American flag name tag: All stitched

I just finished the stitching part of Gay Ann's American flag name tag this morning and I think that the design is pretty cute :-)

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With my name, since it is pretty long, I have used Gay Ann's regular alphabet for the "P" and then used what she calls her economy alphabet for the rest of the letters. If I had not done that, then I would not have been able to add any red horizontal lines on each side of my name and I think the design would not have been as lovely.

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I have not quite decided if I am going to finish it like Gay Ann has done with hers, which is to stitch the front with the back and then insert into an Avery plastic folder and pin it on myself or if I am going to finish it differently. Need to think about this one, so will put it aside for now.

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Pierrette =^..^=

American flag name tag

Close-up photo of what I have stitched so far of American flag

That is the beginning of Gay Ann's little American flag name tag. You can see the front and the back of the name tag done in pulled thread (Nun's stitch). I had to do two rows on each one, the front and the back. Not difficult to do but a little time consuming, but not all that much since we are talking name tag here and the size is approximately a little over 3½" by 2".

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After that I have added the white stars using a metallic braid, followed by the blue background using Fyre Werks.

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Remains to do additional horizontal red lines and my name and put the back and the front together.

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I will probably be stitching the last bits of Mrs Santa after that. I also need to start concentrating on doing some finishing as things are piling up higher and higher and I do not like that one bit :-(

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Yesterday I was having a look at all the projects I have waiting for me to get to and either I change gears pretty soon or I will get buried under all of them. Just trying to decide which one to tackle next is a task by itself. I still have quite a few projects already started and not yet completed, some with not too much to do. Oh well, better not think too much about all this and continue putting one stitch after another and maybe I will get there eventually.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Patriotic Heart: All stitched

I knew it was not going to take too long to finish the remaining stitching on my little Patriotic Heart and I was able to find enough time this morning to complete it. Makes me so happy :-)

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Now, I will stitch the Flag Tag (name tag) and will then finish both at the same time. Just imagine a lovely blue, red and white cord all around the little heart. It will look great.

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I love name tags but I have really not that many occasions to wear them unfortunately as I don't go to seminars and I only belong to Cybergroups or long distance groups. Hey, I could always wear them in my house, alternating between them, only when I am stitching though. That would be so funny to see my husband's expression when he notices the name tag on me. God only knows what the man will be thinking, perhaps that I am going "gaga" or worst (grinning).

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Can't wait to see his face, so will try to start working on it today :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Patriotic Heart: Almost done

Yesterday, I have managed to stitch a little more on my little heart. All the stitches on this project are very easy to do and it is how Gay Ann has put the design together that makes it so pretty.
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As you can see there is only two sections left to stitch, the one at the top (right side) and the one at the bottom, so unless a major catastrophy I can pretty much say that it will be all stitched by the end of today :-)
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I also have a little Patriotic name tag (also from Gay Ann) that I will stitch afterwards. It won't take long and then I can do both finishing at the same time.
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See you all in a little bit!
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Pierrette =^..^=

Patriotic Heart: A little more done

Gosh, I am so happy to be stitching again. It is a real joy. I had not realized how much I was missing it :-)

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Yesterday, I stitched a little more on Gay Ann's Patriotic Heart, working on the right side, adding some red horizontal lines of different thicknesses together with some blue and white edging.

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Very little threads are necessary for this little project: Blue Fyre Werks, White Kreinik Tapestry Braid, Blue Fine Braid, Red Impressions and some Anchor white Perle cotton.

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A little more to do on the right side and I will be all done. It is really a quick project. I bet somebody could do it in one day if they put the right amount of time.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Patriotic Heart

Wow, I had not realized that it had been that long since I posted last (Sept. 17th). I had some personal issues to deal with, which have kept me away from stitching. I have just restarted yesterday and will be playing catch-up with all the numerous projects already started and the new ones that are begging me to start them (grinning).

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I could have continued working on Anne Stradal's Mrs Santa, but decided to ease myself back in with a new project called Patriotic Heart by Gay Ann Rogers. What made me decide to do this one is that we are in the middle of a very intense election period, well, actually finally getting close to the end, about 14 days to go before the November 4th election and what better project than a little Patriotic heart.

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I have completed the left side of the heart with stripes and stars. I was so happy to see that the pattern has some pulled thread in it, something that I adore doing, but rarely have the occasion to do, so that was a big bonus for me. The right side has lots of stripes, blue, white and red with the word America on it. As usual, since it is an ornament, I will do my own finishing with cording.

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Better go back to it now as I have lots and lots of catching up to do. It is good to be back stitching again :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

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P.S. Don't mind what seems to be lines on the left side of the heart, I made an error in my counting when I had to stitch an outline with white thread on white canvas and the holes are still showing, but that will not be visible after the finishing is done. I usually am pretty good with counting, but it has been a rough restarting, but now all is going well (smiling)

The Night Before, an Anne Stradal design

It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything on my blog, the reason being that I have not been feeling that well and have been taking things rather easy, which have given me the opportunity to do a lot of reading, something I love and usually am not able to find enough time for it.
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I have been able to do a little bit of stitching though and have been working on The Night Before which is the accompanying piece to The Day After that I have stitched not long ago.
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The photo below has been stitched by Anne Stradal herself and has been included with her permission.

[Designed and stitched by Anne Stradal of ABS Designs]

Below is a picture showing what I have done up to now.

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So far I have done a bit of the wallpaper, which I intend to do exactly as Anne did. I have done the flooring and the rug using the same color thread for the carpet (Rainbow Tweed RT55) and a DMC #5 perle for the flooring (mine is a shade lighter than Anne). The chair has been done in two shades of Velour Very Petite. I have stitched the table where the lamp is and the legs of the chair using the same DMC Perle #5 brown color.

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Now we are where things are getting a bit more complicated, at least for me :-) I wanted to change Mrs. Claus' dress, using the same color though as Anne did hers. At this point I am not sure if I like it or not. That is the reason I have not stitched yet her slippers as if I have to frog the dress, then I don't want to spoil the slippers. I was thinking of adding a little lace to the colar and bottom of her sleeves. Now, do I go for white or some pink color? I am still wondering what stitch I will be using for the apron and what color? Since she is not a maid, I don't have to leave it white if I don't want to. Oh! you may have noticed that I have stitched over the scarf that she is knitting and will also do the same thing over her apron because I want to add the stitched scarf over (like stumpwork). Still thinking about her needles as to how to make them. Also still debating about her hat, not sure what I will do..

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I have been wondering if I want to cover the shade of the lamp with some fabric instead of thread. Also have not decided how to do the lamp base, stem and finial. I will do the basket the same way as Anne did hers, but will wait for the balls of yarns as I may change some colors. As for the pine branches and bow, I may decide to do exactly as Anne did, unless I make the bow Brazilian embroidery style.

[My photo is a bit dark compared to Anne's but have used the same colors]

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So, lots of decisions still to make before this piece is completed. I will probably start working on the wallpaper while I am thinking about all this. If you have some ideas for any part of it, I would love to hear from you all and also tell me if I should change her dress or leave it as is. I don't mind doing a bit of frogging in order to make her look nicer :-)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Peace Tree

I have just this minute completed all the stitching on this latest ornament from Jim Wurth. This one has a Christmas theme and is quite different to the rest of the series which you can see here.

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You can see candles, bows of different sizes and colors, wreaths, etc.

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All the time I was stitching it, I could not decide whether I liked it or not. I like the individual components, just not sure that I like the overall look, if you get my meaning. It is like when you have this feeling that something is not quite right but can't quite put your finger on it.

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It is still a nice ornament as I don't think that Jim could create anything ugly even if he tried, but this one will need some getting used to it. On the other hand some of you may just absolutely love it. I would love to hear from you either here in the comment section or if you prefer just write to me at LovetoStitch99@comcast.net

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Now, I will go back to Angelina who has been sitting very quietly waiting for me to go back to her.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Peace Tree: Gold beads added

Here is a photo showing the gold beads inside the Jessicas that I had forgotten to add yesterday :-) With the beading added like that, it gives it a more finished look.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Peace Tree: Dodecagon Ornament Series by Jim Wurth

Peace Tree is the 11th of the Dodecagon Ornament Series designed by Jim Wurth that I have received so far. The 12th and last one should arrive sometimes in November, ending that lovely series.
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Jim said that he wanted to make at least one ornament that would have a Christmas theme to it and this one is it. The design took me a little by surprise when I saw it first and did not know what to think of it really, but now that I have started working on it, I am slowly changing my mind about it.
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All Jim's ornaments look much better from upclose as he uses a lot of metallic threads, which is so difficult to make all that sparkle stand out when taking photos, at least when I am taking them.
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I was supposed to be working on some other projects, but ever since I got so behind in stitching that series at the beginning and finally managed to catch up after stitching one after another, I promised myself that I would work on each one of them as soon as I would receive them, so temporarily put aside the main project I was working on in order to start working on it, though I have done it at a very slow pace.
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I have added a photo showing a close-up of that first section. Oups, just realized that I have forgotten to add the beads inside the small jessicas :-(

I have started working on Angelina, my latest blackwork project, but I feel that I have not done enough to take a photo. Will do as soon as I have a little more done to make it interesting for you all :-)

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Better go back to my forgotten beads before I continue working on the rest of it.

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Pierrette =^..^=