Sierra

Although I am working on several projects at once, this week I decided that I need some "recreational" stitching to do. That is, not a new design I am developing, not a pilot project, not a gift, nothing that has to be completed by any particular time, or even at all!

So I have begun Sierra by Needle Delights Originals, Kathy Rees designer. I have had this pattern in my stash for a year or so. It is not too large and I had most of the threads on hand. Of course, I am changing the colors to "my" colors: Aqua (especially Watercolours 034), coppers, beige, Kreinik metallics in copper & aqua. I got a good start last night & will work on it this weekend. Oh, isn't it fun to start something new!!

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #4

I worked on the Mystery Retreat project several times this week, but mostly yesterday. I am working on the right-side section. I have completed the center motifs which took hours & hours, but they sure turned out nice! The very center is a "Padded Double Fan Doubled over a Double Fan Doubled!!!!!! So there are 3 layers and 5 different threads. The only thread that was a problem was silk which is stranded & difficult to lay nicely in the Double Fan Doubled. The two motifs above & below that are Padded Pyramids. Again, multi-layered, this time 3 layers, 2 of which are the padding. These went quite fast actually. Oh and then there are the giant Rhodes at each corner of the center motif. Those are in Neon Rays, which I steam ironed cause I didn't want to wait for it to dry! It'll be 2 weeks before I get to it again, but I hope to complete this section fairly quickly once I get back to it.

A Unicorn Was Here

Here's another little design that I will be adding to my website soon, probably next week. This little Unicorn is a quick & easy project. The picture is of the Cross Stitch version, but he is just as nice in Needlepoint.

Touch of Cat

Last week I finished Touch of Cat and hope to have the pattern available on my website this week or next. I've shown you both a needlepoint version and a cross stitch version. This cute little guy has been living in my files for years, so I let him out and updated him.

Queen Anne's Lace Progress #4

The second class for this project was last Saturday. Here is what I have so far. I completed the Waffles & Chilly Hollows in the corners of the center square. Next are the Jessicas around each corner. I have them about half finished. They get a tie down, but I'm going to wait on that till the end as I may change the thread. Then comes the little Angel Wing thingies and then a small Waffle variation. There's a lot more after that!

Bitter Springs Trail in the Muddy Mountains

Sunday, my husband and I did a little 4-wheel drive "adventure" in our jeep. We did the Bitter Springs Trail in the Muddy Mountains which is NW of Las Vegas. It was pretty rough driving, although we've done harder. The Buffington Pockets are sandstone formations that are just spectacular. Here are pix of just some of the wonders we saw! The colors were much more brilliant than the camera could record. I want to pull threads this week before I forget! Maybe I can do a Bargello!

We had our lunch at what we think was an old mine site, not much there now. The whole trip took us about 5 hours. It was a lovely day!

Queen Anne's Lace Progress #3

Queen Anne's Lace is ready for Class #2 tomorrow! Everything from Class #1 is finished except for 2 Crescents (I ran out of thread). Looking good I think! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's class & finishing this piece soon.

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #3

The next project I worked on over Easter Weekend was the Mystery Retreat Project. I finished the center Z-shaped section. There are some hard stitches in this section! The big ecru Amadeus' were fun, but the little green layered thingies at top & bottom next to the Crescents were really hard! They were supposed to be in the sort of purpley color, but I decided to do them in the green. One picture shows you the entire section and the other is a detail of the part I worked on Sunday. Next I will do the right-side section.

Stitch of the Month 2010, April

I hope you all had a nice Easter. I got a lot done this weekend!

First up is the April section of this year's ANG Stitch of the Month by Susan Reed. This month she added some cute little Hilton style hearts in all the corners. I decided I wanted them to be somewhat prominent, so I instead of the Splendor, I used the Kreinik Ombre. I really like the way they turned out!

I'll post again on Wednesday.