A little more progress...

Snowy day here, ground is covered and more snow to come. I love the snow, makes everything so cozy.  I have a little more progress to show on my latest project.  It is moving along nicely and I am loving every stitch.  Each section is stitched in layers so it's like a little puzzle.  I'm so glad that I decided to start it.  I have a couple other projects going right now but I suspect that they are going to be ignored for a few days. Back to work, more later.

A new project

I was looking around the internet on New Year's Day weekend and I found a new to me online shop that specializes in counted canvaswork.  The shop, Scarlett Thread, features many counted canvas designs kitted and ready to go, which is great for me.  I found a couple neat designs and promptly talked myself out of them, reminding myself of my current stash situation.
The next day, I checked out some of my regular blog stops and found that the Spinster Stitcher had started this design.  It's LJ Perin's Color Study: One Long Panel.  It's a gorgeous, sparkly design.  Spinster's pictures totally sunk my resolve and I immediately went to the Scarlett Thread and ordered the chart kitted up and ready to go.  Super helpful shop, with a living person available at the shop number to answer my questions, really quick shipping, careful packaging (no affiliation, just my observations).  The kit arrived yesterday and it is lovely.  I took it to Di's dance class last night and started on it.  My progress is above.  Lots of careful counting needed, I've had to do a little frogging already.  The instructions are well written and the diagrams are very clear, I just have to remember to stop and look at them every now and again.  Can't wait to get back to it. 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends!  This is a picture of Colt and DiDi in full costume and makeup from their recent Nutcracker show.  Colt played a father (with two wives and six kids) and Di was a flower maiden, soldier, marzipan and arabian.  Nutcraker has become a tradition for our family, this is Colt's second and Di's 4th.  Colt even agreed to have his long hair pulled into a ponytail for the role. 

And here is Colt posing after a concert with his new favorite instrument.  He joined our local string orchestra this past fall and has really enjoyed performing with them. Their Christmas performance was wonderful. 

I have dinner guests at six so I'd better get busy.  Have a wonderful holiday and I'll be back after the New Year.

Just Crossstitch Halloween Ornie Issue

Just stopping by to post a quick picture of the new Just Crossstitch ornie issue.  The little green witch at the bottom of the cover is my contribution to the magazine.  I always look forward to seeing the new designs, and I love the variety of this year's designs.  There are several more ornament designs inside the magazine so if you get a chance, pick up a copy and take a peak.  

Lots going on here.  We've just welcomed a new fur baby into our family.  Her name is Francesca, she is an eight week old black pug, the sister of our Lucy Lu.  She has the same cleft palete issue that Lucy has, but she is eating well and is soooo full of life.  She is so small that she fits in my hand.  She perches on my shoulder like a parrot.  I'll get a pic up in the next day or so.  Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your week!!   

August already?

Another hot and sunny Summer day here in Tennessee, so I popped outside to take a few snaps of my latest finishes to show you.  First is another little pillow, this one a Ewe and Eye & Friends design.  I love the little jabc buttons, reminds me of candy dots, yummy little rows of pastel sugar.

Next, this adorable little witch from Brooke's Books.  One of a series of three, it's done on perforated paper and was a blast to stitch. The really fun part was cutting the pieces apart and attaching them to create the finished piece.  Her little girls are adorable and have such detail, can't wait to stitch the other two in the series for my Halloween tree.  On the home front, lots of family stuff happening here, won't bore you with the deets, but it is making for some late night stitching, so I'll have lots more to show you.  Enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by.

LOVE Needlepoint

Okay, I admit that I love needlepoint but this is actually a "LOVE" needlepoint.  I used my Alphabet Series letters to chart out "LOVE" on 18 count canvas.  I stitched it with a wonderful chocolate Rainbow Gallery Petite Very Velvet and 4 shades of overdyed cottons.  I love the contrast in fibers, the fuzzy Very Velvet creates kind of a valley for the overdyed cottons to fit into.  It's actual size is about 16" by 16" and it will make a wonderful pillow.  I've found the perfect shade of faux suede to back it with and am searching for the correct size feather pillow insert. 

 If you haven't guessed, I am really happy with how this came out, next, I am going to paint our last name and do a long pillow for the family room.

I have a couple other needlepoint pieces that I need to finish as pillows as well.  The first is by Birds of a Feather, it has a companion canvas with a pink background that I can't wait to start stitching.The next is a celtic inspired design that came with the neat clay button centerpiece.  The counting on this drove me batty but it was worth the effort. And, last but not least, this cute little frog, a freebie design, soon to be finished as a scissor fob.  Did I mention that I love needlepoint?  :) 

 Before I go, I want to thank you for your comments on my last post and welcome the new followers to my blog.  I'm trying to carve out a bit of time every fews days to post, lots happening here and posting is a nice way to organize the stitchy things in my life.  I'll leave you with a couple of pics of my Boo Boo and my Lucy Lu.  Take care!!! 

 

Friday finishes

Can you believe that it's Friday again, already?  The Summer is flying by at record speed, I hope that you are enjoying some sort of Summer fun where you are.  We made it through dance camp and boy scout camp (different kids, same week, same town, fifty miles from home, one day camp, one overnight).  Dale took boy scout camp duty and I took dance camp taxi duties and fun was had by all.  Tennessee USA is still running at the Playhouse and the kids do several shows a week, they love seeing the reactions from the various audiences.  And, since sleep and I have been strangers lately, I have some finishes to show you. 

First, I stitched up Blackbird Design's quick little monchromatic design.  I finished it as pin pillow, with a bit of antique lace and a few antique bakelite buttons.   

Next, another Blackbird Designs piece, this one their little Souvenir freebie.  I used two Crescent Colours silks on a hand dyed piece of 40 count and it stitched up quickly.  I finished it as a pillow with a bit of hand crocheted lace and a seed bead trim.  I'll stitch this again, someday, for Di, in a bright turquoise, and finish it with a great piece of turquoise eiffel tower fabric that I have in my stash.  She loves all things French, but this isn't bright enough for her room.

And, finally, my favorite pillow finish, a Carriage House Samplings design, stitched in silk on a 40 count handdyed linen.  I finished it with a couple antique buttons and added a jute rick rack trim which I beaded with seed beads to add a little color to the trim.  It may end up on my dresser as a place to display my antique pins. 

I also did a little stitching this week.  I was feeling nostalgic and did a little poking around in my stash, mainly my old magazines, and I found this little design from Birds of a Feather.  It's just so cute that I had to stitch it.  I will probably finish it into a little patchwork tote for my niece Vivian, the design suits her.

I also finished another piece for Just CrossStitch but I can't show you that yet.  I have to say that I really enjoy reading the stitching blogs and am in awe of the true talent of the many needleartists out there.  I don't comment all that often, but do know that I always feel rewarded when I take a moment to see what my fellow stitchers are creating.  Thank you for sharing!