The Peacock's Feather

Really Finished!

This is how I spent the majority of my afternoon.  I had today off from work, and after getting errands done in the morning (Vero one of your magazines is winging its way to you now!), I pulled out all my stuff to work on getting some things really finished.  I am very bad about putting stuff in a plastic bin rather than taking it to be framed or finishing it myself.

Here is my finished scissor case.  Doing this has really been a confidence builder for me as this was the first accessory I have completed totally by hand.  I bought this kit last year, but I was a bit put off by the hand sewing that was in the instructions.  You have to sew in the batting, and then sew on the silk lining.  First off, just working with a silk lining was scary, though the dupioni is really great to work with.  Then it had to be laced up to close it, which wasn't as scary as the hand sewing.  And then finally the dreaded cording. 

Here is the flip side.  Everything stitched up perfectly.  I tend to ask a lot of questions in the various bulletin boards I visit, and I have gotten loads of great hints.  I guess really you just have to sit down and do it for it to really make sense. The cording I had to do more than once as it has been so long since I have used my little machine, but I am quite pleased on how it all turned out.  My niece was quite taken with my corder, so I taught her how to use it--she was having a good time!

Since I had all my finishing things pulled out, I decided to finally complete my Just Nan scissor case that I stitched last year.  It is from the Silver Needle.  This was a special piece only available from them for their 20th anniversary.  I stitched this last year, but I only partially finished it.  I used the sewing machine for this one.  I was really struggling with it.  Even today I didn't think it was going to turn out.  It is rather bulky and sewing it closed was really stressing me out.  So much for tiny stitches and all that.  Now I see why it calls for cording!  Thankfully it covers all my messy stitching to close the case!!

I didn't get the little fob stitched.  I do plan on working on that one.  It is stitched all over one, and I have had an aversion to over one stitching.  As it is not terribly large, though, I am going to get that done this summer as well.  It feels really good to get a couple of things completed.  Maybe now I won't have such a fear of finishing, and I hope to learn some other techniques as well.  I have already ordered (as my reward!) This Too Shall Pass II, which is a pinkeep!  And I have pulled out the Just Nan companion piece to this, And Many More, which is a needle case.  Tomorrow, though, I think I will work on my exchange projects, and I really want to get back to my John Foster sampler as well!

Finished!!

Finished with stitching that is!!  I have really enjoyed working on this one.  Oh so many smyrnas!!  Luckily I enjoy this stitch.  I just need to press it and add the button to the moon, and I will be ready to sew it up!  I decided to use my first initial--"D" rather than my last, and I stitched the year I started stitching (Vero--I hope you don't mind I am using your idea!!).  I just couldn't think what else would be appropriate.  I learned to stitch in high school, but I just did those little kits with Aida fabric.  I stopped once I was at university--I was just too busy and there was no where here really to buy supplies.  When I started working at the library in 1997, one of my coworkers got me hooked on stitching on linen, and well, the rest is history!  I started stitching again seriously in 1998.  It is so nice to complete stitching on something!  I also worked a bit on my Sampler House exchange project.  I have had to switch around some colors as they were too close to the fabric color and just blended in way too much.  I have the next couple of days off from work, so my goal is to finish sewing a couple of projects.  Fingers crosssed.  Though I make no promises, I hope to be able to show something *completed* this week (meaning all done!).  Now I am off to work on one of my exchange projects!

Class Time!

Tomorrow is the first class for the Indigo Rose Arm Chair Pin Keep.  I am very excited about this.  I have been wanting to learn how to make this sort of a pincushion for a while! Some of the stitches used for this include: elongated bullion knots, spider web, long arm cross stitch and fly stitch.  Most of them look fairly straightforward, but the bullion will be very new to me.

The only thing I am concerned about right now is my fabric is cut a bit smaller than what is called for.  I have talked to a few other people who are taking the class and their fabrics are not exactly the called for size, so maybe this will be okay.  I am not sure what I will get done on it during the evenings, but I hope to work on it over the weekend.  I will post pictures as I go.  Wish me luck!

My Bee Keeper

It's here!  My Bee Keeper class kit is here!  Yay.  I hope the finishing for this is not way too beyond my abilities, but I am going to give it a try anyway.  This is another Elegant Stitch Class.  The finishing class is not until September.  We have gotten the kits early so we can get all the stitching done on it first.  It looks like the entire project will be done in satin stitching, which I enjoy and is easy, so that should not be a problem.  I have not really looked through all the contents yet.  It uses a nice stiff fabric (which I seem to prefer lately as it is easier to work with), silk fabric for the lining, and Gloriana silks.  One is a special color created just for this project!  I am not sure when I will start working on the stitching for this one, but I will post my progress here. 

No More Whining...It's Here

Okay...no more whining!  (Yay--I am sure you are saying!).  My Indigo Rose Arm Chair Pin Keep kit has arrived!  It was a surprise as I had just checked my credit card online and the charge has not  yet appeared.  It has made my day, however!  I was just quickly reading over the instructions, and I am glad I am doing this as part of a class.  It includes some specialty stitches I have never tried.  It is also interesting to see how the pin cushion is put together (a bit differently than another designer whose chart I have to make a pin cushion similar to this one).  Color photos never seem to show actual colors correctly.  The linen color is far less "brown" (a warm brown, too), it seems closer to a clay color.  I am not sure if you can tell from my photo that the colors differ.  I am just excited to have it here and am ready to get started!

I broke down today and ordered Strawberry Fields Stitching Bag and Accessories by Hillside Samplings.  There has been a thread going on the Legacy board about this kit.  It is only sold as a class kit.  For shops to get it, they must have at least ten people ordering it.  I thought if I really wanted it, now would be a good time as who knows when another group will get together for this one.  It is a splurge, but I think that the charge will end up on my next statement, so I am spacing out my purchases!!  (my own personal enabling system!)

Still No Sign

I have to admit, I have checked my credit card online a few times, including today.  Nothing has yet been charged from Elegant Stitch for the classes I signed up for.  I hope I get my Indigo Rose kit in time for the class--the first class is June 7.  Even though it is all done through email, I would still like to have it and work along with everyone else.  Fingers crossed that it shows up this week!

I have been really tempted lately to order some things online.  However, I just sat down and wrote out bills, and that is certainly always a sobering experience.  Since I have not been using my credit card at all, I have had to use my cash to pay for whatever little thing comes up.  I have been very good in terms of not really buying anything new in terms of stash.  And I have been going to the library more than the bookstore.  But by the end of the month, money is very tight as I try and make a big payment on my nasty credit card.  On the Legacy board, there is a group getting together to place an order for Hillside Sampling's "Strawberry Fields Stitching Bag and Accessrories".  Isn't it darling?  I really want to order this one.  I am trying to justify the expense, as I am signed up already for two classes.  The thing is, Elegant Stitch will only order this in  groups of ten.  Is it now or never?  Maybe in order for it to be cost effective, ES must place a bulk order, which is certainly understandable.  Decisions, decisions!!

I was not able to work on my current exchange project.  It is getting late now, and I had hoped to finish it today, and sew on it tomorrow.  For a long weekend, where has the time gone?!  I will post a picture as soon as it is finished!

Still Nothing...

Still no pin keep kit in the mail...I guess there is still plenty of time, but when you hear of so many other people getting their kits...I want mine, too!  I still have my frequent buyers card from Shakespeare's Peddler.  There are a variety of charts and other stash that I want, but I don't know yet what to buy.  I was thinking of Drawn Thread's Tocatta 2, and also one of the earlier Blackbirds Designs books.  The card is for $20, which is pretty good.  I am also thinking maybe I should hold off until the next market, which is just around the corner, isn't it?  I wonder who will be coming out with new charts?  There may be something I can't live without, so I guess that is why I have been holding off.  Until then, there will be my pin keep to look forward to!

Stalking the Mailman...

I am signed up to take two online classes from Elegant Stitch.  This isn't the first time I have taken an online class, as I have taken one Just Nan class from a needlework store (now out of business) that was on the East Coast.  That was really pretty straight forward--just lots of new specialty stitches.  This will be my first attempt at any sort of class that involves finishing. 

I am taking both My Bee Keeper and Catherine's Arm Chair Pin Keep!  The classes for the pin keep are June 7th and 14th.  I imagine it is all stitch as you go and then finishing afterwords.  The Bee Keep, however, is meant as a finishing class (September 9, 14, 21, and perhaps the 28th as well).  I will need to actually get all the stitching finished beforehand.  I have heard that the kits for the pin keep are in the mail, and some ladies have already received theirs.  I was hoping to come home from work today and find a lovely big box from ES just waiting for me!  No luck...maybe tomorrow.  The bee keeper kits are going to be mailed soon.  I guess the designer just shipped the floss to Lois and then they will also be mailed.  So here is me fidgeting, waiting for my new stash.  I have been very good not ordering more than a couple of charts, so I am anxious to finally get something good in the mail!