I like snow. I like it when I can sit inside and watch it fall, maybe take a walk or build a snowman. What I don't like about it is driving in it, and Norfolk County is terrible at keeping roads clear. My road is always last to get plowed, and usually they come just as I finish shovelling the driveway. :/ It's been snowing pretty much steady since Thursday, with no end in sight. I'm about ready for spring now. We haven't had terrible amounts of accumulation, but apparently we're supposed to get lots more before it stops.
I would have some pictures to share with you today, but because of the "glorious" snow, I decided a trip into Brantford wasn't the best idea yesterday. It wasn't terribly bad, but I was already tired by the time I got off work, I'd been up since 4:30, so I thought it best to wait. So now the plan is Tuesday. I have to go visit mom at work, so she can show off the new piece and because one of her co-workers wants to see Sabrina (though she's not finished yet). Then I have to deliver some charts to Brenda and pick up some things and visit for a while. Then I have to stop at mom's house to borrow her camera so I can take pictures for the cover of Daffodil, and some pictures of my other WIPs to post.
Yes, I did finish Daffodil. I think it was Tuesday or Wednesday... can't remember now. lol I'm very happy with how it turned out.
What's next? Well I'm back to working on Sabrina, filling in all the white on the bottom half. I wanted something I didn't have to think too much about, and there are a lot of large areas I can just stitch without much counting. I've been itching to work on Rhapsody in Red though, so maybe I'll pull that out after I get back home Tuesday. :) After a short break from models, I'll be starting on Daisy, the third piece in the flower series. I've been informed by my model stitcher that she is progressing well on Tulip, so hopefully I'll have two to release at the Spring Online Needlework show. Then I'll probably take a break from the flower designs for a few months, I'm getting kinda flowered out. I've got a couple more almost ready to stitch, but I think I want another specialty stitch piece first.
I'm thinking it's time to do the last Celtic piece. I took a break from them since I was getting a bit tired of knotwork, but it seems I've got the bug back, I'm actually dreaming about it. So that will probably be next. I've got the fabric, which is a deep blue, but I haven't decided on threads yet. I know I want really light pastels in very wintry tones - light pink, light blue, light purple, light green... I went through my thread sets and pulled a couple of possibilities, will have to do some test stitching to decide for sure. There are some lovely pale colours in the Gloriana set that would work wonderfully for what I have in mind. Dinky Dyes has some great pale wintry colours too, though they're not quite as pale as what I have in my head. That said, it will greatly depend on how they stitch up. When looking at a whole skein, colours always appear darker than they stitch up, so the Dinky Dyes might be just what I'm looking for. I kind of hope they are - Jo is such a lovely lady to work with and I feel awful that I haven't used her threads yet. I love the colours, I just haven't had the perfect piece to use them on yet, so I'm hoping that this will be the one! The plan is to release it at the Fall Online show, so I've got lots of time to decide. :) Knowing me, I'll end up doing something completely different instead. Lots of ideas in my head swirling around like the snow outside, so who knows which one will pop out first.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
A little of this and that
First, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who let me know I was not being selfish in speaking to my parents about dinner at their house. Just to let you know, I spoke to my mother about it, and she has always understood. We've come to an arrangement. If we're invited for dinner and my father makes anything that has onions in it, then she will personally call and order me a panzerotti from my favourite pizza place (which I miss so much now living an hour away!), and if my dad doesn't like it he can sulk all he wants. After a couple visits, she's pretty sure he'll get the idea. So it's a win win. I still get to visit every few weeks, if my needs are not met, I get the bonus of my favourite panzerotti thrown in. Can't say that's a bad deal.
Second, you'll have to excuse my rambling today. I've got loads of things popping into my head as I type and will probably be all over the place in my posts!
Excitement is growing. February fast approaches, and with that comes the release of My Mother's Garden II. If you haven't read my previous rambling about it (because there have been quite a few rambles!) I'll explain. This design will be the next mystery design in The Gift of Stitching Magazine, and will run for six consecutive issues. I'm not going to spoil the mystery, but I will say it's big. :)
February also means Nashville, where Daffodil will be making it's debut. Daffodil, Forget Me Not and Hearts Entwined will all be making a visit to the show, the models will be on display in the European Cross Stitch suite. :) Man, I wish I got to travel as much as my needlework does!
And a little off topic... February also brings my baby's birthday. My baby will be turning 18 this year. :') As this milestone in my son's life approaches, I'm full of mixed emotions. My son will be an adult. Okay, well he'll legally be an adult. Metally... well... not so much. lol He's come so far in the past year. He's decided on a career and is actively pursuing it, he's buckled down at school (though he's decided and I agree that he'll return for one more semester of high school next year to boost his chances at getting the college he wants), he's gotten himself a job, and he's mostly dumped the attitude. He stood up to his alcoholic, absentee, on again, off again father and told him how he feels - and btw, the jubilation I felt when he did that was very difficult to contain, but I really didn't want his father hearing me hoot and holler in the background when he did so. He's grown up a lot in the past year, there's no denying it. And there's no denying how proud I am of him.
Okay, soppy crap out of the way now before the tears start streaming again. lol
A little announcement for those of you reading in the Southern Ontario area (or anywhere I suppose if you want to pay shipping) - if you are looking for the March 2011 issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework, containing the reprint of the American Sampler by Sandy Orten - Brenda at Country Accents in Brantford has just ordered it in. If you would like one set aside, call or drop her an email. I know a lot of places are selling out fast.
And something I read on a message board prompts this next comment. A tutorial of sorts....
Silk threads and fraying. Why do certain brands fray badly, etc. etc. If you're having this problem with the silk you're using, (or cotton for that matter) there are simple and effective ways to overcome it. First, check the needles you're using. If you're using John James or DMC - get rid of them. They almost always have burrs in the eyes which will catch on the thread and cause it to fray. Look into getting some Bohins or Piecemakers. The eyes of these are much, much smoother as well as slightly larger, which will lessen the friction on the thread. They're a little pricier, but not much. Plus they don't break and they take a lot longer to tarnish, so the price evens out as you can use them much longer. Second, check the size of needle you are using. The needle should be large enough to open up the hole in the fabric so the thread glides through effortlessly. If you're finding a lot of drag against the fabric, try going to a larger needle. I tend to use a 28 needle for 40 count plus, a 26 needle for 32-36 count and a 24 needle for 28 count (unless I'm stitching over one). It makes a great deal of difference in making the thread behave better. This also applies to different thicknesses of threads - for perles and metallics, definitely stick with larger needles - it will save you a lot of aggravation. These two simple things will make a world of difference. A couple other things you can try, though I don't find I need to if I use the right needle - dampen the thread before stitching. A slightly damp washcloth or sponge does the trick. However, wait for the thread to dry before using it especially with overdyed threads!! There is always the chance it will bleed onto your fabric. Use short lengths. I don't go terribly short - I pretty much always use an 18" strand. That seems to work fine. I wouldn't recommend going longer. And finally, I hear recommendations for Thread Heaven a fair bit. I won't endorse it as I've never used it personally. I should probably try it on a test piece to see the result. I don't want to take the chance that it will ruin the work or leave a residue on the thread. If anyone has any feedback on the stuff, I'd love to know before I test it out.
Oh, and on the subject of thread - and Nashville for that matter - I'm also excited about all the new colours coming out! Will have to update my thread collections again. Oh darn. More stash. Good thing I've got new designs to sell to pay for it. :D
And onto stitching A.D.D. It is inevitable with me, as I near the end of a project, I always, always stall. I don't know why. It's not that I've lost my stitching mojo, because I daydream about all the things I want to stitch - just not the project I'm trying to finish. And it's not that I don't want to finish it, because I really do. In fact, I'd be stitching right now, but was up for the diversion of blogging. In the past few days I actually find myself looking for things to do other than stitch - which is strange, I know. I do this every single time. WHY????? I'm bloody well almost there, and if I could just concentrate on it for a couple more days it would be done. Finished. Over. Finite. Then I wouldn't have to daydream I could just stitch something else. Honestly, if it wasn't a model, I'd have switched already. Maybe that's the problem - I know I HAVE to finish it. Not because I want to, but because it's necessary. Hmmm.... food for thought.
And finally, way off the topic of stitching. I've discovered a terrible diversion and time waster that I've fallen head over heels in love with. Cityville on Facebook. Anyone tried it? I can't stop myself. I'm addicted and I fully admit it. ARGH!
Okay. Now I have to stitch. After I check my city of course.
Second, you'll have to excuse my rambling today. I've got loads of things popping into my head as I type and will probably be all over the place in my posts!
Excitement is growing. February fast approaches, and with that comes the release of My Mother's Garden II. If you haven't read my previous rambling about it (because there have been quite a few rambles!) I'll explain. This design will be the next mystery design in The Gift of Stitching Magazine, and will run for six consecutive issues. I'm not going to spoil the mystery, but I will say it's big. :)
February also means Nashville, where Daffodil will be making it's debut. Daffodil, Forget Me Not and Hearts Entwined will all be making a visit to the show, the models will be on display in the European Cross Stitch suite. :) Man, I wish I got to travel as much as my needlework does!
And a little off topic... February also brings my baby's birthday. My baby will be turning 18 this year. :') As this milestone in my son's life approaches, I'm full of mixed emotions. My son will be an adult. Okay, well he'll legally be an adult. Metally... well... not so much. lol He's come so far in the past year. He's decided on a career and is actively pursuing it, he's buckled down at school (though he's decided and I agree that he'll return for one more semester of high school next year to boost his chances at getting the college he wants), he's gotten himself a job, and he's mostly dumped the attitude. He stood up to his alcoholic, absentee, on again, off again father and told him how he feels - and btw, the jubilation I felt when he did that was very difficult to contain, but I really didn't want his father hearing me hoot and holler in the background when he did so. He's grown up a lot in the past year, there's no denying it. And there's no denying how proud I am of him.
Okay, soppy crap out of the way now before the tears start streaming again. lol
A little announcement for those of you reading in the Southern Ontario area (or anywhere I suppose if you want to pay shipping) - if you are looking for the March 2011 issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework, containing the reprint of the American Sampler by Sandy Orten - Brenda at Country Accents in Brantford has just ordered it in. If you would like one set aside, call or drop her an email. I know a lot of places are selling out fast.
And something I read on a message board prompts this next comment. A tutorial of sorts....
Silk threads and fraying. Why do certain brands fray badly, etc. etc. If you're having this problem with the silk you're using, (or cotton for that matter) there are simple and effective ways to overcome it. First, check the needles you're using. If you're using John James or DMC - get rid of them. They almost always have burrs in the eyes which will catch on the thread and cause it to fray. Look into getting some Bohins or Piecemakers. The eyes of these are much, much smoother as well as slightly larger, which will lessen the friction on the thread. They're a little pricier, but not much. Plus they don't break and they take a lot longer to tarnish, so the price evens out as you can use them much longer. Second, check the size of needle you are using. The needle should be large enough to open up the hole in the fabric so the thread glides through effortlessly. If you're finding a lot of drag against the fabric, try going to a larger needle. I tend to use a 28 needle for 40 count plus, a 26 needle for 32-36 count and a 24 needle for 28 count (unless I'm stitching over one). It makes a great deal of difference in making the thread behave better. This also applies to different thicknesses of threads - for perles and metallics, definitely stick with larger needles - it will save you a lot of aggravation. These two simple things will make a world of difference. A couple other things you can try, though I don't find I need to if I use the right needle - dampen the thread before stitching. A slightly damp washcloth or sponge does the trick. However, wait for the thread to dry before using it especially with overdyed threads!! There is always the chance it will bleed onto your fabric. Use short lengths. I don't go terribly short - I pretty much always use an 18" strand. That seems to work fine. I wouldn't recommend going longer. And finally, I hear recommendations for Thread Heaven a fair bit. I won't endorse it as I've never used it personally. I should probably try it on a test piece to see the result. I don't want to take the chance that it will ruin the work or leave a residue on the thread. If anyone has any feedback on the stuff, I'd love to know before I test it out.
Oh, and on the subject of thread - and Nashville for that matter - I'm also excited about all the new colours coming out! Will have to update my thread collections again. Oh darn. More stash. Good thing I've got new designs to sell to pay for it. :D
And onto stitching A.D.D. It is inevitable with me, as I near the end of a project, I always, always stall. I don't know why. It's not that I've lost my stitching mojo, because I daydream about all the things I want to stitch - just not the project I'm trying to finish. And it's not that I don't want to finish it, because I really do. In fact, I'd be stitching right now, but was up for the diversion of blogging. In the past few days I actually find myself looking for things to do other than stitch - which is strange, I know. I do this every single time. WHY????? I'm bloody well almost there, and if I could just concentrate on it for a couple more days it would be done. Finished. Over. Finite. Then I wouldn't have to daydream I could just stitch something else. Honestly, if it wasn't a model, I'd have switched already. Maybe that's the problem - I know I HAVE to finish it. Not because I want to, but because it's necessary. Hmmm.... food for thought.
And finally, way off the topic of stitching. I've discovered a terrible diversion and time waster that I've fallen head over heels in love with. Cityville on Facebook. Anyone tried it? I can't stop myself. I'm addicted and I fully admit it. ARGH!
Okay. Now I have to stitch. After I check my city of course.
Monday, January 10, 2011
To Err is Human...
...and I'm only human.
I was notified by Brenda at Country Accents that there is an error in the instructions for Hearts Entwined. OOOPS.
To view and print the corrections, please click here.
A big thanks to Brenda - who, by the way, has just started Hearts Entwined along with two of the regulars from her shop. Can't wait for the next opportunity to visit. :D
In other news.... lol. I'm back to work on Daffodil as of yesterday. I got a bit of beading done on Sabrina, but deadlines are creeping up. Work, work, work.
So what did I buy with my GCs/Christmas money? Well I got beads for Sabrina (obviously), and I picked up the chart, beads, fabric and metallics for Petal Fairy. I also ordered Bliss Fairy and will pick up the materials for it when it arrives. AND I got beads and metallics for Bluebell, she's the first of the Pixie Couture Collection I'll be stitching. AND (promise not to laugh and roll your eyes!) I ordered fabric for all of the pixies that I plan on stitching. So far I think there are 24 in total, but there are a few I just don't like. So I ordered 11 fat quarters of Belfast in various colours. That will do the 18 I plan on stitching with a bit to spare where I just couldn't decide between two colours. :) Went with solids, as I'm finding that the beading on Sabrina is a little tight on the hand dyed. Plus, I wanted super ultra light colours, nothing too drastic. So, yes, I went on a Mirabilia rampage. lol I almost had heart failure when I started figuring out what I'll need for beads and metallics for all of those!! I think I'll be getting the materials for each one as I start it rather than all at once like the fabric. The list was very long and very scary. I went cross-eyed more than once while listing them all out.
I've also been doing some "business planning" over the last couple weeks, scheduling release dates for designs I have either ready to stitch or in the works. I've got the next 3 years booked up already more or less, but I think after Daisy (the design which will follow Daffodil), I'll go on to something different before doing the next flower. Either the final Celtic, the lace sampler I'm playing with, or a Christmas geometric I've been tossing around in my head. Just for a change, you know?
And finally, a little rant, which is not at all stitching related, but is bugging me.
I'll start the story off by saying that I am allergic to onions. Not deathly allergic, but the reactions seem to be getting more severe as time goes on. Hives, itching, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lately difficulty breathing/coughing until the inhaler and antihistamines kick in. Anyway....
Saturday was dad's 65th birthday. We were going to take him out to dinner, but he decided he wanted to just have us over there and he'd cook. Now he's well aware of my allergies, but for some reason he insists on using onions in everything, even when I am there. It's gotten to where we only go for dinner once every few months anymore because I'm sick for days after. Saturday he cooked duck. Two of them to be exact. He stuffed them with oranges and onions. Not one, but both of them. He also put slices of onion on the skin. I didn't know this until after I'd eaten the first bite and tasted it. I decided quickly that rather than cause a scene that I'd just eat it and then go home quickly before I started getting sick. The stomach cramps started before I'd even finished dinner, by the time we got home a couple hours later I was breaking out in hives all over my body. I noticed today I even have lumps on my tongue!!! My whole body itches, I feel like I have chicken pox, I still can't eat properly and I feel as though I have hay fever. All so I wouldn't hurt his feelings on his birthday. This is the second time in as many weeks - Christmas dinner wasn't much better. However, from now on, I won't be eating at my parents anymore. If we HAVE to go for dinner, I'll order something in for myself. If it hurts his feelings, too bad. I'm not going to risk being hospitalized for the sake of his feelings anymore. And I'm not going to make excuses anymore either - I usually say I have to work or something when we're invited unless it's a special occasion we can't get out of. It's not that I don't want to visit, I just don't want to eat there. From now on when asked, I'll say I'm sorry but I won't come for dinner anymore. Period. It's not fair to me, selfish or not.
Phew. Rant over. Time to make dinner. Without onions.
I was notified by Brenda at Country Accents that there is an error in the instructions for Hearts Entwined. OOOPS.
To view and print the corrections, please click here.
A big thanks to Brenda - who, by the way, has just started Hearts Entwined along with two of the regulars from her shop. Can't wait for the next opportunity to visit. :D
In other news.... lol. I'm back to work on Daffodil as of yesterday. I got a bit of beading done on Sabrina, but deadlines are creeping up. Work, work, work.
So what did I buy with my GCs/Christmas money? Well I got beads for Sabrina (obviously), and I picked up the chart, beads, fabric and metallics for Petal Fairy. I also ordered Bliss Fairy and will pick up the materials for it when it arrives. AND I got beads and metallics for Bluebell, she's the first of the Pixie Couture Collection I'll be stitching. AND (promise not to laugh and roll your eyes!) I ordered fabric for all of the pixies that I plan on stitching. So far I think there are 24 in total, but there are a few I just don't like. So I ordered 11 fat quarters of Belfast in various colours. That will do the 18 I plan on stitching with a bit to spare where I just couldn't decide between two colours. :) Went with solids, as I'm finding that the beading on Sabrina is a little tight on the hand dyed. Plus, I wanted super ultra light colours, nothing too drastic. So, yes, I went on a Mirabilia rampage. lol I almost had heart failure when I started figuring out what I'll need for beads and metallics for all of those!! I think I'll be getting the materials for each one as I start it rather than all at once like the fabric. The list was very long and very scary. I went cross-eyed more than once while listing them all out.
I've also been doing some "business planning" over the last couple weeks, scheduling release dates for designs I have either ready to stitch or in the works. I've got the next 3 years booked up already more or less, but I think after Daisy (the design which will follow Daffodil), I'll go on to something different before doing the next flower. Either the final Celtic, the lace sampler I'm playing with, or a Christmas geometric I've been tossing around in my head. Just for a change, you know?
And finally, a little rant, which is not at all stitching related, but is bugging me.
I'll start the story off by saying that I am allergic to onions. Not deathly allergic, but the reactions seem to be getting more severe as time goes on. Hives, itching, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lately difficulty breathing/coughing until the inhaler and antihistamines kick in. Anyway....
Saturday was dad's 65th birthday. We were going to take him out to dinner, but he decided he wanted to just have us over there and he'd cook. Now he's well aware of my allergies, but for some reason he insists on using onions in everything, even when I am there. It's gotten to where we only go for dinner once every few months anymore because I'm sick for days after. Saturday he cooked duck. Two of them to be exact. He stuffed them with oranges and onions. Not one, but both of them. He also put slices of onion on the skin. I didn't know this until after I'd eaten the first bite and tasted it. I decided quickly that rather than cause a scene that I'd just eat it and then go home quickly before I started getting sick. The stomach cramps started before I'd even finished dinner, by the time we got home a couple hours later I was breaking out in hives all over my body. I noticed today I even have lumps on my tongue!!! My whole body itches, I feel like I have chicken pox, I still can't eat properly and I feel as though I have hay fever. All so I wouldn't hurt his feelings on his birthday. This is the second time in as many weeks - Christmas dinner wasn't much better. However, from now on, I won't be eating at my parents anymore. If we HAVE to go for dinner, I'll order something in for myself. If it hurts his feelings, too bad. I'm not going to risk being hospitalized for the sake of his feelings anymore. And I'm not going to make excuses anymore either - I usually say I have to work or something when we're invited unless it's a special occasion we can't get out of. It's not that I don't want to visit, I just don't want to eat there. From now on when asked, I'll say I'm sorry but I won't come for dinner anymore. Period. It's not fair to me, selfish or not.
Phew. Rant over. Time to make dinner. Without onions.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Daffodil is halfway there!
Seems like I just started it!Since the camera is defunct and the camera on the phone sucks badly, I scanned it instead. So you'll have to excuse the scan, it's a bit... erm... squished/skewed. But you get the idea. :)
Sabrina doesn't fit on the scanner, she's just too big. So she'll have to wait until I have a camera again to be shown off.
While I try to decide what to start for New Year's Day, I decided to work on Romantic Rose Garden for a couple days. I'm a little over half done it, I figure I'll at least get a little more done before then.
I really don't know what I want to start - I thought about starting Growth Rings, and that's a definite maybe, just not sure what colours I want to use yet. And I thought about starting Midnight in the Garden, but again, not totally sure what colours I like for it. Or maybe another Mirabilia... but which one? Just too much to ponder.
Ooooh, I almost forgot, I had a lovely large envelope arrive, just before Christmas!! I had treated myself to some stash - well not really treated, it's work related, but still fun!! All the threads arrived for the rest of the flower designs (save the last one as I'm still not decided on what it will be!!), all the newest colours of silks from Dinky Dyes, Gloriana and Belle Soie (lots of ooohing and ahhhing going on) and some 40 ct Weeks Dye Works linen. Gorgeous colours, excellent for samplers - and it's not a bad linen. Not nearly as flimsy as the 30 and 35 ct they do. It's not as heavy as say, Graziano, but it's on par for thickness with Zweigart. Not as slubby as Zweigart though and a bit more even. Maybe my New Year's start should be on one of those? Then I can really review it better. :) For colours, I got Angel Hair, Parchment and Linen, and all are wonderful.
And a review... Bohin Needles. One word - wonderful. They're no more expensive than any other brand, just a little more difficult to find. I got mine from Anita's Little Stitches and they work out to be about the same price as what I like to call the "crappy brands" like John James and/or DMC. I call those crappy because they are. They eyes break and have burrs that shred your floss, etc. I got some of each of the 24, 26 and 28. The 28's are a bit longer than the 28 in Piecemakers, and I do prefer the length of the Piecemaker. However, these needles do feel really nice. Not the slightest bit of tarnish and I've used the same needle to do half of Daffodil so a couple weeks of use. Even Piecemakers tarnish a little in that time. The eyes are large and easy to thread, and very smooth. No shredding here. Will I trade in my Piecemakers and switch to Bohin exclusively? Probably not. I'd be happy with either or. They're both really wonderful to use. If I see Piecemakers on sale, I always pick up a few, but I do like that I can get Bohin's in bulk. Given that I just bought 150 needles though, I think I'm pretty well set for a year (or two, or three). lol For anyone still using John James or DMC needles, I really urge you to try one of these (Bohin or Piecemaker). You really don't know what you're missing.
Today, I'm labeling "stash enhancement day" as I'm taking a trip into Brantford to get Nate's contacts and I just have to spend my GC from Country Accents. Need beads for Sabrina, not sure what else I'll get today, but I don't think it will be a problem. I can ALWAYS find something I need!! I might kit up one of the Pixie Couture designs - I have them all and I've been wanting to start one. Or maybe the Bliss Fairy, or Petal Fairy... though I have fabric for those already. Hmmmm.... I'll definitely report back on what I bought. :) I'm so excited!! I haven't been to visit Brenda in a month!!!
Ooooh, and just a little addendum... I have the absolute greatest boyfriend on the planet. He got me all the Dexter series on DVD for Christmas. Does he know me or what??? :D
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Christmas Rush...
...is almost over for one more year. It's almost time to sit back, relax, and enjoy time with family and friends. Okay so maybe not relax, there's still cooking, and visiting, and, and, and... but I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
One more day of work and then I get to enjoy 3 glorious days off. Mom and dad are hosting Christmas again this year, so I can de-stress and not have to worry about the turkey. Just dishes. lol
Happy Holidays everyone!!!!
One more day of work and then I get to enjoy 3 glorious days off. Mom and dad are hosting Christmas again this year, so I can de-stress and not have to worry about the turkey. Just dishes. lol
Happy Holidays everyone!!!!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A new journey begins
Kirsten emailed me last week to tell me that My Mother's Garden II had arrived safe and sound in Australia. PHEW! So excited for February now!! I still have a few letters to finish charting over the next couple days to complete the companion alphabet, but I'll work on those while I take stitching breaks. :)
I'm slowly on the mend from the bronchitis that has plagued me these past few weeks. Everytime I start feeling better for a few days, all of a sudden the sore throat and cough return for a visit. But I'm feeling a whole lot better over all.
I told myself that I would work on Sabrina only until I had a few days off work to get a good start on Daffodil, since one day here or there wouldn't make much of a dent. Well that time has come. After I finish my morning coffee(s) and play a few rounds of Zuma Blitz on Facebook (which btw is extremely addictive!!), I'll be pulling all my materials and getting started on Daffodil, which is printing as I type.
I was sort of putting it off as well since I have materials on the way for several other models, and if they got here before I was ready to start, I'd have to make a decision. I suppose it's good they didn't get here yet, it saves me the confusion of having to choose which one!
Sabrina had a good run - I finished the top half of the chart, and have only the metallic, white and light blue left to do on the bottom half - and of course all the beads. It's a lot of stitches yet, but they're big blocks and will go quickly. I might even pick her back up as soon as I finish Daffodil instead of something different. I'm so pleased with how she's turned out so far.
I'll try to post some pictures of her next post, along with progress pictures of Daffodil - my camera is dead, but I suddenly remembered that my son's phone has a camera on it. We'll see how that goes. Saving up for a new camera after Christmas!!
I'm slowly on the mend from the bronchitis that has plagued me these past few weeks. Everytime I start feeling better for a few days, all of a sudden the sore throat and cough return for a visit. But I'm feeling a whole lot better over all.
I told myself that I would work on Sabrina only until I had a few days off work to get a good start on Daffodil, since one day here or there wouldn't make much of a dent. Well that time has come. After I finish my morning coffee(s) and play a few rounds of Zuma Blitz on Facebook (which btw is extremely addictive!!), I'll be pulling all my materials and getting started on Daffodil, which is printing as I type.
I was sort of putting it off as well since I have materials on the way for several other models, and if they got here before I was ready to start, I'd have to make a decision. I suppose it's good they didn't get here yet, it saves me the confusion of having to choose which one!
Sabrina had a good run - I finished the top half of the chart, and have only the metallic, white and light blue left to do on the bottom half - and of course all the beads. It's a lot of stitches yet, but they're big blocks and will go quickly. I might even pick her back up as soon as I finish Daffodil instead of something different. I'm so pleased with how she's turned out so far.
I'll try to post some pictures of her next post, along with progress pictures of Daffodil - my camera is dead, but I suddenly remembered that my son's phone has a camera on it. We'll see how that goes. Saving up for a new camera after Christmas!!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Waiting, waiting, always waiting...
I'm waiting with baited breath for my model to reach Australia... it was sent a week ago and of course I'm checking the tracking ten times a day. lol
After I finished it, I started a couple new pieces, but quickly tired of both. I think I was just burnt out to be honest, because they're both lovely, and both are normally something I'd really enjoy. I had started Rosewood Manor's Spring Quaker, and while it looks lovely (doing mine in Belle Soie on 40 ct Desert Sandstorm from Sassy's) I just wasn't feeling it. So then I started Ink Circles Turkish Delight and again, it looks lovely, but between the 55 ct Kingston linen (which isn't evenweave so the piece is slightly skewed and while it's okay for this one given it's not a square design, it still irks me a bit) and the SSR HDF threads I used which are a pretty colour but they're tangling and knotting like mad (I swear, something has changed in the past year, cause these aren't nearly as wonderful as I remember them being and they're really, really, really thin). So I put both away and figured I'd take a break from samplers for a while and pulled out Mirabilia's Sabrina that I had picked up at the LNS not so long ago. This was last Thursday. I'm almost done the top half of the chart already. Mind you the top half isn't as densely stitched, the bottom will take a little longer I imagine. I forgot how quickly these worked up!! Big blocks of colour, not a ton of counting, solid colours for the most part, so no having to follow dye patterns... I'm actually having a blast stitching her. I had intended to change her hair to dark brown, given she's supposed to be Audrey Hepburn, but I've been sick with bronchitis for the past couple weeks and just couldn't be bothered. lol Makes me kinda glad I kept collecting Mira's and Passione Ricamos these last few years even though I wasn't stitching them - now I just might finish a few of the dozens I have.
And if that wasn't strange enough - me stitching something other than samplers that is - I'm stitching it in DMC. I did convert the colours to NPI, but I really didn't want to order them and wait 2 weeks to start her so I just started (given I have tons of DMC here anyway). I know I would enjoy her more in NPI, but honestly, the DMC isn't driving me nuts yet. Suprised? I know I am. I think I just needed something totally different to combat the burn out. I'm giving her another week or so and then I'll be starting my next one, Daffodil, to get it ready for Nashville. By then I'm sure I'll be craving the feel of silks again. :D
While I'd love to post some pictures, at the moment I can't. My camera is suspiciously broken. It worked fine last I used it to take pics of the model for the Gift of Stitching piece, and the next day, Nate asks me if I had any problems with it (which of course I hadn't) so I'm guessing he dropped it and didn't want to admit it. The lens cover is all dented in and won't open or close so that would be the obvious answer. I don't know why he is so afraid to just say to me "mom, I dropped the camera, I'm sorry." I'd be upset, but I'd have a lot of respect for his honesty. This is annoying. I was planning on buying a new one after Christmas anyway, so it's not a tragedy so much as being a nuisance not having one for now.
And now off to work. Counting the hours until I can come home and stitch again. :)
After I finished it, I started a couple new pieces, but quickly tired of both. I think I was just burnt out to be honest, because they're both lovely, and both are normally something I'd really enjoy. I had started Rosewood Manor's Spring Quaker, and while it looks lovely (doing mine in Belle Soie on 40 ct Desert Sandstorm from Sassy's) I just wasn't feeling it. So then I started Ink Circles Turkish Delight and again, it looks lovely, but between the 55 ct Kingston linen (which isn't evenweave so the piece is slightly skewed and while it's okay for this one given it's not a square design, it still irks me a bit) and the SSR HDF threads I used which are a pretty colour but they're tangling and knotting like mad (I swear, something has changed in the past year, cause these aren't nearly as wonderful as I remember them being and they're really, really, really thin). So I put both away and figured I'd take a break from samplers for a while and pulled out Mirabilia's Sabrina that I had picked up at the LNS not so long ago. This was last Thursday. I'm almost done the top half of the chart already. Mind you the top half isn't as densely stitched, the bottom will take a little longer I imagine. I forgot how quickly these worked up!! Big blocks of colour, not a ton of counting, solid colours for the most part, so no having to follow dye patterns... I'm actually having a blast stitching her. I had intended to change her hair to dark brown, given she's supposed to be Audrey Hepburn, but I've been sick with bronchitis for the past couple weeks and just couldn't be bothered. lol Makes me kinda glad I kept collecting Mira's and Passione Ricamos these last few years even though I wasn't stitching them - now I just might finish a few of the dozens I have.
And if that wasn't strange enough - me stitching something other than samplers that is - I'm stitching it in DMC. I did convert the colours to NPI, but I really didn't want to order them and wait 2 weeks to start her so I just started (given I have tons of DMC here anyway). I know I would enjoy her more in NPI, but honestly, the DMC isn't driving me nuts yet. Suprised? I know I am. I think I just needed something totally different to combat the burn out. I'm giving her another week or so and then I'll be starting my next one, Daffodil, to get it ready for Nashville. By then I'm sure I'll be craving the feel of silks again. :D
While I'd love to post some pictures, at the moment I can't. My camera is suspiciously broken. It worked fine last I used it to take pics of the model for the Gift of Stitching piece, and the next day, Nate asks me if I had any problems with it (which of course I hadn't) so I'm guessing he dropped it and didn't want to admit it. The lens cover is all dented in and won't open or close so that would be the obvious answer. I don't know why he is so afraid to just say to me "mom, I dropped the camera, I'm sorry." I'd be upset, but I'd have a lot of respect for his honesty. This is annoying. I was planning on buying a new one after Christmas anyway, so it's not a tragedy so much as being a nuisance not having one for now.
And now off to work. Counting the hours until I can come home and stitch again. :)
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