We Surv!ved the Blizzard of 2016! Plus, My New Stand is here!

What a difference a week makes.  Last weekend I sat here on my sofa, catching up on some stitching and watching the snow fall.  We live at the foot of the mountains, so although we are fairly high in elevation (about 1500 feet above sea level), we don't get quite as much snow as they get on the mountain tops.  I think we ended up with about six or seven inches of snow, but you wouldn't know it to look outside now.  The only snow left is in areas where the sun can't reach. 

Yesterday I celebrated my birthday, and it was such a lovely day for a celebration.  It was in the low 60s here, the sun was shining bright, and I was able to leave coat and gloves in the house while I took the dogs for a little walk around the property.  My husband joined me, but I let him take over for the walk down to the creek.  I just wasn't up for the little hike down the hill.  Actually, it was the hike back up the hill that I wasn't up for.  All in all, it was a great day.  I spent the evening finally finishing the first La D Da piece I am making for my husband.  I should have been finished weeks ago, but I am working on linen, not even weave, and miscounted by one thread about midway through.  It threw off most of the spacing for the verse by one thread, so I ended up having to rip almost the entire piece and start again. I switched to a Q Snap frame to finish the piece, because I think working in hand on 35 count linen is now out of my visual capabilities.  Poor eyesight comes with old age (I did mention I am a year older LOL)  It is much easier to count when working with the piece stretched tight.

I will wait to frame the piece until I finish the companion piece.  Then I will get them both mounted in matching frames.  Here is a photo of my finished piece.

The next piece is a witch's shoe with a very long toe to it, and the verse "By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes."  There are only five colors, and it is a very simple border, so it shouldn't take me long to finish, barring any mishaps in counting.

I am trying to finish these pieces up quickly because notice has come from Thistle Threads that our first project kit is about to ship. Once that arrives I will be focusing most of my attention on it.  I know one of the projects is a lovely embroidered glove, and I think a few small notions to keep in the cabinet once we get that far.

I am not sure how large the fabric will be for these pieces, butI  am actually hoping it will be on the larger side.  My new floor stand has finally arrived and I am anxious to frame up a larger piece so I can give it a go.  Once I have a chance to try it out, I will post my opinion here and provide a link for purchase if anyone is interested.  I am still waiting for my Millennium frame to arrive.  I have discovered that when Needle Needs says something is in stock, they means they are ready to accept orders to begin making more.  It has been almost two months since I ordered, and all they will respond with via email is, "We are working on your order."  I will be ordering larger rods, perhaps next month when I get paid, perhaps this month once I have paid bills, depending on what we have left in the pot.  Either way, 10" bars are not going to work for what I tend to stitch, and I know the fabric for the cabinet will be very large, so 30" or 36" bars will be needed.

I am off to gather the threads for my next work of art.  I hope everyone reading this is happy and healthy and had a fabulously stitchy  week.

Donna

Frostings Club First Shipment Has Arrived!

After a very long wait which included a snafu with my mailing address, I finally received my first shipment from the Frostings Club http://thistle-threads.myshopify.com/products/frostings-club-session-1  

Anyone that enjoys stitching with pretty things will love the threads which are included in the first shipment.  Most people received their box just before Christmas, and put them under the tree to be opened Christmas morning.  Since mine was a little late, and my birthday is the end of this month, I am considering mine a birthday gift to myself.  Thank God I have a husband that really doesn't care what I do or buy, as long as it makes me happy.  He always says, "A happy wife is a happy life."  I guess he knows the secret of marriage.

Access Commodities has done a fabulous job replicating threads and colors from the 17th century.  All threads are pure silk and I can't wait to begin stitching with them.  The wire I will have to spend a little time working with.  I can't imagine it will be easy to lay on fabric, but the finished look should be stunning.

The box itself is a work of art.  All sides (except for the underside) is covered with 17th century embroidery patterns.

 

There are over a dozen colors of Lacet.  This is just a sampling:

 

The silk gimp and the wire threads in beautiful metal colors are just fabulous.  In the upper right corner of the box is a length of silk serpentine gimp which would be wonderful surrounding a cartouche or a special verse.

 

 

 

It was hard to get a photo of the gold braid, it was so shiny the light just bounced right off of it.

 





And last in the box is this beautiful cording.  There are so many lovely colors, the imagination runs wild with ideas of what to do with these,

According to the last blog related to the Frostings Club http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/, there will soon be a design competition using the these threads.  There is also two free patterns available if you choose to experiment with the different textures.

I am frantically trying to finish the piece I have been working on for my husband.  The end of this month the first projects package should be mailed.  (Another little happy birthday gift to me.)  Once it arrives a fear I wont be working on much of anything else for a while.

My new year is starting off on a wonderful note, I hope everyone reading this is equally as blessed and fortunate as I feel I am.

Happy stitching!

Donna