Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Oh, how I love surprises (in the mail)

There was a box on the front door step when I came in the driveway a while ago.  Here's what was in it!
Love them.   I have a full set now!

Have to admit the red tablecloth behind them isn't so flattering, but I couldn't wait.

Enjoy!

Happy stitching.
Jane

Last peek at #12

I put the beads on the hedge last night and have stocking #s 6-12 in a stack to be sent out for finishing.   I loved doing this series.  It's something to think about.....as you're planning your stash enhancement for 2009!!!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Can you believe it? A series of 12 is DONE!!!

I know, I know.   I can't be too proud of myself, since I have another series of 12 yet to be finished, but I only have 3 of those to go, and I think a small happy dance is in order here.

I named #11 a fussy guy, but this gent turned out to be a bit fussy too.   And I didn't have ANYTHING to do with it!!

As always, if I had it to do over or more patience to take things out, I would have done a couple of things differently on him.  I was fixated on having some gold background on all 12 of the stockings, so I did the usual skip tent around the numerals.  I think having 2 colors of Soy Luster for the ground and grass was a bit much.  (I had the same set up on #11, I think, but there wasn't a hedge on top of the green grass - there were darker spruce trees, so more contrast.) The stitch guide called for all of it to be done in the tan thread - even over the green part - it was also to be a different darning pattern, more obvious - and I actually tried it on the tan part, but it was WAY too busy.   So it came out and I put in the same stitch as for the green.  

I ended up using Burmilana for the trim on his coat.   I used a darker thread than was painted on the canvas, but I like it.  

Here are some things I learned during this series (not in order of learning or importance to future stitching):

1. I like Soy Luster.
2. I like open patterns.  I would have to say I was pretty averse to this before, but in the right places, I think they're perfect and beautiful.
3. I can do long and short stitch fairly well (at least by my standards).
4. I hate Pure 'n Simple thread.
5. I like Vineyard Silk.  As I stated previously, I tried it 2-3 times and thought it was horrible.  It worked fine this time.  Not sure what changed - me or the thread.
6. Interlocking gobelin is an invaluable stitch.  Not my favorite, but a great stitch.
7. There are more birds in the 12 days of Christmas than I would have guessed.
8. Liz is still one of my favorite designers.
9. I love overdyes.  Especially for the birds - they eliminated a lot of changes in thread in the needle.
10. I need to go out and buy a big silver bowl.  (Thanks to Jane of CH, the enabler.)

I'm going to stare at this last one for a few days and see if I think I'd like it better if I replaced the hedge with a darker thread - and that reminds me, I was going to put in some red beads for berries, so I will definitely do that.

Opinions??   I know you have them!!
Happy stitching,
Love, Jane

Still moving

I finished the drum - I did it twice and like this version the best.   I stitched the rims first in continental and then laid in the blue - I covered the whole thing with Treasure ribbon in satin stitch and then put the gold lines over the top.   I'm going to do a stem stitch in gold around the head of the drum to give it one last pop.

I'm still fussing with the trim on the coat.  Before I took this picture, I had already cut the Petite Very Velvet on the back to take it out.   I think I like the color, but it's too fat.  It sit up too much above the body of the coat.   Not sure what I'll do next.   Maybe go look in my stash for inspiration.

Stay tuned.
Love, Jane

Moving right along

Here's where we are with #12.   We have two decisions to make.   Actually I already made one of them for you.   When I first put in the hedge, it didn't seem right.   At first, I thought it was the color - I love those colors, and I think it's a realistic color for a hedge - but it's not really what I would consider a Victorian color - I think this whole series is very Victorian. Then I thought the woven trellis stitch was too big - that maybe it was taking too much of my eyes' attention.  But I decided to keep stitching to see how it looked once I put the coat in (I did the spruce trees first, then the sky, then the bright green hedge). 

Now that the coat is mostly in, I think the hedge is ok.  Once I get the drum done, I may put a few red beads in the hedge - I think this is a holly hedge because there were some random red dots painted in it.

I'm more worried about the trim on his coat.  Wondertwist was specified, which I used, and I'm not too thrilled with it.  I'm going to pull it out.  I may replace it with Petite Very Velvet.  I think a matte finish on the trim will be better.   Oh - it's also on the top of the hat, which I may leave in. 

I'm still figuring out what to do about the drum.  I used Neon Rays for the head of the drum and I got some metallic braid to use for the blue and gold.   I want it to POP!!  I will try to pad and wrap the drumsticks - not sure how that will come off since it's only one stitch wide, but I think it's worth it.

Back to stitching and cooking.
Love, Jane