Monday, July 20, 2009

Some Drawn Thread & Sheepish Designs finishes!

Oh my - I thought I'd forgotten my password there and couldn't log in! Yup, that goes to show how long it's been since I tried to log into blogger... oops! I'm not going to be back to "regular" blogging, but I was uploading some stitching photos to Flickr earlier and thought I'd pop in to say hello and to let you know that I'm still happily stitching away when I get the chance. :-)


Toccata Number One by The Drawn Thread
Fabric: Ivory Belfast Linen
Fibers: Mostly silks (NPI, Gloriana, Waterlilies)
Many more photos of this at my Flickr album.

I haven't done the hemstitching border yet and I'm not sure whether I will or not. We'll see. I have a hard enough time taking scissors to fabric just to cut the right size piece for a project, let alone for hemstitching or hardanger or anything scary like that! ;-P The only change I made to the original design was to Block #6 (the block directly below the letter "B"). I could not get the Honeycomb Filling Stitch to look right no matter what I tried (and I frogged it twice) - it was so untidy looking and absolutely horrible, so I ended up replacing it with the exact same stitch that was used in Block #26 (I forget the name!). It used the same holes for the pulled work, meaning I wasn't left with big gaping holes in the block! Yay!

I can't tell you how much I loved stitching this and how sad I was to finish it. I've pulled out Toccata Number Two and I'm debating about whether to start it straight away or not. I've also moved Toccata Number Four way up to the top of my wish list. If only they weren't so darn expensive! It's sooooo exhausting ;) talking myself into spending so much money on a stitching project when I have so many other beautiful projects already kitted up. Sighs. :)

And before I started Toccata #1, I finished up my Sheepish Designs project that I talked about in my last post way back in April!

Alpha Birds; Alpha Menagerie; Alpha Sheep by Sheepish Designs
(on one piece of fabric, of course)
Fabric/Fibers: 35-Count Crème Brulee linen with NPI silks (1 over 2)

As you see, my photography skills have not improved in the months I've been gone. There are some other photos here, at the end of the album.

I'm only stitching on average I'd say maybe 5 or 6 hours per week. It's amazing how much you can accomplish even with that! The Sheepish Designs project took me 3 months and Toccata Number One about 3 or 4 weeks.

Well, that's it from me. I will drop by again at some point with stitching photos. I hope everyone is well.

16 comments:

Christine S said...

Lovely pieces, Tina! Toccata Number One is really pretty.

Paula said...

They both look great.

the striped rose said...

I absolutely love how you did the Sheepish designs piece! Dawn Bradford is one of my very favorite designers!

mainely stitching said...

Always a joy to hear from you, and these projects are utterly delightful!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, it's great to see you pop up! Congratulations on your finishes, they're both spectacular!

Sew Sew Special said...

Tina:

Love love love your blog, what beautiful work you do!! I too am a Scot-Italian...my mothers family is from L'Acquila and my father was from Rutherglen. Ive so enjoyed tracing the family roots in Scotland and have connected with a cousin I didnt know I had....

I look forward to seeing more of your work!!

Karen

CindyMae said...

Gorgeous finishes! Great job!

Please stop by my blog and see the July 17th post as there is something there for you!!
http://stitchingkorner.blogspot.com/

Karoline said...

They're both gorgeous, congratulations

Sherry said...

Both are just wonderful!

Sharon said...

Tina, they are both gorgeous!

Anna Zont said...

Beautiful!

Veronica said...

Gorgeous happy dances, both of them. Congratulations!

Elena Ziglio said...

Hello, I'm Elena. Your blog is a nice surprise! I love it and I love your works! Congratulations for your beautiful Toccata Number One! I will come back soon!
Kiss
Elena

Rebekka said...

What beautiful finishes. I am particularly partial to the Sheepish Alpha series. I have Alpa Menagerie in my stash, and am waiting to collect the other two so that I can stitch them all together as a band sampler. The problem is that they are so hard to find. (I think they are OOP now.) Would you consider a sale or trade for these charts?

Thanks!
Rebekka :)

Rebekka said...

It's me again. I forgot to post my email addy: rashulett@cableone.net

Romy S said...

Love your blog. Your finished works are lovely. I have been stitching for many years. You have inspired me to take some photos of my work and post them.