Still Alive!
Believe it or not I am still out here! I have to apologize I just don't have a lot of time lately to do the blogging thing. I do try to get over and read everyone's blogs but I don't have time to leave comments, which is a bummer. I do have time to work on my stitching which is a good thing as it's the only thing keeping me sane. LOL
I did finish the Healing Hands project, that border was a pain though. LOL
But like I said the border really makes this project and it was worth the headache. :D I hope the person I made this for likes it.
Greg made this freebie pattern, not sure of the name:
I'm not sure what the count on this fabric is cuz he got it as a scrap, but he stitched this OVER ONE! He kept saying "I have a headache, I don't understand why..." Well, DUH. LOL, LOL Didn't it turn out great? He's such a great stitcher, I couldn't have done that.
I am now working on this La D Da pattern:
This is my progress so far. I am stitching this on 18 count aida that I dyed with Curry powder. I am finding that I like 18 count fabric a lot, but this curry dyed fabric is neon yellow (or so it seems). It can be a bit hard to look at while stitching, but I love the colors of the threads on this they just pop.
Not much else going on, except work, work, work. LOL At least the weather has warmed up a lot! And the trees are leafing out and we have daffodils, etc. It's sort of a shock to the system to have spring here at last.
I think this weekend Greg is going to drag me to a stitch night at the local stitching place. They have these every few months. It's a potluck, what to bring? hmmmm But I get the feeling I'm not getting out of going to this one. LOL I know, you are thinking it sounds fun, but I am terribly shy around new people so these things are difficult for me. I'm trying though. :D
Okay, back at it! Hope your week is going great!
Finding the Inspiration
I haven't gotten as much done as I would like but here's the latest updates.
Healing Hands is coming along nicely, although the border is going to take a bit of time.
The backstitching really helped this one and the gold thread looks great. :D But I've never been a border fan and this one really needs it so I'm stitching it but it's slow going.
Here is a pic of Greg's Evangeline. I love this project.
We were tormenting...I mean "playing" with the cat the other night and I got this shot of her. We put some Valerian root (similar to catnip) on her favorite toy and gave it to her, she went bonkers. LOL
She has her front paws wrapped tightly around her toy and look closely at her back toes they are splayed stiffly out, this means she is in cat ecstasy...her favorite spot on the bed, her favorite toy and some catnip, what else could a cat ask for? LOL
Now about finding the inspiration. After my last post a couple of you asked if I do my own framing and mentioned how I seem to frame so closely after finishing a project. First, yes I do all my own framing, no I don't use glass. I use plexi-glass or plastic. I get it custom cut at the local hardware store if I can't buy it pre-sized. It's cheaper and less prone to breakage than glass.
Finishing a project to me is the last step in a project. I don't start a project unless I have a finish for it in mind. Every project is planned out from the time I pick it up. I may not have the exact frame or fabric for the finish but I always know what I want to happen with it. That's why the house's frame was such a disappointment. I had planned that frame all along and then it just didn't turn out the way I wanted it too. SO I had to come up with a backup plan and it worked out but I would have been happier with Plan A.
I have a large collection of frames that we have picked up here and there during sales, but we also look for the unusual at flea markets and thrift shops. The frame that I used for my coffee project had a pre-made piece of art in it that was on a steep discount. I bought it popped out the art that I didn't want and put in my project. If you think outside the box you can find framing solutions just about anywhere.
I have found that framing is not that difficult and I am too cheap to want to pay a professional framer to do something I can do myself. Of course in my case I'm lucky to have a spouse that can cut mats for me, but I'm sure you could get the mats cut professionally a lot cheaper than having them do the whole job.
Also there are lots of ways to finish a project besides framing and most all of you have made some adorable pillows, needle holders or pin cushions out of your projects. Bottom line is don't be afraid to try framing it's not that difficult and you can find frames that are just as wonderful as the professionals use if you look around in unusual places!
Have a great week!
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
That's how this week went by! And I just love these kind of weeks, when you wake up on Monday and it's alreay Friday. LOL
So, though work has been busy I have also had time to stitch, though it hasn't gone as fast as I'd like. ANNNND I did get my coffee project finished and framed! Yay me. :)
Here is the finished Fresh Coffee:
I love how it turned out! And soon I will be hanging this one one the wall. :)
Then because it seemed a cute project I did this:
It took a few hours, I think four or five but was done in a day. The only thing I forgot is his head of hair, but I'm not sure he needs it. LOL
Now I'm working on this for someone I know:
This is an older Dragon Dreams project that I found for cheap at a local shop and just had to stitch it now. LOL It started out fast and has slowly crept along. The nice thing about this pattern is that if you know someone who is a nurse, doctor or EMT they have patterns to reflect them all. The only thing I don't care for is the blue. I have never been a big fan of blue, but I will suffer through. ;)
Sadly I haven't had a chance to check up on you all. I've been bogged down in a giant mailing that included massive amounts of hand collating. If you have ever done this type of thing you can sympathize with me...I spent ALL day Wednesday hand collating a project to be mailed, 650 pieces of 9 different items. Let's just say I got my excercise for the day.
Hope everyone has a warm and fun weekend!
