Loose Feathers

Unstitching

January 25, 2010 by Michelle 29 Comments

This past weekend, I played another game of Stitching Roulette. Since I can’t seem to settle on anything, I’m apparently stitching on everything. As I may have mentioned previously, I’m currently stitching on my Secret Stitcher gift, which of course I can’t show you. It’s taken precendence over Mele K. for the time being. I had hoped to get Mele K. finished up in January, but well…I still have a week right? So, nothing new to show there.

So, on Friday night I debated what I wanted to work on. I had book club on Friday night, so I didn’t have all evening to stitch. I finally decided on a new start that has been calling my name. I’ve mentioned previously that I decided to cut a piece of fabric off of my failed Halloween RR and use that fabric (36ct. Meadow Rue – love love love it) and a Belle Soie conversion to stitch up BBD’s Where My Heart Blooms. You can see how pretty the silks are with my fabric in the photo above. So, I started this on Friday night. (I’ll explain why there is no photo of my start shortly).

On Saturday, I went with a friend to see The Lovely Bones at the theatre. It was good, I love Peter Jackson’s films, so I expected as much. And having read the book, I still enjoyed the movie. I’d recommend it. (Did I mention I also saw Nine the weekend before? Really good – loved it!). Anyway…Saturday night Eric and I went out and didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning, so no stitching on Saturday (other than on the Secret Stitcher piece). So, finally on Sunday, I decided to get out ATS. I’d been kind of avoiding it since I knew I had a mistake that needed to be fixed.

I know it doesn’t really look different than the last time I showed it to you. I finished up those two orangey motifs on the right hand side. Then I went about the business of ripping out and restitching the right side crown and face that I’d stitched in the wrong place. So, I did that. Then I realized I’d miscounted while stitching the little arm on that guy. So, out that came. When I got to the part where I thought the mistake was, I realized it wasn’t a mistake. I’d counted correctly. Imagine the expletives that ocurred at this point. So, I put ATS away and decided to get out Where My Heart Blooms. I thought that would be fun and relaxing and I could get my roof finished. Here’s the thing…my skein of Sister Scarlet is not red like one would expect (it’s actually the far right-hand thread in that pic at the top of the post). It’s really more pink. It kind of goes from a brick red to a pinky mauve. And.I.Hate.It. And even knowing that I was hating it, I tried to continue with my Jenny Bean Zenlike State and go with it. I finished the roof last night and promptly starting ripping it out. I can’t have a pink freaking roof. No way. Not when it is also going to be the color of those little strawberry things in the border. I need RED. So, I’ve pulled out my skein of Tulip that I used for this piece. Hopefully I can get the color I want. Because pink is not doing it for me.

So, in the span of three days, I think I effectively stitched twenty stitches. Maybe I should’ve worked on Shores. I was afraid though, after the ATS debacle that I would have problems with Shores. Little did I know it would be the new start that I would be foiled by!

Anyway, I do have a book review to share with you about my latest read for book club, but I think it’ll have to wait for next time.

I am grateful for dates with Eric.

A Cemetery, Bones & Raising the Dead

October 17, 2009 by Michelle 20 Comments

I’ve managed to get a good amount done on Jenny Bean in the past few days. Of course, you can see the house is finished, as is the cemetery and I’ve moved onto the tree. The tree is finished minus its leaves. And the colors for this sampler, especially since mine were a guess, are kinda crazy – at least with respect to the tree. I think it will be kind of fun though to eventually see a bunch of these finished, because they will all probably look totally different. But, I’m going with it. Who knows what this week will bring with regard to stitching time, but last week was kind of a fluke. But, all in all, this sampler is so much fun to stitch and it seems to be moving along pretty quickly for me. I have a feeling that border may be a different story though.

I’ve also finished another book from my book challenge. That makes two out of twelve done.

The Lovely Bones was a gift from my friend, Sherri. This was definitely a book I would have never chosen for myself, but it was sooooo good. I could not put this book down. And I definitely feel like this is a story that will stay with me. One of the things I’ve been thinking about too is the amount of books I have in my possession. I’d really like to whittle that down, and one of the things I’ve thought about is that I’d like to have a personal library of sorts that contains books that I love, books that touched me, books that stayed with me, books that I would read again over and over. So, I’ve gone through my books and starting weeding through the books that should stay and the books that can go. This book is definitely one for my library.

And because this book was so good, I’ve had a problem starting a new book. I’ve been carrying a new book around with me for a week almost now, and haven’t cracked it open. Sometimes, when I read a book that is so good, I have a hard time coming back out of that story, or that world. And until I can kind of let it go, starting a new book is almost impossible. I wish all books were like that. Anyway, my next choice, also off my challenge list, is The Host. If I can ever start it, I think it will be good.

And over the weekend, I spent some quality time with the pile of stuff that was slowly overtaking my desk. I found a pattern that I had pulled out with the thought of starting it soon, and also found my notes on threads and fabric I had wanted to use for it, based on this gorgeous piece. I’d left this on my desk because I needed fabric and threads. But, when I picked up the note and saw the fabric I’d wanted to use was Vintage Meadow Rue…the lightbulb went off and I realized I had some Meadow Rue in my possession. In fact, I have a stitcher’s half of it, that was for my first Neighborhood RR. And after all the heartache with this piece, it’s just been shoved in the back of my closet still in the FedEx package, because I didn’t know what to do with it.

Well, now I know. I’m going to rip out the stitching that was done and re-use this piece for Where My Heart Blooms. I think it’s an excellent way of making lemonade out of lemons. And I am sure that the rest of the fabric that I end up with as leftover will be put to good use too. But, first for the ripping out. I think it will be good for me…a way to let go of it.

Hope this week brings lots of stitching and some good news.

I am grateful for Eric – always, every day.

Three-Day Weekend

September 7, 2009 by Michelle 20 Comments

I’m so happy to have a three-day weekend. It’s just the best thing. Especially when my Saturdays are always busy, it’s like I’m actually getting a weekend this weekend. I haven’t done a lot of stitching though, which is a shame. But, I’ve been getting some things done around the house. I did get in some good time on my leaves for Simple Things, as you can see. I have to finish with that second, darker green and then the leaves are done. I love what the leaves do to this piece. It’s like with every part I complete of this one, I love it more. Blackbirds are next.

But, you know how sometimes, another project just starts calling your name and you feel like suddenly you need to set aside whatever you’re working on and just go get it? Well, that happened to me yesterday. Eric and I had been working on power cleaning the kitchen yesterday morning. We were talking about some things we’d like to do in there, and I suddenly remembered a piece I’d started for the kitchen. I haven’t worked on it since April of 2008, apparently. But, I pulled it out of the WIP bin and put it on my q-snaps. Last night, while watching Witchblade, I worked on that white block.

And, since I’m sure nobody probably remembers this piece, it’s Cuisine d’Ete by Echevette. I’m stitching it with three colors of DMC on 32ct Lemon Zest by Silkweaver. I love this piece so much, and it will look fantastic in my kitchen with my Lemon Meringue Sampler. So, I’ll probably work a bit more on it tonight.

And I had intended to do some cutting and piecing on the baby quilt, but that hasn’t happened this weekend. Next weekend, perhaps.

I finally got around to posting some more of my Miami photos here, if you’d like to take a look. And you can see some of the amazing food Eric’s been making this weekend here. Mmmm. Last night we had BBQ, cole slaw, and baked beans. So, so good! That’s one of the best things about holiday weekends – being home for his cooking!

I am grateful for time together.

On to September

August 31, 2009 by Michelle 25 Comments

The last of the birthday weekend finishes…

Happy Birthday Stocking
Blackbird Designs
Weeks, Crescent Colors & GAST on 30ct Irish Cream by R&R
Finished 8/20/09

February’s Violet Stocking
Blackbird Designs
GAST & Crescent Colors on 30ct Irish Cream by R&R
Finished 8/26/09

For my birthday, I usually have a new start. This year, I decided to just start something little. I’d been wanting to stitch up some of the BBD stockings, and the Happy Birthday stocking seemed like a perfect choice for birthday stitching. My grandmother’s birthday is near mine too, and when she was alive we always celebrated our birthdays together. She used to grow African violets, so stitching February’s Violet was a natural choice once I finished my birthday stocking. I had a piece of Irish Cream linen cut big enough for two stockings, and that’s what these both called for in the pattern. Fortuitous, no? So, that’s the last of what I got done on or near my birthday weekend of stitching fun. And let me just say, for the record, the more I stitch with them the more I love Crescent Colors threads. They are so pretty and squishy and I love them.

Oh, and I also meant to share with you a little finishing tip. The thing I stumbled upon that made the finishing on my peacock piece so much easier – a curved needle. I’ve never used one before, but that thing was the best! Usually, I am fighting with a straight needle to stitch something down, but that curved needle was the absolute best. I found a package of them at Jo-anne’s with the sewing tools. Just thought I’d pass it along!

And having finished up stitching both those little stockings, I went back to stitching on Simple Things. I’ve finished the flowers (except for that bud in the corner), and have moved on to leaves. There are a ton of leaves, but I’m stitching with thread called “Guacamole”, so how can I complain?

I think adding the Red Pear (pink) in there, made all the difference. The colors on this really work together now. I didn’t stitch at all yesterday, even though I was hoping to get a lot of stitching in. I did go to the quilt shop and pick up some fabric for the baby quilt. I think I’m going to use some 30s repro fabric with muslin. I love that combination for baby quilts. I think I’ve got a pattern picked out too. But, yesterday my allergies were getting the better of me, so I wasn’t feeling so hot. I really just wanted to spend the day curled up under my quilt reading my book. Which, I did primarily. So, no stitching.

Tomorrow night is guild night (has it really been a month?), and we are having our annual stash sale. I spent some time yesterday going through my stash and pulling out and pricing stuff to sell. Funny how our tastes change over time, huh? Anyway, I pulled a bunch of charts and some fabric to sell. Anything that doesn’t go, I’ll post for sale/trade here. But here’s hoping I come home empty-handed.

I am grateful for lemon meringue pie.

Monogram Pincushion

August 27, 2009 by Michelle 23 Comments

Monogram Pincushion (from Loose Feathers No. 36)
Blackbird Designs
Weeks and Crescent Colors on 30ct Old Mill Java from R&R
Stuffed with crushed walnut shells
Mounted on base from Milady’s Needle
Stitched 8/14/09 Finished 8/23/09

So, I promised you more photos of my other finishes this weekend. Well, here you go! You may remember that I recently stitched up this piece (all in a Friday night). After finishing my Peacock Pinkeep, the next thing on my finishing list was this pincushion. I dyed my chenille trim at the same time I was doing the trim for my Peacock, so it was ready to go when I needed it. My pincushion is filled with crushed walnut shells. And of course, you remember I had purchased the gorgeous Milady’s Needle hand-turned walnut base a few months ago. That base is really what makes the piece. I know you can’t see it really in my artsy photo, but trust me…you want one of these! (And no, I’m not getting kick-backs from Milady…in fact I’m laughing that my base went from Texas to California then back to me in Texas.) The finishing on this one was super easy and it went together easily in an afternoon.

I do have a couple other stitching finishes to show you next time too. I spent my time well over my mini-vacation! The next projects I need to tackle are going to require getting out my sewing machine. I still need to finish up my Shepherd’s Bush wall-hanging, and I also have a baby quilt I need to make for a friend. So, there may be sewing going on soon too. Gasp!

That’s it for me today. I am anticipating the weekend, in the hopes that this craptastic week I’m having will be over. But, I’m trying to focus on the good stuff. And there is good stuff! Thanks for stopping by!

I am grateful for something a little blackbird told me.

What I Did on My Birthday Vacation

August 25, 2009 by Michelle 23 Comments

Peacock Pinkeep (Loose Feathers #35)
Blackbird Designs
Belle Soie on 28ct Gingham linen by Weeks
Stitching Finished 5/30/09
Finishing Finished 8/23/09

Over my birthday weekend, I decided I wanted to use my four days to finish up some things that needed a bit of uninterrupted time to work on. My first goal was to put together my Peacock Pinkeep. The piece actually took me a lot longer to put together than I anticipated (this is always the case with me…I have no ability to judge how long something will take). Anyway, it wasn’t as difficult to put together as I had imagined, just a little fiddly. Actually, what took me the longest time was dying the chenille trim. It was a bit trial and error to get it the color I wanted. And since I didn’t think ahead to dye it while I was putting the piece together, but instead waited until I needed it to dye it, it took more time than it should have. But, I am really happy with how it turned out.

And I am still very happy with my choice to stitch this with two strands of Belle Soie rather than the one strand the pattern called for. I love how deep and rich the color is.

I did have a great birthday, thanks to Eric and my wonderful friends. I also had a couple other finishes over the weekend that I need to share with you. Another finishing finish, and a stitching finish. I was on a roll. And I got to enjoy myself with a stitching night, a movie night, couch time with Twilight on, etc. So fun!

I am grateful for feeling special.