Keep Calm and Carry On - Started!

I really thought I would have had this canvas finished by now. I was so excited when I got this canvas from the girls at Unique New Zealand. My late Aunt always had a saying, either in person or by signing cards, she would end everything with "Carry On". Loved that about her!  When I saw this finished on Needlepoint in Your Nest's Facebook page, I was just blown away. I had to have those threads! The stitches! The Book! So I got in touch with Carolyn at Chaparral and she sent me everything I needed, including the book, Needlepointing In Your Nest, written by Carolyn Hedge Baird.

What scrumptious threads!

Needlepointing In Your Nest

I started stitching the letters in basketweave with the Kreinik #032. It's pretty mindless and the canvas is stitch painted so there is no doubt where each stitch goes.

The problem is I was getting antsy wanting to start the background! It's a 4 way Scotch Variation, using all these great threads. I thought, well, maybe I'll just start a wee bit to get a feel of it.

What a fun stitch! The Gloriana is fun, although a bit of a pain to separate (it requires 3-4 strands). It has this subtle shading that is just beautiful. Then there is an outer border of Neon Rays outside the Gloriana. Inside is this very cool Double Oblong Cross using Painters Threads which adds some sparkle and then there is going to be a little diagonal cross in between using Very Velvet. Talk about different textures, this one has it all!  Unfortunately, this is as far as I've gotten as other things have come up but this is definitely staying in my immediate rotation!

BTW, if you don't have Needlepointing In Your Nest, I suggest you add it to your stitching library. It is full of wonderful hints and tips plus it's chock full of STITCHES!! If you're a fan of combination or variation  stitches, this book is definitely for you!

As If I Care 2 - Frame and Canvas

Woohoo! I have been patiently waiting for this frame and canvas since it's debut at the Phoenix TNNA market and it finally arrived! It's a new canvas from Maggie Co., As If I Care 2 by Frank Bielec. The frame is another wonderful hand painted creation from Lisa Krause that is made to match purrfectly!!

I have the original "As If I Care", along with the matching frame, which is equally cute. But I couldn't resist this one. Who can resist anything Maggie, especially when there is a matching frame?? Teddy is still trying to figure out if this kitty is going to attack him like his brofur Perry does. Well, at least this one has the same cattitude as Perry - As If I Care. :)

Stitching on the Birman

I've decided to make this blog (mostly) devoted to stitching. This way I will get more stitching done and will be able to share in my accomplishments. And force me to blog more as well!

I started this mini sock from a. bradley needle arts awhile ago. I was thrilled when Ashley did a Birman in her mini sock line. Out of all the felines out there in the needlepoint world, there are very few Birmans. And it hasn't been from lack of me begging asking!

Ashley was kind enough to share a background stitch with me that Beth Robertson had created for her dogs and cats mini sock series. I had started the background with the Soft Sheen Fyre Werks but didn't know what thread to use that would be of the same color that would coordinate. Fortunately, I took this canvas with me when I went to Designer's Desk last December when I took Sharon G's class and they picked out this perfect shade of Gloriana Princess Perle in Holiday Blue and I love it together with the Fyre Werks!

I still need to think about the white dot. Originally I had thought I would do french knots in Caron Snow, but I got these fabulous flowery type sequins by The Collection while I was at Designer's Desk that could really pass as snowflakes, so I think I will play around a little bit and see if they work. In the meantime, I will work to finish the background before I start Perry's face. Don't want that floofy fur getting in the way of my background!

Until next time, keep stitching..