Stitching Class

So, way back in mid-October my LNS hosted an awesome specialty weekend class. They brought in the prolific blackwork designer Elizabeth Almond of Blackwork Journey to teach a 2-day class on blackwork.

While I have done a decent amount of blackwork in the past (mostly Elizabeth's design too) and currently have her Ciara Blue design on a frame, I decided it couldn't hurt to learn some tips, tricks, and pointers from one of the best.

We were given a choice of designs to work from, and I chose Floral Fantasy:

It's a neat design because it's customizable. You can choose to do all 16 squares or 9 squares or 4 squares or just 1 square. I decided to do 4 squares -- over 2 on 32 ct white evenweave. And over the course of the weekend, I got a decent amount of progress done:

I sadly haven't had the chance to pick it up again since the classes, but I do want to finish this piece. I've chosen some lovely green metallic and bronze beads to "bling it up."

March TUSAL and a Mini Finish

It feels so good and so right to be stitching. I don't know what was wrong with me at the end of February, but I'm glad everything is back to normal and I'm a crazy stitching nut once again!

It's TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitchalong) time and my jar of ORTs looks like a clown threw up in it. What a mishmash of colours! On top, there are purple threads from Metamorphosis, then some red and white threads from Drama Queen, then more red and green from my other poppy kit, and under all that, you can even see some of the gorgeous purple silk from the Oh Bugger Subversive Sampler.

It hasn't felt like I've done much stitching, but it sure sounds like I have! LOL

I popped on over to my LNS on Wednesday for their monthly Open Stitch Night (which I haven't been to in almost a year!) and I had a delightful time. It's been ages since I stitched with other people, and I forgot how amazing it feels to have people get excited about your work and to have so many great WIPs around to inspire you. I love seeing people work on projects that I would NEVER do. I get the satisfaction of seeing it grow without having to do it myself. :) Anyway, for a change of pace, I pulled Metamorphosis out of my "UCJC drawer of starts", and did a little work on it.

And now, my mini finish ... the first of eight motifs from Metamorphosis by Ink Circles, stitched on 32 ct Heritage lugana, 2 over 2 with the recommended GAST threads (this one is done in Grape Arbor).

I don't want to put this down, but I have a real finish on the horizon, so I'm going back to work the poppy kit some more.

Oh ... and even though I started 31 new projects in January, and already had 2 big projects on the go, during my visit to my LNS this week I bought MORE stash. Seriously, as if I need more patterns. But I LOVE the dragon signets designed by Firewing Designs, so I picked up 2 of them, Messenger and Samurai, (and will likely have my LNS order in a few more).

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:

How much can one person stitch in a lifetime?

I don't know why I keep buying charts. I don't think it is possible to stitch all that I already own in my lifetime. (Unless of course I win the lottery and do nothing but stitch for the next 40 years. Sadly that is not likely to happen.)

But I do love owning such pretty things. There is something reassuring about having a chart in your possession, and not in the land of "I'll buy it when I have time to stitch it." I always worry that a chart I adore will be discontinued or retired before I'm ready to stitch it.

And so ... I bought Ice Blossoms by Just Nan. I even got the embellishment pack with it. (More incentive to stitch it soon!)

Confessions of a stash addict

I know that I already have enough stash to last me YEARS, but that doesn't seem to stop me from browsing (and often buying) even more charts. On a whim today, I googled "fractals" and poked around the web looking at these designs.

I love fractals. Maybe because there is simplicity and complexity in them at the same time, maybe because I love the colours, maybe I don't quite know why, but I love them.

I came across a wonderful site, Cross Stitch Collectibles, that has mostly classic art, florals, landscapes, those kinds of designs in cross stitch, but they also had a huge selection of fractals. It was all I could do not to buy half a dozen charts.

Some of my favourites:

Let's see how long I hold out before I buy a few ...

My story continues ...

So, in January 2010, after pushing aside my stitching and getting too wrapped up in schoolwork, I finally gave myself license to stitch daily as part of my "me time." With that kind of consistent effort, my stitching project progressed rapidly. I wish I had taken pictures as I went.

By the end of March 2010, I finished my first piece of cross stitch. It had taken almost a year to complete. The piece isn't very big, about 5" x 7", but it's finished!!

It still needs to be washed, pressed, and framed. I'll post pics when it's done.

During that year, I was addicted to visiting Michael's and the local stitching shop in London, ON, the Thread & Eye. My pattern and kit collection grew and grew. I fell in love with several artists/designers, like Teresa Wentzler, Mirabilia, and Heaven and Earth Designs. I must admit that my love for HAED is a recent discovery. In particular, I adore two artists' work that is featured there - Amy Brown and Julie Fain. I also came across the work of Sue Coleman translated into cross stitch. All of it is breathtaking in its own way.

I now have a ton of projects to choose from. I wish I could do them all right this second. I'm dying to have a big, beautiful work of art of my own on my wall. The wait might just kill me though. :)