house this weekend! My tree top angel is coming along just great. I am nearly done with the skirts of the angel and ready to move along to the center (petticoat) section. The skirt was stitched with Watercolors Camouflage and I substituted #5 pearle cotton for the called for Patina. The instructions that came with this project have been so readable and easy to follow. It is hard to tear myself away from this to stitch on my Prairie Schooler ABC project!

Some new stash has arrived in the mail lately-:)

Have a great stitchy day!

2009 Finish Lizzie Kate Flip Its

Here is my finished (and framed!) Lizzie Kate flip-its. I bought the used patterns on ebay and the buttons were not included. So I substituted some very plain and inexpensive buttons from my stash. This was stitched with the called for DMC floss. Then this project went to my daughter at Christmas.

2009 Finish Sheepish Designs Betsy

Sheepish Designs Betsy

Vikki Clayton's Hand-Dyed Fibers Silks

mystery 32 ct fabric

Here is another 2009 finish of mine-Sheepish Designs Betsy. It was a fun stitch from start to finish. And it was my first finish with Hand-Dyed Fibers silks. I have other WIP's that I'm using HDF silks, but none finished. This pattern is HTF and I didn't know it. I sold the pattern on ebay and was shocked when it sold for $36! My favorite part is the black sheep in the flock.

Tomorrow night is my local ANG guild meeting. Looking forward to it. :)

Another 2010 Finish & Terrible Photos!

Blackbird Designs

Joyeux Noel

32 ct. white evenweave

Called for GAST/WDW threads

First, my daughter tells me that my blog photos look "pretty awful." And to start posting larger photos. So, here is my first effort. It is another 2010 finish. One change of the words Joyeux Noel to Merry Christmas. And I was able to find a frame that was very similar to the frame used in the Blackbird Designs book.

So, girls (all 3 of you and you know who you are), Mother's Day is coming up in May. Maybe a new camera (with great macro setting) would be in order this year?? Hint, hint!!

2009 Bent Creek Big Zipper Finish

Bent Creek Big Zipper

24 ct. congress cloth

various misc silk threads

Here is another 2009 finish of mine. Please forgive the shadows from the glass. It was originally charted a little too "new age" for me. So I did a few substitutions on words-like joy instead of enjoy and dwell in Christ instead of dwell in possibility. And the color of the fence along the bottom disappeared into the background so I had to use a tan color rather than white. Also I couldn't find an appropriate size acorn button for the squirrel in the upper right square, so this acorn looks like it would feed the squirrel for the entire winter! The pattern called for an 18 ct linen and pearl cotton threads with a design size of 21" X 21" Way too big for me, but this combo really worked. Altogether, it turned out just great.

Now, check out the frame! It is a thrift store find! That's right-$2.99 :)

2010 ANG SOTM Progress

Here is my progress on the 2010 ANG Stitch of the Month mystery. I hope you can see the green Vineyard Silk accents. Vineyard silk is my hands-down favorite thread right now. The main colors are Vineyard Silk Berry, Evening Sand, and Macaw. And the mottled brown 18ct canvas is a first for me. There is one substitution so far-1 strand of #4 Kreinik with 1 strand of Splendor for the Accentuate. Next month I'll try to get a better close-up.

I had big intentions to stitch up the 2009 SOTM kimono. But to be honest, I felt completely intimidated by some of the specialty stitches. This project seems much more doable for me and has already taught me a new technique for couching. :)

I Won a Giveaway!

Thank you so much to Donna of Needleworker Not in Paradise-see the link to her blog on the right margin. She stitched this adorable shamrock and finished it into a cute lapel pin with beads on the edge! I received it yesterday along with a very nice note from her.

It has already been worn to my grandson's birthday party and a house showing. Thanks again!

New Finish & New Floorstand

Finally, a finish for 2010! This is the project I was stitching on so hard last weekend. It is Jardin Prive My Lady's Quaker. It is stitched on 40 ct Hand Dyed Fibers jackalope fabric with Week Dye Works Romance and Mascara threads. I am very pleased with how it turned out! I have seen this design stitched in many different colorways and it always looks good. Even my 5 yr old grandson was impressed with the curly hair on the girl.

This project was stitched 1 over 2 under my handy clip-on, lighted magnifier. These eyes just can't see 4o ct fabric without some help. Did you notice the small s & t on the bottom row are in Romance? They are my initials and instead of trying to insert them somewhere on the design, I just changed the color to stand out. It was not my original idea--I saw it somewhere on the Internet.

Now, how to finish this? A square black frame would look really nice, so, of course, I don't have one. OR a pillow finish with pink/black fabric? I will have to see what is in my stash.

My last post pointed out the top clamp of my new Needlework System 4 floor stand. After waiting (and saving) for almost a year, I got it about 2 weeks ago from Threadneedle Street. Denise gave me instructions on a very quick assembly and voila! my Prairie Schooler ABC project is in it. The stretcher bars on that project are 18" X 22", so it is a good-sized project and so far I am loving every minute of it. :) The head allows me to just swivel the stretcher bars to the back to start or tie-off threads. Then swivel it back. No clamps, just swivel. I stitched on a K's Creation floor stand at a retreat last year and liked it too. So it was a tough decision, but so far, so good.

Prairie Schooler ABC SAL

I joined two SAL's this year-my first ones ever! This is my progress on the Prairie Schooler ABC SAL. This project is being stitched on Congress cloth using overdye threads. So I have been doing quite a bit of thread color adjusting as I stitch. My goal has been to stitch 2 blocks per month, but the stitching has been so enjoyable that I am ahead of schedule. :) Unfortunately my Mary Wigham has been suffering from lack of attention and she calls to me everyday. Yes, Mary is the other SAL I joined.

I also changed the letter U from Unlock to Umbrella, but the picture only has some minor changes. The letter V got stalled because I am not in love with the picture for Vineyard. It is a large dog with a small house/vineyard in the background. Any ideas for a change on that one?

I am going to move on to letters S and T for March and will revisit V in the future. S is for sewing and T is for time. If you look at the very top of the picture, you will see the clamp to my brand new Needlework System 4 floor stand. More on that in the future!

Happy March!

Where did February go? I stitched a lot over the weekend hoping to have a finish to post today. But, it was not to be. So I will share with you one of my finishes from 2009. This is an unmarked painted canvas that I bought off of ebay. Click on the picture to see better details. I used bronze, silver, and gold Kreinik metallic threads and DMC #5 perle cotton. It is also my first attempt at turkey work--I liked the way it turned out so much, but couldn't bring myself to cut and frizz out the ends!

Something tells me my 2010 finishes will not match the 31 I did in 2009.