Vineyard Silk

Woot!   Look what was in today's mail ....

when I read Art Needlepoint 's blog post

Three Reasons, Three Free Skeins of Silk

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try a 

new-to-me fiber.  It reminds me of cotton flower thread or

Valdani fibers.

I have a lovely French Blue, Berry, and Melon.

What fun - says they are 100% silk, 30 yds.

Now, will do some stash diving for the

'just right' project.

Has anyone used the Sullivans floss?

These were part of a gift from Gracie - along with a lovely

Lizzie Kate pattern (she even provided the ground + buttons).

Looking forward to using a couple

new fibers ; )

Finishing Blues

I've got a couple things on the table
for finishing. I think finishing is my least
favourite thing to do! And, I wait until
the very last minute.

The project on the left is
"A Sampler Pinkeep"
I finished one side & decided to back with fabric
and finish. Maybe I'll get the other side
stitched some day!

The project on the right is a
Lizzie Kate for punchneedle from
Halloween Hang-Ups 2


I'm looking forward to getting out my punchneedle
and making the other two ornaments -- the cat & the pumpkin.

MIOM

Very kewl, stitched up last Monday's project. Managed to complete this before 10/31!

For this week, I selected French Country Pear [Dec JCS mag]; however, I am trying to figure out what type of linen will look good with Week's Dye Works - color Curry. I'm not sure what I have on hand will work. Maybe I need natural linen?? Anybody have any ideas? Better set it aside until I find something that will work.

SPECIFICS: French Country Pear materials, per JCS, are 11x9 30-ct White Swan Linen from Access Commodities w/WDW Curry [stitching over 2 threads] AND 9x8 18-count ivory linen from Wichelt w/GAST Gold Leaf [stitching over 1 thread]

For MIOM - 10/30, I'm going stitch Blackbird Designs Country Garden on 32 ct Sand Belfast linen. I've got the overdye fibers ready. This should be really fun to work on :D

Thank you for all comments & e-mails. Esp the comments on Nick's project. He is doing a wonderful job. As for questions: Yes, the face is stitched over one thread. He is 16yo. I don't remember when he bought the kit. He has been working on it for awhile - my guess is that he bought it in the Spring. I'll have to ask him tomorrow.

ANSWER per Nicholas: The kit was purchased March 7, 2006 from the sale bin at Hobby Lobby. It was marked down to $14.00. Nicholas is our 16yo son. His progress photos are posted thru this blog since March & I started a photo album for his project [link in sidebar]

MIOM / Move It Out Monday

Anybody recognize this? It is October Flip-It c.2002 Lizzie Kate, Inc. About time I stitched this ... LOL

My next MIOM project will be from the December 2006 Just CrossStitch magazine: French Country Pear [JBW] from designer Judy Whitman of JBW Designs. The pear has the partrige & pear tree within the pear. Very clever! Lucky me, I already have WDW Curry in my stash. As with the pumpkin, the optional French word for pear, "LaPoire" is charted as well.

The boys are off school Thurs & Fri for Fall Break. Sometimes I think they are out of class more frequently than they should be. I'll have to stock up on the groceries!

Started this one ...

by Lizzie Kate c.2006 'let it snow' from the Stitchville newsletter I'm using dmc floss.

Christmas Ornaments

This is a Lizzie Kate c.1999 Christmas Is Love

I enjoyed stitching this one! I used DMC & Anchor floss. 54W x 46H

Orns

Joy c.1999 Lizzie Kate -- freebie.

Ornaments ...

Santa is c.1995 by The Drawn Thread; Small Work. The Santa is part of other designs on a stocking. Of course it needs a button on the hat tip & button for the buckle.
Rejoice c.2004 is designed by Linda Ebright of Lizzie Kate. Pattern is in the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Magazine.

Yes, I've been stitching.

Heart theme continues ...

Pictured above are: Shep Bush Treat Bag; Lizzie Kate Feb FlipIt; Name tag (pattern from a magazine); & Love is Kind pin ...from Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin pattern. Seasonal Mementos II
More stash! WOOT! I bought the Workbasket Hearts for the Pennsylvania Dutch motifs -- the sampler is really very large ... I thought they'd be cute done as single pincushions or something. The other two patterns (Of Female Worth Wear Your Heart & Twisted Threads Tin Pin Heart) are for PINS .... PINS .... PINS.

WTF: Shep Bush Fob -- Aren't heart strings cute? Was supposed to be a scissors fob & I thought too large ... was thinking of making two small pillows out of these designs.
Love Scissor Fob

Update: This is a close-up photo of the pin:

Life's A Stitch

OK, second photo. I just realized there was a way to "add another image" sorry. Newbie here. This is stitched over-one thread; size apx 1 3/4" x 1 7/8". Lizzie Kate design - modified colors from overdye to Anchor Floss choices. (Summer 2003) The toughie part was the sawtooth border. I used graph paper to modify & get the corners the way I liked them.

Worked the Home Ec blg yesterday 4 hrs & today 2 hrs. I loved meeting other women interested in sewing and crafts. The big hit of the building was a youth skirt. It was recycled blue jean top -- cut -- with neckties sewn on -- to create a mini-skirt effect. Totally awesome. Fun to chat about.