The Peacock's Feather

Dainty Housewren

Since I am trying to achieve some of my needlework goals--I think I should post my progress on some of my WIPs.  This is one that I really need to get back to.  It is by Carriage House Samplings called The Dainty Housewren.  I only have the saying at the bottom to stitch, the remaining border and then lots of beads to add to it.  It is stitched on 40-count RR Reproduction fabric using Needlepoint Silks.  The problem is I have to work on it at work (when I am on break or before I start--as I come in a bit early every day) where there is fluorescent lighting--40 count fabric (and black at that) is too hard to see with my poor lamps at home.  I plan on finishing it as it is on the chart--as a pillow.  The finished pillow also has beads along the outside--in loops.  I am not describing it well, but it looks really cool in the chart picture!

101 Best Loved Designs...

Recently I lucked out and found a hard to find needlework book.  Actually there are several samplers that are included in this book that are hard to find.  The book was really cheap (about $5.00), and I found it in the Herrschner's catalog.  It is "Better Homes and Gardens 101 Best-Loved Designs from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts".  These appeared in the now defunct cross stitch magazine by the same name.  Although the book is packed with all sorts of designs, I am mainly interested in three of the samplers: Spanish Sampler, Quaker Sampler, and Dutch Sampler.  My favorite is the Spanish Sampler--there is a small picture of it on the cover of the book (top row, third from the left).  I have several Spanish Sampler charts in my stash, and I really have to stitch one sometime soon.  I absolutely love Spanish designs.  This one is particularly elegant (though it is not a reproduction of an existing sampler as far as I know).  I have seen a couple finished works online in other stitcher's albums--gorgeous!!

Bent Creek's Snappers

This is one of my monthly projects, which I have fallen behind on...Bent Creek came out with a Snapper series in 2003, which I received automatically, but I did not stitch them at the time.  This year I decided to stitch them in one long row (I think the fabric is a bit longer than is needed--it looks quite long, doesn't it!).  I am supposed to be stitching each month as it comes and filling in the outer border, but as you see, I am not finished with February yet.  I got behind in both my monthly projects when I decided to concentrate on my Peace project.  I had hoped to do a little stitching on February tonight, but now it is getting late, so that may not happen.

This is a close up of my stitching so far.  I had a bit of a problem with the snowman.  The chart didn't really allow enough room for the snaps, but I got them on there nonetheless.  They seem to have compensated for the size of the snaps on the February chart, so that shouldn't be a problem this time around.  The border will also have snaps all along it, but I will leave those until last.  I haven't a clue how I am going to finish this.  I don't think it is somethig I would necessarily frame and hang up.  I thought I might finish it as a long pillow and set it on a shelf perhaps.  But alas, that is a long way off, considering I am already behind! 

Finally Finished...

I have finally finished stitching a medium sized project!  I have been working on this one for a long time.  I actually started it ages ago and then it became a UFO.  But I pulled it out this year and made it a goal to finish it.  BOAF is one of my favorite designers, but I had a hard time staying motivated on this one for some reason.  I plan on taking this one to the framers and so I can finally display it.  I have several others that also need to be framed including another BOAF (Remember Me) that I finished last year.  Now I can get started on my John Foster reproduction sampler that I have been talking about.  I really should concentrate on some of my other UFOs, but the draw of a new project is just a little too strong!

Needlework Scissors

I really love embroidery scissors.  Gingher scissors are my favorites.  And this is my favorite pair that I own, which was a Christmas gift.  This design is called "Penelope".  I would like to own all the Gingher designer scissors.  I think there might be five or six designs out right now.  This is the only designer pair I have, but I do have various other pairs of scissors that are Gingher or other brands.

There is also a new book out on scissors, which I am very tempted to own.  I am curious if anyone else has it--what they think of it.  I know it is all in French, but supposedly nicely illustrated.  It is called "La Folie des Ciseaux" by Frederique Crestin-Billet.  I am sure I will eventually give in to my temptation and buy it.  I would love to find some antique scissors or other needlework accessories, but I imagine they are pretty expensive as well.  Someday I will have a lovely collection--to go with all my other stash!

Sampler Mystery I

I am working on two projects that come in monthly installments.  This is one of them.  It is by Martina Weber/Chatelaine Designs.  This is my progress so far on the Mystery Sampler I.  I had been working on it nearly every day, but as I am trying to finish my BOAF project, I have just been working on that one exclusively for the last week or so.  I haven't finished part 2, and now part 3 has just been released.  So I am going to be behind unless I can catch up this month!  I am still hoping to finish this mid-summer.  I am contemplating signing up for some of Martina's other new "shorter" mysteries, but that will depend on how far I am behind come May or June!

A New Project!

This is a new chart I am dying to start and am planning on starting it very soon.  I am nearly finished with BOAF's "Peace".  I would love to finish that one this weekend, but I have family commitments, so I may not get to it. 

This is a new release from the Nashville Market last month.  It is by Historic Stitches, and it is a reproduction called John Foster 1885 Sampler.  I think it is interesting that it was stitched by a boy (I am guessing he would have been a boy).  I am going to trim the fabric down just a bit and zigzag the edges.  The fabric I am using is 35 count Lambswool (my favorite fabric).  It calls for three overdyed colors and the rest are nice inexpensive DMC colors.    I will be stitching with one strand over two threads, which is nice as you don't have to worry about the strands getting twisted.

Here is a closer view of the picture on the chart.  It is interesting as the desginer gave DMC numbers for the colors as they appeared on the front of the actual sampler (more faded and muted) as well as the bolder colors from the back, which hadn't faded.  I am opting for the more muted colors of the front.  I love houses and one of my favorite motifs is the bee skep.  This has both, so it is just perfect.  I have heard that the stitched model is gorgeous!  I had thought of starting a smaller project next, but it looks like I am going for another bigger project!  And isn't the little bee skep fob great? 

My Stitching Blog

Although I already have been blogging (A Work in Progress), I thought it would be fun to keep an online journal of just my stitching.  Maybe this will help me keep motivated and organized!  So I created this blog--all stitching and only stitching! :)

I love this postcard.  It is a painting by Sidney Harold Meteyard called I am half-sick of shadows, said the Lady of Shalott.  You may not be able to see all the detail (click on the thumbnail to see a larger picture!), but she has all her lovely silk flosses and is working on a sampler of a knight. 

I will be adding links and other fun stuff to my blog.  So I hope you will stop by often, and please feel free to leave a comment--I love to hear from other needleworkers!

Happy Stitching!

2005 Stitching Goals

I have a list of stitching projects that I would love to accomplish, but most likely won't get anywhere near finished.  In an online stitching group we are having a stitching challenge.  Everyone lists their goals, and for each finish we receive points.  At the end of the year someone will get a goodie package for having accomplished the most.  Maybe if I list my goals here I will be more apt to finish some of them.  My problem as always is not lack of desire, but rather lack of time...

Finish my current WIPs:

• Chatelaine/Martina Weber: Samplery Mystery (this is a monthly installment project, I am working on part 2, so I am keeping up...so far...)
• Birds of a Feather: Peace (this has been waiting on me to finish it for forever--I am 3/4 finished with it)
• Bent Creek: 2003 Snappers (I am stitching these in a long row with 2005-2006 bracketing the ends.  I am just starting Feb.)
• Carriage House Samplings: Dainty Housewren (nearly finished with stitching, but lots of beads to add and will finish it into a pillow)
• Carriage House Samplings: The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow (very behind, only on house #2)
• Blackbird Designs: Peace (this is a Christmas design, and I was doing really well until Christmas passed and I sort have let it go)

Charts I would like to stitch:

• Birds of a Feather: My Betrothed Sampler
• Elizabeth's Garden: Trudy's Flower
• Carriage House Samplings: One Sheep, or Patty Parsley (or any of her great designs--I have several kitted up!)
• Le Chene Dore: Heart Sampler
• Little House Needleworks: The Bookshelf
• Lizzie Kate: My Secret Garden
• Shepherds Bush: Bee Garden (or any of her bee skep designs)
• Just Nan: Silkwood Manor (a big one I doubt I will get to!)
• Just Nan: And Many More (companion piece to my partially finished Twenty Flowers scissor case)
• Needles Content: Sampler Heart
• Drawn Thread: Toccata Number One

Not asking much, am I??  If I was to get half of these done, I would be happy.  Of course no new designs are listed--I have no doubt there will be things I want that come out next weekend at Market, or later on through the year.  I also tend to do exchanges during the year and maybe even stitch a gift or two, which takes away from my own stitching goals, but as long as I am enjoying myself that is all that matters!

The picture I posted, by the way, is a Birds of a Feather design that I stitched quite some time ago.  I haven't decided how I want it finished.  It is not a very large, but I love anything by BOAF!