Two Whole Days to Spare!

It's been hard to decide exactly where to start stitching in 2012.  No shortage of projects, of course, but getting settled on one. . .or two. . .or three has been hard.  Add to the general malaise, I've been planning to stitch something to commemorate the marriage of the son of a dear friend.   And unlike so many stitchers who seem to just pulse with creativity, I always freeze when I need to design something.

But I'm happy to report that I've managed to rise to the occasion. . . and now have, framed and ready to wrap, a finished piece. . . a whole TWO days before the date of my friend's in-town celebration party for the newley weds. 

And here it is. . . . .

It's a little easier to see the stitching in this photo, taken before mounting and framing:

I think it turned out well. . . and I hope the bride and groom like it. 

A lot of the credit (actually most of it) goes to to Thea at The Victoria Sampler who really designed the piece.  Here's the photo of the original. . . which I adapted by making the original square into a rectangle, and replacing the bee and flowers with the personalized lettering.  The bride's colors were burgundy and gold. . . so I did the lettering and beading in burgundy, and the piece is laced onto a backing covered with gold tissue lame, so the gold peeks through and shines in the light.

Thanks Thea!  Couldn't have done it without you.

Another Delayed Reveal

I'm pleased to at last be able to show you a sampler I stitched last fall for a new designer, LaDonna of Black Branch Needlework.

Here's my photo immediately after completing the stitching. . . and you can see a picture of the pressed and framed piece (and order your own chart if you like) here:    http://kelmscottdesigns.com/black-branch.htm

When I stitch samplers, they're usually from earlier eras, so this was an interesting change of pace for me.   I don't know whether you can tell from the photo, but in addition to the traditional over 2 flower border motifs, the sampler includes a full alphabet in tigthly pulled eyelets, and the verse in over 1 cross stitch.   Since these are fairly "advanced" elements, my guess would be that this was not Margaret's first sampler.  I think the sampler sports a very vibrant and contemporary looking color palette, but it is very true to the original colors that can still be seen on the back side of the original sampler.

You can learn a little more about the piece and see photos of the original at LaDonna's blog at   http://blackbranchneedlework.blogspot.com/  .  It is truly a shame that the original's condition is poor, but someone must have truly treasured it.. . since it was framed (or reframed) in 1914. .. almost 75 years after it was stitched. 

A Delayed Reveal

Remember back in the late summer and fall when it seemed I was getting even less stitching completed than normal?  Here's part of the reason -- a fall biscornu, needlebook, and counting pins set that I made for my Secret Stitcher exchange sponsored by the Queen City Sampler Guild.

I don't know whether my S.S. knows about my blog, but some members of QCSG do. . . and I didn't want to spoil the surprise.  Secret Stitchers are revealed at our Christmas party. . . so now it's "safe" to post pictures.

The biscornu pattern is from http://www.theflossbox.com/ .  (If you want a biscornu pattern, they probably have one. . . for every imaginable season or holiday.)   For the needlebook, I just reused motifs from the biscornu.  One minor note.  The open, unstitched center area of the biscornu was really, really small.  Too small for any buttons I could find.  Luckily, I had some wooden beads that I was able to secure with some other beads, so it worked out really well.  But the next time I do a biscornu, I'll be sure to check ahead of time to make sure the space in the center is big enough for the buttons I intend to use.

Here are close ups of the front and back of the biscornu and needlebook.

Merry Merry!

Hmm....after all their hard work, I wonder if Santas relax after their big night...

Here's the grouping of most of the stand ups as they've been displayed this season on my piano.

Merry Christmas to all!

Absolutely Ready!

Perched on the roof. . .halfway down the chimney.  Santa can't get more ready than this one from Mile High Princess designs.

Just Hanging Around

This double sided hanging Santa is yet another favorite.  It was a painted canvas with stitch guide and I love the beautiful details from the shading on the face to the gifts in his bag.  I also have great memories of stitching this piece on the plane to and from a wonderful week in Paris!  The same stewardess was working both flights, and we had a lot of fun talking about stitching in general and my progress on this little Santa in particular. 

Could Santa Be Irish?

An Irish Santa?  With all the green, with this Santa, maybe he's Santa MacClaus. . . .???