The Peacock's Feather

Mystery Sampler, Part 1: Finis!

Finally, I've finished part one of Blackbird Designs Mystery Sampler, part one!  I added the last stitch last night and tried to press it this morning, but some of the wrinkles still remain.  I'm quite pleased to finish it and am ready to move on to the next section!  (Sorry, am slightly out of focus--will try for a better photo later).

 

Here's a slightly odd angled close up.  The color of the linen is closer to the photo above.  It called for Korty's Blend 30 count by R&R Reproductions. 

 

I'm all set to move on to part two.  It calls for the same floss colors, but now I'll be stitching on Irish Cream linen also 30 count by R&R Reproductions.  It's a slightly smaller section with more blue motifs, which I'm looking forward to.  I hope I  make quicker progress with this section than the last.  And maybe I am close to catching up with Suzanne, who I think is already working on part two!

My Bee Skep Framed!

Just in time for summer I've had my "No Bees No Honey, No Work No Money" sampler framed.  I am quite pleased with how it turned out and the lovely folks at Ginger's Hang Up here in town did a marvelous job on it.  They stretched it perfectly!  And they also helped me decide on a frame, which I am pretty hopeless at doing myself!

 

I have to share a close up of the frame itself.  I love the little detailing on the edge--very subtle but makes it looks just a little more interesting.  And the color works nicely with the brown shades in the wording.

 

See how nice and taut it is?  It really is stretched perfectly.  And to think of all the slight creases in it when I dropped it off (even after ironing it).  There is a slight padding behind the fabric, so it is cushioned.  Unfortunately you can't tell from the photo, but the linen is hand-dyed and there is a lovely variegation to the color of the linen.  It looks a bit more taupe/brown here, but the color of the linen is really much warmer and not at all washed out looking as it appears here.

Here is a close up once again of the design.  This is one of my very favorite finishes!  I think I will hang it next to a Prairie Schooler garden design, which also has a bee skep in it!  Will share photos when it is finally on the wall.  It's so expensive to frame projects, so I am always very happy when I have something new to add to my small collection!

Mystery Sampler Update

I've finally had a little stitching time and was able to make some progress on my Mystery Sampler.  After seeing Suzanne's finish I wanted to try and catch up.  I still have more work to complete on the left side border, and I think I might have made a mistake on the little strawberry at the bottom, but I am feeling like I am getting near the end of part one. 

 

Here's a little close up on the flower and  my smyrnas.  I was too tired to finish them, but will pick up there when I can work on it again.

 

And after looking closely at Suzanne's finish I think I pulled the wrong color for the strawberry border (but may leave it if I am feeling too lazy to fix it).  I even managed the two over-one letters.  Whenever I get close to finishing a project, that is the only thing I feel like working on!  Hope to share a finished photo soon.

I've Been RAK'd

I've received a couple of lovely things in the mail recently that were sent to me by other stitchers, so I guess you could say I've been RAK'd!  The first is a gorgeous little Blackbird Designs chart called "Bluebird", which I am looking forward to stitching--sooner than later as a matter of fact.  I thought I'd stitch it on Lambswool as I don't have the called for linen, but I think the blue will work nicely with it.  The floss is by Vikki Clayton, which I have not used before, but the color is gorgeous.  It is much nicer than you see in the photo--a nice variegation.  As it's silk I'm wondering whether to use one or two plies?  As the linen is 32 count, I'm guessing two would be better even though it is silk floss?

 

My other set of goodies are some hand-made pins, which I can't wait to use.  I've never had anything this fancy, so will be looking for a project to use them on.  It's nice to get surprises in the mail when I'm used to mostly just getting bills and junk mail!

Many thanks to both stitchers who kindly sent me these gifts.  I love them!

Sorry I've not been around--either here or visiting other blogs.  I feel like it is always the same refrain--busy with work, busy with housework, and too tired!  I do hope to get in some stitching this weekend, though, so will perhaps have a little update to share soon.  Also I am having my "No Work No Honey, No Bees No Mone" design framed.  It's actually finished, so I just need to go and pick it up.  I can't wait to see it and will, of course, share it here!