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 =^..^=

Mauve flame credit card case: Debbie Rowley, designer

Yesterday I started working on my credit card case, a Debbie Rowley design. For some reason or other I seem to be stitching a lot of bargello these days. That must be due to those articles with Liz Morrow in Needlepoint Now that we have been having since the beginning of the new year. They have reminded me of how much I have always enjoyed bargello and that I should definitely do more bargello projects.

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While I was stitching Debbie's credit card case, I was thinking of what else I could put in those cases and came up with a few ideas like my driver's licence, membership cards with my stitching guilds, anything really that I want to be able to find quickly. They would also make nice gifts. There are so many wonderful color combination possible so will see what I can come up with, a bit later.

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Loretta's Spears' Superstition is now calling my name so will do a bit more on that project before returning to this one.

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Pierrette =^..^=

The Peacock Stitching Chair: Graph A - Chair Back

I have been slowed down quite a bit those last two days with lots of interruptions and false starts, but with persistence have finally managed to stitch the back of the chair.
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For those who are not sure which project this is, here is the link for it. The one I am working on is the first of the series. Since then there has been a second chair (the green one) and a divan which is also adorable.
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Yesterday I have received my kit for a credit card case and I am just dying to start working on it, so I may decide to start working on it before doing a bit more on Superstition. We are finally having a nice warm and sunny day today after days of rain, so will now take a much needed break, go outside on the patio and enjoy a bit of sun and while there will think about what I feel like working on next. I am starting to really enjoy often switching projects to suit my moods. This rotation business is not that bad after all. I have resisted it for a long time though (grinning).
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See you all later :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

"Superstition", Loretta Spears' Mystery #13, Lesson 1, Pattern 4

This is such a wonderful design and to think that I have left this one sitting for so long in my stash. Hard to believe, isn't it?
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On this photo you can see pattern 4 of the first lesson. Can you see the little beads? Cute little details on this pattern. I find working with these colors so relaxing too.
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I will now start doing a little bit of stitching on Peacock Chair to move that project along too. It is amazing how much work you can do by working a little bit on this project and then a little bit on that other one and all this often in the same day. It all depends of course how much work there is in each section that I want to work on and if I need a break from it or not ........... and to think that I used to work on one project at a time. These days now seem long ago.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Hollyhock House: All bricks done

I have noticed that whenever I take a photo and that the center of that picture has not been stitched, then I have all those wavy lines. I tried and tried with this one and this is the best one I could take.
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Having now stitched the last brick, this is completing my March assignment with the stitch-along group. Will now put this project aside until April 1st when we get our next assignement for that month. This will give me time to work on my other projects. At that time we will be working on the roof, chimneys, angels, ribbon and not sure what else.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Hibiscus and the butterfly: Stumpwork

This morning is a cold and rainy day but I do have quite a bit of sunshine with this lovely stumpwork project that my very best friend Terry has made for me for my birthday. She sent it early enough so that my husband had time to bring it to the framer where they put their heads together and came up with this perfect frame for it. No mat at all this time around and no glass over it either. It looks stunning and warms my heart with good feelings :-)

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Previous post shows this project before framing. Going back on my blog to retrieve it made me realize that my photo was a bit on the dark side and perhaps my previous photo was a bit on the light side (grinning). Anyway, they all did a wonderful job for me and I am very happy.

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Will be working on adding more bricks today to Hollyhock House. My goal for the day is to finish this month's assignment. I still have approximately half of the right side to complete and then will put it aside until next assignment on April 1st.

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Pierrette =^..^=