lefthandedstitcher 
I finally had some stitching time, sort of….
I made Leo into a Leosaurus for Halloween. The Little Leo Lizard had a tail and stegosaurus spikes.
And I have started on a scarf that will be a Christmas gift.
Next week I will be teaching the biscornu to my EGA chapter.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher 
PIC-0027:
Uploaded on 10/19/2008 9:53:38 AM
Of the 14 ornaments five were beaded, three were quilt, two were needlepoint and there were one each of the following: hardanger, blackwork biscornu, cross stitch and machine embroidery.
I will add the other pictures to the gallery once I have them and post an update.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher I finally made it to the LNS to get my canvas and threads for Mystery in a Corner. I already had the perle I wanted to use, a bright yellow Pebbly Perle, #P201. I had been thinking about using a brown or black canvas but saw this amazing yellow canvas at the shop and had to have it. Picking out which watercolor I wanted to use proved to be the most difficult. I kept running into the problem of there only being a single skein of the dye lot that I preferred. There was one called Royal Jewels that had a bright and vivid color scheme in one dye lot, however it was much darker and subdued in the other. After much going back and forth on several different colors, I finally decided on Cranberry. Next came the Impressions, which was considerably easier to choose. This is a royal purple, color # 6010. And on to the Krenik braid, two colors of #16 and two colors of #8: a set of white, #16 - color 191 and #8 - color 5555; a set of lavendar/light purple, #16 and #8 both color 093.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher My daughter and I spent a Saturday crafting. She wanted to make a tag blanket and momento pillow for her cousin’s soon to be born baby girl.
First it required a trip to the Joann’s Etc. to pick out the fabrics, ribbon and other goodies. For the first blanket, she watched as I went through the steps of pinning the fleece and satin together and inserting the ribbon then the beginning of the sewing all of it together. She put the second blanket together herself with just a bit of help on the corners.
For the momento pillow, she wanted to put the baby’s name and some decorative touches. We found some Aida that was preprinted with pink and white stripes and a skein of DMC’s new satin floss in a royal purple. Since it had been a long time since she had done any cross stitch, I did a quick chart of the name and stitched it in. She had found some tiny pink buttons that I used to dot the “i” in the middle and last name. This was inset into a frame of satin to make the front of the pillow. Tiny silver stars went around the name and fancy buttons at the four corners of the inset. After attaching the back and stuffing and finishing the seam, I added a pretty, sparkly trim all around. While I finished the momento pillow, she made two snuggle pillows from the remaining satin.
All told, we put together 2 tag blankets and 3 small pillows. She has enough left over to make another blanket.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher 
In my wandering around the internet and visiting various blogs, I came across a wonderful project from a UK Beadweaving Designer named Kerrie Slade. In recognition of Kerrie’s mother’s battle with breast cancer and as a way to help raise funds for the hospital where her Mum is being treated, Kerrie created these wonderful Awareness Pins. Of course, as soon as I saw the teal ribbon I thought of Darrellyn. I also thought that this would be a great project to make for next year’s Relay for Life.
The pattern costs $3.00 and is being sold through Interweave Press here. Through September 30th, all proceeds from the sale of the project will be donated to - The Wellness Community and the American Institute for Cancer Research, a member of World Cancer Research Fund International.
Kerrie is encouraging people to use the pattern to raise funds for Cancer Awareness and writes:
I would like to encourage as many people as possible to get on board with this project and to make these pins in any colour they wish to represent the causes closest to their hearts. I am happy for people to donate them, raffle them, sell them to raise money for the charity of their choice - whatever, so long as the money goes to charity. I am hoping that this could actually be a lot of fun and a great way to raise money for local hospitals, hospices, education and support around the world. I originally created these pins to help raise some funds for the local hospital where Mum received excellent treatment for breast cancer, but which is chronically short of funds - it may be a drop in the ocean, but every little helps. However, I am really not comfortable with people making these for personal gain, as to me it is against the spirit of the whole project. I have given my time freely in designing, creating and helping to organise this project as it is ALL meant to be about charity, so I do hope that everyone will understand my aims and respect my wishes. If you have any doubts or queries, please contact me via my website .”
As an added incentive, the two ribbons in the picture are the First Place Prizes in a contest from Beading Daily. The Power of Beading Contest runs through September 12th, and they are looking for stories of how beading has helped you through a challenging time in your life.
From the Beading Daily blog:
“Do you have a dramatic “got to be beading” story of your own? Or maybe beading helped bring hope and healing to a smaller, more ordinary moment? I clearly remember a day last summer when I accidentally tore a hole in a favorite skirt. I was so upset! And yet, after a little time beading, my anger just faded away. It was not a dramatic, life-changing moment, but the small act of beading helped me overcome the challenge of keeping life in perspective that day.
How has beading helped you through a challenging time? Tell us and you could win one of Kerrie Slade’s handcrafted ribbon pins.
There will be two first place winners. Each winner will receive a handcrafted ribbon pin created and donated by talented designer Kerrie Slade. Kerrie has shared her creations in several issues of Beadwork, most recently the Olive Dangles and Periwinkle Choker projects in the August/September issue on sale now.
There will be two first place winners. Each winner will receive a handcrafted ribbon pin created and donated by talented designer Kerrie Slade. Kerrie has shared her creations in several issues of Beadwork, most recently the Olive Dangles and Periwinkle Choker projects in the August/September issue.
Rules
· Maximum word length: 200
· Must be a member of Beading Daily to participate. (It’s free to sign up.)
· One entry per person.
· Deadline September 12, 2008, 12 midnight Mountain Time.
· Winners will be announced on Beading Daily by October 20, 2008.
· Entry Form
For more information and details, visit Kerrie’s blog and the Beading Daily blog.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher I finally found…made some stitching time. Since the ornaments for the Gala donation are due at the September meeting, I need to get mine done. And there are some busy weekends coming up.
I had originally planned to make another biscornu of the same pattern as my first. That fell by the wayside once I had the outlying square stitched. This is what evolved instead.
I stitched on this off and on throughout the day in between feedings, diaper changes and soothing a teething baby. I finished it while watching a special on the History channel about the 300 Spartans.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher Passing on is not something most of us like to think about in any context. Some recent occurences have me thinking though. We have had two deaths in the family in the last month. Also, my husband brought home some boxes of “fabric” that someone put out as refuse.
Looking through these boxes of “fabric” was tragic in a way. These boxes held various table linens and some holiday themed items. Nearly everything was handmade. A beautiful sage green brocade had been turned into a table cloth and matching napkins. Yarn had been crocheted into granny square Christmas stockings. The item that made me heartsick was the crocheted lace tablecloth. That someone would think nothing of the time and care it takes to make something like this is heartbreaking.
I was remended of when we helping Barb with the moving and reorganizing of her incredible stash. My husband was working with the boxes that were in the backyard outside by a storage unit. He came to me with a pained expression and wanted me to look at what he had found. Cardboard bozes had been used. They were stacked haphazardly on a couple of pallets with a couple of blue tarps casually thrown over them. The rain had not been recent but had been enough to do damage. Boxes falling apart was the least of it. Water had gotten into fabric, threads and paper and had sit long enough to result in mold. Some was salvagable, much was not.
I don’t have nearly as much stash as some I know, however, it still is a goodly amount. I wondered what would be done with it should something happen to me. Then I realized this is one more thing that needs to be included in a will. Should my children not want any of it, which is highly likely, I would want it all to go the Guild with the exception of the Amybear and Margaret Bendig pieces. Those I would want given to Amy and Margaret. There are more specifics I have in mind, but this is a good starting point.
I close with this, my fellow stitchers. Decide what you would like to have happen to your stash and write it down. Don’t let the love and care you put into your work be tossed away. Unfortunately, most do not have any idea what is involved in our art.
| 3.2 |
lefthandedstitcher If wishes were stitches, I would have a lot more done! I have had no stitching time, and I am desperately craving it. Not only do I not have stitching time, I am without a stitching place at the moment. The teenagers have been staying with their father so my husband decided to rearrange the garage. Nevermind what that entails…there is just stuff everywhere now.
I do have two stitching deadlines.
1. I have the Christmas ornament to make for the Gala donation.
2. I need to finish the biscornu instructions.
In theory these two could go together since I was going to make a biscornu ornament which would allow me to take step-by-step photos for the instructions.
Other things I am behind in are Gay Ann Rogers’ Mystery in a Corner. I still don’t have my canvas or threads. No progress has been made on the “My Daughter” piece. And there are still 4 or 5 boot name tags to finish.
Region Meeting is coming up next month. I am looking forward to that as it is in the Big Bear / Lake Arrowhead area. I want to take an extra day or two and stay up there with Leo and hubby.
I did finally remember to give the crocheted baby hats to the hospital and in doing so came across some finished pieces for which I had been looking. I just realized these are still on my desk at work. I will get pictures posted, eventually.
I also need to upgrade the WordPress install here so we may have some downtime. Thanks for your understanding.
| 3.1 |
lefthandedstitcher The hospital where I work is having a fundraising gala in October. The Special Events Coorindator asked me if I would be willing to serve as a member of the auction committee. They will be having both a silent and a live auction. One of the other committe members who knows my guild involvement as me if the chapter would be willing to donate something to the auction. So I brought the question before the Board.
With a unanimous yes, there ensued the discussion of what we would donate. Lori suggested something that would show the different types of stitching with members doing a 5×5 square, then Terry suggested Christmas ornaments. Exclamations of “Yes!” “Excellent!” and “Great idea!” could be heard. And so we are all plotting our Christmas ornament set with each contributor making an ornament in their preferred stitching technique. Two days later at the General Meeting Linda turned in her machine embroidery ornament as she said she had a machine free that day. Terry will be doing a beaded ornament, Carol wants to make a blackwork ornament and a bargello ornament, Trudie will be making a hardanger ornament, Pat will be making a needlepoint ornament, Lori and Barbara have yet to decide, and I will make at least one biscornu ornament. I also volunteered hubby for the presentation and storage box finishing. Once all the ornaments have been turned in, we will find a nice wooden box for the ornaments. Hubby will stain and finish it. I am very excited about this project. It is going to be a lot of fun. And, I am thinking, good practice as we eventually want to particpiate in the Festival of Trees Fundraiser that the local Boys & Girls club does every year.
I will make certain to take pictures of the finished pieces and share them with you.
| 2.5 |
lefthandedstitcher If you are interested in a very well thought out and written down plan for rotation stitching check out this
post on Cyn’s Stitches.
A bit too organized and discplined for me, but Wow!
| 2.5 |
