Sinister Craftiness

Minerva’s Mouse by Just Nan
Limestone Belfast linen (32 count)
Stitched with DMC

Another gorgeous enamel treasure box by Just Nan, and better late than never, I finally got around to stitching this very quick and tiny mouse.

Thing Two loves these Just Nan treasure boxes almost as much as I do, but after a summer day camp activity where he dissected an owl pellet, he asked, “Are you sure that the mouse and the owl are really friends, or does the owl eat the mouse and this is really a stitched owl pellet?”

Hmmm.

Christmas in Virginia by Betsy Morgan
2011 exclusive Christmas in July ornament, Swan Sampler Guild
Stitched with Gloriana silks and DMC perle cotton

This pretty needle book was a quick stitch and finish, and will make a lovely year-round stitching accessory.

I’m picking away at a few other Christmas ornaments and trying to finish up the Button-up Birdies series.  Thing Two is impatient with my lack of progress, but now that he’s in kindergarten, he’s not around to nag me — and I can actually make more progress on stitching — so we’ll see how many small and Christmasy things pop up on the blog over the next few weeks.  The empty nest is taking some getting used to, but I’m loving all the extra stitching time.

Halfway through the year, and halfway through the Crazy January Challenge:  the Victorian Rose Sampler by Victoria Sampler is finished!  This pretty design can be finished either as a bellpull or a small framed sampler, plus an additional sugarplum ornament which I’d like to stitch in time for Christmas.  The finish was fun and relatively quick, so now I’m motivated to dig more VS bellpulls out of my stash.

On April 30 I attended a finishing class hosted by the Northwest Sampler Guild.  Sherri Jones is a wonderful teacher; very helpful and friendly.  This was my first time taking a class and first time meeting my local sampler guild.  It was so much fun to spend the day with fellow stitchers!  I look forward to attending future guild meetings and classes.

Sherri had brought several current teaching projects to show, including the Lounging Hare Sewing Box (box made by the same craftsman who made the Blue Ribbon cherry wood box), the Button Brag Book, Ring of Roses Reticule, and other projects whose names I’ve forgotten but they were all gorgeous.  There was also a table of past class projects for sale, which vanished quickly.  I picked up a cute small, the Rabbit’s Round Tuit, which will hopefully make an appearance on this blog in the future.

But for now, on to the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box:

The handcrafted cherry wood box is a replica of an antique sewing box.  The ivory scrimshaw ruler, thread winders and plaque (created from piano keys) are optional accessories.  The slip pockets and smalls are stitched on 32 count linen with NPI and HDF silks.

Thing Two loves the little box and its smalls.  He says, “There’s a party inside!”

See pictures of the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box, Lounging Hare, and Button Brag Book on A Gathering of Embroiderers 2011 schedule.

Button Up Birdies 1, 2, 3
Victoria Sampler Designs by Cathy Jean
Natural linen (30 count)
Stitched with GAST and WDW

Right after the sampler guild class I came down with a bad case of the flu which sent me to bed for quite a while.  I’m wobbling around now, still dealing with a nasty cough, but at least I’m getting my energy back.  I’ve been easing back into things by finishing up the first three sets of Button-Up Birdies, designed by Cathy Jean for Victoria Sampler.

Set 1:  November chickadee and December cardinal

Set 2:  January tree sparrow and February whiskey Jack

Set 3:  March house finch and April robin

Thing Two is thrilled to have these finished, and he’d really like me to begin working on set 4 (bluebird and goldfinch), which arrived in the mail this week.  However, I’m hoping to escape from the birdie sweatshop for a while to finish up my class piece and Hardanger exchange, and catch up on several other neglected projects.  Although some fruit juice and a nap is sounding pretty good right now, too …

It’s been a while, but here’s another Crazy January Challenge finish:  the Williamsburg Stitcher’s Case by Just Nan.  A colorful, cheery design – the flower beds are a much-needed dose of springtime – and a cute finish.

For more information about purchasing this shop exclusive design, visit Just Nan’s official site.

Free pattern from My Aunt’s Attic
Antique white linen (32 count)
Stitched with Gentle Art Sampler Threads “Crystal Lake”

This birthday request was a great excuse to stitch up one of the many lovely (and all free!) patterns that can be found on the My Aunt’s Attic site.  I added Rhodes stitches in squares and diamonds for texture and variety.

Thanks for visiting!

Long time, no post!  I’ve been stitching away for the past month, but nothing is ready to show off yet.

First, an “interspecies” thread exchange.  My pal Knitika agreed to knit a pair of her lovely handwarmers for me.  In exchange, I’m giving her a completely useless Hardanger centerpiece.  I think I’m getting the better part of the bargain in this exchange.

It’s a simple pattern, but the edge proved to be a little tricky. Working on it caused my fingers to stiffen and become sore, so I could only stitch on it just a little, every other day or so.  That slowed the progress down considerably, much to my frustration.  But I finally finished the edge on Monday, and the rest of the surface stitches are flying along painlessly, so I hope I can have this finished soon.

While I was picking away at the centerpiece edge, my materials kit arrived for the class I’m taking from the Northwest Sampler Guild.  This is the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box, taught by Sherri Jones of Patrick’s Woods.  Here’s a photo from the class page:

Isn’t it gorgeous?  Hopefully mine will look something like it.  We’ll get the cherry wood box and scrimshaw pieces at the class.  Meanwhile I’m doing my homework and stitching up the slip pockets and smalls:

Last, my brother mentioned that his wife “really likes those pincushion things you make” and suggested that I make her one for her upcoming birthday.   I’ll show it off properly next week, but for now here’s a glimpse at the birthday biscornu:

Other bits and pieces include:  amusing Thing Two with more Button-up Birdies (stitched, not finished), Crazy January Challenge projects (but nothing significant to show yet) and another pair of peacocks is almost complete.  Lots of nearlys and almosts!

The Rose Mosaic needle roll is done, and my Crazy January Challenge is one-third complete!

Here’s the pre-rolled, pre-beaded stitching.  I love beading.  Not only do beads add sparkle and richness, when it’s time to bead, that means the project’s almost done.

This week I also made significant progress on part four of the Peacock Mandala, and may be able to finish that section in a week or so.  Looking forward to showing it off, then adding another gorgeous pair of peacocks to the ornate perches.

Here’s another finish from the Crazy January Challenge:  the thimble purse by C.A. Wells.  The first side of the purse features the initials of the Historic Needlework Guild (for which this design was originally created) while the other two sides are customized with the stitcher’s initials and the date.

This was my first time stitching Hedebo buttonhole edging.  The instructions in the chart were very easy to understand, so I was able to learn it and stitch up the edges in no time.

I’m picking away at the other CJC projects, trying to get most of them up to the half done mark.  I’ve also been doing a little work on the Peacock Mandala, and it’s encouraging to see that taking shape.

Thanks for visiting, and have a great weekend!