The Peacock's Feather

Au Fil des Reves

I really love the new designs by Au Fil des Reves!  I have three of her kits in my stash, and you can see photos of Sylvie's new designs on Vero's Blog.  She posted photos a couple of days ago.  I have started Atelier de Brodeuse (and hope to pull it out and get it finished!), and I really want to work on Bourse Maison de Brodeuse--perhaps over my Christmas break!  I also have in my stash Porte Ciseaux et Aigulles Maison de Brodeuse (I need to get the first two done before I contemplate this one!).  What I love about these designs, aside from the fact they are very lovely, is that she includes everything you need with the kit.  It is nice not having to track down all the supplies.  I tend to stick with what the designer chooses, so you can start stitching on them right away!  As for the new designs--I think I love them all.  I especially like the new Bourse design, the little friendship cushions, and the Chatelaine design.  Oh so many things to stitch!

Now that I am nearly caught up with my obligation stitching I can start planning for my own personal stitching once again.  First on the agenda is to get back to my Angel of Tulips!  Patti is nearly finished with hers!  And she is stitching over one!  I also am all ready to start my VS Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm (yay).  I would also love to finish stitching my John Foster Sampler.  I started it ages and ages ago, and it would be wonderful to get it done before the end of the year!  I can't wait to get going on these!

Huge Sigh of Relief!

Whew.  I went to the post office today after work and mailed off the birthday gift I have been stitching on for ages. I think it looked quite nice, and I hope Lynn likes it as well.  As soon as she receives it, I will post a photo!  I also mailed off another exchange package (though this one did not have a stitched item--only stitching goodies), and finally the mailart I have been working on for some time as well!!  So I currently have four boxes and one mailart floating around in the postal system.  Fingers and toes tightly crossed that they all arrive at their destinations safely!!  I was able to cross lots of things off my list of stitching projects.  I only have one ornament left to finish up and get into the mail!  Yay.  I hope it goes smoothly and I can get it in the mail no later than Monday.  So now, tonight I am beat and I am taking a well earned rest!  I may have to pick up my Su Doku puzzle book and study it.  I bought it last time I was at the bookstore, and I hear the puzzles are quite addictive!

A Cyberclass and Lots of New Goodies!

I have decided that I need to take this Victoria Sampler cyberclass.  Isn't it lovely?  It is called The Peaches and Cream Needlepillow.  I really like the colors, and as you know--I am really into little cushions.  This one measures 5" x 5".  Per the description on the website:

"It is done in soft peach and ivory shades with antique copper accents, this design combines silk ribbons, silk perles, crewel wool, floss, perle cotton and sparkling beads.  You will be guided step by easy step into making and practicing satin stitches, hemstitches, hardanger, diamond eye stitches, beadwork, smyrna crosses, mosaic stitches, rice stitches, three sided eyelets, backstitching, and some easy silk ribbon stitches. After this class, you'll want to do several more in different colours.  A beautiful design for a ring-bearer's pillow, jewelbox-top, or framed piece!"

It starts in January, and it lasts for four weeks.  It will be something bright to stitch on when it is dark and grey outside!

As for the other goodies--I received a new supplement catalog from The Essamplaire in Canada.  I have only taken a quick glance through, but my favorites are the sampler on the cover, Isabella Carter MaClean-1799, and Augusta's Bristol Orphanage Sampler circa 1870, which appears to be stitched all in red (alphabets and other motifs).  It looks like there is also going to be a seminar in Banff, Alberta, Canada on samplers--wouldn't that be fun to attend??  I was also surfing a bit on the web, and I found some new charts that are going to go on my list (and we'll see how long I can last in resisting them!).  There is a new Bent Creek "Littles" chart called Santa (I thought they would go for another animal--a reindeer maybe, but Santa is very cute, too).  Little House Needleworks has a new chart called Season of Rest that is finished on a Trail Creek Farm Pillow. And two new designs from Country Cottage Needleworks --both very cute.  I found a few things on another INS, but I can't share them at the moment, as at least one will be a Christmas gift!!  And in just a few days, Martina will release the "try out" design for Mystery IX!  Oh, so many lovely new things!  Am I the only person drooling over my computer?? 

It's Official

Yes, it is official.  I am definitely the world's slowest stitcher!!  At least that is what I feel like at the moment--LOL.  I finally finished stitching on the birthday gift I have been talking about for so long this morning!  I pressed it, and I am now working on stitching it together.  After my last problems with the sewing machine, I am hand sewing this, and it is going to take me all afternoon at the rate I am going now!  I am obviously not going to get my last ornament done and mailed off on time.  I already let the recipient know.  I hope to get it finished by Friday, though--so that will only be a few days late.  I just found out today that the group I belong to that is for birthday exchanges (the gift I am currently working on), is going to disband this December.  I am very sad, as it is such a fun group.  I think the lady who has organized it is very busy, and I know with all the EzBoard problems I think she would rather not deal with it anymore.  I can't blame her, as I certainly know what it is like to have lots of deadlines and outside pressures, but I have greatly enjoyed this group!

On a happier note, look what I received in the mail yesterday--a nice surprise.  I owe Cecile a thank you email!  She was my exchange partner in the redwork exchange--I made her a pinkeep.  She sent this lovely floss as a thank you, which was very thoughtful!!  It is Stranded By the Sea floss in "Flame Scallop".  Isn't it lovely (well, the photo doesn't do it justice!).  I have never used this before, so I will have some pretty red floss for my next project!  Merci, Cecile!!!

Okay, off to sew!!!

Fait Accompli

I should really say Faits Accomplis!  I finished my mailart yesterday.  I did the finishing touches about 9:30 last night!  All I have left is to choose what stamps I will use.  I always like to look at the U.S. Postal Service's website and see what pretty stamps will go with the design.  It always takes me twice as long to do something than I originally plan (or I just set too high of goals!).  But I am quite pleased with how it turned out, and I am glad I did not rush on it!  Gina will probably fall over when she hears I am finally finished.  She has been patiently waiting for me to send this and no doubt was despairing I would ever get it in the mail! :)  I hope to get to the post office after work on Monday or Tuesday to mail it, along with the other two projects I am working on.

My other accomplishment is the sorting of all the floss that came with my Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm embellishment pack.  This included quite a few different bead colors--what fun that was sorting them out--not!  It took a while sitting by a sunny window on Thursday morning to get them all labelled correctly--I put them in little snack size ziploc bags (not too attractive, but it should work).  I hope I matched everything up correctly.  Apparently Thea, the designer, had several emails letting her know this was a bit of a chore, so she went into the list and added what lengths of each color came with the embellishment pack.  That did help when two colors were similar.  There are quite a few greens, so it was a challenge I had not been looking forward to!  I hope to finally start it this week.  Today and tomorrow will still be obligation stitching. I hope to read everyone's blogs again soon, and I owe some people emails--hopefull later today and this coming week I will get all caught up.  As for today--I have errands to run, and leaves to rake along with my stitching, so I better go get to work!!!

Christmas is Coming!

Finally, a small finish for myself.  Actually I still need to mount it into the little frame, but I will do that next weekend.  I stitched this yesterday over at my sister's house, where we went for Thanksgiving.  I took several projects, but I decided something small would be the best choice to stitch between chatting and eating!  I have wanted to use my little WhimZi frames, so now I will have another little ornament for my tree.  This was a limited edition kit--I just needed to pull out the DMC from my stash.  I think it will look cute in its little frame, and I will share it when it is completed! 

Now I am going to get a few chores out of the way, and then this afternoon I need to sit down and finish my mailart!  It is pretty chilly outside, so this will be a nice little project to spend the afternoon on. 

Working Away....

I have no new photos to share today.  I have been working away on the last of my ornaments.  I spent several days working on the one I just mailed today.  I can give away the designer--it was a Prairie Schooler design, and I totally enjoyed stitching it.  Unfortunately I can't be trusted to use a sewing machine--LOL.  I had some problems, and three tries later I was finally fairly happy with the end result.  It was not exactly how I wanted it to turn out, but given the fact that I had trimmed so much linen away from the design, I am surprised I saved it at all.  The last try I sewed by hand, which I plan on doing for as many of my finishes (at least smaller things such as ornaments) as possible.  I tend to be overly critical, so I am hoping the recipient will still like it.  When I was packaging it this afternoon, it was starting to grow on me again.  I guess after several days fighting with it, I got a little tired of looking at it. 

So, here is my agenda for my long weekend: finish the last of my stitching on the birthday gift that I have been working so diligently on!  I have decided to stitch the personalization on a separate piece of linen, then stitch the Nun's Stitch around it, cut it out and sew it to the back of my mystery project.  That sounds very elegant to me! I just got home from a quilt store where I picked up a couple of very lovely fabrics to use in the finishing.  The ladies there are so good at helping select an appropriate fabric.  I wish I could have looked around more, but I got there fifteen minutes before closing--so no browsing for me tonight!   I am planning on working on and hopefully sewing my mailart on Friday.  Now that will require use of the sewing machine, but I promise not to trim anything until I am sure!!  And the last thing I need to finish is the last ornament, which I worked on a bit today.  I think this will all be do-able within the long weekend.  The question is--do I take a breather tomorrow and work on some little project of my own?  I was leaning toward the Gobble kit by Bent Creek that my friend, Sandy, sent me, or the little house design that was the last Essy and Friends kit.  Or...I could work on my Angel of Tulips ornament???  Such a dilemma.  I guess I will wait for tomorrow and see what calls out loudest to me!

For everyone here in the States who is celebrating the holiday:  Happy Thanksgiving!!  For those ladies who are not here, we'll have lots of turkey and a big piece of pumpkin pie for you!! :)

Look at the Lovely Ornament I Received!!!

Melanie in Australia stitched this gorgeous ornament for me!!  I *love* it!  I think it is a Prairie Schooler design, and she is one of my favorite designers!  It is stitched and finished absolutely perfectly!!

Here are the goodies she sent.  She also included yummy chocolates and cranberry (perfect for the holidays) lip balm.  The lip balm is even from the Body Shop, which is a favorite store (I get my moisturizers from them--very cool company).  Now I just need to hide the lip balm and chocolates from my niece--LOL!  Thanks so much, Melanie!  What a wonderful way to start the week!  I am hoping I can get together enough little stitched ornaments for a small tree!  This will be a lovely start to my collection!

Stitching Update...

I'm sorry I have no photo to share today.  I have spent the weekend stitching away on my exchange/birthday gifts!  Quite literally I am beat!  You would not think stitching could make you tired, but I seem to have held by head funny and now my neck is a bit sore.  Also I have managed to prick a nice hole in my middle right finger!  I cannot stitch with a bandaid, so it has made for a few painful moments each time I hit it with my needle.  I didn't quite meet all my goals, but I am pretty pleased with my progress.  I have nearly finished my birthday gift. This was the one big project I have been so worried about--the others do not feel quite so daunting to me! I only have a small-ish segment on the top and bottom to complete and I hope to personalize it in some way.  I have not bought my finishing fabric yet, so I hope to do that this week sometime.  I think I will wait until next Saturday to do the finishing--it is going to be a very sewing machine sort of day as I also hope I will be finishing my last ornament and my mailart as well.  I do have a tiny bit of stitching left on ornament #2, and I will put it in the mail Tuesday or Wednesday (the 23rd is the official mailing date).  I am really looking forward to hitting the sack tonight.  I would like to just hop in bed and look at a magazine or something else mindless.  Fingers crossed that I will complete everything I want to this week!!!  I hope I will be able to share the first ornament I mailed off last week.  I have been checking every day, but the recipient has not yet received it!  Soon I will have something fun to share.

Walking in a Winter Snapperland

When I saw that Needlecraft Corner was having a special on this, I had to order it.  Annemiek and I had been talking recently about Bent Creek designs.  She is stitching this year's Snapperville, and I have stitched about a third of the original snapper set.  I thought this little Winter village was cute.  And there will only be four charts (maybe I can keep up??) with a nice freebie border to put them in.  The first one is the Chalet.  It uses overdyed floss, and I am stitching it on 32 count Opalescent Raw.  It has a nice shimmery feel to it, which will be nice with a snowy theme!  We actually got out first snow here where I live this past week, but it has nearly all melted--so this may be a very fitting set of charts to work on in the upcoming months!