Good Thing I Like Pink

Hi everyone,

We are back from a whirlwind trip to Naples to see Susan Portra and to visit the most amazing bead shop!  Almost makes you want to move there!!

My canvas this time was  Melissa Shirley's newest basket...the Valentine's basket.  Here are some closeups - this is the top right section

This canvas is on 13 count which makes a huge difference.  Naturally there's a heart in the basket and I am brick bead stitching with size 11 beads.  All the beads are 11s on size 13.  So much easier...did I say that already?  I'm going to look for real lace to gather and couch on to the edge.

Here's another sneak peek.  The gold hearts have to be re-done...I just jumped right on in without consulting my notes.  Oh well on 13 (!) it's easy to start over.

Now my game plan is to do one section every 2 weeks and see Susan in the fall for further advice.  We will see how that goes.  I'm sure my stitching friends will nag me to keep up!

And here is some of my 2013 finishing which is STILL arriving...more Melissa Shirley...the golden crackers.

Back to organizing my projects!

Linda

Ice Dancing vs. Needlepoint

Hi there,

I've been organizing my canvas stash in preparation for incoming stash from Ruth.  I found this piece that I just HAD TO HAVE in 2011 (!).  The design size is only 5x7 and I think it would look elegant as a standup.  A departure from my usual whimsical choices.

Last night as I was tivo watching ice dancing from Monday night I thought I would jump right in.  Now, upon receiving the canvas in 2011, I did the red leaf so that doesn't count for last night's work.  All I got done in the 2 hours of tivo watching was this!

So you can see who won THAT competition!  Maybe I should go back to stitching through the bobsled while waiting for ice skating...because when the ice skating starts it's NEEDLES DOWN, EYES UP!!!


Next week we are off to Needlepoint in Paradise for another class with Susan Portra.  I got this at Absolutely Needlepoint yesterday to go with my Melissa Shirley Valentines Basket.

Love it!  (pun intended)

Linda

Olympic Fever

Hi everyone,

Here's my Olympic stitching....Number 6 of the 12 days of Christmas.  Love those eggs the goose is laying...those are clear beads made to look the perfect color with tan floss!

and another firecracker..this one without the goodies yet

This week I am getting the first canvas of 4 (yes 4!) that I ordered from Ruth...I think I may have been hit in the head by a snowboard!!  And next week we go to Needlepoint in Paradise for yet another class with Susan Portra.  This time I chose the oh so small Melissa Shirley Valentines Basket. Oh yeah,  I'm in trouble.  But I just had to have it!

So there will be photos of stash enhancement to come!

Happy Presidents Day,

Linda

Lessons Learned

WARNING!  PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ADVICE!

Never go to the supermarket 4 hours before the Super Bowl even if you just need a "fresh" Rotisserie chicken for your princess dog!!!  It was worse than the day before Thanksgiving!!!

Now you can guess where I just returned from.  NOT a needlepoint Super Bowl Sunday sale :(

Seriously,  I also learned something else today.  Remember that a stitch guide is just a guide, not gospel truth.  This is especially so when stitching the firecrackers.  I've had to do a few changes along the way...AND THAT'S OK.

The stitch guide called for the strings to be done in #12 Kreinik but that was too heavy for my taste so I switched it to #8.  I also changed the colors of the strings...those balls at the end will be sequins.

And so I hope to finish this while cheering on the Denver Broncos in 3 hours...can't wait for the animal ads.

Have a great week,

Linda

Brain Un-freeze

Hi everyone,

Have you ever had a brain freeze while following a needlepoint guide?  I have them all the time...I'll be going along just fine and the next day I look at the chart and POW..my mind is in a Polar Vortex.

That happened to me while I was finishing up Joseph's background.  I got the hard part great, but I just could not SEE the second step.  Really,  it was the Bijoux going through the channel that got me!  Then a few days ago, it just was there 5-4-5-4.

Here are some more highlights of Joseph...his lantern

I still have to do the 3D fingers which caused me to stop in the first place

Here's my 2013 finishing that I picked up yesterday..check out the little Needle Deeva gingerbread man heart in with the Melissa Shirley candy canes

Here's a close up

Have a great week!

Linda

Christmas 2014

Hi everyone,

It's never too early to get started on this years Christmas needlepoint.  Take it from me....I still don't have 2013 back from the finisher!

Here are two small ornaments that I will send in this week

Yes, this is Fred.

 And a tiny wreath ornament- found this in my ornament stash.  Used the same technique as on the Christmas train!

and I'm still working on Halloween...this is apple number 2 of 3

Have a great day!

Linda

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  I am happy to be back!

This year I have resolved to have NO resolutions!  Yeah!!  I live in Miami and we have been celebrating New Years with fireworks since Monday afternoon.  Here we practice with fireworks all year round just in case there's a need for NOISE of some kind.  Happily for me my pup takes it all in stride.

Here are my fireworks ready for finishing

You can't see it well in the photo, but that's Charleston long stitched in the middle

and the last one that resembled tiddlywinks along the way

and here it is finished

I sure hope the finisher can figure out what do do with that cording!

Have a great week!

Linda