TWO FINISHES!!

Stash Cats Two is finished.  I decided to use the same background that others have used on this project.  It is a simple open diamond with just one strand of floss.  It went quickly and by planning ahead, I was able to anchor in the cat.  I'm going to have it made into a pillow.

5-4-3-2-1 is also finished.  It took me 2 days to get the ribbons finished.  I wanted a red, but didn't have it in the ribbon floss so I tried Frosty Rays.  Didn't like it at all - too bright and too wide.  So, no red.  I used several different colors of the shimmer ribbon floss.  It could be better, but this is as good as it's going to get.  (You have to enlarge the photo to see the ribbons.) 

This piece looks so much better in person!  I hang it on the wall to photograph and the white wall shows through the black canvas. 

Off to the framers!  I hope they can do what I want, but I may have to do the mounting part myself.

Stash Cats Two, Progress #5

 Big Cat is finished!  He looks pretty good, except for a couple spots on his tail that aren't smooth.  I'll fix those when I start the background. 
I am still a bit undecided about the background.  I could just leave it with the blank canvas - there's that green on green thing going on that looks ok.  But I'm really not a big fan of open canvas.  Right now I'm thinking of a small darning type diamond stitch.  Saw it on Facebook.  It'd still be pretty open, but maybe have a more "finished" look.  What do you think?

Stash Cats Two, Progress #4

Stash Cats is moving right along!  Big cat is mostly done, just have to finish his tail.  This is much harder now.  So far I have only repeated one stitch (Mosaic, used twice), but it is getting hard to pick stitches.  Not only have I already used so many, but the spaces in the tail are pretty small.  I have not had to repeat any threads though! 

I have to say that as a stash buster, this is a failure.  Each stripe is not that big and so only uses small amounts of thread.  I don't keep real small amounts, so mostly it just takes a few strands out instead of actually using anything up!  Guess I need to do a LOT more stash buster pieces :-) !!

Stash Cats Two, Progress #3

Stash Cats is moving right along.  The big kitty is well on his way!  He is worked in wools and overdyes (Watercolours) which I have chosen in advance.  Stitches I pick as I go along.  I have discovered quite a few stitches that I don't like and will never use again!!  So far, I have not had to use any stitches twice.

Stash Cats Two, Progress #2

Small kitty is done.  She is very sparkly!  Stitched in all Metallics except for 3 Neon Rays.  All from stash.
Got just a small beginning on big kitty.  Big Kitty will be done in Watercolours and wools.
This is a really fun stitch!  Choosing stitches and thread for each stripe as I go.  I have pulled all the colors, but decide the sequence of colors as I go. 

Stash Cats Two, Progress #1

The body of the little cat, of Stash Cats Two, is done.  Now on to her tail!  This is such fun to work on.  I've also learned several stitches that are a waste of time with dark Kreinik braid - you just can't see any detail.

Stash Cats Two

When Patt & Lee began, their designs were available as counted thread charts.  I think now they only do painted and giclee printed canvases.  Anyway, I have had this chart for many years!  I am finally going to stitch it.

Jan of Stitchlady's Weblog fame, stitched this as a painted canvas several years ago and named it "Stash Cats".  The pattern just has a number.  So I'm calling it Stash Cats Two.

As you might guess, I've changed all the colors!  Like Jan, I will stitch the little cat in front with mostly metallics but I'm using "cat colors", all browns, grays, orange, etc.  The big cat will be the same sort of colors but in wools and overdyes. 

Here is my beginning.  It is a ton of fun!  I basted in the outlines and will stitch over that. 

Things & Stuff

Thanks to Front Range Stitchers blog, I learned about www.pattandleedesigns.com Wonderful designs, especially the kitties! Most designs are available as painted canvas or chart and an email placed an order in no time! I got a confirming email right back and can pay with PayPal. I'm happy!!!




Last week I dug out an Australian design I started last summer. I haven't worked on it since before Christmas. I had forgotten how much I enjoy working on this piece! I got quite a bit done, but then ran out of a Kreinik color and don't have time to get to the shop. So, this piece is put away again for a week or so. I bought the pattern in Australia last year. It is a cross stitch pattern but I am doing it in needlepoint. I substituted an overdye, Watercolors 156, for all of the black and dark blues of the background and I chose to use metallics for just about everything else. I was able to sort of match a Kreinik to most of the floss colors specified in the pattern. There are 6-8 that I couldn't match, so stuck with the specified floss. Those are mostly grays, hard to find gray metallics! The canvas is Levintine blue, but photographs much lighter, probably due to the white wall that was behind it!




Wed. we are heading up to Reno for a long weekend, so I probably won't get another post done till next week. It will be another packed few days. I will be stitching with friends one day and going to a farewell lunch/tea. Farewell to the restaurant, Belle's Tea Cottage, which is closing its doors. Belle's has been in Reno for many years and I have enjoyed quite a few pleasant lady's lunches there. DH is hoping to go skiing, we will be having several dinners with friends, and maybe even get some dancing in.