Sinister Craftiness

A Fair Maiden’s Etui by With My Needle
Cream linen (36 count)
Stitched with Crescent Colours, DMC, GAST

Last day of the challenge!  I saved one of the favorites in my stash for the final start:  I’ve been meaning to get around to this etui for a while now and am glad to finally begin working on it.

The Victorian Rose Sampler is coming along nicely.  I really enjoy working all the different specialty stitches.

One last daily progress report and thoughts about the challenge tomorrow …

Victorian Rose Sampler by Victoria Sampler
Taupe Cashel linen (28 count)
Stitched with AVAS, Silk Mori, Waterlilies

A beautiful little bellpull and sugarplum ornament by another of my favorite designers, Victoria Sampler.

Yesterday was more productive than expected:  I finished the pinkeep!

The choice of thread is left up to the stitcher; I used Threadgatherer Silk ‘N Colors “In The Burgundy”.  Although a pouch for the pinkeep is pictured on the kit and instructions for making the pouch are included, the materials to make it are not.  It would have been nice if the pouch linen and button had been part of the kit but I may get around to making the pouch later.

My Pinkeep by Marie Suarez
40 and 30 count linen

A small and unusual pinkeep.  I love the filigree bone top.

Yesterday’s needlework case is about half done:

Shepherd’s Purse by Shepherd’s Bush
Putty Cashel linen (28 count)
Stitched with Au Ver A Soie and Silk ‘N Colors

You knew I couldn’t leave out Shepherd’s Bush, right?  Tempting as it was to make this an easy day with a small kit, I decided on this needlework purse, which I’ve been putting off far too long in favor of smaller kits.

Here’s a little progress on yesterday’s project:

Mimi’s Tape Measure by Olde Colonial Designs
Cream Graziano linen (32 count)
Stitched with DMC and GAST

Another quirky small!  I hope I have better luck stitching this one.

I’m pleased with the progress I made on yesterday’s project, especially because I didn’t expect to get much done.

I finished working on #9 early because I wasn’t feeling well, and the funny feeling quickly turned into a nasty stomach bug which kept me up all night.  I spent most of day ten resting, sipping flat ginger ale and nibbling on some dry toast – which tasted surprisingly good after a day without food.  By evening I felt well enough to give stitching a try.

It’s been on my to-do list for a long time, but I kept putting it off in favor of the latest shiny new thing.  As with many of the projects on my challenge list, it was a lot of fun to work on and I wonder why I took so long to get started on it!

Rose Mosaic needle roll by M Designs
Sunshine Lakeside Linens (32 count)
Stitched with WDW and Silk Mori

I haven’t stitched a needle roll for a while.  This is one of many lovely needle rolls by M Designs.

Thing Two says yesterday’s butterfly (or is it a moth?) looks like a “creepy spider”.  I think he’ll be happier with it once the wings are filled in.

Spring Needle-Keep and Fob by La-D-Da
WDW linen (35 count)
Stitched with Vicki Clayton hand-dyed silks

I love this needle keep kit’s pretty colors and beads and unusual finish.  Can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Yesterday’s needle keep has a very intricate design, stitched over one.

Emma’s Needle Safe by Keslyn’s
Lilac linen (28 count)
Stitched with Gentle Art Sampler Thread

I bought this chart from The Playful Needle in Portland, Oregon, as a souvenir from last fall’s JASNA annual meeting.

Yesterday I was able to stitch all the borders for the Just Nan stitcher’s case, so it’s all ready to fill in the next time I get to work on it.

Williamsburg Stitcher’s Case by Just Nan
Vanilla Gold Legacy linen (30 count)
Stitched with DMC and GAST

Well, my list was sure to include a Just Nan project, but which one?  How about this limited edition stitcher’s case, designed to commemorate Haus Tirol’s 30 year anniversary?  I think it will do nicely.

After yesterday’s list shakeup, here are the first stitches in the Leporello:

Bird of Colour sewing clamp by The Heart’s Content
Hand-dyed linen (40 count)
Stitched with DMC

Here’s a tiny but unusual project:  a replica of an antique sewing clamp.  The top is a pincushion.  Not much stitching involved, but it is 40 count linen stitched over one (what was I thinking?), and we’ll see how complicated it is to finish.

After two not-so-great stitching days, yesterday was much better and I was able to make great progress on the biscornu:

This was a lot of fun; a pretty design and it stitched up very quickly.  The first side is about half done, and then the second side of the biscornu will be stitched identically.