Sunday, July 24, 2011

HUGE Finish!!!!!

It is done. My daughters are already fighting over who gets it when I die. One had the nerve to ask me to stitch another so they would each have one. I laughed in her face. Told them I'm keeping it until I die, and then I won't care if they fight over it. LOL!


Nativity Story Table Runner - FINISHED 071911

I think if you click the photo, you can see a bigger size on flickr. For the record: By Blackberry Lane Designs. Stitched on Relic 32 ct Belfast Linen by Picture This Plus. Used DMC 780 and PTB PH01 as fibers. Stitched two over two. Finished runner measures 55.5 inches by 18.25 inches. Started January 2010 and completed July 19, 2011 (as part of my rotation; so not stitched exclusively). Oh, and it is COMPLETELY washable (as in the washing machine, washable - yes, I tested that theory).

The finishing was all done by hand using the antique hem stitch. While I've done the regular hem stitch on many occasions, I'd never worked with the antique version before. I really enjoyed it. However, the instructions in the pattern were kind sketchy. I had to find some instructions with diagrams on-line to be able to do it. Even then, I practiced on a scrap of linen first. Mitering the corners was a challenge, too. I'm really glad I practiced that first as I screwed it up the first two times I tried.

I'm damn happy to have this done and ready to grace my dining room table this Christmas!

After finishing one BAP in my rotation, I've given another BAP some love. Here's my most recent progress on Egypt Garden by Chatelaine Designs (stitched on Shortbread Belfast by Country Stitch). The pic doesn't show the light yellow of the fabric, but the fibers are pretty true to color.

Egypt Garden as of 072311

I'd been rotating the two projects for the past several months. Now I think I'm going to give EG a bit of a rest. Yes, I got bored. You know how frequently that happens with me. So, as a reward for such a big Happy Dance, I decided I deserved a new start. I've been wanting to stitch some smaller designs, you know, so I actually finish things. I chose Autumn Arbor by The Drawn Thread (stitched on Lemon Meringue 32ct Belfast by Country Stitch using silks as designed).


Autumn Arbor as of 072311

That's just one night's progress, so I think it will be a pretty quick stitch. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. LOL One thing I'm not sure makes me happy is that the design is stitched with one strand of floss over two threads. I get the delicate look, but I'm used to more coverage than that. Since I am using the silk accessory pack that came with the chart, I decided to stitch as designed so I'd be sure to have enough silk to finish it. I think maybe the look will grow on me.

I do have other stitching and finishes to share, but not yet. Last month, I stitched and finished a lovely piece for the Chatelaine Smalls Exchange. Since it won't be mailed until next week and it needs to be a secret until received by my partner, I can't show you that, yet. You'll have to wait. I also learned a wonderful new-to-me box finishing technique last month from Susan. That finish will be fodder for a future blog post.

20 comments:

  1. Your runner is absolutely gorgeous!! I can see why they will fight over it! I also love your Egyptian Garden? I have some fabric that I think only this Chatelaine will look good on, so I think this is going to become one I will also have to stitch! Can't wait to see more of it when you put it back in rotation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunningly beautiful! A family heirloom in the making for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats on your table runner finish!It's stunning. Great progress on Egyptian Garden and The Drawn Thread piece!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Huge congratulations!!! That is an amazing accomplishment :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous, wonderful, huge happy dance!!!!! It will beautifully grace your table this year, congratulations!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I wish I was one of your daughters so I could fight over it too! :) Guess I'll have to settle for adding it to my own stitching bucket list. :) It looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on the huge happy dance! It's gorgeous! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome!! Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment. And you owe us an "action shot" of it in place at Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful! Fantastic!
    Absolutely well done!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations on your finish, it's a stunning piece. And also your Egyptian Garden, I hope to start my first Chatelaine soon, so I love seeing others in progress

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, congratulations on the seriously beautiful Nativity runner - what a marvelous achievement! Lol on your remark to the daughters :-)
    Very nice WIPs too - but then, those are two of my favourite designers :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. yay you are finally finished.Happy Dancing with you. It will look great on your table this Christmas.Too funny about your daughters.lol

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congrats on the finish, Cheryl. It's gorgeous!!

    EG looks amazing and great new start. :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on finishing the Runner, it's gorgeous

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations to you! The finish is amazing, and so are your other projects.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That runner is absolutely gorgeous!!! You know of course that you've forced me to buy that chart. No idea when I will actually get to it but I had to have it after seeing your WIPs.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Asolutely amazingly beautiful, well done. And so is your Medieval Town Mandala. I have just started Convents Herbal Garden and am enjoying it, although it is quite difficult.

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am so glad that I came across you blog. Your work is exquisite. I have never seen the Nativity Runner before. This has to go on my todo list. Your Chatelaine projects - WOW. I am definitely looking forward to following your posts and projects.

    ReplyDelete