projects never end

i have been a bit busy so i haven't blogged in a week or more. life seems to do that to ya.
i have stitched a bit which is always a great way to spend time away from the computer.

i am still working on my knot tree and i love it more and more as you can see i had to add a punch of color. sometimes i have to jump into a color it is like cake for the brain for me. but as i said before the whole process of making colonial knots is such a Zen movement just like cross stitch.

i have also been working on Mary Wigham with the ladies and i have made some progress always wish it was more.
last but of course not least is my Hare Pyns project from Sherri Jones, i have completed all stitching and made the littel notebook which i adore,this picture is the back of the book. the little tiny scissor fob was really a tad bigger but i love minatures. the scissor sheath is almost done just need to clip the felt around. love the colors truly brain cake!

really what has occupied some of my time this past few weeks is two very good friends  have brought beautiful babies into this crazy, sad, lovely world. i am just so pleased that i will have part in their lives. looking forward more than usual to the years ahead. Welcome Ruby and Ottto to the world!

colonial knots or french knots?

i bought this pattern by Teresa Layman at Attic Needlework last year. as soon as i saw some of her finished designs in this technique i knew i had try it.
i have been working on it for a day and oh my gosh the texture is incredible. i love the tree. i love cross stitching trees and i pretty much knew it would be a great piece. it is amazing that a simple french or colonial knot can bring so much to a piece of cloth.  i love the simple pattern, the bird, the flowers all connecting back to the tree.

i do love cross stitching and i can't imagine anything taking it's place but i can never turn down a new idea or a unique piece. i think i will always go from stitching to fimo to drawing to fabric. i am happy i can and that i don't have to wait for any recognition to continue or even to wait to finish my day job.
i love art, you don't have to please anyone but yourself!

  just enjoy the process and enjoy the journey as you travel it.

starting and finishing

i treasure the moment i start each new project. finding the materials you think you will need, the shopping for them online or in your favorite store, the gathering of information from the designer or the fun of creating your own design. i must admit like most of us i have a few projects in this state, waiting for that first stitch or the first time i lay it all out and give it my full attention.
i also treasure the ending of a project the anticipation of how i will frame it, or what the final outcome may be for each particular piece. yet it is never easy to finish a project, i sometimes want a project i really love to continue like a good book and  i also want it finish in a unique way not a typical framed piece. Yet no matter how i finish i always have a great feeling of accomplishment and eagerness to start the next adventure.

The Hare Pyns Needlebook has been a great project, the colors call you to attention the first time you see it and then of course the unique design of Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods Desgin. i love that it had a stitches that i haven't done on a piece before, the Florentine, amazing flow this stitch has, the Encroaching Goblin, the texture it gives and it looks amazing. You can see by the picture i am almost ready to start the final finishing stitches. so of course my mind starts to wonder what will be next?
i must always remind myself to stop and appreciate all that has gone into a project and the time i spent making it happen and the incredible people i meet along the way. This needlebook will hold a special place in my memory bank, meeting and spending a full weekend with Sherri Jones and Beth my dear friend. the fun of just hanging out, the laughter, the stories each of us shared about creating. this is one that will hold many memories and one that i will keep for myself.
till the next projects enjoy the one you are creating now.

February ends

What a great weekend. started with my regular monthly stitch date with my four best women friends. this month we were celebrating Beth's birthday, stitching, great food,tea and then we get to give Beth her gifts. it is always fun to make something or buy that one thing that speaks directly to the person you intend it for. 
i was lucky that i got to stay on for the whole weekend at Beth's house. Our guild was having it's annual tea and a few women from Canada came down to attend so it was a girls weekend at Beth's. lots of talking, some wine and the occassional stitch or two, plus the Olympics.
i had such fun playing lego rock star game with Beth's little girl and realized playing drums and singing a Jimi Hendrix's song is very hard yet extrememly funny.
woke up on sunday and off to the tea, a great program on Scottish samplers, and of course now i need to design my own, the houses, the lawns, and the animals are wonderful.

the picture you see is the exchange we had in the guild this year. stitch a needlebook of any size with any motif you like and then we exchanged them.  i recieved Shirley's beautiful black work needlebook that opens into what you see. so beautiful. i love stitch surprises. the one i made has the alphabet,crown on it and i used an old cloth napkin i have had for the inside. there were so many incredible unique designs i wish i could post them all.
now it i am off to get a bit of stitching or back to my necklaces.
march is here!