The Peacock's Feather

Pumpkin Carving

Here is the result of my pumpking carving evening (which was last night)!  I found some templates on the internet.  I always choose something easy, but the results are still very cool when the candle is lit and the moon is out!  I hope to get all my chores done early, so I can stitch while handing out candy.  And you will (probably) be happy to know that there will be non-Halloween designs here for the duration!  LOL.  Now just don't get too tired of Christmas designs--those are next!

Happily, I finished my redwork.  I spent Saturday night doing the finishing.  I like how it turned out, and I hope the recpient likes it as well.  It is winging its way now over to her....Now what to stitch tonight...an exchange..or something for me???  Of course I can share progress on anything that is from me....I'll let you know tomorrow!

Still Searching...

I just received this pincushion/scissor case set in the mail.  I won it from an eBay auction.  If you recall I recently spotted a lovely pincushion that has a peacock on it.  The lady who stitched it gave me all the information to try and locate another one, but so far I have been very unsuccesssful in my searches.  It is a DMC kit that is a series based on an Oriental art collection from the V&A Museum in London.  I have a feeling that it is out of print, so I have been doing a little auction watching hoping one might show up.  I did come across this one in the interim.  No one else bidded on it, so I was able to buy it at a very reasonable price.  I thought this design was also very striking.  It comes with the chart, floss and fabric.  As the fabric is Aida, I will substitute with some linen from my stash.  Of course I can't even think of starting it anytime soon.  November is going to be very full of gift/exchange stitching for me.  As a matter of fact I am already starting to stress about meeting all my deadlines.  I think I am going to have to make up a bit of a schedule even.  If I can just make it to December I can relax and get back to my own stitching!!

A Halloween Pinkeep! BOO!

   

This is probably my last Halloween finish for this year!  I made this pinkeep for my friend, Sandy, for her birthday.  I think I am Halloweened-out now! LOL.  I love these sorts of designs, but now I am in the mood for something a bit different.  I had thought of stitching up quickly the little Shepherds Bush kit, Spooky Sheep, but I don't think that will happen now.  I have a little bit left to stitch on my redwork design, and then I hope to do the finishing tomorrow morning.  I have a birthday party to go to tomorrow night.  Then it is onwards to ornaments, and finishing up my mailart!!  I do think I will have to get the fabric out for my Victoria Sampler Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm, and get it washed and ready to go.  I plan on starting it next week.  If I am lucky I can work on my Angel of Tulips (for me!) this weekend.  So far I have the scallop bottom and half the tulips stitched.  I love working on it, and it is so tempting to pull out even though I know I have other projects that need to be finished first!!  I am sure I can find time for a little stitchng for me this weekend, too!

Japanese Stitching

Yesterday I was very pleasantly surprised to get a package in the mail from Japan!  I received this wonderful Japanese stitching magazine from a stitcher all the way on the other side of the globe (Many thanks Takako!! Domo!!).  I am so excited to have it--it is an absolutely wonderful stitching magazine.  I wonder if it is the Japanese version of Marie Claire Idees, but I only say that as I can only recognize "Idees" on the cover.  Marie Claire tends to showcase many different crafts, but this one seems to be all sorts of needlework--embroidery, cross stitch, sewing.  I wish I could understand the contents, but I am quite happy just to look at the photos!  You can still get many ideas for finishing and displaying.  I am also surprised as the text is peppered with English and French words and phrases, so I can understand a tiny bit.  There seems to be a definite French flair as there are lots of examples of redwork.  Since I am working away on my redwork project this is very fitting, and now I want to pull out something larger to work on--all in red.  Shall I share some of the inside pages...

 

I have never attempted any emboidery, but I love these little bags.  The designs are so sweet.  There is actually a pull out section that has some patterns, and some of these are included.  Maybe I can attempt it sometime!

This lady has an amazing home.  There are several pages of how it is decorated.  I love the light colored wood and simplicity--very nice.  And of course--look at the redwork samplers on the wall.  Lots of lovely little things to look at!

Look at the little cushions...some more ideas for me, as I am very into little cushions at the moment.  It is interesting to see the stitcher's workspaces here, too!!  I think I will be carrying this magazine around with me for a while!

Samplers, Samplers, and More Samplers

I found this Stitching Album on Vero's blog.  Apparently the link was on the Legacy board, and now I must go and look for it, as I am very curious about who owns this very lovely "Sampler Farm".  If you like samplers you must go and look through the album--be prepared--you are going to wish you lived there amongst so many beautiful things!!!  Did just one woman stitch all these gorgeous samplers?  How many are there, anyway?  Now this is truly a lifetime devoted to needlework!  How lucky.  Once again this reinforces my desire to work on larger projects in 2006.  Since I am such a list making person, I already have one started!  I want to concentrate more on bigger works and intersperse them with smaller projects like my little cushions or pinkeeps--any little needlework small.  Of course this will mean not so many exchanges, but it is nice to have variety in your stitching.  Enjoy looking through this marvelous album!

A Tiny Start

I made a very tiny start this morning in my Good Huswife chart Angel of Tulips.  I am starting on the bottom left, and I hope to be able to put in a few stitches every day.  I really love the colors.  It calls for 40 count Daily Grind linen by RR Reproductions and NPI silks.  I think I will enjoy stitching this.  The fabric is just stiff enough, and I only need one strand of silk, so it should be easy stitching.  Now it will just be a matter of juggling this and my exchanges.  I made a little schedule, and I should be all finished with my exchanges and everything in the mail by November 28th.  But that means lots and lots of heavy duty stitching until then.  I may stitch a couple of other little things for family and friends, but those should be low stress (if I don't finish them I will just buy a gift!  LOL).  So that means all of December stitching just for me!! I know I am a greedy girl! :)

One More for the Road

Why is it I can't place an order for a few things that are meant to be gifts, and not buy myself something as well?  I just received an order that had goodies for a birthday gift, and it included this Trilogy chart for me.  It would be great to stitch the little designs separately, and make them into little fobs, for example.  I don't think I will get any of them done for this Halloween, but it will be fun to use next year for an exchange or just for myself. 

I have just read on the Carriage House Samplings website that there are going to be two new designs this month.  I am eagerly awaiting pictures.  Usually she puts up photos on her website, so maybe something will appear this week!  I noticed on the Legacy board that she was asking what new designs stitchers would like in the form of more stockings.  I have a couple stocking designs, but I have not yet kitted any of them up.  Once I am caught up with my exchanges, I am looking forward to getting back to Houses of Hawk Run Hollow (and John Foster, too!).

Altengamme

I have just discovered this design over at European Cross Stitch.  It is a German design by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg.  I'm afraid I don't know anything about this company, and I am not even sure if it is a new design or a reproduction.  I may have to break down and order it.  I wish more information was given about it--stitch count and colors, etc.  It looks like would be a large project, but it would look quite nice in my living room!  Is anyone familiar with this design or the designer?  I will have to do some investigating on this one this week! 

I finished the gift I was working on.  I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  I will be mailing it off on Tuesday, and I will share a photo of it when I can.  I didn't work on the Just Nan freebie design.  Instead I was very good and worked on my redwork.  I made good progress on it.  Yesterday I bought fabric for finishing, as well as some ribbon.  I will be working on that and my mail art this week.  I will also be starting my Angel of Tulip by Goode Huswife as well.  I am sneaking that one in for me.  Unfortunately no stitching for me at all today, and now I am off to get things ready for work tomorrow!  Have a good week everyone!...and I will let you know if I break down and order Altengamme!!

WhimZi Frames!

I really love these little WhimZi frames that Just Nan (check that link to see all the designs!) has been using for her designs!  I now have two, though haven't yet stitched either.  They are both using freebie designs from JN.  I just received this second one in the mail yesterday.  It is called WhimZi Christmas Eve (my other one is WhimZi Feather Tree).  It is a limited edition design, and it was so cute, I had to have it.  It came with the frame, which has a cute little deer on it, the chart, fabric, beads, and an overdyed floss color.  There is also a lovely little red bag to store it in (or just think what nice gift it would make--though I admit, I am keeping this one).  I will need to dig out the other DMC colors to stitch it.  It is a small design and I could easily stitch it tonight (same with the other one as well), but I have a gift I need to do the finishing on.  I have also been stitching away on my redwork this morning.  So, we'll see how it goes.  I know, I am such a pushover for these sorts of things!  Just think how nice it will look on a little Christmas tree, though...

My Stitching Space(s)

Yesterday Vero asked for before/after photos of stitching rooms.  Since I don't have a room just for my stitching, I have to use different areas to store my stash, stitch and do my finishing.  So here is a little tour.  This is my "computer room".  It is pretty small and I have to fit a lot of stuff in it, so I can't spread out my stitching things.  I have a few framed things on the walls, and of course here is my computer!

Behind my computer are my bins of stash all ready and waiting to be stitched.  The bins on the right have needlework supplies, and the bins on the left have quilting supplies, sewing fabrics, buttons and ribbons, etc.  I also have more bins in my closet that have my loose charts (not kitted up), plus my flosses and linens.

I tend to stitch a lot in my bedroom.  So I keep my WIPs and UFOs here by my side of the bed.  If you notice I also have stacks of books (my other favorite hobby!!).  Under my bed I have a bin with needles, scissors and other gadgets.

Here up in my closet are my books and magazines.  There are stacks of magazines in a pile behind as well.  I keep the books I use most often with their spines out.  And I hate it when I am looking for a book that is on the bottom of that big stack!!

I do my finishing in my dining room.  I have to store my sewing machine out of the way as well.  But this is the best place to lay everything out and work.  Plus there is lots of good light and the TV and stereo are just in the next room--the living room.  The rooms are connected by a wide arch, so they are practically one room.

Finally, here is the shelf I display my lovely needlework gifts, and my own finishes.  That is my Shaker box that I recently bought, and I will be stitching goodies for this Fall (I can't wait--a lady in a group I belong to is designing the pieces, and they are lovely!).  I had to rotate some of my things out.  I have other stitched smalls in other places, and my Halloween goodies downstairs with my pumpkins and decorations (I will have to share a photo later). 

I really wish I had one room where I could spread everything out nicely, and not have to put everything away when I am finished.  But, you have to work with what you have!  As long as I get to stitch, I am happy!  If anyone reading this would like to share your stitching place, I would love to see--please leave a note in the comment area!!  Vero has also put links on her blog!  I love seeing everyone's stitching space!