Don't hate me because I'm in Hawaii.
It's gorgeous. The swimming at Waikiki is fabulous. The food is fantastic.
And it's not cold or snowing.
I may have added to the local economy. Stopped today at Fiddlesticks Too and then Needlepoint Etc. Lovely places with friendly people. Mahalo!
Got up uber early today to shovel a path from the door to where a taxi would be.
Vacation time!
Here's my airplane stitching. I'd be further along, but I used a wrong color for the background. Ripped it and restitched it.
It's a Melissa Shirley Chinese New Year oxen. I just kind of fell for the colors and it was in a sale pile.
Here’s my Garden Gate Sampler by Pam Darney.
Just found out she's teaching in Williamsburg next December. A joined linen piece. She's a fabulous teacher and whoever takes this class with her will enjoy the experience tremendously!
It's funny. This usually sits near my chair because I can see it under nearly any conditions. But while cleaning for company, I put it away. So here it is returning to its spot. Lots of blue to go. I'm in no rush and have the other 3 seasons.
It's been nearly two years since I started working part time in a needlepoint shop.
I thought I would share some of my thoughts and advice. Not all of this is originates with me.
My number # 1 piece of advice to needlepointers, but it can apply to other needleworkers: don't toss the thread label or write down that information. Every week I see someone in a panic because they are running out of thread and they don't know what it is. After a while you get good at playing detective, but it can be difficult especially with older pieces. Of course, purchasing enough thread to begin with is a terrific idea, but sometimes it's an educated guess. Or sometimes things have been ripped and restitched and you just run out. Knowing dye lot numbers is also crucial on threads that have them. Color can change, sometimes drastically, from one dye lot to another.
I've had this particular problem myself with an ornament kit and lucky for me, my boss knew what the thread was. This was back a few years when I was lacking in needlepoint experience. Right off I found two of the three colors I needed. Took me longer to locate that third color - nearly two years. Funny how I never thought about ripping out and starting again with a new color which is always the option of last resort for some of us.
http://toocheapblondes.com/uncategorized/too-cheap-blondes-find-of-the-day-vintage-crewel-embroidered-chair-goodwill-thrift-store-shop/
I should be fortunate!
I think this is my first finish for 2015.
It's a Jean Smith canvas that I experimented with silk ribbon on. A friend of mine did one last year so I copied her idea and found a canvas that I thought would work. Now I'm on the hunt for some fabric to make this into a pillow.
