Proud as a Peacock

It's finished! And I am a terrible photographer...but you get the idea. Someday this one will probably be a wall hanging with a coordinating blue fabric edge. For now it will sit in my slowly growing pile of completed projects that need finishing.

Progressing Peacock

I have always thought peacocks were pretty, and since seeing them in Rhodes in quanitities similar to mallards on a Minnesota lake, I've been drawn to stitch them.

Here's my progress on a project that has been in the works since October 2008. I got a lot more stitching than reading done this weekend, and this was the subject of my efforts. It's a relaxing one to work on because there are few color changes, and once the brown outlines are in place, it's pretty difficult to make a major mistake. It's no Rhodes peacock, but it will brighten a room when it's finished.

Bring on Fall!

Ok, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself. But I just finished this autumn Pine Mountain Pillow Kit. I wish I were so creative that I could say I made the pillow too, but until my husband teaches me how to use my sewing machine (seriously) I will have to rely on the folks at Pine Mountain. Funny how those home ec skills I learned by making bermuda shorts and a neon colored apron in 7th and 8th grade have completely disappeared.

Speaking of the 80s, my brother and I spent an enjoyable Saturday night reliving some of our favorite childhood memories via an 80s tune-fest on Grooveshark. I think we secretly hope we instilled appreciation for Toto, Anne Murray, Roger Whitaker, Mr. Belvadere, and the Muppet Babies (to name just a few) in his 7-week-old sons who got to enjoy the musical montage with us.

See, I Told You I Actually Stitch

Since I'm still not so close to posting pictures of my most recent finishes, I thought I'd post these in the meantime. They were gifts for my mom.

Aromatherapy

Despite the recent book reviewing tendencies of this blog, I have not lost my interest in stitching. I continue to work on some gift stitching and cannot, therefore, post any of my updates.

I probably have at least 5 times more cross stitch patterns than I do books in my TBR shelf/night stand pile/box in the basement. Several of those patterns are in progress, but that never stops me from beginning another one...big surprise.

Earlier this week, my latest coveted stitching supply was announced to me in the email inbox...scented threads! It reminds me of the lickable wallpaper scene fromWilly Wonka's Chocolate Factory...stitch an orange, it smells like an orange; stitch a lemon, it smells like a lemon; stitch a snozzberry...well you get the idea.

Despite the cheesey, 80s reminiscent ad, I am eager to try these out. Stitching might just have reached a new level of relaxing!

Stitching Update...Shhh!

Contrary to the book-heavy posting I've been doing, I have actually been stitching quite a bit. The problem is that I'm stitching gifts for people who read this blog. So, I can't provide much detail beyond what is pictured here, which is one of the super secret gifts. Miss Ellie believes it is her job to supervise all my stitching efforts. Within five minutes of my pulling out the fabric and threads, she is sitting in my lap. I often find myself contorting my sitting position to accomodate the princess because it's the only time she turns into a lap cat. Go figure.

Scherzo Growing

Here's what Scherzo looks like after a week of intermittent stitching. Much more time was spent reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (<100 pages to go!) and sleeping away the effects of a stomach virus. I may set this one aside for awhile. The pattern is one that repeats in each of the four corners of the piece. It's a fun look but not quite as satisfying as seeing a picture grow as I stitch it. Now, to decide which of my other WIPs will get the attention...

Scherzo...

–noun, Music. a movement or passage of light or playful character, esp. as the second or third movement of a sonata or a symphony.



Here is the last of my LNS purchases - Threadworx Chili Peppers and coordinating 28-count Jobelan. It's been fun to watch the pattern grow amongst the randomness of the varigated floss. (I am still perfecting my photography technique, as you can see.)

My First Trip to the LNS

Last Saturday I made my first venture to the best LNS in our area (that I know of). It is a 45-minute drive to the other side of town to get there, which is what took me so long to plan a trip out there in the first place. It was a cross stitch candyland.

I already owned five patterns from Whispered by the Wind (Canon, Rondo, Largo, Adagio, and Scherzo). My plan was to buy supplies to make two of them. As you can see, I got a little more than that. I picked colors other than those recommended by the pattern and ended up with Threadworx Pastel Bouquet, Dust to Dust, Society Life, and Mosaic. I picked coordinating 28 count Jobelan for each pattern. The fifth pattern with threads and fabric will show up soon in a WIP post.

I made two additional impulse purchased while there...a small pattern called Looner Night and a Pine Mountain Pillow Kit. I became the owner of a sewing machine at Christmas last year and still have only gotten as far as admiring all the non-framing finishes displayed on other blogs. In the meantime, the Pine Mountain kit will serve as my alternative finishing method.