Debi's Roses Finished!

Hello all!

I finished Debi's Roses on Sunday and took it out for a photo session in the park! (Insert laugh here)The photos didn't turn out as good as I wanted them but oh well. I think it was the blinding sunlight.  Couldn't tell if the photos worked or not.  I wanted to post the pictures earlier this week but have been too exhausted from long days of teaching kids with faaaaaar too much energy to even bother trying to type/post do anything.  What is it about kids in June???? Why are they so wacky and nutty??? Oh right, it's almost SUMMER!!! Being a teacher on call I get the worse wacky doodle behavior! I can hardly wait to have my own class.  One day soon I hope!

 

Anywho, I am pleased about finishing Debi's Roses and decided to leave the edges clean too.  I kinda started the urge to pick up another Chatelaine design so I began stitching Tiny Rose Mandala.  However, I didn't like the linen I was stitching it on.  I want to use lugana so I bought some early one morning while my husband was sleeping..hehe.  He still doesn't know! Now, our postal workers have shut down service completely!! Ack! This is not good for my stash or my giveaway.  I hope they settle the dispute soon.  If it doesn't resolve by the time of my giveaway draw, I will keep the winner posted. 

Also if anyone is interested in doing IHSW (International hermit and stitch weekend) go to Joyce's blog Random Ramblings and enter your name to join in on the fun!  I'm thinking of trying to get more branches done and more progress on my Queen's Sampler.

There's still time to enter the giveaway! Enter your comment by clicking on the post in my sidebar!

Take care and happy stitching!

Silks and 40 Count Linen

I see why everyone raves about silks.  They are the sofest, silkiest, most dreamiest threads to work with!! I decided that I needed to take a break from outlining my Tanglewood branches and beading Debi's Roses to start working on The Queen's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers.  I couldn't believe how luxurious the silks are to work with.  They almost never get tangled and glide into the fabric with ease.  The linen I'm using for the sampler is on eensy weensy 40 count linen.  My first time ever using such a high count linen.  I am thinking about purchasing a magnifier glass to preserve my eyes!! The recommended instructions in the pattern is to use only 1 strand of floss, however, the picture of the sampler looks like they used 2 strands.  I tried using two but it's quite bulky on such tiny fabric.  I do like the effect of the 1 strand on the fabric and I would rather save my silks for future projects.

The urn and flower is as small as a quarter!!

 Now I have also been plugging away at Tanglewood but there is still a lot of work to do! I thought I was near the end but the outlining of the branches is taking me longer than expected...so no happy dance quite yet!  Both sides of Debi's Roses is complete with the beading and I am getting prepared to make my second biscornu!

Don't forget to add a comment for my giveaway! The link is here. I would appreciate people adding it to their side bar but it is in no way a requirement.  I am going to add some little extras too for the winner but thought I would keep it a surprise!!

Take care and happy stitching!

Daffycat's Bunny Arrived!!

So today when I got up, I raced down to the mailbox and found Sharon's, aka Daffycat, package waiting for me!! I couldn't believe how cute the little bunny fob is with its silk ribbon and tiny beads stitched in along the sides.  Sharon your work is incredible! And it smelled of lavender too! My sister is visiting from Prince George and both her and I were amazed at Sharon's finishing skills.  I have a lot to learn still and hope one day with practice I can make sweet little finishes like Sharon's and everyone else that I am friends with in blogland.

Thanks again for your gift Sharon!

Bunny Fob made by Sharon aka Daffycat

At home with my stork scissors

This would not load the right way for some reason

I decided to have fun with my sister's camera and take close ups of Debi's Roses, which I still need to finish!

Waiting to be beaded

Only a few more branches to do!

Having fun with the macro setting!

Take care!

Anne

New Stash and Progress

Hello all! I finally got my first silks ever!! Whoohoo! They sure are soft and silky.  I am excited to try them out but I want to finish a few things first.  I still haven't finished Debi's Roses.  It's taking a lot longer than I thought and I still need to do two more sides for the biscornus.  I have progressed on Tanglewood though.  I had a serious stitching marathon last night and managed to finish a branch and start another.  The q-snap frames are a bit bigger than I had expected (I'm lousy with measurements and estimated the length of the qsnaps).  I think I need to purchase the next size down for my other projects.  I do like them though! They keep the fabric taught and don't cause creases if I put felt in between the fabric and the frame.  I picked that trick up from someone's blog.  Whose I can't remember but thank you for the tip!! I also love the new linens I got: Stone Gray Belfast, Antique White and natural linen. Now I need to get more charts!! This stash buying is highly addictive! I want to find a really nice sampler to stitch on my new Antique white linen so I've been browsing samplers and can't decide on the one I want to stitch.  I have a couple in mind but I really should finish what I have now then decide later.  I hope everyone is having a great day! It's finally warming up here and it is sunny out!

Take care 

Anne 

Nearly done!

Queen's Sampler kitted up!

First silks!!!

New linens!

Tangle progress in Qsnap frame!

Pascha (Easter) Weekend!!

Post edited because I just won a hidden giveaway from Daffycat, aka Sharon!! Wow! This is my first giveaway I have won and my first piece of stitching from someone else other than myself!! I was just thinking today as I was writing this post about making something to giveaway, however, it would have to be a good finish to even qualify. I'll mull over the biscornus and if they turn out well, perhaps I'll send one off to continue spreading the kindness that bestowed upon me.
 Thank you again Sharon for this lovely surprise!


Hello all!

Just wanted to say how amazed I am that I have 36 followers! Wow! Thank you all for joining my humble blog.  I now realize I have an audience so perhaps I should update everyone with what's been going on, with stitching and life.  I have been pretty busy these past two weeks with working, church and with family.  My mother has come down from Prince George for Pascha.  Pascha to the Orthodox is the most important time of year, and it certainly is for our family.  We have very long services so that has taken up a lot of my time.  This weekend we start our Paschal service at 11p.m. and it goes until 1-2 am in the morning. When the service ends we are all joyful and break the fast with diary (yahoo!), meat (yahoo!!) and wine (double yahoo!!!).  After 40 days of being vegan you can bet I'm looking forward to my Nana's famous pancakes, kuleech (Russian pascha bread), and syrnee pascha (phonetic Russian spelling of our really RICH AND TASTY cheese spread).  We will be busy preparing for the big day with cooking, dying eggs and praying.  

So with all of this going on I won't be stitching to much.  But here is a few things I have been working on but haven't finished yet.  I'm really eager to make my biscornus.  I decided to make two.  One design is from Barbi and the other from Chatelaine.  I will send Barbi a picture of the completed biscornu because she likes to have pictures of her designs.  Recently, I have become very interested in Chatelaine designs, but they seem so expensive and detailed that I thought I would try out a little one first before I attempt a larger one.  There is a blog of Chatelaine stitchers you should really take a look at.  The designs are beautiful and so ornate!

Tanglewood progress

Barbi's design

Debi's Roses from Chatelaine freebie designs

Blurry close up of my first Algerian eyelets!!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone!    Христос повышен!!! (Christ is risen!)