Did You Meet Elvis, Mama & Baby Kool?

I don't think I introduced you to these fun little guys, did I? Needlepoint Now readers will recognize them from the November/December 2008 issue. They caught my eye immediately, & when I saw I could order Mom & Baby Kool kitted up, I asked designer Peg Dunayer if I could add Elvis to the package. I was thrilled when this package, which included the two painted canvases, threads & simple, easy to follow stitch guides, arrived during the Christmas festivities.

After I packed away my tree & other decorations, these little fellows were the first on my list in the New Year. Aren't the fun? I absolutely love Elvis' little vest....if you look carefully, you will see the diagonal mosaic tilted two different directions for the oppposite sides of the vest. And the little bead buttons? Mom has a fun collar from Flair as well, looks like a little lace collar.

The Needlepoint Now article has directions for finishing the items yourself, as well as a cute little "Kool Family Home" which is a needle case. See, Elvis is actually intended to be a scissor fob, & the home a needle case. Mom & Baby Kool are a scissors case. But I preferred these as...you guessed it...ornaments. So on my tree they will go!

D

Mary Is Finished

I finished Mary around 11:30 last night. I am really happy with how she came out. Amy's stitch guide for the Kelly Clark Nativity Series just gets better and better. Mary's stitch guide was a little more challenging than Kit 1, Baby Jesus. Hair is not my forte but I am happy with the way it came out. My daughter, Jennifer, said her hair is better than mine but my white scarf is better than hers. Joseph arrived early. I was not expecting him until April 1. Am anxious to get him started but I have to stitch the second All That Glitters ornament. Hope to have that done by the middle of the week.



Today Denise and I went to pack up some of the large items in Ashley's dorm room. Of course we went to Rittenhouse Needlepoint. I felt like royalty. I was served tea in a Rittenhouse mug with my own special teapot for my delicious green tea. Denise had coffee in a Rittenhouse mug with a piece of danish. In addition, to our afternoon tea, the store was having two trunk shows.

They must have had every box that HP Designs makes. I never saw so many beautiful boxes. All different sizes and colors. Denise picked up the most exquisite box for one of her canvases.

The color was so beautiful. I am sure that she will be posting a picture of it. Needless to say we had a wonderful day. It is always fun to go visit our friends in other needlepoint stores.

My little Quilted Heart

Quite a few things have also come back from the finishers for me. I am trying to pace myself in posting these....

This was a fun little project. Of course now I have no idea what to do with it. I hung it on the stair railing at home, only to find kitten Cara walking around with it in her mouth 2 minutes later. Then I hung it up high, on my daughter's door, only to have both Cara & Mia leaping into the air trying to get to it.

So for now it's in the top drawer of my sideboard, until it looks less interesting to them.

Tomorrow Linda & I are off to Philly, ostensibly to visit with my daughter, take her & some friends to lunch, and bring home some stuff---the end of the school year is actually in sight!

Of course you all know that Rittenhouse Needlepoint is right near where we are going for lunch.......D

Finished Sophisticated Socks

I just picked up my finished sophisticated socks from our LNS, Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont. They really did a fabulous job on them. Each sock as some toys and presents in them.

My Christmas tree this year is really going to filled with needlepoint ornaments.

Today I left the first All That Glitters ornament for finishing. Cannot wait to see how this one comes out.

I am still working on Mary, Kit 2 of the Nativity Home Study. Mary should be completed by Friday. Will post a picture then. She really is coming out great.

Linda

Finished the Ribbon Initial--Updated

I worked my little fingers to the bone, but I finished the ribbon initial. What do you think?

Should I make a pillow from this? What kind? Framed out? What kind of trim? What kind of fabric backing? Or should I make a wall hanging (no idea where I'll hang it though). What about setting it on an easel? Both Linda & I need some ideas from you.....help!

I was kind of stuck after putting the first few spiderweb roses on....now what? Fortunately, my ANG chapter had a very timely class this week on silk ribbon embroidery, and I was inspired to work on this & get it finished.

The class was taught by Lynn Shamberger, and was so very informative. I really learned a lot abour ribbon embroidery, and even though I had familiarity with the method, Lynn really inspired me.

I will admit that my fingers got tired tonight....it's hard to pull that ribbon through the canvas sometime.

Looking forward to your feedback.....D

This week's quick little project

Hi!

There's been a whole lot of silence from me, as I have been busy with projects that are too incomplete to discuss. Right now, awaiting my attention, in various stages of completion, are the Ribbon Initial project, and a little white nutcracker, and my flag (remember that--I have 80 of 247 boxes done), and my DH's "My Life" belt from Amy Bunger's Golden Strand, and my ANG STOM Kimono project which I just drew onto the canvas & mounted onto bars......so as I said, I've been busy, but unlike Linda, I have nothing to show you.

Here's the quick little project I worked on this week. It came all packaged up from my LNS, Stitch by Stitch, in Larchmont. The shading was accomplished using Threadworx overdyes--very effectively, I thought. And straight basketweave. Mindless but fun.

So of course when I went to hand this in for finishing I had to get a little more canvas and more overdyed thread, so I can make an Italian flag as well. In between what, I am not sure.

I also have quite a few other projects ready to leap onto the front burner when I get some of the above out of the way.

I will be posting photos of some of my finished items which I picked up from my LNS over the past 2 weeks. I am waiting for my "good" camera to come back from the repair shop.

D

Finished Handbag

This week seems to be finishing week. Just picked up my finished bag from LNS. The bag was finished by Marlene's Custom Pillows in California. They did a really fabulous job. The bag is in blue leather and the interior of the bag is in hot pink. Just love it! Cannot wait for Spring to use it.

Linda