Back from the framers.

 It didn't take long for the framers to do their magic.  

I selected a whitish frame matted with the evergreen to show case this piece.  

LIZZIE KATE WINTER'S ALPHABET
Started in November 2014 - Finished in May 2015
Stitched on 32 ct natural light linen with 2/2 threads
Threads Used: 
DMC: 310, 452 (for the smoke out of the chimney), 921, and 3731
Crescent Colors:  Really Teally and  Ribbon Red
Weeks Dye Works: Deep Sea, Emerald, Lancaster Red, Molasses, Monkey Grass, Pecan and Whitewash

Since I'll be selling these gently used charts on ebay, I thought it best to note what colors were used someplace, so am using this format to record the threads and pertinent information.  It's all done with the called for threads and linen.  

The only deviation was the color of the smoke coming out of the chimney, 

that aqua was just too brisk, so a softer grey was called for IMHO. 

Stay tune for what I decide to start cross stitching next, there are several on my want to do list.

Decisions...  decisions...........

A finish 8- )

Hey, Hey Happy Day
Here is a finish for May!

I finished all the stitching sans the two little buttons that need to be sewn on need the letter H after it's pressed that is.   Then it'll be off to the framers.   [Adding this on the 22nd, Michaels has a 60% then an additional 20% coupons for the next few days so I'll bring it to town and get it done.]

Lizzie Kate's Winter Alphabet is done.  Happy, happy, joy, joy.  It's been nice to stitch a little each day and though I had targeted this to be done in April, May 14th isn't that far off.
I used all the called for threads and linen.  The only variation is the frame around the letter B was a count off by 1 stitch in height and the smoke from the cabin I did my own thing but followed some of the pattern in areas and I did change that thread color to a soft grey with white.  One other note about this is that I think the linen got a "hoop burn" while I was turning my scroll frame over to weave in my threads.  Not sure as there are no LNS around my area.  It was the first time for me to use a scroll frame on my floor stand and silly me I would flip the frame over to tie off my ends instead of loosening the top section of the floor stand, so my linen was abused too much.  I now know better with that set up.  Why is it that as you work sometimes a light bulb finally goes on and you actually slap your head and say, "Why didn't I figure that out sooner?'  DUH!!

The next to stitch will be the Heart of America that has been kitted and I we'll see how far I can get on that one, or better yet when that gets finished.  Perhaps I'll be able to frame that if not for this year then for the next.  But no pressure, I'll be enjoying the stitches since it is rather large.

Slow stitching Sunday again and it's still winter here....

Oh how quickly the time flies around here.  Can't believe it's Sunday again and not too much to share of what I've been able to accomplish this past week.  I hope to get my motor revved again to get done what I hoped to for March in the next few days.

Linking up with Kathy Quilts again today.  Finished up my bottom section of the Lizzie Kate Winter Alphabet which I had listed to get done this month (patting myself on the back here for a realistic accomplished goal).  Next month I hope to complete this design.  Only the upper two rows of letters left.

I did change the color of the smoke rising out of the chimney.  The design called for the aqua color which I thought that it was too pronounced, so changed it to a softer grey, DMC#452.  Looks better, there but not there.















The grand children received a new to them Snow mobile and are lucky enough that there is still snow to ride on.   Good for them, but I surely wished this white stuff would go away until next December, I've had enough of it and the cold.  Can you see that bit of brown in the background, I am hopeful that a tinge of green will be there in a week.

Both of them take turns and are becoming allies with this toy instead of fighting with each other.  It's nice to see them growing up and taking responsibility with their stuff.  The pink helmet came with the sled and their Mom had a leftover helmet from her days of playing like that which goes nicely with the little man's outdoor gear.  A huge plus of not having to buy additional gear to outfit them safely.

They'll come in after an hour or two with such rosie cheeks and sparkles in their eyes.  Am so glad the electronics are being put down, another win in my book!

Enjoy your day!  Jane

Make a list Monday

Hope to get these six things done by next week:

1- Quilt 4 different colored blocks of the 40 diamond quilt
2- Quilt the doll quilt from the Wee Wander scraps I just threw together/
3- Stitch all the white on the bottom left corner of the  CXS Lizzie Kate Winter Alphabet
4- Cut some pink scraps for the RBSC and make some HST units.
5- Make pincushions, another idea
6- Finish reading The Round House by Louise Erdrich (am midpoint right now).




Remember how I said that one wool was shedding terribly several weeks ago while working on the candle mat?  While visiting with my friend Carole, she gave me a different piece of the same wool to use and just to be sure, I pulled out my needle punch foot with the coordinating stitch plate and felted the heck out of it just to be sure.  Worked like a charm.  It really changed the clarity of the houndstooth print  Since that foot combination was out, I photographed them and pulled the other Bernina accessories I own out and share how I store them.





This bead box purchased at Michaels is perfect for the majority of feet and makes it a quick access since they set on a shelf right behind my sewing chair.  The Bernina Feetures Books, the 1-3 set on the bottom shelf just below the feet for quick access.  It's amazing how many times I'll pull out these books for a reference.

Some of the feet came with each of my two Berninas and most of the rest were purchased at Quilt Shows with a 25% off and then some others when the Bernina LQS offered a 30% discount including Bernina Accessories.   A win - win for sure!
Of course I've been collecting them since my first Bernina 170 back in the 1990s and when I upgraded I made sure the feet would transition to the newer Bernina 440.   The most expensive of these was the binding foot combo which was close to $160 when purchased, that is if my memory serves me correctly.  That one was a "Non-smoking Gift to myself" to justify the expense.

I have been enjoying a quiet day home alone today.  That doesn't happen too often.   Seems nice to have the house stay picked up and clean without more effort needed.  Typically I am picking up discarded papers left on the counter, closing doors, cabinets and drawers left open, wiping up coffee spills, etc.... and that is just DH's doing not the grandchildren!  They'll all be here tomorrow so I'm getting off this thing and going to read in the silence and enjoy it immensely.  TTFN.

January's peek

Here's a peek at what I've been up to.  Sorting, merging, and purging.  One huge basket  and one smaller one cleaned out and all sorted by mostly color.   Some day I'll share how I keep all these scraps in order.

The  RBSC color this month is blue so hopefully I'll be focusing on a table runner that I thought  of  this afternoon before the Meme Taxi runs into town for Grandchildren's activities and an errand for a pair of trammel points, (there's another table mat I want to get off the PIG pile).

As for my slow Stitching Sundays, that (Lizzie Kate Winter Alphabet counted cross stitch) project just reached an impasse.  I messed up counting my threads on the framing around the  letter V so was actually un-stitching them when the threads broke.  DO you know how hard it is to remember the actual sequence of the stitching you've done?   I had one of those Ah ha moments while making my tea this AM, and know that I can cut out all those stitches out around that frame instead of ripping out the wrong ones.  I think it would be a lot quicker for me and then I 'll correctly stitch it the whole thing.

TTFN,
Jane