My Framed Tribute to Ackworth

I finally had another piece framed. With the birth of my son 4 years ago, I have really cut down on having pieces framed due to cost. Who new a child could be so expensive? Anyway, I do always have my things framed using the non glare conservation glass- this adds greatly to the price. On a whim a couple of years ago I took a small piece that I liked (but wouldn't have been devastated if it was ruined) to Michael's with my 50% coupon in hand. I was very nervous because of all the horror stories out there. It was Garden Angel by La-d-Da and turned out great!! I chose their "Masterpiece" glass. Absolutely wonderful. The framing was nice and straight, and the glass was divine.



So this piece was placed on the wall amid a lot of other pieces with the normal conservation, non-glare glass and just looked "cleaner." I don't know, I thought it was my imagination because it was new. But after two years, it still looks like there is no glass at all- the Materpiece glass is truly wonderful. Unfortunately, they will not cut a piece and sell it, so the only way I can get it is to have something framed completely. Therefore, when it came to framing my Tribute to Ackworth, I held my breath and went back to Michael's. I talked extensively with the lady that framed it about the acid free board, no sticky material at all, no rust pins, etc.... My fabric was a little "wonky" so I was unsure what would happen. It actually turned out great!! The frame is perfect, the Masterpiece glass is exquisite, and with the 60% + $10 off coupon, the cost went from over $300 to $125. I am thrilled with the results!!



Now I have no idea what I will do when "And They Sinned" is ready. I'm still afraid to take it to Michael's, but I am so happy with both pieces they have done. Decisions, decisions....

Window Update

I am very close to another Sticklounge finish. I have two parts to go, but have moved on to RMT/ABC 1900 for now.



I have almost reached the half way point on RMT, and the deadline is March 1. I don't think I can make it, but it's ok because I had the pattern before the Sticklounge Group started stitching it. I still hope to get very close in the next few weeks.

Spot Motif circa 1640

I have managed to get a little more done on my Scarlet Letter piece Spot Motif circa 1640. I started this piece just for Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year. I love it! It is completely tent stitched over one on 40 ct and is very bright and colorful. My goal for 2013 is to finish at least 25% of this one. I plan to outline first, then go back and fill in the colors. I couldn't resist stitching the little caterpillar completely because he is so cute!





I hope to devote more time to my SL stitching after March 1st- I have three SALs (RMT, Window, and Ring in the New) that should be done by then, so Rebecca Cullin is highest on my list then!!

My Daily Strand and Window

The Daily Strand is a concept I picked up on the HDF Board a few years ago. The goal is to pick a project and stitch one strand a day until it is done. I actually finished "Eve" using this strategy and made a ton of progress on And They Sinned. I have decided to try it again this year, but to use it with something monochrome to increase the amount I get done. The Mathilde Duforest SAL is the perfect candidate!! This piece is offered as a freebie on Trois Generations Tricotent blog. I am using a custom color from HDF and 38 ct creme Gander over one. So far I have managed a strand every day, sometimes two.


I have been furiously stitching Window from the Sticklounge group. The deadline is February 12, and I have 6 more parts to go. This piece has given me fits due to all the frogging!! Sometimes due to one mis-stitch that can lead to hours of frogging, or just not being happy with my colors. So far there is still some frogging to remove the center yellow and the brighter purple in the center. I have decided to go with Old Maid of the Vineyard for the petals, Primitive Barn Mauve just inside that, and possibly Examplar Pettyfog for the center... that could change tomorrow.



I also need to focus some attention on my RMT and Ring in the New. RMT is huge and so far I have finished 10/24 parts. I am only on the third piece to Ring in the New out of 12. The deadline is March 1st to receive the final parts to both. As soon as March arrives, I will be be able to really work on my Scarlet Letter Year pieces more fully. Right now I can only devote a few hours here and there, but I hope to work on 1640 Spot Motif for a few hours today in order to have an update photo.

Final 2012 WIPocalypse Check In

I am happy to say I made a lot of great progress this year on most of my WIPocalypse pieces. I even had a few finishes. I will list them all here in one post so everyone can see what I have stitched. I am very happy the world did not end since I have a lot more stitching to complete :)

Purple Garden by Angie Designer
36 ct Cobblestone by Sassy's Fabbys


Heart Note Alley by Kathy Bungard
36/40 Buttercream by HDF


Berlin Wool Sampler by Pelin Tezer
32 ct Inkspot- changed to 38 ct Creme Gander over one:




New Start and finished- A Tribute to Ackworth by Luv2stitch2 Designs


New Start and finished- Many Years Ago by Gudi Kolden


New Start and finished- Flower Power by Kirsten Schmitt


New Start Lavender Blue by Angie Designer (almost finished)



New Start Fleurs et Papillons by Angie Designer (almost finished)


New Start Mustertuch von 1783


Coat of Arms- Stickideen von der Wiehenburg (a little bit accomplished)



RMT by Marie-Francoise




Rebecca Cullin by Scarlet Letter (a little bit done)




Anniversariies of the Heart by Blackbird Designs (a little bit done)




Window by Suthern Stitchin'






Midnight Orchard by Ian Daniels/ HAED Goal finished
25 ct lugana over one using HDF


Arab Tent New Start- HAED Goal finished:


Moonlight Serenade by Laurie Prindle/HAED New Start



La Belle Dame Sans Merci HAED GOAL Finished:
28 ct monaco

Three finishes in three days....

I decided to try to finish some of my Sticklounge pieces recently. I need to get those wheedled down so I can start stitching on more BAPs I have started. I was able to finish Tribute to Ackworth on Dec 30, Many Years Ago on Dec 31, and Flower Power this morning.






I have also made my New Year's Day Start on Chloris- my newest HAED project. It is over two on 40 ct HDF Canvas Lite. So far it seems huge- I am so used to over one on 25, 28, 32, and 40 when stitching HAEDs. We'll see how it goes.

Rebecca Cullin Update

I thought I would share what I have stitched on Rebecca Cullin last week. I have finished the strawberry border and started on the bottom- there is a lot of intense solid stitching there! I have decided to focus on finishing the cross stitches before going back to the embroidery. The bullion knots are why I gave up last time, so hopefully completing the cross stitches is just what I need to motivate me to finish her this year!!

I hope this post works- I am trying to blog by phone. Sometimes it works and sometimes I get a big red "x" instead of a photo.

Lovely seeing everyone's New Starts and WIPs. I love to read Nicola's Scarlet Letter blog just before bed and add to my growing SL Wishlist!

Rebecca B in TN

December WIPocalypse Check In

Since I forgot to post last month's Check-In, I need to catch up!! First- I finished my Berlin Work Sampler!! This piece started the challenge on 32 ct Mystery fabric over one. I did not like how the stitches were turning out, so it became 38 ct. Creme Gander over one.

Second- progress on Moonlight Serenade, a HAED design. I have completed the first half of page one and almost page two...

Third- My Tribute to Ackworth Sampler. I actually need to get to stitching on this one because the deadline in the Sticklounge group is fast approaching!!

Fourth- Window. Another Sticklounge project that needs some love. I frogged a bunch of this last go around, but managed to complete another part.

Fifth- Mustertuch von 1783- This piece is turning out great. It is over one on 32 ct Raffia Cream with HDF conversion (and some variagated thrown in here and there). Very lovely!!

Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year

I am very happy to join all the stitchers in this Scarlet Letter year. Will this be the year I finally finish Rebecca Cullin? Probably not. I started her in 2005 and put a few stitches in every year. Then I get sidetracked. This year I will probably be sidetracked by starting even more SL projects. In fact, I started Spot Motif circa 1640 on December 1st just to celebrate this wonderful group!!
Here are the SL pieces I would like to focus on this year that are already started:
Rebecca Cullin 1801. I am not thrilled with the bird in the center and have already recharted it using a picture from the original sampler that I found online. Obviously I made a lot of changes in the top as well to add my initials and start year. I probably would not have done that if I were just starting, but what's done is done.

My work so far-

Polly Phillip 1792. I love the colors in this one, but admit my sister's name is Holly Phillips so I was drawn to it :)


And my newest Scarlet Letter start- Spot Motif circa 1640. This one is tent/continental stitched over one on 40 ct. Very fun!! I think I will work on outlining for the most part and filling in little bits as I go.


I have many more SL samplers in various stages- some kitted, some slightly started. If I could finish Rebecca Cullin it would really be a Red Letter Year for me!!!