Another poppy is popping!

School has been crazy busy, so I haven't made as much progress as I would like, but still, the stitches are going in. I've finished about 2.5 pages and the second poppy is starting to take shape.

So far this page has been very enjoyable to stitch -- nice big patches of colour. The confetti monster will get me later I am sure.

A Proper Try

I started learning how to crochet about a week ago -- a crochet-a-long (CAL) on Maybe Matilda's blog prompted me to give it a go. I used some grey worsted wool for my practice piece, mainly because it easily allowed me to see the stitches and what it was exactly I was doing.

The CAL is using a pattern for a cowl from Lion Brand Yarn, but since I dislike cowls and wouldn't ever wear one, I decided I had to give something more my style a try.

I fell in LOVE with the Bobble Baby Blanket that Maybe Matilda made. So, I did a little digging, a little research, and I concocted my own Bobble Scarf pattern. I emailed it to Maybe Matilda and she was a dear and helped me make sure it was viable.

And away I went ...

So far I have 3 inches crocheted. I'm using a bamboo yarn from Bernat that is simply gorgeous! It's soft and supple and so ... so ... touchable! It's going to make an awesome scarf! I'm so excited about it!

DQ after the Sept IHSW

A few posts ago, I showed you my almost finished first 2 pages of Drama Queen. I didn't put more than 20 stitches into it before this past weekend, so the progress you'll see is almost entirely from IHSW.

I'm loving it right now -- big chunks of colour, little or no confetti. Just a joy to stitch!

Like I Need Another Hobby ...

I managed to talk myself out of learning how to quilt (which I still want to learn someday), but I stumbled upon a blog, Maybe Matilda, that is hosting a crochet-a-long FOR BEGINNERS. Lots of pictures, detailed instructions, and starting with the very basics -- how could I not give it a try?!?

And so, I humbly present my first attempt at crocheting:

Just practicing single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet stitches. Haven't started an actual pattern yet.

Drama Queen - 2 down, 14 to go

The last few weeks when I've been working on Drama Queen has almost made me mental. The confetti is SO heavy, and while it looks great, it is exhausting and frustrating to work on. But late last night I got the urge to make the final push (and I almost succeeded).

There is one stitch left to do on page 1. (I'm waiting to stitch it because there is quite a bit of that colour on page 5.) I have 29 stitches left to do on page 2. (Most of which is confetti, which I just don't have the energy to tackle right now.) And I've put in almost 500 stitches onto page 5! (I decided to move to page 5 instead of page 3 because it looks a little less confetti heavy, and I need a page where I can make good progress for a while.) In total I have stitched 11,244 (or 14.27%) of the entire piece.

This is a close-up of the poppy. Here you can see some of the intricate confetti and the range of colours I get to use. There's purple in the centre of that flower!! Go figure!

During a confetti break last night, I made a quick card for a friend of mine who had a rough week last week. It's simple but I love the elegant lines of it. I might have to make a small pile of these, I like them that much. The stamp is from a new set I got from Denami Designs. They are lovely to work with! I wouldn't mind more stamps from there in the future.

Christmas is coming!!!

To be honest, I'm a bit of a humbug. (Okay, a big humbug.) But I like making (and giving) cards, and what better time of year then at Christmas? So, I have started stockpiling a variety of Christmas/holiday themed cards. It also provides a great excuse to buy more stamps and paper!

My first card was actually made because I was practicing resist techniques with distress inks.

I picked up a new snowflake embossing folder for my Cuttlebug. I just had to play with it!! Plus I like the clean and simple design. I made 3 of these; each with basic variations in paper etc.

I made 3 of these cards. I just changed the placement of paper to make each one unique.

Slow and not so steady progress ...

Time for another update on my HAED BB QS SAL project - QS Terra Fairy Sprite. Though we've been sent 5 of 6 pages in the chart, I am still slogging through page one. I don't know what it is with this one, but I just can't seem to make much progress at all!

Anyway, here she is for September:

Another start - Tree of Stitches

I always like to have a smaller project on the go, and since my Autumn Tree was finished faster than expected, I just had to go ahead and start another tree! (Seems to be a bit of a theme with me.)

This project is called the Tree of Stitches and was designed by Abi Gurden of TheStitchSpecialists Yahoo Group. It's my first time trying all of these specialty stitches, but the instructions so far are fantastic and I am looking forward to learning more.

I chose to stitch this 2 over 2 on 32 ct lugana in Siren's Ocean by Enchanting Lair. I love the colour and the mottling! So pretty! I'm using HDF silks for this as well (surprise, surprise). The trunk is done in HDF 5271, and the smyrna stitches in HDF White Chocolate.

Part 1:

My very first Smyrna stitch:

Parts 1 & 2:

Secret Finishes!!

Because certain people visit my blog on occasion, I have had to keep a few finishes secret until they received their gifts!

It's been the year of the baby it seems, and I have managed to finish two baby announcements for some of my closest friends.

This is a French Country Baby Sampler by JBW Designs that I adapted slightly. It is stitched on 25 ct antique white lugana 1 over 1 using variegated DMC 93. (The photo looks crappy - sorry!)

And this is Lickle Ted by DMC, stitched on 32 ct antique white lugana 2 over 2.