Monday, January 11, 2010

At long last some stitching.

I do get some stitching in. Not a lot mind you but some. (Oh notice the photo above. One reason I get fewer stitches in each day. Someone keeps stealing my seat. Notice my stitching sitting on the arm waiting for my return.) And since it has been ages and ages since I have updated any stitching, finishes or wips, I have a bunch of things to show you. The above was stitched for my nieces for her Christmas gift. She had stopped to visit one day and was looking at a pile of patterns and fell in love with this one. It is always fun to stitch up something that you know someone really wants isn't it? The pattern is called Make-up by the Sunflower Seed. Stitched on hand dyed aida using my choice of colors in Dmc, Weeks Dye and Kreinik.

Next up are two pieces I did for my sister and my nephew. (Excuse the photos I forgot to take one and my nephew took them with his cell.)














Holly and Berries by LHN. And Irish Blessing, a freebie from The Sampler Girl.
For my friend and neighbor and Rory's "Aunt" I stitched up the newest Lizzie Kate design, Pawprints. On hand-dyed aida (I have a bunch of it!) using the DMC. I finished it as a flat fold. With the back of it as a kind of frame for a photo of Rory and my neighbor's pup playing together. I think it turned out cute and she loves it.





The week before Christmas I was finishing gifts in a marathon finishing session. As you can see I had a little help to get everything finished in time. But in the course of packaging everything to get into the mail on time I forgot to take photos.


That day I finished off 4 ornaments, framed 4 stitched pieces (see three above) and the flatfold. I'm missing photos of 3 ornaments and one framed piece. Sigh.

Oh here is a photo of one of the ornaments. This one is a Lizzie Kate design and I attached it to a large stuffed Christmas Moose that I had. My sister took a photo of the ornament for me. You get the idea.








On Christmas Eve I started stitching on the first of the LHN monthly ornaments that my dear friend Debra H had sent to me. I actually finished stitching it on New Years Eve but didn't have to beads. I picked those up when I took another stitching friend, Mare, with me to my LNS's New Years Day sale. I know Mare enjoyed shopping and I managed to pick up a bunch of fabric remnants, all 25 percent off and in various counts of linen. I really don't have a decent stock home and this will help. I think the smallest piece was 9 by 12.

Mare's visit was a pleasant break for me as well as for her. We stitched, ate, stitched, played with the furry children, drank some wine, ate, stitched and shopped. What more could you ask for in a relaxing few days to start off the New Year?






New Years night as soon as I put the beads in Fa La La, I started the first of my new starts for the New Year. First up is Little House Needleworks The Library. Stitched with the called for fibers on the called for fabric. It is a SAL on the LHN/CCN group on Yahoo. I'm not that far in two weeks but I'll get there.








Next up is my newest start. The Primitive Needle's Simply Live. I love this one and am part of a traveling pattern group on this one. And now it's my turn. I received it from Mylene back in November but didn't have a chance to start it with all my Christmas gift stitching. I also wanted to try silks for this one. I have tried silks in the past (poor Just Nan's Queen of the Needle sits in my wip basket still) but had such a hard time with them. You see I have the roughest driest skin and I have tried so many different hand creams and lotions without success. So I thought I would try a different brand of silk. I had heard a lot about Victoria Claytons silks (and they aren't that expensive either!) and asked Vikki to do up a conversion for me. She did and the silks arrived Saturday. I couldn't wait to start it. I love her silks and they don't stick to my poor rough dried out hands. Well, a little but not enough to be annoying. They just glide through the fabric and are so pretty. Here is a photo of the silks and my early progress. This one should stitch up quick and will be off to the next in the list. For years now I have been trying to get a decent photo of this piece. I only bring it out at Christmas but it is very special to me. This is my very first cross stitch. I have no idea who the designer is. It was a little kit that I picked up at a small department store in Pennsylvania when my Mom and I had gone to visit with my sister and her new baby. (And Sandy is now 20!) I had done traditional embroidery before this but never cross stitch. And this is the one that started it all. Cute huh? Of course when I look closely I can see so many errors but I will always love this one for starting my obsession, er, hobby of stitching.

So do you remember or still have your first finish of cross stitch.

Oh and here is one more reason my stitching has slowed done. It is hard to keep going when your floss goes missing. And to think I had been blaming poor old Rosie for my floss turning up in odd areas a bit damp for wear.Caught in the act!

Until next time.............
Love and stitches
Kathy
and licks from Rory too.
PS. I totally forgot to mention that I won Angela's Make a Wish Rak and am tickle to pieces. I was shocked when I saw the email from her telling me I won. I can't wait to see what she stitches and sends me. But knowing me I will forget and be completely surprised when it does arrive. Thank you Angela.

48 comments:

sophos said...

j'adore ton chien qui t'aide à broder ;-)
Trop mignon !

Tu en fais de bien belles des broderies ;-)
J'aime beaucoup celui que tu as commencé, en orange et gris ;-)

==
I love your dog that helps you stitch ;-) Too cute!
You make some fine embroidery ;-)

I love the one you started, orange and gray ;-)



Bonne soirée !

sophos

Janaina said...

Hahahahahaha... that last picture cracked me up! Seriously! How can one get mad on this baby?! I can't! That's for sure!=)
Hugs from suny Brazil!

Gillie said...

He must have moved a little bit to get all that done - gorgeous! I have my first cross stitch (though I have some older embroidery) - in bright lime green and pink it says "a woman is made to be loved not understood" and I used three strands of DMC! Happy New Year, Kathy!

Emily in NC said...

You've gotten so much done, even with your helpers.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Wow - you got a lot done there in a short amount of time. One of your friends looks to be a bit more of a helper than the other! Bet if you asked, he was 'just bringing it to you'.

staci said...

Congrats on all the fantastic finishes! Your needles have been busy :) Or maybe you've taught Rory to stitch??? That last pic takes the cake!

Theresa said...

Lol @ your dog! I love the Holly and Berries in the frame, that's a lovely pattern. Your library is coming along beautifully - I've started mine at the same spot as you have.

htimcj said...

Wonderful stitching! Rory is great!
Heidi-ILCS

Meari said...

Congrats on all your finishes. They look great. Yes, I still have my first stitched piece, too -- a self-designed birth sampler. Glad you caught the floss bandit in the act, lol

Katri said...

"I didn't do it, honest, it was Rosie..." Rory's just too cute!

And what great finishes, all very lovely!

Carolyn NC said...

"It wasn't me!" says Rory, " It was Rosie!" Great picture. I love all of your finishes and special pieces and gifts to others. Awesome stitching!

Mel said...

lol. Love the pic of Rory!

Great stitching.

Blu said...

Congrats on all your lovely finishes.
I bet Rosie's all "See, see! I told you it wasn't me!"

Faye said...

Looks like SOMEBODY has been a busy girl!! Love all those ornies and thanks for the kind comments you posted on my blog~ Keep up the great work!~ Faye
carolinastitcher.blogspot.com

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Look at all your stitching! I hardly know where to start but I do know that your first stitching project...how special is that?
I'm sure everyone loved all their gifts made by your deft hands and all your WIPS will get loving attention :) That is if Rory quits stealing your floss! LOL!

5 Foot Runt said...

Oh my goodness were you busy! Your stitching is delightful and fun. Looking forward to your WIPs progress.

Gabi said...

Where to start. All your stitching is lovely....as usual. Love the picture of Rory stealing the floss. Too cute.

Donna said...

Great stitching. And that little thief! Rory, goodness gracious! But so precious!

Angela said...

Wow, you had a lot of amazing finishes, I especially loved your LK Paws flatfold with the Rory pic on the back! My Mom is also stitching LHN Library and it's on my list for this year too along with Simply Live. Rory is just too cute, the eyes sitting in your chair are priceless and the floss hanging out of the mouth.....LOL :) I'm honored to be creating a wish for you, thanks for mentioning it!

Shari said...

everything looks wonderful Kathy!!! Even the picture of Rory with HIS FLOSS!!!!!! Too cute

Anonymous said...

Love all your finishes. Glad you had a nice visit with Mare. The picture with Rory is so cute with the floss.

Marl

Tracey said...

Gorgeous finishes!! And Rory is such a cutie! :)

Mzplcdokie said...

I loved reading through your blog and the photos of your work are wonderful! Rory seems to be a great companion even with the occasional mischief...lol

Anonymous said...

You've sure been a busy stitcher and have done lots of beautiful pieces. Poor Rosie - getting blamed for Rory's mischief. The pic of Rory is just too cute. ;D
Barb in TX

Anonymous said...

These are great finishes and WIPs, and Rory is adorable. Watch out for the floss-eating though - that could lead to a devastating vet bill, or even worse, tragedy.

Barb said...

Wow stitching galore,and all so lovely , I do like the flat fold finish not one I have attempted yet but like the idea of photo on the back.
Hey perhaps Rory was just putting it Back!!! He is a very misunderstood dog lol. He is absolutely adorable and IF he ever
needed another home!well need I say more.

Debra said...

wow that is a lot of stitching. Great pictures.

Anonymous said...

You have been super busy!!! Love all the finishes and Poor Rory, he def got caught in the act!! He's so adorable!

Sherry said...

Looks like you need a new stitching chair! All of your work is lovely! Great job!.

too_busy_to_stitch said...

LOL, love that picture of the guilty party Rory!! Lots of lovely finishes there Kathy, bet the recipients were thrilled.

DJ said...

Wow, you've been a busy girl! I love your little helpers. You have some beautiful stitching there. Well done. I'm going to try to work on the LHN ornaments too, they are just too cute! *hugs*

Nancy M said...

You have done some wonderful presents this year. I suggest you buy one of the chair and a half pieces, so that you have more room for Rory on your lap!!! Love the idea of the FF with the photo on the back. Not sure what my first xs was, I think it may have involved a pig and no I don't have it anymore. It looks like Rory was posing for his stolen floss photo!!!

Threads and thoughts said...

What a nice catch, that last picture!
I admire the presents you have done.
Edith

Sue said...

Beautiful stitching and finishings! What a joy to come visit you! And Rory is so cute; makes me wish I could reach through the screen and give him a nice pet and hug!

Andrea said...

Wow lots of great stitching and finishing. I didn't know you had trained Rory to lick your floss for you! LOL. Fab picture.

Susan said...

Great stitching! I just started the LizzyKate Paw Prints for my daughter. Rory is adorable my two black labs also love floss.

Susan in Minnesota

Pam said...

Hi, Kahy!! Your stitching looks great!! I have that LHN ornament, but I have not started it yet. Yours came out great! Will you be at sit and stitch next week? I will see you there!

Shelley said...

ROFLMAO! The dog really did do it this time!! Love all of your finishes, WIPs and what not. Sounds like you and Mare had a great visit.

Maggie said...

LOL @ Rory,looks like the caption should read "Thread? i ain't see no thread!"

Looks like you've been really busy with lovely finishes. Simply Live should be a quick finish, can't wait to see your rendition.

Terri said...

Great Stitching as always. I love the picture of Rory with your thread priceless lol

Stitchnpat said...

Kathy and Rory...As usual your blog is so funny. Rory you are really growing into a pretty boy and mom your stitching is great as always. How can you yell at him for having a little skein of floss.
I will bet you laughed. So cute...and Rosie she does not really care as long as she gets big boys bed. LOL Too cute a family. Iknow my little pomerainian sure runs my household and the rv park. Thanks again for your blog as always...I enjoyed.

Rene la Frog said...

Great stitching and Rory looks like he's saying "I was just helping you Mom"

Kristin said...

See, I think it is obvious that Rory wants to be a stitcher too. Beautiful work on all those pieces.

Siobhán said...

LOL at that pic of Rory!! That is priceless. Despite his best efforts at distracting you, you did some BEAUTIFUL projects this year. What a chock-full-of-eye-candy post this was! Congrats.

Berit said...

So many beauties! Thanks for showing an update and also your first piece!

Vicki in CO said...

WOW, all the great stitching! I just love reading your blog. Rory always makes me laugh. The photo with the floss in his mouth is priceless!

Anonymous said...

Oh Kathy, what a great blog update! When I think of my visit I can't help but smile and be grateful for your friendship. Rory is even cuter in person then on film and I bet he has been blaming Rosie for a while. I always enjoy seeing your projects and my new furry friends.

craftypatty2 said...

Kathy,
Love seeing your latest finishes you have some wonderful projects there. I love seeing the pictures of your furry family... especially Rory caught in the act.
HUGS
Patty