Wabi-sabi Notebooks

 I keep a daily journal. No great thoughts or great art. Just a place to spill what is running around in my small mind. I use composition books or spiral bound notebooks like this one:
 

I try to make them look pretty as it adds to the appeal for me.
Earlier this year I found my Ukrainian Nyzynka piece designed by Phyllis Maurer. I checked and it has been stitched since July 2013! That is too long in a state of unfinishedness....So I made it into a journal cover:

I think it came out fairly nice.
It seems I am in a constant state of trying to clean my art room. Sigh.While attempting to clean, I came across some quilt squares made by my grandmother. One seemed to be the right size for a journal cover so I tried it:

 Not the best, but it will work. Also, it reminds me of my abuelita and all the times I visited her.
This is the fabric I used for the back:

Now to get ready for college students and Thanksgiving! It isn't at my house, thank goodness, but I do need to prepare some things.

Ukrainian Nyzynka-Stitched!

Have you ever just decided that a piece is done?  That is what I think about this one.  I have enjoyed working on it, but I started it in July 2010.  It is time to be done.  I was thinking of making it into a small bag, but my son has offered to make a box for it.  He has so many other projects that I hate to ask, but he wants to make it for me.  I will wash it and put it away.
I did not get to the Coq Au Pins yet.  I need to do some work before I can put it together.  That is my goal for tomorrow.  I did manage to clean a little of my basement though.  Every little bit is progress.

Ukrainian Nyzynka Progress

 The top picture is where I was at the beginning of the year.  I took it along on a trip and got quite a bit done.  I think I can get this done this year.

Day 5

This is an EGA workshop I took a few years ago.  I got the little bookmark done, but not the bigger boxtop.  It is Ukraninian Nyzynka  designed by Phyllis Maurer.  It has a bit more to go on the "flowering" but not much.  What shall I do with it when it is done?

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. 

Ukrainian Nyzynka

When I need something to stitch, I bring this along as it is easy to stop and start. I am past the counting part and it is just adding color now.

I even took it camping as it will need to be wished when I am totally done.
This was a workshop class that I took with my local EGA. I believe I am the only person in my guild who has worked on it. Too bad as it is a fun piece.

What I Have Been Doing

My dh had to have surgery and instead of 3 to 4 days in the hospital, we were there 10. Not a nice Christmas. He is fine, thank God and we are home. But I did not get much stitching done as any light bothered him. I did get some work done on my Ukrainian Nyzynka piece.
This is the front:
This is the back:

Most people just saw the back and were very impressed. I found it very relaxing to stitch. Some days I only got one row in, but it calmed and comforted me. Isn't that one reason why we stitch?

Nyzanka Ethnic Embroidery

The Mississippi River Valley Chapter of EGA had Phyllis Maurer teach us Ukraninian Nyzynka embroidery for our yearly workshop. I, of course, could not attend the class, but I did get a kit and managed to get the bookmark done while on vacation. It is supposed to be reversable, but I am not that good. This is a picture of the back.

I have started working on the box top which is the main piece. I like this type of work. Putting in the black is very relaxing.