Like the Layers of an Onion ...

I've been working on the Thread & Eye Mandala SAL for the past 3 days. This design solidifies why I love geometric patterns. As I slowly add each new colour and shape to the project, it's as if I have a whole new piece in front of me. (I'm not exactly a pink person, but the darkest shade is a wonderfully rich berry colour and it is stunning.)

I keep thinking that I should stop and just leave it as is because it's beautiful.

I must add in a pic that showcases how small stitching over 1 on 25 ct really is:

Couldn't you imagine this design as an ornament? Picture it in icy blues, whites, and silvers .. what a snowflake it would make!!

Each element adds something exciting ... I love watching as the design unfolds. This project in particular is exciting because I chose my own colorway, and since I'm not the most visual person, I can't picture in my head the way the colours will come together in the design, so it's a constant surprise for me. A delight to stitch!

Then I add the next part and it's even more perfect then before.

December Update on the Blackwork SAL

I was supposed to go to my LNS last night for the Blackwork SAL, but alas the snow put a stop to that. Instead I used that time to work on my blackwork project at home. I must admit I'm not enjoying this as much as I thought I would. I already know I don't like doing backstitch on other projects, but I thought that if the backstitch was the focus of a project (like it is in blackwork) I might like it better. Sadly no.

I'm stitching it 1 over 1 on 25 ct lugana. It's small. Very small. Keep in mind my scissors are only 3.5" in length.

And a close-up of the fill patterns. Some I really like, and others I really do not.

Home Sweet Home - One Week Later

Actually it's only been 6 days, but who's counting, right?

Well, I've finished almost half a page, or roughly 2500 stitches. I've had a very difficult time putting this piece down. While I'm not exactly loving the colours I'm working with at the moment, I feel like I need to stitch like mad so I can get to the good parts. I love seeing the wonderful (and sometimes wacky) colour combos and shading that is in this design come into view. Right now some of it doesn't seem to work when the piece is 6 inches away from my face, but I think it'll work when the bigger picture is viewed from a respectable distance.

HSH will have to be put aside for a few days though. I have the Blackwork SAL at my LNS this week, and I haven't touched the project since last month. *looks guilty* I don't think I've put up any pictures of my Blackwork since the first one of the blue cross stitch border. I'll rectify that in my next post. Time to get busy stitching!

My First HAED - Home Sweet Home by Lierre Foest

I have finally found/made time to start my very first HAED. I have chosen Home Sweet Home because it's funky and the colours are just crazy! There are 11 shades of orange and 22 shades of green in this design. I love it!!

I've had the materials for this project kitted up since July (though I have changed fabrics three times in the interim) but I always had other, more pressing projects on the go.

I love the look of all the floss laid out, just waiting for me to start stitching.

And painstakingly wound on bobbins ...

I started to grid my fabric (25 ct antique white Lugana), but the tediousness of gridding wore down my limited amount of patience rather quickly. I gave up after gridding the outline of the first few pages (which took me the better part of two hours). I bet the gridding will be ripped out shortly once it gets on my nerves enough. The next photo shows how big the fabric is for this project. The Q-snap on it is an 8" x 8" one. The finished piece will be 16" W x 22 1/2" H, which is ridiculous really. It's going to take me years to finish this. :) (Sorry, the lighting is terrible.)

I managed to put in about 250 stitches so far, all of which are the most hideous colours. Ick! I can't wait to get into the richer oranges, blues, greens, and pinks!

And a close up of my stitching (sorry lighting is terrible ... again).

I can't wait to stitch some more tomorrow!!

Updates (I really should be doing schoolwork ...)

I think better when I stitch. My fingers are busy, and somehow that quiets the noise in my head as I think a kazillion things and lets me concentrate on something specific.

And so, not only is my paper for school almost finished, but I have two projects to update!!

First of all, my Jasmine pixie now has arms, a torso, a head, and part of a flower hat. Just need to finish the hat and stitch up her wings (and of course add in a little more backstitching), and then she'll be ready for beading!

I also did a little more work on my SAL mandala. I've added in a third colour - blue! I had to force myself to put this one down and work on something else. It's so lovely to stitch.

Working on Little Things

It feels like I'm working on something different every day!

I finished this card a week or so ago, but I have more to make in the coming weeks.

Also, I decided I wasn't happy with the colourway for my Thread & Eye Mandala by Ink Circles (it's a SAL that I'm doing at my LNS), and so I have restarted the project with an entirely revamped palette. It's much earthier now, and I am finally enjoying stitching it. This mandala is still being stitched on 25 ct Lugana, 1 over 1 using HDF solid silks.

And I have to show off what a dear friend of mine gave me as a little Christmas present. My first stitchy gift from a non-stitcher. I think that is awesome!!

Working on a UFO

I haven't picked up my pixie since I was at the cottage at the beginning of August. So many other things had to be done, took precedence, and got in the way. It was really nice to get back into this piece and realize that I don't really have that much more to do.

Other than beading (which will have to wait until after a special trip to a beading store to find beads small enough), the entire bottom half of the pixie is finished. All she needs now is a torso, a head and some wings! I'm excited about how this will progress!

Butterfly Forest - Framed

Here it is ... all framed and ready to go.

Too many finishes means a lost stitcher

It's been a while since my last update. The tree has gone and come back from the framer's (I forgot to take a picture before I took it down to my parent's place, so a final picture will be forthcoming in early January) and it looks stunning!! I am in love with it and it will likely kill me to give it away. The butterflies are still at the framer's and a picture will be up as soon as I get it back.

Now that my two bigger projects with deadlines are done, I'm feeling a little lost. I spent a good week not really knowing what to stitch. I knew I needed to stitch a few Christmas cards but I wasn't that motivated. I did want to start a new big project, but wouldn't allow myself since I had so many little things to do. I have two stitch-a-longs to work on, plus a slew of Christmas ornaments and cards.

Just this past week I got my stitchy bug back, and I finally made a little progress. I managed to finish the stitching for three Christmas cards. The awesome sparkly fabric doesn't show on the snowflake and the smaller Christmas tree. :(

My LNS is hosting two stitch-a-longs this winter, one is a blackwork piece (pics to come in a future post) and the other is a specialty Ink Circles mandala. I chose my own colourway for it and am stitching it in Vikki Clayton silks on 25 ct antique white lugana. It's a long way from being finished, but I'm really liking how it's shaping up.

Butterfly Forest -- FINISHED

I did it!! I did it!! It felt like this day would never come, but finally it did!! The butterflies are over and done with!!

All it needs now is a quick ironing, then it's off to the framers! Huzzah!!

I don't know what I'll stitch next, but it definitely won't be a butterfly.