Exchange project finished

I finished my project for my latest exchange buddy. I'll be mailing it tomorrow and will be able to post pics when she emails that she got it. I'm really stoked about this one. I've been dying for an excuse to use both the designs I did and the finishing technique. In fact, it ended up being simple enough that I may end up doing one for myself. The thing that took the longest was waiting for the specialty threads I had to order.

Abby's announcement

I have a finish to brag about. It's a birth announcement for my absolutely adorable cousin. I just finished the framing today. It's a design from Sue Dreamer's 2 by 2 pamphlet, which I got on clearance at Wal*Mart. Since I had to use an 8x10 frame I "matted" it with ribbon I found at Michaels.

Now, I just have to finish stitching my exchange item and the mermaid (in two weeks - doable- barely). After that, it's back to the chameleon until he's done.

Mystery and Finished photos

Well, I finished the bookmark last night. Then I did start the whitework freebie by Teresa Wentzler. I really hate Algerian eyelets. I always have and I think I always will. This morning as I was waking up I figured out a solution to something nagging me about the bookmark and quickly fixed it. It's all ready to be mailed once I get the guy's address in Iraq.

The Statue of Liberty and lettering I got from a book called 2001 Cross Stitch Designs, published by Better Homes and Gardens in 2004. I've had it about two years now. The pattern called for french knots for the Lady's eyes, but there was no way I was adding them, so I altered some of the backstitch a bit. I also used some different colors than asked for: a different backstitch thread and the colors for the lamps. I couldn't put my hands on the others and wasn't about to go out and buy new skeins for about 150 stitches worth altogether.





Also, just for giggles, here's a WIP photo of the Papillon Creations monthly freebie. It's going to be long, which I didn't notice when I printed it off. I was about to start it on a smaller piece of fabric when I realized it and scrambled about trying to find a big enough piece. I hope this one works, because I have a sneaking suspicion I miscounted when I was figuring out how much room I needed to leave for finishing. The last installment should be made available in December, so it's going to be a while before it's all done.

I'm using 25 count cream fabric from somewhere? with DMC Variegated and Variations threads: Yellow 190, Red 115, Blue 4030, Purple 52, Pale Green 94, Dark Green 92. It wants beads too, so the last time I was at Michael's I grabbed some of the seed beads on sale. I'll add what looks nice where at the end.

I imagine I'm going to make a hanging out of it. I'll find some nice Summery fabric for the backing at Wal-Mart and make use of my nifty sewing machine which I haven't been able to use at all yet. Grandma will be gone for a week soon, though, so I'll get a chance to use it then.

First Finishes of 2008!

Okay, I have been working on Dolly Mamas' Drama Queen for my niece, Chameleon for my nephew and a restart of Joan Elliott's Mermaid for the daughter of the lady who gives Grandma her showers. Theoretically, I'm going to be paid for the Mermaid.

In between those three projects, so I don't feel too homicidal toward them I did these:

Imbolc Ornie for my little Norfolk Pine. I know it's upside down, but I started stitching it together wrong, so I just went with it. Thankfully, the Gods don't mind a little screw-up now and then. I'm adapting quilting templates from one of my grandmother's extremely old catalogs for cross-stitch motifs. This one is rather fitting for the season, I think, called Tulip Basket. The nickel is there to give it scale. There's no stuffing. It's too small.


Peacock Bookmark, adapted from a freebie by Papillon Creations. Yesterday afternoon, I just needed something quick, easy and completely different from everything I've been working on lately, so I grabbed my binder of printed freebies and found "The Peacock" by Papillon Creations. The peacock was small enough to stitch on one of the bookmarks I have laying about, so I figured "What the heck?" I adapted the border to fit the way I wanted and tried to create an alphabet in the style of the lettering on the pattern to turn it into an alphabet sampler. I like the way it turned out. I'm even keeping it for myself. It took me about a day to do since I finished it a few hours ago. Oh, and joy, I finally finished off a bobbin. One more down, about 75 to go before I'm officially bobbin-free. The colors of the picture are lighter than reality. The flash wiped them out a bit.

If you click the pistures, it takes you to a larger picture that shows them all of much better.

Mid-December Finishes

Finished as of 12/11/2007:

Christmas Ornaments (two need buttons). Mom and I hand-dyed 16 count Aida cloth for the fronts and I designed the stars. The backs simply say Noel 2007 (and one that says Yule for me. ;p) We made 21 of them, one for each relative and one I'm giving to a friend. We used just about every shade of yellow I had and ran through a few.

Blackwork Leaves. I used three real leaves to sketch the outlines of turning leaves and charted them out with blackwork fillings. I used four different DMC Variations threads that just seemed to bespeak Autumn colors to me. I used two strands in the centers and outsides to try to make those areas darker. I like it. Now I just have to figure out how to finish it. It's on linen but I forget which count, probably 28.

Current project:

Starbuck's Coffee Logo for my co-worker. I'm almost finished with it. Once I do, I'll put it inside a travel mug so she can enjoy it with her caffeine addiction. Maybe the folks at Starbuck's would even be willing to use it instead of their own when she goes there every day. ;p

Next project:

Chameleon (if I can find the damned thing) I really should be working on it right now, but its travel bag has gone AWOL. Hopefully I can finish it by the time my nephew leaves in January.