Wednesday, April 11, 2012

April WIPocolypse update -Willow Tree Stitcher

Now that I'm part of the WIPocolypse I see that moon starting to get full each month and feel like I better speed up my stitching!  The deadlines seem to come by faster every month.

I've been keeping busy of course.  Somehow I don't seem to get in those stitching slumps some of you do...I may not get as much done as a lot of people but I've lost not a bit of the desire to stitch every day as much as time permits.   I've held myself back from starting too many new things this year other than my monthly ornament I promised myself and the 2012 Year of Smalls projects.

I finished up stitching the March 'smalls' project - have all the materials laid out to make this into a pincushion which hopefully will get done this week.   I loved finally finding a project I could stitch on this pinkish linen!  I love almost anything pink  :).

Blackbird Designs Reward of Merit - "Pins & Needles"
stitched with overdyed cottons on LL "Vintage Bittersweet"

Then I finally got around to finishing up this little patriotic piece....last year when the 10th anniversary of 9-11 happened I felt guilty this had been in my stash almost 10 years and not been stitched!!  It is a BBD pattern that I added the commemorative date to as I saw a similar model in my LNS.   I'm debating whether to frame it or make it into a hanging pinkeep-style finish. It's small - only about 8" by 3" because I stitched it on 40-ct.  This wasn't my most favorite piece to stitch...I was having issues seeing it on the top half...and I was bored with it.  Once I reached about 60% done though I got a second wind like a sprinter heading for the finish line  - I picked up speed and got the rest done in 3 evenings! (okay..no laughing...that's fast for me!)

   Blackbird Designs "Home of the Brave"
stitched on 40-ct something with Gloriana silks

Last but not least, I am making continued progress with American Sampler .I thought I would first show you a photo where I left off about 3 years ago, before I picked it up this past January to work on for the 2012 WIPocolypse.

pre-January 2012 (geez note the date I took the photo- January 2009!)


Here's how it looks today. I love the house which is one of the features that really attracted me to this sampler.  Who wouldn't want to live in such a pretty house??   It had a lot of over-1 stitching though for all the doors and windows.  I'm almost down to the flower vase on the right border which will be exciting.  My queen stitching is picking up speed a bit now that I'm regularly working on this piece.  There will be a miniature "George & Martha" on the grass by the house soon...at least that's what I'm calling the couple since they resemble George & Martha Washington and this is after all the "American Sampler".  Sorry these are all colored slightly differently - so hard to get accurate photos of how it looks!



I'm getting ready to go on vacation in about 10 days...lots to do getting ready and I haven't even started my April ornament or April smalls project.  I'm falling behind but they'll keep.     Last night I bought a new toy .....a Kindle Fire.  So far I just love it!    We have so many gadgets at our house already...multiple networked computers and laptops, then we have our work laptops because we work at home most of the time, various iPods, smart phones and my husband's iPad.  He was wanting me to get an iPad also but I wanted something smaller I could carry in my purse.    Maybe I'll actually be able to fit in some reading now...I've downloaded some free classics so far but need to go out and do some browsing for some good books to read.   What is also a great feature is being able to load my stitching lists - I'm an obsessed list-maker.  I keep an inventory of all my patterns, all my threads, linens, and 'wish list'.     Maybe having these with while shopping will stop me from buying duplicate patterns!  I've done that way too many times.........

Last night was the season premiere of Deadliest Catch Season 8.....I'm a big fan having watched it for many years.....so I was parked in front of the big screen TV stitching on LHN Poinsettia House and glad my show is back.   Life is good!

28 comments:

  1. Beautiful work. You know with all of the samplers that I have done The American Sampler is still my favourite. Unfortunately though I don't have it as I gave it to my Mum in 2000 when I finished it. That is funny with you calling the 2 people George and Martha. That is what I used to call them when I was doing it. - Sandra.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your finishes and sampler are gorgeous! I just love that American Sampler!!! Wow! So beautiful! So you like the Kindle Fire? I like the idea of its size, but I'm also very contented with my iPad. We are like you -- multiple laptops, iPad, iPhones, etc. It's fun! Have a good vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, my, that American Sampler is just glorious. I'm itching to stitch it. Like you, I don't get in stitching slumps, although I do sometimes get in a blogging slump. Enjoy your vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your stitching is beautiful, I am in-love with this American Sampler!! The colors are just gorgeous. Hope you have a wonderful vacation.

    ReplyDelete
  5. American Sampler is gorgeous!!

    Congrats on getting the Fire! A great resource for free Kindle books is Books on the Knob (http://blog.booksontheknob.org/). She highlights free books every day. Now I will warn you that she does not discriminate in the types of books she posts about...one day Christian fiction, and the next, erotica...she runs the gambit. But it's worth subscribing to even if you have to sort through what you don't want.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everything looks gorgeous. Those queen stitched flowers are stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  7. All of these pieces are gorgeous and you've done a wonderful job of stitching! Thanks for sharing the pics of them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was parked in front of the tv too, watching Deadliest Catch! I'm a big fan too. That Home of the Brave piece is gorgeous and your queen stitched flowers are great! I might have to try that stitch some day. Have a great vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The American Sampler is really gorgeous! The queen stitches look perfect. Not my favorite specialty stitch. Home of the Brave turned out beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful stitchings! I love the colors you chose on Pins and Needles. The American Sampler is gorgeous too, great specialty stitches on that one.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey Jeanne!
    You have made great progress on the American Sampler. Those queen stitches look great. I love both BBD finishes and the way you made the Patriotic one a 9/11 piece.
    I have watched Deadliest Catch from the beginning too. You gotta love those guys.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! American Sampler! Nice work all around. I am going to check into LL vintage bittersweet. I love pink.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congratulations on the two lovely finishes. And wow, such great progress on your American Sampler. I just love this piece and I'm looking forward to seeing the next detail stitched on it.
    What I also love is the picture in your header. I'd love to go there and spend my holidays in one of the lovely houses. Something to dream about.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jeanne --
    Very nice finish on your March Small and your BBD piece. Can't wait to see how you finish them.

    LOVE your Americana Sampler. The colors in the flowers are so pretty.

    Have a great vacation:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the pretty pink linen that you chose to stitch Pins and Needles on!! It's perfect! Gorgeous work on your American Sampler. Those Queen's stitches look quite hard to do! I've been contemplating an Ipad too but it's not in the cards for us at the moment. I think it's a fantastic piece of technology though...so compact and it loads very, very fast!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, how I love that American Sampler. The colors and stitches are just glorious!! I like your two finishes as well.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, such pretty pieces you have for us, Jeanne!! I just don't understand why I haven't done that Pins and Needles piece--every time I see it I fall in love with it all over again :)

    Can't wait to see the tiny George & Martha!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderin where you've been. ( - : Stitching is great, of course & a lot of it. Hope to hear from you again before your vacation, but enjoy it with that Kindle Fire. Thx for the idea about the patterns list. That would be great for floss as well.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love all your progress pictures. Your stitching looks so perfect. I love how clear the colors are on American Sampler, the queen stitches just look so crisp. That is in my someday do pile. Yours makes me want to pull it out and start. Beautiful work. Have a great vacation.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love the pink fabric you used to stitch Pins and Needles. It is beautiful and compliments the thread colours so nicely. Your other BBD finish is beautiful too.

    Wow your American Sampler is stunning! You've made such fantastic progress.

    Enjoy your holiday:)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I was dazzled by your beautiful American Sampler and went at once in search of the Spring 1993 Treasures in Needlework that contains it. (Hint to other searchers: Etsy is the place to look!)

    But I am puzzled by the specified 25-ct. linen. Do the Queen stitches require such coarseness in the stitching ground? Would I get in trouble if I chose 28 or 32 count? Thank you for sharing such inspirational work with us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am using 36-ct linen with one strand of Soie D'Alger silk for my sampler. You should be fine with 28 or 32-ct. I don't think I would want to try to do queen stitches with THREE strands of floss which is what the pattern recommends if you use 25-ct linen. If you are going to use silk, you probably want to go at least 32-ct or higher so you only have to use one strand.

      I have both the 1993 Treasures in Needlework pattern and the reprint that was done last year. I like the original best - the reprint has a few errors and it is harder to read the pattern the way they printed it.

      Delete
  22. Jeanne - that queen stitch border in the Am sampler is just gorgeous! Love your Small blog finish - can't wait to see the pin pillow you make. I hope you have an awesome vacation. Wish I had one coming up but alas not for a while. Happy friday! mel

    ReplyDelete
  23. I enjoy seeing all the stitching. It is beautiful. I have a Kindle Fire too and I am really enjoying it. Blessings,
    dianntha

    ReplyDelete
  24. You certainly have been busy, Jeanne. Lovely finishes. Congratulations! American Sampler is just gorgeous!

    Hugs,
    Veronica.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi, I've just discovered your lovely blog. Pins and Needles is gorgeous and I love your American Sampler - look forward to seeing more of that. Enjoy your holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your American Sampler is looking gorgeous!! I really want to stitch this one. And the colors are so vibrant!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful progress on American Sampler! The colors are so lively and joyful.

    Love both of your BBD finishes, too.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by - I love hearing from other stitchers and crafters. If you have any questions be sure to leave an email address if you don't have one in your blogger profile so I can contact you. I appreciate your visit! (I've had to turn off allowing anonymous comments due to spammers)