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. 

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. 

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. 

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? 

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.

The Classic

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

The Bright

 Is there anything better than electric blue?

I can't wear it. I don't decorate with it. But just a touch here and there. 

Warning

 Splat. Don't drink and drive. 

Colors of Fall

 I have always loved October. And I really love an October color palette. All of them. The bright, the neon, the subdued, the plaid, the non-traditional. I can't pick a favorite.

So last year when I went on an October retreat, I had many projects to choose from but I basically stitched only on a Mill Hill kit and a Lindy Stitches vulture. And I stitched them from start to finish. 

I've been contemplating what to pack this year and may lean hard on those autumn colors. 

Last year's finish. 

Frustrated

 Pretty much lost the entire month of September to covid. Came home from Seminar a day early with it. Not the only one.

But enough about that. 

I took Gail Stafford's one day class, Sunrise.

This is Gail's. Interesting journey from photo to marquetry to stitched piece. I have worked on mine, but the studio is a wreck and I can't figure where it is to take a photo. 

Also took Chris Barry's 4 day gold class. We, unfortunately, we unable to get to the MFA, but the class was wonderful.

I need to practice my braid stitch. Mine looks like a drunken sailor stitched it. 

Boston was great right up until it wasn't.