The Peacock's Feather

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone.  I hope you have a safe holiday and find many good things under your tree this year!  As I am in the midwest I am assured of a white Christmas!  As a matter of fact it's snowing now and due to continue through to Saturday.  Fingers crossed I have no problems getting to my family's house tomorrow to celebrate the day.  Very best wishes everyone!

Holiday Stitching

Although the project in my previous post is what I'm really hoping to finish soon, I decided to take a look at some other projects in varying states of finish.  One is nearing completion (the Carriage House Samplings angel) and one is not yet started (the BOAF ornament from an older JCS Ornament issue).  I wouldn't mind even trying to stitch one of the little mittens, too.  I'm not sure if getting them all together is just wishful thinking or whether I will really sit down and stitch, but 'tis the season, so I'm thinking about it at least.

November Progress?

I'm afraid that for the whole month of November I have very little progress to share.  Aside from the last couple of photos I've done very little stitching.  I did finally pull out an ornament that I had started that I thought would be quick to stitch up, but I'm still working on it very slowly.  This is from the 2000 JCS Ornament issue.  The design is by Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin.  It's a Christmas pin cushion.  I'm thinking of finishing it as a little pillow or a mattress cushion (is that what they're called?--I've never made one) or maybe a pin keep.  There's not much to it, as always I just need to find some stitching time.  I have several other partially stitched ornaments, maybe I'll pull them out.  I need another medium-size project I can get excited about like the BOAF Bee Skep, but it's a matter of finding just what that project is!

Strawberry Sweet Bag: First Stitches

I've started stitching my "Strawberry Bag" by Wendy KC Designs.  I had some questions on the instructions and the designer was kind enough to clarify some things so I guess I'm ready to go.  I've basted some of the fabric (didn't get the smaller piece basted for the accessories yet though) and have gotten the 328 backstitches finished on the bottom, which will form the bag and attach to the bottom.  So, now I've put in my first stitches. 

 

It's a fairly long piece of fabric, so I counted by sets of 25 to make sure I have the correct number of backstitches. 

 

And here's a close up of my first few leaves and what will end up being a strawberry when I finish my Queen Stitches.  I used to not enjoy Queen Stitches very much, but they've really grown on me and I love the effect.

 

Since I know it's going to take me ages to finish the bag, I've pulled out a smaller project as well.  This is from an older JCS ornament edition.  It's Mary Garry's Cabin.  I've had it kitted up for ages, and here are  my first stitches.  I will probably not finish it as it is shown in the photo as I don't hang stitched ornaments on my Christmas tree.  I thought I might make it into a cushion or a pinkeep.  But, first to stitch it!

Finished!

I've finally finished my bee skep.  This is just a quick photo.  I hope to take some better ones.  The light wasn't right, so the linen looks washed out.  You can't see the bees wings either, but you get the idea.  I'm happy with how it turned out and want to frame this one.  It's even mistake free, which is always a nice feeling.

I've got a few designs pulled out and am deciding which to stitch next.  Something small I think.  And I still plan on making my strawberry bag, but I am still trying to decipher the instructions and make sure I have everything set before starting to stitch (or baste in the case--before stitching).  It's taken me most of the year, but I've finally accomplished something at least medium-sized.

Coming Soon!

I've still got a bit of stitching to do on my BOAF bee skep, but I am nearly there.  Had I not been ill last weekend, I think it would be finished now.  Oh well, I'll get there. 

I wanted to share my next project.  I recently ordered Wendy KC Designs, "Strawberry Bag with 3 Sweeties" and have been studying the instructions.  Is anyone planning on stitching this?  I have to admit I am a little confused by the instructions.  I'm not sure who to ask for clarification.  I've not yet stitched and finished a bag like this, though I know more or less how to make the accessories. 

In case anyone is working on this and happens by...my questions so far:

There are two pieces of linen--if I understand the instructions the smaller piece is for the bottom of the bag, however the illustration shows the larger piece for the bag, a few of the accessories and the smaller piece is for the rest of the accessories. 

The instructions call for basting along the short side on one side.  Which side do I choose?

I believe I start stitching on the right side and work to the left and the bag patter gets repeated four times with ten threads in between. 

Should I cut apart my linen for the accessories, or wait until I've got everything stitched?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go.  I also have a feeling that as I begin stitching it will make more sense, but I'm a visual person and wish there were more illustrations on how to do this.

Any help is appreciated!

Almost There!

 

Just a quickie today.  I'm almost there.  One more weekend of stitching (I hope) should do it.  I'd stitch tonight but I am feeling under the weather (lots of people I know have been sick and I am trying to fight off becoming one of their numbers).

I also ordered a new kitted design.  I can't wait to get it and have been watching the mail daily.  It may have been a market release as I expected it last week, but it has still not appeared.  I'll share when I get it!

Out of the Loop

I've been very much out of the loop when it comes to the stitching world.  In the last year I've been lucky to post perhaps twice a month, and sometimes only once a month.  I expect I don't really have many regular readers anymore, though a few of you still kindly drop in now and then, which I can't say how much I appreciate it!  I'd like to get back into things, though at the moment my goal is to simply post here at least twice a week and try and get out more and visit blogs once again and see what everyone is up to.  I had been using Bloglines to keep up, but I hadn't gone in in months, and today when I did I had more than 500 posts accumulated.  I started going out and at least taking a peek at places I once read daily and was sad to see that I had been dropped from friend's blogrolls.  Actually I can't blame anyone as I am sure that it must have seemed that my own blog had gone defunct and I suspect that people like to keep tidy and up to date blogrolls.  Considering how infrequently I have been posting it may well have seemed that I had given things up.  I haven't, however, and I would love to get back into the swing of things.  I may still not have as much time to devote to stitching as I'd like, but I hate not keeping up with my virtual stitching friends.  I miss exchanges and bulletin boards (and I've been dropped from a few of those as well, but again I do understand why) and seeing new designs and getting new ideas and having finishes to share.  So, I will be switching over to Google Reader, which is what I use to keep up with other blog reading.  If you drop by here and comment and I don't have you on my blogroll (as I suspect there are new stitchers out there that I've not met during that interim I've been away), please let me know and I will duly add you.  I've also noticed that more than a few designers now have blogs themselves, so I will be searching them out, too.

So, for now I have an updated photo to share of "No Bees, No Honey".  The end is in sight, and I am going to be optimistic that I can finish it soon.  I'll be thinking about what to stitch next and perhaps be going through my bottomless pit of a UFO bin to find a small design to work on--perhaps start taking it to work with me again.  I only wish I was a faster stitcher and had more to share more often!  

One Side Down

I've actually made a bit more progress than this photo shows, but I'd like to at least finish stitching another side before I take another one.  I'm trying to be industrious as I have my eye on two new projects.  And then there is this design I'm tempted to buy and the new Hawk Run Hollow Christmas design (how will I ever be able to afford that one?  Will start with the chart first).

These are the two samplers I have sitting by my bedside all kitted up and ready to go.  I'm not sure which I will start next, though I've wanted to stitch the BOAF sampler for quite a while now.  I guess I should add at least one of the Hawk Run designs that is only partially stitched to my pile.  I'm never going to catch up with them all at the rate I'm moving...

Little Progress . . .

 

It's been ages since I posted anything, so here's a little update.  Alas, I've not made much progress because I've had very little stitching time in the last month.  Although it's hard to see I have filled in the diagonal lines on the bee skep.  I've started filling in flowers and bees in the inner part of the design.  Then it will just be the borders left.  I still want to finish it before the end of the year (long before then I hope), but at the rate I'm moving?!

 

I wanted to share this lovely bookmark that I found, too.  It's from Pomegranate.com.  They have the best bookmarks and I occasionally stock up on their new ones.  This detail is from Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Christine Lerolle Embroidering".   I've also bought a few new charts as well, but I will save them for a later post.  I decided not to order the Just Nan Kit I mentioned last time around.  While I can see why stitchers might like to get it, I have too many unstitched projects (many biscornus even) that I should work on first.  I don't mind an occasional splurge like that but it has to be for something I absolutely love and am dying to stitch (and most importantly don't have something similar in my stash already).  It's a pity the chart isn't being sold on its own as I would definitely get it and then kit it up myself with less expensive materials.  I'm sure I can find something equally as gorgeous on hand to work on!