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!

Biscornu Finished and a Summer Giveaway!!!!!

Yahoo! I finally finished my first biscornu and I have to say that I really enjoyed the process. I finished it off with some pretty buttons I found at Fabricland.

 

As for the giveaway, well I have been contemplating this for sometime and would love to give away my first biscornu!! I do not have much in the way of stash to give away so I purchased some ribbon and fat quarters to make it a worthy giveaway.  This is just a way to thank the stitching community for all their help, encouragement and inspiration to expand my stitching horizons, and to finish my projects!  I have made many new friends here and cannot believe I have 44 followers!! Whoohoo!! So without further adieu, here are the requirements for entering the draw for my humble giveaway on June 21, the first day of summer:

1.  Be a follower of my blog
2. Make a comment on this post if you would like to be entered into the draw

That's it! Very simple! Each person who comments will be entered into the draw once, just to make it easier for me seeing as this is my first giveaway.  The deadline to enter is June 20 and on the next day I will answer the winner!!!! Now I have to let you all know, that the Canada Postal workers have gone on strike, so I am hoping by that time, the issues will be resolved.  If it looks like they will strike longer, I will let the winner know and keep them informed.

EDITED: I can ship internationally so this is open to all! Also I've been getting mail so it doesn't look like the stirke has hit BC yet (fingers crossed!)

Good luck to all!!

Anne

PS I got a new cell phone and I looooove the camera!!!!!

Nearly done Tanglewood!

I'm very close to finishing Tanglewood and I am happy yet sad at the same time.  It has been a lot of joy stitching this piece and a lot of interesting stitching memories have gone into each stitch! As for my biscornus, well, I finished the back of Barbi's design, and nearly done the other side of Debi's Roses.  I wanted to stitch them together, however, I was dog sitting this whole week and couldn't find the iron to iron down the edges to make the biscornu. Now I have to run off this weekend for church and work is super busy next week! Hopefully on Sunday night I will have some time to stitch it together.  I have decided to leave the edges clean on Barbi's design and bead Debi's Roses.  I think both will look fantastic!

Onto other news, Nataly is having an amazing glogiversary give away! Hop over to her blog and wish her congrats.  Nataly's stitching is always a pleasure to look at and her finishes are lovely! Click here for her blog: http://natalysneedle.blogspot.com/

The edging of the branches will take awhile!

Cute bird showing off his colourful feathers

Biscornu back, a simpler version of the front

Not Much Progress

As my post title states, not much progress to report :(

I have been more than sidetracked with life.  My sister came to visit after my mother left, so I had her to entertain.  I've been working a lot which leaves me tired at the end of the day...kids suck up your energy!!! My husband's birthday was yesterday, so there was that to plan and run around for. Oh, and I made bread for my first time!! Tons of fun to make bread! It didn't look that great, but it tasted amazing. With all of that going, where did my stitching go??  It was staring at me pleading to be worked on!! Especially those biscornus.  I have started working on the backs of them but I am really unsure of how I want to finish them.  Beading the edges seems to me to take a lot of time and I really just want to get one done.  Tassels are not my best friend, and no matter how much I try to make them look good, they never do.  So hopefully this weekend will be a bit quieter and I can finally get my biscornu's under way.

Questions on finishing

Suggestions to making beading go faster? Should I stitch up the biscornus then bead with the beading needle if I feel they need a little pizazz? Or just leave the edges clean?

Pics of slow progress. Also a pic of the picture frames I found while scouring the Lower mainland thrift shops. Still no frame found good enough for my geisha girl!

Thinking of projects to fill the frames with

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