wandering thru my WIPs

Thank you for all the comments & e-mails. I have not been on-line much. My husband's cousin will be coming to town sometime & we are trying to keep our telephone line open. I pulled out "Old Saybrooke Sampler" from the closet. [Reproduction of a Child's Early ABC Sampler]

I took this class in April of 2002. How many years has this been in the closet??? Yikes. Maybe time for some stitching.
I had a difficult time with the graph/pattern. The lines were not very clear, thus, put it aside after stitching the needle/pin roll & fob designs.
This is stitched with DMC floss on 25 count linen. I purchased some rings to sew inside the case.
I enjoyed the fob & NR stitching. I decided to just 'stitch' away at the letters [first photo] & figure they will be close enough to the pattern. Good thing I enjoy stitching letters!

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Manged to add more 'vines' to my tabletopper. Did put more stitching IN, than ripping OUT : ) My mind doesn't want to cooperate with the graph!


My plaid, with white as the final color. Ta Da. I got the reversible technique to work out.

Lelia's Plaid

This is my plaid attempt -- Thank you Marge G! You taught me well. I'm not much of a canvas stitcher; however, this is a mono canvas using DMC 4 - Retors A Broder - a matte cotton. Colors: 2444, 2916, 2788. It is apx 4 1/4 x 4 1/8 " ... not quite a square.

I'm not sure what to do for an edge. Maybe fringe? Maybe weave in all those ends? Some sort of something around the outside. WOOT ... at least I got the technique to work!
close-up of 'lelia's plaid'. I created this pattern yesterday afternoon.

Found three colors I liked -- have not decided on the last color. I won the skeins of cotton in a door prize a few years back. Nice to finally use them up : ) My last color might be lt pink ... maybe white.

Not sure what project to pick up ... seems I'm on a 'rotation' of WIPs right now : )

progress pics

Is this kewl, or what? These were given to the workshop participants. They are 3" square measuring rulers. Luv it : )








I appreciate all the kind e-mails & comments re. Hillside Samplings group project. I think the workshop (on Saturday) went well. I did not get much stitching accomplished during the workshop; however, did enjoy needlechat + meeting new stitchers.

Per request, I have posted a close-up picture of the needlebook cover (above)
and a close-up picture of the alphabet. There are four different stitches in the alphabets: rice stitch, palestrina knot, smyrna cross, 4-sided stitch.

(Note to non-bloggers, if you click on a photo - they will enlarge on your computer screen.)
Progress picture. I worked on this piece of linen before & during the workshop. I wanted to be sure to have the pocket edges counted out correctly -- and the fob outline counted out correctly. I'm thinking there might be enough linen to make a small pinkeep [with mat board]. I was lucky to find pins on 50% off sale. I do need some sort of cardboard or mat board for the pinkeeps -- see, I've never made one.
Progress picture. This is the bottom piece - and the pockets & tufted pincushion will be sewn on. I will put the flowers on before adding the lining.

As for the question re. the thread winder in my previous post: The thread winder & ruler are extra - not part of the stitching kit. I ordered the thread winder separately from the kit. I did not purchase the ruler. I don't know if they are still available.

During the workshop - stitching time - my GF, Mel, pulled out her instructions for Chottie's Plaid. It was a class from a previous EGA chapter meeting. Lucky for us, the woman who taught the group was at the next table -- and gave us hands-on instruction & stitched up a sample. It is so awesome to watch them progress. Thank you Marge G for the hands-on lesson!

After the EGA class, I went home & I tried this technique - I made a mess of it!! After getting a step-by-step from Marge G -- I know how to create these reversible plaids. There is a nice web site here with photos, freebies, info, etc. I came home, unearthed my directions - pulled out the threads & plan to start a new plaid w/spring colors.

"oops, I forgot ...."

I was reminded by my GF, Mel, of the workshop being held on Saturday! oops ... how could I have forgotten? NANI is sponsoring a workshop on a project I started ... back in 2001. Yikes! I pulled out my kit to see if I still had everything together. I have gone thru all the directions & practiced some of the stitches. When I took the class a few years ago, we stitched the front of the needlebook during Stitcher's Day Out (4/2001) ... and after that, I managed some stitching on the longish piece ...
I would like to finish the alphabet this week ... and possibly add some of the beautiful flowers. I doubt I have enough of the green DMC floss & will have to pick some up before Saturday.

This is what it is supposed to look like once finished ... this picture is from the Hillside Samplings web site.

Did you notice the small shamrock in the first photo? It is a gift graph from Linn on her 3/17 blog post.
The Embroideress was the first blog I ever read! I heard about blogging from EGA, surfed around looking at the stitching blogs & decided to start one of my own.

Another interesting find, from SharonB's Blog was a link to John Taylor's book, The Needles Excellency (1631). If you are interested ... check it out!!! post is here.

This week-end is the SAL for holiday ornaments, keep an eye on the Ornamant SAL blog. I was surprised to see Adana's pictures -- because she stitched the EXACT ornament I had planned to work on this week-end!! Like minds : )

wearing Green today???

Is this a better photo? Now, I think you can see the laying tools ... and my progress on the corner square of my WIP Afghan. I've really enjoyed the 'bone needle' and yes, I have dropped it a few times & it has not broken!!!



In addition to the afghan, I'm stitching in the vines on this lovely tabletopper. It is Buzz My Grapes designed by Claudia Dutcher of Dutch Treat Designs. I was having difficulty with the vines & decided to get them ALL stitched before I add the other motifs [grape clusters, bee hives, leaves]


Myspace Graphics

Answer: Reproduction Sampler Kits

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Today's SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?

The permalink to this post is Renée's Blog >^..^< >^..^< >^..^<
"Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

My Answer: If I had a spare $500.00, I'd spend it in about two minutes at the Scarlet Letter. They have awesome kits!! I am especially fond of the 17th c kits with silk fibers. In addition to the complete kits are affordable charts, small projects, kits w/cotton floss, and an awesome selection of books.

So, my money would be spent at Scarlet Letter in a heartbeat!

Corner Square - WIP

I am stitching another corner block on my afghan. Not much progress to report!




I was asked about laying tools. In December, I bought a bone needle from House of Stitches. I really like it! It is light & the perfect length for bossing around these floss strands. I use a laying tool for canvas stitches, satin stitching on linen, and on afghans [when I'm using several strands of floss].

I own a different LT's. I use metal LT w/metallic threads - nice b/c they will stick to a magnet & not roll around on the project. I have a BLT by Shay Pendray. The wooden one I own, is Rosewood (I think) similar to the one pictured on the Lacis web site. I have used a perfect stitch Laying Tool, which is similar to a trolly needle. In a pinch, I've used a yarn needle!!

Response to other Questions: Tori is home this week for Spring Break from Indiana University. Nick leaves in a week for Virginia Beach - his Band Trip. Alex had 3 performances last weekend & has 3 performances this week-end in High School Musical. (he is a skater dude & basketball player).

"House" 43 x 40

I finished my 8th block. This is Acorn Sampler Afghan stitched with Anchor floss on Zweigart Novara Afghan fabric.

Freebie

I have a question .... when you think "Easter Bunny" what color bunny comes to mind? I have a cute pattern with a grey bunny (Confederate Grey over-dye); however, I usually think 'pink' for bunnies. Am I on the wrong colour track??



I enjoyed stitching this freebie. Pattern is on-line here. c.2005 Prairie Schooler.

I used DMC floss on 32-count lambswool linen.

I would like to add another square to my afghan, after the household chores are completed.

Tori will be home on Saturday - for her Spring Break. I keep raising the window in her room, hope the fresh air will keep it germ-free.

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Thank you to all who took the time to comment on my previous post. As you can see in this photo - she does not really FIT into the crate. She has been taking her afternoon nap in this crate for about a month now. It is a mystery to me.

And, this cold lingers. This is like round three of this nasty cold. I have heard from many of you that it is 'going around' and 'comes back' around more than once. I am hoping to be OVER it before Tori comes home -- she doesn't need any long-term "bugs".

I'm feeling under the weather

This is all the stitching I've accomplished since my last post. Want to see what this will eventually look like? Check out a nice picture here.

And, if you want to stitch it ... follow the link ... it is a freebie!!

I cannot seem to shake off this 'cold' bug & feel like I've had it for two months. I was too tired to stitch. I have felt more energy yesterday & today.

Ok, here is a pic of our Honey Bunny a.k.a. 'cat-in-the-box' I took this around noon while she was taking her nap.

could use some help ...

I saw this photo on the Workbasket web site. I would love to buy some of these buttons. I contacted them, and they don't sell them. She said she bought them (maybe around 1997) at a fabric store, quilt store, or beading shop. So -- if ANYBODY who reads this blog, has seen these buttons ... please advise. I'd love to have a few!!!

And, as I am shopping here - n - there ... I'll keep an eye out for them