Turtle Trot Progress April 2014

March

 

Once again this month I have been concentrating on 2 project that are gifts: the Leopard pillow and the Heron.  Moreso the Leopard, as I am anxious to see it given.  The grin on the recipient's face should be spectacular!

April

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress on the Great Blue Heron:

March

April

 

Aigrettes are complete, and a little more of the neck filled in.  I am tweaking the backstitching as I go, to make the lines a little smoother.











 Have had to restart one of my Turtle Trot projects.  The "Larissa" bracelet  became damaged and I've started again, even making some changes to the colours to make the knotwork pattern stand out a little better.



Speaking of Big Awesome Projects, this month I have been helping a friend with one of a different kind: preparing for her wedding.  It is amazing what this lady is doing with a shoestring budget and a bit of time.  All the flowers and decorations are being prepared by her and I, she is printing the paperwork herself from originals I calligraph, favours and guestbook of course, and so on.  We scoured consignment and secondhand shops for clothes for months, knowing that we could make the dresses and suits if we have to.  Her favourite approach is to go through all sorts of books, sites, and pictures, combining different details she likes and then turning to me and saying: "sure we can do that!"  Usually she's right!  It means a lot of hours puzzling out exactly how, and it's a grand lot of fun.

May your needles be ever ready and your colours never run.

Turtle Trot Progress March 2014

Ok, so a little late...

Spent most of the month sick, so progress is limited.  Still, the leopard pillow is now about 3/4 finished the center panel,

Before

Now

Eventually!

 |










and progressing at a reasonable pace. 







The Great Blue Heron is also well started.  Adding in the backstitching as I go along really helps bring depth.  Hard to believe there are 17 different colours already.

Done page 1 of 12

Before

WIPocalypse at ThreadNeedle House

Today I came across the WIPocalypse 2014 stitch-along challenge at Measi's Musings blog and decided this might be just the thing to help with my goal of less WIPs/UFOs by the ewnd of 2014 that I have at the start.

So, the deal goes: sign up, pick ufo projects to work on - adjust list as needed throughout the year - and post progress pics approximately each full moon.

This could get very interesting ...

I have way too many UFOs and need to get them finished. These include, in no particular order:

A lot of emotion in this one

Only the wolf "Silent Night" by Kayomi

This one is older than some of my children :(

Anyone know how to get boot polish out of aida?

Also on this list of UFO/WIP goals:

• Finish unto framing all of DSs dragons; unless he'd rather have them quilted, in which case finish quilt by fall.
• At least half of the smaller UFO's finished and placed.  Call it a dozen.
• Finish that blessed bracelet!

  

  44spi on 22ct hardanger

• Embroider period-appropriate finish on the 15th century Irish leine and gown still hanging on my dressmaker's form.  I need the form back.
• Complete a useable yubinuki at least neat enough that the cat stops laughing at me.
• Stitched gifts done in good time.  Including the leopard pillow currently working on.
• Beadwork pieces Victoria's Garden, Alexandra's Tears, Mother's Son, and Joyous Love.
• Stitch from stash.

Yes, I know it's a little vague.  Pictures as I go along should make it clearer. 

On the other hand keeping to the goal of stitching from my stash is much easier while I'm focusing on finishing up projects rather than starting new ones!

Turtle Trot Progress Feb 10, 2014

February Turtle Trot Progress Update!

I've joined BAP Attack's 2014 Turtle Trot, which involved choosing 10 projects to work on over the course of the year and posting updates on them monthly.  Managed a little progress this month on the leopard pillow and Great Blue Heron, while working on other things.

This one is for a gift, and the recipient was hinting to find out if it would be ready for a birthday gift this past month.  Sorry honey, not this year!  I am concentrating on this one, though, to get it done and gifted - maybe namesday or Pascha.  A little discouraging when I think of how much time I've put in vs. how much remains, but it's moving along.  Hup, hup!

Made a start on Great Blue Heron, and it's working up better than expected.  This is on lugana, over-1, and having a lot less issue with stitches slipping under the threads than the last time I worked on a linen-type fabric.  Only the bill and a bit of the face so far and really enjoying it.  Love the clarity of Crossed Wing Collection patterns!  So easy to read!


 I think this one will get it's backstitching as I go along.  Usually I'll wait till all done then backstitch all in one go.  This bird has several different colours of outlining, though, and I'm curious to see how they'll look together.

I've also been experimenting with patterns uploaded to an ereader and/or phone in an effort to find something a little more portable.  So, that's working out fine and led to further experimentation.  My new cellphone has a great camera, so I discovered that I can take a picture of the pattern segments and enlarge the section I'm working on to whatever size I need.  Yay!  No more carrying around books (eg Leopard) or fussing with huge sheets (eg GBH) or losing lines of symbols at the creases from repeated folding!  No more headaches from squinting at tiny little symbols!

Now I just need to figure out how to link this post ...
Well, time to get a stitch on.

May your needles be always sharp and your colours never fade.

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