The Peacock's Feather

Working on . . .

As much as I liked working on something small, like my last finish, I'm happy to get back to my Lo, How a Rose Sampler that has sat untouched for far too long.  I have several WiPs that really do need some attention, but this has been th emost enjoyable and easy to stitch on.  So, I've pulled it back out and have been trying to add a letter a day at the very least.  Once I get this right hand side of the sampler filled in, I think it is going to fly by--at least I hope so!

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!

Quickie Update

Sorry, I've all but disappeared lately!  I wish I had more to show for my time away, but I do have a little progress to share.  I really like stitching this, and wish I had a nice chunk of time to spend on it, but as usual can just squeeze in moments here and there.  Still, I am making progress, even if it is slow progress.

And a little close up.  I've been lucky as the weather here has been really gorgeous, but I think it is finally going to come to an end (sad to say).  I guess this will be an appropriate project to work on as the days get shorter and the nights longer.  I still would love to finish this by Christmas.  I think I might be able to manage it and think I will try and at least stitch one letter every night. 

By the way--even though I seem to be absent from here a lot lately, I do thank you for each and every comment I get.  They are much appreciated and I do check in behind the scenes daily to see if anyone has dropped by even though I am a very poor blogger of late!

Happy Stitching All!

Lo, How a Rose Sampler Update

As I have had several questions about this Lo, How a Rose sampler I thought I'd mention exactly which book it is found in.  If you're interested in stitching it as well, the book is out of print, but there are inexpensive used copies available from Amazon.  Look for: Better Homes and Gardens: A Cross Stitch Christmas.  The ISBN is: 069621363x.  It's nice for once to be able to share a sampler where the chart is still available!

Here's the section I have been working on.  The colorful words are stitched first and now the rest is more or less stitched in a color called London Fog--so lots of variations on grey!  It's quite pretty, though, with lots of little motifs to add it dashes of color.  Hopefully I'll be working on it more this weekend.

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!

Rose Quaker Sampler - First Stitches

It's really way too hot to stitch right now, but I broke down anyway and recently ordered "Rose Quaker" Sampler by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg and the supplies to start stitching.  I've been lusting after this for quite a while now.

Here's my very large cut of linen.  I didn't think about how bit it would ultimately be, but this will be a Long Term project I guess.  It is a soft white color (don't remember exactly which) in 30 count.  I will be stitching it with DMC colors.

And here are a very few first stitches.  Two and a half motifs finished out of....loads.  I have stitched a little more than is shown here, but it has been so hot and humid and my house so warm that I haven't really felt much like working on any of my projects and having a piece of linen sitting on my lap.  I'll try and finish the partially stitched motifs and maybe add one of the letters (there is also an alphabet scattered about).

So, a small start, but something new to look at!

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!

Sampler Progress

Well, this month is quickly disappearing and I've not posted a single time here.  I've been very remiss in updating my stitching blog, and I do apologize but this month has been an awful month for stitching for me!  I have made a little progress on my Mystery Sampler, however, so I thought I should share it with you.  The grassy area was just finished today--complete with smyrna stitches, which are very fun to do.  I'm dreading the roof as eyelets are in the 'don't enjoy them' category for me.  Also the symbols for the colors in this area are very similar and therefore hard to see/differentiate.  I've been dragging my feet.  I think I may work on the vines a bit before moving on to the roof.

Not sure if you'll be able to make out those smyrnas, but here's a close up.  I  made a slight change to the door as I didn't like the 'S' shape.  This has been a stitch intensive section, and I am glad I am getting a little nearer to finishing it!

I am in the mood for a smaller project so I may dig around in my stash and see what I have to work on that is small and will be an 'instant gratification' type project.  Maybe I need to work on another month for my Prairie Schooler year.  I think I'll go look now and let you know later what I came up with!