The Peacock's Feather

A Bear, a Pot of Tea and the Queen Bee: A Sampler Update

I think Typepad is back up and hopefully there will not be more problems with the commenting function.  They were hacked a week ago and so my blog has not been accessible during the last week at various times.  And often if the pages loaded comments were either not appearing or not functioning--so sorry about this, but I think (knock on wood) things are back to normal.

I have been making steady progress on my Prairie Sampler "Where There Are Bees" project.  I'm very pleased with how it is turning out, and I am finding this a pleasure to stitch.  I spend about half an hour a day or so and it seems to be working up very quickly. 

I'll be gone most of next week as I have a work conference in Texas.  Although I am taking some stitching along on the plane (I have layovers both going and coming), I think I will leave my bee sampler at home.  I have visions of something happening to it, which of course would be really awful.  Instead I will take a couple smaller projects--as yet to be determined.  I have a number of partially stitched projects that are in need of attention. 

I'll let you know what I decide to take (before and after pictures perhaps?).  Until then, have a happy weekend everyone.

Blog Troubles

Hi all.  Just a quick note that Typepad was hacked late last week and has been having problems getting things sorted out.  If you have tried to leave a comment but were unable, or tried to leave one only to have several appear at once, I apologize.  I hope to be back soon (I have not been able to access the back end very easily) and will share my stitching progress as soon as I can. 

Sampler Lust and Other Miscellaneous Bits

I had heard of Reflets de Soie before and I might even have one or two of their designs in my stash, but I came across two of their reproduction samplers this week and am now experiencing severe sampler lust.  I think I have tracked down "Anais Curveur 1896",

. . .  and Heloise Cornu 1896 and am contemplating adding them to my stash in anticipation to stitching them.  They are both so pleasing--they are really lovely. 

Of course the last thing I need to even think about is adding to my stash when I have this massive piece of linen just waiting for "L'Automne' by BOAF!  Why didn't I think about how big it really is?  Oh well, maybe this will in reality stitch up quickly?

* * * * * *

On a side note, I do have a couple of questions.  I am going to be going to Fort Worth, Texas at the end of the month for a short work conference.  I won't have much free time, but is anyone aware of a local needlework shop in Fort Worth?  May be just as well if there isn't one as I really don't need to buy anything new!

I will, however, have time while flying and while waiting for connecting flights to find something to occupy  myself.  I will, of course, be taking a couple of books with me, but I would love to be able to take a needlework project, too.  It has been ages since I have even thought of traveling with pins and needles let alone scissors.  Are these things allowed on planes these days?  I would hate to have them taken away.  I will have to do a little research to see what the TSA allows.  Has anyone traveled with scissors recently?  It would be prime stitching time, if it works out. 

Next time--a progress report on my bee sampler!

In the Works: More BOAF

I read a lot.  As a matter of fact when I wasn't stitching I am sure I filled whatever extra free time I had with reading.  I am a more than one book at a time reader and I must admit that even when I am enjoying a book, I keep in mind (or at least begin to think about) what my next book will be.

Unsurprisingly, I am doing the same thing with my stitching.  I am making steady progress on my bee sampler and thoroughly enjoying stitching it, but I have been thinking about what I will choose to stitch next.  I was going through my stash and came across the Birds of a Feather chart, l'Automne.  I have the autumn and winter charts and opted for autumn as it is my favorite season.

So here is my floss toss--I decided to stitch it on a 32 count fabric as 36 count is a little too small for my not-as-good-as-when-I-was-younger eyesight.  The kind ladies at Elegant Stitch helped me choose.  Lambswool is a nice neutral color, and a nice stiff linen.  It is actually my fabric of choice generally.  I would have loved to stitch it on BOAF fabric (I think this design calls for Barn Owl?), but I am not sure it can still be found?  I am using the suggested WDW over-dyed floss colors.

The linen came in the mail a couple of days ago and I was a little flabbergasted by the size of it.  I ended up getting a fat quarter as it was actually cheaper than a slightly smaller cut.  It's huge!  I keep telling myself it will be fine--the 36 count is really only about 1-1/2" to 2" shorter, but this is going to be massive.  I have put in a very few stitches (I couldn't wait or resist) and as I work in hand, it will be interesting to see how this goes. 

Just in case this design catches you eye like it did mine--I was told the company is now defunct and that one of the designers passed away not too long ago.  I think that once the BOAF charts are gone, they are gone.  With that in mind I have ordered the other two seasons to fill out the collection--though it is going to take me a really long time to stitch this--I might just want to stitch the companion pieces eventually, too, and now I will have them on hand. 

I've never stitched anything in outline like this before--it should be interesting (and fun, I hope, too).  Has anyone stitched this?  Any advice?  Any photos to share?  I may need inspiration to keep moving on this one.  I am always up for a little stitching company if anyone is interested by the way!

A Proper 2014 Finish

Just what is this mystery item?  If you recognize the detail from the patter--shh, don't reveal it.  This is my first proper finish of the year (keeping in mind I have only just come back in the last few weeks after a very long hiatus from stitching!).  I started this project less than a month ago and have made it for a friend of mine.  It will be going in the mail in just a day or two.  When it has arrived safely at its destination I will share photos of it here.  Until then, just a little teaser.  I must say, that despite not using my sewing machine in what feels like years, and barely stitching (to say nothing of any sort of finishing), I am quite pleased with how it turned out . . .

Finishing: Mattress Pincushions

Mattress pincushions are one of my favorite ways to finish small designs.  I've not had a lot of practice and I am not sure where I first learned how to do this type of finishing, but now that I have a few under my belt I think they are fairly easy to finish (just a little tedious to count all that backstitching).  I thought I had shared the finishing on one of my designs, but this is the closest I seem to have come:

Here

and

Here.

The technique is similar to simply whipstitching the front and back together like this on a plain cushion. 

I've had several questions on how I finished my designs and if there is a tutorial somewhere.  I found this link which might be helpful (the blog is in French, but the photos are quite clear and easy to follow--I think it is the tutorial I first used, too--with later modifications--my second and third attempts are much nicer than the first).

Does anyone have a tutorial they can share?  I will happily add a link here directing readers to it.  Next time I am ready to finish a design into a mattress pincushion (and I am stitching something now with that in mind) I will make sure to take in progress photos!

And Now for Something New!

I think we are definitely in need of something new to look at here, don't you think?  Last year's updates were mostly the same projects over and over.  Hopefully this year I'll be making a bit steadier progress and adding new designs (and finishes) every month.  This is my current 'big' project, though it is not exactly a large design really.  It is Prairie Schooler's "Where There are Bees".  The finished design will measure only about 8-1/2" by 6-3/8".

Although the chart calls for 32 count white Jobelan, I am trying to work from my stash as much as possible and not order too much in the way of new supplies (though I am kitting up something else so will have to fill in the gaps for the materials I am missing--more on that to follow later).  I am using DMC floss and found a piece of 32 count Siena linen in cream.  Here are my first stitches.

I've been adding a few stitches every day and it is amazing how quickly the work progresses even with just fifteen or twenty minutes of 'work' a day.  Mostly I have been stitching on my work breaks and just a row or two before bedtime.  It's coming along nicely and I am pleased withe the colors (a nice, simple color palette).  Prairie Schooler is one of my very favorite designers and stitching these charts always makes me feel quite calm and contented--just what I need to balance other stresses in my life these days.

A little close up.  Can you tell I like to jump around on my work--moving from motif to motif as whim hits me?

And for something smaller (instant gratification since it should stitch up quickly?) I have started another Prairie Schooler design.  It is from their "Designer Series" called "From the Heart".  I know February and Valentine's Day is long past, but I am fond of February designs since that is my birth month.  I'm stitching the alphabet design and will turn it into a mattress pincushion.  I think the reverse will have some motif from one of the other small designs on the chart and then something stitching along the sides--need to think about what. 

I've got two other small designs in progress but as they are gifts and I don't want to spoil the surprise should the recipients happen by, I will wait to share my progress.  I might just be tempted to share a little teaser, however . . . 

Prairie Schooler's February

This is the last of my 2013 finished--Prairie Schooler's "February".  A mere three finished last year.  How sad is that?  And this was a carryover from the previous year!  I am partial to anything February or Valentine's Day (though I am not much into the actual holiday I love the motifs--does that sound really weird?).

Isn't the little groundhog cute?  I actually have one that lives in my backyard.  We try and avoid each other as much as possible.

And one more close up.  I still need to get this framed, but it will go on one of my walls eventually!

I am working on a new Prairie Schooler sampler--something quite different than a snowy white and red design.  I shall share photos soon.  I think I definitely need some new visuals here--it's been the same designs for months and months.  I's quite excited about my new projects and try and add a few new rows as often as I can--a couple have been going to work with me--I usually slip something in my bookbag along with a book or two!

By the way many thanks for the kind welcomes--it is good to be back!

A Gift of Spring

Last year was an abysmal stitching year for me (as a matter of fact most years since the mid-2000s have not been especially good).  This is only one of three (my "Summer" project being one of the others) finished from 2013.  It was my 'Spring' project that I made for a friend (Fall still in progress and Winter not yet started . . .).  But I was pleased with how my pincushion turned out.

Here is the back side of the cushion.

And a side view of the little carrot detail.

This is my favorite way to finish a smaller project with biscornus coming in a very close second.  I really must spend a little time looking around and seeing what the new trends are these days for finishing.  What have I missed?  Probably lots and lots of new designs (in the last few years I have bought almost nothing in the way of needlework supplies, which is maybe not such a bad thing all things considered?).

Coming soon: a peek at my current projects!  I think we definitely need something new to look at in this space!

A Gift of Summer

Did I already show you this one?  Last year I set myself the task (well, not so much a task really as all stitching is more or less a pleasure) of stitching the seasons for a friend.  I managed spring (will share that one soon) and summer, but fall remains unfinished and winter is just in the planning stages.  I hope to catch up after the fact, but I was pleased with how Just Nan's "Summer" turned out.

And a little detail.  I love the wee ladybug hiding behind the flowers.

I was getting a little bogged down by my fall project, but I am now working on something entirely different.  Perhaps with a break I will be able to go back refreshed and pick up where I left off a bit more renewed and energetic!  And better late than never, eh?