Another Finish

I was traveling this last week and was able to complete a little project while I was in the airport. However, since it's for my stitching exchange the pictures won't be posted until after my partner receives the project.

With all of the house projects going on, I likely won't be able to get back to stitching for another few days. It could probably use a break though - I've been going strong for months. The stitching retreat is coming up; I'll need to be sure my hands are in good shape for it ;-).

UPdate on Birds

HUGE progress was made this weekend. I wasn't feeling well due to either allergies or a cold. I ended up taking some antihistamines and became listless and confused - the perfect state for large amounts of stitching. This morning I worked on the tail a bit more. Not too far to go!

Since it's now March there are a few things I need to get done. It's season change over with sports. That means no more speedskating, but dog classes and cycling pick up. It also means that the next Quaker Square needs to be started and that I need to get a move on for the xs-exchange project.

And... end of the month is the stitching retreat!

Ahhh, March: let the insanity ensue :-).

A Week's Progress

This week was crazy, but I was able to find time here and there to get in some stitching. I made some more progress on the Letter L in the Art Deco Alphabet series. I wasn't sure about the colors for this one, but they're coming out nicely.

I also made good progress on the birds. The top is finished, including the back stitching. I'm hoping to get more done today on the leaves and branch at the bottom left. The rest of the project is mostly large areas of green and should go quickly.

Weekend's Work

I was goofing around on Friday with some left over fabric and thread and came up with the little pouch shown here. It was a teensy project to see how a new finishing technique might work.

After I worked on that I switched over to the birds for a little bit Friday evening and then for a good bit Saturday and Sunday. I didn't get quite as much as I wanted done because I was working on drywall in the basement. But I was able to finish the back stitching in the yellow feathers and make good progress on the last of the top 1/2 of the piece.

Sunday night I didn't feel like sitting on the couch, so I grabbed my "travel project" the Letter L from the Art Deco alphabet and got a lot more done on that. Still, it's going to take me forever to do all 26 letters. I think I'm at one finish every 3-4 months. 26 letters + 4 medallions = Jenn likely giving up at some point. But they do make excellent travel projects!

Canvaswork Finish

I completed the Flower Basket canvaswork project this morning before work. I'm pleased with how it came out. I think I'll be donating this piece as a raffle prize for a scholarship foundation, so I'll have to figure out how I'd like to finish it soon.

I'm planning to get back to work on the birds project again this weekend. I don't have too many plans so I should be able to get a lot done.

More Stash Stuff and a WIP

Last night when I got home I wandered into the house, let the dogs out, fed the cats and the fish and started looking at patterns for a new project I have scheduled. DH wandered in an asked if I had seen the package from Nordic Needle when I had come home. Um, no; I would have gotten it! *rolls eyes*

I couldn't wait to get it opened. It was a number of Gentle Art and Weeks threads for a couple of samplers I have planned. Also, the remaining parts for a canvas work project that is turning out to be very difficult to get the kit together for - I'm down to one missing part (finally). I got a new laying tool because I'm a dork and dropped my last (first) one on the floor and snapped it. There was also some hardanger and mono canvas (not pictured because they're boring). Oh and the last two colors for my stocking - woohoo.

So instead of working on the birds last night and this morning I started on yet another project. It's a traditional quilt pattern adaptation to canvas work that I found in a magazine from a couple years ago. It uses mostly the same colors as the Christmas stockings so I figured I might as well get the last couple of colors and go to town. It's working up quite fast. I'm expecting I'll be able to finish it tonight while I watch the speed skating races on TV (yeah that's right - first short track races televised since the last Olympics!).

Maybe I'll work on the birds tomorrow ;-).

Back to the Birds

I was feeling awful last night, but was able to get onto the couch. Proximity is all I need for stitching ;-).

I started working on the Paradise Macaws again. I was able to finish the yellow feathers, the head/beak and a bit more of the leaf at the top of the picture. I'm not sure what I'll do tonight. I'd like to get the back stitching done in the yellow region/head and maybe do a bit more of the leaves. But I do need to get on my bike for a while.

I think the bottom of this piece is going to be a bit quicker since all of the confetti stitches were in the feathers. I will be fun to work on the flowers at the bottom. I'm getting antsy to start the next bird :-).