Shiny Swirls

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Heather

Another finish! I’m so proud of myself!

Geometric Swirl Ornament, designed by Diane Scott

Geometric Swirl Ornament, designed by Diane Scott

This is Geometric Swirl Ornament, taught by Diane Scott for the 2014 Creativ Festival. And, if I am honest with you, I actually finished this a couple of months ago, but I kept forgetting to post it.

It is stitched with several different shares of Petite Treasure Braid, and a light sprinkling of Mill Hill beads and just a touch more sparkle. I love how the stitches curve around, making such smooth looking swirls.

Completed beaded tassel

Completed beaded tassel

I think my favourite part of this ornament, if I had to pick one, is the lovely tassel. I shared a tutorial about how to make it back in March. All the beads add a nice weight and a bit of extra sparkle to the ornament.

6 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,

Little Christmas Finishes

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Heather

Oh dear, I did get side tracked by those Super Mutants. Sorry, stitchy friends! To be honest, I haven’t gotten this into a game in ages and I am really enjoying myself. But, I am still finding some time to stitch.

Christmas Needlebook and Scissor Fob, designed by Kim Beamish

Christmas Needlebook and Scissor Fob, designed by Kim Beamish

Last week I finally finished Christmas Needlecase and Scissor Fob, which was a class I took from Kim Beamish back at the 2012 Creativ Festival. You may notice that there is a lot of buttonhole stitch, and you know my feelings about that. But, they turned out so beautiful. I am so glad I finally finished them.

Christmas set, designed by Kim Beamish

Christmas set, designed by Kim Beamish

They were designed to match the biscornu that Kim taught at the 2011 Creativ Festival, which I actually finished ages ago. (In July 2012, according to my notes.)

In looking up the details of this project, I came across my order form for the 2012 Creativ Festival and some emails with friends about classes we were taking. It looks like I have a few other classes I should be working on finishing up… It is surprising how easy it is for a project you love to slip from being put aside for a little while to being almost totally abandoned. :/ Do you find that that happens to you a lot, or are you pretty good at keeping track of what you are working on and what you want to finish?

6 Comments | Posted in Hardanger | Tagged , ,

Is That a Door?

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Heather

Remember my plan to stitch stockings for my immediate family? Well, as you may know, I’ve got two done now: my son and my mom. Next up is my dad, and I have actually made a start!

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions

The design is All Hearts Come Home Stocking, from Dimensions. I’m stitching it using the fabric and thread provided in the kit. I mean, why spend so much for the kit when you aren’t going to use it? And, I like the colour of the aida, even if I don’t particularly care for aida.

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions--Poinsettia pot

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions–Poinsettia pot

My (unrealistic) goal is to have it finished for next Christmas. It probably won’t happen, but I’m going to try! And, feel free to keep me honest and remind me about it once in a while, okay?

7 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , ,

Hardanger Pin Cushion

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Heather

Hello, stitchy friends! Well, I never did get around to posting those other pictures, did I? I got a little sidetracked by Fallout 4… A lot of things have fallen by the wayside over the past week. (Not to mention all the big events that have been happening in the world. Emotionally I was knocked on my butt for a few days.)

Anyway, life must go on, right? We all have an unknown amount of time tumbling through space together on this rock, and we should make the best of it and fill it with pretty things.

Hardanger Pin Cushion, designed Kim Beamish

Hardanger Pin Cushion, designed Kim Beamish

My newest pretty thing is this Hardanger Pin Cushion, designed by Kim Beamish for the fall 2015 Creativ Festival. You may remember that I was really struggling with the buttonhole stitch on this project. I got the hang of it, and the final product looks great.

Hardanger Pin Cushion, designed by Kim Beamish (bottom)

Hardanger Pin Cushion, designed by Kim Beamish (bottom)

Kim provided two options for finishing: like a pillow or as a box-like shape. I picked the box. The sides are whipped together using an outline done in backstitch, and then the top is whipped stitched on to it using the double running stitch border around the centre. The bottom of the box is kept stiff thanks to a small  piece of matboard.

I used my newly won buttonhole-ing skill to finishing up another project designed by Kim, and I promise I will get around to sharing it later this week. Of course, those Super Mutants and Deathclaws won’t kill themselves, so…

13 Comments | Posted in Hardanger | Tagged , ,

Lest We Forget

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Heather

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and other commonwealth countries. It is the day set aside to remember the all the servicemen and women who have died in the line of duty since World War 1. In Canada it is a day for, in the words of Veterans Affairs Canada, “remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace.” It is a little like the American’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day combined into one, I suppose.

poppy

We wear poppies from the last Friday in October until the evening of November 11th as a mark of remembrance for veterans. The symbol comes from the poem by Canadian John McCrae, In Flanders Fields, which memorializes the poppies that grew on the graves of soldiers who died at the second battle of Ypres in World War 1. Most Canadian school children have this poem memorized well before they reach middle school, and I bet a large number of adults can recite at least the first two lines from memory.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I hope fellow Commonwealth dwellers were/are able to observe a minute of silence today to remember all service members who gave their life and those who continue to make sacrifices to keep us and people all over the world safe.

3 Comments | Posted in The Outside World |

Precious Jewel

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Heather

Hello, stitchy friends! November is well underway now, and with it all that wonderful autumn weather I love so much. Tomorrow, Canada and other commonwealth countries observe Remembrance Day. After that is Christmas, and believe me when I say nearly all thoughts have turned to Christmas already (which is a bit sad, since Remembrance Day is so important).

But, as a stitcher, or just a crafter in general, we always have to work a little bit ahead, right? Our pieces need to be done early to be hung up as decorations or wrapped up for gifts. As part of the Smalls SAL, I’ve been working on ornaments all year long. I’ve also finished my mom’s stocking and made a couple of other little things. And, I’ve made a few other ornaments that I’m not saving for the Smalls SAL.

Precious Jewel, from Gingerbread Girl Designs

Precious Jewel, from Gingerbread Girl Designs

This is Precious Jewel, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs. I showed you the un-ornamentified design a little while ago as part of my Creativ Festival roundup. I’m very proud of myself for actually getting around to making it into an ornament well before my Christmas tree goes up. Kathryn, the designer, made it super easy by including great instructions in the chart, showing us how to do it in class, and providing all the matboard and other required supplies. If only ornament finishing was always so easy!

Cutwork close-up

Cutwork close-up

I’ll be sharing a couple of other finished ornament later in the week.

Happy stitching!

10 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,

Happy Halloweenie!

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Heather

Happy Halloween, stitchy friends!

Halloweenie, designed by Lizzie Kate

Halloweenie, designed by Lizzie*Kate

In honour of the season, I stitched up the new-ish Lizzie*Kate limited edition kit, Halloweenie. I used the fabric included in the kit, and stitched it with DMC threads.

I followed the finishing directions in the kit. Although, because the linen included was very translucent, I ironed interfacing onto the back of the stitching for the pillow.

I hope you have a lovely Halloween! We are all ready for lots of little trick-or-treaters, and the little man has his FBI costume ready to go. All we need is for the rain to hold off.

7 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,