Last Finish of 2014

Hi everyone,

This will be my last post and my last finish of 2014.  I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!

Merry Christmas,

Linda

Spring is Right Around the Corner

Hi everyone,

One last look before Inga goes in the box and gets wrapped up for Christmas.  Thanks to Ruth and her wonderful finishers for making this happen!

Merry Christmas!

Linda

Cyber Tuesday

Hi there,

I've been home all day with the painter.  I sort of felt like Murphy Brown when I ate lunch and he was painting in the kitchen.

I always complain that I never get to stay home and do what I want alone WITHOUT Emily (who is at camp today being Tuesday), so why does it feel so weird?  So I have cybershopped, cleaned out closets and done some needlepoint.  What I really want to do is GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!  What I really NEED TO DO is FINISH EVAN'S SCARF!! or DO MY CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!

What I DID was prioritize my stash for next year's finishing - yes I did that 2 days before Thanksgiving- go figure.  I even changed the picture on my blog.  Hopefully that will motivate me to finish the Gingerbread "Palace"- sure didn't help with Amy's creche :-(

Here are the 2 sections I finished today and they are small but they count! Yes that dark brown eave is considered a section.

Have a wonderful lead up to Thanksgiving!

Linda

One Section Down....

and 97 more to go!!

Here's a look at the Gingerbread Palace...canvas by Shelley Tribby and stitch guide by Susan Portra.  And yes it does have 98 sections to stitch!  Here's just ONE of the roof sections.  There's a ton of french knots and beads so that will need to be divided up so it doesn't get overwhelming.

And here's the last ornament in to the barn...

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  I am starting today on my game plan!  It involves polishing!!

And then there's the sprint for the Christmas finish line :-)

Linda

A Finish And A Return

Here's the FINISH!

                

And Here's the RETURN!

Have a safe and wonderful Veteran's Day!

Linda

Just In Time

Hi there,

These ornaments came just in time yesterday as I had nothing to post!

Thanks, Ruth!!  Have a great Thursday!

Linda

Blackwork Birdie

More great uses for blackwork!

Happy Thursday!

Linda

Coast to Coast Halloween

Hi there,

I got out my Halloween decorations a few weeks ago and went WOW!!! several times.  I had no idea how much I had done (and still have left to do) for that holiday.   I have started sending out needlepoint to the kids and while it's hard to part with,  it's nice when it's appreciated.  Not to worry, my other daughter has the little Christmas tree which is also loaded.

Here's the LA version of my Halloween tree

and here are some closeups

Looks like its all there :-)

Have a great week,

Linda

Angel Background

Hi there,

Just a quick photo to let my friends know I'm still here :-)  I love the blackwork background but it does take some concentrating.  Plus, you find yourself saying "WHERE AM I"  a lot!  Ran out of thread for the bottom of the skirt...plus it's turkey work so this weekend I'm going with something EZ!!!

Enjoy Columbus Day!

More Beautiful Angel Hair

The Little Wavy Stitch...great for hair!

Happy Saturday!

Linda

PETA Approved

No one's going to be throwing eggs on this "fur" jacket !

Series Complete!

Hi there,

It's not that often that I complete ALL the canvases in a series.  I almost always run out of steam with a few to go.  Thank goodness there were only 9 firecrackers- that may have made the difference here.  I left the hardest (for me) for last naturally.  The bunting cracker.


Here it is yesterday during the beginning of the Dolphins game...which was so bad that I didn't have any trouble concentrating on my cracker :-(

Here's the sad puppy frame weight that was watching me...

Here's the bunting all done

And HERE IS THE LAST CRACKER!!!

YEAH!!!  And wow do I have a great stash of red, white and blue everything!

See you soon,

Linda

Sunny Chicago

Hi there,

Just to let you know the sun does shine in Chicago and the weather was beautiful for the three days we were there.  No polar vortex just yet!


There was a contest to decorate Michigan Avenue- every block had a different theme

Here is beautiful Lake Michigan - a GREAT place to take a walk- everybody and their dog was out there as soon as the sun came up

Here is Wrigley Field for you baseball fans

Here's the Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") with two out of three of my favorite people

Here is SUE -  no explanation necessary!

and HERE IS INGA!  Made you wait until the end :-)

Have a great weekend!

Linda

True Confessions

Hi there,

I have a lot of unfinished projects...most of them very complex and requiring tons of room to spread everything out.  (That's why they're unfinished)  While I love the challenge, sometimes it's nice to do something simple.  That was the appeal of the basketweave needlepoint tote I did a few years ago.  I just held it in my hands and stitched.  Loved it.

My older daughter pointed out to me the obvious...Mom, you really need to finish this stuff in my closet!  Maybe I shouldn't have put it all in there :-(.  What I really need is something simple to take a break with and I think I've found it...knitting.  OK there I've said it.

I took my first lesson this week and it's been a long time since I tried something new.  Holding those knitting needles was tough!  But the feel of the wool and the simplicity of only 2 stitches is perfect.

Doesn't look like much but my first try at needlepoint didn't either.  That's the purl side...looks like a turtleneck

Here's my first ball of merino wool.  This is it...2 needles and some wool.  

My friends will be horrified about my confession so here's my messy beading on my bunny (oops! Inga's not MY bunny)

and here's her progress...I'm working on that flower on the right so I can shape her ear better- looks a little big to me

And here's the Madelinetosh wool I'm taking to Chicago for approval for a scarf - feels like silk, but it's 100% wool.

At least I'm still using needles!!

Happy Labor Day,

Linda

Snaggletooth Beats Bunny in Competition

Hi there,

Last Thursday we had our annual UFO Throwdown where the ANG chapter members choose the project THEY want to see finished in the coming year.  I brought in two projects for them to choose from - my husband's alligator and my 2007 (!) Spring Bunny.  The alligator won the competition.  I felt so badly for the bunny I worked on it all weekend!

Here's the gator...well I thought it was the photo, but it's just another swimming creature...

Let's try again

Here he is with his teeth properly placed

Here's the bunny progress from this past weekend- everybody's getting into the felting act (apparently Chandail was into it in 2007) and it's no wonder...that back leg took about an hour!

and  here's the first creature dry and waiting for a ride

Have a great week!


Linda

Bunny Love

Let's meet Inga...here she is with her pillow (she's my grandbunny)

Inga lives in LA- can you tell?  Those are her Mom's sunglasses

And here's the canvas I got yesterday for Inga and her Mom from Creative Stitches in Dallas

Now who does that look like - I'm going to make her all black and white of course.  I'm using Bella Lusso wool - one long strand doubled in the needle for her fur.  Check out the magnet - Accoutrements Designs original.


And here's my bunny that my friends are dying for me to finish.  That ball of fluff on his leg is needle felting- may work on that today :-).  This is on my Unfinished List - one of 4.  It's from 2007 - not so old around here...

Have a wonderful weekend stitching with friends!


Linda

From Santa's Workshop

No peeking, Evan!

Next week I swing into spring!  Just like the department stores you gotta stay 6 months ahead!

Have a happy Friday,

Linda

How To Tame a Basket

Hi everyone,

I'm back to the Valentines Basket.  As you all know, Melissa Shirley's canvases could just be hung on the wall to admire since they are so perfectly painted.  But....we need to enhance with silk, ribbons and beads!  The best way I've found to TAME the beauty is to break it down into parts and keep STARING at it until you figure out the tough ones.

This basket has about 12 parts from the basket to the fruit to the seven kinds of flowers.  I want to try everything on my list before I see Susan Portra in the fall for the balance of the project.

While I was finishing the fruit, I was looking at and thinking about the Gerbera Daisy on top....just what IS that pink thing sticking up on the right side? - I think I'll take that out and fill out the flower

And Bleeding Hearts?  Susan Portra recognized them immediately- I had to look them up on the internet

Here are mine- now that I see them I think I'll pop a few beads on the left one so it looks more like a heart

And my gold  hearts finally (thank you Lisa) surrounded by twisted cord- those are necklaces- if you stare long enough you see the chain - I'm thinking, thinking about what to do there :-)

Eventually it will all come together!

Have a great day!!

Linda