Large projects

 I like working detailed projects on high count even weave and have a collection of started projects, large and small.  This photo shows one quarter of the design, stitched with gloriana silk.  The color is beautiful, the piece is intricate and detailed and it looks beautiful.  I love the colors and I love the design.  It is fun to stitch on for a while and then becomes boring -- it may be the only large monochromatic piece I will ever stitch.

My other large project is just the opposite, it is a large needlepoint rug on 13 count canvas.  The colors are vibrant and full of life.  It was someone else's UFO and was brought into an ANG meeting and offered to anyone who wanted it.  I have been working on large count, straight forward needlepoint this year so I brought it home.  I am working my way through the flowers one color at a time and am almost done with the pink ones.  It is possible that if you calculated the total stitches in the two pieces that they are the same, the only difference is one of scale.  Working on both pieces is a relaxing, almost meditative activity and finishing each flower and each medallion gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Completed some old projects this summer

Over the summer I worked on some old stitching projects.  I finished two of them, an Erhman Tapestry Project called Fireworks was the first one.  I  purchased this kit in 1989 and have worked on it a couple of times since then.  This time I was determined to finish it.  I love the vibrant colors and the abstract pattern.    I am going to have to block it because I worked most of it in hand while on vacation.  I think it will make a great looking pillow or if it is the right size a great cover for my antique footstool.


I also finished a Vanessa Ann Porcelain Doll.  It is a Christmas pattern that I started when I was pregnant with my daughter in 1994.  She is not impressed with the finish, but I am.  She reminds me of the porcelain doll that I had as a child.  It had belonged to my mother and had a wardrobe of clothing that her grandmother made for it.  The clothes were all hand sewn and elaborate in their details.  Even more magical because they were made by a woman who did not like to sew.

Monday stitching

I finished another Ornament yesterday, Joy to the World by Fancy Work.  This was my second attempt at stitching this ornament, for some reason I had trouble counting out the words correctly and the Smyrna cross stitches were not easy to rip out.  I spent the weekend working on the Ann Marsh Sewing Roll.  All of the over one tent stitch is beautiful.

I have finished 2 more ornaments from the Just Crossstitch Christmas Ornament issue.  La-D-Da's 'Tis Red and JBW Designs French Country Star.  My son helpfully pointed out that it is not Christmas yet but I enjoy working on small pieces.  I am thinking about scheduling a finishing weekend in July so that I will have finished ornaments by the holidays instead of a stack of small stitched pieces.

I have also been finishing some of the smaller pieces in my 15 starts in 15 days.  I finished Sam Sarah's Rise and Shine and almost finished The Trilogy's Winterology.  I ran out of Weeks Dye Works Whitewash and am waiting for my order to come in so I can finish the snowman.  I really like the vibrant colors in Rise and Shine, they show up very well against the dark linen.  Once I get a collection of small pieces finished, I am going to frame them.  If I use pre-made frames and get the mat board cut for me, I should be able to do the framing myself.  Then I will have seasonal and fun pieces to use to decorate throughout the year.

I have been watching a lot of movies and old TV series while I stitch.  I finished watching I Claudius, the BBC series that was shown on Masterpiece Theater in the 1970s.  Some of the movies have been gems including The Balad of Little Jo and Chop Shop.