Monday, January 16, 2012

Fini- firsts for 2012

I wanted to show you this..... my progress as of Wednesday 1/11....



but instead I can show you this....


I cannot believe how fast I stitched this.  I think for the back, I am going to get a piece of fabric monogramed with the names and date of birth of the babies.  That will be a nice and unique touch.  A lesson from this project is that I LOVE Planet Earth Wool.  

I also finished this Chrismon.  If you look closely, you can see that I actually used two shades of white.  But please do not look too closely!  This will be hanging on a tree in the back.  It was too much to pull out, and I thought it would ruin the canvas if I did, so the two shades of white are staying.  



Monday, January 9, 2012

Babies Sleeping

My cousin, the same one I made the "Cow Jumping Over the Moon" canvas for 2 years ago, is having twins!  Twin boys!  When I saw the "Babies Sleeping" canvas at the Needlehouse, I knew I had to stitch it.  I was looking for something to stitch, but I didn't want to stitch two of something and it was starting to get closer to my cousin's due date.  Yikes!  This is a picture of the canvas when I just started it on Saturday.

I am using Planet Earth Wool for the background, gold Rachelette for the stars, yellow Neon Rays for the moon, Silk Lame Braid (I had to get a new card) for the lettering, and Frosty Rays for the cloud.  I honestly had the most doubt about the Frosty Rays.  I have a hard time imagining how things will look stitched.  However, I trusted Emily and her thread and stitch choices, and I am glad I did!


This is a close up of the picture above.  I did all of this in one afternoon.  

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Welcome 2012!

Although it was not quite 2012 when I got this canvas, it is for a gift for my cousin who is having twins. I spotted this canvas at the Needlehouse's one day New Years Sale.  I have not been to the Needlehouse in a really long time and I wanted to check out the canvas selection while it was on sale.  Every shop has different canvases, and I really did not see anything I absolutely had to have except for this canvas.  I loved every canvas I saw, but this one I had to have!


The thread is a new Planet Earth wool.  I can't wait to stitch with it.  I also have a really nice Silk Lame in blue for the lettering, but I cannot find it.  I am hoping it is in my car and not really lost.  I took the canvas and bag of threads into Pappadeaux's restaurant to show my Grandma on New Year's Eve, so I hope I didn't loose the thread there.  The twins are my Grandma's great-grandchildren.  

Now to the Resolutions!  Let's re-cap the big canvas list from last year....

Pink Angel
Henry
Ann
Katherine
Liz Basset Hound
Blue Rug
A&M stocking
Melissa Shirley cardinal
Melissa Shirley Madonna
Joy
Marie Antoinette
Alabama A
October sheep
Melissa Shirley Scottish Santa
Kelly Clark Texas basket
Kelly Clark stitching Santa
A&M Santa
George and Martha
Liz Lab
Kelly Clark present topiary
Christmas lab round- 2
St. Francis
Counted canvas heart
Chrismons- 2-3
Babies Sleeping
Love
Massachusetts Scene
Louis
Ben Franklin
Roll Tide
Alligator
Santa's Favorite Dog
Prairie Schooler
Easter Rabbit


I really want to have Joy, Alabama A, October SheepA&M stocking, and Pink Angel done by the end of the year."  

Despite 2011 being a "no canvas buying" year, I managed to acquire a lot of canvases.  The Roll Tide and Babies Sleeping were for gifts; Massachusetts was a present from my sister; Louis, Ben Franklin, and a new Lab Round were to match sets; and Love and the Easter Rabbit were gifts from a needlepoint friend.  This brings the canvas count to 30.  I managed to get 7 finished this year.

My resolutions for this year are to finish all of my Christmas canvases: Present Topiary, A&M Santa, Prairie Schooler, Santa's Favorite Dog, 2 Lab Rounds, and Joy.  If I finish all 7- that will be great!  I think I will do the A&M Santa during the football season.


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Progress on Joy and Christmas Gifts

This post is picture heavy, but it shows almost all of the needlepoint gifts I gave for Christmas, except the Schnauzer I gave to my mother-in-law.  I forgot to take a picture before I gift wrapped it!



The Scottish Santa for my Mom before it was wrapped for Christmas. 


The Scottish Santa on the shelf with my Mom's other Santas.  The only one missing is the Melissa Shirley santa, which will be another gift for another occasion.  Maybe Mother's Day.


This is a poor picture of the framed Alabama A.  I didn't want to take it out of it's package before my Dad did.  But you can see the gray and green matting with a dark cherry frame. I think it makes the Red "A" pop.  

Lots of needlepoint was given this Christmas- three pieces total.  I still have about a dozen pieces that are finished but not yet in a final form.  And last but not least....


Progress on Joy.  I have made it to the third wall paper block.  Even though Christmas is over I really want to finish this piece for next year.  I can't decide to frame it or make a pillow out of it.