Pineapples and Reindeers

My first sampler of the year is finished. Yeah! Okay, Okay it's only 1-1/4x2 inches, but I am celebrating just the same. Not only is it my first sampler of the year it's also my first silk gauze finish.

The Pineapple Sampler:  

I'm still not sure how I will frame it. I am trying to decide if I should mat it or not. 

Erin posted on HoE that she had received her ornament so now I can share a picture.

 











The Reindeer Christmas is by Earth Threads. The pattern is from the 2000 annual ornament kit. I stitched Erin's on 32ct Lambswool with the recommended fibers and substituted an "E" for the tree button in the center block.

I made the tuck pillow following this tutorial on Focus on Finishing. Lots of great finishing ideas and tutorials here, stop by and take a look. Thanks Anne S.

I got in a few more hours on AHRH last week and also worked on some ornaments. I should be have some pictures to share in the next post.  Until then.....

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

January Roundup

It's already the 2nd of February! WOW!!! I didn't get as far along as planned in January, however, I did make some progress.

AHRH: Still need to complete the roof and siding of the house.

The Pineapple Sampler: Working away at the background. I am almost half-way there.

My ornaments for the month: I completed a Sekas ornament for the local library Christmas tree. It was stitched on gold perforated paper. (no photo, I forgot to take picture) The second ornament was for an exchange on HoE that is being hosted by CarolS. The theme of this exchange was reindeers. Each piece has to contain at least one reindeer. Since it's an exchange piece I can only show a teaser. Don't adjust your focus/glasses the picture is very fuzzy. Just noticed it on the preview, sorry. I will have a much better picture and details after my partner receives it.

Need to get busy, only 26 more stitching days this month and I have not picked up a needle yet.
Happy Stitching,

Gwen

Week 2

While digging thorough a basket of stuff precious stash I found this Shepherd's Bush Kit, Watercolor Heart. It was a quick stitch and I was able to finish it in a couple of days. The kit included the hand painted mat by Jill Rensel. Now all I have to do  is find a suitable frame.  Michael's had a buy-one-get-one-free sale on frames last week. I picked up a frame that I hope to use for The Pineapple Sampler, but I didn't find anything of my SB piece. I also checked Hobby Lobby when I was there on Thursday but no luck there either. I will have to keep checking or find another option.

Week 2 Progress report: 

The Pineapple Sampler

I finished stitching the design on my silk gauze and started on the background.













AHRH
Still working on my house. All the windows are in, need to complete the roof and siding.













Wishing you joy in stitching,

Gwen

First Week's Progress

Have you stitched on silk gauze lately? Who knew it could be so much fun! I have several kits in my stash, and may have started 1 or 2 many years ago before my floor lamp/magnifier. This is the first time I have really had fun stitching on silk gauze. There is hope that some of those kits in my stash will make to the top of the pile and on the walls. Here is my progress on The Pineapple Sampler from Threads Through Time.












My other New Year start was AHRH. I have also made progress on Block 1.




 Last but not least I have stitched a portion of the JBW design The Shoe Shopper on their pre-finished shoe bag. Trying to get my hands into the area to be stitched has not been fun, so I have opted just to stitch the shoe for my shoe shopping DSis. This will be part of her B-day present. I can't believe I have something done ahead of time. Okay, okay I admit I started this in Dec, 2009 (it was originally to be a B-day present in 2010) got frustrated and put it away until now. 

Many stitches and lots of finishes,

Gwen

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a good time over the holidays and had some time to get some stitching done. Did you start a new project for the New Year? A lot of stitchers start a new project each year, a lot of stitchers have avowed to make this the year of finishes/stitching their stash etc.. Where do you stand? I double dipped.  I would really like to finish more this year than I did last year (especially things already in my stash), but I also succumbed and started 2 new projects on the First. My new projects are Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow (AHRH), Carriage House Samplings and The Pineapple Sampler by Threads Through Time.

I want to spend at least 1 hour per day stitching. I don't have any hard and fast rules about a rotation, but if I stitch 1 hour or 1 strand, I will make progress and be closer to a finish.


So let the stitching begin:

 Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
40ct Sand Dune
NPI
 



Pineapple Sampler, The
40ct silk gauze
DMC


Wishing you joy in your stitching!

Gwen