More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Showing posts with label smalls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smalls. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!  I'm actually on schedule this week and I'm actually getting my WIP Wednesday post up on the right day!

 Mini River Cottage
Michael Powell
stitched on: 27ct eveweave

After last week's post I finally settled on a WIP to work on, Michael Powell's Mini River Cottage... well I finished it Monday night!  I just love the look of these and stitching them!

Red Threads
Rosewood Manor
Stitched on: mystery fabric
Stitched with: Threadworx

I also had a small finish as well, I pulled out this little Red Threads motif by Rosewood Manor, one of my purse projects.  It had been started awhile ago, so it was nice to have that finished as well.  Its gone into my finishing pile, I've already picked the coordinating beads for when I'm ready!


Of course with the finishing of one focus project that leaves the tough decision of "what's next?".  A few texts back and forth with Christin and for the moment, I've settled on Teresa Wentzler's Fortunate Traveller.  I started this back on May 1, 2013 as a stitch-a-long with Bonnie, Beatrice and Christin.  Of course none of us have really made any serous progress since then.  I think we keep getting distracted by other projects!


I've also put a couple of more thread lengths into A Year In Chalk - June.  I'm planning on putting an hour into this each day until its done or I decide to put my head down and finish it.  Once this one is done, I'm caught up until I get a chance to buy/pick up July & August.

Tiny Tidings
Lizzie Kate

Over the weekend I also completed another ornament, and a floss ring tag.  I started a second ornament, but haven't managed to find the time to complete it yet.  I guess that just gives you something to look forward to next week!

Red Threads
Rosewood Manor

Nothing exciting has been going on to share with you, I've been back to work this week after an extra-long, long weekend.  Just the stitching you see here!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

WIPWednesday, Small Finishes and What's Next?

Happy Wednesday fair readers!  Which means its WIPWednesday and one of my blogging days!

As usual I like to start with the happy stuff, and I've had two small Happy Dances since my last post.

Red Threads
Rosewood Manor
Stitched with NPI Silk
Stitched on 32ct Natural Linen

This first little guy, was already well under way, so there wasn't much left to do.  This has been my "purse project" and I've been dragging it around with me most places but not really working on it.  So I finally put the last stitches into it.

French Country Star
JBW Designs
Just Cross Stitch - Ornament Issue 2010
Stitched with WDW Garnet
Stitched Over One on 25ct Sand/Gold Lugana

Next up is this month's ornament, I had a hard time settling on which one I wanted to stitch.  I finally picked up this sweet little stitch by JBW which was in one of my Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issues.  If I can, and it may be rather ambitious I'd like to finish this star-shaped!

I haven't settled on a new focus project yet, and really that's okay.  This week I've picked away at two different projects.


I kind of have it in my mind to finish up my January 1st start from this year, Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide.  Christin and I started them together, but she's been done hers for awhile now. Usually I'm the first to finish!  I've had a hard time getting "into" this project.


When I haven't been able to get "into" Peacock I've pulled out an oldie, but goodie Arabian Woman a kit from Lanarte.  I fell in love with and bought this project a long time ago, and it cost me a fair bit.  A few years ago I put some stitches in it to make myself get back to it.  I've enjoyed working on it this week.  The fabric on this piece comes painted and there's a little "+" where to start so I've slowly worked my way from that start point, to my happy place, the top left hand corner.

As promised last week here are the other projects I have started in my stitching basket... Which project would you like to watch come to life?  Leave me a comment!

Mini River Cottage - Michael Powell

The Big Red - The Silver Lining

 Cirque des Carreaux - Ink Circles

Fortunate Traveller - Teresa Wentzler

Monday, March 09, 2015

A Long Awaited Stitchy Post - WIP Wednesday A Day Early

Have you missed my WIP Wednesday posts?  Have you missed my stitching... have you missed me?

The week leading up to this year's DR Experience trip was beyond hectic!  I was trying to get so much done before I left.  Not just my home life, but my work life, and of course the kids! I should of gotten stitching pictures up last week, but well there's recovering from said trip.


 I don't get a lot of stitching done during my DR Trips, but I did have a new start that I worked on during my flights.  I did more stitching during my return flight than I did on the way down.  That might of had something to do with the fact that I had to be up before 3am to be at the airport for 4am!  My new travel project (not to be confused with purse project) is Ink Circles, Cirque Des Carreaux.  Like the previous two in the series I've stitched this one is also on 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean, the floss is ThreadWorx "foxy".  This project will be getting A LOT of needle time this Saturday, while I fly down to Yuma, Arizona for my March Break trip to visit Kathy!  I've got about 12 hours of travel time between flights and layovers, lots of stitching time!  We've got a trip to The Attic planned, I can't wait!

Green + White
by Bent Creek
Stitched on: 32ct white lugana
Stitched with WDW & Crescent Colours

Before I left I had a little happy dance!  Its another seasonal small, this time for St. Patrick's Day.  Of course there's no time to actually get it finished finished to be on display in time for this years St. Paddy's Day.

Heart Of Flake
Freebie by Madame la Fée
Stitched on 32ct Raging Storm Belfast Linen
Stitched with ThreadWorx 1124

After my return I had another happy dance, this piece is my February ornament which I started shortly before leaving for the DR.  I want to try to get back to stitching at least one ornament a month.  Besides this sudden need I have this year to stitch seasonal smalls.  I quite like this little heart I stitched up.


Before I picked The Accolade back up upon my return, I put a few stitches into Michael Powell's Mini River Cottage.  As usual his pieces are so enjoyable to stitch!  The only reason I decided to pick this up is because I couldn't get fabric sorted for my March ornament so I kinda gave up for a bit.  I wasn't feeling an ornament at the time anyhow.  I finally got my ornament sorted today, you'll see it in a near future post.


I'm sure you're dying to see how The Accolade is coming along, slowly but surely.  I've found myself more distracted than focused in the last week and a half.  I hope when all of my travel is done, I'll be able to buckle down and happy dance this BAP!

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

WIP Wednesday - The First February Edition

Welcome to my first February Edition of WIP Wednesday!!!

Winter here continues to be pretty brutal.  If its not been colder than -20c with windchills in the -30c then its been snow, blowing snow, snow drifts and black ice.  I've had enough and I'm counting the days until I head out on this year's Dominican Experience Trip ... 16 DAYS!  Not to mention in 37 days I'll be heading Arizona!!!  Neither trip can come soon enough.


So after my Sleep Study just a few weeks ago, I was back in the hospital today.  This time for a Day Study, in a day study you're still all hooked up to wires and stuff.  In a Day Study you're told to take a 15 minute nap, if you're not asleep in 15 minutes they come in and get you out of bed, or as soon as you fall asleep they set the clock for a fresh 15 minutes before coming to wake you up.  You get to sit up, watch movies ... I stitched for about two hours before its time for another nap.  This is done four times.


I kitted up another freebie for my future seasonal basket of smalls.  I'm still working on the Valentine's Day/Hearts/Love theme.  This will be the last one before I move onto St. Patrick's Day.  I worked on this while at the hospital today.  I didn't have any of the colours the chart called for so I pulled my own.  The border wasn't supposed to be green at all, it called for Crescent Colours Bamboo which was a brown-ish colour.  I really like the green MUCH better.

Valentine
The Primitive Hare
Stitched on: 28ct Tropical Pink Linen
Stitched with: Threadworx 1124

Last week I showed you my start on a freebie by Primitive Hare, I finished it on Sunday during the Superbowl.  Actually I stitched most of it during the Superbowl, not that I was really watching anyhow.  I embellished it with a pink heart button on the stitched heart.  I love how this turned out with my "outrageous" pink fabric!  I think I'm going to need to do some finishing soon!

Red Threads
Rosewood Manor
Stitched on: 32ct Natural Linen
Stitched with: Carrie's Creations Holly Days

After I finished Valentine I pulled out another Red Threads motif to stitch up.  I got a fair amount of it done in the last quarter of the Superbowl and finished it up the other day.  I love using the little motifs (and there's a great alphabet too!) on the charts for those long, narrow strips of fabric I used to just throw away.  Its also great for using up that last bit of a skien of a specialty fiber.  I hate throwing things out, but I also hate holding onto things hoping that someday I might come up with something to do with it.


Finally, what you REALLY came here to see... The Accolade!  I'm still drowning in grey!  I'm still not done page 10, but I've got two more rows of 10 by 10 to go!  So hopefully this time next week you'll see the start of page 11!!!



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Last WIP Wednesday for January

Can you believe we're almost through the first month of 2015?  Its gone by so fast!

Since my last stitchy post I've had a couple of small finishes and made progress on a couple of WIPs.  First, the finishes.

Red Threads
Rosewood Manor
Stitched on: 32ct Natural Linen
Stitched with NPI silk

After I finished blogging last week it was a little late in the evening to pull out The Accolade.  So I pulled out my "purse project" and finished that!  How many of you keep something small in your purse?  I never go anywhere without some stitching, you just never know.  I've noticed the last couple of years, while waiting places I pull out my phone more than my stitching.  I'm trying to make more of an effort lately to pull out my stitching instead of my phone when I have free moments.  Of course its always a battle between my stitching and my Instagram addiction (you can find me there as tkd_chick).  These little motifs from the Red Threads chart by Rosewood Manor are perfect for "purse projects"!  I just love the combination of this red silk on natural linen.

Love Never Fails
The Primitive Hare
Stitched on mystery 28ct fabric
Stitched with Glorianna Silks

Remember last week I mentioned I had the urge to work on some seasonal smalls?  Well I gave in!  I started and finished this adorable freebie by The Primitive Hare.


Then I might of started another freebie from the same website this week as well.  This is a small start on Valentine by The Primitive Hare.  I polled my Instagram followers to see if I was crazy with my fabric and thread choice but I got so many positive comments and likes I went with it!  As I say the instant gratification you get from social media is addictive!  Also when you're looking for a quick bit of input its almost instant!


Now, the piece you've been waiting to see... The Accolade.  I'm still plugging away on page 10, I'm currently experiencing the stitching version of 50 Shades of Grey, sadly this is no where near as titillating.  Its a struggle to stay motivated when you're just stitching many shades of the same colour and no real image is emerging.