2009 on My Mind!

As I complete my UFO's and latest WIP's I gain enthusiasm (aka obsess) for selecting projects for the coming year. Well perhaps it's more like the projects are selecting me! There are so many new things on the market everyday, of which I am tempted by most, but I must confess that I have already purchased, signed up for or pulled out of the stash closet enough projects to fill my "dance card" for 2009.

That doesn't mean that I won't try to do my part in keeping the economy going in the coming year, it just means that anything I happen to acquire in the future will be queued for 2010. Sidebar: What? 2010? Remember when "2001, A Space Odyssey" movie came out as futuristic? Seems like eons ago....oh, it was eons ago. OMG, I think I was stitching Sunset crewel kits with 3 dimensional fernery back then! And I'm certain there must have been a bright orange owl piece thrown in as well. Gee, these were nice back then but I hope they have dropped from the "every thing's cyclical" list. No offense.

So bearing in mind that nothing here is written in granite, here's my current stitching wish list for 2009, not necessarily appearing in priority order:

Teriancrafts Rug kit (small) from Chile
DamarJ White Santa nutcracker (coveted for years and finally purchased)
Danji Designs' Miss Nara (DD don't be snooping around)
Maggie's Combination Platter
Laura J Perin's North Woods Collage
needlepointNow's 4 mini Kimonos
Tristan Brooks Designs Elizabethan Pencil Box
The final 5 Cozy Toes ornies from PFOS
Biscornus, Biscornus and more Biscornus
Village Green
Hopeful: Marni Ritter's exquisite Renaissance
Hopeful: A few Caela Conn Tyler projects (to be announced)
Finishing Elsa Williams Large Floral Basket

That should just about do it. I'm thinking it could be fun or painful to refer to this list this time next year. Anyone else out there getting their projects lined up for the coming year?

The framer called today

to let me know my Terry Medaris, Rio Rincon, piece was ready to be picked up. It was held in captivity for 4 weeks or there abouts which isn't really all that long...just seemed like it. I think I like it, it's growing on me.

I am not sure I'm completely happy with the cutting of the triple mats, however, I won't complain. First I noticed there were a few cuts that weren't executed exactly along the lines of stitching, I also felt that the blue/green mat was a little large relative to the stitched piece. I also thought that the width of the yellow/tan mat should have been the same as the purple mat. I would have preferred that the purple mat be on top. The overall size of the piece and the order in which the mats were placed was not discussed.

I do like the framer I'm working with, think they're very professional and have been in business for a long time. I primarily think that the unusual cutting of the mat template must have been very difficult to execute. Maybe not, maybe I'm wrong.

I am working on three smaller companion pieces that will be framed together in one piece, using the same framing as Rio Rincon. I may have some changes made at that time. It would be great to hear your thoughts and opinions.

THE MAGIC SHOW

is coming in November at my local EGA Chapter meeting. I've been working on the finishing of two of my MAGIC (My All Good Intentions Contract) commitments this past week. The stitching has been done for quite some time now and after much thought, a bit of consternation and bravery, I began the finishing of the kimono and the Halloween Fairy project myself in an effort to save time and money. I will only discuss the fairy today.

The Halloween Fairy was meant to be framed, but to me Halloween is a day, not a season and I was not likely to display a framed Halloween piece. Not to mention that a background would have to be stitched if it were to be framed. Soooo I am using it to decorate the top of a round box from Hobby Lobby. Covering the exterior of the box and box top with a Halloween print fabric, I am now ready to cut my finished fairy canvas down to size and mount it on the top. I put the canvas on a piece of foam board and then attached it to the lid. A cover up trim seeking odyssey ensued and I finally decided on black velvet ribbon and large orange rick rack. I love rick rack, reminds me of elementary school and my Brownie Troop. This finishing project took time but wasn't difficult. The one set of fairy wings extend out over the edge of the box top and are vulnerable to crushing even though I stitched around their edges with braid and left the canvas underneath attached. I really didn't enjoy finishing this project myself. I think I'd rather be stitching; something I didn't realize about myself, but now I do. I do not plan on taking this type of thing on again. Well except for the kimono and third Magic project, a CanvasWorks Rooster pillow. With the finishing of these 3 items I am getting closer to reaching my stitching goals for 2008. Hallelujah! Happy Dance!

The Return of the Cozy Toes 6

CUTE!
My Cozy Toes found their way back from the finisher today. I am very pleased with how they turned out. I especially like that the cording wasn't glitzy because the stockings themselves are full of sparkle. Though you cannot tell it from the photograph. These were so much fun to stitch and the finisher enjoyed adding her touch as well. Do I hear sleigh bells? I hope not. The next 6 will not be even thought about until 2009! CUTER!

Now don't forget the kits came from PFOS in good ol' Lubbock, TX.

Mission Accomplished...

NOTE: Now don't ask my why the first picture won't enlarge. I did them all the same way. Whatever! Computer stuff... there's always something!

more or less. I have to add more age cracks on the mission, clean up a few things here and there but it's basically done. I ran out of Shimmer Blend ribbon while stitching sky scallops, was able to locate at a LNS, thankfully; I was, however, prepared to take out what I had already stitched and substitute as there isn't much to it. I finished the wispy clouds by laid long stitches underneath whipped Whisper. I still need to brush them so they appear wispier. The missing Burmilana thread was found, retrieved really, so I was able to finish the desert ground in the Victorian Step turned on it's side. I have given my assistant a well deserved sabbatical. This will be all of the triptych that I will do until my MAGIC projects are completed. I am still waiting for Rio Rincon to come back from the framers. Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to set aside enough stitching time this weekend.

A Little More Progress and My Assistant

Outlined the mission with black medici and filled in the moon with yellow Petite Sparkle Rays and one strand of Highlights. Currently I'm working on the wispy clouds and then the sky. The clouds will be stitched with white floss and white Whisper. The desert ground on the left side of the canvas has yet to be stitched I, or my assistant misplaced the thread. Still deciding on the sky. My assistant, Teddy Bear, is a wonderful Ragdoll mixed with a bit of PITA qualities. My dear friend that keeps me aware at night if there were to be a moth or monster invading his space...the reaction is the same. Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you're stitching something for YOU!

Desert Mission by Terry Medaris

I began stitching on the Desert Mission canvas this evening. This is the largest of the tryptych, measuring 4.5"x5"x, and will set the standard for threads and stitches used for all three canvases.

Starting on the mission, I used 3 different fibers in 3 coordinated colors. Soy silk in both Solid and Shadows and Amy's Burmilana. These threads were sometimes blended for shading. The stitch is the Hungarian adding a subtle pattern and is an easy stitch to follow. Next I'll do the doors and windows of the mission.
Mission Accomplished!
Nearly. This has been a delightful little canvas to stitch. Using the same threads inside the windows as the body of the mission, and outlining the windows with laid Petite Very Velvet. Love that turquoise color. The black outlining is done with perle coton. Greenery is DMC floss, then using NN Overdye for the flower knots. Either Krenik braid or slippery Fiesta for the panes. Watercolors was tent stitched on the door with Krenik braid "bars. Next, the magenta desert and purple mountains.

My Roots are Showing!

Southwest roots, that is. Raised in Arizona I cannot help but be attracted to just about anything southwestern. Here are three companion canvases to Rio Rincon (see May 18 posting). I am very anxious to get started on these friendly canvases, painted by Terry Medaris at Sundance, while Rio is at the framers. My plan is to have these framed as a triptych. Incorporating many of the same stitches and threads used in Rio, I am hoping these will look even more like they "belong" together. I'll be using beautiful threads from The Pure Palette, Soy Luster Solids and Shadows; more Amy's Burmilana wool/acrylic blend; Gloriana 12-stranded silk; J.L Walsh silk wool and bits of other accent threads.

It is a total indulgence starting these without first having finished my Magic rooster http://frontrangestitches.blogspot.com/2008/07/studio-time.html, which is the final of three pieces I have to finish before the November deadline. I have that piece well under control and just need to play with something else. It's been a while since I've started anything new and have been quite diligently about finishing several of my WIP's this year; there will be more evidence of this in the next week or two. I had planned on giving myself permission to start something new on my birthday in September; but the birthday God's had something else in mind: car trouble. Not to worry, I didn't have to leave the house for new threads or anything, had everything on hand to get started. Will keep you posted on their progress and meanwhile know that I am clam happy with anticipation that the framer will be calling any minute now.