New Project, Update 5

I bet you all thought I had abandoned or forgotten to update my progress on this one, didn't you? Between the power outage that resulted in no computer for two weeks, and the searing summer heat, I haven't a) worked on it much or b) got round to posting new photos. My apologies. So. I am at the point where all the actual cross-stitching and backstitching have been done, and all that remains are straight stitches and french knots.

Here's the entire project thus far--you may want to click on the image for a larger view.

Part of the blue title panel. There are 89 white french knots in this section, plus 21 knots in the ottoman, and eyes and nose of the cats. I also started those in the dress hem--still much more to do there.

Each corner heart is outlined by 28 black french knots. Still have one more of those to do.

The monkey. Another 26 white french knots here.

This is where I left off working, the parasol. So far I have done the straight stitches and about 40 of the french knots. Still more to do.

If you missed the previous update, you can see it HERE.

New Project, Update 4

Project updates from the past two weeks.

WEEK 8: Finished almost all of the cross-stitching and did more of the backstitching.

Closeup of the girl and throne:

WEEK 9: All cross-stitching is finished. Now to finish the backstitching, straight stitches and about one million and one french knots...

Another closeup of girl and throne so you can see the differences between the previous week's work (photo above) and this week's work. I stil have some work to do around her face and hair.

And here's another. All the grain of the wood (the darker brown stitches on taupe) and outlining of chair arm were done while watching a movie last night.

New Project, Update 3

Time for my weekly progress report!

Completed this week was the parasol, monkey and shoes, as well as some of the back of the dress. These sections still aren't complete, as I need to go back once all the cross-stitching and backstitch is done and fill in with long stitches and french knots. Judging by the pattern, I am going to royally hate french knots when this thing is finished.

Especially for Jana, here is a close-up of the monkey.

And this is the section I am currently working -- the right hand side which includes the second kitty, chair legs and side table, and moving up to the girl's dress and hair.

This is what the completed project is supposed to look like. I am taking creative license and not titling the book in her lap.

In 2003, the same friend who gave me this kit gifted me with a pair of Mary Engelbreit pillows she sewed, one of which contained this same design (the raccoon was made by a different friend, but that's a subject for a different post). The current state of these pillows (far from the plump, pristine image below) attests to how much I love them.

If you missed last week's progress, or want simply want to compare progress from last Sunday to today, click here.



Have you been working on anything crafty lately?

New Project, Update 2

As promised, photo updates on the mystery cross-stitch project.

WEEK 4:
I had to tear out the entire lefthand and top border and redo it, after discovering I had miscounted my yellow border stitches (that line all the way around, just inside the patchwork squares). It was a tedious three-day process and I'd like to say that was the only mistake I've made, but there have been others since. In fact, I had to tear out the blue line flowting near the top left last night upon discovering I was a row too high. Sigh...  I'm sure there will be plenty more corrected before this thing is done.

WEEK 5:
As you can see, I nearly finished the border, as well as the bottom title panel. Large blocks of one color tend to go much faster than a quarter stitch here, a three-quarter stitch there.

WEEK 6:
Finished the border and title panel, backstitched around letters, and started backstitch around the yellow border. Also started filling in around bottom of dress and am almost done stitching the "bellhop." I had to take out his arm/hand and the tray last night. Was too tired to redo the hand, so guess that's where i will probably start next.

CLOSE-UP OF BOTTOM SECTION:
Here's a closer view of the bottom area, so you can see the backstitching done. There is still a lot of that to go, as well as about one million French knots. Oy!

New Project Update 1

Here are the latest pics from my newest cross-stitch project—though I doubt these will help you figure out the design any more than the first week's pictures did. This design is of a popular print by one of my favorite artists. I actually have a pillow of this design received as a Christmas present some years back. And yes—the artist has been mentioned on this blog before.


WEEK 2 PROGRESS:






WEEK 3 PROGRESS:






Wait until you see how much work I've done in week four! *grin*

Start of a {New} Project

I started a new project last week aan am already tired of the yellow. Any guesses as to what it is? This is a kit received from a friend in 2011, and I am thinking of giving it to another friend's daughter for Christmas. We shall see...

SC365

This is the anniversary card made for friends who were married on New Year's Day 2000. I used last week's SCS sketch challenge (SC365) for this one, turned sideways. The image is from the 2011 Mary Engelbreit Day-to-Day desk calendar, and I was able to use up several paper scraps in its creation.



Accessories: Circle punches from Marvy Uchida and Night of Navy ink from Stampin' Up.

Thursday Thirteen 232: Christmas Gifts

Two weeks ago I shared many of the homemade gifts I was giving for Christmas 2011. Here are a few of the things I was grateful to receive.



1. Two books by Patricia Cornwell, Isle of Dogs (Andy Brazil #3) and All That Remains (Kay Scarpetta #3); Sense of Evil (Bishop #6) by Kay Hooper; Holly Lane (Destiny #4) by Toni Blake; and Tombs of Endearment (Pepper Martin #3) by Casey Daniels.



2. Mary Engelbreit Day-to-Day Calendar.



3. Pail of homemade sausage balls from one friend—these were so good, they did not survive the week—and a loaf of homemade chocolate chip bread from another, which is almost gone. Soooo good!.

4. Chocolate: Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles and Peppermint Bark. Mmm...

5. DVD: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (I have a feeling part two is coming for my birthday).

6. DVD: Monk, Season Three—received first two last year.

7. DVD: Psych, Season Four—now to acquire season five...not that I'm greedy or anything! *G*

8. CD: Christmas by Michael Bublé.




9. Four clear stamp sets, including “Trick or Treat” by Inkadinkado and “French Market” by Tim Holtz.



10. Two Tim Holtz embossing folders, “Artful Muse (3-pack)” and “Frame and Postal (2-pack” (for card making) .



11. Sizzix “Butterflies and Vines” border die and Martha Stewart “Spiderweb” border punch.



12. Four ornaments, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse glass icicles from Disney World, and two different snowmen.



13. Glass angel that lights up and is nearly a foot tall (sorry, forgot to take pic before I packed away the Christmas decorations).


Was there a favorite gift you received this past holiday season?

More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A's Graduation

It seems only yesterday this little girl, the daughter of a close friend, was heading off to elementary school...




She graduated high school yesterday afternoon, and will be starting Madison College in the fall. Below is the card I made for her. When I saw this image in my daily calendar last month, I knew I had to use it for A's card. The sentiment reads, "Now get out there and do something remarkable." That plus the look on the girl's face made it absolutely perfect. There are graduation caps stamped in yellow on top of the yellow background. Image is matted on dark blue--blue and yellow are her school colors.

Stamps: Graduation (My Sentiments Exactly)
Ink: Summer Sun (Stampin Up)
Paper: Blue, yellow striped (DCWV)
Image: Mary Engelbreit desk calendar
3-D Stickers: Graduation Celebration (Reminisce)

Thursday Thirteen 189: Valentines

If you saw yesterday's post, you know that I spent some time making cards this past Sunday while watching the Super Bowl. It helped keep me calm during the more tense moments of the second half. I admit, there was much screaming and celebrating, especially at end of the game. Here are thirteen Valentines made during the four hours of game time. Click on any image for a larger view.


1. Red speckles stamped on pink background. Die-cut hearts, center one popped up.


2. Stamped and colored image on a 4.25 x 4.25 inch square card. This one is for my youngest niece. Left heart is a die-cut.


3. Thin ribbon wrapped around dark pink panel. Die-cut heart popped up for dimension.


4. Rub-on hearts on white panel, mounted on red, then pink. Pink ribbon behind center panel.


5. More rub-on hearts with a stamped greeting.


6. Die-cut hearts in center, stamped image at bottom right. Wide red ribbon across front.


7. This was a fun one to make. I used an image from my Mary Engelbreit page-a-day calendar that says, "Peace & Love, Baby!" A felt heart and some funky fiber tie it all together.


8. Rub-on hearts with a stamped greeting, and stamped speckled background.


9. Another page of the Mary Engelbreit calendar with felt hearts and flower and 1/4 inch gros grain ribbon.


10. More rub-on hearts. I generally don't like rub-ons because they can be a major pain in the butt, but these were in a kit I received from a friend and I wanted to use them up.


11. This is a square 4.24 x 4.25 inch card. Red speckles were stamped on lighter red cardstock, and a large heart die-cut mounted in center, popped up for dimension.


12. Rub-on hearts with a stamped greeting.


13. 1/4 inch ribbon frames a popped up die-cut heart. Corners decorated with heart-shaped brads. Card is 4.25 x 4.25 inch square.



LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:(Please leave your link if this is your first visit!)
Bratty * Maddy Barone * Alice Audrey * Colleen
Adelle Laudan * Shelley Munro * Kimberly Menozzi
KS Manning * Xakara * CountryDew * Mary Quast
Darla M Sands * Jennifer Leeland * Paige Tyler