Trip to Toronto and narrowing down the WIPS

My work has an annual training conference in Toronto towards the end of May. Lucky for me, my best friend lives in Toronto - well I'd be luckier if she lived in Moncton here with me... But I always try to take advantage and stay in the city a little longer and spend the weekend with Sharon.  We get up to lots of trouble - mostly this involves beads, bling, chocolate and well...some real crazies on the public transit system.

While I was in Toronto our must stop was to BeadFX.  We probably spent well over and hour there picking out little treasures to add to our stash.  I really enjoy these embellishments and use them to enhance my pieces and make them unique.

Sharon, like myself is a huge Mirabilia, Nora Corbett fan.  She was working on Cassiopeia when I was visiting and I was working on Persephone.  Although, foolishly we didn't get a picture of us together, we did take a picture of our pieces together.  Of course, both of these projects are on Crafty Kitten fabric. Sharon's is on Nov 2013 Ltd. Edition and mine is on Apricot Blush. 

I also brought with me my Frosty Forest piece. I am caught up again and awaiting my next pattern from Colours By Lalena to arrive.  I also have some new Gingher scissors on order from Lalena with some other goodies.... let's just say we keep an open order going, shall we? Three more blocks to go!

Right before I went to Toronto I actually finished Abrabesco by Alessandra Adelaide Needlworks.  This is stitched on 32 count lugana Ice Princess by Under the Sea fabrics.  I used DMC 930, 932 as well as a Caron Waterlilly called Polar Ice.  My favorite thing about stitching this design was becoming more familiar with the designer. Alessandra is an active participant in her Facebook group and she loves seeing her work come to life in all colours and forms. She is a lovely, caring, engaged designer and I'm looking forward do doing more of her work in the future.

So right now I am still working on Persephone and I am working on Rosewood Manor Autumn Sampler as well. I am itching for a new start but I am trying to hold off because the Frosty Forest installment will be here soon and I have letter's J and K from Nora's new mermaid series coming.  I know my daughter Kailee is going to want me to do her letter "K" for her.  

I seriously need to update this blog more. I have so much I want to say and add but it always surprises me how much stitching updates I have to share with everyone.  Again, thanks for stopping in... I hope you enjoy the stitching and I will try to give more frequent updates from now on... xox

"C" is for Chelsea

It has been a while since I last posted and I have made a bit of progress on various projects.  I actually have a finish to share! (YAY!)

This is Letter's By Nora - Letter C. I did this for my daughter Chelsea.  Chelsea is seven and she chose this fabric - High Noon by Sunny Dyes Fabrics of Youthful Hand Needleworks. I think this turned out really sweet.  It has a lot more back stitching than a typical Nora design, but it really made the design pop.

I used for the most part the called for threads, I did substitute the flower for a variegated DMC that I had. Chelsea chose this as well. 

I love this shot.  I like being able to see the blending of the colours on the fabric mixed with thread and beads.

Another pretty close up shot

I have also continued to do work on Persephone.  I have had a lot of fussy bits to do....her hair, her collar on her dress, the flower on her arm....glad to be done those parts. I think she is turning out really pretty and I am back to enjoying working on her again.

Persephone by Mirabilia on Dusty Apricot by Crafty Kitten Fabrics

Also, I really immersed myself into the AAN piece called Arabesco.  It is my first AAN and my first abstract design really. I am done the center part - which I chose Polar Ice Waterlillies by Caron.  I am doing the middle layer in DMC 930 and the outside layer will be in DMC 932.  This piece is being stitched on Ice Princess by Under the Sea fabrics.

Finally a little Easter treat for myself. I got some pieces framed. Our local framing shop will allow you to bring in store bought frames and put the pieces in for you! I picked up frames for these after Christmas with the intention of doing it myself, but I never got around to it.  So finally I dropped them off and a few days later I'm so glad I did! Here is Charlotte and Queen Mermaid. 

As you can see they sit nicely on the wall with my Red Lady Pirate.  

I am anxiously awaiting a package from Colours By Lalena which has a whole bunch of goodies for me to work on...mainly my Rosewood Manor Autumn Sampler, my next installment of the Frosty Forest and two new Nora Corbett patterns.  

Remember to just keep stitching and thanks for reading! 

Spring has sprung? Not where I live.

Happy First Day of Spring? Of course 03/20/2014 marks the official start of Spring but here in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada we are getting more weather coming.  It has been a long one.  Feels like forever since we wore short sleeves and sandals.

This picture captures my every feeling of weather related issues right now....

Bad weather often means good stitching though. I have made a lot of progress this month and have a finish to share!

This is Pamela Kellogg's 2003 Mystery Autumn Sampler. I call it the Bella Project. I am going to have it finished as a little wall hanging. Sewing isn't my strong suit, but I know a couple of really talented gals that can help me out!

Used DMC 823 for the border instead of suggested Gold Kreinik.  I love how it turned out!

This looks so much like my Bella! I changed the pattern eye colour from green to yellow to match my cat.

I loved doing these little stitches. They were fun and are absolutely adorable!

I also got the fourth instalment of Frosty Forest! I am loving working on this series so much. I got the pattern Wednesday, stitched the border Thursday and binge stitched Friday and Saturday until I was done the block. It is adorable. I can't wait to get my next pattern from Colours by Lalena. 

Frosty Forest by Country Cottage Needleworks stitched on 32 count Foggy Morning Opal linen by Crafty Kitten. 

Of course, I have been working on my other pieces as well. I am enjoying having a rotation. I seem to get more done this way! Here is my current progress on Letter C by Nora: 

Letter C by Nora Corbett stitched on High Noon by Sunny Dyes

And my Persephone by Mirabilia:

Persephone by Mirabilia stitched on Dusty Apricot by Crafty Kitten

I started a new one.... Arabesco by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks (AAN). I'm excited to be working on this one.  I chose to use a combination of Polar Ice Waterlillies by Caron and DMC 930 and 932 on Under the Sea's Ice Princess.  I only have put about an hour into this so far...but I must show and tell!

So I still have lots to work on.  I am looking forward to continuing work on my WIPs and getting my Rosewood Manor Autumn Sampler in the mail soon. I ordered a fantastic piece of fabric for it from Leslie at Under the Sea. I can't wait to show you the floss toss! 

Enjoy your first day of Spring everyone! Thanks for stopping by!