Gay Ann Rogers

I'm delighted Gay Ann Rogers has a new web site & started her own blog.

I've participated in two of her mystery samplers thru NANI (local EGA chapter). (blog entry/photos in archives - March 2006) One was a band sampler on congress cloth w/strawberries & verse. The other was a geometric pattern on 18mesh canvas. When I worked on the geometric pattern, there were different options for the corners & areas between the corners. Each stitcher started out with a variety of color choices & fibers. We all had identical center sections & when the other areas were stitched -- everybody had a unique project.

It is exciting when designers start sharing on blogs! Welcome to blogging Gay Ann :D

Alexander: Happy 14th Birthday

Picked up my canvas from House of Stitches. Selected a frame for the Sanctuary, too.

While I was in the shop, picked out the Drawn Thread 12 Houses Sampler -- yeah, the design needed a new home ... It is too cute.

When I return to pick up the Sanctuary ... I'll have to browse. Well, I'm off to take Nicholas to work ...

Finishes : )

I think this is ready for the frame place. Mystery with a Little bit of Glitz designed by Gay Ann Rogers. Started 12/1999 & finished 04/2006. After snagging some of the Watercolours -- and restitching those parts, I cross my fingers it is done. Nice to get a WIP out of the closet & FINISHED.
I finished a towel, too -- Kitchen Angel Sampler & Towels. Designed by Sandra Cozzolino. The other towel I want to stitch says: 'Bless our family as we dine'. (This pattern has four more towel designs for the individual herbs)

Progress Pictures:

Here is the project Nicholas is stitching. He had to re-stitch the entire wing on the lower left side. It is Lavender & Lace: "Fairy Dreams" by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum. He purchased the kit (from the discount bin). He ran out of a couple #8 Kreinik braids & 2 floss colors. Maybe b/c of frogging -- I told him to keep working the piece & we'd go shopping for what he needs later on. (LNS is a 35-40 min drive)

I spent a lot of time in bed yesterday ... didn't accomplish much. This head cold is turning into a sore throat & chest cold. I snagged some of the 'Amethyst' Watercolours (drat) + will re-stitch. This a.m. DH said I am sounding worse instead of better. Yeah, I know "whine, whine, whine"

The bead issue seems silly; however, it will make a difference. With the darker bead on the edge -- it sorta looks like the DARK lines in a coloring book -- don't think I want that b/c the stitches are so lite & airy looking on the (side & corner) ends. With the yellow beads, they aren't very noticeable; however, keep the sides lite. (can enlarge the picture with a click)

I don't know Lili, maybe using the darker beads around the corners & the lighter bead in the sides might work. I keep looking at it wondering. I still have another side to do + frog-n-fix the snagged Watercolour.

Gay Ann Rogers - Mystery Sampler continues

Worked on this non-stop yesterday. I got out some beads and quickly added some -- to figure out what I want use on all the ends.

With this head cold, it is about all I can do. Whine, whine, whine. This cold is just terrible. I keep thinking "tomorrow I'll feel better" (sigh)
My final color-dilemma is in beads. I don't know whether to use the yellow beads (I added a few on the left side) or the taupe beads (added some to the right side). I figure I'll work on the other three sides -- I have a Smyrna cross in pc#5 610 (in the point on the sides). After all the stitches are complete -- I should have a bead favourite. Beads are the last step. I'm so close.

Poor Nicholas came to me & said he is nearly out of 032 #8 braid -- and he had to take out everything he put in today. He was working on another wing. I try to explain these things just happen & thought a break would be a good thing. We are heading to the public library real soon. (Labryinth is IN -- I can check it out)

Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz

This canvas piece was offered to our EGA chapter. I received a list of supplies in December of 1979 (ouch). Part I was handed out, everybody stitched the same thing. Part II (April 2000) offered 3 different choices for the corners & 3 choices for the area inbetween the corners. I was over my head. I knew zero about selecting watercolours & perle cotons & Kreinik spools. As I stitched parts, I'd change my mind about the color I selected & go out for something else. Eventually, I learned the stitches & got all but one color to work out. I had a nice peach color -- but it just didn't work out -- changed everything to green 727 & finally was satisfied with the overall color scheme.

Now, I'm determined to finish this thing for once & for all. The 60 pulled eyelets just about did me in. With the help of some pink tape & patience, I find there are TWO more pages of stitching diagrams -- then a big happy dance. Talk about keeping it in the closet too long ....

Mysteries? Over One? Organized?

Today's SBQ was suggested by Carol and is:

Q. Have you ever participated in a needlework mystery (i.e., a design that you started before knowing how it will look in the end and by which you receive parts of the design via the internet, magazines, or leaflets at spaced intervals)? If so, why did you decide to do the mystery? What appealed to you about it? Did you enjoy it? If you have not done a mystery, would you ever do one?

A. Yes! I participated in two Mystery Samplers designed by Gay Ann Rogers. I completed this (on congress cloth) in 2000:



Close-up:

The "Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz" was also by Gay Ann Rogers & is a WIP:
Since this picture was taken, I've worked on it here-n-there .... Canvas & metallics aren't my favorites.

Found the picture

Currently, I'm stitching a mystery sampler by Jana P. Kerr. Our EGA chapter members did this in 1993 (before I was a member). I had seen it completed years ago & was thrilled to have the NeedleArts magazine put the lessons in their quarterly publication. It is stitched on linen banding w/floss (I'm using dmc & anchor floss colors). This is a picture of 1-5 of 15 parts:



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

Today's SBQ is:

Q. Do you stitch "over one?" If so, describe your experiences. If not, have you considered it?

A. Yes, I stitch "over one". I sit for about an hour with over one & then quit for the day. I like using a 28-count or 32-count linen with one strand of silk (or Anchor floss). I think these were last projects I stitched over-one:
Pattern is from Scarlet Letter, called N. Hinde Sampler I have a couple "over-one" WIPs, too. I enjoy the detail in over-one designs. With an exceptional color -- they are fabulous.

This is 40-count linen & IMO the stitching gets bunched up looking. I think using a 1/2 cross would have been more suitable. This is A Sampler Pinkeep by The Heart's Content. I started the reverse side & really should find it in my WIP pile & finish it up!!

This is Tin Pin Heart by Twisted Threads -- this one seemed to stitch up quickly!! What fun.

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

Today's SBQ is:

Q. Do you have an organizational system for your patterns? If so, how do you organize them? If not, have you considered organizing them?

A. I'm more organized NOW than I have ever been. I have patterns/charts in two notebooks with a zipper (high shelf in the closet) -- alphabetized by company name (i.e. Blackbird, Brightneedle, etc.) My kits are in a rubbermaid container in the closet. My "kits to go" and WIPs are in totebags and boxes on top of the container (in my closet). I also have a basket near my stitching corner which houses patterns kitted up to do in the near future. AND -- every time I move things around ... I lose stuff!! I'm not planning to change a thing.



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

Green or Peach? Hmmmmm....

peach ?

green?

I'll put in more eyelets before choosing --- I'm leaning to peach. Maybe it will not work. The green is good. Matches everything well.

Color Choices .....

This is the Gay Ann Rogers Mystery Sampler (so far). I need to decide my second perle coton #5 color .... I like green-grey DMC 727. Still thinking I might need to introduce a new color -- like DMC 353. Will continue with some more eyelets and see which color enhances the design ... Should be able to click this snap to enlarge.

MIOM - A list of WIPs

Noticed my WIP list is shorter in September - than it was in January 2005. Here is my list. I listed my WIP's by how long I've had them! These are wonderful designs that I've been working on & setting aside for whatever reason -- the projects I want to finish to make room for more:

1998: Ann Scutt Sampler (from Scarlet Letter)
2000: Gay Ann Rogers; Mystery w/a Little Bit of Glitz
2001: Hillside Samplings - My Stitching Chair Necessaire
2001?: Mill Hill - Acorn Sampler Afghan (only stitch this in the Winter months)
2002: Shepherd's Bush - In my Garden Roll (fob is stitched)
2002: Sewing Chest Designs - Old Saybrooke Sampler
(to be made into sewing case w/fob & NR)
2002: Milkpaint Sampler (Have the hemstitch all the way around. trying to decide what to stitch on inside pockets. just don't know if I want the Abigail Adams saying stitched or more M.Garry motifs inside. )
2003: Patricia L. Preston - Remember Me Sewing Pouch with Accessories
2004: Claudia Dutcher - Buzz my Grapes Tabletopper (needed more green perle cotton)
2005: EGA course - English Band Sampler (needs a lot of embellishing)

I have several things in the WTF category -- which is ok. I don't usually 'finish' until I need them ; )

This week, I've decided to work on the color problem I had with the Gay Ann Rogers sampler. I was moving along & found my coice of DMC 3042 (perle Coton #5) was too close in color to the canvas I selected. My only goal is to find another perle coton that works with the Amethyst Watercolours by Caron. I am thinking to scrap all purple/lavender & try some peach or grey/green.

After I choose some possible choices, I'll try to get more of the eyelets worked (with Kreinik metallic stuff on spools). Maybe if I have more of the metallic worked, I can figure out the color problem.

I've got to hand it to ALL designers -- choice of colors is vast. Not everything I like works! I'm not very fond of canvas. Prefer linen or evenweave over canvas & congress cloth.