The Peacock's Feather

Not Much to See Yet...

Last night I ended up starting the Mill Hill beaded pin pillow while watching the BBC production of Dickens' Bleak House on PBS.  As you can see there is not much to look at yet.  Even though this is a small design, I have discovered I am slow at beading!!  Some of the stitches are cross stitches and some are beads, so you really have to pay attention.  It is fun to do, though, even if I am very slow at it!!  Tonight it will be back to work on Valentine's Day project #2.  I also put in a few stitches on John Foster.  It is so hard to not just pull that out and finish it I am so close, but I already feel guilty at being late with the Valentine's gift!

I am not sure if it is the January blahs, or what, but I am contemplating giving my blog a bit of a face lift--I am thinking it is just not that exciting to look at.  I may mess around with the design.   It would be nice to do something with the banner--I need more visuals I think.   I am not all that computer savvy really, but Typepad is pretty good with the templates and making it easy to choose different designs.  I have to think about this and decide what I want to include and what can be left out! I will have to take a good hard look at everyone else's see what ideas I might be able to incorporate here. Another little project for those spare moments...

A Little Update...

Unfortunately I can't post a photo just yet, but I did finish the first of my two Valentine's Day projects.  I was quite pleased with how it turned out and I hope the recipient likes it as well.  It has lovely colors in it, and the alphabet as well as the date and initials are all over one.  This was even on 36 count fabric!  I must be getting better at over one stitching as I had no problems with it and this part went relatively quickly for me.  It must just take practice (and good lighting!).  I have taken some photos of it, which I will download later.  As soon as it arrives at its destination, I can't wait to share it.  I have the second one underway, and I hope to get it all stitched up this week.  It was due to be mailed on the 1st, but I think I will be late getting it in the mail.  I doubt I will get the finishing on it done this week and will need the weekend to do it.  As it is only to be mailed here in the US, I am sure it will still arrive with plenty to time before the 14th.  Since I managed to get one done, I plan on working on John Foster tonight.  I also will get started on the beaded pin pillow this week as well.  Then it is back to my big projects that I have completely neglected!!  Poor Mystery IX...Now I am behind, but I will work hard to catch up!!  And it is nearly time to start on "February" of my PS Prairie Year chart--time to get the fabric for that one cut.  I love exchanges, but they tend to through off all my own stitching.  So far I have been able to stay in control and not sign up for more than I can handle! Too bad my will power wasn't so good in all areas of my life!! :)

A Little Beaded Pin Pillow

I have had this little Mill Hill kit since before Christmas, and I have wanted to stitch it since I bought it.  I just noticed that Anne has stitched one of these (and also the Just Nan scissor case-"And Many More"!! that I have had on my goal list for two years now!!). The beaded pin pillow is a little itty bitty thing--the stitch count is a mere 28 x 28, and it ends up being about 2" x 2".  My fingers are itchy to at least start this!!  I am nearly finished with one Valentine's project, and I also would like to stitch a little bit on John Foster, but I might just put in a few stitches on this one as well.  The only thing that will be new to me is the beaded-looped fringe, though there is a nice illustration showing how to do it.  Perhaps I will have something new to share finally!

The Meme of Fours

Since I can't share any photos at the moment of my current projects (though I am making progress on the Valentine's designs--even the over one stitching!), I saw a meme on Von's Blog, that I thought would be fun to answer.  I haven't answered one of these for ages, so here goes:

Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life:

1. Salad Prep Girl
2. Waitress
3. Bookseller
4. Library Assistant

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again:

1. Matchmaker
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
3. Any Inspector Lynley Mysteries
4. 13 Going on 30

Four Places I Have Lived:

1. Omaha, Neraska
2. Belfast, Northern Ireland
3. Wr. Neustadt, Austria
4. Omaha, Nebraska

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:

1. Everybody Loves Raymond
2. The King of Queens
3. Law and Order: SVU
4. Crossing Jordan

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. San Diego, CA
3. Augusta, GA
4. Various Places in Europe

Four Websites I Visit Daily:

1. CNN and NYT online
2. Amazon
3. Lots of Blogs
4. Cross Stitch Bulletin Boards as well as designer websites!

Four of My Favorite Foods:

1. Dark Chocolate (with raspberry is a bonus)
2. Pizza
3. Yogurt
4. Cherries and Blueberries

Four Albums I Can't Live Without:

1. The Book of Secrets-Loreena McKennitt
2. The Joshua Tree-U2
3. The Soundtrack to Chocolat
4. The Red(?) Album 1962-1966-The Beatles

Four Places I'd Rather Be:

1. Ireland
2. Vienna
3. Shopping at a nice cross stitch store!
4. I enjoy just being at home, too!

Early Surprises in the Mail

Once again I have been spoiled by my friend, Jodi!  She sent an early birthday gift (my birthday is actually later next month).  She took advantage of a good sale at Village Mountain Stitchery and ordered some things I had admired.  She sent: "Pumpkin Pete" by the Trilogy (I loved  Kiwi Jo's finished pillow of this design last fall), "American Star" by Blackbird Designs (this is shown finished as a box top), "Winterology" by the Trilogy, "Ornamental Letters" by Just Nan, and "An English Motto Basket" by Hillside Samplings (I really want to make a basket like this with the accessories--this chart had been on my wish list!).  She also stitched me something, but I am determined not to open any more early presents until the actual day!! Many thanks, Jodi!!

New Just Nan Designs!

Yay, my order came from Needlecraft Corner chock full of new designs by Just Nan!  I have been trying to be good and stick with my budget, but I had a hard time passing these up.  I really love the "Winter in the Square" chart, and I think I will start that as soon as I finish John Foster!  It is not terribly large, so I don't think it will take too long to finish.  I think I will be getting all the designs in this series.  The charm is so sweet (it has little sheep in it and is covered by a rounded glass--if that makes sense).  I have the fabric, so I just need to dig through my floss bin for the DMC needed.  The design is mostly cross stitch, but there are also: smyrnas, triple leviathans, rice snowflakes, and crossed corners.  To be honest we are having quite a mild winter here (mind you I am not complaining), so it has been hard to get into winter-y designs.  But this one is quite nice, so I hope I can start it soon.  As for the other designs, I am really into those WhimZi frames.  I bought the Snow Faces all kitted up, as well as the Heartfelt chart (with the frame to go along with the "Love" design), and the chart only of "Flying Colors".  I mostly wanted the Whimzi design for that one, but I might stitch the big design sometime as well.  I am making good progress on my Valentine's designs, but hopefully this will urge me along to get them completed!!

A Peek at My Stitching Shelf

Since I can't share my two current projects (my two little Valentine's Day gifts), I thought I would share my stitching basket.  I cleaned up my shelf a bit recently.  I have quite a few really lovely finished stitching accessories now--some are things I finished and many others are gifts.  I have too many for my shelf, so I have had to store some of them and I rotate what I set out to display.  I have my seasonal items in a bin, and have out what will fit here.  I originally bought the basket to display my cushions, but as I don't have enough yet that I have finished, I have plenty of other things to fill it up!

And here are the other few things I have set out.  I would love to have everything out, but it is hard to clean the shelf as I have to move everything off.  I want a nice glass enclosed display case--maybe someday!  You can see my little hand made Shaker box as well.  Very soon I hope to start stitching the design that will go inside.  A lady from one of my stitching groups is designing a project called The Regal Bee to go inside the box as well as little accessories to go along with it.  I need to order my supplies, but of course I am supposed to be watching my budget as well.  Eventually I will start that--now to just finish a few other things first!

Nearly There!

I am nearly finished!  I worked on John Foster a bit on Friday night and for a nice chunk of time last night.  The tree on the left was the last really large motif that I had left.  I hope by this time next week I will be sharing a completed photo!  It feels good to be so close to finishing something that is a bit larger than my other recent projects!  Tonight if I get in some stitching time, I have to work on my Valentine's Day projects.  I really only have one weekend left (next weekend) before I need to get them in the mail.  One will go overseas, so I need to give it a bit extra mailing time.  This means I may not have much to share this coming week.  I can't believe that January is nearly over already!  Where does the time go?!

Look What Arrived in My Mailbox!

I received a lovely suprise in the mail yesterday from Anne in Australia!  I had admired her peacock pincushion that I saw on her blog, and she has sent me the chart so I can also stitch it!  I was just so taken with this when I saw it.  I plan on pulling out my fabric and floss and getting it ready to stitch.  This was originally a kit that had 18 count AIDA.  The equivalent for linen is 36 count, but I am not sure I have that in my stash. I may just use a nice 32 count antique white linen, which I am sure I have.  It may end up a bit larger than the 4" as listed on the chart.  If I am figuring correctly it may be a bit under 4-1/2".  I'll have to see what I have on hand. 

I am working on my John Foster sampler, and I would love to finish it this weekend, but I am not sure how much I will get done.  I also need to print off the diagrams for part 2 of my Peaches and Cream Sampler.  I did not get the eyelets stitched this week, so I have a bit of catching up to do--what else is new!  I'm off to get some things done, so have a wonderful weekend everyone!

My (Very Unfinished) Beekeeper

Many of you have probably seen Romy's finished My Beekeeper!  Her work is really exquisite.  I am fortunate enough to have two things she stitched in my collection, and her work is so lovely.  She mentions that she is not good in sewing, but I think she is being too humble as her work is really, really lovely!!!  For you Bee Lovers out there, Lois at Elegant Stitch is offering more classes!!  I plan on signing up for the two accessories classes.   I wonder if it is at all possible to finish My Beekeeper before they start??  As you can see I completed a mere four(!!)  pinwheels!  After seeing Romy's finished work, I was inspired to pull mine out of my WIP bin.  I am nearly finished with my John Foster.  I was thinking that rather than start on Toccata I, which was what I had planned, I might work on this.  I usually take John Foster to work and stitch for a half an hour or so before I start.  Once I am finished with him, I could take this. If I work on it every day, I can't imagine it would take too terribly long to get those pinwheels stitched.  I have to think about this one. 

New Little House Needleworks!

Did you see that the Little House Needleworks website was updated yesterday?  I am such a pushover for her designs!  I absolutely love this new little series she is starting--Dear Diary.  I love historical themes, so I think I will have to order these.  Per the website: "First in a series of eight designs depicting young girls is Abigail Winslow.  According to her diary entry (included in the chart pack), Abigail has returned to her home only to find her young siblings rummaging through her personal possessions in search of her diary.  Abigail then hides her diary key (on the sampler) so that her secrets can remain hidden from prying eyes."  Each one comes with the sampler chart and a pillow design as well.  I also love the new Colonial Homes design. 

I have been pretty good lately--not ordering things like crazy, but I think next month is going to be a challenge.  I am already tempted by the new Carriage House Samplings designs (so far she has only give descriptions). If you click on the link, you can also see her class pieces that she will be teaching.  I love those pinballs!  I wonder if she will release them later.  I admit, I already ordered a few of the new Just Nan designs.  I also love those WhimZi frames and designs, so you may be seeing a few of them here in the future!!  I wonder if these are her new designs, or if she will be releasing some things at market as well??  I love her "house" designs (and Silkwood is on my list of things to stitch this year...).  Oh so many things....I must stop thinking about them. The temptation is going to be awful!