Ornaments

 I can't believe how long its been since I posted!  Is there anyone left out there?  ; -)  In my neverending cleaning out of drawers, I came upon 2 of Laura Perin's Mini Mystery Monday free designs that I had not stitched.  So here they are, not only stitched but finished!  Of course, I changed all the colors, and some of the stitches.  These can be ornaments or door hangers.
The one on the right was from Sep 2012.  I changed it a lot  
The one below Feb 2013. Both worked in Watercolors and #5 pearl cotton and Kreinik.  Completely from stash.
I hung these at an angle so you could see the braid my finisher used around the edge.  I've used this before and it makes the perfect easy edging for ornaments.

Framed

Two more back from the framer.

Holiday Wreath by Laura Perin and River Dance by me.  Happy with them both!

(Blog refuses to put them side by side!)

Holiday Wreath progress

1-10-2018

12-31-2017

Picture problem solved.  Computer won't take the memory disk anymore, but we can load directly from the camera.  I had forgotten that!!  Anyway, above pics show where it was when I last posted and where it is today.  I'm doing the bow in Criss Cross Hungarian in 2 shades of red Petite Very Velvet, without the shading shown in the directions.  By the weekend I should have the bow finished.  Then the packages have to be "decorated".  

(Blog wouldn't let me type next to the pictures today!  Guess you can't fix everything at once!!)

Holiday Wreath

My Holiday Wreath is coming along well. Unfortunately, since we updated my computer last week (Windows latest update) it has apparently forgotten how to read the memory card from my camera!  Hence, no pictures. The packages are done, I've started on the greenery and looking forward to the big red bow. Decorating the packages will be last. As soon as I figure out how, I'll post pictures!

Holiday Wreath

Just before Halloween, I started Laura Perin's "Holiday Wreath".
I've only worked on it a couple of times.  It is larger than I thought it would be.  I only manage one or two packages per session.  It may not be ready for Xmas this year, LOL, you think?!!




Here's my progress so far:

Back from the Finishers!

 Finally!  I shipped these off to be finished and they have been returned.  It's like Christmas!!
The little clutch turned out really nice.  This was a Stitch & Zip and so the zipper went all the way around.  Now it is finished so it only opens on one side, and lined nicely as well.  
The brown/purple piece is a magnet!  What a great idea, which I would never have though of. The 2 little ornaments are just so cute and the pumpkin one has a little spider charm that doesn't show in photo.  Then there's the bookmark which is really nice.  
But the Star of this Show is the stand up.  It is 2 sided, with a piece of needlepoint on each side!  How cool is that?!  Below is the other side:

Ghosts & Pumpkins

Another small one bites the dust!  This is a very tiny Laura Perin design called Ghosts & Pumpkins.  It was a free kit I received at a retreat several years ago.  There was a choice to put a pumpkin or a ghost in the center & I chose the pumpkin. It is only a little over 2" square and was intended to be a pin, but I'll finish it as an ornament.  Eventually.

Mini Mystery Monday #6

One of my ongoing projects for 2016 is to stitch up some of the MANY patterns I have accumulated for small things.  When I get 6 or so done, I will ship them off to my finisher.  They will become ornaments, door hangers, standups, etc.  These small projects will give me something to work on when I just can't stand to handle one of the huge projects I have going!

This is the first.  It is one of Laura Perin's Mystery Monday projects from 2012.  I messed with the pattern and the colors quite a bit.  LOL!  I changed the corner and center stitches, left off a border, used more metallics, totally changed the colors.  It's OK, but not quite what I'd envisioned.  The Watercolours I used could have been more vibrant.

Lahaina Breezes, FINISHED

Lahaina Breezes, by Laura Perin, is finished.

I "need" to start a new Bargello and decided I had to finish a couple of things first.  Ha!  This one was close so I persevered.  I think the changes that I made work well.

I really need to get to the frame shop one of these days. There is a pretty big pile of things that need framing!  We won't hold our breath though.  No framing will get done at least until after Xmas.

Lahaina Breezes, Progress

 I started Lahaina Breezes, by Laura Perin, several months ago as something different to work on that didn't require a lot of me.  Well, it is still going on, but I have accomplished quite a lot.  

However, it has sometimes required more of me than I wanted!  Don't they always?

Initially, I wanted to get started right away, so I tried to use threads from stash.  I was mostly successful.  I changed some threads, but nothing especially earth shattering.  I used FyreWerks instead of Ribbon Floss.  I had to buy a couple of skeins of pearl cotton.  I changed one of the Watercolours.  Once I got going, I decided I do not care for the flowers and the feathers in this design.  Soooooo, I redesigned those sections.  Here's what it looks like right now:

Lahaina Breezes

I have started a new project:  Laura Perin's Lahaina Breezes.  

I don't usually stitch Laura Perin's designs in the sequence that she suggests, and this one is no exception.  

Typically, it is fun to stitch and not too demanding.  I'm working the dividing lines as I go, instead of all at once.  Less counting!

I had most of the required threads in stash and only changed one or two.  It is still basically Perin's colors.

Indian Summer FINISHED

Indian Summer by Laura Perin is finished!

I would have finished it earlier this week, but I ran out of the thread for the outside border!  I had about 1-1/2 sides done when I realized I didn't have enough.  If any of you are going to stitch this, I used 2 skeins of the dark green #3051 pearl cotton and 3 skeins of the tan floss #738.  Guess I'm just not a thrifty stitcher!

So now I have 2 pieces done in these colors.  I will do a 3rd, but it will be DebBee's Designs Diamond Delights 3.  Eventually they can all hang together.

Indian Summer Progress #4

Indian Summer by Laura Perin is moving right along.  Each border gets longer so it takes more time to complete.

I did the 4 corners the other night cause I was tired of working on the border!  Then there are the center squares to do the next time I need a change!

I'm pretty sure there are 2 more borders, but they are both basically satin stitches in pearl cotton & should go fast.

Indian Summer Progress #3

I worked on Indian Summer quite a bit before going to Seminar, and once since then.

All of the "stars" and the first border are complete.  I have just started the 2nd border, which is more complex & wider.  I think there is another one after that.

It seems that every project I am working on requires stripping and laying threads.  I'm getting tired of that!  I may have to break out a Bargello just for relief!!

Indian Summer Progress

Indian Summer is moving right along.  It stitches up quickly and doesn't ask me for much of my attention!  The top 2 patches are complete (except for that one corner which I'll fill in the next time I use that thread) and I've started on the bottom.  Once the patches are done, there are several borders to stitch.  I'm pretty sure hoping this will be finished before the end of the month!

Indian Summer

I have started another Laura Perin piece - Indian Summer.  This will be a companion piece to Sedona Sunrise which I finished a few months ago.  I have changed a few of the colors so that they will be compatible.  I know, I already have a ton of projects going, but sometimes I need to work on something that someone else has already figured out!  Just follow the directions...  This project uses Pearl Cotton, Floss, Watercolours and some FyreWerks.   Here is my progress so far:

Sedona Sunrise FINISHED

Finally, Sedona Sunrise by Laura Perin is finished!  Actually, it was finished a couple of weeks ago but DH had the camera with him on a trip.  So, now I'm catching up!

I really like the way Laura is using the light coverage.  The border then is heavier & so the central part recedes.  Very nice.

Next I will do Laura's Indian Summer, using a lot of the same threads.  They will then be framed & can hang together.


Sedona Sunrise Progress #3

I haven't shown you a progress photo of Sedona Sunrise in awhile!  I do work on it from time to time.  Now I'm working on the background & it is slow going.  This is what I work on when I don't want to think too much LOL. 
Once the background is complete, there's just the corners and borders and that should go quickly.

Sedona Sunrise Progress #2

Sedona Sunrise is moving right along.

I have completed 2 of the inner corners.  Each corner is different, but uses the same threads. I have also completed the inner borders which define the center and square off the center area. 
I like the way Laura makes the center lighter, more sheer, by using thinner threads.

Sedona Sunrise

Before we went to Reno for the holidays, I decided to start a new project to take along (besides the Bargello) because all my existing projects are too big.  So I picked Laura Perin's "Sedona Sunrise". 

I got it all kitted up and after we were there a few days, I gave it a try.  It works up quickly and below is my progress so far.  I think it is going to be really pretty.  The only thing I changed was the metallics.
I don't know how often I'll work on this, but I'll keep you posted whenever I make some progress!