The Peacock's Feather

Seven More Rows!

Just seven more rows left.  Well, seven more rows and some backstitching.  I'm too embarrassed to say how long I've been working on this.  It has been all but finished except for the white filling in at the bottom, which is tedious going so I have been putting it off.  However, since I am ready to move on to new projects (and have actually already started one or two....but more about those later), I guess it's time to finish poor "February".  The next photo of this you will see, will be a completed sampler!

Finally Finished: Pink Hill Manor

And, voilá.  Did you wonder if I would ever finish this?  I did!  It's been so long since I have picked up a needle and thread and so long since I've even shared any progress at all on any of my projects you have probably forgotten all about it.  So here it is, Blackbird Designs' "Pink Hill Manor" finished and ready for framing.  I made a few minor changes and only had a few motifs to fill in and finish along with the words to stitch over one (I am very slow when it comes to stitching over one linen thread!), which I finally managed to do today.

It's been a cold, grey and very gloomy day so I popped in a movie (have been having an Alfred Hitchcock marathon of sorts) and have been happily stitching away. 

The design was actually charted to read 'Dear Emily' and had more sets of initials, but that didn't really work for me.  I wasn't entirely sure what the significance was, so I decided to personalize it in my own way.  As February is my birth month and the color scheme is pink (a February sort of color it seems), "February" it was.  The letters are all stitched over one linen thread and the rest is over two.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and just in time for the end of 2012!

Now, do you remember this project?  Best not to remind you how long it has been "in progress".  Ahem.  I am determined to finish it before the end of the year.  I am ready to switch from Alfred Hitchcock to Inspector Lynley.  I wonder how many seasons it will take before I can finish the last chunk of stitching.

All I have left is to finish filling in this middle section with white and a little backstitching to highlight a few  motifs.  I don't like working with white floss and both filling in and backstitching is really tedious, but that's all that stands between me and having another project all ready for framing. 

As soon as I finish this project I am rewarding myself with choosing a new design to stitch.  I do have other unfinished projects, but the draw of stitching something new is too strong to pass up.  I've had a really abysmal year when it comes to my needlework.  I wonder if I should set myself some sort of goal for next year?  Will have to think about that one.  But it's great getting back to stitching again, even if it has only been for an afternoon (and now into the evening as well).

Progress on the Little Pink House

It's been a while since you've seen this, hasn't it?  I'm almost finished with my "Pink Hill Manor", and I am itching to put in those last stitches so I can move on to something new.

Mostly it is only small motifs and a few over one words and letters that I have to stitch yet.  As always it's a matter of finding a nice chunk of time to sit down with this and get through the last bits yet to stitch.  I've been making slow but steady progress nonetheless.  I've been stitching for a few minutes each day before work and it seems to add up, as here I am so close to the end!

I'm not sure if I ever shared this design here or not.  It's by Lizzie Kate.  I started stitching it a while ago and am almost finished with this one as well.  Just a little backstitching and a few more motifs to finish.  I want to finish this as a pincushion (like this one).

Have I mentioned lately how much I miss stitching?  I can't seem to get the energy to stitch on the weekends these days, and it goes without saying I never seem to have enough time to accomplish all the things I want to when I do have free time (but I know I'm not alone with this problem!).

Of course lack of enough free time doesn't stop me thinking about what I might stitch next (much like looking ahead in my reading).  These samplers are by Prairie Schooler and are from their "Country Seasons" chart.  I think I'd stitch the "Autumn Sampler" if I can pick one soon.

Or maybe something quick like this little sheep from Shepherds Bush called "Queen Bee".  They have a whole series of sheep designs, and I've been trying to stitch them all.  I'm not sure how I'll finish them all--little pillows maybe to fill a basket?  Anyway, I think I'm ready to add a new sheep to my collection.

But, first things first.  I'm not allowing myself a new project until I finish one first! 

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!

Finally a Few Updates

I was holding off posting here until I had finished my Prairie Schooler "February Sampler", but as I am still working on it, I thought I had better just share  my progress before January slips away entirely.  I still want to try and finish this before next month, and I am getting close.  I only need to finish filling in the snow/white under the houses and add a bit of backstitching.  Almost done!

All that white fill in was getting tedious, so I pulled out my poor "Mystery Sampler" by Blackbird Designs.  It has been untouched for months and months.  I wasn't looking forward to those eyelet stitches for the grapes, but I need to just knuckle down and do them.  I don't like how  my eyelets look, but I think once they are done they'll be okay.  There was no explanation on the chart about how the eyelets are to be done or how many plies of floss, so I have been using two--not sure that is right, but the smyrnas called for two plies, so I decided to keep it all uniform.  I'm ready to move on to section three, so I am stitching away on this one now. 

And after seeing Susan's gorgeous finish, I was thinking Hillside Sampling's "Strawberry Fields" might be my 2012 project.  My long term project that is.  I accomplished very little last year and hope to do better this year.  We'll see, so it's best not to make too many plans or assume I'll whip this design out quickly, since I expect it will take me months to finish.

Here's  my little start.  It looks like a challenging project, so I hope I can stick it out and do it on my own!

Almost There...

I'm hoping to finish this before the end of the week!  I've only a few more motifs to add and then on to the white fill in.  It will be a perfect mindless task for when I am watching movies.  And then it'll be time to pull out another project to focus on.  I certainly have plenty to choose from, but something small would be nice--instant gratification of I can finish early in 2012 and get going in the new year.  I hope I'll be able to stitch more then and complete more projects as I only finished a paltry few this year!

Almost Finished: February!

I seem to be posting all of about once monthly here, so now that it is December I guess I need to share a little progress!  I am almost finished with my PS "February" sampler.  I've actually stitched a tiny bit more but I am too lazy to take a proper photo.  Maybe this weekend I can share another update (Shocking!  Two posts in one month?).  I'm not looking forward to all the filling in of white, but it'll be the last bit I need to do.

And a little close up of the bottom.  Doesn't the little brown guy look a little bit like a frog?  I need to fill in his eyes and mouth and then he'll look more like the ground hog he is!  He'll be holding a flag by the way.

Ooh, and look what I recently started: another Prairie Schooler design--"The Tortoise and the Hare".  When I get tired of filling in white stitches for snow I can come back to some lovely green letters and motifs and think of warmer days.  It has officially snowed (a plowable snow) where I live.  We didn't get much but it was enough to cause problems and as someone who walks and takes the bus to work I had to deal with lots of un-shoveled sidewalks this morning.  I'm hoping for a little warmth and sunshine this week to help melt it away.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Finally Back to Stitching!

If only summer could be as nice as the last few days have been!  It has finally been nice enough for me to want to pick up my stitching again that I managed to get most of the middle section finished and add a few motifs to the bottom area.  I'm dreading filling in the bottom with white, but I am so happy to be near the end I think maybe I won't mind so much.

Here's a close up of the middle.  I will also need to do a little backstitching, but nothing too extensive.  This would have been perfect to work on in the heat since it is a snowy scene--I hate to think cold weather is only around the corner, but I plan on enjoying the nice, cool fall weather as much as possible.

On the spur of the moment I decided I wanted to start something new and happened to pick up this sampler which I had kitted up ages ago.  It is from a Better Homes and Garden Christmas book.  I'm using Antique White linen and overdyed floss.  

I'm not sure if I am just in a stitching mood or if I like the feel of my materials and the type of designs I'll be stitching, but I think this is going to be a very enjoyable design to work on.  The verse is from a German Christmas carol that was translated into English.  I've seen this one finished by other stitchers and think it's a very elegant design.  I'm hoping I can finish it by Christmas!

Chart Lust

 

Isn't this nice?  I want it, of course.  No matter that I have yet to finish any of the other Hawk Run designs, but maybe this will give me inspiration to pull out one of my UFOs to work on it while thinking about buying this one?

My mom recently visited my sister in Virginia where there is a wonderful little needlework store.  I gave her a list of charts I would be interested in having if they had any on hand.  She brought back two Prairie Schooler designs that I'd been eyeing--"Tortoise and the Hare" and "September", which I look forward to stitching at some point.  Now that the weather has cooled off somewhat (still warm and sticky, but much improved) I hope to get back to stitching very soon--I'm getting itchy fingers!

February in July

After a little hiatus I'm back to working on Prairie Schooler's "February".  When winter was dragging on I set it aside as the sight of snow was just too much for me.  But now that it is July and hot and humid and I am wilting, I'm only too happy to think of snow again!  I have actually stitched a bit more on this since I took the photo, but I wanted to share  my work as I had a photo ready.  I also have a new project, which I just started but I want to put in a few stitches before I share it here.  Soon!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend, and those celebrating the Fourth have a safe holiday.  I have a long weekend with a few extra days off from work, so I plan on reading, stitching and watching a movie or two.  I think I'll stay in the air conditioning however.  It's a little too hot for my tastes!