The Peacock's Feather

I want to learn this...

I really want to learn "cartonnage"--or in English--making those cool, lovely little boxes.  I guess I should start with something small--like stitching something for the top of an Altoid tin.  Victoria Sampler has a few freebies with instructions on how to finish them as tin tops.  It seems as though there was a designer who had quite a few charts out at one time that were solely for tin tops (the name escapes me at the moment, but I will search around for that one).  I am sure some of you have already seen this link to this Tin Can Gallery!  How lovely and how creative. It seems as though there is also a book out in English by Judy O'Dell (perhaps?), on making boxes--that is what I need!  There are so many things I want to learn--I hope next year to accomplish more of these things (like the bags Merumo stitched for Vero and Sylvie)!  First things first, however, I hope to finish stitching ornament #2 tonight!  Tomorrow and Saturday I hope to finish stitching the birthday gift I was working on (fingers crossed!).  Then I will take the last ornament to work Mon-Wed and hopefully stitch that.  Finally the Friday after Thanksgiving is for my mailart!  And that leaves lots of finishing--maybe next Friday and Saturday.  With any luck everything will be in the mail by the Monday after Thanksgiving!!!  And all before Dec 1!!!  If I stay on track--I am allowing myself to stitch something I want on Thanksgiving.  I will be going to my sister's house, and I am sure I will be able to get in a bit of stitching while chatting.  I am already contemplating what I will work on....Such big decisions!

Which to Stitch First?

Sorry, I feel as though I have been very boring lately with no progress photos to share and not much exciting to write about!!  I am nearly finished with my Prairie Schooler ornament, which I hope to mail off next Tuesday.  I am also juggling the birthday gift (and the date for the birthday is quickly approaching), and my mailart.  I have taken Friday as a vacation day, and I plan on working away on the birthday gift!  I am making progress, but I crazily chose a medium sized design, and it just takes time to stitch!  I will have one more ornament to stitch, which I already warned the recipient that I may be a tad bit late.  I will still get it to her in plenty of time for Christmas, and she seems laid back about it--so I am nearly there! 

As always, I am thinking ahead.  One of my big goals for next year is to stitch a Just Nan chart.  These are the two I am planning on choosing from.  I really should start with Common Ground as it was released first, but I am leaning towards Silkwood Manor!  I love these house designs, and I think she is still planning on releasing more.  I also have Winterhaven Manor, but that will definitely come after I complete Silkwood.  I also plan on stitching the little accessories that are included.  I really love the little needlecases and fobs and such that JN designs!   I will also need to stitch And Many More needlecase which is the companion to Twenty Flowers, which I finished this past year (a photo is on my Picturetail album).  Of course, first things first, off to work on those gifts!  Who else is working on lots of gifts at the moment?  Or exchanges?

Brr, It's Cold Outside!

Today we are having our first snowfall of the season.  It has been going nonstop since I went to work this morning.  It is cold and windy, but not quite cold enough for the snow to accumulate on more than grassy areas.  It is nice and slushy to walk through, however, on the sidewalks and a tad bit slippery.  When I got home from work, one of my cats was all curled up on a blanket on my bed--doesn't she look nice and comfy?  In my estimation cats are the best nappers in the world!

Punchneedle, Anyone?

Okay, so who out there does punchneedle?  Over the weekend I picked up the current issue of Create and Decorate, and there are about four different punchneedle designs.  I have also noticed more than a few designers also have charts specifically for punchneedle.  I know nothing about it really.  But I thought this mitten was really darling and I wouldn't mind making it!

I really like this little crow as well. I was wondering what you do with a punchneedle project once you have completed it.  With cross stitch there are endless (it seems) ways to finish something small, and something large can be framed.  Punchneedle designs seem much smaller than a hooked rug or penny rug, but this looks really nice mounted and framed.  So now I need to do a little investigating.  There must be a website with information on this, and I know I have seen books on it in the Nordic Needle catalog (which I think I will be digging out later tonight).  I anyone has any experiences with this type of needlework--good, bad or otherwise--If would love to hear about it!

Projects in the Queue

This is a Carriage House Samplings design that I decided to finally kit up.  I don't have the complete alphabet series of charts, but I have several of them.  I really like how this one has more than just the letter "R" design.  She also included this pincushion.  It called for AVAS, but as there are several colors needed and not a large stitching area, I thought I would save money and just stick with DMC.  The fabric is 40 count 18th Century Brown by RR Reproductions.  I am looking forward to stitching this one, and it is going into the "soon to be stitched" bin. I am hoping to work on one large and one small project at a time.  I think I can get a small one done in one to two weeks, but of course the larger ones will take more time.  This way I will have some instant gratification while I work on a larger project!

I broke down a while back and ordered the Au Fil de Reves Bourse kit from Criss Cross Row.  She had been temporarily out of stock on them, but she finally got in her shipment last week.  This came in the mail yesterday.  I have the needlecase kit already, but I want to stitch this one first.  This will also be going right into the "to be stitched" bin as well!  I really want to learn how to make these bags.  I have heard they are not hard, so I am looking forward to this!

I will be sewing ornament #1 this afternoon.  I finished stitching it last week, but I had to shop for some suitable backing fabric.  I am hoping it won't take long to sew up and finish.  I will just have to box it up later and it will be going into the mail tomorrow.  I am half way through ornament #2.  It had been my goal to complete the stitching on it, but I am afraid I may not get it done.  I don't plan on mailing it out until Friday at the earliest, but it would have been nice to get it done ahead of time.  I also have made progress on my birthday project--sorry I can't give any details on that one.  I didn't complete quite as much as I had hoped, but I am still doing pretty well.  I am taking Friday off from work for a nonstop stitching session to finish up this project!!  As always, I will share my finishes for these when the recipient has received it!

Tiny Angel Progress

Here is the last progress shot of my Angel of Tulips.  Until I finish stitching on my remaining exchanges I have set her aside.  Patti has nearly completed her over-one angel!  I am looking forward to getting back to it, and I think I can stitch it up pretty quickly once I can work on it again.  I really enjoy working on 40 count linen, and this has been a very relaxing project to stitch. Besides, there is still plenty of time before Christmas, and I can add it to my tree.

If you remember recently I shared some photos from the Japanese Idees magazine that Takako kindly sent me?  One of the stitcher's  work I was admiring has a website.  Takako gave me Akiko's link.  She is a very talented needleworker and seamstress.  Her website   has lots of lovely things.  I keep coming across sites like this, so I am adding a list of website's on my sidebar under "Notable Needlework Links".  I will have more to add, I just need to dig them up.  I tend to be very organized, but I hate to admit, my computer is very disorganized.  My files are all over the place!  I am sure the list will grow! 

Sarah Tatum SAL

January 1, 2006 there is a  SAL starting on the Legacy board for Sarah Tatum. This Quaker reproduction can be purchased from The Scarlet Letter.  I have had this kit in my stash for ages, and even started it when I originally ordered it.  As it turned out the fabric was cut to allow only a very small amout of extra fabric for the borders.  I did not center it well, and I was afraid I would stitch right off the fabric.  So I ended up ordering a larger cut of fabric, and then I never got back to it.  As I have mentioned before, I plan on working on this Quaker next year as one of my larger projects, so it is great that the SAL is being organized.  I hope this will keep me motivated!  I ordered the kit with DMC, but now I am thinking of getting AVAS instead, as I really love these silks!  Elegant Stitch sells the smaller skeins, which would mean a bit less money than the full skeins, but I am not sure that will be enough.  There must be a formula for figuring floss requirements.  I will have to study the chart.  At least only one ply is needed.  I think I will stick with the fabric that I have.  It is 35 count--a neutral, light natural color.  I prefer 40 count, but I hate to get yet another fabric cut!  Anyone else planning on joining in with this SAL?

I have to share this very cool website with you.  It looks as though a French stitching group had a birthday exchange where they each made a needleroll for the recipient.  I love needlerolls, so I enjoyed looking a the variety of designs!  I wonder if they just adapted various designs to finish as needlerolls?  I really hope to stitch more in the coming year of these as well!

Bent Creek's Gobble

My friend, Sandy, has sent me this lovely little surprise, which came in the mail today!  Sandy is my "not so secret stitcher" pal.  We exchange gifts each month.  If you are interested in this program you can check out the Shakespeare's Peddler website, as she is taking registrations for next year now.  I will be sending out some little goodies to Sandy as soon as I get them from my INS.  I actually was looking at this design, but I didn't get it (I am trying not to order something for myself every time I order a gift for someone else-LOL).    And now I received it after all.  It is a smaller design than I thought when I first saw it.  It only measures about 4" x 4-1/2" when finished.  I can finish him as a cushion with tassles on all four corners!  It came with the fabric, chart, and floss.  This will be new for me--it calls for 3 plies of floss as the fabric is 25 count!  I am hoping that since I am making good progress on my exchanges, I may actually be finished by Thanksgiving, so perhaps I can squeeze this one in over my long weekend!!   He is too cute to leave in his plastic pouch until next year!

My Redwork Exchange

Cecile in Belgium has received my little package, so it is safe to post a photo now of my redwork.  I decided to make a pinkeep.  Actually I originally started with this design, but on natural linen, using a DMC red  (814), and had planned on finishing it as an eight corner pillow.  But then I was afraid to try a new finishing technique on someone's exchange gift, and I wasn't sure I liked this design for a little pillow.  So I opted for the tried and true pinkeep, and changed to white linen and an overdyed red floss (it wasn't labeled, but I think it is Needle Necessities Razzle Dazzle). No dangling threads on white linen--you have to begin each letter or motif new, because if you let your floss just hang from letter to letter--everyone will see it through the linen!  I think I did pretty good!  It was hard to line up the edges straight, but it doesn't look too lopsided at a distance!  Now I just need to work on that bow on the top.  That is always my hardest part--I can never (easily) get a big fluffy bow.  Any hints would be very welcome! 

It's Never Too Soon to Plan Your Goals

Since the year is quickly coming to an end (too quickly I am afraid!), I have already been planning my stitching for 2006!  Actually this has been going on for some time now.  I did this for 2005, but I hate to admit how little I actually accomplished.  But that is okay, it is still always good to have goals!

1. I am not going to go overboard on exchanges!!  Please repeat:  I am not going to go overboard on exchanges!!  I love them (obviously or I wouldn't be so busy with them!), but if I ever want to get through a tiny portion of my stash I better get stitching!
2. This brings me to my next goal...good luck on this one...here goes...I want to only stitch from my stash.  I have plenty of things to work on, and I really don't need to buy anymore !  Disclaimer:  I am sorry, but I have every intention of ordering the collaboration sampler that Carriage House Samplings is a part of--I have mentioned it here before.   A refresher:

The tentative name for the sampler is "A Most Noble Pursuit" and it's going to be spectacular! We hope to have it ready for Nashville (February), 2006.

It is a big sampler—408 stitches wide by 242 stitches high. Each of the 10 designers has designed a block. The blocks can all be stitched to make a large sampler or the blocks can be stitched individually.

The model uses Lakeside Linen's linen, Needlepoint Silk and a frame from Primitive Traditions.

The designers involved are: Brightneedle, Tricia Brage Designs, Primitive Traditions, Hands to Work, With My Needle, La-D-Da, The Workbasket, A Stitch and A Prayer, Praiseworthy Stitches, and me. 

As for my actual stitching goals, I want to concentrate on larger projects with smaller ones interpersed.  My big goal is to complete The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow.  Not half of it, not a few houses....all of it!  My other choices (in no particular order, except for Mystery IX, which I want to stitch as the charts are released!):

• Sarah Tatum
• Drawn Thread: Toccata I (and when I complete that Toccata II is ready to go), or as an alternative - Souvenir
• Just Nan: Silkwood or Common Ground (probably Silkwood, though) - and some of her accessories would be lovely as well!
• Victoria Sampler: Heirloom Homecoming
• A yet undecided Birds of a Feather chart

I realize that these are pretty large goals (for me anyway), but if I could stay on top of things in the same way I have for my exchanges, I am sure I could stitch more than I think I could!

As for smaller designs, I have plenty to chose from.  I would probably pick from: Goode Huswife and Carriage House Samplings pincushions, my Essy's friends kits, Shepherds Bush Sheep kits, Homespun Elegance Wee Fancies, Drawn Thread Seasonal cushions, Sweetheart Tree fobs, Au Fils de Reve Bourse and Needlecase,  and I really, really want to stitch Just Nan's And Many More needlecase!!!  And of course there is the UFO bin to choose from...

So you see, I need to try and not be lured away from my projects next year like I have been this year. I think I managed to complete more projects this year than any other year I have stitched, but the vast majority were for exchanges.  Of course the idea is just to be able to do what I enjoy--which is stitch, I just want to not have the stressful part that I have had lately  in terms of deadlines.  So next year--stitching for pleasure and no deadlines!  I guess that will be my main goal.  Am I the only one who thinks this far in advance???