2007 Porter Co Fair -- end of report : )

Sampler TabletopperDesigned by Claudia Dutcher, Dutch Treat Designs c.1998Comments by Judge: Back is as pretty as front! Stitches even. Nice color choice. Beautiful.

Stitched on 18ct. Anne Cloth [9-square tabletopper] - apx 22x22". Watercolour Mocha Rose; Perle Coton #5 as suggested. Nun Edge with Anchor pc #12 colour 926.

My Original DesignPulled Thread PillowComments by Judge: Beautiful workmanship. Nice use of variety of stitches. Just beautiful.

Stitch size 7.5" x 7.5". I used DMC ecru cordonnet (30)AND Anchor perle coton #8 colour 926 on 19-count Antique White, cork linen. Stitches used: Reeded Stitch; Open Trellis; Rosette Stitch; Finnish Stitch; Three-sided Stitch; Honeycomb Stitch; Mixed Faggot Variation Stitch.

N.Hinde 1778; A Miniature Samplerc.1991 The Scarlet Letter; Historic Needlework ReproductionComments by Judge: Really cute. Excellent job - Where is the "J"?

I used Red Silk, AVAS colour 945 - on 32 count Antique Ivory Linen. Stitched over one thread. 88w x 56h Per instructions "feel free to personalize your sampler with your own name or initials & the date..." I continue to ponder using my name or the sampler-makers names when stitching a repro piece.

Tin Pin Heartc.2001, Ruth Sparrow, Twisted ThreadsComments by Judge: Beautiful & unbelievable tiny stitches. Do you have x-ray vision? Love it.

Stitched over one linen thread with DMC 221 - red & Anchor 152 - navy blue on 32-ct Platinum Belfast. 46w x 46h. Mounted into TF04 Tin Pin Square.

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OK, my stitching pals ... now it is your turn. How did you do at the fairs this Summer? Congrats to Deb L [w/o blog] for being awarded the Champion Rosette at the Porter Co Fair. Well Deserved. Beautiful L&L piece. Congrats to Sue D and Elaine H, too, for all their ribbon-wearing entries!!! Great job : )

Tonight ... Open House for the Lake County Fair. I have different projects entered. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! In the past, I've been awarded a couple sweepstakes rosettes on my beaded pins; however, I'd flip for a sweepstakes rosette on any STITCHED piece. That prize continues to pass over my entries year after year : )

They land on Sue D & Deb L's entries!!! They are tops at what they do best : )

Heart (Tin) Pin

Improved photo of Tin Pin heart. I used dmc 221 (red) & anchor 152 (navy blue) on 32ct platinum belfast. The pattern is by Ruth Sparrow of Twisted Threads.



The eight kittens are 24 hours old & all seem to be well. Mom cat is doing a great job!

more finishes ...

Thank you so much for your comments re. my pulled thread pillow & other recent finishes.

I cannot help wonder how designers make a living b/c when I think of the time involved in creating my own piece ... you know, I spent a lot of time learning pulled thread techniques, figuring out the stitches I wanted in my pillow, overall design, and couldn't imagine trying to price 'the pattern'. I didn't keep track on graph paper -- just made some rough notes. I basted the 'design' in place & added the stitches I liked. So, I have no plans to release this design!



I managed the nun edge around a bookmark -- added felt to two perforated paper projects (pin & ornament) -- and managed to get the tin pin heart inserted into the square. WOOT!

My 'to do' list:: Finish small stocking ornament & Shep Bush needleroll. Finish stitching the EGA mystery sampler (lessons 10-14).

I visited House of Stitches on July 3rd. With a lot of help ... I have two awesome bellpull hardware pieces for the Mystery Sampler (stitched on linen banding). Now that the hardware issue isn't looming, I'm pretty excited about it. Nice to have helpful friends at the LNS!! They are so patient, kind and knowledgeable.

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"

RAK'd : )

Look what came in the mail? Cathy sent this exquisite hardanger piece! The perfect smyrna cross, excellent kloster blocks, delicate dove's eye, detail on the edge, beautiful color (lilac/pink) are spectacular & surpass anything I could ever accomplish! Thank You so much!

A close-up to showcase Cathy's skills. The edge is beautiful as all the 'corners' are rounded. Totally Awesome.

And, look what else was in my P.O.Box ... Chelle sent some Homespun Elegance,
Cross-Eyed Cricket, DMC & freebie designs. I'm gobsmacked. I'm grateful! NINE new patterns. As Chelle says, "I'm so spoiled, I stink!!" Thank you - Thank You - Thanks a heap : )

A delivery truck came to the door ... very rare event ... DH sent me tulips from Organic Bouquet. Not only are the flowers wonderful on the table, the mauve box is going to house my scroll rods!

I used Anchor 152 (navy) + DMC 221 (dk red) for my Tin Pin Heart. The temperature soared to 53 degrees -- bright & sunny day. It was just too nice to be indoors. Didn't get it mounted into the tin (yet).

Launched the BOAF's Love. Did change the fibers from Sampler Threads to Floss. Looking forward to putting in more stitches today as it is back to usual Winter weather -- overcast, temperatures falling, forecast of rain-sleet-snow.