WIP myself into shape, Week 4

No exercise this week --- just snow and cold and wind and... no motivation at all!

This week's WIP is "Garden Stars" by Ink Circles, stitching DMC, 2 over 2, on Silkweaver overdyed 32-ct Lugana, color "Scattered Leaves". Four days of stitching and not even half the first motif done!

January 2011 Bead Journal Project

"January Ice"

Started with a Mardi Gras mask template from online, reduced by 50%. Transferred to a piece of white felt which I then beaded. Cut out the felt, attached to the background fabric, glues a snowflake to the white shell bead, edged the cut-out with some string "beads" and added the "tassels" of Swarovsky crystal (sadly, what I thought were white crystal drops show up yellowish in light... Oh well). and glass beads.

I learned that felt is tricky to bead on --- little strings of the wool kept attacking my needle, making placement of beads tedious. I also learned that beads will come off if you cut too close!  And that the ink I used to transfer the project is still a little visible. So some felt and some ink still show. Have to come up with another way for February.

Not sure how I'm going to finish this. I wanted to go smaller than last years 5 x5 but now it looks like 5 by 7 rectangles will be the end result.

Oh, yes, and masks are my 2011 theme! Why? I don't know. I just saw a Venetian mask and that was it...

WIP myself into shape, Week 3

Another week ending with no exercise *and* only BJP "in progress". There are several charts and kits in the mail (BAAAD!) but I haven't decided on what to stitch next.

"Fountain Mandala" is complete

with a change... I simply couldn't face doing a single cross stitch in metallic thread  in the middle of each box stitch. I just KNEW that there would be traveling threads visible through that linen. So I substituted beads!

Here is a close-up of the beading detail in the corners - you can see the beads in the box stitches as well as on the border, in the flower centers and on the bird cage.:


And here is a close-up of the fountain (the water is outlined in backstitch in silver treasure braid):

WIP myself into shape, Week 2

Snow and cold --- my excuses for no walking. Does carrying Christmas decorations up and down stairs to the basement count?

"Fountain Mandala" is progressing but there is still quite a bit of DMC stitchery to go (stems of the flowers in the corners, some more green around the fountain base, the three shades of grey in the fountain itself and the black backstiching on the fountain.)... That center piece was a counting nightmare!



Then it's metallics (gold and silver) and beads (gold)! There is alight at the end of this tunnel. And I have my BJP 2011 theme designed and am ready to stitch!

WIP myself into shape, Week 1

Walking --- one mile. 20 minutes for each of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Snow on Thursday and didn't make it to the gym --- ooops! Oh well, baby steps!

"Fountain Mandala" by Elizabeth Almond, published in issues 53 and 54 of "The Gift of Stitching". 28 ct linen, DMC floss in pastels, black and grey;  Rainbow Gallery gold and silver braid; and Mill Hill gold seed beads --- not my usual color preferences. But it is heavy into blackwork and that is what tempted me!

12 charts, and I'm working at this DMC first, then braid, then beads. So while I have stitched the majority of DMC parts in the first six charts I can't really say I'm anywhere near half-way through...

Ringing in the New Year with a completion!

Paisley Jacobean, a pre-sewn needlepoint card case that was a give-away on our cruise last October. Kit by Stitch & Zip from the Alice Peterson Co. 14 mesh canvas using six-strands of floss. Started, and finished, January 1, 2011!