Just Goofing

 I was playing around with the Summer Blooms pattern. I just grabbed some pretty threads and tried them to see how they look. Most of the flowers called for three strands. So that's a little thicker than I'm used to. I also used some variegated pearl cotton. Mine looks a little different (brighter?) than the model. I like how it turned out. I still don't have the kit!

This is intended to be a drum pin cushion.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow, I'll be back on Wednesday.

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Oldie But a Goodie

 One of my favorite designers is Betsy Morgan . I have made many of her designs and also I have several I haven't gotten to yet. But I ran across a project I had stitched and not finished yet.

 So I decided to finish it. Actually it's been sitting around so long I may have wanted to add initials or something to it. But I've forgotten entirely. I just finished stitching the lining. It still needs some twisted threads and a couple of hedebo stitches.

You can't see it very well but there is a pocket in the lining.

I got my Apple Watch and I love it. It will take some time to figure out how to use it. I called DH on it yesterday. It has so many apps on it. I love it.

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I Went To Target

 Yes, I went to Target! I was so excited. It is the first store that I've been to since November 2019. Of course it was with DH telling me to keep walking. We were picking up a prescription at the CVS pharmacy in Target. But it was glorious to see everything and pick out some stuff, like a furnace filter.

I tried out the Sublime iron-on transfer pen. I traced an Inspirations design onto paper. Then I picked some linen to try it on. The linen was rather wrinkled so it used some spray of Press something it. I think it was still damp when I put the transfer on it. Then I didn't realize the steam on my iron was still on. So anyway, it turned out a little blurry. I think it is still stitchable but I wanted to try it again without damp linen and steam in my iron. So back to the drawing board. I used a different scrap of linen and it turned out clearer. I like that the pen makes a nice fine line. First try:

Second try:

As you can see I am anxious to start this. The kit for still hasn't arrived so I am trying some Oliver Twist  threads to see how they look. 

I got a haircut.

 

It is raining here and cool and windy. A good day for stitching.

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New Start

 I've had this project for a while.  It was a Christmas gift for members of our guild (Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild) in 2014. There are three other projects that were Christmas gifts in other years and match this project. 

Thread winder pocket (I think):

Scissors case:

Thimble bag

I kept meaning to stitch this one so I started it. I am around half done. It will be a little spool box.

Cute.

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Ta-Dah!

 I finished the Hampton Court Clock. It was my idea to make a clock out of it using the box and brass plate designed for a different project, The verse around the clock reads " I do not remember a time I did not try to invent pictures and make for myself a fairyland amongst the wildflowers, the animals, fungi, mosses woods and streams, all the thousand objects of the countryside". That might be a quote from Beatrix Potter.

This was challenging to put together. Much cursing involved. But I am very proud of how it turned out. This Jenny Adin-Christie design is one of my favorites.

I didn't worry about there not being any numbers around the dial as there are marks for the hours on the brass plate. I wasn't able to put the second hand on the clock because there wasn't enough room between the clock movement and the glass. But that's no big deal. I bet nobody has a clock like this one!

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Bunny

 BFF sent me a pattern that I wanted and even included the called for linen. I was looking for something quick and easy. This went fast and turned out great.

BFF also sent the pattern and linen for the little cube this bunny sits on. I haven't started it yet.

The stocks are all blooming at the park near my house. So pretty. I took pictures but I haven't figured out how to get them from one device to another. My new Iphone is supposed to be here today! Cool.

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Finishes

 I totally finished off Barbara Jackson's Spring Roundels. They turned out fine.

They go into the basket with my other roundels.

I laced this ornament onto comic board and backed it with some dupioni silk. I also put a ribbon in the top. 

I found a couple more stitched or nearly stitched things that I want to finish. 

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New Start and Old Finish

 I started another Margaret Light project that was in the latest issue of Inspirations magazine. I shouldn't have started as the kit is in route to me.  The kit spent at least a month trying ti hitch a ride from Australia to the US. But I was antsy to start it and try out the iron on transfer pen. I had a lot of threads left over from the blackbird needle case kit that are called for this new project.

Once I get 18 leaves done it will go pretty fast! Two down, sixteen to go.

I've wanted to give this ornament to my granddaughter but I needed to finish it. It only had about an eighth of an inch of linen to fold around to the back on one side. I tried finishing it and just have to sew fabric to the back of it. It looks okay. 

DH turned on the air conditioning since it was so hot this week. I gave up on my Fitbit and ordered an Apple Watch. I ordered a clock movement for Hampton court that has the right size hands.

Have a great weekend.

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Spring Roundels

 I finished the other two Spring Roundels.  I was motivated to get back to them after seeing Stitching Foolishness' blog. 

I like how they turned out. 

Now to finish them. 

It is hot outside today. I didn't walk yesterday so I plan to walk today whether it is hot or not.

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Crazy Part Two

 I bought a old kit on Ebay. I saw it made up and liked it very much. So I went digging to see if I could find one and I did. It i called The Chase by Elsa Williams.

It was unopened, like new. BUT is it printed on Belgium linen. Usually I would turn my nose up at a printed on design.

I separated out the colors yesterday. I have to start it and see what I think.

It is a large project. the bottom part is embroidered. We'll see how it goes!

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Am I Crazy?

 Stitchers are a certain kind of crazy. They sign up for stuff they haven't even seen. They pay astronomical prices for silly little things. They collect scissors and more scissors. Yes I qualify for crazy. I signed up for a year long club that (I think) has four projects. I saw the first project and liked it, that's why I signed up. 

I got the second project. It cost 52 dollars - for a scissors fob! There was also a nifty tool in the box. 

I already have a Clover thread cutter. But this thing is handy! I don't have to go digging for the cutter, I can just grab and cut. Who thought of putting it in a spool? What a great idea!

I went out to lunch yesterday, It was like getting back to normal. I had such a good time. We talked and talked. 

I called Help to see if I could get my Versa 3 to say the correct time. Nope, couldn't get there. The guy I talked to was in Columbia. Columbia as in the country of Columbia. I'm looking for a different device.

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Hampton Court

 Here is Hampton Court in all its glory.

I was waiting to trim up on the sides just in case I needed to take the design bit further.

But when I checked the size by putting it behind the brass plate, it was perfect.

I did it!

So now the finishing. I ironed the stitching - carefully. 

I measured to see how much the stumpwork parts stick up (not much). I dug out the clock movement that I have to see if it will fit.  I think it will. I have to get DH to drill a hole in the middle of the heavy duty matboard the stitching will be mounted on. Next I will lace the stitching to the board. I am still deciding on the hands. I don't have the right size or color.  I didn't put numbers on the stitching because the brass plate has marks around the inner edge. I am very happy with how it looks. This may work out after all even if it seemed like a crazy idea when I started.

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Finished !

 I showed you that I finished stitching Margaret Light's Redwork Sachet. I managed to make it into a sachet. I filled it with imported from France lavender. I won't bore with how many ways I messed this up. It is finished and it is okay.

Front:

Filler:

I bought 4 cups but only needed about two.

Back:

I wish it was less wrinkly and have considered ironing it. It was nice and neat before I turned it inside out. But I am not taking out the lavender insert pillow. It was too hard to get in.

I am so excited as I have just finished Hampton Court! Now I have to figure out how to put it together and make it a clock. I was thinking I would have to mount the stitching on a circle but I don't.  I'll show you tomorrow. 

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Finally

 I have been without internet service since Tuesday night.  It was awful!! I am so entertained by messing around on the internet and suddenly I couldn't do anything. The technician finally came this morning and within about 15 minutes he replaced our modem. Magic! Now I have internet! DH says our modem was about 25 years old and the technician says the old modems are now failing. People were getting worried about me. I have had a health problem crop up this week but hopefully it will be resolved soon.

I got so much stitching done since I wasn't wasting time down a rabbit hole on the internet. Hampton court is very close to being done! When there is nothing else to do, I stitch.

I haven't finished off the sides just in case I need to adjust the edge. But look! Only one more section or hillock as Jenny calls them, to go. 

I also finished the redwork sachet. 

Now I just have to sew it together. I got the lavender in the mail on Thursday so I'm all set. But sewing it together might be a bit tedious. it has pom pom trim on the edge.  I wanted to make it easier for myself so I tried to use my sewing machine to sew it on. Nut the edge of the pom poms is so small that I could hardly do it even with a zipper foot. I may have to do the rest by hand. 

The weather here has shifted to glorious. It is wonderful to walk. 

Have a great weekend!

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Progress

 I am getting close to finishing this rework project. I went on Etsy to see if I could find some lavender. It is supposed to be a sachet. But how much? I decided on four cups. Hopefully that will be enough. Actually that is probably too much but I want the sachet to be pretty firm. 

I got the Sublime pen I ordered for making iron on transfers. I haven't tried it yet but the tip looks nice and fine. I have a feeling I'll be starting something new soon!

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Mother's Day and Confessions

 I had such a nice Mother's Day.  DS#1 and DS #2 sent me such nice things.

Lovely roses and humongous chocolate covered strawberries. Fabulous.

I also got a very generous Amazon gift card. That will be fun to spend.

DH got me these absolutely beautiful scissors. Wow. How lucky am I?

BFF suggested a system for organizing my threads. But she doesn't know the scale of the problem!

These are only part of my silk and specialty threads. 

This entire bin is DMC and it is full.  Help!

DH says it is more of a mess than when I started. He's right.

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French Knots

 I should be getting good at french knots since I'm having to make millions of them on this redwork piece.

But then again it is easy stitching. I like working with the coton a broder thread. I have more than a quarter of this project done.

It is a very sunny but cool Saturday here. It will be very nice for walking. The farmer's market starts here tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what they have. 

Mother's Day is tomorrow. DH has a very special gift for me!

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Fish on Friday

 I got the fish done on Hampton Court!

you can't see it very well but the fish has a fresh water pearl for an eye. Next is the sun. Making progress.

I've been trying to organize my threads. It is a disaster. I wanted to get them off the floor. But I have them in about six different places. I'm consolidating and sorting. What a mess!

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Found

 When I went looking for something stitched to be the doll's apron, I found several stitched projects that I wanted to finish. This is one of them.

I wanted to frame it but it is too little to get a frame from American Frame. Its minimum size is 5 inches a side. I didn't want to add a mat to make it bigger. In a normal world, I would have gone to Hobby Lobby to see if they had something. I looked on their website but didn't find anything. So I just laced it to a piece of comic board. Then I thought about the real housewives of cross stitch. Priscilla would put this on a fabric covered board. I have to find just the right fabric that won't distract from the stitching. 

I also found another Drawn Thread that I want to finish into a bookmark. 

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 I have wanted to knit a pair of socks for the longest time. I saw Pam Reed's flosstube (Pam's Crafty Corner) where she was knitting with yarn that makes stripes as you knit, Loops and Threads Pick a Pair. So I ordered some of that yarn from Michael's. Unfortunately the minimum order is three skeins. This color is called Walk Like a Man. Pretty funny. Then I needed some help from YouTube to figure out how to knit with double pointed needles. I love that I am getting stripes without having to change colors. I've messed up already but this is a learning sock and I'm not starting over.

I plan to start the fish on Hampton Court today. I've read through the directions once but I need to read them again.

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Redwork Sachet

I started my Redwork Sachet kit.

 I was happy with the transfer with my new pen. Si I had to try out working with coton a broder in DM 815. This is where I was last Friday. Now it looks like this:

This is an easy stitch. I messed up a little. One is supposed to do herringbone on the small leaves before doing the reverse chain around the outside. I did it backwards. I'm going to try it the right way and see if there will be any frogging. (Probably no frogging)

I found out Celebration os Needlework is happening in Nashua New Hampshire this weekend. They are having some virtual classes too. I have to pass on this one. But there is hope that retreats can happen again. BFF and I always had a great time going to retreats.

May the fourth be with you DS#2.

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