Sinister Craftiness

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.

Another Crazy January Challenge finish:  the Shepherd’s Purse by Shepherd’s Bush.   This is a beautiful little purse with a few rows of specialty stitches to keep it interesting, and it finishes up very quickly.

The purse is folded in thirds, and the ribbon ties around the flower button to hold the purse shut.  Lining fabric isn’t included in the kit, but this pattern from Moda’s A Morris Tapestry was a lucky find on the remnant table at the fabric store.  I’ll have to look for more A Morris Tapestry fabric; the small scale designs and color palette are perfect for finishing stitching projects, especially Shepherd’s Bush.

While I was working on the purse, the mail brought the new companion to the Take Joy box top I stitched during the holidays.

Warm Heart by Shepherd’s Bush
Dove WDW linen (30 count)
Stitched with WDW and Threadgatherer Silk ‘N Colors

Warm Heart is just beginning to be available in shops and can also be purchased directly from Shepherd’s Bush.  It’s matched with an antiqued white box (purchased separately) and the pair will make a nice set on my mantle next Christmas.

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:

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:

This lovely needlework case project (Three Friends by The Drawn Thread) had drifted down to the bottom of my WIP basket since I started it in January.  Last week I found it while tidying up the stitching room.  Two of the pockets are finished, and I’m working on the third.

Even the bare branches and flower bases are poetry in progress.  Such a pretty design, and so fun to rediscover it.  What’s hiding in your WIP basket?

First pocket finished!  This is a very pretty design; I’m looking forward to the next pocket.

But first I have to put stitching aside for a little while for (brag mode on) Thing One’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor this weekend.  His award marks the beginning of the third generation of Eagle Scouts in my husband’s family:  Thing One’s grandfather is an Eagle Scout, his dad and all three uncles are Eagle Scouts, and now Thing One has set the example for his much younger cousins and little brother.  While putting together the slide show, it has been fun looking through the pictures of his adventures in Cub and Boy Scouts and seeing how much he has grown.

All my husband’s brothers, his sister, and parents are coming and staying at our house, starting Thursday.  With a few of the nieces and nephews and two sisters-in-law, that makes sixteen people.  My stitching room has to take one for the team and convert into a guest bedroom, and my work table will be used as a second dining table, so I have to stash my stash for the time being … although I think I’ll keep Three Friends out just in case.  See you next week!

After finishing Glow I began Three Friends, a needlework case by The Drawn Thread.  The title refers to the Chinese “three friends of winter”:  bamboo, pine, and plum blossom.  I’m stitching it with the recommended NPI and Dinky Dyes silks on 32 count Putty linen.  I decided to begin with the inside pockets; this one features a lovely satin stitched plum blossom.

I think this may be Chinook’s first appearance on this blog.  Usually Nanaimo claims the stitching table, but today Chinook got there first.  In the preferred napping spot are two stitching frames, with linen marked and all set to begin.  The wider one is for Theresa Wentzler’s Holly and Ivy Sampler.  I’ll be very happy if I can get it done in time for Christmas.  Chinook and Nanaimo are already looking forward to Tapestry Cat, which is next on my to-do list of Theresa Wentzler projects.

The narrow framed linen is for the Heirloom Wedding Sampler by Victoria Sampler.  About a year and a half ago I bought the supplies for it because three weddings of family and friends were in the works, but as it turned out, none of the couples wanted the sampler.  (After a less-than-grateful reaction to a birth sampler gift several years ago, if I’m not very, very sure the recipient will like a present of embroidery, I ask in advance to save the effort and disappointment.) Anyway, this year I’m stitching it for our own 20th wedding anniversary this May.  Victoria Sampler also offers a pretty anniversary sampler, but I like the white-on-white design of this one better.

The ort jar is filling up! I don’t know if I’ll continue to save my orts all year but it’s fun to track for now.