Friday, December 30, 2011

WIPocalypse Projects

 I realized I could add lots more WIP's to this list, but I decided to work on the ones that I really want to get done this year.  (WIP-works in progress)  The above is a project I started with my local guild last year.  It is called the Agecroft Sweet Bag by Catherine Jordan.  The pattern is from NeedleArts, the Embroiderer's Guild of America's magazine March 2011.  I have not gotten much done, but that is about to change!
 Solar Flare by Ro Pace.  I love this piece!  I got sidetracked from finishing it last year because of Serpentine...
Illinois canvas with my hand-dyed threads.  I almost pulled this from my list as my dh does not like the piece.  Also, I will need to dye threads and do the background for this piece.  But I enjoy working on it and want to see it done.
Box Top of Ukrainian Nyzynka by Phyllis Maurer..  I am very close to finishing this.  It looks like cross-stitch in the pictures, but it is a running stitch done on the back of the piece(in black), then "flowered" with all the color.  It is supposed to be reversible, but mine is not!  My stitching is less than perfect on this piece and I am not sure what I will do with it when I am done.  A small purse?  A box top? I do love the piece and hope it will be done soon. 

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Double Fan Doubled

I got my Double Fan Doubled done-all of them!  They need another layer in silver, but I hope to get that done tonight.
Also, I will post my WIPocalypse pictures tomorrow.  At least, that is my plan.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Journal 21 2011


Every year I vow I will art journal at least once a week and every year I fail. My friend Cheryl is thinking of trying to do a page a week in 2012 and I am thinking of joining her.  But the other day I realized that I have done some art journaling every week.  My Journal 21 is where I play with my watercolors and try to write one thing about the day.  I also write my to do list here.  It is truly a journal of my year, things I have done and wanted to do.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Another Finish!

OK, it is just a Mill Hill bead kit, but I got it done and I am posting it!!!  It was a gift for my kids' music teacher,  but it is a little late for that.  I think I will just give it to her at the next lesson.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Waffles in Corners Complete


I finally did my four corners and managed one Double Fan Doubled.  Will I get done before the New Year?

Friday, December 23, 2011

Tiny Bit of Love Progress

Gay Ann Rogers is going to post a picture on her website( http://www.gayannrogers.com/ ) on Christmas Day of a new heart she is designing.  Thought I would post a picture of mine that I hope will be done for Valentine's Day.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

This Year's Christmas Ornaments

I finally finished these three ornaments for my tree.  Two were supposed to be pins, but I don't wear pins.
All are Mill Hill bead kits.  Holiday Tree Snow Charmer is the snowman.  Next is  Kris Kringle and then my favorite, Joyful Angel.

I, like a crazy woman, joined the Crazy January 2012 challenge.  The idea is to start 15 new projects on the first 15 days of January.  Hey!  I could have  done 31  new projects!  But when I finished these three Mill Hill projects, it made me realize that this challenge is not so crazy.  I do finish things and I have gotten close to 15 done this year.  (I don't count things as done until they are framed or finished into something. That is why I haven't listed my Promise of a Mystery as finished yet.)  I may have to change my definition of finished for this challenge, but we shall see.  I hope to list them on a sidebar today.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Almost done with the Border

After doing some major ripping last week and waiting for replacement thread, I finally have a photo of my progress for Sepentine by Ro Pace. Most of  the silver waffle stitches between the darker blue crecents had to come out.  I miscounted them all!  (Except for the first 3 I put in.)  Boy, was I frustrated.  The silver ribbon could not be reused and I was busy with holiday baking.  But they are done.  I did realize that I started all my borders wrong, but that does not bother me as I cannot see it.  Ro may comment on it when I send it in for evaluation, but I am not ripping those borders out!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Tiny Bit of Love

Stitching time has been very limited as I have been busy making toffee, fudge and peanut brittle.  I have several more batches to make, but my dh is working on my kitchen.  (Yeah!)  It will look fabulous when done, but I can't cook while he is working...So I did some very neglected housework and plan on stitching tonight.
I have not been doing 12 stitches a day on Tiny Bit of Love by Gay Ann Rogers, but I hope to change that this week.  I also found that my Cityscapes need some basketweave or tent stitch around them so I can finish them as ornaments.  (Thanks Pat from http://www.needleartnut.blogspot.com/ !)  I have tried finishing before, but want to attempt it again.  Will keep you posted.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Ornament Exchange

This is the ornament I took to my EGA's ornament exchange.  It is a design by Karen Buell that my SIL gave me.  It stitched up quickly and I was able to finish it myself.

Speaking of finishing-the lady who does my finishing normally is Arnetta Flower out of the Quad Cities in Iowa.  If you want her phone number, send me an email so I can give it to you.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Finished Cityscape Hearts


Well, I finished both hearts.  I have been busy with Christmas programs and haven't been able to do much stitching.  Hopefully that will change next week and I can get working on Serpentine again.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

15 Minutes on a Heart

After removing my mistakes, I continued stitching on this heart.  Some days I did more than 15 minutes while on others, I did not work on it at all.  Still, it is coming along. 

Friday, December 2, 2011

Rip, rip, rip

I am still trying to get Serpentine finished.  I am so glad we have an extension!  I keep having to rip out and redo the last border.  Some things just require lots of concentration on my part.  Must be my small mind.

By the way, the Santa I put up is a design by Janet Zickler Casey that my son stitched.  It is the Candy Cane Santa through Shining Needle Society.  Cute, isn't he?