Sunday, March 24, 2013

Fat Santa

A little more progress on this sweet Carol Dupree Santa. The background is a Nobuku in threadworx and crystal braid.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

School Pride and Little Pieces

I'm making rapid progress on my little Painted Pony Angels.  

Here is the unstitched Aggie Angel


All three Angels that I want to finish!  They are great instant gratification pieces.  


Delta Zeta Angel for my sister.  :)



I actually pulled out the white thread around the "Crimson Tide" because it was so fuzzy it was obscuring the shine of the lettering.  I replaced the Bella Lusso with Burmilana, and I'm much happier with the result.  




Progress on Aggie Angel!

March Finish

Because I have been stitching small pieces, progress is coming quickly.  This is my Aggie Angel a little bit ago.


And this is my Aggie Angel now!  My March Finish!!



Here is a picture of both the Alabama and Aggie Angels 


I used Miyuki beads on the Aggie Angel, and I love the result.  The beads are made to be the same size, so everything is even and lines up.  Look at the difference- crazy!  I have been converted!

This is one other piece I'm working on: Carol Dupree's Fat Santa.  Progress has been rapid on this one too.  Here he is last week. 


And here he is now!


I'm also still working on the Labrador Inn.  Progress is slow because it's such a big piece.  Pictured here  are the fake bouillon knots for the stems. 


Progress on the Lab body. 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

One Big Happy Family

It all started with a trunk show at Chaparral....

I have always been a fan of Henry VIII and his exploits.  I love Tudor history, and I majored in History in college.  So when I spotted, Henry and Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn at the very last (unbeknownst to me at the time)  Petei trunk show at Chaparral, I bought them.  They are pictured below along with Queen Elizabeth I, Ben Franklin, and the Statue of Liberty.  I bought these last three from a shop in Florida, Needle Nicely, based on a blog entry they posted with their remaining Peteis.  


As you all know, Petei has retired and her line has not been sold to anyone yet.  Some of her canvases have been listed on eBay, so I kept a look out to see if I could find the other 4 wives.  I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Catherine of Aragon and Catherine Parr posted.  At the same time as these auctions were going on, the shop owner at the Designer's Desk in Illinois left a Facebook message on the Needlepoint group stating that she had some Peteis.  I called and scored Catherine Parr.  High eBay prices avoided!  Catherine Parr is on the right.  I did have to pay a high price for Anne of Cleves from an auction on eBay with Fireside Stitchery as the seller.  I guess they had someone consign the wives to sell, and whoever that person is- thank you. Anne of Cleves is on the left. 


The last two wives, Catherine Howard and Jane Seymour,  came from a friend of the Stitching Up a Storm in the Alamo City's author.  I was soooooo glad she had these and was willing to sell them for a reasonable price.  Collection Complete!



 Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour


Close up of Jane Seymour


Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr


The whole family plus Mary, Queen of Scots on the lower right.  

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Alabama Stocking Finish

I have several progress pictures and a finish!  I have been really wanting to finish waaayyy more than I have been, even though my average is one a month, so I think I have have a case of startitis thinking that the more I start, the faster I will get something done.  It makes no sense, but I am going with the flow.

This is the blue rug that I am going to turn into a box top.  Most of the background is done, and I picked up more wool for the brighter blue and red sections.  I had a Planet Earth silk, but I think it will look better all in wool.





THE FINISH!



It looks a little warped, but the canvas was when I bought it.  I think it will turn out fine.  

On a trip to the Container Store, I spotted this cutie and realized that it was the solution to my problem.  My dog will jump on the couch, one place where I keep my sharp tools, and her tail is coffee table height, another place where I keep my tools.  In both cases, she could knock down sharp scissors or laying tools and step on them or have them land on her.  This box closes tightly and keeps that from happening.  If she knocks this box over, I will not be so worried that she will hurt herself.  Win-win and worth the $1 and change.  :) 



Have a good rest of the weekend!

Friday, March 1, 2013

Candy Cane is back from the Finisher

I am really trying this year to reduce my pile of "finished but not finished" canvases.  In that vein, I am sending in one piece when another comes back.  Here is what came back!!  It is so beautiful and perfect!  I am really happy with it and so is my dad and sister.  My dad kept asking me where I bought it!