Sunday, January 31, 2010

Stitching Afternoon

My DH and children went skiing yesterday. I do not ski so I took along my Christmas SAL piece. Look! Progress! Well, it may not look like much to anyone but me, but I feel better about sticking it away for a few weeks.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Not As Much As I Wanted

Isn't that how life generally works out? I did make some progress with my Illinois canvas, but not nearly 20 counties. I am at around ten today, and hope to get a few more done before I switch to something else. After all, Gay Ann is starting her Townhouse piece on Monday and I believe the Ro Pace ANG Cyberworkshop starts then too. Hmm. Must get permission to blog those pieces.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ANG Stitch of the Month

My camera doesn't take great pictures, but here are the threads I am thinking about using.
Family A: Cinnabar Watercolours
080HL Kreinik
72 Anchor floss

Family B:320 DMC in #5 perle cotton and floss (Can't remember what Krenik I ordered)

Family C:3753 DMC in #5 perle cotton and floss
3214 Krenik

But it is hard to start stitching as it is a mystery and I am not sure I will like the color choices. Cynthia-I don't blame you for waiting!

I also was asked by some of my guild members about teaching a workshop on dyeing threads and fabrics. Wouldn't it be fun to dye the threads for this piece? I am thinking about it. Wonder if my friend is done with my dyes yet? I better go stitch and stop thinking about it!

Friday, January 22, 2010

New Year's Resolutions Down the Drain

I did not even make it to the end of January before I ditched my New Year's stitching rotation. But I guess it is not a total loss as I have finished all my pre-work of the GAR Townhouse and I made some progress on the Heirloom Stitching Sampler. I think I need to get something DONE before I start on something new. And there are so many projects calling my name!

So I decided to make some serious progress on my Illinois Canvas. I still have around 50 counties to go, but I figure if I can get 20 done before the end of the month, I will be very happy.
Working on it makes me want to dye threads. Thank God my collection of dyes is with a friend who wants to dye some fabric. That removes a little temptation.
I am going to start on the ANG SOTM. Went and bought threads today. (Head hanging low.) Will try to take a picture and post tomorrow. I avoided silks as I am hoping to entice some of my guild members to join me in this mystery. We have a meeting tomorrow and I want to show them.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Stash Enhancement

A few weeks ago I ordered some threads in for a couple of Gay Ann Roger's pieces. I figured I should 'fess up and post a picture of them. Aren't they pretty? No, I haven't started on either project except for purchase the materials necessary. Sigh. So much for stash reduction.

Here is my progress on O Star of Wonder:
I realize it does not look like much, but this piece is very complicated and has lots of thread changes. It is so gorgeous in person and I am enjoying the challenge.
I do have a dilemma. I want to get something DONE and out of my rotation. The only thing in my rotation that is close to being done is my Illinois canvas. So I am thinking of stopping work on this piece and moving on to my Illinois canvas. So much for my New Year's Resolution...
I also have an urge to join the ANG Stitch of the Month (SOTM). It looks like a great project to do with my local guild, but they will need a visual to be excited....So many projects and so little time. And the dust bunnies are getting ready to take over so I must do some housekeeping!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Very Little to Show

I had a very busy week and had very little time to stitch. Since I am trying to stick to my rotation system Heirloom Sampler won't have much progress this week.
The skirt to the right was totally removed as I did not feel like it was dark enough and there was too much variation. I will have to pick another thread next month when I pick it up.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Little More Progress

I had some time last week and worked on my Heirloom Sampler. I had to reverse stitch a bunch of stitches, but I still made some progress. Here is a close-up:
I am working on my GAR Townhouse this week, but as it is ecru thread on ecru fabric, there is nothing to photograph. But I will have my homework done before class officially starts in February.

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Year's Resolutions

No pictures, I am afraid, but I decided to post a few of my resolutions.

This year I will try a rotation system with my needlework. Four big projects and I will rotate them on a weekly basis. If I don't have time to work on needlework that week, too bad. It will go to the end of the line. My first four pieces are:
1-O'Star of Wonder
2-Illinois canvas
3-GAR Townhouse
4 -Heirloom Stitching Sampler

I also will try to stitch at least 12 stitches a day on something! Maybe I will have more finishes this coming year!

Happy New Year!