Back in action!

Ok I think I finally have everything under control for the moment. This will allow me to get back to blogging on a regular basis. I have had lots of new finishes over the holidays as there was a wedding and a new baby in the family besides all the holiday gifts. But I am happy to report that everything was finished.
On to new things. I have the Mirabella design 'Crystal Symphony" ready for beading. I just need a solid week of nothing else pressing to finish it. There are of course a few EGA projects in the works, an ort box and a bargello piece that is taking a lot of concentration. This weekend my chapter celebrates it's 20th anniversary and we will be working on a simple beginner hardanger piece. I did finish stitching a project that has waited 2 years for me to start it. Here is Frankenflora! It was fun to work with the Weeks Dye Works threads. The variegation really adds a new dimension to the project. I will be turning it into a bolster style pillow over the next few weeks.

I have also started working on "Sleepy Hollow" by Glendon Place. I was able to pick up the pattern and a piece of "Haunted" from Picture This Plus while I was back at Stitching Jubilee in October. I did not let it "age" too long in the stash drawer. It is coming along nicely and I will post a WIP picture next entry.

Well I am off to yet another 4-H meeting tonight. Spring really gets us busy in the organization. Our year ends in June so all the members are busy finishing up still project exhibits for our Food & Arts event and our Fashion Revue. It is exciting to see what these young people are doing in the needle arts. I am thrilled to offer a special prize this year to our "Best of Show" entry in needle arts/textiles.

Hope you all have a good week,
Maria

Reconnecting

Ok I know that it has been a long time since I have checked in with my blog but family events and the holidays took over my life. There have been many finishes to my work and I will have to get those pictures updated here soon, today or tomorrow is the plan.
The teens and I have our 4-H camp all planned out and registration is underway. We are very excited to get the chance to put all our hard work together. I can't wait to see how everything goes this weekend at Presentation Day with the share the fun skit. I am sure we will see our registration numbers at least double. We need those 30 registrations to make camp a reality.
Off to go finish some more squares for my quilt class tonight. My son will be very surprised when it is finished as it is a gift for him.
Happy Stitching!
Maria

New Ventures

I have been so busy stitching that I have not stopped to take the time to update things here. I have two new finishes and started three new projects in the past month. The first finish is a luggage tag to hang on my suitcase when I go to the Stitching Jubilee in Lancaster, PA in only 21 DAY! I am a little excited, can't you tell?

The second finish will also be joining me on my trip, a vest that I have been working on the last two months. I used a variety of different patterns that I felt really represented me from a little dragon in a teacup to a black work cat. I am really

pleased with the whole finish.

Now on to the new projects. I have actually started working on what will now be 2 of the Sugar Plum Fairy Christmas stockings. My mother has requested that I make one for the daughter of her massage therapist and I want one for myself. I have also been working on a small piece for a fall ornament exchange. I will post a picture of it once it reaches it's new home. The next new project is an ort box that ifs for a class through my local EGA chapter. I am using several different Kreniek threads to make it all sparkly.

And finally I have started working on a Christmas Sampler SAL. The pictures don't really do it justice right now but it is coming along beautifully on a piece of 14 ct. white Aida with gold threads running through it. I can't wait to finish this. I have already decided to turn it into a pillow and that I believe it will be one of my entries for our 2010 county fair.

Well I guess that is about all for now. I need to get back to cleaning house and finishing these projects. I hope to have at least one finished before heading off to Pennsylvania on the 14th.

Maria

A Finish and more

I know it has only been a week since I posted this as a WIP but I have him finished. Of course there is more to add to the vest but this 1st part is done. I decided to use some Krenick 032 to back stitch the smoke to make it stand out more and give it a little sparkle. It doesn't show that well here but it does in real life.

I am so excited because earlier this week I found some long lost patterns that I have been looking for in my stash for over a year! Now I can start yet another project for Christmas. It is a pattern from Stoney Creek, a stocking showing the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker dancing in the dreams of a little girl. My mom has asked me to make this for the baby daughter of our masseuse. She is turning 1 in just a few weeks and this will be something fun to work on for her.

Well school starts around here tomorrow so there is some hope that I will be able to get some work soon. My son starts his senior year of high school and just as I am getting used to that I also have to through in his starting to drive as well. Where has the time gone. I know this year will go by faster than any other and he will be graduating and turning 18 before I know it. I am very excited for him and feel confident that he will succeed in everything he sets out to do.

I think I will take advantage of the husband being off at work today and spend my afternoon stitching and watching classic movies that drive him crazy. And tomorrow I will put all my 4-H projects in order for the year. One less thing to worry about each month.

Maria

Stitching in the Park

Today was a wonderful change of pace. Our local chapter of the EGA held our monthly meeting stitching in the park today in San Luis Obispo, CA. There were only a few of us but it was a beautiful morning to sit and enjoy the outside while enjoying our favorite past time. I was able to finsh the smoke sections of the "Tempest" design I am working on and was inspireed to add some Kreniek threads to that area to bring it out a little more.
Several members of our chapter have asked me to teach a class on beading stitches so now I need to design something fun and simple for the girls. Hopefully I will be able to do that by the end of the year so we can put it on next year's class schedule.
Well it is back to the stitching world, I can't wait to get "Tempest" finished.
Maria

A completed project and a WIP

Ok it may not seem like much but since I was still recovering from the long week at our county fair, I needed something simple to get me back into stitching mode. I love the patterns done with Kats by Kelly, in fact I think there may only be about 5 left that I have not done. Here is my latest finish, "Faxcination".

I'm not sure how I will finish this one off but they are fun to do over a weekend when I don't want to think too much about what I am stitching. Unlike my major WIP, "Crystal Symphany" from Mirabella. I have been working on this piece since January, taking it with me to EGA free stitch functions and working on it during my prep periods while substitute teaching. The stitching is almost finished.

Once the stitching is finished, I will wash the piece before adding all the different beads. With any luck I will have her completly finished by December. But then again there are those pesky Christmas presents to work on and the pieces from the classes Iwill take at Jubilee. But if we don't have goals, how do we get the feeling of accomplishments

Maria

Big Disappontment

Well, I was supposed to be teaching a needlework bookmark class today to a youth art camp but it was cancelled due to lack of participants. They are going to try to hold the camp later in the spring so hopefully I will get the chance to teach and share. In the mean time I have started on a couple of projects for myself. The first is a luggage tag for my trip to the Stitching Jubilee in October. I'm using a quilt pattern since we will be in Amish country - Lancaster, PA. I am working on 18 ct. vinyel weave.

I am also working on a vest on 32 ct. linen. I am using a varity of different patterns that I feel represent me as a person and a stitcher. The 1st piece is Teresea Wentzler's "Tempest", a little dragon in a tea cup. Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy.

Of course as the work progresses, I will post new pictures.

Maria