December Stitch of the Month

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Hi, Everyone —

The SOTM group was mostly sad that there wasn’t any additional stitching on our project in December.  (Although some of us are glad to have additional time to finish last month’s stitching!)

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2013 SOTM (Mostly) Finished Projects!  Aren’t they beautiful?

Nonetheless, we met as planned for a celebration luncheon.  What a delicious feast we had!  I can’t believe that I forgot to get a picture of the food — darn!

MENU:

  • Diane’s Baked Brie
  • Diane’s Homemade Bruschetta
  • Sue C’s Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce
  • Linda’s Maple-glazed Carrots
  • Carol’s Lemon Rice
  • Sue R’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Sue R’s Bread Sticks
  • Rosie’s One Bowl Apple Cake

Most of the recipes can be found on the NJNA Website — Members Only tab!

We all thoroughly enjoyed getting together to work on this project throughout the year.  Our thoughts on Saturday turned to ideas for next year.  Unfortunately, we won’t know what the ANG SOTM project for 2014 will be until January, but we do have plenty of other ideas.  So we will meet again in January to decide!  I hope you are tempted to join us!

Cheers, Rosie

Stocking is Finished!

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I finally finished the Christmas stocking for my daughter-in-law.  Since I couldn’t be at tonight’s meeting and I hope to finish it and give it to her before the December meeting, I figured I’d post a picture.  

Overall it came out with the effect I was looking for.   I’m not in love with the sky although it was the exact effect I was looking for!  Sue C came up with a few suggestions (what would we do without our friends who share their thoughts and opinions?!!).  The one suggestion I loved was to attach snowflake buttons, especially where the color changes to take away from the linear effect I don’t like.  I bought some cute snowflake buttons that are perfect and will put them on once it is blocked.  This was definitely a fun piece to do but now I need one like Frankie where I don’t have to decide on fibers or stitches!

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As you can see, it’s now on the blocking board (yes, I block right-side down!).  I’ve had to block it twice so far and it looks like it will need at least a 3rd round.  I don’t know if it’s because of the size or the canvas – it’s interwoven, not mono.  I’m hoping this  next round will finish it.  I haven’t blocked in a number of years so there’s also that!

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Finishing will be next.  I have white with gold flecks for the lining.  For the backing I’m debating between dark green, white, and a blue to match the sky.  I’ll probably have to play with it a bit to make the final decision once it’s blocked and off the board.

I will take pictures of the finished product to show.  I’m really hoping she likes it.

Happy Stitching!

Diane

Atlantis Rising Progress

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Hi, Everyone —

The third and final day of my Atlantis Rising class was a bit of a disappointment.  Our teacher wasn’t feeling well, so she just went through the instructions page by page and left as soon as she finished.  A few people stayed through about noon to continue working on whatever threads we had hanging out.  When I got home, I continued to work on the bargello portion of the project and so I was able to get a second pass in.

Today, I decided to try the next “fancy” section of the design — Sprat’s Heads that fill the four square boxes in the bottom of the mountain.  I ripped the first box out at least six times and after about two hours, finally, I decided to throw away the charts and just do the motif so it sorta filled and centered in the boxes.  My head hurt pretty bad after all that thinking!

Atlantis Rising Progress

Atlantis Rising Progress

I think I’ll do another row of bargello next and then move on to another section with fancy stitches.

I helped Dottie on Saturday with the double fans (below those awful squares) and as a thank you, she fixed the scissor fob that I bought in Anaheim and then she made (!) me a scissor fob and a threader fob to match my stitching supplies bag!  How cool is that?

Fobs:  Two New and One Improved

Fobs: Two New and One Improved

The threader to the right of the red beads is the one that Dottie removed to fix the fob.  It seemed like such a good idea when I saw these in Anaheim, but the threader has hooks instead of holes and the hooks got caught on everything from stitches to tablecloths to sweaters.  So now the threader is relegated to my magnetic needle box and the red fob looks awfully handsome on my hemostats!

All in all, I am glad that I came to take this class in person because I met so many wonderful people!  I’ll definitely be back to stitch another day!

Cheers!  Rosie

Atlantis Rising

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Hi, Everyone —

I’m in Southern California taking Ro Pace’s  “Atlantis Rising” with the San Bernardino Chapter of  ANG.  I shared the pre-work with you in an earlier post.  Harold and I fumbled through putting together a carrier for the project and it is working great!

Custom Carrier for Atlantis Rising

Custom Carrier for Atlantis Rising

I had searched the web for directions for the homemade carrier I saw at the Anaheim seminar, but never found them.  Today, however, Diane gave me a copy of the official “Project Safe” directions by Judy Rager!   I think this might make a good chapter program for next year!

So, I’ve now finished two days of stitching on Atlantis Rising.  This is a very complicated design with lots of Jean Hilton stitches.  I am enjoying the class camaraderie and I always enjoy the Hilton stitches because they cover a large area with only a few stitches!  Yesterday, we did Jessicas, Reverse Jessicas, Bargello, and a few Amadeus stitches!  Today we did Double Fans, a Walnetto, a Starfle, Crescents, Sprat’s Heads, and Chilly Hollows!  Who knew there were so many stitches!

Atlantis Rising Progress After Day Two!

Atlantis Rising Progress After Day Two!

In addition to the kit, I purchased two possible glass “spoons” to be mounted near the peak of the mountain (although the class has noticed that the current progress makes it look like a Furby with teeth and square ears!).  Here are my two possible choices for the “spoon” or I may decide to choose a pendant from my jewelry box at home!

Glass Pendant Options for Atlantis Rising

Glass Pendant Options for Atlantis Rising

I’ve been getting lots of ideas for new programs, new meeting features, and gadgets!  I even met someone who regularly visits her friend in Randolph, NJ and who wants to join us for one of our stitching sessions!

Cheers!  Rosie