Stars and Evening WIPs

Seems that once a month blogging has become my new normal. I'd like to do better, but I lack motivation.

But, I have been stitching.

I'm participating in a SAL for Tony Mineri's Stars for the New Millennium which started in October and will run for 24 months (one square every two months) to allow plenty of time for all of us to keep up and still work on other projects. Last night I finished the first square, Marilyn Monroe (all squares are named for movie stars who have a connection with the other squares it touches).




Most of the stitches so far have been familiar to me, which is good for confidence building. I'm sure there will be unfamiliar stitches in future squares. I do love the textures created by the different fibers. It's pretty awesome!

And, now I am returning to Chatelaine Designs Evening in the Park. I've made considerable progress. In fact, it's entirely possible that I may finish the stitching of this design by the end of 2012. I started this back in the days before I learned the hard lesson of beading as I go on Chatelaines. So, all the beading will be done at the end of the stitching. I'll be happy to have this one finished and off my WIP list!

Marie has ARRIVED!

This year marks the third for the Chatelaine Smalls Exchange. I've so enjoyed both making and receiving a gorgeous project from a Chatelaine design. Planning the design element and the finishing technique are always a fun creative endeavor for me. Can't reveal my creation yet, as it has to travel internationally to reach its new home. BUT, the other really, really awesome part of the exchange is that you RECEIVE a completely wonderful finished small in return. Lucky me, mine arrived today. For your viewing pleasure (click to biggify):

A close up of the fabulousness of the skirt!

Marie's dress was stitched and sewn so beautifully by Missy Ann AL from the Chatelaine Designs Yuku community in our 2012 exchange. She is amazing (Missy Ann and Marie!)!! What perfection.  Oh, and Missy Ann and I share a love of nail polish, so she also included L'Oreal's The Temptress' Power (a color she knew I'd love) in the package. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!?!

I feel like the luckiest person ever! I just adore Marie! Thank you Missy Ann!

Helloooooooo!

*** removes, shakes out, and folds dust covers...looks around to see if everything is still in place***

Greetings! I don't know if anyone still visits me after all this time. I've been kinda busy. Diva daughter graduated from high school mid-May. So all my time and money have now gone to college and the preparations there for.

But you don't really care about that. You just want the pictures. Finished Egypt Garden by Chatelaine Designs at the end of July. It is now framed and hanging on DH's office wall downtown. The blue of his office walls are a perfect match for the color family used in the design. We decided not to mat it, but do a rather spectacular (IMHO) frame, instead. The photographic evidence (clicking should biggify):

And, an angled shot to show more of the frame:

Today, I finished another HUGE project. My very first big-girl quilt. It's a t-shirt quilt I designed (using instructions from a wonderful friend - thanks Melissa!) for Diva using many of her high school t-shirts. Hopefully, the flannel fabrics I used will also help to keep her warm now that the Southern Diva has moved to the Mid-West (culture shock anyone?).  Here is a pic of the finished top (81x86 inches)!

While not perfect in execution (the t-shirts motifs were not "square" and the flannel kinda grew), I'm rather proud of my effort. I must confess that I had completion anxiety with this. Because I knew once I finished that Diva was really not in high school anymore. And yes, there were tears as I finished today. I immediately took it to the quilt shop to avoid another bout of completion anxiety. Hope that when it comes home in October I can get the binding on quickly as I think Diva will have need of it then.

Until next time (more pics to come - I have been busy. ;) )

Oh, Does She Know You!

"Oh, does she KNOW you!" - as stated by my DH when I opened a most wonderful, exciting, beautimous gift from my dear friend, Annette. She made me this full of awesome scarf in EXACTLY MY COLORS! See it modeled by my *almost* new winter coat:

Now, I must confess, this delightful gift arrived right around Easter. Timing was perfect as I was in need of a major pick-me-up just then. But, unfortunately, Diva Daughter was in need of my camera just then as hers had gone MIA and, well, "Mom, it's my senior year, I HAVE to have a camera everywhere I go!" Thankfully, Diva's camera has re-appeared by some magic known only to happen to teenagers and DHs. So, I can now share my bounty with you. I did, of course, thank Annette privately for such a special prize. But, I am really happy to show it off to all of you, finally. I love it not only because the colors are such a perfect autumn palette, but perhaps most especially because it is hand made. Annette knows that I often lament that "big needles" and I do not get on well together. I could never in a million years make something like this for myself. Just makes it that much more special!

While I had the camera out, I decided to snap a quick photo of my current progress on Egypt Garden:

I swear, one day I will take a photo of this that shows the pale yellow fabric true. But, the blues seem to be just right, so there you go. I'm definitely getting there. Herons and flowers are two-thirds complete. Then, I just have the corner bracelet bands to go. Don't know if I'll be able to get it finished by the end of next month. But, I'm definitely going to try!

And Then There Were SIX!

...as in six WIPs! I finished Diamond Delights 9 by DebBee's Designs over the weekend. While Dana, Wendy, and Melissa GTG'd at my house, I finished the "squiggles" and started beading. And kept beading, and beading, and then decided more bling was called for. What can I say, my inner crow must be heard!



Stitched on 18 ct mono canvas in ecru with gold metallic. The color scheme is my own based on Silk 'n Colors Burnt Toast. My squiggles are diamond shaped rather than circular as the pattern called for. I just thought diamond shapes were more in keeping with the spirit of the design. Beading and crystal embellishments all my own. I learned a LOT of new stitches and worked with fibers I never have before. Will likely frame this at some point. The colors are wonderful for my great room.

I also have an updated photo of Egypt Garden to share.



All four pyramids are now complete. The "cat shelves" are well underway. It will be a near thing to see if I can finish by the end of May for the Chatelaine WIP Slayer Contest. Even if I don't make it, I will certainly finish this year.

Finishing EG would get my WIP count to FIVE. That's only one short of my goal to have an on-going rotation of four WIPs. Could this be the year? Umm, probably not since I am going to start Stars for the New Millenium in October. LOL! But, I am getting there!

Another Finish...and a PLAN!

Yes, I've been finishing off projects! Here's the last of my lingering smalls. It's Penguin Hugs by Paw Printings from the 2004 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue. I'm not normally one for *cute* but this one got me. I don't remember how many years ago I started him (guessing maybe six years), but he lacked only backstitching, border, and charms.



Stitched on a random, unknown lugana (32ct, I think) from a Silkweaver's grab bag. Don't know why it took me so long to finish. I must have been distracted by something shiny.

As I mentioned, the little guy is the last of my smalls I needed to finish up. This brings my current WIP count to SEVEN! Yay!! Haven't had a WIP count that low in more years than I care to think about. Here's the current list:

1. Egypt Garden (Chatelaine Designs) - BAP - 75% complete
2. Evening in the Park (Chatelaine Designs) - BAP - 66% complete
3. Misty Morning Vineyard (Chatelaine Designs) - BAP - 5% complete
4. Elizabethan Sweete Bag (Chatelaine Designs) - medium - 75% complete
5. English Garden Sampler (Teresa Wentzler) - BAP - 15% complete
6. Diamond Delights 9 (DebBee's Designs) - medium/large - 90% complete
7. Pineapple Stitches (Jeannette Douglas Designs) - medium) - 5% complete

Egypt is my focus piece right now. I'm using it for the Chatelaine WIP Slayers Contest and trying for a finish by the end of May. Will be close, but I just might make it. DD9 is really close to finished, too. My goal is to have it finished by the end of March.

My plan for April and May is to focus on Egypt and use either EGS or Pineapple Stitches as my "break" from Egypt when needed. I'm not making any specific plans beyond May. But, it sure would be nice to end the year closer to my ultimate goal of a rotation of four WIPs.

Next Stop for the Travelling Pattern

Well, I got caught out stitching and failed to make the draw for the next destination for the Stitcherhood's Travelling Pattern. Life's a Stitch will next stop at Susan's Afford Your Passions home in Texas. I know Susan herself is travelling this week, so hopefully I can get this sent to her so it will be in her mailbox when she arrives home. I can't wait to see her version of this design!