The Peacock's Feather

Rain, Rain Go Away

 

Here is the gift I sent off last week that I mentioned.  It is a Prairie Schooler design from the "Rain, Rain Go Away" chart.  I really liked this one, so even though it is the middle of a hot summer, a spring design is what I stitched.  It is stitched on Lambswool 32 count fabric with good old DMC floss. 

Here is another shot of it that I took inside.  Although it looks good from a distance, when you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see what the flash does to the colors.  It makes a glare and the fabric and floss look all shiny.  I will have to try and take photos outside from now on, though perhaps not in so much shade.

Here is what the back looks like.  I had thought I would just leave it blank as I was feeling lazy, but in the end I stitched our initials, the month and year and some flowers.  I am glad that I did so, it looks much nicer that way.  I tend to get lazy with the personalization--especially on things I plan on keeping, but I need to at least try and stitch my initials and the date.  So, finally a finish...even if it is a small one.

I have not picked up a needle since last week.  I have been wrapped up in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which I didn't read when it originally came out.  I finished it today and right away started Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  They have both been very entertaining.  I hate to admit, but I sort of don't want to put the book down, so I will get back to stitching when I finish (probably by the weekend).      

AWOL

Sorry.  I have not been around here much at all lately.  Things have been hectic at work, and that rushed feeling has been spilling over into my home life lately.  I have not picked up my needle since last weekend, and I am feeling terribly behind!  I need to try and finish my project for the birthday exchange.  Once again it looks as though I am going to be tardy mailing it out.  I think my exchange days may be coming to a close after I complete the last two gifts for this exchange.  I hate always being late, but life is just too crazy at the moment.  I keep looking longingly at my Toccata, but not picking it up.  I would feel too guilty when I know I am not done with this gift!!  Needless to say I will have to squeeze in some stitching time at some point this weekend!  At least the goodies I ordered to include in the gift arrived yesterday, so I won't be waiting for those.  If only there were more hours in the day...

Have a nice weekend everyone!  Happy stitching!

Birthday Goodies

I'm afraid I have no progress photos to share.  I have been finishing up on the birthday gift I was stitching.  I decided I would make a little companion piece to what I made (which is all done and ready to go), so I have been working on doing the finishing for the second smaller accessory.  I thought it would be nice to share a photo of all the stitched goodies I received for my birthday.  They are all so lovely, I have then all sitting out on my nightstand so I can see them (and I am actively using the scissor fob).  I need to make a better area to display my stitching.  At the moment I am using part of a shelf, but it is getting full.  I would love to have a glass case of some sort, but for the time being I will just have to settle for my little shelf!   

A straggler, but well worth the wait!

One last gift has come for me in the mail!  This is the last one from the birthday group I am in and has come all the way from Germany!  Once again, I feel completely spoiled!  I am stunned by this gorgeous set of accessories and all the other little goodies that Britt has sent me!  She sent several pieces of fabric, notecards and two charts--"All I Need is Love Quaker" by Isabelle Vautier and "ABC Bienvenue" by Tralala!!!  I don't mind that the package took a while to get here as it has been really nice to extend my birthday a bit!

Here's a view of the back of the scissorcase and the inside of the needlecase.  This must have taken a lot of time to stitch and finish and the set is just lovely.  I am always amazed with what needleworkers can create--though there are so many talented stitchers out there!!  Thanks Britt!  I'm just sorry my pictures don't do the gifts justice!

Just in the nick of time...

I have heard from my exchange partner and my package finally arrived in Singapore!  Talk about cutting it close!  Today is the last mail day before Christmas, and I really lucked out as my ornaments were finally delivered!  Here is what I stitched--two little ornaments from the Prairie Schooler chart  Christmas Day.  Although I had some problems attaching the cording, I was fairly pleased with how they turned out.  My favorite is the little snowman and I wouldn't mind stitching him for myself sometime.

At this point I guess I am not going to get any Christmas stitching done for myself.  I haven't really been able to stitch much at all this week.  I have been trying to finish my Christmas shopping, do lots of wrapping, standing in line at the post office, and making a few cookies--the usual busy sorts of things that go on at this time of year.  I have worked a tad bit on "Quaker Garden" by Blackbird Designs.  I guess that will be my vacation project as I am off work until January 2.  I would also like to finally finish my Just Nan needlecase (the dragonfly one I stitched in the summer), and maybe try and finish those little Prairie Schooler ornaments that I started earlier this year.  I am only going to finish the ones that I actually have partially stitched.  I am going to be missing some months, but that's okay.  No monthly projects for me next year.  I think I am not going to set any other goals at the moment or I will end up not getting anything accomplished at all.  It seems to be a trend that I am stitching less these days, so I need to think carefully about what I want to stitch so it is not time wasted.  I hate to have yet more bins of half finished projects!

More Photos

I thought I would try and take better photos of the two ornaments that I received in exchanges this  year.  Here is a better photo of one of the Kitty designs by Brittercup Designs--not sure if it is from one of their charts or an older issue of JCS.  I think the finishing on it is gorgeous, and I would love to learn how to make a pillow like this.

Yesterday's photo of the Biscornu ornament wasn't really that bad, but what the heck, I thought I would take another photo!  I didn't manage to stitch anything for myself with a Christmas theme.  I have two ornaments I would like to try and sew, and one other one that is partially stitched.  Maybe I can make some progress on those.  The little set of ornaments I made for this exchange have not yet arrived.  It has now been over two weeks that the package has been in the mail.  I am worried that it might be lost (though likely it is just stuck in customs), and am sick every day when I check and don't hear anything from the recipient.  I am sure she will post when she has it.  So much for it getting there by Christmas! :(

Christmas Goodies!

 

I received a wonderful package from French stitcher, Elisabeth B., in the mail today.  It is for a Christmas ornament exchange on the Stitching Bloggers Exchange Bulletin Board.  Earlier year I made a Bicornu for Elisabeth for an exchange!  She made me this gorgeous Biscornu to hang on my tree!  It is from one of the Prairie Schooler charts (it is funny as I was thinking of making this same design and finishing it into a Biscornu, too!!), and I *love* it!

My gifts came inside this lovely doll (remember the one I bought earlier and now have hanging with my ornaments) that Elisabeth made!!  She is lovely and will hang next to my angel! I wish I was a good enough seamstress to make something like her!  The top of her dress has a drawstring so you can keep things inside.  I will do as Elisabeth suggested and keep some of my stitching supplies inside and I will display her year round!  Her dress is made out of vintage fabrics that she bought at a flea market--I love things like this!!  She also sent along a lovely wooden ornament for my tree and yummy sweets.  She tells me they are called Gavottes, which are a specialty in Bretagne.  The inside is a thin sort of crepe, and only at Christmas time do they dip them in chocolate.  I am sorry to say that they are already almost all gone!!  I feel very spoiled!  Many thanks Elisabeth--I love everything!!!!

Christmas Goodies!

 

I received a wonderful package in the mail today.  This is from one of the Christmas ornament exchanges I participated in.  I love everything--especially the little kitty ornament.  I have wanted one of these designs for some time now, and it is even stitched over one!  I need to take a better photo of the ornament close up. I also received fabric (perfect for a holiday design), Watercolours floss, scissors (I can always use scissors!), a notepad (I give these away quite often but never buy them for myself!), tiny cookie cutters (perfect timing as I plan on making Christmas cookies this week), and finally a totally gorgeous peacock feather!  I feel very spoiled.  I already am displaying my ornament and have my peacock feather hanging in my computer room!

First Ornament Has Arrived

My first ornament arrived safely to its destination earlier this week--I finally had a chance to check the delivery confirmation receipt number.  I hope the lady I sent it to liked it, as I have not yet heard from her (or I missed the message on the Yahoo board more likely, so better go back and check again).  I stitched an ornament by Country Cottage Needleworks from this year's JCS issue called "Winter's Eve".  The snowflakes are actually little beads stitched on.  I was pleased with how it turned out, though the colors look a tad bit washed out here.  The second group of ornaments were mailed out on Wednesday.  Fingers crossed that they arrive quickly and safely!  Hopefully things will calm down a bit now and I can post more regularly on my own progress! 

Under Pressure

This lovely wreath came today in the mail for me from my mom.  It smells fresh and piney!  It is from Maine and was a lovely surprise!  Sorry the photo is not the best--I took it when it was dark (it gets dark so early now), so I had to stand sort of close to it.  It is hanging on my front door. 

I have one more Christmas exchange that I am getting ready to mail.  I chose a small design, so I decided to stitch a set of three rather than one ornament.  The dimensions are 2" x 1-3/4".  I finished two of them with red fabric backing and cording as a hanger.  I am still working on the last one--I didn't get the stitching done over the weekend (the finishing on the first two took longer than I expected--as usual!).  I wonder if two would be okay to send rather than three?  I don't want to appear skimpy, but I am not sure I will get the stitching done tonight, and the finishing tomorrow.  It is meant to be mailed by the 5th, but I will already be one day late.  I hate this sort of pressure!  Do you think two is okay to send?  They are cute, but somehow three seems like an idea number.  It is so hard to fit these things in after work (and along with all the other chores).  I guess I will see if I can get the stitching done tonight.  If not, I will just go with the two!  I should have the rest of my exchanges in the mail by the end of this week, though.  That will be a huge relief.  And then onto the next thing on my ever-growing to-do list!!