Canvaswork – Page 5 – Feather Stitching

Canvaswork, Cross Stitch, Laura J Perin, Sapphire Star, Works in Progress

Update to Sapphire Star

26 January, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

I have to admit to growing a little tired of Dawson’s tonight – the endless squabbles and melodramas of a group of teenagers is finally wearing on my nerves … BUT I swore I’d sit and watch the entire collection of DVD’s and I will continue to do so even if it kills me or drives me to the booze cabinet! The GREAT thing, though, is that it’s good to stitch by, ‘cos you don’t really have to look up all that often and can just listen to them all drivel on amongst themselves on the TV screen 😀

Which means, therefore, there’s some reasonable stitching progress from tonight … the close-up shows the colours relatively well, considering it was taken in a darkened room, directly under my Ott-Lite … unfortunately the ‘whole’ photo looks exceptionally washed out thanks to the Ott-Lite 😦

Tomorrow is a public holiday for Australia Day (well, I guess technically that is now “today”, so happy Australia Day to all my Aussie friends!!) … I said I would join the throng of hooligans at The Rocks for a free music concert, but truth is I really just want to sit around all afternoon in front of the goggle box with my honking great tapestry needle in hand, working away on getting some more colour into my Sapphire Star … sounds like a blissful plan … all I need now is some really bad weather to force me indoors 😛

Canvaswork, Laura J Perin, Sapphire Star, supernatural, Works in Progress

Shhh, don’t tell anyone … New start

25 January, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

I don’t usually take part in “guilt-free January”, but this weekend I just couldn’t resist starting something new – I’ve had a hankering to start a canvaswork piece for weeks now, and I finally succumbed to the temptation late yesterday. The photo is dreadful and blurred, but you can at least guess from the colour of the stitches of this one that I’m in love already!!! 😛

This is Laura J Perin’s Sapphire Star (or at least it will be once I get cracking a bit more on it – I’ll take a better photo, ie non-blurry, when I’ve stitched a bit more on it) … I’m about to head off into the lounge to watch Dawson’s Creek (yet again) with Katie … I’m starting to think it’s the TV show that never ends, but we’re over halfway through the seasons now, and once we finish it means we can move on to something else – namely Season 1 of Fringe. I’ve seen most of the first season before it got pulled from TV, but Katie hasn’t seen any. (Of course, now thanks to Channel 9, it is finally back on TV again – thanks Go! channel.)

Talking of TV shows being pulled, I’m seriously p*ssed at Channel Ten if the information has Katie has just told me is correct – that they won’t be renewing the Supernatural series. As per normal they think it’s just fine and dandy to show about 1/3 of the ‘final’ season of a show only to axe it … and they wonder why people resort to downloading TV shows. Of course ratings are going to be low when you move to late night slots, and of course ratings will be super low when you play in during Christmas week – where did you get your business degrees from??? My thoughts about Channel Ten management are seriously not printable … there are plenty of words rattling around in my head that would make my mother’s hair stand on end! Bah humbug you Channel Ten morons!!! And talking of which, where’s the final bloody episodes of ER???? mutter mutter mutter bloody mutter … 😦

OK, time to head back into the lounge for some calming TV … on DVD, Channel Ten, so you can’t stuff that up!!! 😛

Canvaswork, Cross Stitch, Finishing, Framing, picture framing

Back briefly

11 December, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

Sorry I have been AWOL for a while … all I can say is that I’ve been struggling emotionally, I guess, for a number of weeks now, and I’ve been in a bit of a ‘black fog’ for want of a better way to put it. Anyway, I have been planning a trip back down to Melbourne for about 2 months now, but it was then put on hold indefinitely after Erin passed away until I heard about when her service would be held in NZ – as that is now likely to be the middle of January, on Monday night it was all of a sudden ‘full steam ahead’ and Katie and I started making plans once again for the trip. It’s taken me probably until yesterday before I started feeling brighter and looking forward to the trip, but now I think it will do me the world of good … getting away from home and away from the stress and pressures of work will be great. Of course it just may make me more homesick for Melbourne and those friends I left behind …

When I get home I think I may need to take a quick visit to the GP as well … according to my hairdresser the itchy scalp I’ve been developing over the last few weeks is likely caused by stress and upheaval, as opposed to a reaction to my conditioner … I guess my body’s trying to tell me something! Oh well, only two weeks left and I’ll get some TLC at home when I fly over to Mum and Dad’s for Christmas – something else that I’m really looking forward to. Recent events brings it home even more that family is really important!

I haven’t picked up a needle for weeks now, so I guess that gives an idea of my mindset of late, as that’s super super unusual! I did force myself to do a bit of home DIY, though, as I had a gift I needed to get ready for my trip to Melbourne. Unfortunately other gifts still aren’t done, so I guess those’ll have to go in the post later.

Here’s the results of my labours that I finished last night (just have to have the hooks/hangers screwed into the back):

A framing job I did first, but in a ready-made mat and frame from Target:

The gift I needed to get finished for this weekend (as it would be too hard to post) – this is for my ex-flatmate and friend Lisa for her birthday:

Then this one is especially for me – LHN’s Hannah Purington, to match our lounge’s marine/blue theme):

The piece de resistance – Graeme Ross’ Tiger … I’ve been waiting many many years to see this one framed!

And, finally, the one frame that I cocked up a bit (this was my 2nd framing attempt) … the corner shifted slightly when I was tightening up the clamps and I didn’t notice – c’est la vie, I still love it 🙂

These are all photos taken prior to adding the glass – I can’t believe it only cost AU$29 for 5 pieces to be cut, and the canvaswork and tiger pieces are decent sizes! Anyway, I’m really quite proud of these for first attempts – it feels wonderful to be able to say “I did all that” … from the stitching to the mat cutting, frame making, and the actual framing itself. I think I’ll be doing more in the future to give myself some more practice, and get some items out of the finishing pile.

Anyway, I’d better go get my packing done … it’s 8pm and I still haven’t even started yet! Maybe there’s still a bit of reluctance hanging around under that black cloud, but I’m sure that’ll be shaken off by the morning 🙂

Canvaswork, Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishing, The Drawn Thread

Small ornie finishing session

8 November, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

This week I’ve been a bit anti-social at home, rather being glued to the Ghost Trappers chat room and radio in my bedroom, so yesterday I made an effort to catch up with Katie while watching a bit of recorded TV, and decided to finish off a couple of old stitched ornies while sitting around. The following are the results of my wee finishing session – some were stitched by Mum (those on Aida), while the others were stitched by me.

The skiing Santa was one of the first XS pieces I ever stitched many years ago – Mum accidentally took it out of its hoop frame holder, so I made it into an ornie instead 🙂

I still have a HUGE pile of finishing yet to be done, but I figure if I just pull a few out every now and then it will eventually get whittled down. I’ve really lost my confidence with finishing over the last couple of years, so I think I need to just not think about it, and just do it – seems to be working so far! 😀

I also finished a pinkeep last night too, but I’m not happy with it this morning when seeing it in daylight, so I’m going to replace the ribbon used on it today, and hopefully will like the finished result a bit better.

Canvaswork, Wishlist

Blue Drooling

5 July, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

As a blue lover, how could one resist Laura J Perin’s latest design? This is “Blue Butterfly” and I think I’m in love … 😀

Canvaswork, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Orna Willis, Stash

All choked up

17 January, 200925 February, 2012 Anne S

I have to say a HUGE thanks to the ladies who have offered me spare copies of the JCS ornie issues after I confirmed my loss. I am incredibly touched and humbled by your kindness, and I have to say I got a bit choked up when I was responding by email today. Words can’t express how grateful I feel … my ornie issues have always been some of my most treasured stitching possessions, so it will be awesome to have some of the copies available again to stitch from.

To top off that kindness, I also just received a comment on my previous blog post that I am the winner of Orna’s January Giveaway on her blog, so that lump in my throat just got an awful lot bigger (and separate to the current razor blade burning from my virus!). If you don’t know Orna Willis, she is one of my favourite canvaswork designers – her designs are exquisite. I love her use of bright and contemporary colours, and have a couple of designs kitted up ready for stitching. I look forward to receiving my new prize, as I think it will look absolutely stunning stitched up 😀

orna-willis-prize-giveaway

Here are my fave pieces yet to be stitched (I don’t actually own the last two though … yet):

And of course there’s the one piece I’ve already stitched – “Dena”, which I just adore to death! 😀

Canvaswork, Cross Stitch, Stash, Wishlist

My 25 Project Challenge is Doomed already!

22 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I have barely got a finish under my belt and I’ve broken my vow of chastity stash dieting … but I couldn’t resist!! And two of them are rarely available for sale, so it was a case of “now or never” … as for the third one, it is just a case of ordering it quickly before I salivated myself to death in a pile of drool 😉

What am I talking about? Well, to start with I’d already been drooling BIG time seeing the latest Mirabilia mermaid on a few blogs … this one is just to DIE FOR! I was happy to add it to my wishlist, then The Stitching Post had a pre-order option in today’s email newsletter … my fingers worked to quickly on the keyboard and before I knew it and time to think, the chart was ordered and paid for … oops … LOL. Now I just have to wait for a while before I can justify getting the MH Treasures and CC Waterlilies threads. But I’m also thinking if I don’t end up using my Fathom fabric for Enchanted Mermaid, the colouring of this one could be perfect!

As for the other two splurges – Gay Ann Rogers has an e-merchandise week only once a year, and offers some of her previous class projects for sale. These two projects are ones that I fell in love with a while ago, but figured they’d be forever out of my grasp, but sure enough I was lucky enough to see them up for sale last week (although my credit card is now feeling very UNlucky, and I guess I’ll be on bread and water rations for the next month … I know I’m going to kick myself for buying them, but I just couldn’t resist!). Anyway, here are the two canvaswork designs that I fell in love with, and with pages and pages of instructions, it’ll be great to stitch these up at some stage … I was borderline about getting the 2nd design, but it was discounted to buy both together, so I figured “in for a penny, in for a pound …” – I’m totally head over heels for the first design, though (probably more so because I love the colourway chosen for this model!).

As for actual stitching, I managed to get another 2 hours stitching done last night … 1 of them spent frogging and re-stitching, then the remaining hour getting some new stitches in. I’m over halfway through the 2nd corner box, so hopefully tomorrow night I’ll get chance to finish that off … no piccies for now though 🙂

And now it’s time to climb into my thermal undies for bed … the temperatures have totally plummeted today and it’s like being back in the middle of winter again (from 30+C to 15C in the space of two days hmmm) … time to bundle up in those winter PJ’s again!!

Canvaswork, Cross Stitch, Wishlist

This HAS to go on the wishlist!!!

18 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

Oh my goodness, how can it NOT be added? Love, love, LOVE it!!! 😀

Mallard Duck Collage by Laura J Perin

Apricot Elegance, Beading, Bullion roses, Canvaswork, Chatelaine, Cindy Valentine, Cross Stitch, Egyptian Garden Mandala, English Garden Sampler, Goldwork, Graeme Ross, Hussif, Jane Nicholas, JBW Designs, Le Jardin Silk Sampler, Lorri Birmingham, Martha Schmidt, Noah's Ark, Quilting, Rotation, Ruth Schmuff, Stoney Creek, Stumpwork, Sweetheart Tree, Teresa Wentzler, Textile Heritage, Wool embroidery, Works in Progress

WIP’s and UFO’s

14 October, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

This is especially for Kathy of the Blig Blog … here are photos of the current state of all my UFO’s (I could pretend that they were WIP’s but seeing as the majority haven’t seen a stitch put into them in over 12 months, 95% would definitely be deemed as UFO status!):

Macaw -&- Beaded Fish

Egyptian Garden Mandala -&- English Garden Sampler

Le Jardin Silk Sampler -&- Flight of the Bumblebees

Noah’s Ark -&- Winter Queen

In the Dark Needleroll -&- Love & Affection

Wildflowers Needleroll -&- Apricot Elegance

Monica Hunt Hussif -&- Classical Garden Bookmark

Nature’s Resting Place -&- Wool Beehive Needlebook

Oriental Poppy -&- Summer Fruits Pincushion

Pomegranates & Beetle – Martha Schmidt Hussif

Stumpwork Needlework Accessories

Goldwork Pea -&- Wool hot water bottle cover

Honesty & Heartsease -&- Bullion Rose Facecloth

Long stitch frogs -&- Butterflies & Hearts Needleroll

Stumpwork Dragonfly

Berry Delightful Bag -&- Mediterranean Village XS

Vicki’s Cot Quilt

Stitching Leporello isn’t included in the photos, as I’ve been stitching a complete section each time, so no individual section is in progress at the moment. And I can’t put my hands to either a photo or the actual project of GCC Ornamental Delights, so I guess that one won’t be getting stitched in a hurry haha.

Very sad that some of these projects are over halfway and never finished, however there are many there that are barely started … I’m sorely tempted to just unpick the bullion rose facecloth, for example, as I don’t know if I truly ever want to finish it, the same with a couple more projects in there … will see how I feel after one more stitching session on them, I guess, before I make the ultimate decision to turf out. It’s funny when you look back through the photos and remember why you stopped working on them … for example the Lorri Birmingham Butterflies & Hearts needleroll, I really hated the colours used, as I felt the wording etc just faded into the background, so no doubt that whole piece will be unpicked and started again from scratch with my choice of threads 🙂

I’ve already gone out and pulled numbers out of the hat for the first round, and highlighted the text in bold in the main list in the previous post … and I’m really looking forward to starting my rotation – I just want to finish my current piece first … although I guess I could just choose to start at the “free choice” slot and start counting my hours, that way I can continue with my current project and be starting my actual rotation at the same time – ooh, I like it when a plan comes together!!! 😀

That means my new current rotation is as follows:

Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Medium/Large: Lavenderblue Celtic Knot Quilt – From Nancy’s Needle
WIP’s/UFO’s: Berry Delightful Bag
Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Small/Medium: Jumpin’ Jelly Beans – DKT Originals (freebie)
Large/BAP’s: Egyptian Garden Mandala
Focus Piece: CA Wells class projects
Christmas Ornaments
Finishing
Free Choice

Canvaswork

Bad, bad girl

18 April, 200825 February, 2012 Anne S

I take a day off work to do some ‘cramming stitching’ for my CA Wells class … and what do I do instead? I forget to switch my phone alarm off so I get awoken early then feel like death all day and end up spending the entire day (so far anyway) joining up for more internet groups for canvaswork designs and getting itchy feet to start a new project or 50!! There is just no hope for me!!!

I’m getting a serious urge to pick up some canvaswork projects again … I have one or two in my stash still waiting to be stitched, but now I’m drooling over some new class projects as well … Check this one out by Jim Wurth … oh my goodness, I SOOOOO want this one!!!!! I’ve sent him an email to work out how to pay for it, if overseas students are allowed (it’s basically a correspondence course) … isn’t it to die for??? Its called Study in Gold and Silver, and available through the Shining Needle Society (email to sign up for registration – no membership fee for the Yahoo group).

Then there’s a new Mystery project by Gay Ann Rogers – check out her blog post here to see the first part. Some of the suggested colour combinations put together in other posts are totally exquisite! (Once again, this is run via the above Yahoo group.)

Then, of course, there’s the few canvaswork projects that I already have that are actually pretty much kitted up ready to be started in my existing stash – Sapphire Star by Laura J Perin (who has her own blog I’ve just discovere today), and Lavender Blue Celtic Knot Quilt by From Nancy’s Needle, and Baroque by Jean Hilton:

As well as the designs I already own by Orna Willis (who also now has her own blog but I’ve known about that one since she started it), that aren’t quite kitted up yet (the only real downside to canvaswork is the multitude of ‘weird’ and uncommon threads needed).

A Summer Drink (you’ll need to click on the pictures to go to the website to see the full piccie – the turquoise one is stunning!)

Reflections of Joy (in the bright colours), Equilibrium (in the purple colourway), Grace (in the colourway shown, or perhaps I’d attempt to change the entire colours to turquoise and navy yet hmmm) – again, you have to click on the piccies to see all the colourway choices

Add to that the one of hers I don’t actually own yet, but still continue to drool over – Royal:

And finished off by the multitude still on my wishlist by Laura J Perin and Northern Pine Designs …

Perhaps I should just console myself with the piece I’ve already started – Flight of the Bumblebee by Ruth Schmuff:

… but stitching on something already started spoils all the fun … haha.

I also have a couple of other canvaswork designs in my stash, but I can’t remember the exact designer names off the top of my head … and I think I’ve disgraced myself enough with this post! 😉

And of course that’s not even mentioning the millions of XS designs that are currently screaming my name to be started! Why is it, that as soon as I have a stitching commitment and deadline, that commitment project is the very last thing that I want to stitch, and the urge to start 50 different projects is sooooo strong?

So, what am I doing now instead of stitching? Sitting here posting about my sorry addiction … ah, there really is no hope for me! 😉

It will soon be time to head out the door to get my hair cut, and I’ll be walking out after not stitching a single solitary stitch … just pitiful!! But I’ve been having so much fun dreaming … 😉