Fairy is Framed

Really happy with how she looks – simple and sweet.

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I also took Stargazer in to see what potential frames would look like. It’s a toss up between these two:

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Left is already silver toned and matches the beads/fabric nicely:

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Right has more detail and if this is the one I use, I’ll rub it with silver to make that detail stand out. Pristine is not the look I’m going for:

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Let me know what you think. Left? Or right?

WIP Wednesday

Having finished with the Fairy I’ve been working away at Stargazer’s beading. I didn’t stitch over the weekend, as we were busy/I was tired, but after some frogging and matching, I’m really happy with what I’ve now decided on. I’ve used Mill Hill 16010 for the largest, 02010 for the white and 00161 for the remainder.

 I have roughly 3 weeks before the next RR piece arrives, so plenty of time to finish this. But what do I start next?! I so want a new start, rather than finish the last

Stargazer as model stitched

Stargazer as model stitched

My version of Stargazer

My version of Stargazer

 

 

I also picked up two more charts, and sold a couple myself. I have (on the way) the May fairy and the OOP Once Upon A Time. I’ll change out the roses colours on OUAT – blue is wrong on too many levels! The May fairy will stay as charted and likely be as model stitched.

once upon May fairy

Jacqui’s RR is done!

And three weeks before deadline. I’m so pleased as I can now focus on other stuff without feeling any guilt.

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It was stitchers choice of the Nora pixies; I chose Daisy. I’ve not stitched her before but she went fairly quickly in about 16 hours tops (from choosing the chart to beading). I did scoff at Jacqui’s note about not being able to count, so she is 30 * 72. Whoops. But I am going to count her as my Small for May.

Here is the piece as it will leave me next month:

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Now to focus on finishing Stargazer’s beading before Debra’s piece arrives!

WIP Wednesday is a finish!

Yay! Yes, if you’re familiar with this pattern you’ll see that I chose not to stitch some portions of the design (like the background) & I’ve converted all the Crescent Colours to DMC, and then changed out the Mill Hill beads. But that is my usual M.O.!
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I also only half – stitched the wings, and only in the bottom direction. That’s to give it texture. I was going to stitch the top arm in Kreinik #4 032 for a shiny look but it didn’t look quite right.

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This is off to the framer on Thursday. Should be back in time for the MIL’s birthday in June!

EDITED TO INCLUDE CONVERSION:

Letters from Nora – C conversion
Crescent Colours/Classic Colorworks DMC
Cobbled Peach 819
La Tierra 840
Cloud blanc
Vintage Violet 553/793
Hickory Sticks 898
Whatley Woodlands 420
Deep Fennel 3817
Heatherleigh 3756
Eves Leaves 745
Bejewelled 502
Ye Old Gold 680
Old Blue Jeans 3799
Lettuce Leaf 3813
WING Cloud B5200
Backstitch skin (1 strand) 3031
Backstitch other (1 strand) 3799

WIPocalypse Check In

WIPocalypseThis month’s set of posts was delayed, thanks to Gremlins getting into Measi’s site. Blah. Sucks that you can’t throw water on electronics (showing my eighties upbringing).

The topic for this month was: I would like to know if you look for LNS’s when you travel. What is the favorite shop you’ve ever found?

I do look for LNS (local needlework store). In fact, I had the GPS going when we came back from Newcastle to Sydney, and a list of five stores. In my defence, we had a list of 24 wreckers to find the bits for the Rodeo.

On Saturday I bribed the tweens I was transporting from their game with Wendy’s just so I could pop into Ribbon Rose in Mt Wellington. I only brought a bobbin of Nymo but it was the best 10 minutes of me time. I had taken in Stargazer & the beads I intend to use, and the sales assistant even stitched a few on the fabbie to show that the thread was hidden. Brilliant service. So if you’re in Auckland, that’s where I recommend you go.

You Can Quote Me

preview-rainbow-cloud-pattern

YCQM is an on-going semi-weekly post, based on my One Little Word, Serenity. You would get it weekly, except some weeks I just don’t have my A into G, as my Nana would have said.

Today’s quote is a Maya Angelou. Admittedly I usually only see these on fancy or fluffy gift cards, but here’s one you can stitch. Thanks to Loretta from Stitching The Night Away – it was on her weekly newsletter. To subscribe (she has recipes!) follow the links on her site.

http://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/5350/maya-angelou-quote-be-a-rainbow-free-cross-stitch-pattern/

WIP Wednesday

Wow, winning! I’m back on schedule.

Currently I’m waiting on receiving Jacqui’s parcel with her RR in it, so I’ve started the fairy letter for the MIL. Conversion is not going as swimmingly as the L I did for Louise last year.

This is after about six/seven hours. At least you can’t see my frog lines!

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WIP (oh dear) Thursday & Smalls SAL

So…this month has been a little slow on the stitching front.

20150427_184351I sussed out (finalised) the pieces for my Round Robin & completed the base framework. It was posted yesterday – before deadline! This is what it looked like – with the tiny bit of 422 that remained on my bobbin!

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I completed two small poppy badges for my Smalls entry, & to wear for ANZAC day. Sarah P received one, and mine was finished on black felt as I wanted it to be flat to go into my One Little Word Album.

I brought an awful lot of charts – see previous post – and another arrived that I swapped to receive – Mirabilia Dressmaker’s Daughter. Sulked a little as I realised the fabbie I had stashed for that was 28ct, so TOO SMALL to fit DD on it, unless I divide it into two halves (not happening, could get a different dye lot which would screw it all up). Fabric was the charted Milk Chocolate, but the chart calls for a FQ of 32ct. Stupid rookie mistake.

Persephone on Milk ChocolateThought about changing plans on that fabric and using it for Persephone – what do you think? This is from the Viewer; I still need to do a floss toss myself to confirm. Might take it to Zeb’s on Saturday & get her and Jenny’s opinions.

I didn’t complete any larger WIPs which has left me a little discouraged. I only need to do beading on Stargazer (I have decided she needs it); a small ammt of stitching on Med Mermaid (beads arrived last week) & a lot of stitching on the freebie Christmas cherub. I think the “only” needing to do the beading on Stargazer will mean that she comes to dinner with me Saturday!

I went a little bit mad…

One of the ladies in our group decided to de-stash. I only brought one piece of fabric but….

PersephoneMirabilia Persephone kit: Like the lotus flowers behind her, with their blooms growing up from the darkness, Persephone emerges from the underworld once a year to return to her mother Demeter and herald the beginning of spring. Surrounded by cranes, symbols of happiness, good fortune, and longevity, she embraces the beauty of the Victorian era in her aquamarine gown while she contemplates the luscious pomegranate and the coming harvest.

md130lgMirabilia Biancabella kit: In honor of her mother who stitched in the palace orchard, Biancabella visits the place where her mother once pricked her finger and made a wish. Her heart’s desire was to be granted a lovely daughter with skin as white as the fragrant snowdrops at her feet, hair as black as the friendly raven who perched above, and lips as red as the crisp apples that hung from the branches around her. She holds the last apple of the season aloft, admiring its succulent scent, wondering if it possesses the power to bring her a true love in spring. I have a mirror shaped frame, I think her face/hand/apple will be perfect but I’ll have to stitch over 1 or on 40000 count to fit it in!

md111lgPeony Garden: Exuberant double blossom peonies create a purple haze at twilight. With names like “Cup of shining night”, “Story Enchantress” and “Red embroidered needles ball”, it is no wonder that the peony tree is the center of every spring imperial garden. I’m going to reverse this one so she faces Damask Roses.

md1Damask Roses (v excited, this one has just been discontinued and Wichelt do not ever, ever re-print or load as digital): A Grecian beauty clasps a bouquet of pink roses to her heart, her gold-banded teal gown draped in serene folds about her as she dreams of days last spent with her one true love in this very topiary garden. There are no beads on this design– the textural interplay of carved stone, shimmering silk and soft rose petals is embellishment enough.

md6Christmas Elegance (again, I think this is now discontinued): Glorious gifts await on the lap of the emerald-gowned heiress who sits beneath the softly falling snow on a starry Christmas Eve. Who would guess from her beaded and bejeweled opulence that she waits each year at this time to spread lavish holiday cheer among those less fortunate?

md69Cinderella: “She made her escape as lightly as a deer. The Prince followed, but could not catch her. Only she dropped one of her glass slippers, which he picked up and treasured. Romantic quote taken from: Quiller-Couch, Sir Arthur. The Sleeping Beauty and Other Tales From the Old French. Edmund Dulac, illustrator. New York: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910. I needed a second copy of this one. The one I have is tatty, being about 5th hand and not cared for at all.

mermaid l mermaid a mermaid d

And the mermaid letters A, D (I shall extend this into the P as this still hasn’t been released) and L. I’ll convert anything red into “traditional” mermaid colours and use lots and lots of Kreinik, as you do.

That’s 9 charts. Oh. It’s a very good thing I am not participating in “stitch from stash” & that both my birthday & mother’s day are coming up soon. Told Si & the kids that they don’t need to buy me anything, i’m so very happy with this haul!

Most of the text above was taken directly from www.mirabilia.com – usually there’s a little tale with every design. I wish there was a noracorbett.com with the same!