Crock Pot Kitty

I haven't posted about the critters lately, but I just had to share this with all of you other cat lovers!  I made a crock pot stew yesterday and left the base out last night till I could get the pot washed & put away.  KC found it this morning & DH got a picture.  Is that Classic Cat or what?!

Menagerie, Blocks 1 & 2

Menagerie is the new Mystery Project by Karen Anthony through ANG's Cyberpointers chapter.  We are periodically given stitch types to explore & create a sampler.  We were given several designs to use, but I decided I only wanted to do 18 of the stitch types, so created my own design.  You can see the basted outline of my overall design in the photo to the right.  (You'll probably have to click on it to make it big in order to see the outlines.)

I have completed Block 1 (Hilton Stitches) and Block 2 (Rhodes Stitches).  I had a LOT of trouble working out the Hilton block.  I just couldn't figure out an arrangement I liked.  Finally, I used my Mad Miters (see below) technique to break up the block in an unusual way and used that to place the different stitches.  It worked!  Then I filled in a lot of the blank space with the Hilton Stitches called Theresicas, which is
kind of a pinwheel.  I haven't decided yet if I will fill in the background somehow.  I'll wait to decide that later.

Block #2 is Rhodes Stitches.  I only used 2 because I have done many Rhodes stitches over the years, beginning back in the 70s when I first discovered Mary Rhodes' books!  The picture to the right is a detail of the first 2 blocks.

I will decide later if I"m going to add an outer border, or inner borders.

Addendum:  The Mad Miters technique is part of the Mad Miters Bargello class that I will be teaching through ANGs Cyberpointers in a few months.  Registration for that class opens April 1.  The class is Bargello, but the layout technique can be used for many things.  Click the link above for information about the class.

Atlantis Rising Progress #3

I know, It's been more than 2 weeks.  But here we are now with the next Progress report on Atlantis Rising.  At this point, the Bargello is complete and I had nearly completed the 2 upper corners.  There is still a lot to be done!  I had not yet decided what I was going to do with the big diamonds within the Bargello and, as I recall, I ran out of the thread I used for the Criss Cross Hungarian at the top right and had to order more.

The Seminar Brochure for Philadelphia is out with the class descriptions & photos, so you have seen Ro's model for this class.  I will post my finished piece next week.



Bitter Springs Finished

Wow!  Another finish!  Bitter Springs is done too.  I'm happy dancing all over the place! 

Bitter Springs will ultimately be a pattern for sale on my website.  It is a fun and fairly quick project.  Hopefully within the next few months I'll have a flurry of pattern writing and get all these out there.

Now for a bunch of new projects!  Oh boy, my favorite thing!

Twister is Finished

At long last, Twister is finished!!!  I wish I had noted the start date, but it was at least 2 years, maybe more.  Of course, I didn't work on it all the time. 
I had to make an adjustment on the final square, the very last section!  It was to be the exact same pattern as one next to it in the adjoining square.  I didn't want that so I just used an alternating Scotch to complete the square.
It will be quite a while before this gets framed as it is destined for the Reno house, where my other "red" pieces are.  It is easier to move unframed!

Marta Mask by Leigh Designs

Some of you may recall that DH gave me the Marta Mask canvas by Leigh Designs for Christmas 2010.  Well, I am finally ready to stitch this gorgeous thing!  As a counted person, I am quite intimidated by this large and stunning design.  I hope I can do it justice!  I have spent lots of time selecting threads and thinking about stitches & techniques.  The actual painted canvas is darker than the picture on the website, and I like the picture, so I'll be using lighter threads than are indicated by the canvas.

So here we go.  I have done just a little bit.  First I stitched the mouth in Slanted Gobelin using an overdyed red silk.  Ordinarily I would not do a bright red thing first on a light background, however, I wanted to make sure just where I wanted the edges of the lips in case I needed to make any adjustments.  I think it turned out well!  Next is the "petals" on the face.  I just got the ones on the left side done and they need some tweeking.  I laid down "padding" with white pearl cotton and then stitched over it, more Slanted Gobelin, with white Neon Rays Plus.  Finally I outlined the petals with a Whipped Backstitch using Kreinik #8 braid, whipped with Kreinik #4.  I'm not happy with the Whipped Backstitch - I think it needs to be heavier, so I'll take it out and try again before I tackle the Petals on the other side!.

Kangaroo Progress #4

I know, it has been a long time since I showed you this Kangaroo.  I do work on it occasionally, but not often.  You may remember that I hate rayon floss & a lot of the greenery is in rayon floss, so I hate working on it.
He's a cute little guy, and a "souvenir" of our trips to Australia.  One of these days I'll actually finish it!  Maybe this year?