Time Off!

Well, I'm going to be taking a few days of enforced rest. Seems I've fractured my foot kicking a brick! That's what happens when I take the dog out in the yard and end up gazing at the moon instead of watching where I'm walking in my bare feet. And of course it's not the kind of fracture that responds to being set; it just causes severe pain. So I'm going to take a couple of days off work and just rest it. Maybe I'll get lots of stitching done. That's the plan anyway. But the pain killer I was given is pretty strong so who knows what I'll end up stitching. Gabe may end up with wings on his feet! ;-) I did make a lot of progress on CDC yesterday. I'm working on the final row of circles on the bottom of the piece. I can see the end coming up. I'm really excited cause this will be my first finish in almost 2 years. I do believe my slump is just about over.

Connecting With Others

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting and stitching with Teejay. She is a lovely person and an exquisite stitcher. Her finished pieces are absolutely beautiful. And she's so organized! I wish I could be half as organized as she is. She plans her stitching out so well and everything has it's own special place. Most of my stitched pieces go unfinished into a box (albeit an acid-free box) in my closet. I think it's the process of stitching that I like so well. I do have plenty of finished pieces (mostly seasonal). If I like a piece, I stitch it. I don't think about where it goes. I don't often think about how it finish or frame it. Maybe enjoying the process is why I have so many UFO's. Now I don't believe one way is better than another. I believe you need to stitch the way that makes you happiest. Isn't that why there's 30 different flavors? ;-) Personally I like chocolate!

Anyway it was great to meet Teejay and I'm looking forward to stitching with her again!

Playing With Color

I've been asked to post some of my color combinations that I've been playing with. Here are the three that I came up with to stitch some of the Needlemania designs I have in my stash. The yellow fabric is 25 ct Lugana with Jelly Bean thread from the Thread Gatherer. The red fabric is 32 ct Belfast matched with Palooza Fiesta also from Thread Gatherers. The blue is a 32ct linen from Permin (don't remember the actual name of the color). It's thread is an Impressions from Caron Collections called Sapphire. The problem with working at a LNS is I keep finding new combinations every day. And I want them all! I did come up with the combination which I'm going to use on the new Ink Circles design, Cirque des Triangles. It's a kelly green 22 ct Hardanger fabric and the thread is Calypso from Weeks Dye Works. Sorry to say the Snow Princess and her polar bear will just have to wait a bit longer. As soon as I finish CDC, I'll strat the new Cirque. And who knows when I'll get back to Gabe. I'm seriously thinking of sending him off to Ghost Stitchers and letting them finish him. Would that be cheating? ;-)

Next Project

Well, I think I have figured out what my next big project is going to be. I would really like to do another one with an overdyed thread but think I will wait on that one. My next project will be Snow Princess by Heaven and Earth designs. I love polar bears and while I don't usually stitch fancy ladies, this one just really caught my eye. The bear is so majestic and there seems to be such a connection between the two. I've never done a design by Heaven and Earth but I do hear good things about their patterns. I have 3 other of their designs by Shim Shimmel but it appears they no longer chart (or sell for that matter) his paintings. That is such a shame because I really like his stuff. But now I really need to finish Gabe. He is currently residing on my floor frame and I promised him that I would not take him off there till I had finished with him. Maybe my new project will be just the incentive I need.

Work in Progress

I thought it was about time that I posted a picture of my work in progress, Cirque des Circles. I'm having more fun with this design than I've had in a long time. I'm stitching it on 25 count lugana over one with one strand of Northern Lights silk thread. The color of the fabric is Victorian Christmas Green and the color of the thread is Palomino. It's peach and white. I thought it would be more varigated with more shading but it's just peach and white. Sometimes it's frustrating to try and keep from having a striped effect but I guess that's part of the fun. I am pleased with the way it's turning out. It's also a design that I can see stitching more than once. I've already pulled several more color combinations for it at work. I just wish I could find more time to finish it. That seems to be a major theme in my life: not enough time. Then when I do stitch on it, I see Gabe staring at me and I feel guilty for not finishing him. Maybe I see what it would cost to have Ghost Stitchers finish it for me. It would be well worth it to pay to have someone else stitch him.