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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MIA, But I'm Back!







I may have been missing, but boy, do I have stuff to show for it! After finishing a 2nd biscornu and small ornament for BIL, I worked on Papillon Creations "Castles in the Air" Part 8 and finished that. While waiting for my new AAN SAL to start, I became obsessed with finishing my DD's unicorn. Now, I started it a year and a half ago, and I cursed it! The problems started before I even had all the materials. I bought a lot of British cross-stitch magazines off ebay and found this pattern in one. My DD thought it was wonderful, so I told her I would do it for her. I had all the floss needed for it, but could not find the fabric colour in North America. It is a DMC Aida. So, I emailed the magazine who gave me the name of a store in the UK and I ordered the fabric. It came from overseas, and when it got here, my DD informed me that she would like it better in either blue or purple, instead of the pinks it came in! Ggggrrrrr!! I said, with great restraint that it was tough, she was getting pink!! Then I started to stitch it! The pattern calls for DMC floss. Great, you're thinking. DMC metallics as well! The chart calls for three strands for cross-stitch and two for backstitch. I don't know if any of you have ever used three strands of DMC metallic floss, but I highly DON'T reccommend it! Who does that to an unsuspecting stitcher?! Three strands?! Now, I'm sure that the designer is a really nice lady, but if I had ever met her while stitching this piece, I couldn't be sure of my actions! I might have tried to shove that piece somewhere not nice! Breath!! Ahhh, it's all done, and over with! Now it gets made into a pillow for my DD's bed. I will post a picture after that happens.



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Now on to happier news! I ordered my late Christmas present with money from my parents and Hubby! I fell in love with the Gingerbread Stitching House from The Victoria Sampler when it came out last fall. The fabric came last Friday and yesterday my pattern booklet and accessory packs came! I am so excited! The only thing I need now is Perle cotton # 8 and #12 in white. I will baste lines on my fabric and hopefully start it in the next week, after I finish Part 1 of AAN A Christmas Tree SAL.

16 comments:

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

Gorgeous Stitching!

Sue said...

Beautiful stitching! Your daughter must love the unicorn. The pink really does bring out the colors! And the Garden piece; wow, that's really pretty, too!

Jane said...

I love the frog biscornu and your daughter unicorn looks stunning on the pink. Well done for persevering with it

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

Wow, you have been busy.
Be always in stitches.

Rebel In Ontario said...

That house is TOO CUTE! I can't wait to see it while you are stitching it! And three strands of metallic? C.R.A.Z.Y.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Melissa, you have been busy and such beautiful stuff to show for it. It will be fun to watch you "build" your gingerbread house so share as you go :)
The fabric is perfect for the unicorn.
hugs,
babs in alabama

Tickled Pink said...

Wow you've been a busy stitcher! Love the unicorn, and now that it's done you can forget all the agony to get it started (tell DD that it wouldn't look as stunning on any other color!) Your biscornu is PERFECT! and the little penguin is too. Your SAL is wonderful, I love the blend of colors you are using..and as for the gingerbread house, I may have to look that one up...how cute is that? Thanks for enabling my addiction...I'll have to return the favor somehow LOL!! *Hugs*

Anonymous said...

Love the Castles in the Air! that's the first time I've seen that .... where do you buy the pattern from?

Carol said...

Your projects are all lovely.
You have my sympathies regarding metallics. I tried them once and have no plans to do that again if I can get away with it.

Edy said...

Wow, you have been a busy little stitching bee!

Christine said...

Your stitching is beautiful. I've had that penguin ornament at the top on my "to do" list for ages, and now I've seen yours I think I'll have to dig him out.
Its probably too late now, but I think I'd substitute 3 strands of metallic (Yeuch) with a Kreinik #4 braid

Dawn said...

Hi Melissa,you really have been a busy bee. All of your stitching looks beautiful. I really love the unicorn, and can't wait to see how the Gingerbread House looks as you start to stitch. I just love that pattern, and was debating doing that one myself. I love the VS patterns.

Cathy C said...

Who is that Penguin design by, it's darling! I love the 'happy colors' in it. Also that little gingerbread house piece is going to be really sweet. I love a lot of Thea's designs, they are also a lot of fun to stitch. Have you started this one yet? I'm just now getting back into my stitching after about almost 9 months. I just didn't have the get up and go to do a lot of things after my DH passed to Heaven. I don't have children either, so it's just me now. Some friends sent me lovely Christmas gifts, so I am just getting down to stitching something for them. Thankfully they will wait for me to get back into the flow of things again. Stitching is very therapeutic for me as well. You did a nice job finishing the biscournu as well....I have made a few as gifts but I don't have one of my own. Seems I always plan to make the same items I give away to others for myself, and then never do.
Don't know if you get the magazine in Canada or not, but there is a UK magazine that has a gorgeous biscournu in it with a very interesting finishing in the edging that you might want to check out. The magazine is Inspirations Issue 64.

Dani - tkdchick said...

I think that's the best way to spend being MIA, stitching!

You stitched up a great ornie and biscornu. That unicorn is quite spectacular!

Vicki in CO said...

Great stitching all! I especially love the froggy biscornu!! I love all things frogs! Where is that pattern from?

Beeceecreativity said...

everything looks so wonderful... beautiful work... your detailing is super... love checking what's new with you