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I love it all: embroidery, canvaswork, quilting, crochet. So much to do, so little time.





Monday, April 4, 2016

Leap Year List - April Report

Hey Blog Buddies,

The calendar says it's Spring, but the weather here has been really crazy.  It certainly isn't unheard of for it to snow here in April, but on Saturday we had sleet, horizontal snow, graupel (tiny hail-like pellets) and bright sunshine in a constant rotation about every 10 minutes.  And let's not forget about the high wind that lasted all day long.  Yesterday, the temp hit 70 degrees and now it's snowing lightly again.  Spring in Chicago.

On to the stitching...

Last month I posted this photo of
Rosewood Manor's A Tree by Itself.
I know I posted a photo of the finish
a couple of weeks ago, but...

here it is all framed and hanging on my wall.
(Yes, I do still have some wall space left.)

From last month, Carriage House Samplings'
The Song They Sang.

Yes, another framed finish!


Here is last month's photo of 
Needle Delights Originals' Autumn Logs.

Here it is now.
That brown thing in the lower left corner
is the beginning of the border.

We haven't seen any progress on this one all year.
This is Long Dog Samplers' Dawn Chorus.

Here it is now.
There is the obvious progress,
and the progress that you can't see.
I ripped and restitched all of the black in the middle tree
because my tension was too tight and
too much white was showing.
That was my big roadblock on this one.
It's still not perfect, but it's a big improvement.
This piece is now back on track!

I know a lot of stitchers just love to start new projects,
but I am not one of them.
I think about it, and procrastinate.
I've been trying to talk myself into starting
my blackwork horse for a long time.
I've got the nasty part done.

I traced the outline onto tissue paper,
and basted it onto the fabric.

Then I ripped the tissue paper off.
You may notice that in the process of
removing the paper, some of the basting stitches
have stretched and sagged.
This is normal.

But then I started reading the instructions
(what a concept!)
and realized that there was a chart!
I didn't have a chart in my package.
So I contacted the designer (Tanja Berlin)
via email and received a PDF chart
the very next morning.
Now I'm thinking that I should just cut
all the red basting out and follow the chart,
because life's too short.
Wish me luck with this one.
Hopefully you'll see some actual stitches
next month.

My EGA chapter hosted a Stitch-in-Public Day
at a local library on Saturday
(the day of the crazy weather).
We had a pretty decent turnout, considering.
Here is a photo of our members' stitching
in the library's display case.
Each item is a different technique.
Next year I will wait until
the glass door is swung open
to take my photos!
(You can click on the photo to make it bigger.)

That's it from here.
Hope your April is going well.
Thanks for visiting!

12 comments:

CalamityJr said...

I had to laugh - graupel seems to be one of our weatherman's favorite words! So nice to see a lay person using it. What beautiful finishes; I imagine your walls are lovely to see.

Linda said...

Awesome post. Your framed pieces are absolutely stunning. Nice progress on your other projects.

Linda

Julie said...

Such a lot of lovely things to see in this post.
Your chapter members have made some wonderful things in the library frame - well done to them.
Logs is amazing, such vibrant colours

Tricia B said...

I love your projects and finishes! Impressive stitching!

Carol said...

We've been having Chicago's crazy spring weather here, too, Pat--it just seems to blow east and hit the Pittsburgh area in much the same way. The winds--yikes!! And a bit more snow this morning...

Your framed pieces are so lovely--I must say that frame for The Song They Sang is absolutely perfect in teh way it picks up the colors. You must have a great framer (something I lack here, unfortunately).

How nice that your library showcased all of your guild's stitching. I spotted your Bluebird finish in the case right away--really a lovely, lovely little piece :)

Robin in Virginia said...

What fabulous framed finishes! Very nice progress on your other pieces!

Tiffstitch said...

Wow!! Fantastic work on everything and so cool to have 2 framed finishes done as well. Congrats!

Beth in IL said...

I hate ripping out! But when I get it done, it makes me so much happier. good luck on the new blackwork piece. Love Tanja Berlin's work but I hate blackwork!

Rita said...

Wow so fast and nice!

rosey175 said...

Graupel is great, and really, really rare here! Our local NWS gets excited when I report it. :) I can deal without horizontal precipitation of any kind though.

Love how your framed pieces turned out. Complementary frames are awesome. Are you sure you have wall space left?

Nice to see a public day & display of stitching! I have yet to meet cross-stitchers in this area. I hear they exist.

Melody said...

What a nice idea to have a day of stitchers at the library! I love it. Congrats on your progress on your pieces. The colors in the Autumn logs are so pretty! Isn't it wonderful getting things framed? I'm always so pleased when that happens. Your finished framed ones are great.

Sally said...

Your framed pieces are stunning and you've made great progress on Dawn Chorus and Autumn Logs.

Oh wow what a wonderful display of your EGA chapters' pieces.