mainely stitching

I didn’t intend to get all coy on you, saying I’d be back “tomorrow” with a new project and then simply disappearing.

But yesterday was a busy day. The week would appear to be full of them.  Max has social engagements every day this week except for Friday. Nicky and Rowen are in full fever pitch at school and appear to be doing everything at once. Arden is finding a new daily schedule and of course that means that I am too. And the company that Niek and I work for is undergoing massive reorganization. Never a dull moment.

Yesterday was a very good day, though. The sun was out all day and I celebrated by walking everywhere rather than using the car. That’s a nice feeling. And the mailman brought me a big fat package from dear BeckySC, who graciously shared out the charts and kits that she was either finished with or decided not to do. She also sent me the loveliest needle book, just look!

In Becky’s package was a complete Miribilia kit for Elizabeth and the Lavender Sky that I want to pass along to whomever will give it a good home – just leave a comment saying that you want it. It’s a lovely kit (closeup of the design below) that’s never even been opened. I think MIribilia designs are beautiful, but they are far beyond anything I can attempt at this time. If more than one person speaks up for it, I’ll choose a name using the online randomizer.

Becky, thank you so much for your ongoing generosity to the stitching community. You’re truly an example to aspire to!

So what on earth have I been working on that was such a departure from my usual stitching? Well, take a look at my newest “pet”:

I stitched this absolutely adorable (if I do say so myself) sampler bird on a piece of 36/40 count linen using some leftover silk and when I was finished, I repeatedly tea-distressed it. The wing is a piece of 28 count coffee-dyed linen.  The design is one of own. I stuffed the wing with lavender for a nice smell, but that made the bird terribly tipsy and makes it hard for her to hold up her wing. I also lost a battle with a non-marking fabric pen, so this dear bird will stay with me as she’s not up-to-snuff to travel to another home.

I had so much fun making her and learned so much, however, that there is now a little family. Please meet Fly Away Home bird and Can You Find The Key To My Heart bird. Fly Away Home is stitched on an unmarked R&R Linen using OWS and DMC, features various stitches, and has a repro dark green calico back. Can You Find The Key To My Heart is stitched on a 32 count Silkweaver solo using flower threads in four shades of pink and features large Algerian eyelets along the wing and has a pretty repro floral back. No two hearts or keys are the same, thus the challenge to find the right key to the right heart. All birds are of my own design.

When I was making the Comfort Dolls, I felt constrained by the (self-imposed) expectation that my dolls should be human looking. Here’s a secret I’ll share – dolls, you know, baby dolls, creep me out. Ugh! So my Comfort Dolls sort of devolved from Lovey Louise Redheart to ducks and cats … but I couldn’t hit on the idea that was tickling the back of my imagination. Till now.

And now for the next secret – oh  my, it is the day for soul-baring, isn’t it? – I’m opening an etsy shop for the children of my imagination. You all know I enjoy prim-style stitching, and most people know how much I enjoy herbs and herbal lore and those who know me really well know that my beliefs run along more Natural lines … so my wee etsy shop will be populated with the inventions that pour forth from those sources. Oh, and some de-stashing items because … well, because it’s necessary. And more on that tomorrow – you’re stuck with me for the whole month as I foolishly jumped back on the Nablopomo challenge bandwagon. The month’s theme is food, but I’m taking that a step off to the side and re-terming it ‘food for thought’. Tomorrow’s topic … well, come back tomorrow and find out!