Showing posts with label Musical Bell Pull. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musical Bell Pull. Show all posts

A Two For One Posting

Posted by Jan

 

Oops, looks like I'm a little late for my last Wipocalypse of the year.  So I thought I'd split the difference and post both my TUSAL and Wipocalypse together.  

But before I get started I'd like to say what a marvelous time I've had.  Not only was I motivated and encouraged by the monthly theme questions.  But also by the new on-line stitching friends I've made through-out the year.  I hope to see you all and your new wip progress in 2015.

Theme: Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc).

Be sure to click on the pictures to get a bigger view.

First I'll start off with the only finish I had for 2014.  It was a gift for my boyfriend Tony.

A Vikings World
Designer/Publisher: Lisa / © Designs by Lisa
Finished: January 5, 2014
Stitched on Brittney 28ct. Evenweave, Color: Bone using DMC cotton floss. The name at the top of the ship reads as Anthony Jorgen.

And now for the three WIPs I worked on: Camelot Sampler, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and Musical Bell Pull. Even though I didn't finish them, two out of the three got a lot of work done on them, and I am closer to the goal of getting them finished.

Camelot Sampler

[Before]

[My total progress so far.]


The Twelve Days of Christmas

[Before]
Day Six was the only block I worked on this year.

[My total progress so far.]

Musical Bell Pull

[Before]

[My total progress so far.]

And last but not least, the two new projects I started this year; my biker's vest patch, and my Norwegian alphabet sampler, along with my little TUSAL beaker to bring this post to a close.

Biker's Vest Patch

[Before]

[After]


Norwegian Alphabet Sampler

If the frame looks familiar that's because it's "Birds of A Feather" by With Thy Needle & Thread.  The center of the sampler will have some original elements.  What they'll be even I don't know at the moment as I'll just stitch them as I go along getting ideas from other samplers I've seen.

[Before]

[After]

 
And finally......

The latest orts are from the sampler in the above picture.
 
 
Thank you all for visiting my blog and becoming my friend in 2014.

Jan
 
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November Wipocalypse

Posted by Jan

Looks like I'm a little late for this month's Wipocalypse posting.  So let's get started.... I put '12 Days of Christmas' by Teresa Wentzler back on the WIP/UFO pile for the foreseeable future.  I've had no progress to show since the last time I posted about 'Day Six' back in April 2014.  The two projects I have progress on are below.

Musical Bell Pull - Mandolin - by Donna Vermillion Giampa

This is what I've done so far since starting the Mandolin section last month.
 



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My Biker's Vest Patch.

Before:
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After:
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I tried two different shades of green but the outline just seems to disappear next to the solid lighter green.  So I decided to stick with the darker shade of green.

Now for this month's WIPocalypse question.

Topic:  What are your favorite and least favorite materials to use in your stitching?

Well I guess I'll start off with favorite floss.  I like all types of DMC's cotton floss, linen floss, rayon (aka satin) floss, and pearl cotton floss; Also silk floss and over-dyed floss.  I've never used DMC's light effects floss so can't comment on that. I also like Kreinik blending filaments, braid, and Japanese threads.  On the other hand, I've never been fond of the DMC metallic thread, the old type that came on spools.  It always seemed to fray and unravel too easily. 

The only thing I've use as far as accessories is mill hill glass seed beads.  I've never stitched anything that required buttons or charms so I can't comment on that either. But I do love the way the glass beads give that little extra sparkle to a stitching project.

As for favorite fabric materials that would be hands down Even-Weave.  The thread counts would be 25, 28, and 30.  With my eyesight not the best now days 30 count is a little tough to see with out the help of a 3X magnifier.  Aida I'm neutral on, I neither like nor dislike it.  I started out with Aida learning how to do counted cross stitch, and my favorite fabric counts were - 14, 16, and 18. My least favorite fabric would be linen.  For me I just don't like the look and feel of the fabric, it's so wispy and thin, that and the subs in the weave make it look and feel uneven and hard to stitch on.

That's it for this Blog Blurb, Thanks for stopping by.
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A Not So Totally Useless October.

Posted by Jan
 
Happy TUSAL everyone!!!


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Well as you can see from my little beaker there are a few bits of blues and greens.  The greens come from my bikers patch I'm working on.

Before...
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After.......
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I'm kinda worried that the green outline I'm using is too dark, and that I need a color closer to the green I've used in the tomato pincushion.  Guess I'll try stitching the other outline with a different green and see what looks better.

I've also started stitching on Musical Bell Pull again.  I haven't gotten that far so I'll wait till my Wipocalypse post before I show an update of that.  I'm working on the mandolin. Here's the model picture with it circled.
 
That's all for this blog post. Thanks for stopping by....
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February WIPocalypse

Posted by Jan
Before I get started with the Wipocalypse SAL check-in, I want to wish all my followers and lurkers who stop by my blog a very Happy Valentines Day!!!




February 14 - Topic: How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!
 
Well since I never really thought about it before, I'd say 3 sounds like a comfortable number to have in process.  Although I've never had fewer than 10 in my WiP list for as long as I can remember.  I have a bad habit of letting my start-ides gene grab a hold of me and I'll work on something for maybe 1-3 months and then I'll become bored with it.  The trouble with that is the other WiPs in my pile don't hold my interest either, so they sit unloved for months to years at a time.  I tend to get easily burnt-out when I'm stitching for myself, except when it comes to an obligation project for a family member.  I know that the project must get done by a certain date, and I push myself to get it done.  I think that's why I joined this stitch a-long, to keep me set to a definable end of the year goal.
 
As for my rotational habits, they've changed over the years since 1999 when I first connected with the on-line stitching communities.  Before 1999 all I had were local department stores or fabric stores where there wasn't much in the way of artists or kits that interested me.  Therefore I was a one project at a time stitcher.  Then I discovered the internet and on-line shopping, and my SADD affliction (Stitchers Attention deficit disorder) came into being.  At first I tried a form of timed rotation where you keep track of how many hours you stitched by coloring in a square on grid paper.  After so many hours you'd go on to the next project in the list; and so on, until you reached the end of the list and started over.  I had so many WiPs that to me it didn't seem like I was making any progress.  So next, I went to the once a month or by the page/section rotation.  Basically I work on a defined section of a chart, (like a page or part of a page) or I work for one month on a project stop wherever I am at the end of the month and then rotate to the next WiP on the list.
 
Alrighty, now for the progress reports...
 
Musical Bell Pull:
Finished the Banjo section which has put me at 50% done on this WiP. YEA!!!!!!  I tell ya after working non-stop on this section for the last 4 weeks I don't want to see it again for at least another 2-3 months. Sorry for the darkness of the snap.  I had to use my crappy digital camera outside.

Click for larger picture.
Camelot Sampler: 
Just started working on this yesterday. I'd forgotten just how wearisome it is working one over one on the jousting scene so no progress to show yet.  I wish they'd make smaller tapestry needles than 28. I've been reduced to using a #10 beading needle just so the fabric isn't distorted and the threads don't roll under the fabric weave.  Anyway, hopefully I'll have something to show for this Sunday's progress update.

12 Days of Christmas:
Next up in the rotation starting in April, sooner if I get tired of working on CS. 

Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by.....
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Nothing to Show This SuperBowl Sunday...

Posted by Jan

I had every intention of showing you a finished Banjo section today on my Musical Bell Pull, unfortunately by back had other ideas.  Thursday evening I sat in my stitching chair for way too long which threw my back out all day Friday and most of Saturday.  I now have a very painful reminder to get out of my chair once an hour and stretch my legs and back.  Wipocalypse is coming up this month in 12 days so I think I'll wait until then to post my progress.

Today being the first Sunday of the month it's also the beginning of my monthly weigh-In posts.  I decided to start exercising and dieting the first Sunday of January.  I have no set goals for the month, that way I have no disappointments.  What ever I lose, I lose.  And that being said I managed a whole 3 pounds this month.

Until next time, Happy Stitching.....
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January TUSAL

Posted by Jan


This month's new moon is finally upon us and therefore the "Totally Useless Stitch-along" report is at hand.  As you can see from the very thin layer of new color threads, from musical bell pull, the volume in the TUSAL beaker hasn't changed much since the last report.  And from now on you won't see much in the way of orts.  I'm now in "Super Floss Miser" mode as the project I'm working on was a kit I purchased between 1996 -1999 and my biggest fear is that I'll run out of kit floss before I finish the bell pull.

click for larger picture.

Click for larger picture.


As you can see from the progress picture I'm just starting the back-stitching.  I hope to be finished by Sunday so I'll have no distractions during the Superbowl game Sunday between the Seahawks and the Broncos.  As a Washingtonian I'll be cheering on my Seahawks.


Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by!!!

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Weekly Progress Update

Posted by Jan
First off I was a bad girl most of Saturday.  I had every intention of getting up bright and early [yeah right] and stitching all day long.  I ended up sleeping the clock around and not getting up until almost noon, and from then until 4pm I got caught up reading the 55+ stitchery blogs I've got on my RSS feeds list.  One more thing, if you noticed my RSS feeds were all screwed up it's because I was renaming labels on a lot of my old posts and for some unknown reason blogger re-published those RSS feeds.

OK, now that the excuses are over with, here is the progress on musical bell pull - banjo section:

Here's the before...

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And here's one week later...

Click for larger picture.
Hopefully I'm going to have this section finished by the first of next month so I can move on to Camelot Sampler.  It's hard to believe I haven't touched CS in 8 years and 2 months.  And harder still to think it took me 4 years 8 month to get as far as I did.

Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by!!!
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Musical Bell Pull - Banjo Progress

Posted by Jan


First off I want to say I don't know what was up with bloggers RSS feed on Thursday the 16th.  I hope it doesn't put random video code in today's post.

At first I was going to start stitching on MBP starting Thursday the 16th and work on beading my tablecloth edge instead.  But the stitching bug bite me as soon as I got MBP back on a slate frame, so I've been working on it since last Tuesday the 14.

Here's the before....

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And here's the after.....


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I will be soooooo glad to be finished with the banjo drum head.  Stitching light cream thread on white fabric is making me go bleary eyed and blind. [LOL]

Also, I was getting feed up with the crappy pictures my digital camera was taking so I got my scanner out of storage and hooked it up to the computer.  Now you can see the proper colors and it's in focus. YEA!!!!  

 Welcome to all my new followers!!!


Until next weekend -
Keep those needles busy and thanks for stopping by.
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Wipocalypse 2014 get your needles started and let's go.....

Posted by Jan


This year instead of having monthly stitching themes Measi is having monthly topics to go along with stitchy up-dates.  You can check out my wipocalypse tab for the topics or use the button on my side menu, it will take you directly to Measi's info and sign-up page.

**************************

January 16 - Topic: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

My name is Jan.  As of October 2013 I am an unemployed (still job hunting) electronics stockroom clerk and homeless.  I'm 56 years old and currently living under my parent's roof.  I'm single (aka spinster) and have no kids or pets.  My projects, it seems, have been forever listed on the side menu of my blog page. 

My goal for the year would be to finish at least three projects that have a significant amount done already; That being:

1) Camelot Sampler - by Teresa Wentzler (TWDesignworks)
2) The Twelve Days of Christmas - by Teresa Wentzler (TWDesignworks)
3) Musical Bell Pull - by Donna Vermillion Giampa (Vermillion Stitchery)

The problem I'm having with several WiPs is that my tastes have changed over the years and I don't know if I will ever finish them.  I'm hoping that if I do a rotational system I can get 'em done.  If by some miracle I finish all three before the end of the year I will pick three more to continue on with.

And without further a-do here is what all three projects looked like from the last time I touched them.  
Remember to click on the pictures for a bigger image.

Musical Bell Pull - started ? last worked on Oct. 2008




A close up of where I left off.




Camelot Sampler - started March 2001 last worked on Nov. 2005

 

A close up of the jousting scene where I left off.

The Twelve Days of Christmas 
Started March 2004 last worked on Dec. 2004
For individual close-ups go to the WIP link on the side menu.

I will be starting my stitching rotation with Musical Bell Pull.  Bravo!!!  If you made it all the way to the end of this post.  For it has to be the longest one I've ever made. [LOL]


Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by........

One last note:  I've added "A Vikings World" chart to my For Sale page.
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Halloween, Stitchery Update, and more….

Posted by Jan
Halloween Day:

Not much happened around here today. I was planning on dressing up like a swashbuckling vampire complete with my red and black floor length (6ft.) hooded cape, taking my niece and nephew out trick or treating again this year. But due to my massive weight loss (75 lbs.) my old SCA costume didn't fit me anymore. So I ended up asking my nephew what I should dress up as, and with out batting an eye he said Witch. Well thank goodness that wasn't a problem. I simply put my floor length hooded cape on and hung my silver sabbath pentacle around my neck and I was good to go.

Trick or treating with my nephew lasted all of 2 houses and that was it. My niece on the other hand had her poor mother going around several blocks in the neighborhood.

Here’s a couple of pics. Jesse is a pokemon named meril and Sarah is a dementor from Harry Potter.

click here click here


Stitchery Update:

Well this is my end of the month update for Musical Bell Pull ( by Donna Vermillion Giampa ). This is the banjo and the bottom picture of the 4 instruments. This month I just couldn’t seem to get any sort of stitching enthusiasm jump started with this project. I think it has to do with that time of the year and my seasonal depression is rearing it’s head for the holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). So with that in mind I think I’ll put away all my stitching until well after the beginning of the new year. Here’s the latest picture.

click here


SURPRISE!!!!!:

Well the biggest and most unexpected surprise came in the mail on Thursday the 30th. A personally autographed ARC (advanced reader copy) of Katie MacAlister’s Zen and the Art of Vampires. I had entered a random drawing contest hardly thinking I would win – and what’da ya know miracles really do happen. Because this is my very first ARC. {grins} The dedication page was for all the loyal minions that virtually live at her message board and of course I’m a card carrying member. I don’t know if this is coincident or not but my name was used as one of the fodder characters for two pages near the end of the book. It was however used as a male name, so ( Jan ) was pronounced like Yan ( as in yawn ). What’s really going to drive me crazy is the fact that I’m sworn to secrecy about what’s in the book and I have to keep my mouth shut until December 2nd when the book is officially released. I managed to read, or I should say rip, through it in an 11 ½ hour marathon read. From midnight Friday Halloween to 11:30 am Saturday. I still as yet haven’t had any sleep and I have this over whelming urge to read it all over again tonight. Yea, I know I has it bad addiction wise. {chuckle} Anyway here’s a pic of it in my hot little hands. My precious, My own, Bawhahahahha……

click here



Weigh-In Update:

Wahoo!! I made double my weight loss goal again with another spectacular 10 pounds shed. That puts me 40 pounds closer to my tentative goal of 150 pounds. If I can keep up with this 10 pound loss consistently I think I may lower my final goal to 130 pounds!!!

Man one of these days I’m gonna have to get my hair cut and have a new {skinner} picture taken of me for the blog. {Grin}


For the next few months I’ll be catching up on my authors and writing book reviews.

That’s all for this blog blurb………..
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