The Peacock's Feather

Binge Stitching

I have been trying hard to stay away from the computer and my favorite INS sites, so that I won't be tempted to order anything I can't afford.  So, I guess the next best  thing is going to my stash and pulling out something new to work on so that it feels like I just bought something new!  I should really call this post "binge starts"!  Technically I should have not started anything new and tried to finish some other projects as I get ready to start the Merry Cox SAL very soon.  When am I ever practical though?  I started the Au fils des Reves "Bourse" recently.  To this start I added Beardie Designs "Elegant Acessories" and Birds of a Feather's "School Girls Wish Sampler".  Lately I have been most tempted by the Beardie Designs project.  It is funny as I had planned to stitch this as a gift for someone last year.  I was using DMC and just hated it.  I couldn't make myself stitch on it.  I ordered the NPI silks instead, but had to stitch something as a gift in the interim.  Then this week I had an inkling to pull it out again, and now that is all I feel like stitching.  Strange, isn't it.  I guess timing does count for something!  It is way too fun looking through my stash bins!  Really that is all I need to do when I feel like shopping--look what I came up with instead!  Three lovely projects which had just been waiting and waiting and waiting for me to stitch them!

It's Here!

It's here!  Yay.  I was afraid it might not get here for our May 1st SAL start!  The materials are all gorgeous and the kit even came with a pair of scissors!!  I am very excited to start this!  Now to study the chart and finishing instructions. 

Winter in the Garden *Finished*

Here it is finally finished!  For a while there I thought I would never finish it, and I was sort of not enjoying working on it or liking how it looked.  But I persisted, and now I am pleased with how it turned out, even if this photo is not the best!  I picked out the dove and stitched him again, and I think they all turned out a bit better now than that first one did.  I had planned on going straight on to "Spring in the Square", but I think I feel like stitching something different, so I will take a break from Just Nan for the moment.  I was thinking of stitching all four, so I will hold off framing them, since they will be a set.  Besides I haven't got the extra money to do so at the moment anyway.  So into storage it will have to go.  I had the day off from work and originally the plan was to use it to work on my "Queen Bee", but this took longer to complete than anticipated, so I will just have to work on "Queen Bee" another day!  It is nice to finally complete something however!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, everyone!!

In a Needleroll Mood

Every needleroll that I have ever made I have given away.  I have one lone needleroll in my stitched collection, which is a gift from Harsha from a needleroll exchange we were in last year.  I get in these phases where I want to stitch needlerolls.  I was even so bad as to look online at the many needlerolls that Shepherds Bush has for sale.  Really I have no need of ordering anything as I have plenty of designs that I could stitch up.  Some of them are seasonal, but it is still better to choose one of those than buy something new.  I have the leftover floss and beads from a few SB charts where I made the needleroll and then gave it away.  I wonder if I can buy the charms only?  I am sure I must have linen in my stash that I could use and get a second use out of the chart.  I saw this post on Katrina's blog, which put me back in the needleroll mood.  I would love to have baskets full of them! :)  As soon as I can fit one in, I plan on stitching one of the kits from stash!

How to Stay on the Wagon and Other Stitching Thoughts

Here is my solution to staying "on the wagon"--a simple dime store notebook, wherein I will write all my wishes, desires and stitching plans!  A day will come when I no longer complain about my credit card, but that day is not here yet (and don't expect it to arrive terribly soon), but I am trying my best to get there!  Thankfully I only have on credit card, but one is enough.  I am to a point where I look at the monthly finance charge, and I mentally picture all the lovely silks, linens and new charts I could buy with it.  But I can't buy them as I am giving it to the credit card company.  I take full responsibility, but it has to stop now!  Why should some CEO use my stitching money to go on a luxury cruise (or whatever CEOs do?--I haven't a clue as my life is sooooo far removed from that lifestyle!).  So, every time I see something new that I am tempted to buy, I am going to look for something equivalent in my stash.  For example, I just saw the new Bent Creek Spring Snapperville designs.  I especially like the one with the beeskep.  However, I have many designs kitted up and not as yet stitched and could easily substitute one of these for this new BC design.  (Also in this case I cannot ever buy another Snapper design as I have two UFOs involving Snappers that are quite unfinished--sorry--no arguments, please).  If I didn't already have a UFO, and I absolutely could not possibly live without this design, it would go into the notebook as a reminder for a future purchase. I am not going to cut myself off totally and completely.  Like dieting, I think I would just end up bingeing if I completely restricted myself.  So I have set myself (a very generous) $30 budget for whatever stitching supplies I might need each month.  I have not doubt there are going to be designs that I cannot resist.

A case in point:  Carriage House Samplings has just given a brief description of the forthcoming   "Village of Hawk Run Hollow".  And I quote:

"Carol Sims was at Tracy's Retreat and she brought The Village of Hawk Run Hollow to show everyone her progress.  She's more than half way done.  She's finished the river block, the church block, city hall, Miss Opal's Boarding House, the forest and the blacksmith shop.  I haven't talked to Carol for a week or so, but she's probably finished the gristmill and the street scene. Which leaves only the farm, the school and the cemetery.  The Village will be released at the Charlotte Market in mid-August. "

I also expect this design to be pricier than her regular charts, so I will plan ahead and save my pennies now.  I expect I will just buy the chart at first anyway and not the full supplies as I am still working on HoHRH! And Kathy has also given a little preview of new designs coming out in May and August, too.  She is one prolific designer!!  I am particularly interested in the "virtues" series.  This one is called "Hope" and I believe these charts will cost $7.00.   I just need to stay within my budget and each can be mine (though maybe not all at once)!

Another Stitched Book

Thanks to Kiwi Jo for sharing this very cool stitched book!  You may have already seen it (I had not), but I thought I would share it here anyway.  The book is designed by Erica Michaels.  Per her website:

"Based on the alphabet, and continuing through 2007, each design has motifs, letters, its own unique border and a specialty stitch for a real sampler look. For example, the first design in the series has lots of “A”s, an acorn motif and Algerian eyelet stitches…you get the idea!"

If I understand correctly the letters will be freebie charts from The Rainbow Gallery.  The letters A (acorn), B (butterfly), and C (castle) are already available.  The instructions on how to get started are here.  This is so tempting,  but I need to concentrate on a few WIPs first.  You can see Jo's progress however.  So many cool things (where do they think them up!), and so little time to stitch!   I am sort of trying not to "look" too much at needlework sites, to keep myself out of trouble (must stay on the wagon), but look what happens when I just take one peek at one blog...

Merry Cox SAL Update

I am in the mood to organize a little bit.  I am still waiting for my "Shaker Spool Holder" materials, but I have been thinking about this project a lot lately.  I sent a check off earlier, but I am not sure if Merry needs to wait until it clears before she sends the kit.  So I am trying to be patient.  There are still more than two weeks before we start anyway.  We decided that we would each choose between the "Shaker Spool Holder" or "Her Needles Safely Kept".   The stitcher's who are SAL-ing and their chosen designs are:

1. Ana-Her Needles
2. Joanie-Spool Holder
3. Laurie-Spool Holder
4. Natalie-Spool Holder
5. Nicki-Spool Holder
6. Stef-Her Needles
7. Thomasina-Spool Holder (stitching already in progress!)
8. Tracy - Her Needles
9. and me-Spool Holder (but I want to stitch Her Needles later as well!)

I should have everyone's email, by the way, and I have organized a little mailing list, so please let me know if I didn't get your name.  I thought this would be a quick way we could chat if there were questions.  Of course if anyone else is interested you are more than welcome to join us.  I think these will be quick projects to stitch up and hopefully the finishing will go smoothly! 

Stitching will commence May 1st (and hopefully we will all have our materials).  I thought this could be quite informal, but should we try and stitch a particular night each week?  Or perhaps we can try and spend a few hours each week and choose one day to post and share photos of our progress?  I don't think everyone has a blog, but I would be quite happy to share photos here if you don't.   It is always nice to see everyone else's progress and I know I am very inspired to keep stitching!  I think this is more popular than I first thought as I have found other stitchers working on this: Kali's Creations (Kimberly has a progress photo if you scroll down a bit) is working on it.  Deb Hunter finished hers.  And Vero has also stitched "Her Needles Safely Kept".  Lots to look forward to!

My Shaker Box Supplies

I finally have my supplies all ready to go for my "Regal Bee" Shaker Box project.  I love this box and am looking forward to stitching up the accessories that go with it.  It will be my first type of box/basket that I have ever made.  I belonged to a special stitching group (sadly now disbanded), and one of the ladies designed this for her local guild.  She very kindly is sharing it with the ladies of this former group as well.  You can see what some of the stitched pieces look like in her Picturetrail album.  I think she has done a very excellent job on this!  We are using 36 count light sand linen and Vikki Clayton silks in basic black and barley wine.  I think they look wonderful next to the box.  I was excited and wanted to share this as my silks came in the mail today.  However, I am not sure when I will start this as I really (really) need to finish a few things before taking on this project.  I do plan on working on it this year, though!

Time to Learn Something New

I feel like I am working my way up to something larger--now that I have eight corner pillows under my belt, I think it is time to learn something new.  This has been in my stash for a while, and I have wanted to learn how to make these lovely little bourses.  I put in the first stitches last week, and I hope to work on it some more this week.  Really there isn't a whole lot of stitching, so I hope it won't take too long to finish.  I think I understand how these are constructed, and it shouldn't be too difficult to put together.  I love the Toile fabric! 

I have this idea that it would be nice to make one of these for each of my husband's sisters for Christmas (and two sisters-in-law as well).  That would mean about eight of these, well nine if I also made one for my mother-in-law.  Needless to say I would have to start now.  I wouldn't really do a lot of stitching in the interior, maybe just their name and some little motif, and then finish it with some pretty fabric.  Of course this is just an idea, and we'll see how this first one goes.  Otherwise it is more work on my "Winter in the Square" and the other gift I am working on.  I felt like pulling out my HoHRH, and stitching a bit on that, but the evening is nearly over, so I guess I will have to save it for later!  Mondays are not good stitching days for me--hopefully tomorrow will be better!