Better Late Than Never

Hi everyone,

Here's my first finish of the Kelly Clark Angels of the month.  Can you guess which month??  These are so incredibly cute!!!

I learned two new techniques with this one canvas...

The first is Closed Raised Herringbone which is used on the pumpkin leaves.

The second is the Casalguidi stitch - can you say that 3 times fast?  Casalguidi is an Italian embroidery stitch and is used here on the broom handle.  She needs to swat that spider!

I have also started using the tutorials on Mary Corbet's site Needle n Thread which are super helpful especially when you are trying a stitch for the first time.

Happy Stitching,


Linda

Best in Show

Hi everyone,

Here's my choice for Best in Show.  I love a real dog!  Although the Sporting Group may not be politically correct right now ....especially GUN dogs.  But Emily is a gun dog through and through!

I recently broke my foot following that little gun dog around the backyard so I have had a lot of time to stitch and watch tv. And Emily is practicing extended downs. :)  My latest finish is yet another cracker.  This project is a BEAD FIX.  If you like to bead these are for you!

Now that the bead fix is over I have moved on to the next Melissa Shirley 12 days of Christmas (#5).
I hope to finish 4 of these this year so that's through 8 Lords a Leaping!

Here's the first pass of the turkey work- do you see a heart under there?

Cut loops

Looks like a bad haircut...

Side view

Here's the cleaned up heart - still needs a little more TLC.  I think I'll take it outside into the natural light!

Happy Valentines Day,

Linda

Backyard Stitching

Hi everyone,

I've been doing a lot of stitching in my backyard while I babysit (dogsit) Emily and try my best to dissuade her from digging to China.  Here is my latest cracker which is simple enough to work on by the pool (yes I live in Florida and it is 75 here).

Here's a side view

Well,  I don't bead outside but all the foundation work is so easy that it can be done out there and the light is perfect.


Now, the best outside project is a belt canvas.  I had this especially painted for my husband so it's a one of a kind Everglades belt - NO PYTHONS ON THE BELT!  Just our favorite turtle, ibis and a Florida Panther :)

Happy Stitching,

Linda

The Devil's in the Details

Hi everyone,

I've actually been doing quite a lot of stitching on various projects, just not blogging.  My friend Frances and I are the program chairs of our ANG chapter here in Miami and our chapter chose to do the ornament quartet from the Chapter Project Book.  If you are an ANG member be sure to utilize this source for programs.  Our chapter has needlepointers, cross stitchers and embroiderers so this is a good way to introduce the beginners to needlepoint.  The first project is this deceptively simple bargello snowflake.  Of course Frances finished all FOUR ornaments before I finished the first one!  I say deceptively simple because I was one thread off on the border and it wasn't apparent until I got to the other side and I had to rip it out.  So sticking to the count is the key in bargello!  The edge is finished in the "nun" stitch and although I SEARCHED for a reason for the name I couldn't find one.  Unless you need the patience of a nun to execute the stitch.  I left it unfinished so I can demonstrate it at the next meeting.

I've also been working on the stitching club which has a lot (A LOT) of moving parts!

Here's the purse of the first girl...

One of the advantages of taking a class is that someone will always come up with a great idea to make the project better.  Linda came up with the memory thread for the heart!  Sweet!!

And here are two ways to do hair...

Two strands of impressions twisted tight

and vertical bullions

Enjoy your stitching!

Linda

Do You Tweet? We Do!

Hi everyone,

Here are the four calling birds!  I am not completely happy with the cording on the bottom but am leaving it in as I can always go back and re-do it.  I figure that I will not be done with this series until the end of next year so I may be a better "corder" by then.  The two strands of cotton floss stay together when you lay it flat, but when I tried to do the tight curve they started to pull apart.  Oh well, if you don't look at it under the magnifier lamp it's passable.

Here's a closer look at the top...

and the bottom....

Keep working on those unfinished projects!

Linda

Year in Review

Melissa Shirley Christmas Cracker

Happy New Year,

Like most of you I have been organizing my stash and making long range goals for my needlepoint stitching in 2013.  Wow, where did 2013 come from?  When I started managing money after business school, 2013 was considered a long term bond maturity and now....here it is!

I looked back at what I accomplished in 2012 and thanks to my list (!) I completed one belt, 14 small projects and 2 big projects (the Mod Heart and Santa Parade).  I think that strategy works for me, so look for that again this year.  I would like to work on some of the series that I signed up for...some hard and some easy and try and finish 2 big projects.  I would like to complete the Stitching Club and Broom Parking as the BIG ones and try and make a dent in the Melissa Shirley 12 days of Christmas, the Kelly Clark angels of the month and my Amy Nativity set.  I can't wait to look back on this post mid-year!

Here are some of the projects that didn't make it to the 2012 finish line but will get done in January.

The four calling birds...just needs the cording

And the little October witch...just needs the background and her broom

I have a wide assortment of unfinished projects big and small so it will be fun!

Happy Stitching,

Linda

My Christmas Stitching

Hi everyone,

Christmas is over in our house - it always goes fast at the end.  Thought I would post a photo of one of the golden crackers on the tree...right there next to whoever that Disney character is!

I learned a few things this year about Christmas and my family :)

1.  There's a reason people have fake trees - so they don't have to get under it twice a day to water it!  Also, most fake trees come pre-lit! Thereby giving you an extra 3 hours to decorate.

2.  If you make a needlepoint Christmas pillow THEY WILL SIT ON IT!  Not pick it up and admire it!!  Although, when you gasp they will pick it up and stare at it wondering if it is about to explode or something.

And, so now on to the New Years resolutions which are usually the same as last years....finish more projects and learn to make soup!

Happy Stitching,

Linda