Rotation Redux

Hey Blog Buddies,
It appears that the Turtle Trot SAL has sadly fizzled out, but since my TT projects are all a part of my so-called rotation, even if some don't rotate too regularly, you will continue to see them on this blog.

 the turtle has left the building

I have four progress reports to show you

since last month's update.

First, we have Plum Street Samplers' Liberty Inn.

 Here's where I was last month...

I know I shared this finish here already,

but thought that I would show you the framed piece.

Not only does my framer do an awesome job,

but I got this back the very next day!

(No, I didn't request a rush.)

Next there's Long Dog Samplers' Dawn Chorus.

This is where I stopped in March,

it's been neglected...

 Here it is now.

I really like all of the Long Dog Sampler designs,

but this particular one
really called to me the first time I saw it.
It's fun to stitch, too,
because I chose evenweave (Jobelan) for it.
Note to Self:  stitch on evenweave more often.

 

Here is another one that been

neglected for too long.

Carriage House Samplings' Frederika.

This is where I left off in March.

And here she is now...

...all grown up and ready to fly!
(No, the project isn't finished, just the bird.)
You may or may not have noticed

that one wing is a smidge darker than the other.

That was technically a mistake on my part,

but I'm leaving it in because

(1) I'm not ripping out a large wing on 40-count linen,

and (2) I think it gives the wing a little more depth!

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Finally, a surprise entry:

Cindy Valentine Design's Pristine.
(I'm surprised that I took it out.)

This is a hard design to show progress on

because it's large, it's white on white,
and the more recent photos were taken
while it was sprinkling just now...

This is where I left off in February!

This is the very center of the piece,

and I will call your attention to the three

small triangles filled with eyelets.

Now we have four small triangles filled with eyelets!
(I'm positively giddy.)

And if that weren't enough,
here's more!

I did the satin stitching (and more eyelets) in this corner.
Now the motifs in all four corners are completed!
Every milestone on this project, no matter how small,
is a cause for celebration.
The ground is 28-count Lugana,
and the satin stitches were done in No. 8 pearl cotton.
I don't remember ever having a problem 
with motifs like this in the past,
but they were very frustrating this time around,
mainly because I was having a
hard time seeing the holes.
I found myself wishing I had completed
all four corners when I started this project
way back in 2006! 

The whole piece, wrinkles and all.
You can see Southpaw Stitcher staff
behind the piece holding it up for me.
I asked him to take off his shirt so
we wouldn't see a pattern through the holes.
I was informed that the price for a
semi-nude photo assistant was quite high...

So I started out with ten projects in January:
three are finished, and here are the other four
that are currently on hiatus (but not forgotten):

Laura J. Perin's Nordic Panel.
It's about 2/3 of the way finished.

 Jennifer Riefenberg's Carrots.
It's about half way done.

Rosewood Manor's A Tree by Itself.
I'd estimate it's about 40 percent finished.

And finally, Elizabeth Almond's Save the Stitches.
This is about 4-5 percent there.

I have two guild projects that I need to start
before the end of the month,
so next month's rotation report will probably be smaller,
but there will definitely be something.

That's it from here.
Have a great Solstice this weekend
(either summer or winter, depending).
And thanks for visiting!

The Liberty Trio

Hey Blog Buddies,

How's June going for you?  It's been so chilly here that we've had to turn on the furnace once again, but they promise it will start warming up today.

I've been in a patriotic mood stitch-wise lately, and I have three finishes to show you!  First up, one of my Turtle Trot stitch-along pieces that is refusing to wait until the update on the 10th.

Plum Street Samplers' Liberty Inn.

This was a workshop hosted by my LNS, 

Inspired Needle, last June.

It was a wonderful chance to meet Paulette Stewart,

who was just delightful.

I made several changes to the pattern along the way,

and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

This is Liberty Starlet by Summer House Stitche Workes.

It's a limited edition kit from last summer.

The kit contained the linen

(which is WDW Confederate Gray), the threads,

a Mason jar lid for the base and the tiny ball fringe.

It was fun to stitch, but not fun (for me) to finish.

I looked at the finishing instructions and thought,

"How hard can it be?"

Well.

I cut the piece out in the recommended 6.5" circle,

then I cut a 6" circle of muslin for the lining.

I had decided to use some of my walnut shells

for the stuffing.

Did the running stitch on the edge of the muslin 

to create a pouch,

overfilled it with the walnut shells, 

had to dump some out,

tried pulling my double thread tight to close it and--

the thread broke!

What to do?  Hmmmm.

I thought about putting the pouch into a plastic bag

(most of the walnut shells, miraculously, were still in it)

but I didn't have any bags that small.

So I took a couple of narrow strips of Saran Wrap

and wrapped it!

I know all of you skilled finishers

are rolling your eyes right about now.

I put all that into the pouch made from the actual piece,

crossed my fingers, and glued it into the jar lid.

I hope it doesn't fall out, but gravity alone should keep it in,

because I don't plan on displaying it upside down.

Oh yes, gluing the tiny ball fringe

to the jar lid was very fiddly, too.

Last but certainly not least,

the third Liberty,

my Prairie School Liberty Bell.

 This was fun for me to stitch and finish

because I didn't do the finish-finishing!

Isn't it just darling?

My GF, Averyclaire, is starting

her own finishing business,

and I was her lucky first customer!

Let's face it, a lot of Prairie Schooler designs

(and I have plenty of them)

are fun and fast to do,

but they can be a little plain,

and just need some "tarting up."

I love this piece because

it's not only beautifully finished

but so unique, too.

 If you're like me and hate to do

your own finishing,

click here to see 

Averyclaire's new Finishing Services page.

That's it from here.

Have a stitchy day,

and thanks for visiting.