One Stitch At A Thyme

I hope everyone had a hassle free Thanksgiving yesterday, I did. The family (me, mom, dad, sister – kids & husband + mother in-law) all went out to Old Country Buffet for dinner.

On the stitching front I finally manage to finish part 5 of “Il était une fois”. After much debate I decided to go back and frog out the french knots for parts 1 and 4. French knots on 18ct aida looked really suck-y so I replaced them with Mill Hill petite seed beads #42012 Royal Plum. I think it gives the project just that little bit of “Bling” that was missing. That and no more making french knots with a single strand of thread….YEA!!!



Anyway, I’m starting to get bored with this so it’s time to move on to the next project on my WiPs list. That being Camelot Sampler. I just now took a look at my website and I can’t believe it; but it’s been 2 years this month since I worked on it last. Looks like I need to put some serious work into getting that over-1 section of the jousting scene finished. It’s either that or I finish the twisted rope border around the top half of the chart. Hummmm….. decisions, decisions…..

In other news: I went and got myself a very early christmas present. A black Zune 30 gig digital media player with docking port. I was a little over whelmed by it at first trying to figure out the computer software interface. But once I figured out how to rip my audio books and set them up in a play list under the music folder I was a happy camper. That’s what I plan to use it for mostly, that and maybe two dozen of my favorite music albums. It also has folders for pictures, videos, and an FM radio. It also has a built-in wireless connection to link up to other Zune devices, but since I’m a little paranoid about viruses I turned that feature off. I don’t like the idea of riding on the transit bus and suddenly getting a pop-up message from a stranger in the vicinity.

Well that’s it for this blog blurb……

Well I finally managed to finish part 4 after many weeks of delay, plodding along, and being called back to work, just for a week. I discovered that Aion NeedleCrafts message board is now gone. So I’ve signed up on a different message board called “A Crafty Natter” in the hopes that I can generate interest in this stitch-along mystery. Well a week and a half went by and only 2 other people said they’d look at the chart, so I guess that’s a bust there. O well, guess I’ll just plod along by myself then.

Here's what it looks like so far....

Remember to click on the pictures for bigger images.

And now to catch up with the Stitching Blogger's Questions......

SBQ - November 8, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you
start over with a new strand?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/11/sbq-recycling/

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You know I could have sworn I answered this same question before in the SBQ. But I can’t seem to find it in my blog archives. So…

It depends on how much I have to frog and what condition the floss is in once I have pulled out the stitches. Also if I find it immediately or if it’s found a section later. It also depends on if it’s back stitching or regular 2-strand stitching. If I don’t have to frog more than half a dozen stitches or so, I just trim the ends, re-thread my needle, and continue on unless the floss is too short or too frayed. If, on the other hand, it’s back stitching I’ll usually just snip it out and start over with new thread. If metallic thread is involved it’s a definite snip it out and start over with new thread.



SBQ - October 31, 2007

Today's SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-designing/

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Wow, tough call there. I’ve always loved Teresa Wentzler’s designs so Fantasy/Mythical would one, another would be a combo of Pagan/Wiccan/Celtic design styles. Celtic knot work has always fascinated me.




SBQ - October 24, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

Do you railroad?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-working-on-the-railroad/

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YES! In fact I was doing it long before I knew that was the official technical term for it.




SBQ - October 17, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus
gifts?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-gift-giving/

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For the last 15 years or so it seems I’ve been doing, for the most part, projects for family members. But as of this year I’m putting my foot down and “Just saying NO!”. I have to start thinking about myself for once, and sometimes I got the feeling that my stitching was more or less expected and not appreciated for the work and time I put in on it. So from now on I stitch just for me!