Santa Was Good To Me

Due to the generousity of Ole St. Nick, my stash grew by five. In a related story... I was seen kissing Mrs. Claus after receiving these wonderful gifts. Added to my stash are...

• "Angel of the Morning" - Lavender & Lace, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
• "Dance of the Roses" - Lavender & Lace, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
• "Oh, Christmas Tree" - Lavender & Lace, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
• "Lady of the Mist" - Mirabilia, Nora Corbett
• "Petite Christmas Angels" - Joan Elliott

Thanks Santa ;-)

So the big question is.... what does this mean for my plan to start the Swirling Peacock? I am still on track for that. As Kate pointed out in my previous post "Christmas is Almost Here" , New year... New project. Most people wanted me to start the Swirling Peacock so the Swirling Peacock it is!

I am so close to finishing my last Folk Art Angel (wreath). I only have to finish a little bit of cross stitch, do all the back stitch and a few french knots (ugggg). Ok maybe I am not as close as I thought.

Happy Stitching!!!!

Chris

Christmas is Almost Here

So I figured it was time for an update. It is getting down to the wire and my Folk Art Angels are no done yet. Two are framed and ready to go (present & candle). One still needs some french knots (tree). And I am working on the one that is holding the wreath... I have the lower dress, border, hair and wings done. I did something different on the wreath angel... I did the white and grey in DMC Satin floss. It is really shiny with a slight purple hue. It looks good on the wings and dress... it kinda makes them glow! There are all the presents to wrap so I can only commit so much time... ugggg. I will post final pictures after Christmas.

The family is headed to California for Christmas to visit family.

The real question is.... What project should I work on after I get back???

1. Guardian Angel (L&L) - My very first project and about 1/2 done.

2. Summer Fairy (Joan Elliott) - Just started.  

3. Swirling Peacock (Joan Elliott) - Not Started

4. The Gardener (Joan Elliott) - Not Started

5. Oriental Lady (Joan Elliott) - Not Started

Please let me know what you think...

Happy Stitching!!!

Chris



 

Folk Art Angel #3 Update

I know that it's been a while since I posted. Here is an update of my Folk Art Angel #3...

She just needs the rest of the French Knots done. (don't get me started on French Knots...uggg)

Our soldier is home for the holidays. He will be deployed to Afghanistan after Christmas. It is good to have him and his friends around. The house was getting too quiet :-) Before he arrived, he tried to cut his finger off while camping. Cutting wood while it was in his hand.....wow.

I am done shopping for Christmas. My wife gets to do the rest. I do all the wrapping though. The christmas tree and the house lights are up (mostly)... so... Bring on Santa!!!

Merry Christmas to all my bloggers!!

Happy Stitching

Chris

2nd Finish... Cheers!!!

So I had my second finish ever! I finished Folk Art Angel #2 (candle). My wife did the French Knots last night and did a great job! I am so jealous of her ability to do these :-)  I will psot a picture next week.

I am about 1/3 done with Angel #3... gotta keep pushing to get #3 & #4 done in time to send at Christmas.

Happy Stitching!!!

Chris

Joan Elliott Bookazine

For those of you who are interested, Joan Elliott's Ulitimate Cross Stitch Collection is a great deal...

It has 44 great designs on color charts. I think I payed $25 or $30 at Barnes and Noble back in August. I think the charts individually go for $14!

Here is a link to Joan's Blog where she talks about it....
http://joanelliott.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/from-cross-stitch-collection/

Helpful Hint: I put clear box tape over the parts of the pages you would place your hand on repeatedly. Otherwise the magazine ink starts to blur.

Great Deal!!!

Happy Stitching!!!

Hot Water Heater Kaput!

Hot water is good!!

Our hot water heater went belly-up on Saturday. I called the plummer but he couldn't fix it until Monday morning. It was like camping. Heating up water on the stove to wash dishes and bathe. It was kinda fun at first but it got old quick.

Good news...we have a brand new hot water heater. Cheers!!!

Without hot water there was more time for stitching :-) I started Folk Art Angel #3 (Christmas tree). She is looking good. I still have a few french knots to do on #2. I am going to have my wife do them since she is much better at french knots than me.

I know what your saying..."if you practice your French Knots, you will get better at them." or "it gets easier... the more you do it" or ..... "Man up you big wuss, come on! show us your a real cross stitcher and do some French Knots!".... Ok maybe not the last one...

WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THEM FOR ME!! I do perfect little knots all the time on the back of my work...accidently. Why can't I do a knot on purpose on the front of my work?  Uggggg

Ok my rant is over.

Sports Alert: My Oregon Ducks won the first ever Pac-12 championship and now it's on to the Rose Bowl! Bring on Wisconsin. I Love My Ducks!

Happy Stitching!!!!

Progress

It's time for an update. Here is my latest pictures...

Guardian Angel - Lavender & Lace

and a blurry version of Folk Art Angel #2 (Candle)

Believe it or not that was the least blurry photo. I used Mill Hill petitie beads instead of french knots. Not quite finished yet. I need to do the face and the shoe buttons.

That's it :-)

Happy Stitching

Chris

Progress Report

Happy Friday!!!!!

Here is my progress report. This is to prove that I actually did some cross stitch this week :-)

I finished 90% of the backstitch on Folk Art Angel #2. There is mostly metallic left to do on the backstitch. I also have 32 french knots to do. Uggggg ....dread!!..

So here is my french knot story from last night. I stitched a block of purple cross stitches to practice my french knots on. My DW gets on the iPad and pulls up videos on how to do french knots. I try to do them over and over and they are knot turning out good. I am knot happy with any of them! My knots do knot look anything like the ones on the video. My DW says... "let me try". So I hand it over to her... keep in mind that she does not do cross stitch or do any embroidery for that matter. Of course she makes perfect little knots... every one of them!?! argggggg.

So I tell myself "calm down... she's female... God has bestowed her with innate abilities to stitch" I swallow that darn male pride and watch what she is doing different. Then I watch the little knot carefully as I am pulling the thread through. Aha! The needle is a tapestry needle with a big eye. So the eye end of the needle is bigger than the rest of it and the eye is expanding the knot when it passes through. Also my DW points out that I am putting too much pressure on thread causing the knot to sort of turn inside out as I am passing the needle through.

At that point I am reminded that I married an amazing woman and that, as always, we make a great team! So... I need to buy a new needle with a smaller eye and work on the tension. I'll just keep practicing.

I am signed up for IHSW but I don't know how much time I will be able to stitch. I kinda cashed in the "stitching all weekend" card last week. We'll see though.

Football update: The Oregon Ducks are playing the USC Trojans tomorrow. I will be at the game with my Dad and Mom. A victory seals up the PAC-12 North division and It keeps their National Championship hopes alive :-) Go Ducks!!!

Happy Stitching!!!!!

Chris

TUSAL jar for October

Ok. I know it's a little late but here is my TUSAL jar for October. There isn't much there but I have been emptying it every month which I am not sure if you are supposed to do.

What did I accomplish in October?

• Folk Art Angel #1 finish.
• Started folk art angel #2
• Started Summer Fairy

I didn't work on Guardian Angel all month :-(

I have church tonight so I am thinking I won't get much stitching done but we shall see.

Happy Stitching!

Chris

Next Folk Art Angel???

I am considering pausing my current project (Summer Fairy) to start another Folk Art Angel. I need to have at least 4 done by Christmas. Plus they are small and fun :-) Before I start I need to get some Kreinik Citron.... or maybe I will just use my Kreinik Gold. Hmmmmmmm...

Church is tonight so I probably won't get much cross stitch done anyway. I like Wednesday church but it sure eats up the whole night :-)

Happy Stitching

Chris

Folk Art Angel Update

Ok everyone! I have pictures of my Folk Art Angels progress. I know that many of you have been waiting with baited breath, unable to sleep, etc

So here it is...

Since this photo I have finished the cross stitch. Now it's time for the backstitch and some french knots. I hope it will make a nice Christmas card. When this is done it will be my first Finish.... ever! I am so exited to see it finished!!!

I haven't worked on my Guardian Angel in a while...maybe I will sneak in some of that before I start the next Folk Art Angel :-)

Note: I should point out that the metallic areas are not Krienik Citron per the chart. I used one strand of DMC Gold and one strand of a DMC rich yellow. I resisted the temptation make the wings glow with sparkles and light effects threads. Maybe the next angel? :-)

Folk Art Angel Progress

Well I don't have a picture but I will give an update anyway. I have been working on the Folk-Ark Angels and I am about halfway done with the cross stitches on the angel that is holding the present. I am getting frustrated because I cant find the Kreinik thread that I need near my home. It is #4 (very-fine) in Citron. I will keep looking though. I will post a picture soon.

The rain is back in Oregon after a very hot dry winter. We got the pool put away just in time. I am gonna miss the BBQs and dips in the pool :-( The good news is that there is more time for cross stitch in the Fall and Winter! Yea!

Happy Stitching!

New Project at Last!

Since I am new to cross stitching, I did not know that it is not cool to have only one project going at a time. Almost unheard of! That's men for you...can't multi-task.

I did start Folk-Art Angels from Joan Elliott today. I am going to make these into Christmas cards for family. No progress picture yet but here is the finished design....

I am going to explore using silk floss for the wings.

Now I just need to start 21 other projects and I will be more of a "normal" cross stitcher :-)

Happy Stitching!!