I was going to add this to my post and forgot - MY BAD!!
I have a good friend, from Canada!, who has a great-nephew with a very rare disease called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). She makes cross stitch ornaments and sells them to help raise money for research into the causes and cure for this illness. She has recently hit her 2 year blog-iversary and is having a give away. I know we stitchers love meeting new stitchers and Louise's website gives you more information about this illness and more information about her give away. Look through her previous posts to see all of the wonderful things she's been stitching throughout the year as well!
Please visit Stitching for Jaxon, http://stitching-for-jaxon.blogspot.com/, leave a comment and you too can be entered into her blog-iversary give away!
Thank you - Debby
I used to live in the mountains - and loved it. Now I live out on the plains, near farm country. It sure is different, but it's quiet and gives me lots of time for stitching. Although never as much as I'd like!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Moving into Autumn...................
I had hoped to post before now, but things got busy and I didn't get a chance.
I have been doing some hand embroidery for a company in Virginia that takes up time during many of my days and have been really enjoying it!
I have had a couple more finishes and have made progress on a couple of large pieces that I've been working on. Let's start with the finishes. Back in June, Sampler Guild of the Rockies (www.samplerguildoftherockies.com) had our annual summer retreat and this year we brought in Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers. In a previous post I showed you my completed Mini Sewing Tray from the retreat; I've now completed the other project from that day, the Pineberry Makedo. Here are a couple of different angles of that piece.
A friend and I are off to a stitching retreat soon and I think I'm going to work on the Lizzie Kate Halloween mystery sampler from last year (2012). I was never able to get past part 1, actually, I haven't completed part 1 yet! I highly doubt it will get done while I'm gone, but finishing part 1 and putting a big dent in part 2 will be a wonderful accomplishment. So, I hope to have pictures of that piece to share with you as well.
I realize that I have not been consistent about my posting, but I love having you visit and if you would like to comment, that's appreciated as well.
Take time to hug relatives and friends and make time to stitch each day!
Until next time,
Debby
I have been doing some hand embroidery for a company in Virginia that takes up time during many of my days and have been really enjoying it!
I have had a couple more finishes and have made progress on a couple of large pieces that I've been working on. Let's start with the finishes. Back in June, Sampler Guild of the Rockies (www.samplerguildoftherockies.com) had our annual summer retreat and this year we brought in Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers. In a previous post I showed you my completed Mini Sewing Tray from the retreat; I've now completed the other project from that day, the Pineberry Makedo. Here are a couple of different angles of that piece.
A group project we did during our 2012-2013 year of Sampler Guild was a box top with smalls, also designed by Paulette - she's been so good to us!!! I finally finished all the pieces and got the finish work done as well. I based the colors for the fibers on the fabric that I chose to line the box and needle book with.
The linen was a 40 ct fabric of unknown origin; the floss was Gentle Arts, (I'm not sure of the colors as I've already put them back in their "rightful" home); and I used chenille to edge the top with. This was a fun project and I may dream up other smalls to go with the scissor fob and needle book at some point in the future.
I have completed pages 1, 2 and 3 of Quaker Christmas II and am making good progress on page 4. This picture was taken about the time I started on page 4, I've gotten more done since then - a picture for the future as well! I also took a close up shot of some of the motifs that are at the bottom of page 3. I thought it would be fun to do the 3 crowns in the 3 metallic colors that I am using on this piece, the green crown will be added when I get to page 6! I don't get to work on this as often as I'd like, but I think that is helping to keep this very interesting and a lot of fun. It will be big and I sure don't want to get bored with it! (Please excuse the wrinkles, I don't like having to iron this too often!!)
I looked at a previous post and saw that I've made a lot of progress on the James Wilson reproduction sampler, but I have not taken any pictures recently. That will give me more pictures to share with you in my next blog post! A friend and I are off to a stitching retreat soon and I think I'm going to work on the Lizzie Kate Halloween mystery sampler from last year (2012). I was never able to get past part 1, actually, I haven't completed part 1 yet! I highly doubt it will get done while I'm gone, but finishing part 1 and putting a big dent in part 2 will be a wonderful accomplishment. So, I hope to have pictures of that piece to share with you as well.
I realize that I have not been consistent about my posting, but I love having you visit and if you would like to comment, that's appreciated as well.
Take time to hug relatives and friends and make time to stitch each day!
Until next time,
Debby
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Summer
Summer is just flying by and I see that I haven't posted in two months. But I have been doing some stitching so have a little bit to show for the amount of time that has gone by!
As I am not a "Divine Disciplined Diva" or a girl who stitches only one project at a time, I have been working on several things over the summer. Sadly, I think I only have one finish, but I'm also a BAP girl (Big A** Projects) and have been making decent progress on several. I'm not going to share everything in this post, so maybe that will give me more incentive to post sooner and show you more of what I've been working on - and maybe even have another finish or two!
As I mentioned in my last post, Sampler Guild of the Rockies (www.samplerguildoftherockies.com), at our annual Summer Retreat in June, the lovely Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers was our guest. She provided two very cute projects for us and I've finished one of them! She called it the Mini Sewing Tray and provided us with all the materials. Here it is stitched and finished!
There is glass on this piece which caused a bit of glare making it look a little "washed out". It was a very fun stitch.
I purchased a reproduction sampler from the Haselmere Museum in England a few years ago. It's called the James Wilson Sampler and while I love the sampler and some of it's quirky motifs, I also love the fact that it was stitched by a boy! James was 12 when he stitched this sampler. At first, I was only stitching on it with a group I stitch with that meets 2 times a month. There were months where I either went once or not at all and so the sampler was moving along very slowly! It's a nice piece and I knew I had to change that, so starting 3 or 4 months ago, I added Sunday - so now most Sunday afternoons will find me with James in hand!
I started this in the middle so have roughly 1/3 of the piece done across the center. I'm using Picture This Plus Ancient in 36 count. The overall picture below shows the color of the fabric fairly true to its color - it's an awesome color. I also decided to try Sullivan's floss and so far am liking working with Sullivan's. I can't tell a huge difference between it and DMC, but I do like it.
To me, two of the quirkiest motifs are on either side of this house above the tree on the right and the whatever that is on the left. The colors are very light and therefore kind of hard to see - had I been aware of that, I might have changed the colors a bit, but I wasn't and I didn't and now it's going to be a piece that people will need to see "up close and personal" once it's complete!!! Anyway, these motifs look like weird fish to me! Not sure if that's what they are supposed to be, but they sure are unique. Here are close ups of each one!
I apologize for the "lightness" of the one above with the tree, I just couldn't get that one to come out quite right making this fish even harder to see than he already is!
In the picture above with the tree, there is a little "fence" next to the house. James stitched a dog on this fence on each side of the house - I have a cat, so changed these to kitties! There are little dogs in the very upper right and left corners of this sampler, on top of some of the border. I may go ahead and leave the dogs as stitched there as I also love dogs - just don't have one right now!
I also have another Sampler Guild project that I'm getting closer to finish work time on and I'm still working away on Quaker Christmas II. Hopefully, I'll get pictures of those for my next post - and also, hopefully, I'll post sooner than another two months!
We've had a nice, then hot, then rainy, then back to hot summer here in the Denver metro area and are in the middle of another heat wave this week. I don't like the heat and so, don't particularly care for summer! Wherever you are, I hope you are finding ways to keep cool or maybe keep warm; but most of all, I hope you're finding time to stitch and enjoy life!
Remember to hug family and friends today and have a wonderful week!
Debby
As I am not a "Divine Disciplined Diva" or a girl who stitches only one project at a time, I have been working on several things over the summer. Sadly, I think I only have one finish, but I'm also a BAP girl (Big A** Projects) and have been making decent progress on several. I'm not going to share everything in this post, so maybe that will give me more incentive to post sooner and show you more of what I've been working on - and maybe even have another finish or two!
As I mentioned in my last post, Sampler Guild of the Rockies (www.samplerguildoftherockies.com), at our annual Summer Retreat in June, the lovely Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers was our guest. She provided two very cute projects for us and I've finished one of them! She called it the Mini Sewing Tray and provided us with all the materials. Here it is stitched and finished!
I purchased a reproduction sampler from the Haselmere Museum in England a few years ago. It's called the James Wilson Sampler and while I love the sampler and some of it's quirky motifs, I also love the fact that it was stitched by a boy! James was 12 when he stitched this sampler. At first, I was only stitching on it with a group I stitch with that meets 2 times a month. There were months where I either went once or not at all and so the sampler was moving along very slowly! It's a nice piece and I knew I had to change that, so starting 3 or 4 months ago, I added Sunday - so now most Sunday afternoons will find me with James in hand!
I started this in the middle so have roughly 1/3 of the piece done across the center. I'm using Picture This Plus Ancient in 36 count. The overall picture below shows the color of the fabric fairly true to its color - it's an awesome color. I also decided to try Sullivan's floss and so far am liking working with Sullivan's. I can't tell a huge difference between it and DMC, but I do like it.
In the picture above with the tree, there is a little "fence" next to the house. James stitched a dog on this fence on each side of the house - I have a cat, so changed these to kitties! There are little dogs in the very upper right and left corners of this sampler, on top of some of the border. I may go ahead and leave the dogs as stitched there as I also love dogs - just don't have one right now!
I also have another Sampler Guild project that I'm getting closer to finish work time on and I'm still working away on Quaker Christmas II. Hopefully, I'll get pictures of those for my next post - and also, hopefully, I'll post sooner than another two months!
We've had a nice, then hot, then rainy, then back to hot summer here in the Denver metro area and are in the middle of another heat wave this week. I don't like the heat and so, don't particularly care for summer! Wherever you are, I hope you are finding ways to keep cool or maybe keep warm; but most of all, I hope you're finding time to stitch and enjoy life!
Remember to hug family and friends today and have a wonderful week!
Debby
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
More stitching stuff
A post in less than a month! I'm getting better - maybe I'll get back to once a week one of these days. But, please, don't hold your breath! LOL
I mentioned in my last post that I would post a picture of the pin cushion that I won in the pin cushion exchange we did in May with http://www.samplerguildoftherockies.org/joomla/. And here it is!
I just love the verse on here, it is so true for me! The other pincushions sit together with this one in a little round box. There's no room for any more so if I take part next year, I will need a bigger basket! But that's ok, this is a lot of fun to do. Here is better picture of the box with all the pin cushions - 3 were made by me and 2 are from the last 2 exchanges.
Our sampler guild does not meet during the summer and a few years ago the board decided to have a "summer retreat" for a more informal get together for members who wished to take part. They've all been fabulous - each year better than the year before. But this year the bar has been set very high! We were so pleased to be joined by none other than Paulette Stewart of http://www.plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/.
She is every bit as delightful in person as she sounds on her blog. If you've never read her blog, please click on the link above and go visit her!!! She loves taking photos and is a wonderful photographer. If she posts some of her photos from the retreat, I know they'll be so much better than mine! But I will try to give you a glimpse of the fun we had at the summer retreat.
These are pictures of the two projects that Paulette designed for us. Both were adapted from motifs on an antique sampler that Paulette has acquired. Here is a picture of the antique sampler and her reproduction of this same sampler.
The chart for the reproduction sampler was also part of our goodies for the day. We were all truly blessed to have Paulette join us and provide our projects for this retreat!
I can't wait for next summers retreat now - they are so much fun, a way to "relax", stitch, catch up with friends and have a wonderful day.
How about you? Have you had some fun stitchy experiences recently? I'd love to hear about them.
I'm working on an embroidery commission right now so my stitching projects are on hold until that is done. Hopefully, I'll have something that I can provide in the way of updates the next time I catch up with all of you in blogland!
Until next time, hug family and friends - and make time for stitching every day!
Debby
I mentioned in my last post that I would post a picture of the pin cushion that I won in the pin cushion exchange we did in May with http://www.samplerguildoftherockies.org/joomla/. And here it is!
These are pictures of the two projects that Paulette designed for us. Both were adapted from motifs on an antique sampler that Paulette has acquired. Here is a picture of the antique sampler and her reproduction of this same sampler.
I can't wait for next summers retreat now - they are so much fun, a way to "relax", stitch, catch up with friends and have a wonderful day.
How about you? Have you had some fun stitchy experiences recently? I'd love to hear about them.
I'm working on an embroidery commission right now so my stitching projects are on hold until that is done. Hopefully, I'll have something that I can provide in the way of updates the next time I catch up with all of you in blogland!
Until next time, hug family and friends - and make time for stitching every day!
Debby
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Some Finishes!
I don't know why I've had trouble posting to my blog on a regular basis - but I have.
Since my last post I've kept busy - or I feel like I have. I have gotten a couple of finishes done, made progress on my Quaker Christmas II and made progress on guild projects that I haven't even taken pictures of in quite a while. I've had company, visited with some stitching groups and even continued to practice my embroidery in the hopes that it will lead to employment as a professional embroiderer.
First, I'll post a picture of my progress on Quaker Christmas II. I love working on this piece and wish I could work on it more often, but maybe that's what keeps it fun - the anticipation. I have gotten more done since this picture, but haven't taken another pic yet.
The first picture is a close up of one of the motifs and the fibers I am using. I am using Treasure Braid gold for the stars/snowflakes in the piece and Treasure Braids green for the back stitched song titles and decided this little tree needed to be in metallic as well. Then this is a picture of my progress so far (at the time the picture was taken!). It is so little of the overall piece, but feels like a lot to me!
There is a Facebook group devoted to those of us stitching Quaker Christmas II and I thank those with much more creativity than I in that they weren't afraid to change colors at all!!! That's what gave me the idea to use a little bit of Kreinik blue here and there in the piece and to use the gold and green where I am. Sadly, I wouldn't have thought of it myself - or if I did, I would have been to far along to change it!
Recently, my LNS had a day long retreat (Fanci Mats in Littleton, CO http://www.fancimats.com/). We received 5 little projects to work on and I was able to completely finish one of them. The kite scissor fob, a kit called Go Fly a Kite by Raise the Roof Designs using the recommended flosses.
I did cheat a little bit on this one as I stitched the model so that it would be ready for the retreat; I didn't do the finishing, it was done for me!
I will get pictures of the other 4 projects once I have something to show you! They are all adorable though.
Then Sampler Guild of the Rockies (http://www.samplerguildoftherockies.org/joomla/) has started an annual pin cushion exchange that's held at our May Birthday month meeting. Here is a picture of the pin cushion that I stitched for another wonderful member.
Where you see the end of the alphabet in the corner above, the rest of the alphabet is in the other 3 corners, with the "m" and "n" in the center with the tulip flowers. This was from a free chart from The Workbasket called April Quaker. I used Weeks Dye Works Cyclamen and a limited edition color from Gentle Arts Sampler threads for the leaves. The fabrics were mystery fabrics from my stash that were just the right size! They aren't even quite the same color of pink, but I liked the way they worked together and they made a wonderful biscornu!!!
I haven't taken a picture yet of the pin cushion that I received. As soon as I do, that will be posted here as well. It's a lovely pin cushion and is now residing in a box with my other pin cushions - a new space will need to be found soon as this spot is getting too crowded!!
After many, many weeks of snow through March and April - and even on May 1st!!! - we have finally settled into beautiful weather and even rain here in the Denver area. A much nicer spring than last year as we were already very hot by this time a year ago. This week has found temperatures in the 80s many days and that's getting almost too hot for me - give me the 70s!! LOL But I am loving the rain we've been getting when we get it. My heart goes out to those affected by yesterday's tornado in Texas. The major downside of spring is the start of tornado season.
In spite of my gaps in communication, I am so happy that you check back and stay with me. I love your comments and your input. It makes my day!
Take care and enjoy the weather wherever you are. Remember to hug family and friends today and take time to stitch.
Debby
Since my last post I've kept busy - or I feel like I have. I have gotten a couple of finishes done, made progress on my Quaker Christmas II and made progress on guild projects that I haven't even taken pictures of in quite a while. I've had company, visited with some stitching groups and even continued to practice my embroidery in the hopes that it will lead to employment as a professional embroiderer.
First, I'll post a picture of my progress on Quaker Christmas II. I love working on this piece and wish I could work on it more often, but maybe that's what keeps it fun - the anticipation. I have gotten more done since this picture, but haven't taken another pic yet.
There is a Facebook group devoted to those of us stitching Quaker Christmas II and I thank those with much more creativity than I in that they weren't afraid to change colors at all!!! That's what gave me the idea to use a little bit of Kreinik blue here and there in the piece and to use the gold and green where I am. Sadly, I wouldn't have thought of it myself - or if I did, I would have been to far along to change it!
Recently, my LNS had a day long retreat (Fanci Mats in Littleton, CO http://www.fancimats.com/). We received 5 little projects to work on and I was able to completely finish one of them. The kite scissor fob, a kit called Go Fly a Kite by Raise the Roof Designs using the recommended flosses.
I will get pictures of the other 4 projects once I have something to show you! They are all adorable though.
Then Sampler Guild of the Rockies (http://www.samplerguildoftherockies.org/joomla/) has started an annual pin cushion exchange that's held at our May Birthday month meeting. Here is a picture of the pin cushion that I stitched for another wonderful member.
Where you see the end of the alphabet in the corner above, the rest of the alphabet is in the other 3 corners, with the "m" and "n" in the center with the tulip flowers. This was from a free chart from The Workbasket called April Quaker. I used Weeks Dye Works Cyclamen and a limited edition color from Gentle Arts Sampler threads for the leaves. The fabrics were mystery fabrics from my stash that were just the right size! They aren't even quite the same color of pink, but I liked the way they worked together and they made a wonderful biscornu!!!
I haven't taken a picture yet of the pin cushion that I received. As soon as I do, that will be posted here as well. It's a lovely pin cushion and is now residing in a box with my other pin cushions - a new space will need to be found soon as this spot is getting too crowded!!
After many, many weeks of snow through March and April - and even on May 1st!!! - we have finally settled into beautiful weather and even rain here in the Denver area. A much nicer spring than last year as we were already very hot by this time a year ago. This week has found temperatures in the 80s many days and that's getting almost too hot for me - give me the 70s!! LOL But I am loving the rain we've been getting when we get it. My heart goes out to those affected by yesterday's tornado in Texas. The major downside of spring is the start of tornado season.
In spite of my gaps in communication, I am so happy that you check back and stay with me. I love your comments and your input. It makes my day!
Take care and enjoy the weather wherever you are. Remember to hug family and friends today and take time to stitch.
Debby
Monday, March 18, 2013
2013 - Flying By.........................
I don't know where this year is going, but it sure is moving right along! I knew I hadn't posted in a while, but not since Dec 31???? What's up with that???
I really must get back on some kind of schedule with posting. It keeps me working harder on my stitching and I love hearing from you guys - and I won't hear from you if I don't keep you up to date once in a while.
I spent about half of January in Virginia with my son and his family. I don't get to see my 2 youngest grandsons as often as I'd like and totally enjoyed the stay with them. I then had an opportunity to take vocational classes at the Williamsburg School of Needlework in February, so am back again visiting with them for a little bit.
Williamsburg School of Needlework is a place to learn embroidery and, if you have the desire, a chance to become a professional embroiderer. The owner of the school also has a business that provides hand embroidered items to her clients so she is training embroiderers to help out when clients have items to be embroidered. This sounds like a "me" job and so I've taken the vocational classes in Basic Embroidery and White Work. I continue to practice to improve my skill and my speed - I'm not sure the speed part is going quite as well. I'll be anxious to see what types of work may come my way in the future. If you're interested in the school, visit the website: http://www.wmbgneedlework.com/. I've really enjoyed the experience.
On the stitching front, I decided that 2013 needs to be primarily devoted to WIPs (works in progress) as there are so many that I'd like to get finished. Of course, that is because there are so many things that I'd like to start!!! When I'm not working on my embroidery, I've worked a rotation of two Sampler Guild projects (http://samplerguildoftherockies.org) and Quaker Christmas II. I don't have photos of the two projects from Sampler Guild, but do have a picture of the QCII. I'm loving working on this and wish I had much more time to devote to it.
The first picture was my progress on February 6th and the bottom picture, my progress as of this morning (please excuse the wrinkles!). Not very far, but progress anyway! The backstitch lettering - It Came Upon A - is done in green Treasure Braid, but I don't think the sparkle shows up in this picture. The stocking is done in DMC metallic and I will also be using Treasure Braid in gold for some of the little stars that will sprinkled thoughout the piece eventually. The chart is by ByGone Stitches and is done on a mystery fabric that is 40ct. I'm using Gentle Art Sampler Threads in Cranberry and Pine.
While in Virginia, I took the opportunity a week ago to visit a friend who lives outside of Washington DC, re-join the Loudoun Sampler Guild and to visit the needlework exhibit at Woodlawn. This is the 30th year for the exhibit and the first time I've been able to attend! What a marvelous show it was - I wish pictures would have been allowed to show all the wonderful needlework so many women have done. Many, many designs - some I've seen, some I haven't, some were original - and several wonderful ideas for different ways of finishing pieces as well. In total, there were 9 rooms in the home that were full of needlework! I'm thinking that I might have to get something finished and enter a piece next year. That would be so exciting. I also was able to visit with another friend who now lives in that area, but I first met in Albuquerque. She attended the needlework exhibit with me and since there is a needlework shop right down the road, we both had to visit at In Stitches (http://institchesneedlework.com/ in Alexandria, VA) before ending our wonderful day!
That's a very "brief" update of how the last couple of months have been going. I know I'll continue to keep very busy and hope that I'll be much better about including updates to my blog in the list of "to dos"!!
For now, hug family and friends and be sure to make time to stitch! Thank you as always for your visits and your wonderful commments!
Debby
I really must get back on some kind of schedule with posting. It keeps me working harder on my stitching and I love hearing from you guys - and I won't hear from you if I don't keep you up to date once in a while.
I spent about half of January in Virginia with my son and his family. I don't get to see my 2 youngest grandsons as often as I'd like and totally enjoyed the stay with them. I then had an opportunity to take vocational classes at the Williamsburg School of Needlework in February, so am back again visiting with them for a little bit.
Williamsburg School of Needlework is a place to learn embroidery and, if you have the desire, a chance to become a professional embroiderer. The owner of the school also has a business that provides hand embroidered items to her clients so she is training embroiderers to help out when clients have items to be embroidered. This sounds like a "me" job and so I've taken the vocational classes in Basic Embroidery and White Work. I continue to practice to improve my skill and my speed - I'm not sure the speed part is going quite as well. I'll be anxious to see what types of work may come my way in the future. If you're interested in the school, visit the website: http://www.wmbgneedlework.com/. I've really enjoyed the experience.
On the stitching front, I decided that 2013 needs to be primarily devoted to WIPs (works in progress) as there are so many that I'd like to get finished. Of course, that is because there are so many things that I'd like to start!!! When I'm not working on my embroidery, I've worked a rotation of two Sampler Guild projects (http://samplerguildoftherockies.org) and Quaker Christmas II. I don't have photos of the two projects from Sampler Guild, but do have a picture of the QCII. I'm loving working on this and wish I had much more time to devote to it.
While in Virginia, I took the opportunity a week ago to visit a friend who lives outside of Washington DC, re-join the Loudoun Sampler Guild and to visit the needlework exhibit at Woodlawn. This is the 30th year for the exhibit and the first time I've been able to attend! What a marvelous show it was - I wish pictures would have been allowed to show all the wonderful needlework so many women have done. Many, many designs - some I've seen, some I haven't, some were original - and several wonderful ideas for different ways of finishing pieces as well. In total, there were 9 rooms in the home that were full of needlework! I'm thinking that I might have to get something finished and enter a piece next year. That would be so exciting. I also was able to visit with another friend who now lives in that area, but I first met in Albuquerque. She attended the needlework exhibit with me and since there is a needlework shop right down the road, we both had to visit at In Stitches (http://institchesneedlework.com/ in Alexandria, VA) before ending our wonderful day!
That's a very "brief" update of how the last couple of months have been going. I know I'll continue to keep very busy and hope that I'll be much better about including updates to my blog in the list of "to dos"!!
For now, hug family and friends and be sure to make time to stitch! Thank you as always for your visits and your wonderful commments!
Debby
Monday, December 31, 2012
Happy New Year
Hug family and friends today - be kind to one another - and take time to stitch!
See you next year.
Debby
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