TUSAL August

Why does every website give a different day for the new moon? My dad insisted it was Monday, assorted websites disagree.


All the pink is from Minx's skin.

The end is in sight

It's not a very close end, but it's definitely visible.


Minx
18 ct white aida

The path to a new start

is lined with other new starts.


Why Hoard Gold?
28 ct white lugana
Dragon Dreams' Why Hoard Gold


Butterfly Bellfpull
18ct white aida (over 2)
From Lesley Teare's book Oriental Cross Stitch. Haven't been able to find a picture online, so I'll take one tomorrow eventually.


Cirque des Cercles
14 ct Khaki aida
Dimension's Palm. I think this is out of print since I can't a picture of this either. Photo of the model tomorrow eventually.


How Does Your Garden Grow (in the Dark)?
28 ct black lugana
This is Papillon Creations' SAL from 2008. I already stitched it over 1, but decided that I had to have the specialty version as well.

And after this frenzy of new starts I put them all away and went back to Minx. *Sigh* I think I have a problem.

And the Randomizer picked...

Now, I was planning on posting the results of the giveaway last night, but sheer exhausting and too much reading got in the way.

No screencap, but the winner of the kit and biscornu is
.
.
.
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D@isy who is a pro at biscornus so I'm sure I can expect to see Spring Blossoms finished soon *hint, hint*

and the biscornu is
.
.
.
Mel (who doesn't appear to have a blog).


Ladies send me your mailing address and I'll have your prizes in the mail soon-ish. (I'm not promising Tuesday because I know better!)

A big thanks to everyone that played along and enabled me with a lot of great designers. A hearty welcome to my new followers, y bienvenidos a mis amigas quien habla espanol. Siempre es agradable encontrar a nuevo bloggers. (Como se dice blogger en espanol?)

July Achievements & August Goals

Goals for July:
1. Stitch Bent Creek's Shamrock Row No.
2. Finish another part of the Hardanger Bag No.
3. Finish at least two colours from Runekeeper's Saga Done.
4. Finish Minx's skin No, but I did get a good chunk done.
5. Work on Cirque des Cercles, if I can squeeze it in A couple of hours

Other things I did that were unplanned:
1. Started and finished 3 Heart Biscornus
2. Started and finished Fall Dreams Biscornu
3. Started and finished All You Need is Love
4. Started Palm

Goals for August:
1. Stitch two scissor fobs
2. Finish Minx

I did quite a few things not on my lists. And I still haven't posted pictures because I just can't seem to take even semi-decent snaps.

Stitch by Colours

Begin with a border:


Add a pink


Then a flesh tone


I guess I should have mentioned that the Bunnicula is from Missy's Halloween giveaway last year (I was very lucky to win it, and Missy's promised one this year...) The squirrel was a gift I received over 10 years ago. I have no idea who the designer is, and I've lost touch with my friend that made it. It was the very first piece I received that wasn't stitched by me and I remember being so happy because I knew how much time it would have taken and I can't think of very many 12 year old girls who'd do something like that.

The "S" is from the SALexandre hosted by Anne. The hardanger is just something I came up with while fooling around with a scrap of fabric.

If you haven't put your name in (and why not? it's free stuff) don't forget that my giveaway ends tomorrow at 10 pm local time.

Bah, Humbug!

Due to various and sundry reasons I'm currently a very crabby, unpleasant, confrontational, and lazy person to be around. Ironically while suffering from all this and making everyone around me suffer even more, I stitched up The Drawn Thread freebie All You Need is Love. Except for the Rhodes stitch (and Satin stitch), I'd never done any of the specialty ones, but the instructions are excellent and it was very easy!



The design calls for Gloriana silks which I've never seen in person, so I went with my trusty DMC. I wanted the hearts in shades of pink but ended up with more reds and purples. My favourite stitch is the Sprat Heart Stitch which is the one in the "V".

Start date: July 22 ,2010
Finish date: July 23, 2010
Fabric: 28 ct white lugana
Total time: 5 hours

My pinkeeps to date:



Edited to id: Bunnicula the Vampire Bunny is a giveaway win from Missy, the squirrel is a gift from a now out of touch friend, the hardanger is from my lazy puttering and the "S" is from the SALexandre hosted by Anne.

TUSAL July

I knew that the new moon was the 11th. Unfortunately moving and camera damage meant that I'd late. Again.


The new red addition is from the Heart Biscornus.

I will be on time for August!

Giveaway~

As promised: To celebrate 100 (now 103) followers, a giveaway.

I've already gushed about this, so I'll spare you the blatherings ;) Now, I know there are a lot of biscornu makers out there, but I also see people who have yet to embrace it for varied reasons. This is for folks who want to increase their collection, folks who want a biscornu without the work ;), folks who just want a stamp from Canada, etc.

Details here, but this is Lenka's Heart Biscornu that I modified the tiniest (ok, a lot). They are both exactly the same, but this way you get to see both sides.


To make this a bit more fun, there will be two winners. The first will win one of the above biscornu & The Sweetheart Tree's "Spring Blossoms" biscornu kit. The kit comes with everything except the stuffing.
The second will get the other biscornu.

Old friends, chronic commenters, silent lurkers, curious newcomers, all and sundry are welcome to enter.

So.

The Facts:
First place winner: Heart biscornu & The Sweetheart Tree's Spring Blossoms kit
Second place winner: Heart biscornu

The Rules:
The following two statements must be present for your entry to count:
I wish to enter (or something to that effect)
I have never stitched a biscornu, but I will soon. OR I have stitch ___ biscornus and my favourite is ____. (Hey, I'm always on the lookout for more patterns)

The Small Print:
You do not have to be a follower to enter. You do not have to blog about this to count (however I would appreciate it~)
I can and will ship anywhere. (Although if you're from somewhere I think is exotic I may beg a postcard in return~)
I will announce the winner here and send an email (if possible). You have a week to respond after which I'll pick someone else.

Deadline:
July 31, 2010. 10:00 PM Winnipeg Time

If you're still here after that wall of text: Good luck and may the Randomizer be on your side!

All Hearts

Turns out my brother had a camera buried in one of his bags... so pictures! Unfortunately it will leave with him in September, so I still have to get a new one.

I went on a biscornu kick and decided to stitch these:



Start date: July 5, 2010
Finish date: July 17, 2010
Fabric: 28 ct black lugana, 28 ct white lugana
Time: 13 hours for all three, from start to finish.

The design is Lenocka's Heart Biscornu which I modified and went overboard with.
I left off the little bits around the hearts since I couldn't figure out what they were.
I made the white side with whole hearts, and the black with broken hearts.

Side 1

Side 2

And since I find this kind of thing funny, one with a black heart!


One guess as to what the plan is regarding two of them.

100

I'll admit it: I've spent the last few weeks checking to see if I hit 100 followers. And I did this afternoon-ish! Squeals of joy and general happiness all around.

No, really. I started looking every morning and evening when I hit 98. And then one disappeared and I moped for a bit. And then it went up again, and then stayed for the longest time. And now it's a 100. Did/does anyone else do this? Check obsessively, I mean.

This will be celebrated with a giveaway. I started something, but moving put a halt to that. As declared last time, the giveaway won't be opened up until it's ready for a stamp, so hang around for a bit more...

In less joyous news, the camera has somehow been damaged in the move. Since I've managed to avoid getting a cellphone this long, there is no device in the house capable of taking a picture.

Exhaustion, Drama & No Stitching.

Well, almost no stitching this week, since we were busy packing up and moving 20 minutes away. Moving day was ok, but unpacking was filled with drama, yelling, screaming, hissy fits, damaged hardwood and sulking. (Why yes, it was the guys).

I did have a morning of just sitting around and when I looked for my WIPs, I realized that I'd packed all my floss. Just my floss. My WIPs were in a basket beside me, my floss was in a sealed cardboard box. So I grabbed the only kit I had and started it. Pictures of Dimension's Palm when I find the camera.

My feet still hurt like crazy and I have to put away my clothes. Possibly there will be more stitching time this week, or I may still be unpacking.

Ciorcail

Now while working on CdC has been fun, I'm getting tired of it. I might do a couple of hours a month, but the Saturday updates are done. A big thanks for all the encouragement! And I'm glad that people have enjoyed seeing it so much.


Cirque des Cercles
32 ct Lemon Whip Lugana, DMC 115
I think that my stitching will be a bit slower. I stitched less than an hour a day this week. During the winter freeze I easily do 3 hours. But the hot summer weather makes me just want to go outside and lie in the sun and read.

Title: Gaelic

June Achievements & July Goals

Goals for June:
1. Finish Bluebeard's Princess Done!
2. Get caught up on the Hardanger Bag SAL No. Got up to part 3, and then put it away.
3. Start Runekeeper Saga Done.
4. Work on whichever piece wins the poll Done. Quite a bit of progress too.
5. And now that I've discovered the poll options, go crazy with the power!!! No. Completely slipped my mind

Other things I did that were unplanned:
1. Started and finished the stitching on The Pink Bag. Now I just need to assemble it.

Goals for July:
1. Stitch Bent Creek's Shamrock Row
2. Finish another part of the Hardanger Bag
3. Finish at least two colours from Runekeeper's Saga
4. Finish Minx's skin
5. Work on Cirque des Cercles, if I can squeeze it in

Cerchio

I had some comments about how this was a piece unforgiving of errors, and I thought "Well, it's not like I make mistakes" and "I'm a careful counter"

Do you see where this is going?


Cirque des Cercles
32 ct Lemon Whip Lugana, DMC 115

The leftmost motif in the uppermost row is in the wrong place. It's should be the next left motif. Not a problem since I'll just switch motifs.
Then I stitched the "fixed" motif one row too low. Frog and redo. One row too high.

Two hours since last week and into the pile.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - KJV

Title: Italian

A Fantastical Start

I had a new start. BUT I was good. Sort of. It's one I've been planning for a while, so it was a WIP without stitches, right?

I've only ever seen this finished once, but as a fan how can I not stitch this tribute to all fantasy/RPG cliches?

Dragon Dreams' The Runekeeper Saga:


It's got it all: a Hero, a Wizard, a Princess, the Companions (Bard (although I think he looks more like a Thief), Elf, Knight), a Castle, a Dragon, a Unicorn (Ok, that's a bit uncommon), a Sword, a Crown and of course, the Evil!

I'm going to get the border out of the way first. I was going to stitch block by block and have 12 mini HDs, but I've decided to have some fun instead. I'm going to go by colour. And post a picture after each colour. It'll either be very interesting to see the pictures appear as colours increase, or we'll all get sick of seeing strange blobs!


The Rune Keeper Saga
28 ct Antique White Lugana
And I've made changes. You can't really tell from the model, but the inner borders are different for each motif. Except that you can barely see the light ones. I'm just going with my favourite (Bard's) for all of them.

Kreise

Since I'm going to be posting a picture every week, I can at least try to make the titles more fun. I have passed the halfway point. Woohoo!


Cirque des Cercles
32 ct Lemon Whip Lugana, DMC 115
Title is German for circles. (According to Google anyway. Any Germans out there?)

TUSAL June

With Yoyo (our host) disappearing due to computer issues(?), and me being too lazy to look up the new moon, I just wait for someone to post and then post mine. This is 3 days late:



The pink is from The Pink Bag

(In my defense the new moon in May was the 14th, so I thought it would be around then this month too...)
But July is 11th, and I shall be prompt!

Pink!

I spent most of this week working on The Pink Bag from Dutch Treat Design's Pink Collection. I won the chart from Paulina (who's kinda disappeared...anyone know anything?). She also threw in the required Anne Cloth.


The Pink Bag
18 ct Anne Cloth
It was interesting working on the Anne Cloth. It's 18 ct, but the stitching is over two. The fabric is very soft and distorts if the stitches are pulled too tight. And since my fingers are usually a bit dry, I kept getting caught on the fabric.

The design called for Perle cotton in various colours. But since my Perle collection is black, red, blue and ecru, and I wasn't going to buy them just for this, I used 4 strands of regular DMC floss.

Start date June 1, 2010
Finish date June 12, 2010
Total time 13 hours

Changes:
Where the pink lines cross is supposed to be eyelets, but the ones I did distorted the fabric far too much, so I just did Rice stitches. Rice stitches are new to me, but the instructions were good and the stitch itself is very easy.
I didn't like the called for 502 and used the softer 320.

Front:

Back:

Flap:

I won't be finishing this as a bag. I'm thinking a hussif or something similar pending a suitable finishing fabric.

Samedi de cirques

Kristen and I decided to make Saturday our day for sharing CdC progress. I was good last week, not so much this time.