Tuscan Midnight, Progress #2

Here is a Progress Photo of Tuscan Midnight.  It is almost to the point of working the corners.  I just love working entirely in Watercolors!  This project is such fun to work on, but I don't know when I'll get back to it.  I have so many "have to" projects right now! 

White Noise

Here is my first finish for 2011.  White Noise is a new Bargello design that I have been working on since summer.  The pattern will be available on my website in a month or so (I still have to finish the charts & instructions).  There are three distinct pattern areas and the piece is worked all in shades of white, with some silver.  There are 10 different threads used.   It is not a difficult design, although there is a lot of compensation. 

Happy Birthday Again

Those darn birthdays just keep coming don't they?!  I had another one a few days ago

and look what I got:  The Marta Mask painted canvas by Leigh Designs!  I have lusted

after this canvas for several years and DH got it for me.  What a sweetie, huh?  A good

friend is going to get the threads for me, once we figure out what I need. 

I don't know when I'll be able to start stitching this, but it will be fun when I do.  Lots of

metallics, shiny threads & beads!

Log Cabin Sampler FINISHED

Here I am finally.  It has been a busy time for the last month or so, but we are home in Las Vegas again and hopefully I'll be able to get caught up and back to "normal". 

I'll start off with Ro Pace's Log Cabin Sampler.  Some months ago, I finally finished the overlay canvas border and just before Christmas I finally got it ready for the framer.  The overlay is raised above the main part of the needlepoint.  It is tricky to do, but certainly does look nice now that it is finished & framed.  Go to my previous post for all the posts on this piece.

This was my first Ro Pace design, which was offered as a Cyberworkhshop through ANG.  I had not met Ro when I started this piece!  Now she has become a wonderful stitchy friend and I have quite a collection of pieces I have done of her designs!

Tuscan Midnight

Happy New Year!  On this Holiday "vacation" I also started Tuscan Midnight by Kathy Rees, Needle Delights Originals.  I purchased this pattern as a complete kit online from Scarlet Thread.  There are nine colorways available which you can see on It's A Stitchy Thing blog.  DH chose the "Bright" colorway, which is way outside my usual stitching comfort zone!  I have only changed one color:  There was a purple/blue and I changed it to more of a purple/fuschia.  This is a really fun project and I am enjoying the stitching.  As usual, Needle Delights designs are challenging and work up beautifully.  Here is my progress so far: 

Xanadu by Jim Wurth

 Hello again!  Happy New Year, almost!  We are still in Reno, but I have a little time today so wanted to begin catching up.

The ANG Chapter in Las Vegas is doing Jim Wurth's Xanadu as a group project and I have just started it.  This pattern appeared in NeedlePointers, July 2009 issue.

I chose my colors starting with Frosty Rays Y357 and #8 & #12 Kreinik Braid #4005.  I added Neon Rays N92, Neon Rays Plus NP92, FyreWerks FT33 and #12 & #8 DMC Perle Cotton #3033.  I should have had Petite Frosty Rays, but the color I wanted didn't come in Petite.  The Petite would have been easier to use on the 18-count canvas (Eggshell), but I like the way it looks as is.  DH said he'd never seen me work so hard to pull a thread through the canvas!

I have a good start and it is looking really pretty.  This pattern is fun to stitch & goes fairly quickly.  It is not too big, finished size is about 5" square.  I think it will make a really pretty box top.  It is waaaaay sparkly in person!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all my loyal followers and to you Blog Surfers out there who happen by!

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately!  We are in Reno for the holidays and I started out the "vacation" by being sick.  Now I am feeling better, but DH has the bug.  Some vacation!  The critters are fine & happy though, cats are beginning to tease dog and play chase.

We are making a quick trip to San Francisco tomorrow to see the Impressionist exhibit at the deYoung Museum.  That should be fun - we haven't been to SF in years.

I haven't done nearly as much stitching as I thought I would.  I had planned on this being kind of a Stitching Vacation, but it sure hasn't turned out that way!  I'll try to get a picture or 2 to show you next week.  But some of what I'm working on is "secret" and I can't show you.

I hope you are all having a wonderful stitchy Holiday!