I ended my last blog saying I was going to add another piece to my Challenge.
It's going to be Museum Celle 1826 by Permin of Copenhagen. This piece fascinated me from the first time I saw it, however I was put off it by the fact it only came in an expensive kit, and it was done on linen. At the time I wasn't working on linen or evenweave.
I 'grew up' and discovered I liked linens, but still choked at the $100 some price tag.
One of the boards I go to has a weekly 'Wish List' where people post what they are looking for in the hopes others can assist.
I posted one week asking for a used chart for this design from a kit.
Several weeks later I received the chart in the mail from one of the kindest women I've ever known, Michelle Gualeni. I had met Michelle on the board a few years before. She was one of the first people to befriend me, and adopt me as it were.
Michelle had a absolute heart of gold. She was constantly doing wonderful, kind, thoughtful things for people. Her list of people she sent to must have been endless.
When I received the chart I was stunned as I had no idea how she knew. But then figured out it was from the list, she saw my wish, found a chart and sent it to me.
I back burnered the chart as I had other things on the go and happening in my life at the time.
A few months after receiving the chart Michelle suddenly died. I still to this day can not believe she is no longer with us in body. This July it will be 3 years since she has passed. Michelle is missed by so many, and will never be forgotten.
Now is the time to start work on this chart. I feel a need to stitch this in honour and memory of Michelle. Some where on the chart I will find room to stitch her initials. It will be stitched with love, smiles, memories, and no doubt tears as I remember that she is physically no longer with us.
However, I will never forget her kindness, her thoughtfulness, and cheeriness.
Mich my dearest friend, thank you. I miss you.
Sunday, 14 January 2007
Sunday Again?
I can't believe an entire week has passed.
In this week my DH has had contracts exchanged on the sale of his flat - finally. It's only taken over 5 months to get to this point. The flat was put under contract in less than 12 days, but it's taken this long to agree to terms. I have to admit the stumbling block was the solicitors handling the sale on his end. Inept does not begin to cover their description. In fact they are so bad they were struck off the list of firms that the estate agent use. It was a recommendation by the estate agent that had DH agree to go with them.
Anyway, the sale should be completed on WED the 17JAN. Hooray!
Also this week has seen me take a little field trip to a crafting show. It's the semi annual show held at Sandown Race Course in Surrey.
Primarily it was a cross stitch and knitting show, but other crafts have been making inroads there. There's card making, quilting, ribbon crafts, beading, and some sewing to name a few.
This is a small show compared to the ones held at Olympia Earls Court, or at Alexandra Palace. But for the people who can't or won't travel to London, it serves very nicely.
There was a marked decline in the cross stitch offerings. I have to admit I felt very sad to see every one pawing over the kits trying to decide if they should buy it at this stand, or the one on the other side.
Such a shame that the majority of them do not know about the variety of charts, fabrics, fibers, embellishments, to name but a few things, that can be found on the Internet.
To be limited to buying a kit and having to use what comes in it. If they change out the fabric it's a major undertaking.
My stitching world has been enriched by finding designs by Papillon , Long Dog Samplers, any of the lovely Quaker reproduction samplers, etc.
Colour has been added by all the different varieties of fiber, variegated, silks, and so on.
Although I tend to use a lot of Antique White evenweaves or linen, there are so many wonderful reproduction type fabrics and hand dyes out there.
I truly feel sorry for people who have not been introduced to any of this and just plod along with the charts.
And lastly this week - while at my in-laws last Sunday I took a long hard look at my WIP, the Rose Garden. I discovered I was really out on some of it. Because it's mirror imaged...four times...I would have had to frog more than half of it. No way!
I just scrapped it and cut a new piece. I started from scratch. It's coming along well, and I'm enjoying it far more than I would have if I had frogged it all.
I've decided to add a new piece. But more of that latter.
In this week my DH has had contracts exchanged on the sale of his flat - finally. It's only taken over 5 months to get to this point. The flat was put under contract in less than 12 days, but it's taken this long to agree to terms. I have to admit the stumbling block was the solicitors handling the sale on his end. Inept does not begin to cover their description. In fact they are so bad they were struck off the list of firms that the estate agent use. It was a recommendation by the estate agent that had DH agree to go with them.
Anyway, the sale should be completed on WED the 17JAN. Hooray!
Also this week has seen me take a little field trip to a crafting show. It's the semi annual show held at Sandown Race Course in Surrey.
Primarily it was a cross stitch and knitting show, but other crafts have been making inroads there. There's card making, quilting, ribbon crafts, beading, and some sewing to name a few.
This is a small show compared to the ones held at Olympia Earls Court, or at Alexandra Palace. But for the people who can't or won't travel to London, it serves very nicely.
There was a marked decline in the cross stitch offerings. I have to admit I felt very sad to see every one pawing over the kits trying to decide if they should buy it at this stand, or the one on the other side.
Such a shame that the majority of them do not know about the variety of charts, fabrics, fibers, embellishments, to name but a few things, that can be found on the Internet.
To be limited to buying a kit and having to use what comes in it. If they change out the fabric it's a major undertaking.
My stitching world has been enriched by finding designs by Papillon , Long Dog Samplers, any of the lovely Quaker reproduction samplers, etc.
Colour has been added by all the different varieties of fiber, variegated, silks, and so on.
Although I tend to use a lot of Antique White evenweaves or linen, there are so many wonderful reproduction type fabrics and hand dyes out there.
I truly feel sorry for people who have not been introduced to any of this and just plod along with the charts.
And lastly this week - while at my in-laws last Sunday I took a long hard look at my WIP, the Rose Garden. I discovered I was really out on some of it. Because it's mirror imaged...four times...I would have had to frog more than half of it. No way!
I just scrapped it and cut a new piece. I started from scratch. It's coming along well, and I'm enjoying it far more than I would have if I had frogged it all.
I've decided to add a new piece. But more of that latter.
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Simple Sunday
I love Sundays when they are spent relaxing and just taking things slowly.
We've not many more of them left this month since we start the dog show scene again on the 19JAN.
Those Sundays are up at 5a (or earlier), into the shower, get DH up, make sure Misha does what's needed to be comfortable. Harass DH that time is marching on and he needs to get ready. Then it's make the sandwiches, pack the cooler, get the thermoses readied. Need to make sure all the show paraphernalia is packed, the cameras are at the door. Go harass DH some more that we are already 15 minutes late from the ETD. Pack the car, lay my show clothes on top of everything, and then deal with a hyper Misha because she knows that it's a show day.
Get dog and DH in car, and collapse in a heap in the passenger's seat! Then I can rest until we get to the venue.
And so it goes on.
It is fun really. Misha enjoys showing and she loves to see the other dogs and people. One of her favourite spots is on the top of the crate watching everything.
I like seeing the other competitors, comparing Samoyed notes, and especially seeing all the beautiful Sams.
But it is hectic, and I do love when we have Sundays off!
I've been stitching; not a lot, but I've done some.
My WIP is Rose Garden by Holbein Embroideries. Yesterday I unpicked two tiny areas no less than 3 times! Talk about aggravation! Then after finally getting the motifs placed correctly I found I was out by one thread in another area I thought was finished. Me being me, I will have to go back and frog that area and restitch it correctly.
I've decided to make some changes to the original design. I like it, but feel it's too crowded with little things. I'm leaving out a lot of what seems to be surplus fill in motifs. It will make it a bit more airy. My MIL and I were discussing the overall look on Christmas Day and she does agree.
I had ordered some silks from Hand Dyed Fibers for some of my projects on my Challenge list.
I received my set of tags and spent FRI doing an inventory of them and figuring out the new ones I need to order.
The tags are great. I had joined the Fiber of the Month Club and got all the colours Vikki had up to last FEB. I was planning on using them as a huge colour card. But, it wasn't very practical, so I decided to order the tags and am so glad I did.
Now I can free up all those lovely skeins of silk to use in other projects!
Some fabric is making its way here.. I know I said wasn't going to get stash...but the fabric is needed for the projects on the Challenge. After going through what I have, there were not enough suitable. Also, technically, the silks were ordered last year! ;)
I'm off now - we are going to the PsIL house today for lunch. It's always lovely to see them and I'm looking forward to it. :)
We've not many more of them left this month since we start the dog show scene again on the 19JAN.
Those Sundays are up at 5a (or earlier), into the shower, get DH up, make sure Misha does what's needed to be comfortable. Harass DH that time is marching on and he needs to get ready. Then it's make the sandwiches, pack the cooler, get the thermoses readied. Need to make sure all the show paraphernalia is packed, the cameras are at the door. Go harass DH some more that we are already 15 minutes late from the ETD. Pack the car, lay my show clothes on top of everything, and then deal with a hyper Misha because she knows that it's a show day.
Get dog and DH in car, and collapse in a heap in the passenger's seat! Then I can rest until we get to the venue.
And so it goes on.
It is fun really. Misha enjoys showing and she loves to see the other dogs and people. One of her favourite spots is on the top of the crate watching everything.
I like seeing the other competitors, comparing Samoyed notes, and especially seeing all the beautiful Sams.
But it is hectic, and I do love when we have Sundays off!
I've been stitching; not a lot, but I've done some.
My WIP is Rose Garden by Holbein Embroideries. Yesterday I unpicked two tiny areas no less than 3 times! Talk about aggravation! Then after finally getting the motifs placed correctly I found I was out by one thread in another area I thought was finished. Me being me, I will have to go back and frog that area and restitch it correctly.
I've decided to make some changes to the original design. I like it, but feel it's too crowded with little things. I'm leaving out a lot of what seems to be surplus fill in motifs. It will make it a bit more airy. My MIL and I were discussing the overall look on Christmas Day and she does agree.
I had ordered some silks from Hand Dyed Fibers for some of my projects on my Challenge list.
I received my set of tags and spent FRI doing an inventory of them and figuring out the new ones I need to order.
The tags are great. I had joined the Fiber of the Month Club and got all the colours Vikki had up to last FEB. I was planning on using them as a huge colour card. But, it wasn't very practical, so I decided to order the tags and am so glad I did.
Now I can free up all those lovely skeins of silk to use in other projects!
Some fabric is making its way here.. I know I said wasn't going to get stash...but the fabric is needed for the projects on the Challenge. After going through what I have, there were not enough suitable. Also, technically, the silks were ordered last year! ;)
I'm off now - we are going to the PsIL house today for lunch. It's always lovely to see them and I'm looking forward to it. :)
Monday, 1 January 2007
Thursday, 28 December 2006
The 10-25-50 Challenge Explained
A couple of cross stitching message boards I frequent have decided to put forth the Challenge. The idea is you, the stitcher, decides how many projects you will finish before you buy new stash.
You also make up your own rules and exceptions.
For instance, I have said I will finish 10 projects. My exceptions are:
1) I will try to use fabrics, embellishments, threads, etc., that I have in my stash, but I am allowed to purchase them if needed to complete the project.
2) I reserve the right to change out any of the projects I have listed if at the time of commencement (or indeed even if I've started it) if said project does not interest me any more.
My starter for ten are:
1) Love With a Capital L by Papillon Creations - WIP
2) Celtic Noel by Lavendar and Lace - WIP since 2003
3) Patchwork by Jan Houtman - WIP
4)Whirling Stars by Dessins - NEW
5)Italian Garden Blackwork by Holbein Embroideries - NEW
6)Year's End by Papillon Creations - NEW
7)Ten Christmas ornaments by various (some are Mill Hill beaded, some are stitched)- NEW
8)Happy Birthday by Blackbird Designs - NEW
9)Be Ever Thankful by Abbey Lane Designs - NEW
10)Autumn Dragon by Enchanting Lair - NEW
11)Christmas Bellpull - NEW (have been going to do this since 2001; I can count, just thought I'd throw this one in.)
However, I have uncovered some other charts I'd forgotten about that I would like to do. I may decide to add more items to my list rather than exchange them.
Also, I am thinking I will need to get some new scroll rods, and that does not count as stash - they are a necessity!
And one other proviso - if there is something I've been eyeing and it's going to be OOP...I'm allowed to purchase it.
So, you see the Challenge is rather loose, it's what you make it; what you decide.
You don't have to finish all the stitching in a year, but however long it takes you to finish is how long before you can add stash!
You also make up your own rules and exceptions.
For instance, I have said I will finish 10 projects. My exceptions are:
1) I will try to use fabrics, embellishments, threads, etc., that I have in my stash, but I am allowed to purchase them if needed to complete the project.
2) I reserve the right to change out any of the projects I have listed if at the time of commencement (or indeed even if I've started it) if said project does not interest me any more.
My starter for ten are:
1) Love With a Capital L by Papillon Creations - WIP
2) Celtic Noel by Lavendar and Lace - WIP since 2003
3) Patchwork by Jan Houtman - WIP
4)Whirling Stars by Dessins - NEW
5)Italian Garden Blackwork by Holbein Embroideries - NEW
6)Year's End by Papillon Creations - NEW
7)Ten Christmas ornaments by various (some are Mill Hill beaded, some are stitched)- NEW
8)Happy Birthday by Blackbird Designs - NEW
9)Be Ever Thankful by Abbey Lane Designs - NEW
10)Autumn Dragon by Enchanting Lair - NEW
11)Christmas Bellpull - NEW (have been going to do this since 2001; I can count, just thought I'd throw this one in.)
However, I have uncovered some other charts I'd forgotten about that I would like to do. I may decide to add more items to my list rather than exchange them.
Also, I am thinking I will need to get some new scroll rods, and that does not count as stash - they are a necessity!
And one other proviso - if there is something I've been eyeing and it's going to be OOP...I'm allowed to purchase it.
So, you see the Challenge is rather loose, it's what you make it; what you decide.
You don't have to finish all the stitching in a year, but however long it takes you to finish is how long before you can add stash!
Getting ready for the Challenge!
I've been going through all my charts and choosing colours and fabrics. I've had to order some silks from Vikki Clayton's site. Her silks are the most fantastic fibers to stitch with, and she has the most gorgeous colours imaginable.
I really liked the Fiber of the Month club she has. I originally ordered them to use as sort of a huge colour chart. But now Vikki has introduced tags, a half yard of silks on tags that can be hung from the ring of a binder. I've just ordered a set of those and will now be able to use all the wonderful silks I've been hoarding! :)
You can update any discontinued colours and new by simply removing and adding the new colours as they come out.
I'm getting excited about the challenge as I am going through all the charts. I truly have some lovely ones.
However, the downside is I know there are a couple I have got to finish. Those are the ones I'm not looking forward to. A couple of them are BAPs and are a bit fiddly. LOL, one happens to be a gift, so I really must finish that - and soon!
In going through everything, I've come across a lot of items I am going to have to part with. I know I will not stitch these as my tastes have evolved and changed over the years. I'm not sure the best way of doing this yet, so will have to have a think and some to grips with weeding out stash.
So, currently I need to make a move with the blackwork piece I am working on. I would like to get this finished as soon as I can into the New Year. I am trying to make 2007 a very productive year! Which is going to be slightly difficult with showing our Samoyed and looking for a house to purchase - then move! Nevertheless, if I finish two things, that's one more than in 2006!
I really liked the Fiber of the Month club she has. I originally ordered them to use as sort of a huge colour chart. But now Vikki has introduced tags, a half yard of silks on tags that can be hung from the ring of a binder. I've just ordered a set of those and will now be able to use all the wonderful silks I've been hoarding! :)
You can update any discontinued colours and new by simply removing and adding the new colours as they come out.
I'm getting excited about the challenge as I am going through all the charts. I truly have some lovely ones.
However, the downside is I know there are a couple I have got to finish. Those are the ones I'm not looking forward to. A couple of them are BAPs and are a bit fiddly. LOL, one happens to be a gift, so I really must finish that - and soon!
In going through everything, I've come across a lot of items I am going to have to part with. I know I will not stitch these as my tastes have evolved and changed over the years. I'm not sure the best way of doing this yet, so will have to have a think and some to grips with weeding out stash.
So, currently I need to make a move with the blackwork piece I am working on. I would like to get this finished as soon as I can into the New Year. I am trying to make 2007 a very productive year! Which is going to be slightly difficult with showing our Samoyed and looking for a house to purchase - then move! Nevertheless, if I finish two things, that's one more than in 2006!
Thursday, 21 December 2006
Welcome!
Not sure if this welcome is for me or for anyone who stops by. ;)
I decided to bite the bullet and join the world of bloggers. This blog will be about my stitching, and perhaps there may be a post or two about our dog, and anything else that may come to mind.
The real reason I started this was to help me make sense of my 10-25-50 Challenge I've undertaken for the start of 2007. More on that later when I organize all my thoughts.
I decided to bite the bullet and join the world of bloggers. This blog will be about my stitching, and perhaps there may be a post or two about our dog, and anything else that may come to mind.
The real reason I started this was to help me make sense of my 10-25-50 Challenge I've undertaken for the start of 2007. More on that later when I organize all my thoughts.
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