Almost There!

Warm up your dancing shoes! I'm almost ready to do the Happy Dance.

The cutwork band is finished without nearly as much swearing as was heard during the torturous stitching of the 'Satin Stitch Band From Hell'. Perhaps that is due to the excessive knocking on wood by my husband every time I said, "I'm cruisin' now."  Perhaps I have reached stitching Nirvana.  Or perhaps I'm just mellowing. Who knows?  I'm just going to enjoy the glow...until the frog returns.

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January Challenge - My Version

As you may have noticed, I haven't started anything new yet this year! Just the thought of 15 WIPs makes my brain hurt. That's a side effect of being left-brained, I guess. However, I did start my 2011 stitching list. "Margaret Gatis" from Scarlet Letter is the only WIP on it...maybe because it's the only one I have! I started it in 2009 sometime, I think, but got sidetracked by some other piece which had a deadline. Or maybe it was the stitching over 3 threads that sent me over the edge. You have no idea how frustrating it is to stitch over 3 threads unless you've actually tried it.

In any case, when I finished my class model last Friday, I didn't have anything new kitted up yet. So I pulled out MG, unenthusiastically remembering the 'over 3' thing. Much to my surprise I had stopped in the middle of a lovely 'over 2' band. So it must've been a birthday or Christmas gift that caused me to put it away.

 

 I love working on 40 count linen because whether you're using silk or cotton, you only have to use one strand. No railroading or laying tool required. It's a really big piece (8" x 26" on 40 count) so I'll probably lay it down again at some point to work on another deadline piece, but I'm enjoying it right now. And that's what counts.

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A New Start

Okay, as promised, a picture of Maragaret Gatis as she looked when I put her down for a "nap". I figure I'm about 15% complete. I actually started to enjoy it after I finished the over three Holbien band from hell. I'll get back to it soon...

after I finish Band Sampler I from Pat Taff. This one has to be done in the next few weeks so I decided I better get started. Not much to look at yet, especially since all the stitching so far is with a very pale blue (on 40 count ivory). But I should get more concentrated stitching time this week, since my house will be my own again. I enjoy having company, but it sure puts a crimp in my normal routine.

And here's a goodie for you. Visit "Feathers in the Nest" blog for a great fall chart giveaway. You will enjoy reading Jennifer's blog regularly, if you don't already.

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Margaret Gatis make me want to read.

I haven't really made much progress. I had the first band and the rope thingy on the left side of the second band done a year ago! This over three thing on 40 count is making me want to read instead of stitch. And I've worn out a couple of strands of floss due to massive frog stitching on the Holbien...OVER 3!

Hence the new bookmarks in my Etsy shop. These shepherd's crooks are great for a jazzy beaded bookmark. I'll be adding beaded book thongs in the near future too.

The paper ones with pattern darning are all different because the Watercolors overdyed thread comes out differently with every length that you cut.

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