A Bit of Progress on Seasons Winter

After the Xmas quilt top finish I set back to stitching Seasons Winter.  I find this piece so amazing and unlike anything I have ever stitched.  If you look at the stitching up close -- like you were the stitcher -- the colors seems off and the facial features don't really seem to exist.  Then, at a distance it becomes a breathtaking beauty.  Fascinating!

Christmas Chaos Quilt Top Compete

 
The Christmas Chaos aka Christmas Potpourri Quilt top is done!!  We were amazed how the borders calmed it down.  I have no idea how it will be quilted … or when.  For now, I am happy that the top is complete and I can take it off the design wall and cross it off of my 2012 stitching goal list.

Christmas Chaos ... All Twelve Blocks!!

Christmas Potpourri Block 12

  Christmas Potpourri - All Twelve Blocks

Wow!  Words escape me ... busy, crazy, scary....

The Christmas Potpourri quilt top blocks are about done.  The are two borders -- first a scrappy sawtooth border, then a scrappy block border.  The sawtooth border was designed to be part of the block construction but I wanted to wait until all the blocks were stitched so that there would be more variety in the placement of the half-square triangles.

Chaos Continues with Block 11

Christmas Chaos - Block 11

This is block 11 from the Christmas Potpourri BOM.  It is the only block in this project that I have had serious problems putting together -- in fact, in 15 years of quilt making this block was the most trouble.  There is a minor error in the directions but other than that, I'm not sure what went wrong.  The little log cabin should be the center of a star but after three attempts I gave in to the scrap bag.  Even then, it didn't go as I had envisioned.  

This is perfect example of my favorite quilting/crafting blurb -- finished is better than perfect.... block 11 is finished!!

The move is made ... all because of ....

Yeah!  You found my new blog location.  Why did I move??  Do you see the incredibly awesome clock on the left ... I really like it.   Since Wordpress won't allow those types of links I switched.   

I have a lot to do to get the new blog equipped with snazzy gadgets and counters and menus!

Switching from Wordpress to Blogger

There are some nice features on blogger that I will be trying out ... not sure if I want to make the switch.  Time to play!

The week with Seasons Winter

Seasons Winter at 15%

This past week, my stitching time was spent with Seasons Winter and I am very pleased with the piece.  As always, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped but I love having her face nearly finished.

Much of my stitching time was spent with goodies that will be going onto ebay -- again.  I continue to try to get my "resource center" from spread all over the house to one or two closets.  If you are looking for interesting stitching, I have decided to sell my Special Projects (Kay Montclare of World In Stitches) and Sue Lentz kits.  There will (hopefully) be about 10 items each week -- all needlework realted -- sampler kits and charts, yarn, Bucilla felt kits, quilt fabric and various needlework supplies.

I have another blog that links pics to my ebay sales and you can find it at jbf auctions -- hope you find something you love!

My Nook and Two Thumbs Up for Barnes & Noble

Besides stitching and other crafts,  I like to read and listen to audio books.  I was introduced to Stephanie Plum (by Janet Evanovich) in October and have been reading the series in order.  I am on Smokin' Seventeen, it was available as an epub book from the library.  My Nook was fully charged, I loaded Smokin' Seventeen onto my nook on Monday morning, read during lunch both Monday and Tuesday.  I took it to the community center to walk with on Wednesday and no battery power.

If you like to read while you exercise you will understand what a huge disappointment this was.  I cut my walk short and drove over to B&N to get a new battery.  If I had been smarter -- I would have jumped off the treadmill and walked to B&N <sigh> thought of that much too late.  Anyway, I walked into the store, looked around and couldn't find the replacement batteries.  I went to customer service, told them that I was looking for a new battery and the super nice representative took my nook, checked to be sure it was up to date with software and replaced my battery -- for free -- how nice was that??!!  Maybe it's part of the warranty, it is one of the early edition Nook's, I don't know.  I'm a pretty happy camper!

On The Stove -- HAED by Strelkina

On the Stove - Started 30 March 2012

I joined in the Heaven and Earth Week 5 SAL with a new project.  This is my start for "On The Stove" (about 540 stitches).  Yeah!! Something on my 2012 project list --  any stitching at all counts so I can finally say I have actually accomplished something on my list.  This project is also on my HAED yearly goal list with the specific goal to complete pages 5 and 6 -- that is the upper right - I stitch right to left with my top cross going bottom left to top right.

I am stitching On the Stove on 18 count aida using 2 strands of DMC.  The finished size will be enormous at 19.44 inches by 25.39 inches.  It appears that this was charted using art work from a laquer box (click on this link to go to the Strelkina website:  On the Stove) -- that would account for the shadow edges and curve of the corners.

The chart does not fill in the corner triangles but I will probably use one of the main colors to fill it in.  I'm not a huge fan of aida cloth but when I stitch something that is solid like this the slubs on linen create a bump that I don't want.  Bottom line, I don't want the aida to show and if I fill in the corners it will cover the fabric and as a bonus it will also give me a bit more flexibility in finishing.

Pineapple Bellpull - Part 2 Complete

Pineapple Bellpull

Here is my progress on the Pineapple Bellpull.  Parts one and two are complete with minor variations.  I am not using the metallic and I stitched the verse in full cross stitch rather than tent.  Yes, it would have gone much faster --- but --- I didn't look at the specific instructions on the verse and by the time I realized that the stitch was supposed to be tent the section above the lady was almost done.  To keep it balanced, I continued with full crosses.  The next pineapple will be bargello -- love it!!

Chaos Continues with block 10 and Seasons Winter XS

Block 10 - Christmas Potpourri

Over the weekend I completed another block in the Christmas Chaos quilt.  The fabrics are waiting to be starched and pressed for blocks 11 and 12.

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During the week, I spent my stitching time with SK Seasons Winter.  This is a pretty slow go.... much threading and re-threading with the constant color changes.  I don't do well with cross country stitching but it might be a faster technique.   It sounds like I'm whining but not so -- I am enjoying the project.

Christmas Chaos aka Christmas Potpourri BOM Quilt

Yeah!!  Two more blocks -- 8 & 9 -- for the Christmas BOM are complete.

Block 8

 

Block 9

What a fun project this is -- but -- it is so unbelievably busy I have renamed it "Christmas Chaos".  Fabrics for block 10 are drying and I'm hoping to finish the quilt top before Easter.... maybe.

Another Xmas Quilt Block

I just finished block number seven of the Christmas Potpourri BOM!  The fabric for block 8 is drying and I hope to have it ready to go today.

The block would have been done sooner if I hadn't be sidetracked by my HAED project SK Seasons Winter.  It was stitch-a-long week and I got about 500 or so stitches in.  At this rate it will be finished ... yikes ... I don't want to think about it!

SK Seasons Winter at about 10%

I have been working on an order for a new floor stand and scroll frame set from Needle Needs in the UK.  I promised myself that I would place the order as soon as I finished block 7 --- off I went and the item I want went out of stock.  How sad is that??  I hope they have it available again soon.

The best laid plans....

ok, that might be a bit of a stretch.

Once again, I spent far too much time wandering the HAED website relentlessly -- this time,  trying to decide how best to take advantage of the leap year sale.  I had the six Cluny tapestry reproduction charts in my cart at least four times but decided against them ... for now.  This is one of my favorite HAED's  --

The photo is from the Heaven and Earth Designs website -- art by K. Craft

No idea when I will start stitching this but for now it's -- mine, mine, mine.

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Pineapple Bellpull design by B. Jackson for Fine Lines

I am enjoying stitching the Pineapple Bellpull.  I was expecting to have completed the great lady and more,  however -- see above.  The verse was the start of part 2 of 4 -- rather than using tent, I stitched the verse as complete cross stitches.

Block 6 of Christmas Potpourri

Another block for the Christmas Potpourri quilt!  This is block 6 and it went together beautifully.  I'm a happy camper and am off to get the fabrics ready for block 7.

Since the fabrics are mostly cut into rectangles that are 6" by 10", I don't pre-wash.  I pre-rinse in the sink, roll in a towel, dry and then use magic sizing when I press.  The debate about pre-washing continues and I will put in my opinion ---

This project is a perfect example of why I pre-treat my quilt fabric.  There are at least 12 fabrics that have been stacked and cut the same size for each block.  After a nice rinse, they are each a different size and / or shape.  Some shrink in wierd ways, some turn into parallelograms.  I prefer to have this happen before the quilt is constructed.  If you like to steam while piecing that can also cause a shift in the fabric if it has not been pre-treated.

I was once told by someone who had worked in the garment district in NYC that when you see how the fabrics are wound on the bolts it is no wonder that they become stretched and misshaped.  A prewash -- or even a quick spray with water -- helps them bounce back to their original shape.

Christmas Potpourri - Block 5

 
Christmas Potpourri - Complete Block 5

Block 5 was finished today -- this is a super busy quilt.  It's fun to make but it is really pushing me into uncharted territory.  Trying to make the variety of fabrics work together in a balanced way is not exactly working the way I had imagined.   I need to spend more time on this project -- with seven more blocks and borders I can not let it be a true "block of the month".  It needs to be done and off my design wall!!

Stitching Goals Revisited for 2012

The stitch goals that I selected for 2012 still look good but I have removed the felt & sequin ornaments.  That doesn't seem like much .... but ...

Over the past few years I have been buying Bucilla felt kits for ornaments and stockings because I really like the way they look when they are completed!  Unfortunately, I don't really like making them.... I have always been a fan of applique -- as a spectator activity --  the felt kits are applique with bling.

I have been feeling rather guilty about all of those fun kits so last night it was time to work on one in progress and as a result I have decided that it is time to make most of my Bucilla kits go away.  I plan to start listing them on eBay.

Wow -- I fell better already!!

Needlepoint Camel by Melissa Shirley

 

Melissa Shirley Needlepoint Camel Item #227

When a Melissa Shirley canvas is added to eBay, I get a notice via email.  This beauty popped up last week and was delivered on Monday -- thanks, Michele!   Goodness knows when or how this handsome camel will be stitched but he has found a good home.

The canvas doesn't appear on the Melissa Shirley website so it's possible that it's no longer available.  The overall design size is about 21 x 21 and is painted on 13 count mono.  There are some "companion" pieces to the camel including an elephant, moose, peacock....

Pineapple Bellpull by B. Jackson / Fine Lines

I spent the past week working on a project that has been sitting barely started for over 15 years -- hard to believe it has been that long.  This is the Pineapple Bellpull designed by Barbara Jackson for Fine Lines, the project is a four part series.  I'm using 40 count linen with AVAS silks.

The photo shows the first 6 bands from part one.  It is a joy to stitch --  but -- I believe that the instructions are aimed at an intermediate/advanced stitcher.   These are tips that might help:

1.  Band 1 is charted slightly different than the photo.  Be sure to keep the design even and balanced it glares if you make an error... yes, I stitched this band twice <sigh>.  Also, I put in the gold and thought it looked awful and out of place -- I'm ditching the metallic.

2. Band 3 is charted differently on the master graph than as shown in the project notes -- follow the project notes.

3.  Band 5 - I managed to stitch this band three times before I liked the look.  The master chart is different from the project notes AND the placement on the master chart does not match the stitched photo.  I started the band one thread to the right of what is indicated on the master.  The project notes show a high level "how to" -- follow the master chart for number of stitches and be sure to have four fabric threads between the  stitches (not two as shown in the project notes).

 

Cross Stitch Stitch-A-Longs

There are not enough hours in the day ... the number of projects that I would like to complete is staggering and like most stitchers and quilters that doesn't seem to stop me planning and purchasing for even more!!

This past week I worked on the SK Seasons Winter cross stitch project and it is coming along nicely -- between blogging and joining into SAL's (stitch-a-longs), I am more likely to focus on my needlework rather than spending what seems like endless hours surfing online.  So... this is what Seasons Winter looks like right now.

Yep, this looks like it is barely started and has a long way to go....  this will likely be a work in progress for most of the year.

I am trying to go with rotating projects but I'm not so sure that will work for me.  It might be too long between finishes!!

 

Rwanda Partners Basket Co.

This beautiful basket was made by Egidia from Rwanda.  I bought it at a Costco road show for Rwanda Partners Basket Co, "a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the poor and marginalized in Rwanda".   The road show isn't currently scheduled to go further east than Colorado -- but, you can learn about this organization and perhaps find a perfect basket at their website:  Rwanda Baskets

PB Moss in cross stitch

This fabulous piece is one that was stitched by my mom in honor of the birth of my son.

P. Buckley Moss - The Newborn

Mom stitched several Moss pieces -- some of them more than once!  When my 2012 "to-do" list begins to show some progress, I plan to start the Moss piece call "Taking Turns".  I have the chart but have not decided on fabric -- linen or jobelan or ????

Staying on task -- not exactly!! A new HAED start

Staying on task is really hard for me -- so many fabulous projects call my name.  I made my list for 2012 and almost immediately added a new start (ok, two)....

I was wandering through the HAED (Heaven and Earth Designs) works in progress and saw someone working on storykeep - a cute name for a bookmark.  I really like the artist and bought the chart.  As luck would have it, there was a SAL (stitch a long)  for the smaller HAED charts .  I jumped on board on Sunday and assembled supplies -- happily, I had almost everything.

Here is the finished artwork:

Storykeep Seasons Winter by Strelkina
photo from HAED (heavenandearthdesigns.com)

I am, and always have been a slow stitcher.  This is my start:

The stitch count is  75 by 312 - on 18 count the finished size will be about 3 1/8 inches by 17 1/3.  I am using ivory 18 count aida with 2 strands of dmc.  I have never been a huge fan of aida but the variation of the thread width of linen was not something I wanted for a HAED project.

Before I started Seasons Winter I did most of the grid work on my two other HAEDs.  While I was stitching away I had a epiphany about the St. Basil's needlepoint project.  I have not put in a single stitch in St Basi'ls since the class and I decided it was because I wasn't happy with the shape of the domes.  I have been doing a bit of dome adjustment and hope to get a decent outline on the canvas this week.

More Ornaments -- much research

This week I finished two more of the bead/sequin ornaments in red and will be packing that craft box away for a while.  In total, I made 6 of the bead/sequin ornaments.

The photo above is the only cross stitch ornament I managed to stitch in 2011.  I will use one of the mini frames in gold for the finishing - unless I get really ambitious and try another finishing process and that isn't likely.  The pattern is from Kount of Kappie, Book 36, Trim Your Tree with Stitch 'n Stuff, 1982.  The piece is stitched on 22 count Hardander in white using DMC floss, 1 strand over 1.

I have already posted in my 2012 list one design by HAED that I plan to start soon.  Well, if one is good, two must be better!!  I added one of the Escher charts to my list.  Instead of stitching for the first week of the year, I used my stitching time to surf relentlessly the Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) board and the HAED SAL.  I looked at the fabulous work done by other stitchers while trying to decide how to stitch the Escher.  After some trial stitching and gathering opinions - a giant thank you to the stitchers on the HAED board who provided great feedback - decisions have been made and supplies have been purchased -- time to get started.

 

 

New Year Resolutions 2012

With the start of each new year I give a bit of thought to new year resolutions and end up with the same thing.  Once again, in keeping with the holiday spirit my 2012 resolution is "If you don't have anything nice to say.... don't say anything".  I don't think I'm a mean or bad person but there are times when things spill out of my mouth and - too late - I realize that it was not something that should be said.

Cheers to the New Year -- do good and be good!!