That Circle Thing

I worked filling in stitches on the "easy" side of the mermaid shell.  Then I couldn't resist any longer.  I put in some the the circle thing.  I got all the bars in and now I am weaving a thread around.   I'm on my third round and I think it will need one more round.  But it looks good!   I think I can totally finish the "easy" side today. Next thing to tackle is the hard side.  Then we got the revised charts for the next two lessons

I went to my LNS yesterday looking for some Weeks Dye Works "Sunset".  No luck.  But sitting on the table was an old Brightneedle chart.  It was chart number four, Rabbit's Garden Sampler.

Too cute.  So I bought it.  When I got home I was looking at the floss list and it uses Anchor floss.  I only have a few of those.  So today after the Farmer's Market and exercise class I stopped by and got the floss.

Have a great weekend!
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Friday, September

How can it be September?  How can it be Friday again?  Times flies even if you're paying attention.

I got all the mermaid on the "easy" side of the shell done.  I started the rows of bars for the woven backstitch  circle around her.  But now I need to go back and fill in the stitches in the border.

I finished off Romina's Box.  All done!  Yeah!

I also sewed the trick or treat bag for Claire.  It turned out cute.  I wish the sides had more oomph (stiffness) to them.  Essentially, I used a paper bag the size that I wanted for a pattern.  The stitched design is really a pocket.  You could put your Glo-stick in there, I guess.

It is another beautiful day.  This week has been perfect.
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Finishing

I spent most of yesterday finishing Romina's Box.  I didn't really follow the directions.  I read the directions but kept thinking but why not do it this other way?  So I did it my way.  I'm not quite done yet as I needed some magnet sheet to go under the lining of the lid.  So I stopped by Hobby Lobby since it is now close by.  Yes, they had some.  So now I can totally finish it off.

I also found some Halloween fabric that I hope will work for finishing the Silver Needle Retreat piece into a trick or treat bag for Claire.  I prefer the laughing pumpkins to the skeletons but we'll see what looks best color-wise.

I got ten of the leaves done on the "easy" side mermaid.  Once I get all the leaves done I should go back and finish the shell.  More or less I have just to fill in stitches on the lower half.

I started the bottom of the beaded basket.

The directions are as clear as mud.  So I'm crossing my fingers that I am doing it correctly.  I may have to surf the internet for help.  Thank goodness for the internet.
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Fun Seaweed

Well, I got to working on the mermaid on the "easy" side of the shell.  I put in her scales and couched her tail.  I gave her curly french knot hair.  I realized that I forgot to backstitch her face.  Duh.

Then I started her seaweed sleeves and waist skirt.  I so enjoy doing a new stitch and having it work out.  I have one leaf done on her right arm and it looks good.

We got a message to hold off on the next lessons of Mermaid's Treasures so I have a chance to catch up.

I want to finish-finish Romina's Box today.  It is still sitting on my ironing board waiting for me to do something.

I got the latest Just Nan Limited Edition humbug in the mail yesterday.  It will be an easy fun stitch.

I tried out a fish or three in the River James.  I think they will be okay.  Once I gave them eyes, they looked more like fish.
We are going out to eat tonight!
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Another Perfect Day

It is lovely outside.  It seems a shame not to be outside enjoying it.  But I enjoy it from the inside.  I'm not an outside girl.  I don't like bugs.  Our screened in back porch is as close as I'm going to get to being outside.

I worked on the "easy" side of the Mermaid's Treasures shell.

I'm still in shell hell which is working on it until I get horribly, terribly lost.  But I decided to mix in something interesting like adding to the mermaid.  I outlined her.  I can tell when I am tired.  I had to outline her hair seven times before I got it right.

I replaced the bottom of the trinket box using mat board, Warm 'n Natural and silk. I like it much better.

I finished that little bit of border on Along the River James.

I finished the top edge of the casket basket.  I read the directions for the bottom of the basket and don't find them understandable (yet?).  I'll have to take it one little bit at a time.  I wish the directions were listed as little steps like Amy Mitten's.  If Amy Mitten were writing the directions I could build a bridge with my bare hands.

I wore my heart pin to exercise class.  I admit it, I was showing it off.
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Labor Day

It is Labor Day. No mail today.  No stock market.  But I have my labor all done.  I walked my 10,000 steps at the park and the bathrooms are clean.  A gentle breeze is blowing in the window and it is a lovely perfect 72 degrees outside.  I'm pooped.

And now for something completely different.  I got the casket basket kit in the mail the other day.

It came really fast.  I started it yesterday.  I was worried it would be too hard.  But so far it is easy.  Just string beads on a wire.  Two inches of green beads, four inches of white smaller beads.  When you do that 17 times then you can wrap it around a wire form for the bottom of the basket.  This is what it looks like:

Then you do another wire covered with beads for the top edge.  I am in the process of doing that now.  The  basket bottom and sides look hard but I haven't gotten there yet.  We'll see.....

Then I worked on the "easy" side of the Mermaid's Treasures shell.  After about two hours, I got terribly horribly lost again and just had to quit.  But I can see that I am making progress.  I am determined.  I will finish this!

So after that I needed something mindless and regular.  I picked up Along the River James and worked on the back border.

I'm almost done.  Then the improvising will start.  I really want to start the bargello pockets.
Happy Labor Day!
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September?

How can it be September???  Well, that's what comes after August silly.

Yesterday I went to write a blog post and discovered that the post I did the day before was only listed as a draft.  So I published the draft and took the day off.  I think there was some problem with blogger as I really did click the publish button but it didn't get published. Clear as mud?

Anyway, I had a bit more time to get some things done.  I worked on the easy side of the Mermaid's Treasures' shell.  Easy is a relative term.  I got lost.  Horribly terribly lost.  So I quit that and decided I needed to finish something.

I finished stitching the band for Romina's Box.  Yeah!  Then I went down to my regular finishing station which is my ironing board.

I got started with the finishing part by cutting the mat board pieces and crossing my fingers that they are large enough.  My back was hurting so I didn't do much more than that.

Then I set out to finish the Heart Brooch.

I got it all done and now I need to glue it together.  I still want to stitch the back on, it just seems wrong to glue it.  I am happy with it even though I know it is not perfect.  But you need a magnifying glass to see the problems.  I will enjoy wearing it.

Then knowing that we were going to get a new lesson in Cabinet of Curiosities today, I worked a bit on getting the trinket box lined.  I actually got the lining glued in.  I had my fingers crossed that it would work out.  Some of the glue seeped through to the silk and I was hoping it would dry and not be noticeable.  I think it worked out okay.

 I don't like the bottom.  It looks sloppy and slightly curled.  I am not a purist.  I am not in love with doing everything like they did in the 17th century.  I say use the great innovations of this century to do something.  I may take this bottom out and replace it with a piece of mat board that has a layer of thermolam on it covered with the silk.  That will make a nice smooth bottom that looks neat in the bottom of the box.

Also I tried gluing on the silver tape.  Not easy.

 I wanted to bend it around the edge.  I used rubber bands and clothes pins to hold it and for the most part it worked.  The ends are a little messy.  I need to glue some bits at the corners.   Again, I'm not a purist.  I would be just as happy with cheap silver colored lace that bends easily and glues easily and that you can fold under on the ends.  I wanted to see what the box might look like when I get the other stitching done.

So I wrapped a print out of the design around the bottom with a rubber band.  Cool.  Now where is that stitching?  Somewhere near the bottom of the laundry basket of shame.
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