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.

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.

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.

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.

On The Stove by N. Strelkina - Heaven and Earth Designs

"On the Stove" - original art by N. Strelkina

photo from -- http://public.fotki.com/strelkina/boxes-fedoskino/580.html

There are a few companies that create cross stitch charts that are massive, intimidating and amazing.  One of them is Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) , they have an extremely large and diverse selection of charts available -- to date, I have purchased three and have my eye on a few more.  I'm a little reluctant to make too much of an investment in additional charts because most do not show a completed stitched piece and I find that a bit odd.  Based on the number of new charts that are added to the website I'll guess that they are using a program that helps to ensure accuracy.

Despite my concern, I have gathered all of the supplies to start my first HAED - "On The Stove" by Nadezhda Strelkina.  This is so beautiful that I couldn't help myself.  I suppose it would be much easier to order a print but this piece is speaking to me.  The chart count is 350 x 457 -- larger than anything I have stitched (or attempted to stitch).

"On the Stove" was included in my 2012 stitching goals as a new start.  There is no doubt that it will be a project that will span years.