Pieces for a Sewing Basket

I have completed the stitching for Patriotic Shaker Box by The Scarlett House. 

Included in the pic above are the fabrics I found at The Sewing Studio.  I love the striped fabric and how it coordinates with the stripes in the flags and the flag-roof of the houses.  And, I love the birds, berries and leaves in the other print and how they work with the same elements of the stitched patterns.

A couple of years ago, I snagged a Sudberry Shaker Sisters Sewing Box at Pocket Full of Stitches during a sale.  This is the box:

The flowers and flags will go on top.  I chose my count of linen (28 count) so it would better fit the top of my box.

The houses will be a pincushion to tuck inside the box and the 1776 star will be a scissors fob.  Some red scissors might be just the thing.

I'm also thinking of making a fabric covered, padded bottom to fit inside and a fabric lining for the inside with pockets for small items.

I don't know exactly when I'll get to this finishing work, but I'll post pictures here when complete!

Chasing Master Craftsman Status

As you know, I am a member of the Embroiderer's Guild of America.  One of the opportunities afforded to members is the pursuit of Master Craftsman certification in a number of techniques - beading, canvas, color, counted thread, crewel, design, quilting, silk/metal threads, smocking and surface. 

A couple of years ago I began working on the Master Craftsman in Counted Thread Embroidery.  There are several steps - the first being the creation of a family history sampler in counted cross stitch.  Here is my successful piece:

The assignment for step two is to create an Assisi embroidery piece.  Assisi embroidery has a void design so that the subject of the piece is done in double running stitch and then the background is filled in solidly, in this instance with cross stitches.  Also, there is typically a decorative border done in double running stitches.

I have had more than one idea and nothing has worked out so far.  However, I think my latest idea is going to be it.

We have several Turk's Hat plants in front of our home.  They are very striking this time of year.  They attract lots of bees, and we see an occasional hummingbird.  If there were more hummingbirds in our area, I think we would see a lot of hummingbirds.  How could you resist these gorgeous, red blooms?!?

This is my start on a chart for my Assisi piece.  I will draw it out by hand and when satisfied with the drawing, I will start transferring the chart to a computer app.  The computer app gives me a lot more flexibility in editing, copying and flipping parts of the design if I decide to make changes.

I will post my progress here soon!

Hitchhiker Scarf

As I mentioned in my initial post, I also knit.  Let me present my Hitchhiker scarf.

Pattern:  Hitchhiker by Martina Behm (purchased through Ravelry)
Yarn:  A Tree Hugger's Wife Yarns Mega Sock in the Drive In colorway (purchased at Seaside Yarns in Juneau, Alaska in 2014 when on a cruise)

While I cannot be called a fan of Douglas Adams's book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I am a fan of long tapering scarves and this one is just that.  I like the way they swirl around the neck and shoulders.  My scarf has the obligatory 42 points on it.  Fans will know that this number figures big in the book ("...the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything").

I'm looking forward to wearing this one when our weather cools off a bit.

Finding Needlework in Unexpected Places

Rudy and I recently went on a vacation.  We visited the southwestern area of South Dakota - The Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Prairie Homestead, Badlands National Park and downtown Rapid City.  It was a great trip.  The area has had a lot of rain this summer.

While at one of the souvenir shops at the Crazy Horse Memorial, I noticed a couple of cross stitch kits for sale and decided to purchase one.  The next day we stopped at Prairie Homestead on our way to the Badlands and found a cross stitch kit in their souvenir shop with a stitched example.  This kit also came home with me.

The kits purchased on our vacation are by The Posy Collection.  I have a third one from The Posy Collection in my stash as well.  Rudy purchased it for me when he was visiting the Guadalupe Peak area on a field trip with some grad students.

This is from the web site for The Posy Collection:

Texas resident Posy Lough has been translating America and American history into counted cross stitch kits for more than three decades. Her projects have taken her across the country — from New England to the Deep South and into the Great Midwest, Southwest and Far West. Her kits depict the homes of our presidents, our historic sites, our gardens and farms, and our natural wonders. Each project has an underlying theme relating to our American heritage.

I just love these small kits.  They include the pattern, fabric, embroidery floss and a needle.  I think it's a great way to memorialize your travels.  I encourage you to look for them when visiting historic sites across America.

A Vacation Start

This has been by vacation stitching for the last six evenings. This is the right half of this design. Also, this is my first attempt posting from my new Kindle Fire.

Some Projects Have a History

This weekend I put the finishing touches to a little project that I started over ten years ago - Moonlight and 11:58 p.m. by Fern Ridge Collections.  The copyright date on the pattern is 2006.

I hit a bump pretty early on after starting the stitching.  I spilled tea or something on the linen.  I thought I had a pretty good solution.  Around the time I purchased this kit I also purchased a product called Distress It.  It is a spray used to antique linen or other fabrics.  So, I camouflaged my spill by antiquing the linen.  Mission accomplished.

Due to some stitching mistakes and frogging, I had to purchase more Needlepoint Inc. Silk in black.  Still later I had to rip out and acquire more of another thread.  At some point I became so frustrated that I put the thing away.

I brought it out last year when I needed a project for my lunchtime stitching.  Success was to be mine this go around, and I completed all the stitching.  I tucked it away in my bag of items that need the finishing work done and moved on to other projects.

Last weekend I was poking around in that bag of items to see what I might want to "finish" and decided to give it a go.  I am happy to report that this little project is done!  Last weekend I did the sewing and today I added the beaded edging. 

Feast your eyes:

That Finished Feeling

Here are some of the items I worked on over Memorial weekend.  I have to be in the mood to do finishing work and was happy to get these two items done.

The first is a thimble purse to be worn as a necklace.  The design is by With Thy Needle and Thread.  The pattern came with the purse frame.  I used a scrap of 40 count linen and overdyed threads I had on hand.  It is stitched with one strand of floss over two threads of linen.  It is lined with a coordinating cotton print fabric.  The pattern suggests using waxed hemp cord for the necklace, but I thought a chain would be more comfortable.  As you can see, the purse from the closure to the bottom measures about three inches.  I like the tree and the scattered alphabet.  And, yes, I put a thimble inside.

The other finished project is a small sewing set by Little House Needleworks from the pattern called Fresh from the Garden.  The quilted sewing case and pincushion are presewn items from Impie, Hattie & Bea.  I attached my cross stitched piece to the inside of the case.  I used the called for 32 count Weeks Dye Works linen in the straw colorway with Classic Colorworks overdyed flosses.

I don't know why, but some stitched items may sit around for a couple of years before I pluck up the courage to do the finishing work.  The thimble purse was that way - the dread of sewing tiny seams and putting it all together with the purse lining and then gluing the thing into the purse frame.  Will it hold?  Will I glue the purse closed?!?

In the end, it's always a good feeling to get things truly finished, and I tell myself I won't wait so long the next time.

Can I Do It All?

I don't know how you are, but I always imagine I will have more time than I actually do to devote to my projects.  I just know I will stitch faster than I have before, knit faster than I have before, or read faster than I have before.  I plan too many things to do and then fall woefully short in the end. 

For one reason or another I have not been working on this every night.  With the three-day Memorial weekend upon me, though, I plan to make more progress.

I have a bag of stitched projects that need the finishing work done on them and so I might do a little of that, too.  Also, there's sourdough that needs baking and green chile chicken enchiladas to make up (I always do extra for the freezer).  And, we're going to a movie - Solo: A Star Wars Story.  I'll probably have to do a little laundry and cleaning, too.......

Stitchers Are Nice!

Since 2001 my sister-in-law Annie and I have been attending The Silver Needle's Camp Wannasew.  When we started going, we went in the Autumn.  The last seven or so years we've been going in the Spring.  We've made some lasting friendships through the years and it seems that every year there is someone new to welcome to Camp.

This year (as we do every year) after flying in to Tulsa and getting our rental car we made a stop at the shop to take a look around and get our bearings.  There is so much to see in the shop - so many new models - it takes more than one visit.  We always go back on Friday for a second look.

While at the shop on Thursday, a fellow camper arrived by taxi from the airport.  She had been assured by Lindy that she would be able to catch a ride with someone at the shop.  Thus began our new friendship with "EdieToo".

Let me explain how I envision her name:  Well, her name is Edie L., but we already had Edie S. at our table in the workroom at Camp and Edie L. was joining us.  So, we dubbed the new Edie "Edie2" but I see it in my mind as "EdieToo".

EdieToo went back to the shop with us on Friday.  We all had a very enjoyable weekend getting to know each other.  She skis, rides a Harley, and shows her grandchildren that life is to be lived.  EdieToo is also a member of EGA and an excellent stitcher.  We exchanged contact information before parting on Sunday and became Facebook friends soon after returning home.  Last week I received a warm "thank you" note from EdieToo and she enclosed this lovely eyeglass cloth.

Thank you, EdieToo!

Beginning Again

I've been thinking about creating a blog for a while now.  Blogger says I've been here since 2012.  I never posted anything with that one - it didn't even have a name.  So, last year I deleted it.  After coming up with what I think is a good name for my blog, I am beginning again.

"Counting on Needlework" has more than one meaning for me.  Foremost, it pertains to my primary hobby of counted thread embroidery.  Often, when you tell the common person that you do counted thread embroidery, they look a little puzzled.  This area of embroidery includes counted cross stitch, blackwork, Assisi, pulled thread, drawn thread and maybe others.  

My secondary fiber hobby is knitting and any knitter knows there is a fair amount of counting and math to this hobby.  

Another aspect of the title is the pleasure I derive from my hobbies.  I really do count on them:  for stress relief from my day job as a legal assistant, for that sense of accomplishment when I complete a project, for the joy I experience when I give a handmade item to another, for the simple pleasure of creating.

I want to use this blog to share my hobbies with you and to further an interest in them with others.  

Here is a current work in progress:  Fleur-de-Lis by Lorene Salt.  This was a project through CyberStitchers Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America.  

I have much more work to do!