Stitch Box

At last I got my stitch storage box. About four years ago I asked our carpenter to make me a box and have been waiting ever since. Finally I asked my friend Kathy if her carpenter would make me one. Four weeks later here it is. The canvas that will be going into the lid of the box is a Raymond Crawford canvas with stitch guide by Ruth Schmuff. I have had the canvas done for three years and have just been waiting for the box. Tomorrow I am off to the framer to have the canvas mounted into the lid. Cannot wait to pick out the matting. Such fun colors in the canvas that it is going to be hard to pick out two or three. The box is an 18 inch cube with bun feet. I am going to store some of my works in progress in it. I have to get everything out of sight before my little man comes. Jake is fine now since he really is not mobile but in a few months things are going to change.

I am so happy to finally have a home for my Stitch canvas. Will post a finished picture of the box when I get the lid back from the framer.

Linda

Update on Jake

I just took these pictures today. Hard to believe that he is six weeks old already. Today when I got to Jen's, I said Hi to Jake and he smiled at me. He is smiling alot now and you can tell that he is even trying to laugh. I cannot believe how big he is getting. Jen takes him to Music Appreciation once a week. So far he has slept through both classes. As part of the class, they give you a CD of the music. Jake loves it. When he starts to fuss, we put the CD on and he forgets his problems and becomes a very happy baby. That CD is pure magic. I had to get a copy for my house for when Jake visits.

Off to work on Frank. Progress is slow because of My Little Man, Jake but hope to get him done soon.

Linda

Second Ponza Canvas Completed

Whew! This last stretch was t-o-u-g-h!! I feel like I've been saying this canvas is "almost finished" for months, but at long last, I took the magnets off the canvas just moments ago. The rocks were done up in literally at least a dozen stitches. Rocks don't look all smooth & similar, especially lava rocks in the Tyrenhhian Sea, so I just kept on mixing up threads & stitches. My stitching library got a lot of action the past few weeks.

Next on the list: finish my belt for my handbag; homework for the SNS Haute Couture class; then a canvas for my Godson. There is a Ponza canvas sitting on bars that Tony Minieri made up a great stitch guide for, and there's the last Ponza canvas that I'm going to do with Sharon G's suggestions from our continuing on line class.

Denise

Stirha Is Finished

I am so happy with the way Stirha came out. Amy did such a fantastic job on Stirha. Her selection of threads and stitches really brought Stirha to life. I love everything about Stirha even Rhett the Rat is so cute. Amy's attention to even the smallest details in this canvas really helped bring Stirha to life. The bottom borders were such fun to stitch and the detail that Amy put into it just makes it pop. Look at Stirha shoes are they not to die for. Cannot say enough about the many talents of Amy. Now off to Frank. I started his background last night. Frank is going to be a really fun stitch. I am a little nervous about his fingers (totally new technique for me) but I think I am up for it.

Jake is doing really well. Have to take some new pictures to show everyone how big he has gotten. Got him a pair of Gap jeans yesterday. Will try to get a picture of him in them.

Frank is calling got to go.

Linda

A Few More Finished Items

Here are some photos of a few more finished items. The first is a little Princess & Me ornament. I had this finished as a little standup, as I thought it was a bit oversized for an ornament. It came with a stitch guide, which I followed at times but not always. The second item is a cookie from the Little Shoppe of Stitches cookie collection. I had already done 13 other cookies, but last year, Fireside offered 12 cookies as a club. The nice thing about Fireside is that you can choose which club months you want. Since this was the only cookie I hadn't done, I added this one to the cookie tray. The cookie canvases always come with a stitch guide as well, and in doing all of the cookies, I followed the guides precisely. I must say that the tray of cookies is always a big hit with visitors.

This past Sunday Linda & I took a class at Ridgewood Needlepoint with Carole Lake, entitled "How to Write a Stitch Guide." I must say I always enjoy my classes at Ridgewood, and I am sorry I am missing the David McCaskill class next month. The class with Carole was very insighful, and, as part of our class fee, we got a terrific book by Carole, "Textured Effects for Painted Canvas." The book is excellent. I really felt very comfortable with Carole; she's a very nice lady, and has some neat ideas. I felt that many of her teaching ideas were in sync with mine, and it was very empowering to hear her say that a stitch guide that is written by another is a starting point; you don't have to stitch it exactly the way the guide says. I came away from the class with a sense of confidence in my ability to select threads & stitches for canvases.

Ponza 2 is really almost finished. I have a few flowers to add, and 2 borders. Then there will be a photo, I promise!

It has been a crazy week already at work this week. Also, Linda has Round 2 of Home Improvement hell starting (hopefully) today.

Thank God it's Wednesday!!

Denise

Finishing

Quite a few items have returned from the finisher for me lately, & I apologize for not posting as often. Here, we have Ashley's new handbag. The bag is a beautiful, soft leather you can get from our LNS, Stitch by Stitch, and is made by Susan Treglown. It come in a variety of colors. Susan has designed a number of straps for the bags, or, if you have a belt with no particular direction, you can use a belt strap. What you do is finish the strap to an appropriate length for you, and then it is sent to the finisher and finished with leather belt straps on each end. The purse itself comes with belt buckles on each side. Linda & I were all over this idea, but Ashley quickly interjected herself into the mix. She had a half finished belt that was perfect for this project. So, instead of working on my strap, for my bag, I got to finish her belt, for her bag. "Mommy, you stitch so much faster than I."

Ah, motherhood. I am about halfway done with my strap. Sigh.

I have been busy with Jake, too. Jennifer has given me a great honor, and asked if I would be Jake's godmother. I am so moved by this. Jake & I have a wonderful relationship already. I got to visit with him last night, and we read some of the books I picked up for him at Borders in the afternoon. He has been a little demanding with wanting to be held all the time, which is fine for Linda & I but not so easy on his parents. He and I discussed this last night. I was not particularly persuasive--not yet at least.

I will post photos of some of my other finished items soon. Tomorrow, Linda & I have a class at Ridgewood Needlepoint, on "How to Write a Stitch Guide." I am sure we'll both learn a lot.

Have a good weekend.

Denise

Nativity, Tassel and Progress on Stirha

I received the finishing on the Elephant and Donkey in with Frank. He was not too happy traveling with an elephant and donkey. Cannot wait until all the pieces are on the mantel for Christmas. I have three pieces left to stitch. I have to do the Shepherd (about half done), the Sheep and the Camel. Unfortunately, I will have to take time from the Halloweenies to work on the Nativity. I will probably take the month of May to finish the Shepherd and do the Sheep and then try to fit in the Camel in between working on the Halloweenies. Such pressure.

The Tassel is from the canvas embellishment class with Tony Mineri. I have the background and beading to do. Very close to being done.

Stirha is so close to being finished. I had hoped to have her done by now but a little man by the name of Jake keeps interfering with my stitching. I just had to show you how spectacular she is. Amy is doing such a wonderful job on the Halloweenie Characters. I never thought she could top the Nativity but I was wrong. Frank is going to be a really fun and challenging stitch. His hands are going to really challenge me but with patience and helpful pointers from Needlepoint Study Hall, I am sure I will get them done. Just remember that Frank is not a perfect man so if his fingers are a little rough around the edges they are just perfect for him.

Off to go watch Jake, Jen and Eugene are going for a required meeting before the baby's Christening. Godmother Denise is coming to keep me company. The real reason is she wants to spend some quality time with her God Son.

Linda