Monrovia - Stitched

Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy doing something. In this case counted needlepoint, I have really enjoyed the way the layering of the stitches and threads has developed into a finished piece. In fact this piece is inspiring me to design a stocking it just remains to be seen if it actually makes its way out of my head and onto canvas.

I have also included a picture of a previous Jim Wurth ornament I did several years ago, I believe it is called Corination.

While I decide what to do next I have picked up one of the Countdown to Christmas advent ornaments by Kathy Schenkel.

The Beauty Continues

I think I am beginning to think about designing pieces such as this.

The pleasure in stitching this and seeing each layer just add to the overall effect is breath taking.

Here are my latest steps.

Monrovia - Jim Wurth

I have had the outline of this done for some time and it has been sat in my sunroom waiting it's turn.

Here you can see the long stitches that start to fill in the ornament.

And now November!

I believe this month sees the end of adding birds onto my Sue Spargo block of the month. Next month we receive the backing and label.

This has been an enjoyable quilt to work on and I have now signed up for next year.

Sue has also now written a book on stitches for embellishment that is available through her web site.

Now onto a Jim Wurth octagon ornament. I have done the first in the series a while ago and now have Monrovia and one other that at this moment I can't remember the name of to work on. I wish I'd been able to do these as monthly pieces as intended. I would like to obtain all 12 but fear my purse will not stretch to them as they go for silly prices on eBay.

October done!

I am upto date with my Sue Spargo BOM.  Now I can think about doing some other thing like some needlepoint or knitting.

Back to the BOM I have now added 4 for more birds. I changed a couple of things as I felt there was to many drizzle stitches on the given instructions but each to their own.

Teaching at Peacock Alley

Do you wish to try a new technique or skill such as using a laying tool? Are you a beginner who wants a push in the right direction. Stuck with a canvas then I am your lady.

Then phone Peacock Alley in Ada on 1-877-550-9898 or 1-616-682-9854.

I will be available by appointment for one on one help between 12:00 and 2:00 on Mondays. Or drop in and if I am not teaching I will help you out.

We are also open to groups of friends who wish to have some fun together, maybe you wish to all do the some canvas together? It would be fun to see how different they all look when done in your own particular taste.

A girls night out with a visit to one if the wonderful restaurants in our little area could be finished with a bit of stitching fun at the Alley.

Teaching Stumpwork

Today I have the honor of teaching a technique of stumpwork to my local ANG group in W Michigan.

This piece shows different stages involved in making a detached leave or petal.

Mistake!!!!!!!

Just when you think you are in the home lap you notice a mistake. Can you spot it?

Over the last few weeks I have been busy with Nellie (also known as my MIL). When this lovely lady visits I tend to stop doing other things except in relation to my daughters. The that includes housework.

That said whilst she has been here this time I have finished doing the Sue Spargo September BOM and laid out this months, knitted a cowl as a Christmas gift for a friend, framed my Charley Harper needlepoint owl, knitted a sweater, hat and cowl for my Fiona (my own design as well) and got to the background on my second Lee kimono. This was all because Nellie is not able to get around as well as in the past so we have been rewatching Downton Abbey and Revenge on Netflix.

I am hoping to finish said kimono this weekend so I can start knitting Amanda an Aran sweater from a pattern I found at my local library in their resale section. I will be altering the ribs and also lengthing it as she is long in the body.

Funeral for my beloved camera

As you may have noticed in my last posting the pictures were not up my standard. My poor 4 year old canon decided it did not want to open it' eye anymore. After trying to repair myself I finally took it to a store on Saturday only to be told that it was going to cost $100 to $150 to repair.

I have always loved the close up this little point and shoot achieved so here's hoping it's replacement will be as good. Hopefully picking one up on Friday.

In the meantime here is a picture of one of my current needlepoint projects.

It is by Lee (KB 15) and is to go with the crane kimono I have done for my Fiona. Fiona picked the stitch for the sky from the landscape stitch book by Elaine Oliverio. I have this for my iPhone and pad.

Yesterday I was working at Peacock Alley in Ada MI. As this was not my regular day I took my two girls with me. Amanda did work on her stitching briefly whilst Fiona helped with reorganizing a thread wall and started a friendship braclet using some threads from the bargain bin.

Eyeless bird

Not as frightening as it seems. This months block from Sue Spargo includes the first bird, however for reasons unknown the eye is done next month.

It may be noticed by some that I have placed the wing in the opposite direction to that suggested. The inner part of the wing is partly surrounded by drizzle stitches and back stitch.

Have to love the brightness of his plumes.

Progress....

 Half way through and it is beginning to look like a quilt.

On this center blossom I did change things a bit.  I decided it deserved a bit fancier stitching.  So from a distance this one looks like its brothers and sisters but seeing as how it has the very fancy detached petals is just need more.  So threw in some pistal stitches and french knots.

Drizzling again, love this stitch, I just wish I could be more random in the lengths.

Tatty teddy card for my little lady

The winged wonder

As you can see my owl is going well if a bit slow. Moving him into to the sunroom has helped but even then there is a very small window of time in which he is stitchable. The wings are a nightmare even with a white cloth on my lap!

Kathy Fenchel makes two suggestions for the background including adding a moon. I will keep the moon but intended to stitch the background with a thinner thread than suggested. I'm also considering adding a strand of blending filament to the equation.

IN OTHER NEWS - I will be working at my local needlepoint store over the summer on Thursdays. It is Peacock Alley in Ada MI. If you are in the area pop in and visit. It is a store full of canvases and threads to delight the sole. For those of you who like me enjoy other handwork it is also the source of most of my embellishing threads.

It's in the Bag

 I have adapted the handle from being two front and back to one side to side.  This allows me better stuffing ability!

 Just for fun I decided to do drizzle stitches on the closure button.

There is something about this leaf that just worked for me in it's simple form.

Wordless Wednesday and a finished doodle cloth