Saturday's Stitching

It's not Christmas Ornament finishing, but..."B"?

There's an ornament! :D And that's Jenny Bean's Christmas Sampler. And the wonderful red fox (and bunny) tote from Myra which I use to hold q-snaps when I am home.

"Be"!

I thought stitching myself a valentine was just the thing when I saw this early Saturday evening. 

Design: "~* Be My Valentine Freebie *~" by Primitive Betty's

Fabric: 36 ct. Days Gone By

Fiber: DMC 115 (of course)

If you feel like you'd better love yourself a little more, why not make one for yourself? 

I want to finish it using some of that twisted cord made from DMC I see around the internets; but I don't know how to make it. Do you, dear reader? Or do you know a good tutorial? Does one need a tool to construct it?

THANK YOU for your wonderful comments and good wishes. I am doing my best to hang in there, still, and meanwhile trying not to over-succumb to the cold Marc brought home. I have hopes of making replies to your kind comments soon. ;)

Photos from Here

Notice: In retrospect; I almost can't recommend reading the content in the following blog post;
Perhaps you ought to consider simply enjoying the pictures?  ~*

Astonishingly, and for various reasons perhaps not interesting to enumerate here, I've begun stitching on BBD's Mystery Sampler again. The idea is stitching as therapy in between finishing the I-did-not-realize-it-was-this-numerous pile of smalls I've accumulated. It is an entity large enough to require a name--perhaps "Legion, for it is many". I don't even know how many. Contemplating finding out, though...

I want to catalogue the progress in small increments; I want to see how amazed I can be by progress pics. Isn't that green nice?

Recently, I've received some wonderful foods from friends. My very good friend, Jen, who amazingly runs her family's restaurant, but rarely cooks, prepared this Lebanese desert for me for my birthday/Christmas. It's kanafeh, and boy was it wonderful. It's beautiful, aromatic, so sweet yet so satisfying. Please try some if you get the chance!

This is an egg with cucumber sandwich Marc recently surprised me with, call it a "souvenir" of a trip he made with friends to the grocery store for the ingredients to make okonomiyaki; It had been arranged that I was to prepare it for our friend group, but Did Not really want to shop then cook. A favorite food to look at and eat. I love that shade of yellow. 

This is a new packaging method they've begun using; I adore the sticker. :)

fr. Prairie Schooler Bk 151: Santas and Snowmen

Linen: 32 Ct. Sandstone by Wichelt

Fibers: Recommended DMC

(Notes: I imitated this finish out of admiration for those by Carol and Myra)

A Prominent Project in my mind for over a year is a long-held plan to have a yearly ornament dedicated to The Family or Our Love. Also, to extend this retroactively to the first Christmas Marc and I spent together, which is 2005. I've only been stitching since about 2008, so that would be a backtrack of 3 years, but why not? But looking at the body of ornaments I've stitched for more-or-less this project, many were published AFTER the years I need to match with ornaments. 

i.e., Am I in danger of opening a singularity if I put the date of 2006 on Plum Street Sampler's "Yuletide" (pub. JCS 2011?), and dedicate it to our love? At the very least it may be a violence to historical accuracy. I thought of adding the proper date of production (2012-2013), with a "ded.", but isn't that also used for "deceased" as well as "dedicated"? At least in public perception?

Here is the back; 2012 is the 8th Christmas we spent together--seems amazing! I have some more to say about this design--I actually stitched it 3x this holiday season!!--but will keep it for another time. My motto was definitely "finished is better than perfect" here--and one of the others which I gave as a gift; and even finished first is much more nicely done! I actually completed the finishing on this shortly after the new year.

fiber: DMC 4210

Linen: 32 ct. "Raw" by Zweigart

More New Year's finishing. I stitched this after falling deeply in love with BeckySC's version a few(?) years ago, and went ahead with knocking out the finishing so I could have it well in advance of Valentine's 2013. I don't recall any particulars about the design; it may be an old French Saijou piece.

I think I was testing changing the alphabet "joints"; do you see how they are different? Well, I can't recall where it is "safe" to frog anymore, and though I like the right side better, I also like the variation--calling it as "prim". This is a special piece in that it uses part of my first "real" piece of linen, and my at-the-time favorite DMC overdye. I feel that it is a bit of a time-capsule piece for me. 

I love these buttons, though perhaps not on this piece, but I bought them an eon ago for this purpose and decided to forge ahead!! 

The back, or "More Finished Is Better Than Perfect." 

fr. Prairie Schooler Bk. 143: Button Up

Fabric: 32 ct. Ivory by Wichelt

Fibers: Recommended DMC

I have Autumn and Christmas Stitched goods a'plenty, and spring, too. Oddly, I have more "by me, for me, finished by me" for spring than any other season. The other seasons, who are well represented, lack finishing in comparison). But Winter? I had Not One winter finish. Because I'd tracked down a copy of OOP Prairie Schooler Button Up for a Christmas Present (More on that later), I was also able to stitch this little piece of goodness for me! 

I have long wanted to add a white beaded edging to something, and here for these smalls was my chance--it just seems snowy to me in the best way!

Here's an in-progress shot to show off the "Winter" caption I added. I borrowed PS lettering from other charts. It does not show much, but I know it is there. Also in the background is a pincushion I made for myself to help with quilting/finishing while I was making some for gifts this Christmas. 

Friends, Thank you for your indulgence today during your visit, and your friendship always. A few of you I very much owe emails/need to catch up with. My blog-reading is sporadic, my commenting non-existent. Generally, I want to say how much I have enjoyed your posts when I am able, and a particular mention--seeing Annemarie's return to blogging has treated me to a great and effervescent joy. :D :D :D Somehow, I have not been able to tell her so on her own blog yet, so saying it now here. Perhaps she'll even see it. If you by some odd circumstance aren't familiar with her fine blog--please visit. You are in for something special. 

Oh, also--Christina, thank you for the special gift. It meant so much to me, I still don't know what to say. I am very sorry for this. 

I do hope all is very well with every one of you. As for us, If you are able and willing, PLEASE send whatever good thoughts, prayers, etc. which you think appropriate our way. We particularly need Wisdom and Opportunities. 

Love to Friends,

Berit

Autumn Comes Again

Yesterday I spent $5 at the local vegetable market to buy this little bevy of gourds. :)

This little green watermelon-y one with its over-long stem is my favorite.

Did I fool you with my laid out quilt block quarters? Only these three have now been sewn together--last time's "quilt" was just me deciding block placement by laying them out on top of my quilt-covered bed. My friend's mother let me use her Bernina--what an eye-opener that was. Want. 

I think I need to use a walking foot though, because of how varied and scrappy all these fabrics are. (They are getting quite "stretched by the process of being sewn together. Also, two were sewed together in the wrong placement. The foreground block is definitely coming apart. I need to decide which way to iron my seams. Heh.

I love wip pictures which elevate materials and textures. :) Last time's PS WIP with scissors Christina sent to me in an exchange. I've changed the fibers, most notably the ground below the Haunted House.

Please Advise: When I started, I thought of using just black for a pen-and-ink illustration look. I then decided to add browns, but am still not sure about adding in the orange. I've basically decided to orange the windows with an overdyed silk, but...should I do it anywhere else? If the keys aren't orange, should they be brown or black? Should the owl legs be brown or black? Should I just make the windows with their black backstitch only and no orange glow at all???

I AM disappointed that Marc is only afraid of the orange-eyed owls, but I do like the limited palette. I need elves to stitch this for me again as-charted, perhaps.

Didn't think I'd stitched much while away, but "found" this on "Aoutline"'s linen. I loved this motif I stitched for Faye a while back for an Autumn exchange, so here is one for me. But, what to put in the center? :) (I realize I did stitch, and quite a bit more than this...watch this space?)

I though Lovely Autumn'd just begun, I got the Christmas Stitch Itch. :) This is from a leaflet I bought because it had a Huntsman Santa with Fox. Do my threads drive you crazy? Me, too. 

But...

I loathe clipping them while/after stitching, but I ENJOY doing it at the beginning of a stitching session.  Thus, many "finished" pieces have little trail-y threads like this poking out of the front. Once or twice I've clipped them just for the purpose of shooting a blog photo for you (but not woven them in)--this is Not Allowed. :P

What else is on this "Linen No. 9"? Why, more PS! 

And Kindred Spirits by Prim Needle! Bad! How are things to keep clean with such an M.O.? I tell myself larger works (like a BAP Quaker) do, but my mind is not satisfied. 

I remember working hard to give this cat charming markings with the Belle Soie. Do you think I succeeded?

Another Away Stitch (with away waste knots, too!) This is a PS piece from the big Halloween book JCS put out last year, but I altered the colors and filled the background to match my favorite small (as seen in this post's first photo). So far, it is out all the time (though still unfinished!!) I need to stuff it (do I, though?) and finish the beaded edging. 

Thank you everyone, for your visits last time and kind comments. I am quite surprised and touched, and happy to be able to talk with you again. 

I am making a little extra time to integrate more visiting and commenting into my life, so I hope to see you at "your place" and talk with you again soon. 

Berit

A Few Photos No. 01

Hello, Everyone. Hoping all is well with you. Today, I have a few photos from here. (i.e. Let's see if I remember how to do this!)

Four quarters of a block from my 21st Century Bullseye Quilt--Deb inspired me to try this one--waiting to be sewn together.

I made this using a layer cake I won from BBD in "Garden Party". I'm wondering if I'd like it better if I omitted the reds.

I tried making Ina Garten's "Favorite Jam Thumbprint Cookies". (She really did say they were her favorite. How many Jam Thumbprint cookie recipes are in your repertoire?) The bottoms came out rather burnt looking, but did not taste burnt. I added some crushed cardamom seeds to the vanilla extract which I soaked overnight. Make this with Bonne Maman jams! :D

I started stitching Prairie Schooler Whoo's There? Halloween Card. It is 1/2 on supposed-to-be-36-but-actually-42 count Barn Owl by Linens by Design (formerly produced by BoaF). There were two of these Halloween cards released at the same time by PS (see other), and I love both. I reluctantly started with this one because Marc is afraid of the wide-eyed owls. I am rather farther along now, and one night I was burning the midnight oil to "just finish a little more. just finish the owl-outline." If you from a portmanteau of the words "owl" and "outline", it is REALLY fun to say. "Aaooutline" So, that is my new title for this piece.

I splurged on a new ticking stripe shower curtain. It is a linen/cotton combo, and I adore the french blue stripe with navy outline. (aoutline?) Until next time, my Best Wishes, Berit

Before-Christmas Catch-Up!

Whew! It has been a while, so I will try to keep it to the photos! Just because it is my treasure, here is the birthday card Marc made for me in its perch with some of my other favorite treasures on my coffee table. Yes, That PS Halloween small is still out. :)






And here it is with the beautifully wrapped gift it accompanied. I adore this card because he drew it, and it uses the darling caricature of me which we developed a couple of years ago. (He rendered, I "art directed": "Okay, have a rabbit making tea. Yes, but the rabbit should be like an eggplant. LIke a waterskin. Yes, okay over here...") Additionally, it induces a neat bit of recursion in the form of a Droste effect when I hold the present. :D :D :D





The darling paper, which is a gift in itself. It is a long story, but the gift inside is not a surprise, and is somewhat "owed". This makes the love and care he put into the packaging the REAL gift, and I adore it. He went above and beyond to order this wrapping paper; it is a good produced using motifs from one of my favorite comics, Ochibisan, which I spoke about here.





Inside the box? Why, it's this mug! There is also a blue version, which I also recently acquired. :) The food shown here is a green tea latte and okonomi senbei.




I was also blessed with other kind gifts. Wonderful Christina not only remembered my day, but sent me a pattern I had admired her finishes of! And, scissor charms, too! Thank you, Christina!



Meanwhile, I decided at the beginning of my birthday week that I would make the "Ultimate Gift" for myself--I would stitch The Chart: PS Fox & Grapes. (Do you have a "The Chart"?) Well, it was "ambitious", shall we say...I wonder if I will finish in the new year. It does have a lot of leaves!

Myra must have really been on the same wavelength (Not that my Fox Mania isn't somewhat legendary)





She sent me this amazing fox project bag! :o She said she got the fox fabric panel from etsy, and this mystic fox has really grown on me! It even has a rabbit! I like the co-ordinating black print she used; though multicolored the confetti dots remind me of pinhole constellations in a magical sky.





Here's a "batman snap" showing the scale and lining of this beautiful bag! About a week later I realized it even has green grapes!!!

I caught quite a cold in November (Right before Thanksgiving; the guys had to make It All!), and I feel like I am still catching up even now!


Okay, On to Christmas! (Somewhat)





I promise to get some better tree shots, but I do like the light quality in this and seeing ornaments from my friends! Don't you just love The Tree? I adore tree pics on blogs. :)





The messy desk layout of all the ornaments I have stitched since the summer--there are 12! (Well, 2 were from last year). I am surprised and glad to have reached part of my goal--more on the goal as I get closer/organized on it.

Some of these are officially for Becky SC's Ornament Challenge, and here follow closer pics of the ones I have worked on since I last blogged:




fr. Prairie Schooler Bk. 151 "Santas and Snowmen"
worked in the recommended DMC



With thanks to Myra for the loan of this OoP Chart! This was the "stitchin'-est" ornament in memory! Does anyone else "forget" that white or light stitching umn, has to be stitched when they are sizing up how much of a BAP a chart is?




fr. Prairie Schooler Bk. 117 "Prairie Stars"
worked in the recommended DMC


I've been pining for this one since I saw Edgar stitch it a year or two ago.



Here is a Mary Garry Santa ornament which I previously stitched for an exchange; I need to get a few colors I am missing to finish up santa!

Now, here is this week's WiP:




Yup, I started PSS Yuletide! I think the overdyes really make this piece, and I am glad I bought the JCS this year! This is another one which has a goodly amount of stitching, but once you figure out how to "work" the townhouses they are a fun repeating motif. :D



Also, I decided I had to have a noro scarf (as seen on Nicole's Blog).

Here is my trial run (I cast on 29 stitches instead of 30-something), and only used 2 balls of yarn. Learning the rib stitch to make this was so irritating, but I was really satisfied when I did.

Okay, friends, this is already overlong! I hope to be back soon with a shorter, stitching update type post. Just in case,

Merry Christmas!!
Berit

Christmas Ornament Challenge!

I'm taking part in the 2011 followup to last year's Pumpkin Challenge, the Christmas Ornament Challenge! I thought it was a good opportunity to motivate myself to stitch an ornament I have been wanting on my tree for a few years, but never got around to stitching. More accurately, I stitched it for an exchange, but then it was LOST in the mail (Later UK Post reported it as Stolen, of all things) and I had to re-stitch. I can tell you, I stitched a different piece and I completely lost my mojo for stitching my own!

So, yesterday I started, and today I finished up the last third of the pedestal and did the long stitches--hooray!






I don't have any info on this chart; I was inspired by Anita's finish of this, and wanted to make my own (I used the same thread as her version; I only remember that it is by Threadworx. It is stitched 1/1 on a 28 ct. evenweave; I THINK the color was called Mushroom. I looked around a bit, and I see it listed about halfway down this page as a 2008-2009 free chart.

Anita is great to work with; just email her if you are interested and I bet she'll set you up!

Too bad she doesn't sell Finishing Mojo; I think I can eek some out of The Challenge, however. ;)
Speaking of setting up, I want to thank everyone who responded to let me know about that PS Chart I asked after last time! I was pleased to learn that the chart, Bk. 63 "Christmas Traditions", also contains the other PS Christmas pattern my heart so pines for--even more than the one I asked about! It contains the verse "O Christmas Tree" and is loaded with rabbits. :D

I am also happy (shocked, but happy) that Sadie was even willing to lend me her copy! :o So, thanks everybody and especially Sadie!

...

Considering this stuffed squash for dinner; Chef John's recipes are on the whole easy and awesome; but I am still thinking, "Oh, if only this would make itself!"