Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Framed

Here's my Seaside Wedding framed for the couple-to-be.

The Last turn

I will finish this by the wedding! I realize that saying this almost guarantees a major problem developing in the next few days. But I do feel confident. I'm always nervous when I'm stitching something that has to meet in a particular place. Like a border or in this case a heart. There is a line of stitches that creates the design. It met exactly where it was supposed to the first try. I did have to buy an additional skein of embroidery floss, #739. That's okay. I have so much floss that one more won't kill me, but it does amaze me that when I have ten boxes of the stuff, there is always a couple that I have to replace whenever I'm working on a project.
Here's Seaside Wedding

Friday, September 23, 2011

Another Finish

Last night I put the final stitches in what I'm planning to finish as a pillow for my sister. She loves dragonflies and gardening. So, I thought of her immediately when I saw this design. This is a series of stepping stones with sayings on them. I don't think I will continue with the series though. It uses a specialty floss that I don't think makes that it is worth the extra price of the floss. So, she'll just get the one.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I almost gave up

A couple of days ago, I had a night of insomnia. I hate lying there, unable to sleep. So, I got up. Watched tv, read, played computer games and finally picked up my stitching. I stitched away. This is a fairly uncomplicated pattern, but suddenly, there it was. A Glaring Mistake. I noticed it when I was stitching the top line of one of the bottom blocks. It was off by one when compared to the backstitched verse. I looked and looked and could not see where the mistake was. I was afraid to even think how many stitches I was going to have to remove to fix it. I am not one of those stitchers who can overlook a mistake. As I said, this was a glaring one, if only to me and I knew it would be mocking me as I stitched forward, especially as I did not know where the error was, so I couldn't compensate somewhere else, even though this pattern as I said is not that complicated. So, in the midst of my insomnia, I made a decision. I was going to stop working on this project. It is not often that I do quit once I start, but this was not a project that "had" to be done, and I did not want a project full of angst. So, I regretfully put it away, fully intending to never look at it again.
But, in the full light of day, I decided to give it one last try. And lo and behold, the error was in the backstitched verse. Not in the stitching itself. A fairly easy error to fix. It did involve taking out most of the verse, but that isn't a real struggle for me. Especially, when it could have been many, many stitches of the specially dyed floss that is so expensive. I was so happy and am now back on track. Picture later.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

They can get married now

I won't be standing there when the minister says, Does anybody have a reason why this couple should not get married, saying "Wait, I've got a few more stitches". It's done now. And signed, sealed and only needing to be framed. Pardon the wrinkles and folds, but it is complete.
I've started back on a smallish one for my sister. She's the one that I'm afraid might not welcome anymore creations. She once asked me if I thought Mama might be getting tired of getting my work. But she is going to get it anyway, want it or not. I saw it and thought of her immediately. So there!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Seaside Wedding

I will finish this project before the wedding. I realize that just making this statement almost guarantees that I will have a complication in the next few days. But it is coming along. The wedding is in October and I am almost through with all except the backstitching. I don't know the couple well enough to know what their style is, so I hope it is something that will appeal to them. The beach seems to be a very popular theme these days.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Making progress, but on hold for now

I think I've made pretty good progress on Winter Moonlight. But it's once again on hold. I've been asked to do a wedding piece for a family member. So, while the wedding date is a few months away, I like to get it completed before the wedding. I've heard too many tales of by the time the piece is finished, so is the marriage. While I'm not worried about that in this case, I think it's a good idea to have to wedding piece finished by the wedding date and birth pieces to be ready for personalization by the time the child is born, if it's at all possible.
So, so long Winter Moonlight. Be back soon!!!