Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Another Oldie

 Loudoun Sampler Guild is currently working on Mary Wigham. I decided that I didn't need another Quaker. What I need is to finish one that is in progress.

Started at the beginning of 2008 as the design was published in the fall of 2007 in Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly. I changed the called for colors from silks to a selection of overdyed cottons in Crescent Colors and Gentle Arts. The linen is 32 ct Magnolia.




I would love to finish before the end of this year. 

Thursday, March 07, 2024

What's in the Bag

 Today let's play a round of what's in my stitching bag.




A flamingo eyeglass case. Nearly complete. This has been my carry around project for nearly a year. I work on it at the nail salon while getting pedicures. And any other place without ideal lighting for stitching. 


My Gayla Elliot stitching girl. Slowly renovating the kitchen. I undyed her hair. She used to be a blonde. Still contemplating the floors.


I've got three Danji candy canes to stitch for the grandgirls. Nothing too exciting.


Lastly a tease. Local EGA friends know what this original piece is.

That's what's in my stitching bag right now. 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Thread Keep

 From the September 2022 issue of Needle Arts. This was not difficult. I'm encouraged to continue stitching these projects.

I picked this one to teach for my chapter because I had difficulty doing the colonial knot. I've got them mastered now. 



I just eyeballed the initials. It works. 



Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Sugar, Honey, Iced Tea

 Good intentions blown. Here it is nearly the end of February. Which means I can play catch up. Or just move on. Let's see. I've got some photos from Camp Wannastitch. 

First, very happy to have attended and not suffered from the Covid plague. Remarkably a healthy start to the new year. And being with over 160 people for days didn't change that. 

My roommate and I like to arrive early. Got there on Wednesday afternoon. Stitched in the afternoon in the former pool. Light, bright and spacious. 

                     Waking up the first morning. Always love that ocean view. 
                                  Everyone posing for photos. 
Two visits to Salty Yarns. We stopped on our way out of town. That meant we did arrive in the snow in Virginia. And Virginia hadn't pretreated the roads. My Forester handled it like a champ. 
Plenty of my chapter members were working on their Challenge projects. Here's my Echoes of Elizabeth etui. 
                                   Dueling sazeracs - one on the rocks. 

We freely admit that the food is a big part of the weekend. Lots of fish and shellfish. Not a bad meal all weekend. 

I will say that I got a lot of stitching done. I just forget to take photos to document it. Also found a prize or two at the give away table. Whoever left Scott Lee there, thanks! 

Sunday, January 07, 2024

First Finish of 2024

 I was hoping this would be my last finish of 2023, but I was busy working extra days. So it's my first of 2024.

MacSanta from Yarn Tree. I forgot which year. Late 90s.


One more down. Dozens to go. 

Monday, December 25, 2023

Merry Christmas

 In 20 years of married life in the Army, my husband and I were never apart on Christmas Day. Welcome to 2023 when for the first time ever, we are apart. He’s with our daughter at our son’s house. And I stayed home to keep the peace with the cats. So far, it’s working. No disasters, no fights. And when I finish up here, I’ll go cook myself a little prime rib roast. 



Yesterday’s activity involved my Lindy Stitches Bird Crush Club. I’ve stitched two out of twelve. And last week I finally pulled all the threads for the ten remaining. That meant it was time to match fibers to fabrics. I will admit that my fabric stash may have doubled during the pandemic. It took me two hours and I didn’t even go into my second or third drawer. What I did think was funny is that I kitted five of these with bits of Crossed Wing linen that I had purchased when the Scarlet Thread closed. I have a couple of ornament sized pieces left. But she did make beautiful fabric to stitch birds on!

No photos of that process. I was juggling in too small a space. But here’s today’s project.


Last year I started this at Camp Wannastitch. Another, erm, older project courtesy of Sara Leigh. 


Sunday, December 10, 2023

Documenting the Santas

 

Papa Navidad
Greens keeper Santa
Equine Santa
Wilderness Santa completed 2023
Artic Santa
Terrestrial Santa
Pioneer Santa 
Prairie Santa
Second Santa I stitched - the Black Forest Santa. 
Old World Heirloom Santas - the first one I stitched in the late 1980s - Pere Noel. 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Square Head


 Color could be better. It's a really bright orange.

I designed this after stitching Marilyn Owen's Halloween collage piece. She had an obviously white ghost on a purple background. 

It's byzantine stitch that carries thru the black stitching. Harder than it should be to figure out how to do it. 

Time to go pack for retreat. Hmm. What should I take? 

Monday, October 23, 2023

All the Beads

I still do want a large canvas all in beads. To see if it's practical I stitched this ornament a few years ago. I think I have at least three types of beading on here. A word of advice to anyone who wants to do this, always finish the edge with two rows of thread.



Saturday, October 21, 2023

The Classic


 Corn, pumpkin, spiders, green, orange, black.