LACMA & LLL Finish

 

Hello to all of you patient followers!!!  I know it has been forever since there has been any real posting going on but what can I say right?  I have finished Primitive Betties LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE.  What a nice easy little stitch.  Choosing to change the DMC to over dyed floss- Weeks and Gentle Arts, along with an adjustment on the linen-- 40ct Vintage Pearled Barley from Lakeside Linen.  Again, one of my favorite colors!  I love the combination of the warm and cool colors, both I have a love for-- and this one seemed to marry them both together.  Not too common I would say, although I could be completely wrong..... That wouldnt be the first time.  I think there is one more Primitive Betties pattern that I got over the summer, along the color lines of the earlier posts.  Greys and Blues.

On to the next project, which I have about 6 I would love to crank out right now, so how does a girl decide which one?  So far, I have them just laying out, looking at them.  And, not stitching on any of them, sad I know.   In a few days, when I decide, I will show you the next piece of chose.  Is it Rosina?  Is it Mary Beale?  Is it Fruit of the Spirit?  I have no clues to give you :)

I have had the pleasure over the last few days to visit the LA County Museum of Art in California.  What a treat that was!!!  Going to museums is always special, and I try to go as often as possible.  This fall, there were 2 exhibits that I was interested in, among the rest.

Up first is a tiny portion from the "Eye for the Sensual; Selections from the Resnick Collection"

Portraits from the 1700's- 1900's on display, beautiful casket and the strange looking gentleman carved in marble.  Something about him is very interesting though dont you think???  The portraits are just incredible, and we spent hours there.  We went through the exhibit twice, both times seeing new things.  Incredible to be standing so close to such beauty.

The real reason for this trip to the LACMA, was the Textiles exhibit.  The entire collection was purchased from a collector in France, and all are original, nothing re-produced.  Incredible pieces of clothing and embroidery.  I was thrilled to see these works of art, among many others who were there.

The last dress shown here, was one of my favorites.  I am drawn to the full gown, the detailed pleats, the sweet neckline.  Reminds me of my wedding dress, although this one is blue with butterflies :).  I certainly enjoyed this collection, and if anyone is in the LA area, I think the exhibit is going on through early next year, should try to see it in person.  Perhaps I will be there again too.

Hope everyone is doing well!  Happy Stitching.

Live Laugh Love Update

Not to much to tell about this cute little sampler by Primitive Betties, just a little more stitched.  You ask, all this time and this is it?!!!!!!  Yes, work is a little bit of a priority of course, I really enjoy working, and finding time to do my second love, is more difficult these days. But, what can you do right?  The linen color sure is off this time, the lighting was different this time.  There isnt much left to do, alphabets and such, I wont be able to finish it this week, I mis-placed a color I was using....... But I will do as much as I can, and I am eagerly awaiting to stitch on Sanctuary by the Drawn Thread.  I will keep you posted for sure.

I have been excited reading my fellow bloggers, such beautiful progress is being made on so many pieces.   I certainly have been inspired.  Keep it up Ladies and Gentlemen, it is good for all of us to see :)

A quick update

I had a little time to myself this weekend, so I started and finished the Little House Needleworks Liberty Belles.  I got the cute little blue pillow for the finishing, so I opted to use 32 count Vintage Light Examplar over the 30ct???.   Of course did some color adjustments, and ta-da!  Arent they fabulous,??!!  I love the shading in the middle dress!!!!  Super cute , and super easy.  Now, the hard part is the finishing..........

 

A few weeks ago I started the With Thy Needle Primitive Bettys __________.  Dont have a clue to what the name of this piece is, but I love the original colors, but of course, switched them out from DMC to Gentle Arts and WDW.  I just love the shading the overdyes gives the piece, and I am stitching it on 40ct Vintage Pearled Barley.  One of my most favorite colors, isnt it one of yours?!

Gotta get back to the grind!  Have a great day :)

PS, My good friend Mary emailed me with the name of my mystery sampler....  It is Live Laugh Love by With thy Needle.  Primitive Bettys.  Thank you for letting all of us know:)  It is appreciated.

Edited once again :)  My mystery project has now been found.  Primitive Bettys Live Laugh Love.  Sorry for the mixup.

So many options

How has the week been going for everyone?  School has officially been in for a few weeks now, things are starting to pick up and time continues to fly by right?!  Amazing that Fall is almost here and the weather is still beautiful.  Well, at least where I am, it has been getting cooler in some spots, I have seen leaves starting to change color already (and I think it is way to early for that, but sometimes I loose perspective!)   I enjoy the Fall season, alot of wonderful things have happened in the Fall time, and I am sure will continue to do so :)

On Thursday night of this week, I went into the basement and wandered through my stash.  Looking for yet another new thing to start, and perhaps finish and so on and so forth.  I found a few things and I am so excited to share.  First of all though, I havent been stash diving in what seems like forever, and it was SOOOO MUCH FUN.  I just love doing that once in a while, not feeling quite so guilty this time for 'wasting' stitching time.

I pulled out several things, and added them into the pile of 'WIP' I plan on stitching the next few weeks.  Sometimes I get easily bored with projects that I have started already, and I really like them, just for some reason they are a cramp in my stitching style......

First up (the top picture), I finished a small on Wednesday that had been started oh so briefly this summer.  I added a little bling to it.  Not positive the pattern, but I know it is my first use of the Weeks Dye Works Linen 40ct Straw.  Now, nothing negative to report on this first attempt and finish,  I must say I am still a Lakeside Linen lover.   But, why did I stitch on WDW linen?  I am always about color.  I have my limits, but choosing the perfect color for any of my projects is one of the most important things.  I used Acorn Woods Silk n Colors thread, 1 over 2.  Mill hill beads, etc. etc.

Next up pics are the color ring of Sanctuary by Drawn Thread.  I chose 40ct Lakeside Linen Vintage Pear for this piece with a variety of Silk threads,  and yes, they were adjusted accordingly.  I have put the top row in, a few more stitches until I turn the corner, but I was eager to stitch other stitches besides the traditional 'x'.  I havent really done much with stitches outside the box, yet, I have a few in the works, I thought this was a great choice and I was inspired with the color of linen from my friend's completed piece.  She did an abolutely gorgeous job :)

Saturday morning I started working on Birds of a Feather Christmas Memories ornaments and got 3 out of the 4 done.   Super cute and super easy.  I chose Lakeside 32ct Vintage Autumn Gold with the called for Weeks and Gentle Arts threads.  I added a Crescent Color, but thought the Christmas Tree needed a brown stump, not a red one :).  I have to finish the 4th one and get some stars for the corners of them.  Sew them into ornaments and put them in a box for future use on my tree.

2nd to last, my updated Rosina Payne pics, I have not worked on her to much this week, too busy with real work, but I was anxious to show you how she was coming along.  I couldnt find a quarter, so I used a dime instead to show perspective in her size.  She is still so fine and dainty isnt she?  I can hardly get enough time on her.  I did start the letters above and will give you updates next week.

Last but not least, I have kitted up (several weeks ago) a sampler I have wanted to start for so long, and now have the opportunity to do so.  2 actually, but the picture above shows the color palette for 1.  It is from Mary Beale- Her Sampler.  Andrea from Deep Fried Cupcake is actually stitching and almost done with this gorgeous sampler.  What are the odds of seeing this beautiful sampler at the same time I was interested in it??!!!!  WOW!!!  What an inspiration, she is doing the most incredible job on her sampler.  Looking forward like most of you, to see her finish.  Stay tuned for the start of this beauty, she is going to be worth it for sure!!!!!!!

Enjoy your week~!

A small finish

A few of us commented over the summer on just how many peacocks there were in samplers.  Seems like the last few that I have been working on, has at least one.  This one caught my eye, because he was shown from the front.  So many are from the side, and don't show the beauty that peacocks really have.

The color chosen for the house is Crescent Colors Deep Fennel, the roof  is Gentle Arts Woodtrail, and the windows etc is Crescent Colors Stepping Stones.  I chose a limited edition Gentle Arts color for the border and some small motifs that I think blends the whole piece together just perfectly.

I think this gem took about 2 or so days to stitch and it was great fun!   The house and Peacock were my favorites, but of course, the blue is just fabulous, and the shading is so delicate.  It is nice to add a few smalls under my belt, with all the BAP's going on at the same time.  So the next question you ask is the linen right?  Of course it is Lakeside Linen, Navy Bean 40ct.  Something about this color I cant get enough, it is one of my favorites and I just love the soft color it gives to my pieces.  I know there are several who feel the same way :)

This pattern is called 'With my Needle' from Primitve Betties.  It is so hard to keep up with all these new designers, and this one caught my eye over the summer.  I bought others and I am working on 'Live Laugh Love' now in between Rosina.   It is always nice to trade off to a small every now and then.  Back to the grind Ladies and Gentleman.  There is stitching to be done!!!!!!!


PS, A few weeks back a fellow stitcher asked about my Beatrix Potter, and how many skeins I used to complete her... SORRY for the late response, but I am not sure how many skeins it will took to stitch her, I used a Hank-i-licious of Gloriana Coffee Bean.  I used more then half of it.  I stitched her on 40ct linen, using 1 strand over 2.  Hope this helps!

Have you ever been to Powells Books?

This place is the mecca for books-- both new and used.  You name it, you can find it at Powells.  This is one of, if not the largest new and used book store in America.  (If it isn't, let me know!)  I cant tell you how many books this place has, but it used to be a car dealer ship way back in the day, and now is a multi-level, multi room book store, an entire block, packed to the gills with glorious books.

 
Any topic you can think of, from the most obvious-- to the ones you think you are making up, they have a section on.  At least an entire bookshelf of the most obscure books.  They have one of the largest craft sections I have ever seen.  For example, the craft section consists of 4 aisles of books-- both sides, top to bottom.  In the picture above, is 1 side of an aisle of craft books.

They have the largest Fashion section, you want books on log cabins, they have it-- how to build, how to buy, how to remodel.  They have an entire room on children's books.  Everything from birth to young adult.  Literature, western, horror, fantasy, mystery, new and old.  Books on how to make books.  Art, religion, travel, gardening, cooking and more.  There is a Rare room, where I had books in my hand at $1000 each plus.  Impressive right? 

Wandering around the endless corridors of massive stacked books and shelves 15ft high, pulling one out, adding it to your pile, smelling the books, there is just something about this place that can mesmerize you.  You can get lost in there for days.  They have windows, but you are so enthralled in the books, that you definitely look track of time.  It is the secret, heart pounding excitement that runs through your entire body when you find the one you have been searching for, for so long, that keeps you coming back for more. 

It is a special place that is on the must do list, whenever you are in Portland.  There is a great pizza shop across the street, have a slice and a beer.  Fill your stomach and dive into the store for hours and hours of entertainment.  See you there!