Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Paradise Lost Progress

The kids had a four day weekend, so we went down to Florida for a quick trip.  I worked on Paradise Lost a little bit while down there.  I was very glad to get the big tree on the right finished.

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Paradise Lost as of 10/27/09

I'll probably work on the big tree in the middle now.  Well, I'd better get back to my mountain of laundry!  I cleaned before I left, but of course it's a disaster again.  How does it happen so fast? :)  Write soon!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

It's Berry Time Finished!

I'm so happy to have this finished. I have been trying to clear up some old UFOs (ones that are small enough to finish in a decent amount of time). Since I sold some of them, unkitted some, and finished some, I'm now down to 13. I would love to get that number down even more!!

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Blackbird Designs "It's Berry Time" Loose Feathers #37
Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage Maritime White by Lakeside Linens
Thread: Belle Soie Silk "Rouge" (1 over 2)
Started: 7/7/09 - Finished: 10/20/09

Katrina's new post reminded me that I forgot to show the set I got from Tanya recently. I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it! Tanya, is so talented! She's an amazing stitcher and painter!! :)

Needlework Set

I think I'm going to get back to Paradise Lost now. It's waited for me long enough! Write soon!


Monday, October 19, 2009

Tea-Dyeing, Berry Time and a Little Stash

I got up the nerve to Tea-Dye "With My Needle" yesterday.

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I actually mixed in a little coffee with the tea and baked in the oven for about 20 minutes at 250. I think it turned out O.K. It wasn't difficult after I got over my initial nervousness.

After dyeing WMN I decided to try to finish up another UFO, "It's Berry Time." I haven't worked on it since July!

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40 ct. Vintage Maritime White, Belle Soie silk (1 over 2).

I'm really hoping to finish it up in the next couple of days. I also got a couple more threads I was needing for Shakespeare's Peddler "Sarah Woodham 1770." I just love this design!

Shakespeare's Peddler "Sarah Woodham 1770"

The fabric I'm thinking of using for it is 40 ct. Vintage Homespun. I could just stare the silks all day long. They are so pretty! I'm so glad Theresa has started doing reproductions - she has such a good eye for color! Write soon!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

With My Needle Finished!

I finally finished "With My Needle" today!! I'm so glad to have it done!

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With My Needle Finished!
The Goode Huswife "With My Needle"
Fabric: 40 ct. Light Examplar by Lakeside Linens
Threads: DMC (1 over 2)
Started: 11/16/08 - Finished: 10/17/09


I haven't tea-dyed it yet (obviously). I'm still trying to get up the nerve to do it! I don't want to mess it up! Maybe I'll try it in a couple days.

Well, now I think I'll get back to Paradise Lost. I really want to start CaHRH, but I think I'll wait a little bit. I would love to finish up a couple more things before starting another big project.

Write soon!

URL Change!

Hi Everyone - just want to let you all know I'm changing my URL to ....

http://www.nicolesneedlework.com

I have wanted to do this for a long time. You will have to update your readers and links when I do change it. I just wanted to give you all a heads up! Thanks for reading and I'm sorry for any inconvenience!!



P.S. I'm almost finished with "With My Needle." It's taking longer than I thought it would!! :)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

My Next Start?

I'm thinking of starting Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. I got a few threads I was missing today. It's really tempting me! Here's a pic of Block 12 threads (since I always start at the bottom right).

CaHRH - threads for block #12

CaHRH block 12 threads

I have decided to go with 40 ct. Vintage Examplar (my all time favorite color of linen) instead of the regular Examplar. I forgot I had a fat 1/4 in my stash. I plan to save the regular for another project.

I'm still working on "With My Needle." I have about five more rows of the words to do and I'll be done. Hopefully, I'll get it finished today or tomorrow depending on how much stitching I can fit in. And then.... Maybe I'll start CaHRH? Write soon!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Works in Progress

Wow! Thank you all for your very kind comments on "My Lady's Quaker!" They really made my day! :) I decided to get out "With My Needle" yesterday. I finally finished up the bottom portion. All those swirlies were driving me nuts! I'm glad most of them are behind me now!

With My Needle
40 ct. Light Examplar, DMC threads (1 over 2).

I also worked on my CHS Alphabet the other day, but forgot to post a pic. I have "Goose" finished and a start on "Horse."

CHS Alphabet
36 ct. Examplar, Sampler Threads (1 over 2).

Well, my oldest ds is home sick with the flu. Dh and I were going to go to Charleston. We were going to walk down King Street and go out to lunch. I was finally going to try shrimp and grits! But it looks like I'll be staying home playing nurse instead. Oh well - that's life when you're a mom! :) Write soon!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

My Lady's Quaker Finished!

I had to put Paradise Lost aside for a little bit. I need to get a couple more threads for it. So I got out "My Lady's Quaker." I was determined to finish it!

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My Lady's Quaker
Jardin Prive "My Lady's Quaker"
Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage Light Examplar
Threads: Needlepoint Inc. Silk
Started: 8/21/09 - Finished: 10/10/09

I'm trying to decide to what to work on now. I was thinking of getting back to "It's Berry Time," but after putting in a few stitches I decided I don't want to work on it right now. Maybe I'll get back to "With My Needle." I would love to get it finished up! Well, nothing going on here. It's just a lazy Sunday. We're all still in our P.J.s! :) Write soon!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

More Paradise Lost

I'm addicted to this design. I can't stop stitching! My house is in shambles and I ordered pizza today, so I wouldn't have to cook! I finally started the laundry tonight (I was planning on doing it first thing this morning).

Paradise Lost as of 10/7/09

I just love Paulette's version of Adam & Eve....

Elvis and Pricsilla

Aren't they cute? Eve sort of reminds me of Priscilla Presley. So I decided to change their names to Elvis and Priscilla. :)

Well, the dryer just buzzed. I'd Better get folding! Write soon!

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Lion and Lioness

I finished up the lion (he finally got his head) and his mate yesterday. I'm having so much fun with this design. I think it's going to be pretty much impossible to get bored with it. There's so much fun stuff going on! :)

Paradise Lost as of 10/5/09

I got a small start on the blue peacock last night, so I'll be working on him today. Write soon!

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Market Stash!!

I went to Amy's to stitch yesterday. Well, I meant to go to Amy's to stitch, but I didn't get any stitching done. Dh called when I was almost there and told me he didn't have his house keys. So I stayed for a little bit. I ate some pizza and bought some new stash! It's my early birthday present to myself! :)

New Market Stash!!
Market Stash from Down Sunshine Lane

CaHRH and Paradise Lost
Carriage House Samplings "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" and Plum Street Samplers "Paradise Lost."

Heaven Gave Rain and Joyeux Noel
Plum Street Samplers "Heaven Gave Rain" and Blackbird Designs "Joyeux Noel" book.

Tis the Season from Joyeux Noel Book
"Tis the Season" from the Joyeux Noel Book. 32 ct. Pear linen and Belle Soie silks.

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40 ct. Vintage Buttercream and Belle Soie silks.

I couldn't resist starting one of these beautiful designs! I decided to start....

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Paradise Lost

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40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar, NPI and Gloriana silks.

The poor lion needs a head! I can tell this is going to be such a fun design!! I wish I didn't have so much to do today or I'd just plunk my butt on the couch and not get up! Oh well, maybe tomorrow. Write soon! :)


Friday, October 02, 2009

With My Needle

I ended up getting out Goode Huswife's "With My Needle." I saw that Anne, the designer of Goode Huswife, has just released this design as a chart recently. You could only get it in the book before (Vol 1). Anyway, I made a little bit of progress last night....

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Here is what it looked like before....

With My Needle Wip

The linen I'm using is 40 ct. Light Examplar and I'm using DMC threads (1 over 2). I think I may tea stain it when I'm finished to give it a more primitive look.

Thank you all for your very kind comments on my Kindred Spirits finish! Write soon!


Thursday, October 01, 2009

Awesome Giveaway!

Check out this great giveaway that Jolene is having on her blog Dip Diddly Designs.

Kindred Spirits Finished

Kindred Spirits stitched up so much faster than I thought it would. It was a really fun project to stitch!

Kindred Spirits Finished!

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The Primitive Needle "Kindred Spirits"
Fabric: 36 ct. Days Gone By Silkweaver Linen
Threads: Belle Soie Silks - Noir, Lasagne and Kiwi
Started: 9/28/09 - Finished: 9/30/09


Now I have to find something else to stitch! I think I'll get back to my CHS Alphabet or maybe Goode Huswife's With My Needle. I haven't worked on that in a long time. I would love to get it finished up one of these days! Write soon! :)