Lamp comparisons

Have been trying out full-spectrum lights and discovering some interesting side effects.  Checked a sunlamp type thing, an LED Ott-light mini, and a full size fluorescent Ott-light bulb.  Each of these I gauged against actual winter daylight, both full sunshine and (more usual here) bright but overcast, as well as a standard mini fluorescent fixture.

The sunshine-type lamp just does not cut it.  The light is decidedly yellowish and surprisingly dim, barely showing up against overcast morning light.  End up getting sleepy under this light, and trying to do needlework is a lost cause.  Just can not focus clearly enough.

The Ott-light folding mini LED starts out very bright when I open it, then fades somewhat over about 10 minutes.  Still bright enough for reading, but I end up having difficulty reading colour charts.  On the other hand, found it passing strange that the actual stitching is fine, and so are black-and-white charts or books; it's just the colour chart that is difficult.  The light itself I find is a clear white, brighter than overcast but less than full sun, much better than regular fluorescent, with what I can only describe as a "wake-up" quality.  I stay more alert under this LED than under a regular lamp, and the effect is stronger if the light is shining on me rather than in front of me onto my stitching, even when the overall brightness is not much different.

The full-size Ott-light fluorescent is really helpful.  Lighting levels better than overcast, similar to sunshine but whiter.  Stitching is going much faster and easier, with less eyestrain.  There is none of that irritating background noise that standard fluorescents produce, so none of the slowly-building headache either.  It's bright without glaring, clear white light shows true tones, and it wakes me up nicely.  In fact someone who seems to have a mild case of SAD has been sitting under it a couple of hours a day and is a lot more civilized. 

Really, the only down-side I see is that these bulbs are so expensive.  Otherwise there would be one in every area where I sit to stitch.  Oh well, have to see how long a lifespan they have with the wiring and use here.

Over all, the Ott-light folding mini LED is good for travelling and is proving itself worth the investment.  The full-size Ott-light fluorescent is worth every penny for the civilizing influence alone.

Turtle Trot Progress Jan 9-10/14

Progress shot for time between sign-up (Jan 9/14) and post day (Jan 10/14).   Needless to say, only so much in a day!

This is for "Dragon"

A LOT of blending filament in this one.  Also experimenting with backstitching as I go.

"Dragon" may go back in the bag for a bit, as I intend to focus more on the "Leopard" cushion and the heron piece for a while. 

Current standings:

This one is meant to be worn.

Get this finished to free up the frame!

"Rest" is a peregrine falcon

My goal is to have "Leopard", which was supposed to be a housewarming gift for one of  my kids, finished before the anniversary of moving out!

Turtle Trot 2014 Projects

Joining in BAP Attack's Turtle Trot 2014, and posting 10 pieces of needlework to work on in 2014.  These are fairly evenly divided between new starts and works in  progress.

In no particular order of preference:

"Chivalry Sampler" from "Mythical Moments" Stoney Creek Collection #125, on off-white 18ct aida. Adapting this as a wedding record.

"Bird Song" table runner by Carol Pederson, on 32 ct linen

"Dragon" from "Mythical Moments" Stoney Creek Collection #125, on off-white 18ct aida.  This is take two - lost the first effort while traveling, after 6 months of work, when almost 2/3 complete

"Larissa" bracelet, custom design from Heronries Needlework, on white 22 ct hardanger (2 over1) with silver findings.  Finishing this one should be interesting!

```Rest```by Wendy Jones from artwork by Kayomi, on cream 18 ct aida

 "Leopard" cushion from Cats of the World in Cross Stitch by Jayne Netley Mayhew and Nicki Wheeler, on 18 ct aida

"The Rose of Sharon" by Nora Corbett for Mirabilia

"Great Blue Heron" by Paula Minkelbize for Crossed Wing Collection, #34, on pewter 25 ct lugana linen

"Unicorn" by Jan Brett, on summer sky 28 ct linen

 Last but not least, a pieced embroidered quilt with Dancing Bunnies, from " Ballerina Bunnies Alphabet".  Each block is off-white 14 ct aida

Turtle Trot 2014

I have at last chosen my 10 projects for BAP Attack's Turtle Trot 2014. 

Choosing was a bit of a struggle, between "should" and "want to".  It was also a bit shaming how many pieces I actually found started but unfinished. 

Looking at this full drawer got me thinking about why these pieces had been set aside, and why they had been started in the first place.  Some of them have been set aside for years.  Some had got "lost" in moving - shows what I subconsciously think about where I've been living, that I never got around to fully unpacking - and some had lost/damaged patterns or colour charts.  A few had been started for people who no longer wanted them, for various reasons, and I just couldn't bear completely abandon the hours of work that had already gone into them.  Some just had bad associations.

Time for a little new year's introspection, to decide what I really want out of my stitching, and what really interests me enough to finish.  If these pieces are going to have my name on them, taking up hours of my life, given with love and joy, they better be something that makes my life and the lives of those around me richer.  I choose to work on the pieces that to me mean something good: the wedding sampler celebrating the marriage of dear friends; the housewarming gift for my newly-independant offspring.  A quilt begun in infancy and set aside when I lost the pattern, continued to remind another child I have always loved her, and always will.

The birds are a big psychological step.  In one, I am taking back a bit of my identity and claiming my rightful place in the family.  The other one I started many years ago at the insistence of my husband, and set aside when his abuse got really bad; it hurt too much emotionally, perverting my love of needlework into submission to fear.  It's taken a lot of years to get past the stomach-curdling conditioned fear response to anything associated with him, but I refuse to allow him any power in my life.  That proud, wild bird is now a symbol of me and my individuality that he was too stupid to value.

Threadneedle House

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