Sunday, July 10, 2011

Good intentions, and some finishes

They say it takes time to establish a new habit.  Well, blogging is a new habit for me.  I really thought I'd be making at least a post or two per month, but time slips away.  Oh, well,  I'm here now, so what have I been up to?

Several finishes from my UFO pile - not sure where the pictures are right now.

More of the Needle Delights - Color Delights series.  I get this monthly as a autoship and enjoy Kathy's designs.  Each square is 72 x 72 on 18 count mono canvas with a variety of threads.  These are indeed delightful.

Have started some work on some correspondence courses.  I want to learn so many different things.  At least I have the instructions, and in most cases the materials.  Someday...

Big new start:  one of my stitching groups has started on Jeannette Douglas's "My Stitching Album".  The group started at a local craft store (which has since closed), working on Emie Bishop's "Unfinished Sampler".  Long story, that I'll save for another time.  Some people have left, others have joined, but the group continues to meet about once a month.

Here's a link to Jeannette's site and the project.  This is the first link I've tried adding.  You may need to copy/paste.
http://www.jeannettedouglas.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65

Some of the group are doing the pages with Jeannette's thread packs.  One woman has picked some adventurous fabrics to personalize the look.  Another woman finds silks difficult to use, so we're picking some overdyed cottons. 

My choice? Well, I picked a 'base' fabric of Lakeside Linens Maritime White (32 count) for alternate pages, and an assortment of fabrics for the other pages.  My dream is to design some pages of my own to add to the book.  So if I start with a mix, it won't look out of place if I can't get a perfect match later.

And threads?  A member of another local stitch group was part of a 'class' at another shop that stitched this project.  Seeing a finished project instead of a photo is like day and night.  Gorgeous, and nicely stitched, and an inspiration. I realized part of my reaction to the project was that Jeannette's choice of colors aren't my favorites.  I think when this series was initially released, it came as a kit for each page.  We're able to buy charts and threadpacks separately, so I'm buying just the charts.

My threads -- let's talk about the cover page.  Jeannette used a light fabric, and the variegated blue/gold/green as the key color (Gloriana Blue Grass).  My choice is a darker fabric with Waterlilies Mulberry, Crescent Belle Soie Rosebud, and Au Ver a Soie blue -- 1715?  The front cover is nearly complete.  The wording is stitched over-1, so I need my lamp and magnification.

I've picked my 'key' color for each fabric, and now have put the pages in order

Some people might think it's boring to all work on the same project.  Because of people mixing and matching fabric and threads, we will have many different looks.

I will get pictures in  - but not today.