A Fall Scarf and An Open Heart Update

Wow!  I can't believe I'm up to 11 followers!  That's fantastic!

There has been needlework of various sorts going on here.  Ironically, my finish this week was done on a very slow day at work.  I did up a quick scarf in eyelash yarn that I've had in my stash for several years now and I'm glad I have it finally for the fall/Halloween season.  Now, if it will only get cool enough to actually wear it.  It is just a garter stitch one ball scarf in Paton's Tango Cha Cha yarn (which I believe is now discontinued).

It does look slightly less hideous in real life, lol.  Very slightly.  But the colors are just perfect for this time of year, don't you think?

I promised an update of Crystal Roses.  I'm almost done with the base stitching, only 1/4 left to go, then I will get to do all the fun speciality stitches and add some color to this puppy.  This picture is a little washed out; there is some sage green in there, believe it or not.

Just Nan
Crystal Roses
10/27/2011

And I have gotten a bit further on An Open Heart, 1/4 of the way complete (not counting the borders).

The Drawn Thread
An Open Heart
10/27/2011

It's a very enjoyable stitch, although I dislike stitching words.  It doesn't matter if they are backstitched or cross stitched, I do not like doing words/letters/alphabets. 

Unfortunately, I did not get around to finishing the ornament this week.  It might be a couple of weeks before I have the time to sit down with it.  Not to mention the fact that my sewing table is buried halfway to the ceiling under my to-do pile.  *sigh*

Happy Stitching,
Tamara

A Finish And A New Start

Welcome to my new followers! 

I have finished stitching the Happy Holidays ornament.  I am planning on finishing it this week.

LHN Happy Holidays

And I decided to get a start on The Drawn Thread's An Open Heart.  I have barely made a dent in it, but here it is anyway.

An Open Heart WIP
The Drawn Thread

I did get more done on the Crystal Roses, but forgot to take a picture and I'm too lazy to get up and do it now, lol.  I will put it on my to-do list for the next update.

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

A Finish!

Hello, all!  I've been seeing good progress for many after the IHSW.  I thought about joining, but my weekend ended up being a bit busy, so it's probably better that I didn't.  Maybe next month you will see me there. 

Not a great deal of stitching done this week, although I did finish the Autumn Garden Sampler.  It is now with the finisher to be made into a bell pull.  I'm very excited to get this one back!  It's been a long time since I have had a finish, it seems.  That is the drawback of the BAP's, progress is slow and finishes few and far between.  So this was a nice feeling of accomplishment!

VS Autumn Garden Sampler
Finished!

I also started a little ornament.  Little House Needleworks Happy Holidays from the JCS 2010 Christmas Ornament issue.  Hopefully, this will be done today, then I will try to get it finished into an ornament next week.

LHN Happy Holidays
JCS 2010

I have made a tiny bit of progress on Crystal Roses, but haven't taken a picture yet.  Still on the now boring white on that one.  I did a bit of stashing.  123 had a sale on Autumn themed charts and I got Mill Hill's Button and Beaded Kit Autumn Collage and the frame to go along with it.  I was a bit suprised at the size when I received it, lol;  it was a bit bigger than I expected.

Mill Hill Autumn Collage

I really, really want to get a start on The Drawn Thread's Open Heart.  It's sitting here all ready to go, I'm just trying to be good and get some finishes before I delve into it.  I thought I was going to try to get Crystal Roses finished before starting it, but I think that is not going to happen, lol. 

Happy Stitching!

Tamara

Autumn Garden Sampler Update

Once again, welcome to my new follower!  It's still a bit thrilling to see a new face pop up there, lol.  I hope everyone is enjoying reading my updates.  I've tried to comment on a couple of blogs this week that then wouldn't post my comment, but I'll keep trying.

A finish is near, I think!  I'm on the second-to-last band on this sampler and I'm hoping to have it finished today, or tomorrow at the latest.  Provided I get myself from in front of this computer.  Then I will be able to take it to the finisher tomorrow.  Yay!  I'm now working on band 15:

VS Autumn Garden Sampler
10/12/2011

The only drawback with this (and other VS charts) is the overdyed/hand-dyed threads.  I'm a bit fanatical about washing my finished projects.  I did a little swatch with the Gloriana threads and washed it;  it seemed to come out fine.  Then I used the steam iron on it and it bled everywhere.  So I have to experiment some more to see if I should allow the piece to dry completely before using a dry iron.  I hope that will work because I would really like to use these threads more in larger projects, but I would have to be able to wash them.  I had a piece many, many years ago that discolored horribly several years after it was framed, so I am very paranoid.  I have never had any problems with the pieces which have been washed *knocks wood*, and that is why I feel compelled to wash my finishes.  And why I still use mainly DMC.  But it would be wonderful to be able to add some of those wonderful specialty fibers for fun, not to mention it's a pain in the katookis to have to convert them to DMC.  Which quite often is impossible as with the Glorianna threads in this piece. 

Unfortunately, I was not so good at resisting other new fibers (at least new to me) this week, either.  I browsed through a local yarn shop to kill a few minutes and ended up with a scarf project.  I've had an itch to knit lately and, hopefully, this will cure me, lol.  This yarn is 100% sugar cane viscose, Sugar Rush by Queensland Collection, and is absolutely wonderful.  It is sooooo soft.  I'm doing it in an easy feather and fan pattern.  I'm not a very experienced knitter and this pattern is easy enough to be doable, but challenging for my skill level.  I seriously doubt I will ever be a proficient knitter, as I tend to have two left hands, lol. 

Sugar Rush Feather and Fan Scarf
10/12/2011

It's a gloomy day here, maybe some rain showers coming.  Excellent day do sit and stitch!  So I'm off to see about getting that sampler done. 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

NLH page finish

I finally finished page 5 of Nature's Little Helper.  I also did a little bit of the page below to get the un-rainbow area filled in a bit.  I still think I am going to have to add some color to it before I will be satisfied.

HAED Nature's Little Helper (Warren)
10/05/2011

And I am LOVING working on this Autumn Garden Sampler!  I'm loving it so much, I think I will put the HAED's aside for a bit and work on the pile of Victoria Sampler, Drawn Thread, Indigo Rose, and Ink Circles charts.  It's nice to actually get something finished again.  I have 11 bands of 16 finished on this one. 

Victoria Sampler
Autumn Garden Sampler
10/05/2011

I just love those leaves and acorns!  Here's a close-up of them.

Autumn Garden Sampler
Close-up of Acorns and leaves

I am doing this piece on 28 count white monaco with mostly DMC conversions except for the Gloriana silks and the Au ver a soie.  I'll be getting it made into a bell pull when it's finished.  I can't wait!

Happy Stitching!
Tamara