Framed Finishes

I had two finishes stashed away waiting for a bit of cash so I could get them framed.  I also finished a pair of whitework pieces this year that I wanted to frame right away for my new craft room.   They are all Teresa Wentzler designs!  Here they are:



Tempest in a Teacup (TWDesignworks)
Stitched over two on 28 ct. white Jobelan
(I extended the border and added the little Irish saying.  I also removed the word "Tempest" from the teacup.)
Completed February 2001



Framed October 2012



Renaissance Bookmark (TWDesignworks)
Stitched over two on off-white Jobelan
(I stitched this bookmark for my husband, Greg.  He took one look at it and said, "Frame it!")
Completed August 2006

Framed October 2012

Beginner Whitework (TWDesignworks)
stitched on 28 ct. ice blue Lugana
Completed July 2012

Intermediate Whitework (TWDesignworks)
Stitched on 28 ct. ice blue Lugana
Completed July 2012

Framed October 2012
(Dark blue matting behind the openwork on the Intermediate Whitework piece)

Happy Stitching!

Marilyn

Give a Hoot

Since my mother collects owls, I was happy to find one of the latest patterns by JBW Designs this summer:  French Country - Owl.  It is a small design, and I stitched it on linen fabric in just a couple evenings.  I took my time and found a cute fabric to back it with and some matching ribbon for trim, planning to make an ornament.  Ma's birthday was falling on Thanksgiving Day this year, and I was so excited to be giving her an owl with cute autumn motifs in it.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I had the free time I needed to finish the ornament.  One problem -- I couldn't find the stitched piece anywhere!  I tore apart my house, my desk at work (I stitch at lunchtime, so I often have needlework there.), even my car, but I couldn't find it anywhere.  I figured I'd stitch another one easily enough in plenty of time, but as luck would have it, the pattern was safe in the little bag containing the stitched piece, the backing fabric, and the ribbon.  I hopped online and ordered another copy of the pattern.  Two days later, I was rummaging in a laundry basket of clean clothes in my closet and heard the rustle of plastic.  Yup.  I found my original stitching.  It was in a tote bag I'd used to take the items to the craft store to get the backing material and pick up some framed pieces.  It was lying right there on top of my laundry basket!  I received the replacement pattern in the mail that afternoon and immediately sent it to my cousin, a fellow stitcher who's mother also collects owls!

I was able to finish the little guy in plenty of time to give it to Ma for her birthday.  She loved her gift!  Here he is:




Country French - Owl (JBW Designs)
Stitched over two on 28 ct. Belfast Linen
Completed August 2012



Here's the back!



I've also been working on a small stack of Christmas ornaments from this year's ornament edition of Just Cross Stitch magazine.  I still need to create ornaments out of the finished stitched pieces.  I'll post pictures when they're complete.  Can't talk any more about WIPs - too many surprises!

Happy Stitching!

Marilyn

October 2012 - IHSW 1

Hello, there, Stitchers!

It's been a bit since I've blogged - just busy with life.  However, I have been stitching like a mad woman!  Litte projects - ornaments for christmas, mostly, and a few other surprises.  Of course, I can't put them all here... it'd spoil a few secrets!

Here's a few I've been working on.  I stilll need to add the tiny buttons (I may use beads instead) for the Winter Fawn.




These are all from Just CrossStitch Magazine Ornament Issues

 

Happy Stitching!

Marilyn

July 2012 IHSW 2

Well, I didn't get as much stitching in this weekend as I'd hoped, but I did finish the Wentzler Beginner Whitework piece.  I'll frame it, matted together with it's companion TW Intermediate Whitework piece, which I finished about 2 weeks ago.  Here they are!



Beginner Whitework (TWDesignworks) Specialty Stitches on pale blue lugana fabric.

Intermediate Whitework (TWDesignworks) Specialty Stitches on pale blue lugana fabric.

July 2012 IHSW 1

Sometimes, especially when my life gets a bit hectic, I feel the need to work on a smaller project.  I guess it's the fact that smaller pieces get done faster, so I have a feeling that at least something is getting accomplished in my life.  The fact that it is a pretty CrossStitch piece makes it even better!  So, for this IHSW, I've got two pieces to work on.  I just finished an Advanced Whitework Ornament designed by Teresa Wentzler and decided to do the Beginner Whitework Ornament, too.  I'm hoping to finish the Beginner piece tonight, and then I'll start back up on Sarabande, the large, French sampler I've been working on for quite some time - it's the piece I set aside in order to do a few small projects.

Here is the Beginner Whitework Ornament (TW Designworks), so far.  I have the final chain stitch border and then some pretty, off-white beads to do for the finish:

 And here is my progress on Sarabande (Long Dog Samplers), so far.  I'm currently working on the bottom, left corner:

Happy Stitching!

Marilyn

Bloggin' 'bout Backstitch

I always hear how so many stitchers hate to backstitch.  Not me!  I don't mind it at all, because I adore how as I backstitch, the piece comes alive with detail.  I decided to take pictures of my latest project, a small Teresa Wentzler design called Playful Kittens, which I started for this month's IHSW, and specifically did to have a portable project to take out of town on a business trip.  Anyway, I finished the kitties today, and before I did the backstitch, I took a picture.  So, here are photos of the piece prior to backstitching it, and the completed piece.  Yay!! Another finished Wentzler!



"Playful Kittens" (TW Designworks) before backstitch



Completed "Playful Kittens" (TW Designworks) Backstitched
[stitched over two, on 28 ct. cream linen]
Completed June 2012



June 2012 IHSW 2

I've been on business travel this week, so it took me a few days to post this pic, but I did take a pic of my June IHSW project last Sunday evening.  "Playful Kittens" is a Teresa Wentzler design, which, though not a huge project, has plenty of color changes and an abundance of half-stitches!  I took this project with me on the airplane, and was stitching in-flight, so I've made even more progress.  See later posts for updates.

Happy Stitching!

Marilyn