The Peacock's Feather

A Roasted Marshmallow House

I've finally got enough of my Blackbird Designs Mystery Sampler stitched to share.  Well, I've been sharing along the way, but it is starting to actually Look like something, don't you think?  My house, stitched mostly with roasted marshmallow floss only lacks a roof!  I've got the vines left to stitch as they branch out over the house.  They have grape bunches hanging from them, which will be stitched with eyelets.  I'm not sure whether to do the eyelets first or fill in the color first and then add the eyelets.

Same house, but this time I took the photo next to a lamp.  Isn't it funny how the light can change the colors so drastically?  And neither shows the true color of the linen.  It's going much quicker now that I have the house mostly filled in.  I've got lots of vines and grass to stitch next.  Somehow I can already see the end in near for this third section! 

A Prairie Schooler Year - Progress

I think I've mentioned that I have been stitching from the two Pairie Schooler charts "A Pairie Year" I and II.  When I started this project in 2006 it was my intention to stitch each month in the year as it happened and finish each design in a different way.  That has obviously not happened, but I have recently picked these designs back up and would like to work on them in earnest again.  I thought I'd share my progress.

So here is January finished as a pin pillow with tassles on each corner.

February is finished as a 'biscornu'. or an eight-cornered pin cushion.  This is one of my very favorite ways to finish a small design.  I've made a number of these but I always give them away.  This is one I kept!  I should really make more of these.

March is a pinkeep.  I love pinkeeps but I am terrible at making them.  My bows never look good and I am not very good at stretching the linen over the matte board that needs to hold the design taut.  The back is covered with cotton fabric.  I had intended to stitch the month, year and  my initials on each design, but that sort of got lost along the way after this one.

April is a rabbit.  I should really try and finish him this month.  I had planned on turning him into a little pillow as I have lots of springtime fabric.

I don't really like the May design on either chart, but this is the one I will likely stitch.  Not sure how I will finish it.  I have a feeling I'll end up finishing it in the same way as one of the other designs.  I'm not sure how creative I can get for twelve different projects. 

I very much like June, however.  Again, not sure how to finish it.  Maybe I'll attempt to make cording, which will be attached and made into a scissor fob.  I like making cording, but I hate sewing it on--you can always see my stitches!

I stitched July years ago, but I only finished it last year.  It is a pin pillow.  I forgot to add my initials or the date.  Oh well.  Too late now.

And here is August!  I finished it last night and am very pleased with it.  This is my second try at making a 'mattress' pincushion, and while I was happy with my first attempt I am much happier with this second try! 

September has a back to school theme.  What a thought when the weather hasn't even turned really nice yet for spring!

October has a witch.  I will probably finish her as another pin pillow like the July design as I have lots of fun fall fabric.

November will be a cornucopia.

And December is Santa with a little pine tree.  These will be my Prairie Schooler year!  If I finish them this year, it will only have taken me a mere six years to complete!  See how fast I stitch!

A Prairie Schooler Bee Skep

I've finished my second mattress-style pincushion and am very pleased with it.  I made a few changes to how I do the finishing thanks to the very helpful suggestions I received and think this turned out much nicer than my first attempt.  I used an iron on interfacing on the front and back and thin quilt batting--several layers worth--for the inside.  It has a much smoother look to it and feels much more subtantial.

Rather than using pins on the sides I decided to stitch a few bees on the side and flowers on top and bottom.

Here's a close up of the flower.  I kept the sides pretty narrow.

Bee skeps are one of my very favorite motifs!

There is a bee just like this one on the back of the design.  I also stitched my initials and the year over one thread on the lower left and right corners.

I started this several years ago and now I wonder why it ever took me so long to finish!

And More of the Same

Just one updated photo to share at the moment.  I actually took this photo a few days ago meaning to post then, but I didn't get around to it.  I've added more to it since, but I will save that for another day.  It seems like such a small area, though I feel like I've been working on it for ages.  I almost want to start something new just so I would have something different to share.  But I will persevere!