A customer recently commented that I hadn't updated my blog in a while.  Considering that one of my "New Year's Resolutions" (for lack of a better term - I'd rather call them "goals for the year"! was to keep up with internet items - The Stitcher's Muse "News" page, my blog, Facebook, Twiter - I haven't done that well up to now.

So here goes - entry #1 for 2011.  I thought I'd start with the projects I'm currently working on.  Like many stitchers, I have more than one on the go at all times.  Right now I have several "active" projects - ones that are on/around the place I sit in the living room.  I have switched projects several times during the last few weeks due to deadlines (self-imposed) and criteria that I set for myself.

Tying for top priority right now are a lace shawl and Medieval Moments by Carolyn Mitchell.  The shawl is my own design, inspired when I was still working at Mad About Ewe (our local yarn shop).  Some gorgeous lace weights by Handmaiden had come in, and there was a silk and a mohair in the same colourway.  Lynette (assistant manager at Mad About Ewe) suggested they'd be beautiful in a striped shawl.  I thought that was a great idea and bought the yarns.  Lynette's idea was a simple garter stitch triangle, but being me I couldn't leave it that simple....  So after spending hours perusing several pattern books I swatched my favourites and decided on the patterns.  That was about 3 1/2 years ago.  I have knitted on it now & then, but because it's my own design, and each yarn has its own pattern, I've had to chart it out on graph paper to make sure the patterns lined up the way I wanted them to.  Last summer/fall I finished the body of the shawl.   I had to choose the edging, and find beads to go on the edging (perish the thought that I'd keep it simple!).  Other projects took priority and it just sat.  However, in view of the fact that I will be the "Teacher's Aide" at Mad About Ewe's annual retreat in February, and that the subject of the retreat is lace, I decided it had to get finished.  So after spending about four hours last Tuesday sitting at Mad About Ewe, I got the edging started.  I've been knitting like mad, and have finished 3/4 of the edging.  I am thinking of putting an I-cord edging on the straight side for a final finish, but can't make up my mind whether to use the silk or the mohair.

The other project in first place is the shop's current Ornament Club stitchery.  We are doing Medieval Moments by Carolyn Mitchell.  We started in November with Catherine of Aragon, and continued with Anne Boleyn in December.  This month we'll be working on Jane Seymour as well as finishing.  Pictured are Catherine of Aragon (almost finished - just need to add the tassel, hanger, and finish the edge) and Anne Boleyn (stitching complete - just needs to be "finished".

Currently in second place (because I do need a portable project and since the two in top place require either lots of different threads or beads - which are a bit difficult to work with while riding in a car or waiting somewhere) are a pair of socks out of Sock Innovations by Cookie A.  I finished one about a year ago, then when I started the second I couldn't remember what I had done - I needed to alter the pattern as I have small feet and thick ankles/calves, so I always have to add stitches for the leg.  When I got to the heel, I realized I had a different stitch count than the book called for, and also (though I don't remember doing this) had used a different heel stitch pattern.  Well, part of the four hours at Mad About Ewe last week was trying to figure out just what stitch pattern I had used for the heel, and it defeated both Lynette and myself until I worked on it later that evening and finally figured it out.  The heel ont he second sock is now done and I'm partway down the foot.  Phew!  (mental note to self - KEEP TRACK of changes made to patterns!).

Several projects are "waiting in the wings" - a silver sewing etui, an 1875 crocheted Barbie doll walking outfit, a sweet little blackwork gift bag/magnifying glass cover, a cross stitch depicting an old-fashioned street scene in the Netherlands, and many, many more hiding in the closet, just waiting to jump out at me when I'm least expecting it.  I also realized last evening that I REALLY need to organize the part of the closet that holds the threads and materials from past (finished) projects that need to be put away.  Now let's see if I can keep this blog up-to-date!

I've finished the birdfeeder!  I stayed up Saturday night until just after midnight to finish it.  I still can't quite believe it - I started this project more than 20 years ago - before kids, before husband, before a lot of things!

So it's off to the framer's today - I can't wait to see it framed.  I'll have it hanging in the shop as soon as the framer's finished with it.  Drop by and have a look if you have a chance to.

We're having our second anniversary this weekend at the shop, and this year it coincides with Bathtub Weekend so I'll be busy for the next few days preparing for both.  I've also been busy re-arranging parts of the shop to accomodate new stock and show off some that's been hiding.

So what's next?  I had Carolyn Mitchell (canvaswork designer) at the shop for a workshop last year, and have challenged Carol (who took the class with me and others) to finish the projects - a needlework smalls set done in canvaswork - before summer's end.  The set consists of a scissors fob and sheath, tekobari sheath, needle book, pincushion, and needle minder.  I've changed the needle minder to be a second scissors fob, and designed a needle minder form parts of the other charts.  The stitching is completed on both scissors fobs (just need to be put together), and half the stitching on the needlebook.  As part of the class, we started on the scissors sheath as well, but as that part's rolled up on my scroll bars, I can't remember how much.  Follow my progress here if you like!

I've finished the branch at the top and have started on the last bird.  I'm getting quite excited now that it's almost done!  I've included a photo of the lower part of the branch finished,... and detail of a flower cluster on the branch - it actually took me three evenings just to finish this small cluster!  Yet others seem to just fly along.  I've almost finished the tail on the bird in the upper left corner & will post more photos as I go along

I've done a bit more stitching since my last post and am making some progress on my birdfeeder - you can see I've finished the little flying bird, and started on the flowering branch that the last bird is perched on. I think there is more backstitiching in each flower bunch than there is in the whole rest of the piece (with the exception of the suet ball net). Still, I'm really enjoying watching it grow!

I had a fairly busy day at the shop yesterday, trying to input a large amount of Mill Hill beads that have come in, and arranging them in numerical order on our rack, plus some intense customer support. When I got home I was exhausted, so after dinner I grabbed my latest project, 3 Friends by The Drawn Thread: 3 Friends and headed for the garden. It was pure heaven sitting in the warm sunshine, tummy full, and stitching!  

After stitching for a while, I had regained enough energy to plant 4 flats of impatiens and begonias under our cherry tree in the front yard.

Carol and I are stitching 3 Friends together, starting with the inside pockets. We have the same threads, but different background fabric, so it will be interesting to see how they turn out....

I've finished a few projects since the last post, but haven't been very consistent with posting, so here goes the journalling for the next project I hop to finish.

It's Thea Gouverneur's Birdfeeder, and I've been working on this (on and off) for about 23 or 24 years.  Yep, years.  My mother brought it back from Holland for me on one of her last visits there.  At the time, I was working on a tiger needlepoint by Creative Circle (any of you remember those days?), and told myself I couldn't start the birdfeeder 'til the tiger was done.  I finished the tiger in '86 or '87, and put the birdfeeder on my scroll frame.  Well, a lot has happened since then, including 4 or 5 moves (2 right across the province), a university degree, marriage, 2 children, many home renovations and many other projects.  There were many years where the birdfeeder stayed in hibernation, and many years where only an inch or so of stitching was completed.  It stayed one of my favourite projects due to its fine detail and soft colours.

Earlier this year, I decided that 2010 was its year - it is going to be completed this year.  And I'm proud to say I'm almost there.  When the year started, I was working on the little robins at the bottom right - I had 2 done, and part of the witch hazel branch they're sitting on.  Now I'm working on the circled area - last night I completed the flying bird's right wing and started on the left.

I'm going to keep posting my progress in my blog, hoping to finish sometime this summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Done!  Last evening I laced and framed the piece - as you can see by the birthdate, I did make it under the 2-year mark.  I have worked on (and finished) many other pieces since starting this one, but just after Christmas I decided it had to get done, so here it is.  Lucas is my grand (great?) nephew - my brother's son's son - and the first of the next generation in my father's line.  Wouldn't you just know, they had another baby just a few weeks ago, so now I guess there's another birth announcement in my future.

A few weeks ago, I was browsing Access Commodities' website and blog, and came across some lovely needlebook designs.  The first entry is here: http://accesscommodities.com/blog1/2009/08/, and the second here: http://accesscommodities.com/blog1/2009/12/. I loved the designs and when placing my next order for the shop, included the kits in my order.  Well, they arrived last week, and when opening the shipment and viewing the kits, I briefly wondered to myself why I had ordered these.  While packaged in cardboard boxes lined with tissue paper, and packaged complete with all the finishing supplies, the colour of the boxes (a bright blue tinged with green - not "vintage"...) and the photographs on the outside of the boxes did not inspire me.  Then I remembered the blog and quickly took a peek.  Oh yeah, THAT'S why I ordered them!  When my right-hand "fellow co-conspirator" Carol came in, I excitedly showed her the kits.  She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind, until I showed HER the blog.  We both had a giggle over the "fellow co-conspirator" mentioned in the blog since she and I so often fall into this role as well.

After opening one of each kit "just to have a look", I photographed them all, and we debated on which one I would start, as samples show the product so much better.  We finally decided on "Nichole", and here are the pictures of my progress:
1. Contents of kits:

  

2. Basting done! (this took me a whole evening because I kept making mistakes).

3. First fancy band done:

Notice that my basting didn't line up with the band - the basting instructions called for 136 threads, but after examining the online pictures and reviewing the graph, I found that the band is actually 144 threads high.  As I have stitched so far, it is 140 threads high, but I think I may add one more stitch on both top and bottom to give the band a little "space".

When I ordered the kits, I also ordered the Cross Stitch Letter Bible, and have found a lovely monogram which I plan to use for the front.  I just love the beautiful lining fabric that came with the kit, and I am really enjoying working with the Au Ver A Soie silk.

Just finished a 10k hike on the Juan de Fuca trail on the West Coast of Vancouver Island - check out my photos in the photo album:

Well, it's been a very busy week at The Stitcher's Muse.  I think we've received 7 shipments, and 5 of those are new suppliers!  Check out the What's New page on the website for an idea of what's come in: News

Stitching-wise I'm still working on the birth sampler, which is coming along slowly.  I just don't have as much time as I'd like to stitch!  But then, I guess I'm not the only one.  I also spent several hours last weekend taking back 14 rows of a lace shawl that I'm knitting.  14 rows of mohair, no les... one stitch at a time, with a lot of tugging to separate the wool, and over 200 stitches per row.  Sigh.  Got it done though, and I have re-knit 6 or 8 of those rows.  I've been working this shawl for over a year, and had the yarn for a period of time before that.  It's 2 types of yarn in the same subtle shading, one is Handmaiden Angel Hair, and the other is a Handmaiden silk dyed in the same colours.  I am using them in stripes on a triangular shawl, with each yarn done in a different lace pattern.  I hope to have it finished in time for cool spring evenings!  (Of course, I still have to design the edge...)

One of the charts that has come in to the shop is a set of needlework accessories in turtle shapes with Quaker-style motifs on their backs.  I plan to use a Vintage Green (marbled) Belfast linen with one of the new Sampler Threads by Gentle Art that has come in.  I hope to start that tomorrow while I'm at the shop, although theoretically I have a moratorium on new projects due to the volume of UFO's (maybe I can finish one or two in the morning so I don't feel so guilty?!)

I'm also busy on yet another online course, CSS and XHTML this time, to help me understand how to mess up the templates for my website even more!  It is fun, though, and I'm learning a lot!

TTFN  -  Dione

Well, it's finally done.
After months of taking a course, learning, playing, messing up and starting over, the new website for my shop is complete!  I've added a News page as well as pages relating to products carried at the shop (just a brief description so far - I'll be working on putting up more content over the next few months), and information on the upcoming Carolyn Mitchell workshop and the classes being held at the shop.  It has a whole new look and a lot more information.
Have a look and tell me what you think - any comments or suggestions would be welcomed! The Stitcher's Muse
I'm hoping that completing the website will free up some more time to work on my needleart projects (and posting on my blog!).  The primary one I am working on is a birth announcement for my ?grand-nephew? (my brother's son's son, and the first great-grandchild for my father).  He was born last March, but I didn't decide to do the birth announcement until October.

My apologies to anyone who has been monitoring my blog to see if there's anything new.  My original intentions were to keep it up, at least every week or so, but it just hasn't happened.

I have been very busy starting new projects, which I will attempt to journal on in the next while.

I've also been very busy with a website design course, and am about halfway to finishing a new site for The Stitcher's Muse.  I hope to have it up sometime this week or next to a temporary site, and then will invite anyone who knows about it to test it for me.  Check back in a week or so for updates!