Saturday, October 5, 2013

A finish - meet Cinder

Just a little ornament to add to my rather meager collection of fall smalls.

This is Cinder and he stitched up quite quickly and was fun, I love whimsical, retro, vintage Halloween.  Not much for the scary gory stuff.

The chart is from Hinzeit.  He is attached to thin chipboard and then wool felt was added, a twist of floss outlines the stitched portion.  I didn't put the ribbon on yet, but wanted a photo to prove to myself I can finish something.


Mr. Owl is progressing, I need to put up a status report on him.  I hope to get him done for Halloween but it remains to be seen.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Progress on Mr. Owl - as of September 13, 2013

Stars are done, moon is done, the lower body is progressing.  My optimal plan is to finish his body by the end of this weekend and then get going on the rest of him.  I want to get him finished, cleaned and completed so that we can enjoy him this autumn.  Pillow or framed?

What's your vote on this?

Friday, September 6, 2013

Owl progress

Here's the latest on where I stand with my Autumn owl.  The top is nearly done - and the bottom will be the rest of Mr. Owl, his branch, and pumpkins at the bottom.  Very fun to stitch with lots of bright colors.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Woo hoo - He's found, he's found!!!!!

Yep, my November turkey is now found and sitting along with the other unfinished months.
That is, they are stitched but just aren't finished.  So far, my only finish is the doorknob hanger pillow I made with the July eagle.



This is part of a long term stitch along I've shared with Linda and Debbie.
I have December, January and February to go before I'm done.

I'm so happy I've found this.  Hooray!!!!

So, the plan is to finish my current in progress owl for Halloween and then concentrate on making some stitchy Christmas presents.  I hope to squeeze in time to finish the Prairie Schooler months.


Finish to Share - Home of a Needleworker

I started this Little House Needleworks pattern back in April and only now finished it.
But a finish is a finish.

I did not stitch it on linen but used beautiful Crescent Colours floss on it, the subtle color variations add a nice little something.  This is it immediately after the last stitch was made.
Now it just needs to be gently washed, pressed and taken off for framing.

Now I can go and finish the owl!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The turkey has flown the coop, but I have a lovely owl that is coming along nicely

Long time no blog.   But I've returned with a status report on a missing turkey and a new fall project.

I fear I may never find Tom Turkey from my November Prairie Schooler.  Just not sure if I have the time or inclination for ALL THAT BROWN again.  

So, instead, I pulled out a 2012 stitching magazine and began working on my whimsical owl.

I think he is dashing, all colorful and roly poly.

Here's where he stands now - getting there.  I hope to get some time in for stitching over the long weekend as I'd love to drop him off with a bunch of fall-themed projects that are done and sitting in a box awaiting framing.  

The remainder includes a few quick stars, filling in the moon, it stops at roughly a half moon, Owliver's body, and then glorious pumpkins along the bottom.  Sounds like a lot but could be stitched like mad and finished before summer is officially over in mid-September!  


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Home of a Needleworker - Part 1

I'm ashamed to admit that I have lost my completed Prairie Schooler November
Yes, the turkey has apparently flown the coop!
(SIGH)

But for your viewing pleasure I will share with you my progress on Little House Needleworks
Home of a Needleworker

It's quite fun to work on with lots of soft rich color and a sweet design.



Hopefully, I will be able to update this soon with a bit more done!

I haven't worked much on stitching as I've got an ongoing back spasm that will not resolve quite yet.  But hope springs eternal that I'll get some time to stitch!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Progress - IHWS recap

First, an update on my progress with the November Prairie Schooler, from the Spring and Fall leaflet.  This is a SAL with Debbie and Linda, I'm kind of ahead but then again I don't have nearly as many works in progress as these talented ladies.  With December, January, and February to go, I may have to try and talk them into another Prairie Schooler SAL project!

November has been fun, I can say that now that I've finished stitching color 3031, that was getting tedious. 
So Mr. Tom Turkey has his main feathers and the end is in sight. 

 I've also been working on a bib for my little great nephew, Dalton.  He's getting more and more adorable each day.  I have the distinct feeling that I'll be stitching and showing many more bibs for the little guy!
  This is the chart that came with the bib and it will have three pastel elephants frolicking amongst stars and hearts.  It definitely makes me smile as I work on it!

The kittens are doing very well; they have entered the household and Taz seems to enjoy their presence quite a bit.  We guess that they are roughly about 3-4 months old.  Arya was the first out the door when we decided to integrate them into the general day to day things, whereas Molly is still sticking around the comfy old chair.  Why fix what isn't broken eh?

So, what did you work on this past holiday/IHS(W) weekend?

Monday, February 11, 2013

Yes, I'm still making Prairie Schoolers!

Okay, so post-IHSW I didn't finish the Happiness ornament for my friend Yi.  SIGH

So, maybe it will be a Christmas present?  Then I'm already ahead of schedule!  Yes, make lemonade from lemons.

But I can share that I'm making solid progress on the Prairie Schooler Spring and Fall leaflet.  I'm getting further along with the November turkey.  This is a SAL that I was working on with Debbie and Linda in 2012.  When I finish this one, I am done with this leaflet.  Then I only have December - February in the Prairie Schooler Winter and Summer and they will all be done.  The only one truly "finished" in a usable form is July, but won't it be fun to finish all the others too?  Yep, and maybe I'll make them doorknob hangers or perhaps each with be something unique.  Maybe a few framed for those seasons when I am light on decorations. Maybe ornaments, or in a wreath....the possibilities are kind of cool to contemplate.

So, here's November in progress.  I am in agreement with Linda that the colors as they really are and how they photograph on the leaflet are different.  The in person colors are a bit darker, but they are working for me and I like them.

I've also got fun news - my niece had her first child, my first great nephew, and I was able to be there for the birth.  It was more of a miracle than I could have expected, and I was so overwhelmed with love and awe that it still gives me a shiver.  He is gorgeous, absolutely GORGEOUS!

Forgive how awful I look - I'd been up 20+ hours but was just so full of energy from the experience that I'm beaming.





We also have adopted two kittens.  They were born to a feral mom and were only semi-feral when we rescued them, they were intended to be fostered by us but who am I kidding?  I needed caring for them to help me bear the loss of Emma.  I think she must be visiting them at night and telling them to be good kittens because they have really been adapting well.  They are much more affectionate and we're trying to get them acclimated enough to join Taz in the everyday home.  Until then, they have a room with a comfy chair, their taming cage, and lots of toys and food.  The taming cage is open and they only go in there now for potty time.  But I keep it for them as a home base, for stability.  We will probably take it down next weekend and put in a cat perch for them to enjoy.

This is Molly.



This is Arya.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Hey Remember Me?

Oh, been away far too long
Not a whole lot of stitching going on...
But here I am ready to get right back into it
for the new year.
 
 
This is the first IHSW of 2013, no better time
to get to it, eh?
 
This project is for the Chinese New Year
on February 10
(so I need to get cracking)
and I have chosen a motif from
Celestial Dragon
by Teresa Wentzler
Some day I would like to stitch the entire thing
but for now and for my co-worker
I think this will be nice
 
I'm going to make a hanging ornament
for her to display on the wall
(if she wants)
It is the motif on the top left
Happiness
and here's how far I've gotten!
 

I am making it in red and gold as those colors
are considered lucky in the
Chinese culture
 
The second share I have is from my Sunday
SAL with Debbie and Linda
Prairie Schooler Summer and Winter
and Spring and Fall
Oh, I was doing so well and then
nothing....
SIGH
 
But October's stitching is done!
 
 
 
My last share is sad news
I announced it on my craft blog so I might
as well here too.
especially since she was my
faithful companion for many a stitching
evening.  Darling Emma is at the
Rainbow Bridge and I miss her terribly.
 
It was the right decision to make but a
heartbreaking one nonetheless.
She didn't bring any pain to our lives while we had her and I couldn't let her live in any pain.
 
******
So, with a bittersweet heart I'm taking on the new year, and I hope and pray it is a good one for all of us.
 
Will share my progress after the IHSW weekend!