A finish and a search

First off I would like to express my thanks to everyone who has helped me complete this beautiful tribute to my parents.  Your words of encouragement helped me keep my attention on the goal and now I have this hanging in my living room to look at everyday and to remember my parents with pride and love.  

Now onto a question for all of you who like a challenge.  I had this beautiful print of a Johann Baptist Hofner painting hanging where my parents tribute now hangs.  I purchased this at a yard sale because of the beautiful wooden frame it's in.  There is a price tag on the back of it for $200.00 and I paid only $20.00 - don't you just love yard sales!!!!  My challenge is this, I would love to stitch something for in this frame but haven't come across any designs that would work.  The inside dimensions are approx. 18 x 26 inches....it's large!  If any of you can think of a pattern that might work, please post it here so I can maybe get started on something.  

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far.  Has everyone seen the challenge over at Notforgotten Farms?  You can check it out here.  She has given you a free pattern and your challenge is to come up with a finish that is different than just your average pillow or frame.  I've printed it off and have some ideas rolling around in my head and if they don't roll away completely, I think I'll enter her challenge.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A Very Happy Dance Finish

My Fallen Roses is finished!!!  I was able to put the last stitches in it this morning and I only laid the frame on it so you can get an idea of how it will look.  I've taken it to the framer for mounting and when it's safely hanging on my wall, I'll take another picture of it.  We have a brick wall in our living room and it will be there hanging over the mantle.  I can't say I loved stitching this but the reason I stitched it was filled with love.  For those of you who are new to my blog, this was stitched in honor of my parents....Lottie Margaret Reinecker and Ray Andrew Heller and the date is the day they were married.  

Now unto something different and hopefully without blue in it.  If I never see 3750 again, I'll be more than happy.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

My sweet friend Thellie just sent me this very cute picture.  I do believe that Vallie has been leading a double life.  LOL  I think it's time I sat her down and had a little talk with her....but it just might be too late....sadly.

Fallen Roses Update

I just couldn't stand seeing this hanging on the sewing room wall so I've gotten back into gear and I think I'm in high speed.  I've finished everything on the right side of the lady and now all I have left is the header which is pretty intense but it's just straight stitching so I shouldn't have any problem with it.  

I am one of those that when I see a frame I like I buy it.  Well I'm known for hanging out at stores and buying frames that have been ordered but not liked when the customer sees it.  This one I purchased for......are you ready......$8.00 and there's not a thing wrong with it.  They just wanted to unload it fast and I was there at the right time.  I have some frames that are 4 feet x 4 feet that I paid pennies for but will find something to go in them eventually.  The reason I show you this is to get all of you ladies opinion on the frame and how it looks with the design.  I like it but it's always nice to get second and third opinions.  I'm hoping I get this finished by friday ......wish me luck.  

When I'm finished with this, it's back to Rhonda's Ort Bag and some of the other pieces I've started.  I hope everyone is having a great stitching week!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A new beginning

I've been working very hard on Fallen Roses and I have definitely burned myself out on it.  As you can see, I've finished the lady and all of the blue on the left side of her.  I haven't taken her out of her frame, but I have hung her on my sewing room wall where she will always be in sight so that I don't forget about her.  There really isn't much to finish but since I had set the finish date as October 25th, I'm comfortable about letting her relax for awhile.  In the meantime.....

I have started Mrs. Waddlelow's Huswif by Ellen Chester.  After seeing Patty's (click here) work on this, I just had to get it started.  I'm using a HDF silk named Burnished Cranberry and it's a beautiful mauve and green mix.  I'm stitching it on 36ct. cream linen so it's gonna turn out a smiggen smaller than the original did.  I have my 5 coordinating fabrics ready for the finishing and I'm anxious to see this one finished.  I have made several huswife's over the years and I've never kept one for myself.....but this one I will. 

Well I awoke this morning with a good old spring cold.  My throat is sore and I'm sneezing my head off every 5 minutes or so.  It's my body's way of saying "spring is coming" because I always get a cold at this time of year.  You'll notice that I've changed my background color and my header to look more springish.  I thought you ladies in the northern cold climates might appreciate seeing some pretty floral colors.  There are all kinds of flowers starting to bloom down here in Florida.....plumbego, azalea, roses and even my begonias are blooming.  I'll take some pictures later in the week when I'm feeling better.

I hope all of you have had a terrific weekend so far and that you have not seen any froggies around your house.  They sure can make a pest of themselves from time to time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Decisions made on Fallen Roses and TUSAL

I want to thank all of you who helped me make this decision about the hearts on my Fallen Roses design.  I've decided to go with the cream pearl hearts.  They aren't as large as the pink mop ones were but I think that's good.  They will match the girl which I have finally started stitching and I think they look more elegant than the pink ones.  I will update again once I get the girl finished.  Again, thank you to all that helped me make up my stubborn mind. :o)

Today is also the first day of posting for the 2012 TUSAL and I just noticed, I need to get a clear container because this one is too hard to see the orts in.  

Everyone have a great week with plenty of stitchie time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Vallie pics and a Fallen Roses Update

I did get lots of this finished this week and I am now officially at the half way mark.  Blue is my favorite color but after stitching this I might have to change my mind. :o)  At the top you will see mother of pearl rose colored heart buttons.  I am planning on using these instead of stitching the hearts in.  I don't like the stitched ones and I'm not real thrilled with these rose colored ones either.  I've checked all my local stores....Joann, Michaels and Hobby Lobby and haven't seen anything I like better.  If anyone has a suggestion on what I might do there instead of the buttons, please post a comment and let me know what it is.  I'm hoping to have all the swag finished this weekend and then I can start the lady which will give me something new to stitch instead of just blue.  I haven't stitched on anything else this past week and I don't plan on it for the upcoming week.  If I am diligent I think I'll be able to finish it next week.....fingers crossed.

 It has been awhile since I posted any pictures of our little lady, Vallie, so here she is in all her glory.  She needs a trim and that will happen next week sometime hopefully.  She is actually pretty good for the girls at Petsmart where I take her to get trimmed.  The only thing she really hates is getting the hairs pulled out of her ears.  Apparently Maltese are known for hairs growing on the inside of their ears and these must be pulled out.  Can't say I blame her for not liking that being done to her.  I wouldn't either.

Vallie hopes everyone has a wonderful weekend and that you get some good stitching time and napping time also.  :o)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Fallen Roses Update

As you can see I now have the bottom finished completely across and now will start working up in rows.  I'm hoping that goes faster....please let it be faster!!!!!  Do you see the thread holder in the bottom right?  Well that is something I came up with.  When I'm working with just one color mostly, I always take it off the skein.  I didn't like how it would get creases in it when I used one of my wooden or mother of pearl ones so I decided to make something.  I took two pieces of thin mat board and covered them with warm and natural batting and then covered them in cotton fabric.  I had two coordinating fabrics with sewing items on them....one with green background and one with pink....so I used them.  I just used a whip stitch to hold them together but I'd really like to come up with something else to finish the edges.  Beads or cording won't work so I'm stuck.  If you have any suggestions I'd appreciate it.

Well it was a disappointing game finish last nite between Denver and NE Patriots but I think Tebow should be very proud of himself for the season he had.  I look forward to cheering him on next season and hopefully this time to a Superbowl win.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Fallen Roses Update

I've been working on this non stop and I thought I'd show you how far I am.  I've finished the entire lower right corner and I'm working across to the left.  I've got my parents initials done and their wedding date and  I love how they turned out.  I found the alphabet online for free and it was just what I was looking for.  I have found out that I am a one project person.  I have two others started, but I can only concentrate on one at a time and the other two just sit there.  I guess this goes back to my Ebay days and having to finish one thing at a time to get it online for sale.  Whatever the reason, for me this is the only way I can stitch so I better get use to it.  :o)  

How do you do it?  I'd love to hear how others stitch more than one project at a time and how you prioritize what you work on and when.

I will post another update when I get the lower left corner finished.  After that I think it should go pretty fast because I'll be working in horizontal rows and they are not very detailed.  (Famous last words LOL)

Blessings as always,

Barbara