Ouch!

I've been off line lately due to a few life events (some expected some not), one which does not allow for me to sit and stitch or surf for very long. WTH???  No carrying anything either if you know what is good for you. Ever have a rib cartilage injury? It's painful and seemingly the only comfortable position one can maintain for any length of time is lying down. And even then I require "hoisting" up and down. Ridiculous. Because the ribcage protrudes inward when one is sitting in a slouch while stitching, that can only happen for short spurts at a time. Same with surfing the net. Now what?  Guess which rib? The one that requires me to wear my gramma bra otherwise it HURTS! I did it to myself too; instead of rising up from my office chair and bending over to pick something up off the floor like a normal person, I leaned over the arm of the chair and reached and separated the soft tissue from the rib. AHHHHHHH!!!

Anyway, I've retrieved this last week from the framers but couldn't get it online until now;  I think they did a pretty good job. I wish the computer image better depicted the 3-dimensional features which is one of the things that makes this a special piece. Additionally, the frame is also deeper than it looks here setting everything back so the curtains stay well behind the front of the frame. I am happy with my very own Monet.

I have also been working on my cyberspace mystery piece, which apparently isn't such a mystery anymore. It's coming along quickly with all the large stitches and would probably be done by now if I weren't....sniffle sniffle....injured.

Well that's it for me now. I've got to see what you all have been doing out there in blogville. Talk later.

Hinting around

I think I might be giving you waaaaaaaay too many hints about my cyberspace mystery project, but that's my crime-lock me up (she said extending both wrists). The photo at right is the Fan Vaulting stitch using a Lorikeet wool nine-ply. Three plies are used in this application. I decided to do something different when stripping (aka, pulling apart) this thread. I stripped the entire "skein" of Lorikeet, divided into three strands each, knotted the end and voila! All ready to start stitching without having to stop and strip threads. Is this what you normally do? I usually strip as I go, so to speak.  The photo on the left uses a single strand of Gloriana Duchess Silk stitched in Staggered Cross Variation. Both of these stitches are highly textural and are brilliant choices for these particular applications.

 The designer noted that because Lorikeet is slightly felted due to the dying process it was easier to strip by pulling one strand down several inches and then straighting out the thread that pulled up in the stripping process. When I begin to strip thread, I tap the end splaying out the plies, making it easier to grab a ply. Then I begin to slowly pull the stripped ply several inches away from the main strand and straighten the thread; pull another several inches, straighten repeating this process of pulling and straightening until the stripped ply is easily removed.

I know you probably know how to strip threads but it gave me something to do while avoiding housework. Have a happy day and great weekend! See you soon.

Identity Crisis

Just between you and me and speaking confidentially, I've been experiencing a blog header identity crisis lately. I just couldn't seem to find any thing that really suited me or my blog-anything original that is. I kept changing my header photo from one thing to another which was in direct conflict with my perceived concept of what a blog header should stand for: a consistent and, therefore, readily recognizable theme that says, oh that's the so-and-so blog.

It finally dawned on me that I could use this name tag that I've been wearing for years when attending most of my ANG and EGA chapter meetings.  It's a bit worn and raggedy and is more of a southwest theme rather than Colorado (you can take the girl out of the desert but you cannot take the desert out of the girl), but it will do until I can replace it with something else. Thank you for bearing with me during this period of header block nonsense. If you are a fellow blogger, how did you decide what to use for your blog header?

Stitchin' on the QT

Here's a sneak preview of  my cyberspace mystery project. I am having a wonderful time stitching this large canvas and thankfully, I've been able to progress without detection this far. I had a suprise visit from the recipient of this piece and actually had to throw a garment of clothing over my floor stand to avoid a premature reveal. It was a close call.

The photo above left shows medium sized balloon stitches in Vineyard Silk and then reverse diagonal scotch also in Vineyard Silk. Then at right is a giant sized balloon stitched in charcoal Silk and Ivory (I changed from using black VS). You can't tell very much now but the round, long stitched area on the right of the photo is cleverly padded for effect and stitched with both Vineyard Silk and Burmilana. Lucious threads provided in the kit by the queen of fun projects and glitzy stuff!

Today is Mother's Day, a special day indeed to celebrate the best gift of all, our children! I am hoping you get in all the stitching your heart desires today and always. See you soon.

Curtain Time

The curtains have been attached to Red Kerchief and I've only got a little housekeeping to do before taking it to the framers. Invisible thread was used to attach the pieces of lace. I have never used it before; it's tiny, sort of like using one strand of gray hair-only stronger. True.

Creating the openings in the doors worked out really well. I thought that the horizontal and vertical "bars" of the window frames would be flimsy. Not so. They remained very sturdy and even the last window frame to be stitched was not a problem. I will never be afraid of cutting canvas again.

I see I could have taken a little more care in folding the curtains back but that is something I will take care of once it's framed. Anyway, the photo at left was taken with both canvases still on the Evertites; the foreground canvas situated in place on top of the background canvas. This creates dimension and during the framing process there will be spacers used to keep the canvases apart. Glad I'm not the framer, this seems tricky.

Well it's done and I am happy dancing all over the place. On to the next project. I've been eyeing the pink walnut lately. It's so small and will only take a little bit of my time to get it finished. I have been "playing" with the interior and have discovered my fingers are clumsy working with the slick fabric and small space. Not much I can do about it so I am trying not to get discouraged, but that is the only thing holding me back from completing this pretty piece.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today. I get so much done knowing you might be by for another visit.

Amphibians

and turtles. Another collection that has been well hidden for several years emerged from hiding yesterday. It all started about 20 years ago and we kept finding these creatures. Then one day at a huge Atlanta antique flea market we found these two large-marge sized yard ornaments. The large turtle and frog were actually meant to have a hose put inside (there is an opening on the bottom) and then when the water was turned on out spouted the stream. Yes, whatever.

 

In any case these buggers are somewhat difficult to display. These were made from the 30's to possibly the 60's in Ohio by the Brush-McCoy Pottery. The large ones are rare, all are popular and collectible. Most of these were found at various flea markets and antique fairs in the southeast. I have never found any here in Colorado....think it's too dry. : ) Would I ever part with these? Yes!

Thanks for visiting today, back to my stitching.