Stitching with My Peeps II

Thank you for your comments on the photo of October fruit, The colors of Fall are vibrant; now if I could only learn how to center the photo in my header on Blogger. In fact, since they've upgraded things I've had a difficult time getting my photographs to cooperate all together.

The fruit was actually the centerpiece for the breakfast table last weekend. It was my turn to host the monthly stitch group; there were 9 of us in attendance. We all belong to the same local ANG chapter and meet once a month to share breakfast, open stitching and conversation. I always look forward to this gathering.

Also this week one of our local ANG chapters held their annual yard sale of stitchy items. I was very impressed with the quality of things being sold. It was a blast.  I sold stuff too! I was very disciplined only bringing home a few treasures to add to my stash and ended up spending just $27 for all of this. Treasures include a Joan Thomasson kit, Katya; Jean Hilton's "Mother of Perle" chart; an Ilse Altherr design chart, Katarina; a new Trail Creek Farm pillow; and Japanese Fan on Black with Forest Fire Watercolours by Jinice.

The fan is a piece that I've only seen online and always wanted to stitch, but didn't think it available any longer. I am very excited about it and am tempted to put it right at the top of next year's queue. Truth be known, I'd like to squeeze it in this year now that I've finished Lily Pad. But I am still hoping I can finish Rooster (worked on the head last night and still contemplating the cockscomb), Red Kerchief and Renaissance before year's end. I haven't mentioned the latter two in a while, but they're on my mind, just not on my floor stand! I am anxious to get back to them as they are beginning to call to me.

As always I am very grateful you've visited and hope your day includes relaxed stitching and/or stash enhancement!

Finish #18

for 2009. Not that anyone's counting....except maybe me. :) Though that seems like quite a lot, it's amazing how few have come out of my 2009 queue list. All that means is that I don't have to think too much about what I'll be stitching in 2010. More on this in another post.

Lily Pad is now stitched and awaiting final finishing. I haven't decided exactly what I want to do with it yet, boxtop, tote insert, not sure. In any case it was a very fun project and perfect for learning designer Susan Goodman's canvas transfer embellishment techniques. Think about doing this with a portrait of a child, your home or maybe a beloved pet. I can think of all types of applications. The background was randomly stitched using 1 strand of Accentuate; a nice effect for water without all the work!

Susan, local to Colorado, has taught needlework at national EGA and ANG seminars as well as at region seminars and local chapters. Her original embroidery pieces have been exhibited in five national EGA Biennial Exhibits. Susan’s current specialty is creative embroidery design with an emphasis on transfer methods and use of computer photographs. Lily Pad is a current teaching piece and though she doesn't sell individual kits directly, she teaches classes all over the country.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Updated.

Thankfully this blog is not a democracy. That is to say I get to decide things. Like to share things not stitch related.

It's no wonder I don't get much done living out here on the Colorado high prairie, there's so much to enjoy and distract. It's snowing today and I can't help but go out and take pictures. It's not like it's an infrequent event, but it's just so beautiful to me (a girl from Phoenix) that I need to capture it on camera.

It's not even that much snow...yet. Predicting 8" in my area. The first thing I need to do is make sure the birds aren't going hungry...yeah right. Look at this fellow determining which peanut is the heaviest.

And then there's is this "cautious canary" waiting until that weirdo taking pictures in her slippers goes back inside. The beauty is just endless. Okay, okay, enough already with the bird watching, it's the perfect day to cozy up and stitch! Almost done with the Lily Pads. See you soon.

Well here it is the morning after, we did get what looks like a good 8" as predicted. It's sunny and beautiful, so naturally while I was outside brushing off the satellite dish I just happened to have the camera handy.

Rooster WIP

 I've been working on the grass with a combination of Silk & Ivory and Burmilana in two colors for the tent stitch background and then over stitching long and short with a Burmilana in a tweed and yellow. I like the way it turned out. I'll do more combo colored tent along the bottom of the grass to finish up that space.

The rooster's tail was understitched in tent with purple and green metallic and also a light and medium lavender/purple Burmilana, planning they will peek through the overestitched feathers. Black and navy blue Peluche from Fabulous Fibers were used for the over hanging feathers, and then tacked down here and there into place. This thread seems to curl naturally and I think it is a good look for feathers. The photo doesn't show the individual feathers very clearly.

I've got the head and parts of three sides of the border to do next. Tent, phew, takes a long time. But the closer I get the more inspired I am to finish with thoughts of moving on to new things. YAY! The next picture shows the outside border using one strand of Silk & Ivory in a shade of rust then using staggered stitches of #16 Krenik braid in a rust blend to couch it down. There will be 2 more rows in this color and then one row of blue. This is a fun way to quickly make an outstanding border.

The Lily Pad

by Colorado designer Susan Goodman, is my next take along project. I am looking forward to stitching this piece as it will be my first attempt at a new to me technique. One of Susan's specialties is creative embroidery design with an emphasis on transfer methods and use of computer photographs. Working on Congress Cloth I’ll be using sampler stitches plus embroidery to change a photograph.

First up is basting around the edge of the entire photograph with a strand of floss. The purpose of the basting is to ensure a straight edge around the photograph.Then scotch stitch covering the basting with 2 ply of Threadworx Overdyed floss around the entire border of the photo. Finish with two rows of tent around the whole thing.

Next using DMC and Threadworx outline several (but not all) of the lily pads with the outline stitch. Then using long and short gobelin stitches fill in the veins of the lily pad.

The second installment of this project will be the lilies and background. See you soon.

   

AMAZING Rocky Mountain High Birthday

I cannot believe I'm here, a most magical place. In honor of a "milestone" birthday DD arranged for family and friends to join us in Copper Mountain, CO for a week long celebration of reunion, friendship and birthday fun. The private home was phenomenal located within a ski in/ski out property, it was wonderful with family and close friends it was beyond anything I could have imagined.

How do you like this imaginative birthday throne? Isn't it wild! The brain child of a close friend who knew the birthday queen would love to hold court in style. The scenery from this home's many balconies was amazing and ever changing. We enjoyed Indian Summer, Fall and Winter all in the same week. It was glorious.

We played Mahjongg, cards and I stitched.The bird population alone was captivating providing hours of relaxation.

At over 9700 ft, this Gray Jay and Steller's Jay are very much at home in the high altitude and they are huge! We put out sunflower seed to attract them though they were happy to eat bread too. About 3 days into the week we had snowfall and the slopes were littered with snow making equipment to go along with the colder temps. I had never seen these in operation before--very interesting. I think the top summit in Copper is over 12,000 ft. We were definitely affected by the thinner air even though we live at around 6300 ft, it really made a difference.

We went into nearby Frisco for the birthday dinner and naturally we had to make a stop at Sarah's of Breckenridge Needlepoint store. It's a lovely shop and Sarah is always stitching something superb. Be sure to save time to visit this fun shop. DD picked out these two lovely Sharon G's canvases as Sarah was unpacking from a recent show. As a gift, I also received a new K's creations metal floor stand. Love it!