Lady Washington Progress

Band 1 which features the Martha Washington geranium is complete.  I spent the last 30 minutes browsing horticultural websites trying to discover how this old-fashioned flower came to be named after Martha Washington.  I did learn that it was quite popular in the early 1900s but has since been eclipsed by showier varieties.  But as to its connection with Lady Washington - not a word.

Moving on to Band 2 with its Half Rhodes and Upright Cross stitches presented a few problems at first.  The chart calls for the Rhodes to be stitched with 2 strands of floss.  But that produced a nubby mess.  After just three Half Rhodes, I frogged and re-stitched with one strand and am much happier with the definition of the stitches.  The Upright  Crosses will be stitched tomorrow in Buttercup.  I expect they will look better in one strand as well.

Lady Washington Sampler

This is a class project from the 2012 Stitcher's Hideaway.  That was the year Sue tried something different: giving participants their choice of one of three projects. This sampler class was scheduled late in the last full day of the retreat.  The class itself was more about the history behind the symbols and motifs in the bands than about the actual stitching.  I had spent the earlier time at the retreat stitching on a Teresa Wentzler stocking and didn't want to lose my momentum,  So poor Martha was consigned to the "when I get a round to it" pile.

Four years later, I am wondering what took me so long to start this delightful piece.  I have the vining and leaves of the first band done and already I have used the basic cross stitch, the diagonal cross and the cross with bar as well as the foliage stitch.  Future bands promise a rich variety of specialty stitches.  I have a penchant for complex band samplers and look forward to adding this piece to my rotation.

Halloween Towel, The Sequel

I used one more design from the JCS Oct. 2016 that fits neatly into the 58w x 80h space of a huck towel.  Again, the main motifs are a pumpkin and a black cats, so it makes a nice companion piece for the towel seen in my last post.  I used the recommended DMC.

I'll switch gears for awhile,  The Lady Washington Sampler from Morning Glory Designs will make a nice change of pace.  Lots of intricate specialty stitches in 18 bands.  

Some Simple Designs

This simple checkerboard pumpkin will make a nice addition to my Halloween tree.The small squares and the four points of the crosses are meant to be stitched in ecru and the center of each cross in black.  I jazzed it up a bit with Kreinik braid and some beads.

Still in a Halloween mood, I adapted another design from the JCS Oct 2016 issue for a huck towel for my kitchen.  I will stitch a companion towel tomorrow using another design from the same issue.

Moving On

I wanted to stitch a second Ink Circle Celtic Cross that would be suitable for use as a St. Patrick's day ornament ... as per one of my annual goals.   I used a Threadworx green and GAST Barn Grey, Banker's Grey and a bit of Kreinik braid.

I thought I was done with JCS but then the Oct 2016 issue showed in the mailbox.  Although the Pumpkin Patch charts are beginner level and rather boring to stitch, I like the look of them and will be adding them to my ornament collection.  I am using the recommended DMC but may jazz things up with some beads.

More Ink Circles Celtic Beasties

Skull and Snake.  I really like the banded effect on the snake that came about when stitching with WDW Halloween.  Incidentally, the floss was a gift from a stitching buddy from eons past.

Yin Yang Cats.  For this, I used GAST Barn Grey, Buckeye Scarlet, Cinders, Daffodil and Raven as well as DMC Blanc.

And I'll be stitching another Celtic Cross, only this time without the macabre touches, as a St. Patrick's Day ornament.  I have started the border in a Threadworx green and will be stitching the cross in GASY Barn Grey, Banker's Grey and a bit of Kreinik braid.

Jo's Birthday Blog Hop

2002: Jo was 36.  This was a major life-changing year for Jo.  She left her job of 17 years to become a Mum.  Her first child was born, a mere four weeks late, in September a week after Jo's 36th Birthday.  Weighing in at 8lbs 3oz he was a happy, healthy baby boy.  Soon after he was born Jo realised that life as a single parent was not compatible with a long commute to the city and told her employer she would not return to work at the end of her maternity leave.  In the months up until September Jo managed a lot of stitching including most of a large Noah's Ark design for the Nursery.  In the months after, she managed two hours a week when she went to her parents' house for Sunday dinner.

When I was 36, things were fairly tranquil ... or as tranquil as they can be for a stay-at-home mom with three children: Angela [age 7], Sean [age 4] and Danny [age 2].  I did the whole earth mother deal, baling my own bread, making my own yogurt, raising my own vegetables, shopping at the not-so-local organic food co-op.  I sewed most of my daughter's clothes.  I made quilts and crocheted afghans for the beds.  And I struggled to budget my husband's salary so I could afford to stay home and still meet the mortgage.

As to posting a photo of something Jo would like:

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my most recent Primitive Needle's stitch: Witches Hollow.

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My very first Primitive Needle's stitch: A Night of Revelry [from an old JCS issue].

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Homespun Elegance's Witches Stitch, Too.

A Scissor Case from GPA

                            Stitched on Vintage Buttercreamusing recommended GAST floss.

Some Stitching

I have stitched a few more of the Ink Circle Halloween ornaments:

No Heads Positive.  I used a Catherine Jordan green over dyed for the border and CC Dulce de Leche for the snakes.

No Heads Negative.  This is stitched in two Catherine Jordan green over dyed  cotton flosses.

Two Heads.  I chose to stitch the snakes in different colors though the model showed them in the same over dyed floss.

The Skull.  I used DMC white and black for the skull.  But for the snake, I used WDW Halloween.  The designer's notes called for an over dye that had long enough lengths of clearly contrasting colors to give a banded effect.  It's a little finicky since I have to keep switching from vertical to diagonal to horizontal rows to maintain the bands.