The Peacock's Feather

A Gift of Fall

It's been a while, hasn't it?  I've not been stitching as much as I like (which means I have not been stitching hardly at all sadly), but I have been very remiss in not sharing a few of my finishes from 2014.  There weren't many, but let me begin catching up with this one.

This is a Prairie Schooler design from the "Autumn Leaves" chart. 

I decideded to make it into a little cushion and added gold beads to the edges.

I was quite pleased with how it turned out as it was a gift for a friend.  I have been stitching one design for her of all the seasons.

Winter finish coming soon!

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 . . .

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 . . . 

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?

Red Rosies and Pink Posies

Have you seen this lovely design?  I came across it via Lois at Elegant Stitch's weekly update.  You can get the PDF charts to stitch "Red Rosies and Pink Posies", which is a Blue Ribbon Samplings design, by donating $15 or more to the Susan G. Komen Foundation (for breast cancer research).  Belinda, the designer, is trying to raise money to take part in the three-day walk for charity in San Diego in November.  You can read all about it and donate here. 

I couldn't resist, it's such a sweet design and for such a good cause.  I've already got the PDF and will print it out when I can get to a color printer.  I've also ordered the supplies from Lois (while she still has the kits available).  I'm going to stitch it on 35 count linen (I'm afraid my 40-count linen days might be over--too hard to see the threads) and it calls for Weeks Dye Works floss.  I can't wait to get the supplies and start stitching!  I don't think I'll finish it for a box-top, but will like make it into a cushion or frame it. 

By the way the PDF file is 17 pages of detailed charts and instructions.  Well worth the money, but all the more so since all the money will go to breast cancer research.   

And on to Something New!

No rest for the wicked as they say.  I actually started this just before I finished PS's "February".

And now that I am officially finished I can concentrate on Birds of a Feather's "Valentine Holiday".  I stitched this once before but I gave it away.  This time I am stitching it for myself.  If I work as industriously as I did this past weekend, I might even be able to finish it by Valentine's Day!

Crisper, Clearer Images?

Today I splurged and bought a lovely new Sony 18.2 MP digital camera.  It's quite an improvement over my very old HP 5.1 (!) MP camera that I've been using.  It's on it's on its last legs and I am surprised it made it even this long.  So, what do you think about the image quality of this new camera?  Quite snazzy really.  I'm pleased with it so far but will need to mess about with the camera settings to see what works best.  These older finishes sit on my nightstand as they are some of my favorite little accessories!

I have been stitching away and promise an update soon--as soon as I can take some photos that I am happy with.  Also I am going on vacation in just two days time--to San Francisco.  I can't wait.  It's been a very long time since I went on a proper go somewhere vacation, so I am greatly looking forward to it.  I've never been to SF, and needless to say my new camera is going with me (that was really the impetus to buy one finally).

Also I have received several emails about charts that I have stitched--I do plan on answering those emails, so please bear with me.  I have been so busy at work that I when I come home at night I am often nearly exhausted and computer time of late has been at a minimun.  If I can, I plan on answering those emails before I am off on Tuesday. 

By the way, the weather has finally started cooperating.  Today it almost felt autumn-like, which pleased me to no end as I much prefer cooler weather to warmer.  It puts me very much in a stitching mood.  I have been spending about 15-20 minutes before I start working in the morning working on a couple of projects and can't wait to share them with you!

Rose of Hope by Indigo Rose

My first finish of 2012!  A little sad that it has taken me all the way until April to complete something, but I'm pleased with how my "Rose of Hope" scissor case by Indigo Rose turned out.

I finished the stitching a while ago, but I've not had much time this year to do much stitching and I am a slow 'finisher', so I knew better than to start this when I wouldn't have an afternoon (or in this case--afternoon and part of an evening) to finish it.

The finishing was a little more challenging than I anticipated.  It seemed fairly straightforward, but the case has a wool lining that made it a bit bulky to work with.  Also, the instructions weren't explicit about the seam allowance and what to do with it.  I had to go back and rip things apart when I saw how it was all going to lay out.

I do like finishing with backstitches and then whipstitching the sides together, but there were a lot of layers to work with.  It was very slow going.

But here it is.  It always amazes me a little how clunky it can appear during the finishing process, but once you tuck away all the unseemly edges and bits that were starting to fray, it ends up looking quite nice.

I decided to stitch my initials the the year over one on the back, but otherwise it is pretty plain.

I love making Spider Web stitches!

Aside from the corners, which are always a little tricky, the stitching looks fairly even.  So it was all worth the effort and moments of frustration.  I've completed several from this series of smalls that Elegant Stitch sold several years back.  I will have to share my finishes thus far sometime soon.

Although I want to keep working on these projects (though small doesn't always mean fast!), I am looking forward to getting back to one of my larger projects now.  Hopefully I can start making time for my needlework again.  A finis always gives me a little burst of energy!

A Shamrock for Luck

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!  This is a little March pinkeep I stitched years ago from one of the Prairie Schooler "Prairie Year" charts.  I still need to finish stitching most of the rest of the months.  Life has been hectic lately, so I've not even gotten in any stitching time on the weekend, but I do hope that changes soon!