Get Rhythm

If you read this blog regularly  you will know I have had a terrible time finding my "rhythm" on my "Rhythm" Muse by Nora Corbett.

She is stunning. The colours are fantastic - my fabric was fantastic. She started so fast out the gate and full of promise and then...........Nothing. Lost her mojo. Couldn't get it back. I would do tiny little pieces at a time. I uploaded songs with the word rhythm in them to listen to as I worked - it just wasn't happening.

So she went away for awhile.  Now, I was desperate for a new start and I am not a serial starter by most standards. I had Dressmaker's Daughter on the go. I am working on Farmer's Market, I have my Round Robin's and then Rhythm.  I knew I couldn't possibly start another without finishing one.  So I set off to finish Rhythm.

I frogged and redid  the back stitching 3 times because the colour wasn't working - then the fabric puckered and pulled. When I was finally satisfied I only had beads left to do.  That honestly wasn't too bad and I got that done in one sitting.

The piece was stitched on 30 count Weeks Dye Works linen in Tiger Eye - gorgeous.  But after all the pulling and frogging - the fabric looked fuzzy and gappy. So I decided to give it a bath.... Yeah, great idea. First time I try to wash something the dye runs like a mo-fo.   The water turned immediately orange.  Just one more F-up to this pattern.

Bad news, the dye ran and turned my bright vibrant colours to a muted version of itself. Good news, the piece dyed equally so it doesn't really look like anything went wrong. It looks more anitqued version of Nora's vision.  I am horribly disappointed to lose the bright vibrant coloured effect of this pattern, but the end result is still quite stunning.

Without further ado, here is my Rhythm.

The pattern called for Mill Hill butterflies - gorgeous - expensive. These little fellas were $.50 a piece and the go great, in my opinion with the pattern.

Very pretty beads! But ready for this - the damage - below is a picture of 162 next to the 162 in the piece after the "dye" job - or antiquing as I like to call it. Huge difference eh?

But all in all....

.... she is a beautiful addition to my Mirabilia family. Even though she really gave me a hard time!

Now that I have her in my back pocket it made way for me to start the pattern I have been longing to have since I got back into stitching - Red Lady Pirate! I can't wait to share her with you.  

Rhythm is gonna get you

I have been half teasing - half not about having trouble finishing my Rhythm Muse. First let me say, she is stunning - her colours are fantastic. I still love her look. But I am not feeling it.  I have had to backstitch her 3 times. The first time it was a colour choice - the called for colour clashed with my fabric - the second time it just didn't look right - oh and I tried a 3rd colour. So it is in there - but it still needs some touch ups. I have some puckering I'm not happy with.

I am 99% done stitching her - the rest is beading. But whenever I pick her up I start to hear this....

No way, you can fight it every day
But no matter what you say
You know it
The rhythm is gonna get'cha

No clue, of what's happening to you
And before this night is through
Ooh baby
The rhythm is gonna get'cha

Rhythm is gonna get'cha
Rhythm is gonna get'cha
Rhythm is gonna get you
The rhythm is gonna get you tonight

Yeah- that is right - MIAMI FRIGGIN' SOUND MACHINE! Lord Help me.... 

So some of my Facebook girls - fellow minions - came up with additional songs to help me make a Rhythm play list - they include:

Get Rhythm - Johnny Cash

Rhythm is a Dancer - SNAP

Rhythm of the Night - El DeBarge

Hit me with your rhythm stick! - Ian Drury

Jump to the Rhythm - Jordan Pruitt

Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's.

So as you can see I have a healthy list of songs to play while I finish this girl.  I think the problem is I never named her - so we don't have a personal relationship (coo-coo, coo-coo - right?!)... Well I said, "Fine then! What is your name?"... Apparently her name is Barbara Ann.  I can't make this shit up.  If I were making it up she would have a different name - not that Barbara Ann isn't a good name - just doesn't conjure up "Muse fairy". So Barbara Ann and myself have a little bit of work left to do - but I will finish her! 

Barbara Ann is gonna get me! I am so close, yet so far away! 

Something is fishy....

In three more hours I am on vacation for 9 blissful days! I am looking forward to spending time with my family.  I don't think we are doing anything too fancy - just the way I want it!

This week I have been working on lots of different projects.  I started unofficially rotating things.... Never thought I would do it, but here I am.

This week I have started and finished by next RR (Round Robin) block.  This piece is Emerald Mermaid's Tail by Mirabilia on Tracy Griffin's Mermaid Tail RR (all tails are Mirabilia patterns by Nora Corbett).

Here is the full Round Robin

I also have done some work on Rhythm.  I took out the back stitching - I decided I wanted a better colour.  I haven't yet decided what to use - I'm thinking something around a 434? I also started working on the wings and the bustle is officially finished. I was particularly happy to get a compliment on my fabric choice from Nora herself this week.  Makes a minion shine to get a compliment like that! The colour of the fabric for reference is Weeks Dye Works, Tiger Eye - 30 count linen. 

Ah! But wait - there is more. I have also been working on Farmer's Market. I haven't done much on it this week but there is a significant change since my last photo so I thought I would show this one too. 

I also started Dressmaker's Daughter. I decided to go with the Light Amaretto but there isn't much to show yet. Just a whole lot of 211! I will save a photo for the next post. 

I also got my Crafty Kitten order this week. Four new fantastic fabrics. I am so pleased - again - wow.  Just great work by Dawn Munday.  I can't rave enough about Crafty Kitten fabric - if you haven't used one yet - get one and you will be converted! 

Two hours and fifty minutes left until vacation!..... tick, tock!  

I got Rhythm....

Well as I sit waiting for my Kreinik to come in for Peony I decided to start Rhythm. This is a Muse designed by Nora. I love the colours in her and I couldn't wait to just jump in with two feet. I am using a wonderfully soft piece of Week's Dye Works 30 count linen in Tiger's Eye that was gifted to me by my bestie Sharon Attwells.

This design moves fast!
Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

See what I mean? She is so much fun to work on.  I am waiting on two speciality threads to do her hair.  I also finished a RR block too.  I was working on Melissa Miller's Pixie RR - which is adorable! Here is my contribution - I did Lavender - not very original on my part - but I did have all the supplies on hand:

The next RR I get to work on is Mermaid Tails! I am looking forward to that one. Should be blingtastic.

I recently got all the DMC and beads to start Dress Maker's Daughter. I am waiting on the Waterlilies but they are on order. I do plan on making that my next major Mirabilia start. 

I also got the fabric needed to start Farmer's Market - which is a Told in a Garden design.  (Oh my a non-Nora!) I do occasionally do non-Nora designs. I am looking forward to starting Farmer's Market and will work on it after I get Rhythm done.  So much stitching! So little time! .... but I got Rhythm....I got music

I got my man...Who could ask for anything more ?