Superstition: Lesson 2, pattern 3

I am sure that Loretta Spears did not intend to throw me a curve here, but she did just the same.

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I must say and repeat that I do not like stitching mystery projects for many reasons, and one being that you have no photo of what it is supposed to look like. In this instance this pattern was a "pulled thread" pattern, for which there was no graphic of how to do the stitch and many times, like it is in this instance, I have been told the same stitch wears many names making one's life more difficult when you try to research it by the name given by the designer.

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I ended up sending an SOS to the stitching world and some generous souls came to my rescue. A big thank you to you all. I especially want to thank Diana Snyder who went beyond the call of duty and stitched me a sample of one of the corner so that I would actually see what it is supposed to look like (remember no photograph and no graphic about this specific stitch in the instructions provided. Loretta did provide written instructions but somehow I found them confusing, having not much experience with this technique.) Diana sent me a total of 5 photographs for the different steps necessary to do the corner pattern. With that in hand, I was able to manage to do a fairly decent job of it, at least I hope so (grinning).

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That pattern squared off the design, but I bet starting with lesson 3, it will not stay squared for long.

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I really do love this project and after Superstition is all done, I really need to add a pulled thread project to my list of current projects as I would love to learn the technique properly as it is quite beautiful.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Plaid & blackwork checkbook cover: Marjorie B. Berleur, designer

This is a project that I have been wanting to start stitching for a little while now, well ever since a friend showed it to me. She has made a few for herself in different colors and graciously offered it to me and I can't thank her enough for doing so. I am pleased to no end to have the opportunity to stitch this.
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When I saw the stitched design, I knew it would be perfect for me for a few reasons. First, the overall design is just beautiful. Second, there are blackwork patterns in it and I love doing blackwork. Third and not last, I have always wanted to stitch plaid and up to now never had the opportunity, so finally I will be stitching some .............. and I want to have a nice checkbook cover for a change instead of those cheap plastic ones that the bank gives you.
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This is a beautiful design by Marjorie B. Berleur. The front of the checkbook cover (bottom part) is a plaid using 4 different colors and the back (upper part) is composed of 5 different blackwork designs.
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The first thing I had to stitch on this project are all the outlines. For this I have used a DMC Perle cotton #12 in one of my very favorite shade of pink called Shell Pink. I have never thought of myself as being a pink lover but if I look back at my latest projects, there has been lots of pink in them. I love it when a project has more than one stitching technique. I think it makes it so much more interesting.
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I always say that I love all colors but not all shades, but I sure love that shade of pink so that will be a real pleasure for me to stitch it.
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The first photo above shows you a close-up of all the little Smyrna stars all around it and also to separate the different pattern areas.


I have taken this photo above so that you can see the entire checkbook areas. The little rectangle at the bottom is for my initials.

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Unfortunately I will have to put it aside for a few days while I do a bit more on Superstition and also on Hollyhock House.

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Projects are just piling up for me these days so I took some time last evening to write myself some kind of schedule for them, which I will probably not follow knowing myself, but at least I am hoping that it will serve as some kind of guidance for all the stitching I need to do.

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See you all very soon :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Coaster B: Brenda Day, designer

Coaster B

Coaster C

I should really have been stitching on something else, but I just had to stitch a second coaster out of my 4 coaster series. Post about coaster C is here.

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I am stitching those four coasters using exactly the same colors as Brenda Day did in her book called Bargello: A fresh approach to florentine embroidery. This forces me to go outside my color comfort zone at times and see if I can discover new combinations of colors that I will want to use in the future.

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Looking at those first two coasters, I have a favorite. Now is it because of the design or the colors used or a combination of both? I would love to know which one you like best and what plays into your decision? If the colors would have been switched around between those two coasters, would you have picked the same one as your favorite? Would you have liked to see darker colors or other color combinations in those two coasters? I would love to know your thoughts in the comment section.

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Once I stitch the 3rd and 4th one, it will be interesting to see if we all keep our first selection or if we pick a different one.

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Looking forward to hear your comments :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Here Kitty framed

Remember when I stitched Here Kitty for my friend Terry's birthday a little while back, a Cheryl Schaeffer design? Well she has just framed it herself and sent me a photograph of it to add to my blog.
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I will let Terry tell us more about it on her blog when she is through having her tea. Terry lives in Great Britain as you may already have concluded (grinning).
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Pierrette =^..^=

Soldier Kissing Pillows: Geraldine Trappey, designer

Stitching Guild Chapter members around the country like ANG and EGA and perhaps others too have been and are still stitching these little "Soldier Kissing Pillows" and our new Cyberpointers chapter, which I am a member of, has also embarked in this project by adopting a battalion that is due to deploy later this year.
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I have committed myself to stitching 6 of these little pillows and this is the first one, so 5 more to go :-) They take approximately 3 hours each to make I was told, but since I am a slow stitcher, it is taking me a bit longer than that, but it may be because it was my first one. I may be able to get my act together after this first one and gain some speed. Let's hope so :-)
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What made me want to participate in this project is what I read about it. Here it goes:

"These hand-stitched little pillows are designed to be used as a keepsake for the children and loved ones left behind by the soldiers departing for service of the United States of America. The soldier should kiss the pillow and give one to each of his or her loved ones to hold onto until he or she returns from war."

and then it says:

"We hope the pillows will be a comfort during the lonely times both for the family and for the soldier. They were lovingly stitched with gratitude for your service to our country by ...........(here goes the name of the chapter)".
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I will be stitching the others in between other projects as I usually do not stitch multiple of the same project, but this is for a very good cause so I felt that I just had to stitch them.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Bargello Coaster C: Brenda Day, designer

I am back after not feeling well, but I am doing just fine now, so I have restarted stitching yesterday.

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This is the first one of a series of 4 different coasters: 4 different designs with different colors. I am using Brenda Day's colors for the first series, forcing myself in using colors that perhaps I would not initially chose. I will be making a few extras for Christmas gifts. Some of you might be thinking that maybe I am starting a bit early, but I can tell you that I can never start too early as I always end up racing against the clock the closer Christmas gets.

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I am stitching the four of them on the same piece of canvas, so that means that unfortunately I won't be able to do the finishing as each one is done stitching. On the other hand, it may entice me to work on this project quicker than I would otherwise have done.

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This series of coasters are all four-way bargello, which coincidentally is the second installment of The Bold and The Beautiful Bargello articles in Needlepoint Now, March/April 2009 issue. Usually projects in books are not all that detailed, so reading the article gave me extra information which made my task easier. Always nice to have many resources when working on something that you have not done before.

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I can't believe how much behind I can get in all my projects whenever I am sick and that does not have to be for a very long time either. Anyway, I will get there, eventually (grinning).

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Yesterday it was a very distracting day as we were having very bad weather with tornado warnings, sirenes going on and off during the day and me watching weather reports direct online. In a sense I like the fact that I can follow things online instead of having to go downstairs watch the TV in order to know how things are going weatherwise, but this is not the relaxing, peaceful stitching day I had in mind when I started my day. There was one tornado touch down but it was not near where I live, thank goodness for that.

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Anyway, all is good and well and I will move on to my next stitching and might be back tomorrow with another posting if all goes according to plans :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Mauve Flame Credit Card Case: Debbee's Designs

Funny things, how things happen sometimes. Yesterday afternoon, after having stitched for a while, went outside and really thought that I had done my stitching for the day, but went I came back inside, there was the stitched credit card case still on stretcher bars, so thought to myself, might as well remove the tacks and so I did. Then, thought that it would really not take all that long to cut the surplus fabric and so I did.
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Checked the finishing instructions a second time and felt that this really would not take that much time to finish so took some thread and needle and proceeded to do the finishing which is very well explained in Debbee's instructions and before I knew it I found myself with a lovely little case.
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Of course what is the use of such lovely case if I do not put anything in it, so rushed to add my driver's licence with a few other cards in it and am now feeling on top of the world (grinning).
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Photo above shows the little case all finished inside the clear plastic card case and folded in half with its precious cargo :-)


Photo above shows the little case all finished laying flat inside the clear credit card case.

Finally in this last photo, you see the credit card case after I have just completed the finishing.

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That was really a fun project to stitch and has the advantage of being very useful instead of just decorative.

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I will soon be starting a lovely checkbook cover, a pattern given to me by a friend when I was investigating around in order to find some lovely charted designs. On its front cover it has a lovely plaid pattern and on the back cover it has multiple blackwork patterns, a wonderful combination. Will tell you more about it when I actually start working on it.

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Received my partial kit yesterday afternoon for the Night Blossom Nugget Box from Stitchartz and will also talk more about that project when we actually start the cyberclass.

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There has been delays about threads needed for Tony's kimono project and I am still waiting for my supplies. This will turn out to have been a very long wait. Why do I get this feeling that every stitcher around is doing this project and using some of the same threads. I know, it is a project just too good to pass up. We all know a good thing when we see it (grinning). I will have a bit of catch up to do when I finally get my supplies but that won't be the first time and will manage just fine.

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Better go do a bit of stitching on ............ something :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Bargello credit card all stitched

It has been so nice outside during these last few days that I have not stitched as much and spent time outside in the garden enjoying the spring weather.
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The photograph above shows a close-up of the credit card case all stitched up, with eyelets in the center of those diamonds.


This photo above shows the entire credit card case with completed eyelets, half eyelets and even quarter ones in the corners.
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All that remains to do now is a little bit of finishing and I will be able to put my driver's license in my new case. Will add a photo when that last bit has been done. This will probably be tomorrow as I am yearning to spend a bit of time outside while it is still nice and warm.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Bargello credit card case: Third color added

Yesterday, I did more work on my little bargello credit card case by adding a third color, the lightest one.
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After fighting with my camera to take a decent photo (below), I had the idea of taking a real close-up one showing only a section of the stitched case and this is the best one so far. This photo (above) really shows the true colors used in this project, which are different shades of Shell Pink.



The photo above shows you the complete surface of the case. All that remains for me to stitch now are the eyelets inside the diamonds, using a rayon thread this time around compared to Perle #8 used for the rest of the project. I was thinking that a metalic thread would also look great there, something for me to consider when I make my second one.
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I have decided to stitch the eyelets today and complete this project as the finishing should be quick enough and I think that I have more or less decided that I am going to put my driver's licence in this one with a couple of others things, perhaps my car insurance one. We are so often asked for it as ID in stores, so instead of carrying it with my credit cards, it will be in its own little case and easy to just hand over. This may also turn out into a conversation piece (grinning).
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Pierrette =^..^=

"Superstition", Loretta Spears' Mystery #13, Lesson 2, Patterns 1 & 2

This project is really turning it out to be quite stunning and since it is a Mystery, it keeps us guessing as to what will come up next.

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Colors used by Loretta Spears are Waterlilies Flamingo, Opal and Crystal Bay with some Opalescent here and there to add some sparkle and also some petite glass beads by Mill Hill #40161 placed at strategic places.

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Yesterday, after working on my credit card case, I stitched lesson 2, patterns 1 & 2, which seems the same pattern in reality. It is just the way that half of them are stitched is different, but the end result really looks the same.

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The sun has just now appeared and it seems that we will have a lovely day today. So much nicer when it is bright and shiny outside.

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Pierrette =^..^=