11.29.2007

I finished stitching...

my neice's first Christmas ornament, but I have to figure out how I want to put it together. I found some instructions on how to make twisted cord and tassels, but I'm not sure if I want to make a pillow or flat type of ornament. I suppose I'll get a picture up when it's completely finished.

I am working on the first of TW's ornaments for Christmas presents. I started with my sister's, and it's really pretty. The thread that I talked about in a previous post is really nice thread with a good color change. It's subtle but not, if that makes any sense. Anyway, DSis's is in blues and purples. I hope I get them all done before Christmas! I think I have about 7 to do (8 if I do one for myself!).

I was going to answer this week's SBQ on this post, but it's a fairly complicated topic dealing with death (which I don't deal well with at all). So I need to do a great deal of thinking about it, and if I come up with something worth posting, I will.

I have also been on the hunt for an urn plate for my Shadow's urn. I have probably until after the new year to find something because the pottery maker who is designing it is busy with orders for Christmas. But none of the plates that I've seen seem to suit me or do justice to what Shadow meant to me. I would like to have something etched, like a picture of me and Shadow, or just of Shadow herself. But everything I see is so...business-like...and dull. I don't know. Maybe I'm just too picky. If anyone has any ideas please let me know!

Oh, and because I am so dense sometimes I didn't think that designers would take designs off of their sites. So I went through my WIP links and updated them.

Sheesh!

11.24.2007

I seriously do NOT know...

what is wrong with me. I feel like I can't even follow a pattern anymore.

I put Desiderata away for a bit so I can get some ornaments done. I am doing a baby's first Christmas ornament for my sister's baby, and there's a simple rhodes stitch done in an oval shape. Of course it doesn't line up when I get all the way around. I'm getting seriously concerned about my brain...I don't think I'm processing things the way I should. Either that, or I just can't concentrate because there's so much going on. I'll go with the latter.

I have several ornaments planned for my family. I think I'm going to do TW's Intermediate Whitework Ornament for everyone in different colors of DMC's Color Variations. Instead of just sewing printed fabric to the back like I usually do, I'm going to put the person's name and the year on the back. I hope they look ok, and if I can get started, that would be even better!

The SBQ for October 10th is very interesting:

What for you means to achieve mastery as a stitcher?

Mastery as a stitcher means that a person can do all the stitch types equally well, without having to refer to a diagram for every step. The stitches are neither too tight nor too loose, and they all have the same tension. It also means that a person finishes projects, not necessarily fast finishes, but finishes just the same. Finishing also means framing, making into ornaments or bellpulls, etc. There is a completed, finished product to display, not something that is languishing in drawer or closet. I only know a few people who I would consider master stitchers. Unfortunately...

...I'm not one of them.

11.16.2007

I finally started...

Desiderata Sampler after drooling over it for a few years. I'm doing it in DMC except for the Waterlilies and Wildflowers it calls for. Of course, after not stitching for a while, I messed up on the very first stitch in the border around the illuminated G. I did the first rice stitch over 5 threads horizontally instead of 4. At least it was an easy fix, because I hadn't gone all the way around the box yet. But still, what a pain!

I also got a Mill Hill ornament kit. Actually, it's a pin kit, but I make them into ornaments. I love their little beaded kits! It's a Christmas cardinal and has fuzzy stuff to go around the outside. So cute! I'll definitely post a picture when I'm finished...

...that is IF I finish!

11.13.2007

And now, the SBQ...

for November 8. I hope to be finding time to catch up on the two years I missed *grin*

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you start over with a new strand?

This is an easy one. Unless it is 24 carat gold thread (which it usually isn't) I would prefer to just cut out all the offending stitches and start over. Obviously, the thread is no longer useable, so I just start over with what might have been left over on the length I was stitching with. I have found that in my old age of 37, I have no patience to try to save the thread.

It's been two years...

and I've finally gotten back into stitching and working on my blog. I had a very difficult year. My beloved Shadow died at 16 and I went into a severe depression. It has been over a year now, and I still can't get the hole in my heart to fill up. They say that time heals all wounds, but I feel like I will still feel empty for the remainder of my life.

I haven't been stitching at all. I just haven't had the motivation to even pick up a needle. But I did get the JCS ornament issue for this year, and I think there are a few projects in there that caught my eye. I also started Desiderata, which is something I've been trying to get kitted up for a few years. I have started the rice stitch around the illuminated G, and it was very cathartic to put even a few stitches in.

On the home front, it seems that my baby might have ringworm. Apparently, one of the parents at Aislin's preschool didn't think it was worth telling the teachers that her child was being treated for it. So it cost me 200 dollars for the doctor visit and the medication. So thanks a whole hell of a lot lady...

...I hope your hair falls out.