Thankful to be done

I did it! I gave up a little bit of sleep and ignored a few chores and I finished Metamorphosis 4.0. I think it looks smashing!

As a refresher -- this is stitched over 2 on 28 ct cornflower Jobelan using Carrie's Creations silk in Periwinkle. I think the tone-on-tone with just a hint of varigation looks fantastic. I do love blue!

It's already at the framers … I can't wait to see it all done up.

I am very thankful to be done this piece though. Four times is too much for one design, especially when you stitch the last two versions back-to-back. Ugh - won't do that again.

I'm trying very hard to resist a new start (goodness knows I have enough stash to have a dozen new starts at least). I did however pull out Elizabeth by Mirabilia and put her back on a Millenium frame. She got a few stitches Thursday night and I enjoyed them all! Pics of her next week. :)

Metamorphosis 4.0

I'd been doing so well all year -- blogging 6-7 times a month -- now I can barely scrape together one post a month. Sorry!

I travelled for two weeks at the end of October / beginning of November, and even though I brought some stitching with me, I didn't pick up my needle once. I just really have not had the desire to stitch. I have especially not wanted to work on Metamorphosis again.

However, I did manage to force myself to put in some time and stitches once I got back home. It's amazing what a few hours of concentrated stitching can do!

I must admit I'm getting pretty tired of this pattern. Thankfully blue is my favourite colour! Now that I'm past the halfway point, I am starting to love this piece again.

Only two more motifs to go!

Thread & Eye Stitching Retreat

Last weekend I went to my LNS' stitching retreat. The first day and a half was spent just chillin and stitchin, and then on Saturday I spent the day (and most of the evening) working on the counted canvas class project. After a little extra work once I got home, I managed to finish it.

The design is by Needle Delights. The class was wonderfully organized and everyone was able to pick a colourway they liked with an array of different floss types. As an added bonus, a finishing method was provided too. It isn't simply a frame for the stitching, but it's actually a trivet/mug coaster. How cool is that?

Bye bye bug

I have lost my stitchy bug. He has been gone for quite a while now. I certainly haven't had much time to stitch in the past 6 weeks, what with school starting and my own research activities really ramping up.

But, what I think really made my stitchy bug disappear was my mom's poor health. She was diagnosed with cancer in April and spent the summer receiving chemotherapy treatments. The last 3 months have been terribly difficult. She was ravaged by the chemo and the cancer; she spent most of her time sleeping and wasting away. At the end of September, she lost the battle and passed away.

Stitching has been my therapy, my relaxation, my happy place for years now, but somehow I find it very difficult to muster the energy it takes to pull out my stitching and work on it.

So I am sorry that I have not updated the blog in a while and I am sorry I have no pictures to share. I'm sure you can understand why though.

I'm off to a stitching retreat this weekend, and I'm hoping that will rejuvenate me and kick my stitchy bug back into gear.

Next time there will be pictures. Promise.

Double the starts

So I did a little something silly for IHSW -- I started two new projects! (I know, I know. I already have a kajillion on the go, what the hell am I thinking starting more? Trust me, I squash that little voice often!)

So my little stitchy group got together on Friday night and most of us started an "A-maze-ing Dessert" from Glendon Place as a sort-of SAL. There's a Pumpkin Swirl, a Tiramisu, a moldy Plum Pudding (aka Plum Pudding done in greens instead of purples), and I started Baked Alaska.

This is my first time using Dinky Dyes silks and so far I am liking them very much! Others in the stitchy group have also found them a joy to stitch with. There's just something about quality silks!

The group hadn't really seen each other since before the summer, so more talking than stitching got done. I'll have an actual progress pic when there are more than 10 stitches to show off.

I also started another project -- can anyone guess what it might be?

Both of these projects are done in silk - I forgot how lovely stitching with silk is! I'm tempted to start a few more things now. LOL

The biggest dress ever

I've been working on Elizabeth by Mirabilia in spurts lately, but there has definitely been progress! The big black bow is mostly done and I've finally started adding to her skirt on the left-hand side. Knowing there are several more pages of pattern just of her skirt ... it blows my mind how big her dress is. Holy cow she's going to be huge!

Thankfully she's beautiful and fun to stitch. :)

Another happy dance!

It feels so good to have another happy dance! I finished Metamorphosis by Ink Circles for the third time.

I changed the colours for this one a few times mid-way through the project, and I'm so glad I did. I think the progression from yellow to orange to red works really well. It's all ironed and ready to go to the framers later this week.

*dancing*

Neglected Blackwork

I don't think I've touched my blackwork project, Ciara Blue by Blackwork Journey, all summer. It feels like it's been forever! I finally picked it up tonight and gave it a little love.

It is definitely a delicate, beautiful piece. I totally love it.

I do find blackwork difficult to concentrate on for long periods of time. It is best done in short spurts. :)

six motifs done & one to go

The fire colourway of Metamorphosis by Ink Circles is looking great! I am loving how this piece is growing! 

Just one more motif in dark red to go!

An unexpected happy dance

I went to visit my parents briefly this weekend and of course I took a few projects along with me. Mostly I did schoolwork, but I did find a few late night hours to put into stitching. Lo and behold, I made progress. A lot of progress!

So much progress, in fact, that Birds of a Feather by From Nancy's Needle, my very first counted canvas piece, was finished!

I am delighted with how it turned out though. And yes, I will stitch another canvas piece, but I've decided not to start something right away. I'd like to make some more progress on the size of my WIP pile before I start more projects (and there are already a few new planned starts in the pipeline).

I'd like to frame it and put it on the wall, but I'm undecided how I want it framed and what colour mats to put with it. Any suggestions? I think this one might require some prolonged thought before it goes to visit the framer.