The Peacock's Feather

My First Pinkeep!!

Okay.  Here it is.  I know the recipient received it.  I hope she had a chance to open the package!  This is a Brightneedle freebie called Elizabeth  Stone Pincushion.  Elizabeth Stone published the first book on needlework, so this is a little tribute to her.  For this exchange we could use any freebie design and finish it anyway we wanted to. 

I stitched her over one on 32 count fabric using DMC and overdyed floss.  This was definitely a learning experience!!!  Stitching over one was a big challenge for me, and more than once I wanted to give up entirely on the project.  In terms of finishing I backstitched around the stitching, and then stitched the front and back together.  I inserted two pieces of skirtex inside along with thin batting.  I actually followed (loosely) the instructions that came with This Too Shall Pass II.  When I do the finishing for that pinkeep, I think I will modify it a bit and pull out my matboard (it turns out it was a good purchase--at the time it seemed expensive and for such a large piece!).

I think she turned out cute and I am glad I stuck with it, but in the future I plan on using matboard.  I prefer the stiffer look.  I think it is easier to pull the fabric taut over that, and the ribbon lays much nicer on a flat, straight edge.  That said, I hope the recipient likes my little pinkeep and is not disappointed with her.  Given the chance to go back and do the finishing over, I would use the matboard technique.  However, finishing for me is always a bit of a struggle the first time around!!

One little note:  sorry the photo is not in very good focus.  I think the camera was focusing more on the things behind the pinkeep, and then I enlarged it--it is fairly small--about 2" x 2-1/2".  I need to see if I saved a better, crisper photo...but you get the idea. :)

Fait Accompli!

Many thanks for all the nice comments on my Chartmakers RR!  I am definitely going to pull it out and try and finish up the sawtooth border down each side.  The design is about 7-1/4" wide and 18-1/2" long.  I am not sure what are good dimensions for making a huswife.  I think that is a really cool idea, though.  I would definitely have to pay a professional finisher to make it into a huswife, though.  I like finishing my own projects whenever possible, but a huswife is a bit beyond my abilities at present, and I would hate to mess it up!  If I don't do the Huswife, I plan on framing it.  That would be a nice way to display it, and probably more people would get to see it as well.  I should email a photo to Kathy of Carriage House Samplings as most of the designs were her charts!  She might get a kick out of it!

As for my "fait accompli", I finished my second pindisk this past weekend.  The second time around went much, much smoother.  I am really pleased by how it turned out.  I hope to show you the first one I made soon.  I know it made it safely to the recipient, but she is being good and waiting to open her package until she finishes up her project and gets it in the mail, too.  She has better self control than me--I would have ripped it right open! LOL.  The pindisk I just finished is for the Legacy Quaker exchange.  The theme was "sea and sand".  We were to use sand colored linen with some blue floss.  I really enjoyed working on this Quaker.  I may sign up for the next round, but I am trying to resist as I need to try and get caught up with my own projects.  I will definitely be stitching a Quaker design soon, though!  I was quite happy as even my husband commented on how nice it turned out.  While he is always nice about my projects, he usually doesn't say too much.  I will be getting the package ready go tonight, so I can mail it tomorrow.  I am a little sorry to send it off! And of course I will share the photo as soon as I can. 

I am working on my VS Angel.  I have been stitching the bargello skirt.  It looks really nice, but I made a mistake early on and that messed me up--I had to rip out three rows of colors!  And now on to my Halloween projects.  I have a couple of exchanges (already the stitching is in progress), and a birthday in October.  It is going to be a busy month!!

Round Robins

Earlier this week another stitcher happened across a photo of this round robin I worked on in 2001-2002.  She had asked about the designs, and I have finally pulled out the RR and the little journal that I kept along with it.  So I plan on emailing her later with the details.  Since I had it out anyway, I took a photo of the whole design (something I couldn't do with my scanner!), and thought I would share it here as well (for lack of anything else exciting to chat about!).  This was the very first RR I ever participated it.  I have stitched on a few Just Nan RRs as well as a Drawn Thread RR, but this one remains my very favorite.  It was a Chartmakers RR, which included Barrick Samplers (now Carriage House Samplings),  Goode Huswife (now out of business), and Elizabeth's Garden.  I really want to get it framed.  I just need to decide how I am going to finish the left and right borders (the top box extends out and the lower bands do not--does that look weird?).  And I also need to "sign" it myself and date it.  I need to press it as well (and take a better photo for my online album!). 

Jingle Bells

This is my last hurrah when it comes to stash ordering!  I saw this Victoria Sampler new release, and I had to have it.  My fun mail days are coming to an end--though I will have my exchanges to look forward to!  I am only waiting on one last package to arrive from Shakespeare's Peddler.  I had used up my frequent buyers card and mailed in an order, but I am still waiting for my goodies.  I ordered them way back in July (or perhaps the end of June)!!!  I am starting to get impatient, so I hope they get here soon.  The owner has been waiting on a Sheperds Bush embellishment.  Apparently SB sent an order, but forgot to include my button.  So back to waiting.  Oh well!

As for my Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm...this is one I will do this year!!  I will need to get some fabric, but I have the floss for it already.  It looks like such a simple chart online, but in reality, it has lots of specialty stitches--Queen Stitch, Colonial Knot, Herringbone, Smyrna Cross, Rhodes, Plait, Modified Ray Stitch, Star Stitch and over one stitching as well.  I bet this must be really gorgeous all stitched up!  I am not sure when I will start it, but it is finally feeling like Autumn, so I am getting into the Holiday stitching mood!  And by the way--I think I have sorta kinda decided on a Christmas design for the ornament exchange on the Stitching Bloggers Board!  Now to dig through my stash for supplies!!

Another Needleroll!!

 

This time...for me!  I finally was able to get my needleroll from Harsha today.  Actually the package had been sitting at my post office for three days now (!!), but I get home from work too late to get it.  I was afraid I would have to wait until Saturday to pick it up!  But someone in my family kindly went and collected it this afternoon, so it was waiting for me at home when I arrived from work.  Isn't it lovely??  Sorry, my photo does not do it justice--maybe I will try again tomorrow when the light is better.  The design is from Sweetheart Tree called Blueberry Needleroll.  I didn't even realize they designed needlerolls, so I will have to pop on over there and check out their NR designs (I have some of their charts and I think they are all so lovely!).   This is so nice and  elegant--I have had it sitting by the computer all night.  She finished the edges using the "Nun's Stitch", which is a great idea--so nice and neat.  And, she also included some very nice goodies--Monet Blue 28 count Permin linen (I have just discovered Permin--it is nice and stiff, which I prefer), so this is wonderful.  She also sent along a Bent Creek chart--Happy Valentine, which will come in handy in February (I am sure I will be in one or more exchanges, then, too--LOL).  Now I hope the other ladies in the group get their exchanges soon, too!

It Arrived!

My needleroll arrived safely at Karen's House!  So now I can share my photo.  This is the needleroll I stitched for one of the Stitching Bloggers exchanges (that I got to organize actually).  It is a Shepherds Bush pattern called Garden Roll.  I had a hard time deciding as I liked so many of their kits.  As I love garden themes, I chose this one.  I did, however, change the designs in the two outside squares.  The chart called for pulled stitches, and mine looked a bit odd.  So taking inspiration from Drawn Thread's Sanctuary,  I turned those two squares into "reflecting pools"!  I have a package waiting for me at the post office that travelled all the way from Singapore!!! I thought they would redeliver it yesterday (I think it will require a signature), but they didn't.  So now I am waiting impatiently until the end of the workday, and I hope to get over there to get it!!! 

Strawberry Fields!

Here is a very early-on picture of my progress thus far on Hillside Sampling's Strawberry Fields Stitching Bag.  I have only stitched a bit of the backstitching.  It is fairly quick going, but I am going to need a nice little chunk of time to get more finished.  Is anyone else participating in this SAL over on the Legacy Board?  I love these little accessories.  Strawberries are another of those motifs that I like (almost as much as bee skeps!).  Last Christmas I even stitched a couple of Prairie Schooler strawberries for friends.  I would like to make some for myself as well eventually.

There is not much going on with me at the moment.  I hope to maybe get in a few little stitches on my Quaker.  I would love to do the finishing on it this weekend!  I have once again changed my mind on what I am stitching for my Birthday Buddy (another group I belong to).  I had something picked out, but then changed my mind, then went back to the original idea.  But I have been dragging my feet on starting--mostly as I am uncertain on the finishing aspect.  I had a bit of an epiphany looking at a designer website today, though.  It is one of my favorite designers, and the recipient also listed them in her list of "likes".  I feel much more comfortable with this choice.  I know I can do the finishing and it will be fun to pick out some goodies to go along with the theme.  I wish I could tell you more, but of course this is all a surprise!!  Now I just have to wait for the chart to come...(and no more changing my mind!!!).

Quakers and Angels!

Look at the lovely needlecase I received today from Amy C.! (Sorry--the bee skep has nothing to do with the beach, but I don't seem to have any shells handy-LOL!) This is from a Quaker exchange on the Legacy bulletin board.  We got to choose a Quaker design with the theme--sand and sea.  The linen needed to be a "sand" color, with whatever floss that represented "sea" colors--blues, turquoise, etc.  I love my gift!  The design is really unusual--I will have to ask her where she got it!  The variegated floss really looks nice on this color.  The back has "Summer 2005" along with my name and Amy's name. The inside has lovely blue patterned fabric with blue felt attached with little beads and three gold needles! This is my first Quaker exchange, however, I think they have been doing these for a while now!!  I love needlecases.  I really am going to have to try one myself  soon.  Many thanks Amy!!  Now I need to finish mine up as well.  Most people in this group are quick stitchers!  I think they need to be mailed out by Sept 30, but I hope to get mine out very soon, too!

And here is my work so far on the Victoria Sampler freebie angel (Serena) that I got off the website.  She is a "gaden angel".  So far she has been fairly quick to stitch up.  Thanks to Julie who kindly shared her Kreinik braid with me for the middle section of her dress.  The bottom of her skirt is going to be a bargello design, which I think will be very pretty.  I had thought of finishing her as a needleroll, but she may be a tad bit small.  Of course needlerolls don't need to be a particular size.  On the VS website, she is finished as an ornament, which would also be pretty (but the ornament has a rounded top--how am I going to pull that one off?? Any suggestions?).  I don't think I will get any stitching done tonight, but I will take her to work tomorrow and add her other wing, and maybe get started on her skirt!  It is fun to see a design appear out of the fabric!

Lessons Learned on Making My First Pinkeep

This is the aftermath of my pinkeep finishing session.  Sorry, I can't show you the pinkeep in question, as it is for an exchange (such a surprise, eh!).  For me finishing has always been an uphill battle.  I have learned everything on my own--well, through books, online classes, and with the help of other stitchers.  I am such a visual learner, though, the first time around with something new is usually pretty rough for me.  So last night I undertook the finishing for my freebie exchange.

I chose a design that calls for over one stitching.  That alone was difficult, and I am sure you heard me agonizing over the process as well--LOL.  I stitched it on 32 count fabric, and some of the floss was very close in color to the linen, so it was hard adjusting, but I managed to get through it.  On more than one occasion I thought of scrapping this project and choosing another design, or stitching this over two.  I am now happy I stuck with it, though.  In the future I will choose my linen very carefully for over one projects.  I think for me, maybe 30 count would be great, or even 28 count!  Also a nice stiff linen would help!

As for finishing...I decided to base my finishing on the instructions from the This Too Shall Pass II Pinkeep kit.  First I backstitched around the design.  Then  I sewed my batting into place, overlapping the edges over the batting.  I cut two pieces of skirtex for the inside.  When I backstitched I stitched only over two threads, with floss the color of the linen--once again it was quite hard to see the stitches--I won't do that again.  At least had I stitched over four threads, I could have maneuvered my needle better.  Once it was enclosed came the ribbon and glass head pins.  I had a hard time keeping the ribbon very taut--it tended to buckle.  And the bow at the top was almost the hardest part--LOL.  So, in the future, I will be using Vero's instructions that she posted on her blog.  What I am not happy about with my pinkeep--it is not nice and flat, and the ribbon also does not lay completely flat!  In the future I plan on using mat board, as I think that will give it much better definition.  Let's just hope I can cut the mat board straight now!

On a happier note, I started my Hillside Samplings Strawberry Fields bag and accessories.  This is a SAL over on the Legacy board that I joined.  So far we are just working on he top of the bag--backstitching the lattice design.  I hope to try and keep up.  We are taking this slowly, just doing the stitching and saving the finishing for the beginning of 2006!  I love this design and I hope I can manage it!

And lastly, while I was out doing errands yesterday I picked up some Halloween fabric.  I thought I better while there was a selection as the closer we get, it will be all picked over.  I am not sure what I will use, but this way I have something to choose from.  It shouldn't take long to stitch up!  So far, not problems on this project!!

Think Christmas!

This morning Karen sent out the names of the ladies we will be making a Christmas ornanment for (on the Stitching Bloggers Bulletin Board).  I have....well, I can't tell you yet.  Hmmm, does it snow where this person lives?  Maybe.  So I have pulled out my past JCS Ornament issues as well as some BHG Christmas books that have projects in them.   She named a couple of specific likes, and I have found a few designs that may work.  I need to look through my charts, though, too.  The 2005 edition of JCS should be coming out soon, too, and there may be something good in that as well! Whenever I look through these past issues I always manage to find things I want to stitch as well--it is interesting how tastes change over time.  There are some designs I would never have thought to stitch, and now I would love to make them!

I am also going to be starting a mail art project very soon for a friend.  I have pulled out a couple of bandings that I might use, and I think I know what design I want to use, so now is a good time to pull out my box of charts!  Once I get these ready to go, I will have all my exchange projects under way.  It will just be a matter of sitting down to stitch!

This is a little off topic, but I thought I would pass along the title of a good book.  I am almost half way through Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  It is really good, and I thought I would mention it here as there are many descriptions of the characters doing needlework, and embroidery.  It is set in China in the 1800s, and the story is told by Lily.  Lily is a traditional young Chinese girl/woman.  At seven years of age she has her feet bound (thank heavens this is no longer done--it seems unimaginable!), and prepares for her life as a wife and mother. As is traditional she sews her own shoes and clothes as well as those for her new family before she gets married.  You can read the blurb on Amazon,as I am not really describing it very well.  But I am enjoying it immensely!