Checkbook cover: Plaid first step completed

Oh boy, do I need a break from this plaid as I feel all dizzy and am now cross-eyed, not a good feeling nor a pretty sight :-(
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I have just completed the first step for the plaid with multiple horizontal rows of stitches of different colors working one stich in every other stitch. To make this worst, I had to use 3 strands of floss and use my laying tool for each one of them. It does take a lot of time to fill that space.
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The next step will be adding rows and rows of vertical ones using the same four color threads, filling in the empty spaces created while stitching my horizontal rows.

This is a close-up view. Don't you agree that this is dizzying?
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I will give this project a break or rather give myself a break and will work on something else at least for a few days before going back to it.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Plaid & Blackwork Checkbook cover: All Blackwork patterns completed

This morning I have picked up where I had left off on my "Plaid and Blackwork Checkbook cover", a Marjorie B. Berleur design, and completed the remaining Blackwork designs.

I will now start working on the "plaid" part of it, using some DMC floss threads in blue, lavender, green and peach (color used for the blackwork and borders).

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I have been wanting to stitch some plaid for sometimes now, but somehow never got around to it before today.

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Be back soon :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Winter Reflections, Mystery #2: Loretta Spears, designer, all stitched

Here is the completed Winter Reflections, Loretta Spears' Mystery #2.

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While I was stitching this beautiful design, a thought kept creeping up in my head. Does this design has to be vertical or can it also be horizontal and at the same time respecting the designer's concept? I got my answer from Loretta herself. In her last lesson she says "I told you in my description of the design it could be used either vertical or horizontal ..." I can't remember reading that in her first four lessons, so perhaps it was in something else like when she was promoting her desig or something. With Loretta's blessing, my husband and I tried it both directions and we both agree that we like it better this way (big big grin).

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Loretta says in lesson 3: "Do you see the light play? This is why I named this Winter Reflections. Living in the snow area you see so many shades of white when you have the sun shining on the snow. The mountain peaks are magnificent with their snow topping and the sun shining on them." Don't you just love it when the designer takes the time to tell you a bit about where she got her inspiration for a particular design?

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Pat and Cynthia have commented on the speedy stitching of this piece. I fully agree, I have never done something that quickly before, but I have never find myself in a joint venture before either. With Sharon stitching a big section of it, I was able to stitch the rest rapidly. It is also true that I have only concentrated on this project instead of doing a bit of this and a bit of that. It sure has its advantages to work on a single project at a time :-)
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I think that I will also provide a piece of silver lame to my framer to go under the stitched design, just like I did for Superstition, which is still at the framer since April 22.

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To you, Sharon D. from South Carolina, a big big thank you for giving me the opportunity to stitch another Loretta Spears design. I will always be grateful :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Winter Reflections: First 4 lessons completed

My joint venture with Sharon D. continues and I have now completed lesson 4. Only one more lesson remains to be stitched and it is the border around Winter Reflections and I will get to it right away. Next and last photo of this project will be posted sometimes tomorrow morning.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Winter Reflections: First three lessons completed

I have been doing a little bit of stitching since I received Winter Reflections from Sharon D (see previous blog entry).
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The photo above shows the three first lessons completed in full.

I have taken a second photograph here so that you can see a little better the work that has been completed, both by Sharon and myself.

And even took a third one for good measure (grinning). On this one you can see even better what has been done so far.

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Two more lessons remain on this project as I need to square both extremities and add a border all around it.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Winter Reflections, Mystery #2: Loretta Spears, designer

I am a bit at a loss for words here and not entirely sure how to start this blog entry this morning and it has all to do with this lovely design called Winter Reflections, Loretta Spears' Mystery #2.

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You see, the photo above has not been stitched by myself, but by another stitcher named Sharon D. from South Carolina. At this point, you may be wondering why the photo is on my blog since I am not the stitcher and here goes the story, at least a bit of it.

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It all happened when I was working on another Loretta Spears' mystery called Superstition a week ago or so. I was almost done with stitching it when I received a message from Sharon D. saying in a nutshell that she had Winter Reflections partially stitched and that since she could not continue working on it for personal reasons, she was looking for a good home for it and that if I was interested it was mine to have.

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Yesterday afternoon, Winter Reflections arrived in all its glory with the remaining threads so that I can finish stitching it myself. I immediately had a good look at the charts and will be having a good read this morning of the included instructions and you can be sure that I will start work on it immediately.

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I have also learned from Sharon that Winter Reflections has actually been purchased directly from Loretta Spears herself somewhere in Colorado while Sharon was traveling there. Sharon had the pleasure to meet her in person. Isn't that nice? I always wonder who is the person behind the designer.

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So today I find myself in a situation I have never been before as a stitcher, having two different stitchers working on the same piece, sort of a joint venture, and I find it quite exciting and having Loretta in the shadows is also a nice feeling.

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In a little while I will start reading Loretta's instructions to see what has been stitched by Sharon and what has not and will take it from there. What fun this will be.

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Pat has already stitched Winter Reflections in August of last year, I think it was, and I will for sure go there and have a peek from times to times, just to make sure I do not err. My philosophy is why reinvent the wheel all the time when it is already there for us to use.

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I would like again to thank Sharon D. for her kindness and generosity towards me. This was totally unexpected and I find myself so very grateful to her for this beautiful gift.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Plaid & blackwork checkbook cover: 2 Blackwork patterns stitched

A few weeks ago I have started working on a checkbook cover. You can see the outline here on this post.
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This checkbook designed by Marjorie B. Berleur contains both Blackwork and Needlepoint elements. Since I have been doing a lot of needlepoint projects recently, I have decided to start with the Blackwork patterns and here are the first two.


This photo shows gives you a general idea of what has been stitched so far.
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Some of you may laugh at this, but before I started looking for some Aida fabric for this project, I had no idea that Aida came in different count sizes. After my initial surprise at this, I started wondering why I had come to that conclusion as it does make sense that it does just like any other fabric.
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I so do enjoy stitching Blackwork so am enjoying myself with this one and just at the thought that I will end up with a beautiful checkbook cover instead of those plastic ones that the banks provide us with is a sure incentive for me to want to finish this project as soon as possible.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Hollyhock House: Roof added

April assignement has been completed with the addition of the roof on Hollyhock House. A good thing that the wallpapers and furniture have not yet been added as we have been having lots and lots of rain recently with a few tornadoes here and there just to keep us on our toes. The last tornado, an F4 touched down about 25 miles from where I live. Lots of hurt people and also a mother and her new born babies have died. I think the baby was only 7 weeks old. What a tragedy.
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I have told my husband that this one is my own house and if he is really really good he can come to visit me at times (grinning). He won't have to pay property taxes on it, nor do any painting and gardening. It is all on me. He can just come to visit and relax. Seems to me like he is getting a great deal here.
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Thinking of it, why not have this beautiful house on an island with great weather year round. Have been to Hawaii and just loved it, so I think that this will be Hollyhock House new setting. Flowers all year round, surrounded by oceans. Can you imagine me sitting on my porch, looking at the ocean in front of me and just stitching away? What a life! Can't ask for much more than that.

Just added a close-up photo of the roof.

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I have stitched 38 pages of instructions so far and there are 145 pages total, so there is still a long long way to go before this piece can go to the framer. Next assignment will be about stitching the two angels that will be protecting my house. Can't wait to get going on that.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Superstition: Mystery #13 by Loretta Spears, designer

Just finished adding the last beads this morning at 7:30. I know what you are thinking but I am an early riser (grinning).
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As far as I know Loretta Spears has designed 14 mysteries in her series and this one is Mystery #13, also called Superstition. Been wondering why Loretta called this one Superstition and must confess that I have not been able to come up with any clues, except that perhaps she never thought that she would get that far in her series, but that is all speculation from my part.
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This was an absolutely fantastic experience to stitch this gorgeous project, which had in addition to needlepoint which of course was to be expected, pulled thread and beading.
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The project measures 5 inches square, so it would probably go nicely in a box cover, but I will have this little jewel framed. Loretta suggests to put some silver lame under the piece before finishing. That will add even more sparkles than it already has.
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I have also added a photograph of the only other piece I have stitched from Loretta this far. This one has not been blogged as it was stitched before my blogging days.

This is Loretta Spears' Mystery #8 also called Bargello Symphony. This is a much bigger piece and was also an absolute joy to stitch
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I have been lucky enough to get both kits with original threads.

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I am still on a "high" from having stitched Superstition (smiling). I can't say it enough, this was such a beautiful project, with full of surprises at each steps along the way.

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I can't wait to see what my husband and framer will come up for this piece. They are quite a team at finding just the perfect frame and mat, so I always let them surprise me with it and have not been disappointed yet.

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Pierrette =^..^=

LovetoStitch99@comcast.net

Superstition, Lesson 4, pattern 2, step 1

I am almost done, but not quite. Just completed lesson 4, pattern 2, step 1, which is the border. I still need to do step 2, which is the beading part of the border.
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I have noticed that the colors of Superstition have not always been as exact as they should have been in past photographs, so I making sure that my last photographs are as close to reality as possible and this is pretty close. Noticed that I missed a part of the upper border in my photograph but this was such a good photo otherwise that I decided to use it just the same. I will make sure that my last one shows everything and is as close to true colors as possible.
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I will try to add the beads today and will be back with the FINALE photo sometimes later (grinning).
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Pierrette =^..^=