Thistle Too

Now that Thistle Too is done, I'm taking a Periwinkle Promises break and working on some hardanger Christmas ornaments.  They're easy and they require no finishing beyond attaching a hanger and washing/ironing.  Maybe I'll have enough done by Christmas to avoid being disowned.

 

Over the last few months, I started making beaded eyeglass leashes.  Most of us, as we get a little older, need a little magnification to stitch. So we buy those adorable little reading glasses to make us feel a little less frumpy about needing them.  And you don't want to lose them, so you need a pretty eyeglass chain to keep them handy.  

In the meantime, I continue to add new fobs and counting pins to my shop. 

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PP Binge

Do you have a designer that you just can't ignore?  Barbara Rakosnik of Periwinkle Promises is one of my all time favs. I just love the way she combines stitches and colors in her samplers.  The little Accent Samplers are such fun pieces to do when you just need a sampler stitch fix.  And you cannot go wrong with her instructions. Her stitch diagrams and written instructions are so clear that you can try a brand new stitch and get it right the first time!

The Thistle Celebration pulled me out of my stitching slump recently and then I just couldn't help myself. I pulled out one of the few Sampler Accents that I haven't stitched yet. "Cornflower Sampler Accent" is a little 4" by 5" sampler to be made into a pin pillow with tassels on the corners.  I cannot begin to tell you how many of these I've stitched.  Two nights of stitching bliss! 

 So I started the Cranberry Delight Accent last night. I'll probably stitch several more before I move on.

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THIS is What I Love to Do!

The Thistle Celebration by Periwinkle Promises is sooooo much fun to stitch. I just love Barbara Rakosnik's use of stitches and color in her designs.  Even though I've frogged a bit already, I'm really enjoying this piece.  The only problem I'm having is that the colors are so close that I have to be extremely careful not to mix them up.

Thistle Celebration 09-18-12

I only had one miscount on the Holbein band, which I thought was pretty impressive. I usually get lost and have to do a lot of frogging, but no this time. And I didn't even use Barbara's very explicit diagram.  I've decided that figuring out Holbein motifs without a chart is my way of staving off dementia.  It's definitely a puzzle.

As you can see, I've just started the large satin stitch band. The satin stitch motifs are divided by bands of diagonal cross stitch. What a relief! At first I thought it was Diagonal Montenegrin which taxes my brain considerably. 

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Happy Birthday to Mama

I just love stitching on a deadline. Mama's birthday is next Tuesday. I have to get this thing in the mail tomorrow. I'm shocked I remembered to take a picture before I wrapped it and boxed it up. But here it is. And I don't have to worry that she'll see it here because she doesn't read my blog even though my auto-signature on my email has a link. Pretty sure she doesn't know what a blog is!

My mama loves everything I stitch so it's not much of a challenge to find just the right thing for her. But she really loves samplers (thank goodness) so I whipped out this "Snow Flower Accent" from Periwinkle Promises. I've probably stitched more of Barbara Rokosnik's work than any other designer. I did nineteen in one year so my LNS could have it's own little PP trunk show. (Barbara's trunk show was booked up for about 2 years!) But I digress... These little accents are supposed to be pillows with little tassels on the corners, but they make great mini framed pieces. It comes out about 4" x 5". I had some scrap pieces of this moulding so I was able to frame it without ordering more or going to the frame shop. And to top it off, I have an extra piece of fabric (the back of the intended pillow) and enough silk left over to do it again...assuming no frog stitching. And when was the last time that happened?

So, now I go back to the birthday present I can't show you because Laura does read my blog.

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