Finishing up 2013

It has been awhile since I shared what I am working on.  I have a few WIPs.  Right now I'm working on things I started through out the year and am just doing for the joy of stitching them for myself.

First up - Charlotte by Mirabilia, or Charlie as I affectionately refer to her as. This is being stitched on 32 count Sunlit Pool by Crafty Kitten. I started her around September 1st, 2013. I needed an infusion of bright colours. I am still working away on her and work on her whenever I can. I have special treasures to put into her hair that I got at BeadFX - I can't wait to put them on!

Before Charlie I was working on Mirabilia's June's Pearl Fairy. I started her on 28 count June 2012 Ltd Ed. Crafty Kitten. I started her on June 1st (get it June Fairy, on June Ltd Ed, on June 1st, 2013???) She has since become.... oh I hate to say it..... a UFO.  At first I loved working on her - then the colour pallet got a little bland for me. That is why Charlie suddenly called to me.  I would like to get back and finish her next year.  She is lovely and the beads are going to pop off this fabric.

Finally, I have been working on my "Little Mermaid" Azure. She is being stitched on 32 opal Tropical Breeze by Crafty Kitten. She is a cute, fun stitch. I am fairly close to being done her as well.  I started her on November 1st. The fabric and the colours are what motivated this start! 

I would really like to start the Seasonal Fairies by Nora some time in 2014. I have them all kitted and fabric chosen for each of them.  My next project for myself is going to be The Frosty Forest by Country Cottage Needleworks. 

Top 10 Stitchy wish list for 2014....

1. The Frosty Forest

2. A 5 person Mirabilia Round Robin with Friends

3. Autumn Seasonal Fairy

4. Summer Seasonal Fairy

4. One large new Mira not yet started

5. One small Nora Corbett not yet started 

6. Finish my existing 3 patterns from above

7. At least one Littlehouse Needleworks or other pattern

8. Letter's by Nora "C" for Chelsea

9. Letter's by Nora "K" for Kailee

10. Any new start I want when I feel like it! 

Looks like I better get cracking. Dare I say no new starts until 2014? Unlikely but a lofty goal! 

All hail the Queen Mermaid

I am proud to present in her full glory Mirabilia's Queen Mermaid on Crafty Kitten's 32 count Aurora (murano).  She is glorious and dripping with luxury.  She has always been on my must do list but it became really possible for me when my amazing friend Sharon Attwells gifted me the "bling" to finish kitting her up.  I had the pattern, I had the fabric... beads in hand - how could I not?

I started her around the first of February. She was a new start for my new life - and how appropriate given her stateliness and proud demeanor.  With that said, I didn't finish her until September.  I had started several other projects along the way and she got a little neglected for the summer.

I decided to do her skin 2 threads over 1 tent stitch. I tent stitch in the opposite direction as my top stitch. I think it adds the dimension and it flows more naturally to me. This took a very long time and overall I feel it was worth it.  Also I changed her eye. I adapted this eye after looking at many other Mirabilia designed patterns. I felt this eye fit more with my over 1 look. I also added crystal bicones to her choker and earring. 

The original pattern suggests stitching a cute little purse because every girl, even a mermaid queen needs a good purse, but in May I was privileged enough to visit with Sharon in Toronto and she took me to BeadFX. Now that is a fun store! I found this amazing cloisonne scalloped shell bead for her and it was a "MUST HAVE THIS" moment.

I also changed a few of her bead colours. One of the colours in her hair was a pearl coloured bead. I decided to go with the clear in a petite. I also changed added some white beads as well. It was more based on choice of fabric.  Her tail is dripping with beads, purples, greens, grey. She has lots of tear drop treasures... There is one thing I know for sure, she is truly deserving of the title Queen Mermaid. 

Hope you enjoy my Queen Mermaid. I have two large Mirabilia WIPS on the go right now - June's Pearl Fairy and Charlotte. They have take a back burner to some smaller projects for the moment but I hope to get back to them very soon! 

Stitching finishes....

Here are my 2013 finishes that I haven't yet posted.... enjoy!

Let's start with my Nora Corbett Pixies

Gardenia on Blue Hydrangea by Crafty Kitten Fabrics (not a good representation of actual colour of fabric)

Blue Bell on Evening Sky by Crafty Kitten 

Next up is my Round Robin work that I did. I was in a group of four - the theme was Mirabilia/Nora Corbett "Large Stitch". Each block was 5000 stitches.

Nora Corbett - Santa's Sleigh. I did 1/2 of this. The final product was the sleigh with all the reindeer.

Mermaid of the Pearls on a gorgeous mermaid themed Round Robin

Venetian Opulence on a Snotty Ladies themed Round Robin

My finished round robin - I chose four beautiful ladies. Top left: Villa Mirabilia, Top right: Lady Hera, Bottom Left: Crystal Elegance Bottom Right: Athena

I also managed to finish 1 full Mirabilia - Queen Mermaid. Here she is - but I want to dedicate a full post to her later with more detailed photos:

Queen Mermaid on Aurora by Crafty Kitten

Also one more Mira to show you. This is a cameo from Le Nouveau Sampler. It is a gift for John's grandmother:

Le Nouveau Sampler on Twilight by Hand Dyed by Stephanie

Finally, I did manage to complete some non-Mirabilia stitching: 

This is now a wall hanging - my mom did do the finishing work for me....

Lakeside Lodge by Littlehouse Needleworks on Sea Spray Linen 

Needleworker (Ltd Ed 2013) by Littlehouse Needleworks on Willow Green Linen

There you have it. Those are the finished pieces. I have several work in progresses (WIPS) and I will start sharing them now that I'm back into writing.

Thanks for looking! 

New beginnings.

November 19th must seem like an odd time to make a new start - perhaps - but really it is as good a day as any.  Let me start off by apologizing for virtually abandoning this blog. It was never my intention. I actually love this blog but since my last post my life has changed in nearly every aspect.

So this post will be about me - and maybe a little bit about stitching.

Last told I had just moved to Calgary, Alberta; however, in January 2013 I decided to move back home with my daughters and leave my husband.  The relationship had reached its expiry date.  There wasn't one big thing that ended it all - just a realization that there was nothing left anymore. So me and the girls moved to Sackville, New Brunswick.  It is where my sister lived and central to most of my relatives. I found a nice little bungalow on a lake and got my life settled again.

My backyard on the lake

Living on my own was really empowering and one of the first things I noticed was that I felt free again. Less stress, less self loathing and guilt.  I got a cat! Her name is Bella. She was a shelter rescue.

Bella watching birds.

In March I decided I was going to look around on some dating sites and see what was out there. I had spent 14 years with my ex-husband and this time I was going date - find someone amazing and it didn't matter how long it took.  I wanted it to be right.

There are a lot of creeps out there... tip: if the message starts with "Hey baby..." move on.  March 30th about 8pm I got a message but it didn't start with "Hey baby"... in fact it wasn't like any message I had gotten yet (and I was getting quite a few).  It was an introduction and an invitation to share stories because somehow this guy saw right through my profile and basically unlocked my guard immediately.  He too, recently separated was looking for someone to trust and befriend like me.  After less than an hour we moved to Facebook.  If he didn't run after seeing all those posts and pictures of me than I figured we could maybe be friends.  By 2am that night I had to sign off but I was scared because I didn't want to stop talking to him. What if he disappeared over night?

He didn't disappear. He became my best friend instantly and my heart was set on fire. We met about a week or so later - keeping in mind we talked for 3 or 4 hours on the phone every night.  We were both afraid because we had both been hurt by our marriages... but there was something amazing there. That is the story of John and me.

We have been together ever since and I have never loved or been loved like I am now. He took all the crap I dealt with and just washed it away.  So now, I have two little girls, John has two little boys and collectively we have one full minivan! Things were going so well that the girls and I moved in with John and the boys in August.  It allowed me to go back to work full time in the office. It helped us both with expenses and of course we could be together full time. 

All this time I have been stitching and all of it is on Facebook.  I am going to take some time and make a post with my 2013 finishes in it. So thank you to anyone that is still listening.  I will try to be a better blogger.  

And remember..... 

Finishing a notorious legend.... Red Lady Pirate

Taking a clip from Wikipedia, the Red Lady Pirate (Veronica) circa 1500-1534 was one of the most cunning pirates of the sixteenth century who never revealed her identity. She commonly disguised herself as a singer or an entertainer to be brought on ships and once the crew ever advance on her or leave her by herself she would take her disguise off having a top, pants and her weapons underneath. She would then immediately kill all aboard the ship and sail to sea.

There is something about Nora Corbett's "The Red Lady Pirate" that captivated me from the start.  I just always loved her.  I bought a piece of Sunny Dyes Pacific Sunset fabric a full year ago knowing that it was the perfect fabric for her.  But I never really got her in line for my to do list.  I was given the choice to kit any pattern from Hawkins Hobbies, and I chose Red Lady - but I still didn't put her in my rotation.  After awhile I knew I wanted to stitch her - but I had to finish this, that and the other.  Finally with encouragement from Facebook friends I decided to start her.

I enjoyed every minute of stitching this project.  I can say that about very few. There was no "crappy spots" or screw ups.  She just flowed.

The Red Lady Pirate is a goddess of the sea.  She is dripping in jewels and beads. She is lavishly cool, cunning and beautiful.  I would say, my favorite stitch to date.  Her skin is stitched 2 threads over 1.  The water and mountains are variegated silk called Waterlilies. She is covered in treasures and beads. A pure masterpiece.

Many of my projects will take residence in my closet unframed. I was so inspired to get her framed that two days after my finish I went to Michaels and found an amazing frame.  I did frame this myself. At the same time I got frames for Bliss Fairy and Christmas Flourishes. I framed those too. Happy New Year to me!

 

I really should watermark these photos.  I have had pictures from this blogged stolen before - cute right? Someone goes on Facebook and uses my stitched piece as their profile picture and claims it as their own.  Little did they know that pattern had a pretty obvious screw up so I know it was mine.  I ousted her - for all the good that did.  But for now - I leave my photos as they are and hopefully they will inspire someone to someday stitch these Nora beauties too!