Merry Christmas

Merry Rainy Day Christmas!  I am sitting here Christmas afternoon alone with my two dogs and two kitties.  My husband is visiting his son and grandchildren in Indiana.  I would have gone with him, but it is hard for me to travel long distances, and we had no one to care for the pets.  My son couldn't come down to Tennessee because he had to work.  My mom went to visit my younger brother for the holiday, and my older brother also had to work.  I am ok with spending the time alone.  It has given me some much needed quiet time, as well as plenty of time to get back to my stitching.

My Joanna Brimblecombe sampler is going to sit for just a little while longer as I work on stitching two small pieces for my husband, then I will get back at it.  It is so large, and I was struggling with one part of it, so it is nice to step back and reassess for a while.  Just like when I read a really long book.  When I am finally finished, I want to read something quick and easy to make me feel like I am actually accomplishing something.

I am working on a La-D-Da chart called The Raven.

It is hard to read in this photo, but it is the opening line from Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven, Once upon a midnight dreary, as I pondered weak and weary.  Stitched on 35 count Havana linen, it is only three colors, so it is easy to just thread up and stitch.

Once I am finished this, there is a companion piece, Something Wicked This Way Comes.  This is a photo from the website.  Stitched on the same linen, I think it uses the same colors, so it, too, should be a quick stitch. 

Once these are done, I will get back to Joanna. At least until I receive my first project from Thistle Threads, the small trinket box to design and stitch.  Hopefully I can get most of The Raven finished today since I plan on stitching my holiday away.

Again, I say Merry Christmas to all, and to all a stitching night.

Donna

Embroiderer's Guild of America

I have been thinking about things I can do to increase socialization, and I began researching EGA chapters in my area. The closest chapter meets in Kingsport, and that is almost an hour away.  I was about to give up when I noticed they had a cyber chapter.  Since I don't drive and there is no form of public transportation in the country,  I discussed with my husband about maybe joining the cyber group.

His immediate response was, "No."  He then went on to say that if I were going to join, I should join an actual group.  He is about to join the Confederate Sons of the Civil War, and said if he was going to join a group, I should, too.  I explained that the closest group was an hour away, and he said no problem.  He offered to drive me there every week and find something to do while I stitched and socialized.  I married a very special man.

I contacted the president of the local chapter, and this week I went to my first meeting.  I think I am in love LOL. What a wonderful group of women.  I was hoping maybe one of them lived a bit closer to me, and could offer me a ride once in a while, but the closest one is in Limestone, and she would have to go far out of her way to pick me up and drop me off.  Until someone closer joins the group, Gene will just have to drive me for now.

There are monthly projects available to stitch, but they are completely optional.  In fact, one woman worked on her knitting while we chatted, so they are very relaxed and not at all regimented in any way.  I really liked a few of the pieces they have planned for the next year, but with the stitching list my husband has for me, and the casket class I am taking, I will be a very busy stitcher over the next year or so.

Gene is leaving for Indiana to take my step-daughter home on Tuesday the 23rd, and will be gone until after Christmas, so I wont be going back until the following week, but I am content to wait.  Hopefully this will work out well for me  and I can start making a few friends in the area.

Millenium Frame But NOT Necessaire Stand

A few months ago I e-mailed Needle Needs, the UK store that exclusively carries the Millennium Frame and the Necessaire Floor Stand.  They offer a combination package where you can get both, plus a longer pair of bars (the frame comes with 10" bars, but I work mostly on larger pieces so I need a longer set.)  Both items were out of stock, so my e-mail was basically a question of when they would be expected back in stock. I did a very rough estimate of currency exchange, and the total cost with shipping would be just under $400, but if they were as awesome as people claim, it would be worth the money.

The reply I received was fairly quick, and stated they should have a shipment before Christmas and she would put my name on her list and email me when they were available.  BUT, they generally sell out within an hour.  Ok, these are hand made items, so I can understand them taking a while to make and supply. 

We are a week out from Christmas, and I have not received any e-mails.  I went on to their site the other night, and I saw that the frame was in stock, but the stand was not.  I really wanted the frame more than the stand, so I went ahead and purchased just the frame ($110 with almost a third being shipping costs). Had I been smart, I would have added the extra bars, but it was one in the morning and was tired.  Now I will have to pay their shipping charges again.

I began doing a little research online, and what I have been reading, the company's customer service leaves a lot to be desired.  I read one blog where a woman waited almost two and a half months to get her frame (which had been list as "In Stock"). Most of the posts were about the stand, it seems the stands are much more difficult to get.  I really like the design of the floor stand.  It has no clamp, your work simply rests on two arm so when it is time to finish off a thread, you simply flip it over, no unscrewing and taking your frame out, then replacing it.  This may seem like an easy task, but when you are working a complicated piece, and there are a lot of color changes, you could spend more time screwing and unscrewing then actually stitching.

I started thinking maybe there was another stand that would meet my needs. I did a general Google search for Embroidery Floor Stands.  Across the top of the results page was a "Shop for...on Google" bar, with photos of different stands.  I began scrolling through these, and of course, most were the clamp type.  Then I saw it! There was a stand, similar to the one from Needle Needs, available on Etsy.  I immediately went to the site, and it looked as if it might work. However, I had a few questions for the shop owner, and sent an e-mail. 

I stitch on a reclining sofa.  This is a sofa where both ends are recliners.  I asked if the stand would be tall enough, and if the top could turn to allow the stand to be at an angle to my seat, but I could adjust it so that I was stitching straight on while the seat is reclined. Call me lazy, but after my accident, and my stroke, the hospital put in an IVC filter.  This catches any possible clots that may break off from my legs and prevents them from causing another stroke, or worse, death.  I don't know about you, but I can't stitch if I am dead LOL.  I really need to keep my leg elevated for a good part of the day, because I retain fluid in my legs because of the filter. It can become clogged over time with tiny pieces of debris, thus slowing the blood return, yada yada yada.  Bottom line, my legs swell, so I need to keep them elevated when I can. 

That said, the owner of the Etsy shop promptly e-mailed me the next morning. He said it would work, but I would need the extender piece to make it higher, and the yoke to allow it to turn 90 degrees. The way he talked, he has developed some attachments to allow people in hospital beds to stitch.  I went back to Etsy, and ordered the stand as well as the two attachments he recommended.  With shipping it came in to just under $100. The Etsy shop is Kevscorner.  As soon as I get my items and actually get to use them, I will post about any pros or cons.

So, for just about $200 I got what I really wanted.  I will have to go back after pay day and order the longer bars for the frame, but I am sure I can find some smaller pieces to work in until they arrive,

Cross Stitch Floor Stand from Kevscorner, Etsy.

Christmas is Coming!

I have been so busy the last week or so.  I finally finished stitching two of my ornaments and started a third.  The first is a Just Nan design from 2003, Italian Ice, a free chart which was given out to needlework shops. The second is from the book by Donna Kooler, "201 Cross Stitch Christmas Designs" 

The next couple of ornaments will also be from the Kooler book, but this weekend I plan to go through my stash and pull out some of my back issues of magazines to look for a variety of things.  What I don't get finished this year will wait for next Christmas.  I generally don't stitch specifically for Christmas, but I have joined a few Facebook groups, and seeing all of the wonderful things people are stitching has inspired me.  We generally don't exchange gifts in my family, just giving to the children, but I am not a fan of this, and a small stitched ornament is just the right thing to give. A little piece of the heart to be remembered every year as it hangs on the tree.

My gifts to the grand children are wrapped and ready to go with my husband in two weeks when he goes to Indiana to visit with his family there.  I will be staying home for the holiday, doggie and kitty sitting.  We have had my step-daughter with us for the last three months, and I am looking for to a little peace and quiet.  We tend to be a lot busier when she is visiting, and I am a true homebody, not wanting to be on the road all the time. Plus, I have enough books and needlework to keep me occupied while Gene is gone.


Happy Stitching,

Donna

The Castle Has Come Home to Roost

Back in the late 1990's I stitched this as a model for The Stitching Post in Catonsville, MD. Before I moved last year, I asked the owner if the chart ever went out of print and she pulled the model to place in her Charity sale, let me know so I could have first dibs on buying it. I have had the chart for years, but have never gotten around to making if for myself. Well, it happened. She emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know it was available. I think it looks fabulous hanging on my wall! Midieval Miniature #1 by Best Stitched designs by Bev. Stitched on 25 count black Lugana linen over 1 thread. The entire design is less than 4" square, and that includes the gold braid work.

There are a few tricks to working over one and on black linen.  I do a lot of work on 40 count linen, many times working over 1 thread.   When doing a row of stiches in the same color, laying one leg of the x across the row, then coming back with the second leg does not work well.  I find if I try to do this, especially with more the two stitches in a row, the thread gets "lost" in the fabric.  It will actually tuck up under the fabric thread, making your x lopsided.  The trick is to cross each stitch as you go.  This uses more thread, and if you are stitching with more expensive threads such as silk, it is painful to waste.  Trust me, the finished effect is worth the little extra time and thread.  Crossing each stitch as you go gives a much cleaner finish when working such small stitches.

When working on black  or dark fabric the easiest thing is to keep a white sheet over your lap.  As you stitch the white will show through the holes in the fabric and make them a lot easier to see.  If this doesn't work for you, you can try a light box.  Sometimes called an up light, these generally have a padded  cloth underside so when you are working with it on your lap it doesn't get uncomfortably hot.  The light shines through your cloth and makes seeing the holes much easier.  They can run about $50, but when entering your mid-50s as I am, it is worth the price to be able to see a bit clearer as I work.

As far as what I am currently working on, still doing ornaments.  I am working the Just Nan free chart that was given to needlework shops a few years ago called Italian Ice.  I am almost finished stitching it.  I have already finished a carousel horse from Donna Kooler. I have two tucks that I purchased in a clearance bin a few  years ago, they are very simple and will be a quick stitch, then I found a blackwork pattern I want to change from blue to reds and greens.  If I get all of this done before the holidays I will dig out some of my Christmas ornament magazine editions and find something else to make.  Once they are finished I will post them here.