I'm Short

 I am short, 4' 11". But I am also short about half an inch of silver smooth purl metal thread!

I worked diligently on Hampton Court, telling myself I could quit when I got all the castle down. But I didn't have enough silver smooth purl to finish the last tower top. Rats. I went looking through my old kits from Jenny Adin Christie looking for just a scrap of the silver purl. Nope. None. Where could I get some? I could email Jenny and she could send me some but ordering from the UK when all I need is a bit? I found some gold purl I bought from Hedgehog Needleworks a while ago. They are out of business now. So maybe I'll go looking for a needlework store that carries it.

On another subject, I ordered a protective case for my vaccine card from Amazon. It took forever to get here. I didn't know it was coming from the UAE. Then it was the wrong size for my card. So I tried again after measuring carefully this time. Two days later, I got them. 10 of them. So be careful. The 3 inch by 4 inch was too small and I didn't want to cut my card.

A

Feeling Creative

 I got a new book along with the carbon paper I ordered. It is a Japanese book of lace.

It is all in Japanese but it has charts for the lace in the back of the book. 

I have one more doll to finish for a friend. 

But she has a cracked back. I don't know how to fix this so I'm going to ignore it. I can't see it hardly at all in this photo so I guess it's okay to just ignore it.

I went through the drawer of shame, completed cross stitch but not finished. I found a sampler that I stitched quite a while ago by The Drawn Thread. The alphabet was too light a color and I've never done anything with it. So I cut it up. This can be an apron for the doll. It is sitting on a very light green dupioni silk that can be her skirt. 

I think I might be able to use other parts of this sampler on a small edge of my double casket.

We'll see if it works out.

A

Halloween Mouse

 I had an itch to start something new. I went looking for something easy and quick. I found this Just Nan project all kittted up. I usually don't buy Halloween designs as it isn't my favorite holiday. Somebody may have given it to me or talked me into buying it. BFF? 

I stitched the mouse. 

He has a jack-o-lantern on the back and a ghost on the front.

Yesterday it was 83 degrees! Hot. 

A

Transferring

 I tried out two of the pens I ordered for making iron-on transfers. 

The green  Ibotti pen made this transfer. The bottom of the transfer is a little light but it is readable enough to stitch. I'd like the lines to be a little thinner. I have ordered this kit from Inspirations but don't have it yet. Maybe the threads in the kit will be thick enough to cover the transfer lines. We'll have to see.

This is the Sulky Iron-on transfer pen. I think the transfer turned out very nicely. It is a lot better than when I tried tracing it on the light box. I started stitching this one.

Mary Corbet likes a different pen because it makes a fine line. I'd like to try that one.

I'm making chocolate chip cookies. M-m-m-m

A

Monday

 My teeth are clean. I had them cleaned this morning. Luckily no cavities or other problems. I watched the Oscars last night. I thought the program was very well done. There was a respect for the actors.  I didn't miss unfunny jokes. I was surprised that the nominated songs were not sung but I saw two of them performed on the pre-show. I loved the flowers. They were fantastic. I want to see the movies Nomadland and Minari.

I got the central tower on Hampton Court done. I can finish the castle part of this design this week. 

I dressed a porcelain doll for a friend.

I'm getting antsy to start something new. I'm also feeling like making cookies.

I should get the carbon paper today.

A

Windows

 I've been working on Hampton Court windows. Two more windows to go until the next step.

There is cross hatching across the windows. Making progress!

A

Miscellaneous

 I got the iron on transfer pen yesterday but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet.

I got a bit more done on the bird. Should I try different stuff on the other side or just finish it like the first side?  I'm still thinking.

I ironed the A that I finished.

I think I'll frame it.

Time to go walking.

A

Transfer Trouble

 I wanted to start this project.

The first thing to do was transfer the pattern to the fabric.

I did a terrible job. I started off with a brown permanent marker (Micron). It was a little hard to see. So I tried a black Micron pen. I didn't get it lined up right and the very first mark I made was wrong. And several places were missing parts. I thought I would just try stitching with the Coton a Broder thread since I haven't used that before. Maybe that would cover my mistakes. Nope. I decided I need fewer lines than the pattern. The stem up to the flower had black lines showing on both sides. Luckily there is enough fabric to try the transfer again. But just to be safe I ordered carbon paper for making an iron on transfer. Then (I am queen of over kill) I ordered two different transfer pens for also making iron transfers. They should come today. So hopefully I won't mess it up again. This is not the first mess up trying to transfer. I tried with the castle keep and gave up after ruining the fabric. Oh, well, the linen was too tiny anyway.

I also transferred another Margaret Light pattern but it is less messed up. This fabric is thicker and hard to see through even with a light box.

Wouldn't it be nice if the Inspiration kits came with the design already on them?

It is snowing outside. That's depressing!

A

Goldwork Bird

 I started this kit a long time ago but put it away when I didn't like how it was done. 

When I took watercolor classes we learned that we should paint in the direction that things grow. So it bothered me that the lines on top of the head of the bird were vertical instead of horizontal. Also the white felt shows through the design at several places. I really want to finish this even if it is more of a learning piece.

I will live with the head not being right. I thought of using some Italian ribbon under some of the goldwork so the felt doesn't show.

 I also tried a new thread I have for another place under the upper wing but you can't see that very well. 

Not too much more needs to be done and one side of the bird will be finished. I have a little button music box that may fit between the halves of the bird. We'll see.

I want this bird to be inside one of my caskets if it turns out okay.

We got some snow yesterday but not enough to hang around. I haven't walked for two days so I'd better get going.

A

Hampton Court

 Great progress has been made on Hampton Court! All four towers are done. One side of the castle is done and I have started on the other side of the castle.

Wow, it will be a clock in no time.

I've been looking around for something to start next. I found a very old project that I want to finish.  It is a gold bird. I was not happy with some of the design. So I'm thinking of how to change it to suit me. I'll show you tomorrow.

It may snow today! Ugh. I didn't walk yesterday because it was raining.  I should put on my winter coat and go today.

A

Last Leg

 I'm working on the last leg of my A.

I just have to finish up the confetti on the lower left leg and I will be done! Yeah! I will finish this today.

Then I need to decide how to finish-finish it. A frame? Maybe.

A

Towers

 I finished the four lawns on Hampton Court. Yeah!

I tried using the filament silk again but it was not cooperating. I cut it out and went with Aver a Soie.  That worked out so much better. So now I'm starting the towers. Right now I'm putting on the felt padding.

On Instagram I saw Jenny Adin Christie's bespoke design for a double casket. Wow. It is very inspiring. The design looks like Jenny asked for things that meant something to the stitcher and them incorporated those things in the design. Makes me want to make a list and doodle with a pencil.

A

A Rainy Thursday

 What an I doing on a rainy Thursday? I'm tracing a Margaret Light Design onto fabric. 

This is the design called Rose Hips.  I have an Art Graph light table. It is easier than taping it to a window.

I was so happy with the Blackbirf Needlecase that I want to try another one of Margaret's designs that are in her book, A Fine Tradition.

I got the first two rows of the Margaret Bodin's 1802 sampler stitched. More letters and numbers in the next row.

I guess you could say it's a Margaret kind of day.

A

Lawns

 I worked on the lawns of Hampton Court. It doesn't look like I stitched very much but I took it out three times. I decided to try silk floss instead of the filament silk. 

Two of the four lawns are done and I have started the third.

It is starting to look like spring outside. The trees have green buds on them. Our daffodils are blooming. The crocus have come and gone. I'm able to walk by myself back and forth in front of my house. It's great.

A

I Threw It Away

 I got the new zipper to try and make the bag from the monthly club. I worked all morning, I made mistakes again and had to take out four different seams. But I did it to prove to myself that I could do it. In the end, it was a disaster. Fabric kept getting caught in the zipper. So I threw it away. Forget that #$%^.

Note to self: Don't buy stuff you see on FaceBook.

But all is not lost. I got a kit in the mail yesterday. I signed up for The School Girl Sewing Club through The Crewel Gobelin. This is the first kit for the year. 

The chart is good. They didn't skimp on the threads. I started stitching the scissors fob. I goofed and used the wrong accent color on the crown but it looks okay. I also added a bit to one side of the fob. It was a little too plain. And I finished it! I may even stitch the sampler. I started the upper left hand corner but then I got the idea to do a long armed cross in Artic Ice instead of cross stitch in Dirt Road for the border.

We'll see how things work out.

A

Uncle

 I tried working on this project but I give up. This project is not working out. It is too big. It would have an industrial sized drum.  I like little delicate petite things. This was working out to be bigger than I wanted. 

The colors were a little too bright so I'm quitting. There was one color that did not show up on this color fabric. Nope, not going to finish it. 

I did completely finish the Blackbird needlecase. I didn't use the red felt as needle pages because I found already cut needle pages in the kit. pt trying to get the pages straight and they kept getting smaller and smaller so I quit. Good enough. I used a small scallop scissors on the edge.

Done!

Love it!

A

New Start

 Since I have the beautiful clock surround and frame, I wanted to start the Hampton Court kit. 

The first part is to color the pond with special colored pencils. I already stitched this kit several years ago. I ordered the special pencils. Could I find them? Nope. I have a ton of colored pencils and decided to use what I have. I am happy with my coloring. There is a special metallic strip goes over that. Next step is the four lawn areas done in filament silk (not my favorite thread).

This is where I am:

I am happy with my new haircut. 

Amy Mitten is teasing me with sneak peeks at her new design. I don't think I'm going to be able to resist getting it. Too cute. Can't wait to see the whole reveal. 

Have a great weekend!

A

Friday

 I ironed the Blackbird Needlecase. I really like how it turned out. I just happened to have some red felt on my ironing board and thought that would work for the needle pages.

Front:

Back:

Lots more to do to get this finished. I have to cut some quilt plastic and pellon along with the lining. But first I have to find the ziploc bag it is in. 

Today I'm getting a hair cut! I had no hair a year ago. Now I need a haircut to not look like a homeless person. I've come a long way, baby!

A

A

 this is where I am on my A.

I have worked my way to the bottom right. This goes very slowly since it is full coverage,

I love all the colors. 

I finished the Blackbird needlecase. I've been reading about the finishing. I'm so happy to have finished this.

Wonderful warm weather. I even put on shorts today.  Wishing you a good day!

A

So Almost Done

 I am so close to finishing the Blackbird Needlecase by Margaret Light!

I just have to finish the blossoms on three trees. There are 9 of them and one is done.

Soon!

A