Year of Challenges

I have had a lot of time to think (and unfortunately after a car accident, no ability to stitch) and have decided that 2015 will be my "Year of Challenges." I am on the precipice of many changes, I accidentally quit my job (which may be the best thing that could have happened to me) and am pushing to move into my own condo or townhome in 2015 despite my strained financial situation! Since my art reflects my life, I will take on cross stitch projects this coming year that have previously been "too challenging" in the past. After much debate I have decided to pick up "Umbrella Sky" by Heaven and Earth Designs. 

This is my previous start, a "frankenstitch" from my tenting trials. When I pulled it out recently to show the Mother I realized how much I loved the coverage and overall smoothness of the stitches! I am going to proceed with this stitch, 25ct lugana (naturally) 3 strands of DMC tent stitch (half crosses). Look for progress in the New Year! The Maiden.

Christmas Spirit

With a winter storm brewing outside and a lazy Sunday ahead of me I decided to pull out one of my many WIP's and take a break from Undine.

 I had originally put this project away after one day, deciding 36ct did not suit! While I am still annoyed by it, I refuse to buy another piece of fabric so I will forge on!

 While I have an abundance of Halloween projects completed I realized today the only stitched decorations for the holiday season I have came from the Crone! Hopefully this will inspire me to

complete one of my own before the season is done!

The Maiden

Under Undine

Well, I am slowly plugging along on Undine by Mirabilia and am determined to finish before moving on to one of the many projects that seem more entertaining right now!

I am toying with the idea of selecting a HAED for 2015 as my focus piece, using other projects from my stash as "breaks" (keep an eye out for "At the Met!"). I have decided that a System 4 will be necessary for this task to preserve my poor posture, so I may have to break down and get one!

The Maiden

 

Happy Halloween!!!

So I spent the day learning how to box finish using the tutorial the Mother Found, and while I am preparing a Hogwarts style feast for sister and I, a quick post was necessary!

Here is the link to the tutorial I used from the amazing Twisted Stitcher

http://tts-learntofinish.blogspot.com/2012/02/cube.html?m=1

And the link for the bow tutorial on you tube (the Crone usually ties mine!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcvdYQWOaw

"Halloweenies" by Bent Creek, stitched on 28ct Periwinkle Pizazz.

 A shot of the back...

 I used two fabrics, a black and the sparkle one you see (just because it wasn't difficult enough!)

 I finished this one differently, I just love the skull in the center of the bow!

 A sneak peak at some of the materials I used...

(Walmart is by FAR cheapest for foam and fabric, the other embellishments were obtained from Michael's)

And finally, my Trio!

I will keep one and the others will be gifts!

The Maiden



Sabrina

"Sabrina" by Mirabilia

 Stitched on 32ct ODlinen Vintage Light Exampler.

 



This project was never meant to be mine. After languishing for years, my desire to finish her was fueled by a compilation of photo's my Framer and Friend Sara Lamp had completed called

"the girl in the white dress" series.

Sara is the picture of Sabrina being lithe and blonde, and after all she has given me I could think of nothing more appropriate than gifting her this piece, my largest finish!  

The Maiden.

Halloween Box Finish!

I finished my Nora Corbett Ana conversion using the Twisted Stitcher's techniques (the link is in an earlier post).  I am thrilled at how well it turned out. 

Halloween Haul

So I have finished the first of 4, yes FOUR of the Halloweenie sets and wanted to show a preview before I attempted to make boxes...

Of course I lost the pattern, and when I went to the LNS today to get another they were out!

I did however find this GEM, a gingerbread haunted house! The pattern and embellishment pack are outrageously expensive, so I left with the pattern and will have to come back for all those buttons!

I fell so madly in love with the project that I am even forgoing the annual stitcher's retreat in October so I can put the $40 towards the cause!

 More skeleton Halloween fun! I already have the frame for last stitch cemetery, a Christmas present from the Crone 2 years ago!

 I picked this one up while my framer was in town and she exclaimed "I have the perfect black oval frame for that!" Done.  

 And lastly, the 2 new Nora witches. Where ever will I find time for all this madness!?

The Maiden.

Affectionately, Saggy Boob Mermaid

stitched on 32ct Vintage Exemplar

A finish! This orphaned project found new life with influences from The Shores of Hawk Run Hallow. The Crone 



My first attempt at a box finish.

And I have to say, I am pretty pleased with the result. I assume they will get better as I go. A big THANK YOU to "The Twisted Stitcher" for her tutorial (see the link below!) It was easy to follow and like I said, I'm loving how it turned out! Not to mention she has some other amazing tutorials on how to finish up some projects.
http://tts-learntofinish.blogspot.com/2012/02/cube.html?m=1

 

 

 

The dreaded knot

I have avoided French knots my entire stitching career, but the time has come and I could no longer hide from them!

Here is a preview of a little project I started today, and the first 2 French knots I ever created!

I admit, I you tubed it! The Maiden

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Cq24d5-8s

 

 

Unexpected Undine

Much controversy has surrounded this project, Undine by Mirabilia, and I must say I have been quite challenged!

 Firstly, the colors are not at all what I expected! After much debate (mostly on facebook) it was determined that the dye lot of my Waterlilies was very different than those used to stitch the model.

I almost gave the project up completely, but with a little nudge from Nora herself I decided to continue!

 The second I saw this pattern I thought "she looks like a Betta fish!" As soon as the words left my mouth a new "fish baby" found me! Meet Diaval, a coveted rosetail. I really had no desire to add to my school at this time, but I feel it was fate...

and the moment I began to stitch the purples in her tail, I knew Undine and Diaval would swim side by side in my bathroom perfectly!

 

A note about the stitching at this point: I have learned it is best to stitch all the DMC in an area first, then go back and "paint" with the waterlilies. I had not done this in the darker tail portion and lost all my beautiful ribbing!

 

Also, we all know I hate the 3 B's: beading, backstitching and blends, but I now must amend this statement. For the first time I encountered a DMC/Waterlily blend... and fell in love! You can see the outcome above in the outline of the tail, stitching the purple DMC and the waterlily with the blend inbetween really created a seamless color transition!

The Maiden. 

Waterlily

This will forever be known as the year of the commission for me!

Waterlily by Nora Corbett

Stitched on 28ct Autumn Glade

I had so much fun stitching this project and she went so quick!

The Maiden

 

A finish! Ana by Nora Corbett!

On 32ct Platinum Pizzazz.

Another Commission?

Yes, that is right I have accepted another commission from the Crone, just call me "Ghost Stitcher!"

As for my own stitching? Guess who just left Michael's with the threads for Mirabilias's new "Undine"... The Maiden  



Framing for the Maiden!!!

My camera has become temperamental, so while the true stunning quality this framing has imparted on my project, South Seas Mermaid by Mirabilia is not fully expressed you can still get the idea.

I have several projects at the framers and when I saw this one I fell in love with it all over again!

The Maiden 

The Masquerade is over!

I have finally finished "Masquerade" by Ink Circles! Check one designer off my bucket list!

Stitched on 32ct ODL (unfortunately I do not have the name of the fabric, I started this project so long ago it got lost in the shuffle).

 

I have decided I will keep this one and stitch it again in the near future to sell at Aged in Oak tattoo.

The maiden.

The Batty Bat

One little bat, two little bats, three little bats... ah, ah, ah!

For those of you who remember The Count follow the link below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubrqYu_XVW0

The Maiden