Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Over Stitching

I buckled down and worked hard yesterday to get the Painted Lady background all over stitched.  I finished finally and started lacing the front and the inside together.

I couldn't just leave the back so I over stitched it too.

Here are the two colorways for the Rhapsody in Blue online class.


I don't think one is better or prettier than the other, just different.

I started some of the over one parts.  The little tab is the cutest part of this project.


Luckily the temperature stayed warm enough so that the driving this morning wasn't icy.  There is just a bit of sloppiness on the road.  The main roads are clear and fine so I made it to exercise with no problem.

Lots of class stitching to do today.  Fun.
A

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Color Me Blue

Blue is my favorite color.  I was so happy to get the charts yesterday for Rhapsody in Blue. I started stitching and it is going well.

What an easy stitch.  Then I decided to try the design in different colors of floss.

I used Examplar Dried Roses (Vicki Clayton Hand-Dyed Fibers) and Gloriana's Cottage Woods.  I like how it looks.  But is it too tame?  Should I choose more wild and crazy colors?  I'm thinking.

My BFF suggested stitching all four pieces in two colorways for the Spring Fling Friday night project.  I just might do that.

I did nothing on the Painted Lady yesterday.  I was kind of busy with other stuff.  I want to get back to it today and get it done, totally done.  Now where is that skirtex?

I got my confirmation for the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat in October.  Yeah!  It will be a fun time.

I saw Dylan yesterday.  He was sick for two days last week and still has the remains of a cold.  His school lunch looked awful.  I should have taken pizza.  Maybe next week.
We are expecting a snow storm today but the predictions vary wildly.  Whatever happens, I have lots to do.
A




Monday, February 25, 2013

The Exciting Part

I made it!  I finished stitching (sort-of) the Painted Lady Sewing Case.  The most exciting part is cutting all the pieces apart.  The inside is done.  I attached the needlebook and the two scissors pockets.  It looks great!



Ironing it made it look way better.  Maybe you can't tell that I scrunched it up working in hand.

Now I had to decide whether to change the background of the front and/or back.  I decided to do the front by overstitching with my preferred color floss, crossing my fingers that I had enough.  I am about half done and I think I will have enough floss to do it all.

I need to find some skirtex to give this some stiffening.  I think there is some buried in my sewing room somewhere.
This has been a long process.  I'll have to look back and see when I started this.

I tried a little teeny flower in different colors in preparation for Rhapsody in Blue class.

I'm not sure I like it better. So I have decided to follow the directions and stitch it all in the blue.  But in the back of my mind are little urges "how could I make it better"  and "what would be cuter?  We'll see how long I can control myself.

I will see Dylan later today.  Hopefully he is at school today.
A

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Close But No Cigar

I just finished the stitching for the inside right page of the Painted Lady Sewing Case.  Yeah!  The next step is to stitch the joins between the pages.  I have to go back and read the directions.  Then I can put it together.  Yippee!!  It seems like I have been working on this forever.



 There are so many other things I want to play around with.  It occured to me that I could use the same threads that I am stitching on the SANQ Merry Cox box for Rhapsody in Blue.  I want to try out just that little flower to see how it looks before tomorrow's class start.

I goofed around with the other side of the scissors fob for Spring Fling.  I thought the strawberry shape should be red.  I like blue birds and I chose an overdyed green and a gold for the accents.  So this is how it turned out:

I'm not sure yet which on I like better.

I think maybe I should have change the edging color as well.  As I get ready to do the main piece, I have to decide which color scheme to use.
Have a happy Sunday.
A

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Something New

It was a good mail day yesterday.  I got the pre-stitching for Spring Fling.  We don't know what the projects are so I was very curious to see what the Friday night project is.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I like it.  It was neat to have a new kit to work on.  So I stitched one side of the scissors fob last night.

 I did change it just a tiny bit.  It is worked on 36 count linen.  I worked the bird in tent stitch instead of cross stitch so that it wouldn't be so crowded.  I started on the tail and it is cross stitched but then I did the body in tent stitch.   Would you believe all the pieces to this are edged in nun's stitch?  A question I had was whether the nun's stitch is double wrapped.  One wrap didn't seem enough so that's why I changed it.  I like how the nun's stitch over nun stitch looks on the Painted Lady Sewing Case so I tried it on the edge of the scissors fob.  Not easy to do. This stitching is going to be applied to one of those papier mache book boxes.

I am still working on the inside right page of the Painted Lady Sewing Case.

 I hope to finish the stitching part  today.  I need to have a non-stitching day.  There is housework and finishing, painting and reading that needs to be done.  I thought about doing that today.  No, I want to stitch.  Maybe tomorrow.
A

Friday, February 22, 2013

Little Bits

That's what I have been doing, little bits of this and little bits of that.

I am happy to say that I finished the larger scissors pocket on the Painted Lady Sewing Case.

I also tried something.  I don't like the background on the front of case.  I want to change it to another color but oh the work in taking it all out and putting it all back in.  So I thought of just working on top of what is already there.  I tried a few rows to see how it would look.  I think it looks okay but I don't know if I have enough of the Soie d'alger to do the whole front.  Still thinking....

I am working on the last part, the inside right page which essentially just needs a border and the nun stitch outlines of the pockets.  I am ready to be done with this sucker.

I put in a little bit on the second strawberry.  I sent a photo to the teacher to have it critiqued.  We'll see if I have to fix anything.

I tried out a couple new colors on the SANQ Merry Cox box.  I really like how they look which makes me want to stitch more.  These colors are really me.

I cut out the pin pad from the Rose Trellis kit so it could be finished.

How can it be Friday again already?  Monday we get the first lesson for Rhapsody in Blue, nifty.
A

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Goofing Off

My attention has strayed.  I worked on the Painted Lady Sewing Case a little but then I went looking through magazines and got thoroughly distracted.

 I ran across the Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly that I have had for a few years.

I have intended on making this Merry Cox project that is on the cover.  So I dug out the 32 count Sandstone linen and tried out just the scissor fob design.


I really like the floss colors on the box but my Gloriana Bellagio is slightly different.  So I've been looking for an over dyed that would be perfect.  I like Victorian Garden but I only have one yard of it.  Is that enough?  Maybe.  Then I started the project.  You should do the backstitch all around the edge first.

(Of course, that is boring.)  I'm using some linen thread that is pretty close to the color of the linen.

I worked a bit on the Vintage Strawberry but I should really wait for the lessons and not try to work ahead so much.  This project really reminds me of watercolor painting and I would like to goof around with it and shade it like I would a painting.

Then I found another Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly that has a Jackie DuPlessis project, Pansies for Diana.  I've been meaning to make that too.

 But all those queen's stitches.  Maybe I have a pattern for a pansy that isn't all queen stitches.  So I went looking at flower patterns.

It really is fun just to go looking at stuff.  Unfortunately, you never get anything done that way.  My sewing room could entertain me for years.  I need to get back on task!
A

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

One Down, One to Go

I am enjoying this Vintage Strawberry class.  I went back and finished my first strawberry except for the little green seeds.  They must come later in the instructions.  I started on the second strawberry.  It has different colors than the first one.  It seems everything is split stitched around the edge before you fill it with colors.  I may even be wild and crazy and split stitch around the flower.  I wonder what to do with this when it is finished.  I don't really want to frame it.  I would like to make it into something, I'm just not sure what.

I finished the small window pocket on the inside page of the Painted Lady Sewing Case.  It turned out fine.  Now on to the larger one.  I guess my goal is to finish the larger one today.  I'm getting to the end, slowly but surely.


I got the Rhapsody in Blue kit in the mail but alas, no charts or instructions.  It is fun just to touch all the materials.  I think the linen is sandstone.  The class starts the 25th so I don't have to wait that long to get started.  I could serge the edges and be ready to go.  It came in a pretty purple bag.

Have a fun day!
A

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Leaves and Strawberries

I picked up the Vintage Strawberry Class embroidery yesterday and decided that I need to keep up with this class.  I followed the instructions.  Really!  I am happy with how my leaves turned out.  They look dimensional even and shaded.  Wow.  I am learning how to this the right way.  My natural tendency is to do it the wrong way so I really need to actually stitch it in the correct way rather than just read about it.  I started the first strawberry.  I have frogged it a bit because it wasn't looking like what I wanted it to.  I am ahead of the class as the assignment this week was just the stems and leaves.  I got on a roll and didn't want to quit.


I started the smaller window pocket on the Painted Lady Sewing Case.  This sure is a lot more fun than the nun's stitch.  I want to finish this pocket today and get started on the larger one.  I am starting to see the end of the tunnel on this project.  I had no idea when I started this that it would be this much work.  I really want to see this case all finished.  I think it will be something to be proud of.

Dylan wasn't at school yesterday.   I left his snacks in his locker.  Some mentors always call before they drive clear out to the school.  That probably is a good idea.  Dylan is usually there so I haven't gotten into the habit of checking to see if he is at school.

I'm looking for the Rhapsody in Blue kit to arrive in the mail.  I'm already thinking of ways to change it like using an overdyed floss.  I am very interested in the finishing techniques.

The weathermen keep crying wolf, warning us of terrible weather.  Pretty soon we aren't going to believe a word they say.  DH is taking me out to eat tonight.  I love it.
A

Monday, February 18, 2013

Watching Paint Dry

What I worked on yesterday is about exciting as watching paint dry.  I got all the outside edges double nun stitched.  Now I can go on to a more interesting part.  There is still just a bit of nun's stitch to do on the back inside page where the window pockets will go.  I have to do some of the border to make sure I put the nun's stitch in the right place.


I go out to see Dylan in a while.  It is supposed to be up to 45 degrees today.  Wow - that is warm for this time of year.  I just love that the roads are clear.

My Rhapsody in Blue kit it in the mail.  Yeah!  Unfortunately there is no mail today.  Maybe tomorrow.  I was excited to see that Tricia is getting ready to post the caskets for sale.  They now have their own pages.  I've decided that I want to get the more expensive one and then wait and see about maybe getting the other one for Christmas or something.  Of course that depends on how expensive they are.

The bathrooms are clean and I am ready for more fun things today.  Swiss Chicken cutlets for dinner.
A

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Bad Girl

I didn't post yesterday because I wrote a letter instead and ran out of words to say.  So I took the day off.  I didn't even go to Pilates.  Bad girl.

I finished the Rose Trellis pin keep.  I know the photo doesn't look a whole lot different from my last photo.  Now I can finish-finish it.

What comes next?  Well, I can do the largest piece, the needlebook, or I can do the scissor fob which is just two initials on top of each other.  I don't like the alphabet included in the kit.  I like the initials that are shown on the picture of the kit.  I could go looking for a fancy alphabet.  I have a nice book of alphabets.  But I don't really like scissors fobs and there isn't any special motif that goes with this kit on the fob so why stitch it?  I think I'll start on the needlebook.  This means stitching all that trellis background (slightly tedious).

It turned out that we didn't get near as much snow as the weathermen were predicting.  That is a good thing. It is very cold today.  2 degrees.
On the Painted Lady Sewing Case I am stitch working on the nun's stitches so there isn't anything to show today.
The season finale of Downton Abbey is tonight.  How can it be over already?  It only started up again in January??  I hope I don't have to wait until next January for the next season.
Stay warm and cozy.
A

Friday, February 15, 2013

Decisions

Well, I have decided. I was waffling between going to Celebration of Needlework in New Hampshire and Dyeing to Stitch's Retreat in Virginia Beach.  If Celebrations had enough classes that I wanted to take, I was going to go there.  The big pull to go to Dyeing to Stitch was that my BFF and other friends are going to be there and they are going on some fun field trips (Williamsburg, Longaberger outlet and DeWitt Museum).  I've been to both retreats before so I know what to expect.  The winner is:  Dyeing to Stitch's Retreat.  It isn't until October and I have a lot going on right now stitchwise.

I got a lot done on the Rose Trellis pin keep.  I knew to quit working on it when I started to get sloppy with those lazy daisy stitches.  The border isn't too bad but it is not perfect.  I think I can finish the pin keep  today.

The inside of the Painted Lady Sewing Case needlebook is done.  One side still looks rather plain but I like what I put on the other side.  On to the last piece.  The page I have yet to do is the inside right page that has two pockets with windows on them for scissors.  More dreaded nun's stitch.  I can almost do it with my eyes closed now.

We are supposed to get lots of snow starting this afternoon.  Somewhere between three and twelve inches of snow.  I might have to just stay home and stitch tomorrow!
A

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine

I found another one of the valentines that I made some years ago.  I guess I was big on collage.

I almost miss those teacher days.  But I am very happy stitching instead.

I finished one side of the inside of the needlebook for the Painted Lady Sewing Case.  I may add something else as the page seems a bit plain.  I got the nun's stitch for the other side nearly done.  I'm not sure what words I want to put on that page.  I probably will but my initial "A" and the year.  I'm not sure what else.

It is great to see the progress I'm making - all the pieces for this project are filling up the congress cloth. Three more pieces to go.

I also started the pin keep for the Rose Trellis kit.  The border isn't as neat as I'd like but I don't think it is terrible.  It is hard to turn corners and have it look good.  I'm thinking of altering the border just a bit when it comes to the needlebook.  The stitches are really packed in on this 40 count.  It is very weird to draw with permanent marker on linen.

I know that the Rhapsody in Blue kits are supposed to be sent by tomorrow.  It will be fun waiting for the kit  to arrive in the mail.  Also, tomorrow is the start of the Vintage Strawberry online class through Mary Corbett.  Can you believe we are half way through February?  Time flies when you're having fun.  (And according to DH, even when you're not!)
A


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day - Tomorrow

I thought I would dig out some valentines that I made when I was a teacher.  I love making things and Valentine's Day was a wonderful excuse to make something.  I was looking for a different card but came across this simple one.

There is a printed vellum outer cover that ties with a ribbon through a punched design.

Then inside there is a tissue paper and doily collaged heart on a stamped card.

On the back is a greeting printed on vellum.

I achieved my goal of finishing the front of the Painted Lady needlebook.  I also got the stupid nun stitches done for one side of the inside of the needlebook.

I am changing the border a bit.  It was too simple.  I want to change the wording too as I don't like it and it is the same as the back of the sewing case.  I haven't thought of anything more meaningful.  Maybe a flower or something would be nice.  That's more me, I put flowers on everything.  I love how the front of the needlebook turned out.  It makes me want to tear out all the background on the outside front and replace it with the light blue straight stitch.
Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day - tomorrow.
A