Jun 29, 2012

THE 2012 SPINSTER STITCHER SUMMER STITCHY BASKET O' FUN

I've been so out of sorts with my stitching lately that I decided to fix it once and for all.  I had originally intended to hit the studio yesterday, but considering the fact that it was 118 degrees here in Hoosierville (*), I thought better of it and decided to wait until today.  It was still hot enough to bake a bundt cake up there, but I lived to tell the tale, and thanks to a gallon or two of iced tea, all is back to normal.

(Well.  Whatever constitutes normal in these here parts.)

 So without further ado....here's what I've decided to play with for the next few months.  Some things are started, some are for the Olympics, some are just wishful thinking.  But if this array of projects doesn't smack me right out of the stitching blah dee dahs, I don't know WHAT will.

 I've got a really great Zecca canvas that I'm just itching to start, but I've promised myself that I'll finish these two painted canvases first and then use the Zecca as a "reward".  First is the Melissa Shirley:
 And second is the big red sunflower:

For counted canvas work, I know that I want to start the red, white, and blue piece during the Olympics, so I figured a way to reward myself in this category would be to finish LJP's Stained Glass Windows:

This is the red, white, and blue piece:

I had been working on Alphabets, but got frustrated that the tone on tone was so subtle:

This project is going to be an experiment.  The colors on the chart are very autumnal, but I want something a little more summer-y.  I tried and tried and tried to re-colorize it, but I got so frustrated I almost threw it out the window.  Then I got the bright idea to just think of the threads as a box of Crayons.  So when I sit down to stitch, I'll just look at whatever part I'm going to work on and pull a color.  Wish me luck with this -- color selection is definitely not my forte'.

I enjoyed stitching the Winter Alphabet so much, I wonder why I haven't jumped on this one already?

A little something else in the whole "I'm going to stitch this one during the Olympics" category:

I thought this would be nice to add because it's not the size of a bedspread:

And how can I have a stitchy basket o' fun without some Shepherd's Bush?

I'm thinking that this one will be for much later -- maybe toward September-ish?

Same thing here:

Ahhh, the big a$$ Olympic project.  I can only imagine how stunning this thing will be once completed:

Again....think small, Spinster!  What do you want to bet that this one comes out of the basket first?

Another bright idea....I think I might change the centers of the daisies to red so that this will look a little like fireworks.  What can I say?  I've been jonesing for a little crewel lately.



That's it for today, kids.  Thanks for bearing with me and my craptastic photographic skills.  I hope that your basket is packed and ready for your own summer o' fun!

Have a fabulous weekend!  

Woo Hoo!

(*) Yes, I exaggerate for effect, but it was indeed very very hot here.  Rumor has it that the actual heat index reached 112.  So I guess that 118 really isn't that far off, wouldn't you say?

26 comments:

  1. What s super selection of projects! A great variety to prevent ennui from setting in! I must confess I look to your choices for osme ideas of my own - as in - I want to do that too!! I'm eyeing several of these. You are a leader, Spinster Stitcher.
    Colleen

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  2. I always enjoy seeing what's in your basket and I'm itching to start a bunch of new stuff myself. And as another Hoosiervian (is that a word?) it looks like you made a trip to House of Stitches - what a lovely place that is.

    Happy stitching,

    Deb

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  3. What fabu projects for your Summer stitching!!!

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  4. Ohhhh, LOVE the Melissa Shirley canvas. Are you working from a stitch guide for it? LOVE the border. Looking forward to seeing more progress on this one! It is hot here too in Maryland. 105!!!

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    1. Thanks, Miss Danielle! Yes, I ordered a stitch guide from Miss Ruth at Beadecked and Beadazzled for this one!

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  5. Wonderful selection! I wouldn't know what to choose. I'm looking forward to see your progress on any of these pieces.

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  6. Love your summer selection! I am inspired, as well, to start Seasons and Stained Glass Windows. Color, color, color!! I admire your stitching so much!!

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  7. Dear Coni: What a wonderful selection!! Cannot wait you see your progress. Also cannot wait to see Flowers Awake as I could never tell by the picture exactly what it looks like. We do not have a local xstitch shop so I have to order on line. Do you have a favorite shop. Right now I am working on Melissa Shirley's Thanksgiving House Roof from Amy's. One more shingle and I will go mad. Think I will work on another project for a while to regain my sanity. Take care.

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    1. Ciao! Yes, my favorite needlework shop is any one that doesn't mind a loud-mouthed spinster and her sister a few hours of shopping/cackling/woo hooing. I think that all of the peoples who own shops should be nominated for some serious rewards, n'est pai?

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  8. Looking forward to seeing them stitched...nice selection.

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  9. Your stitchy basket o fun looks scrumptious!! If I were you (and trust me, I long to be!) I would slap an air conditioner in the window of the stitchy studio so I could spend time up there in comfort! The electricity company should be sending me a thank-you card for supporting them....I just can`t take the heat. I`m looking forward to seeing your progress on these, esp the big a##ed Olympic piece!

    Kisses to Stewey and Bosco....

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  10. You have such great taste and are just a wonderful stitcher. It's always a pleasure to read your blog. Stay cool....

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  11. what happend to the Zecca ?

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    1. It's safely mounted on stretcher bars and ready to go. But I really do want to get a few things finished first so that I can use it as a real reward. You know...kind of like when I make a chocolate cake and then put it in the middle of the kitchen table and tell myself that I can have a piece once the laundry is finished. What can I say? You have to bribe me like a two year old sometimes, but it works for me.

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  12. You filled your basket with some wonderful goodies.

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  13. I agree with Colleen on her comment of "super selection of projects". My favorite is the painted canvas Big Red Sunflower. Looking forward to seeing your stitchy progress in the future. :) Cathryn

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  14. Great summer picks. Looking forward to seeing your progress. I am especially looking forward to seeing "One Nation".

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  15. Looks like you had lots of fun playing in your stash! I just love starting new projects, pulling threads, etc. AND, just in case you need some enabling, I hear Karen Kluba is coming out with new beauties!!

    Debbie in Kansas (where the highest temps in nation have been reported the past week...up to over 110 degrees several days)

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  16. Hi, it's miserable here too. I'm actually skipping a graduation party to stay inside with the air conditioning! I have "One Nation" too and it's on my to do list but first I have to finish up my Diamond Jubilee and Sleepy Hollow WIPs.

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  17. Coni, I simply love your blog! You have inspired me to try out Canvas work. I have a question I can't seem to find the answer to. How do you keep the threads "twisted" evenly when working with Perl Cottons or other threads? Is there a method to the madness? I try very hard to make mine look all the same but often one stitch will be less "twisted" then the one next to it and it drives me nuts. How do you decide just how much to twist it? I'd love any advice you have!

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    1. Hi, Miss Tracy! Um, I'm not really sure what the solution would be, but I can tell you that I dangle a lot....

      When I'm stitching I will allow my thread to hang and spin to untwist a bit every now and then.

      I also use a laying tool when I want the stitch to be flat, but I have to confess that I've never used one for perle cotton.

      Are you using the right weight for the canvas size? What I mean by this is...perhaps it's a coverage issue and bumping up the weight of the thread for a larger count canvas (or bumping down for a smaller) would help?

      Gosh, I hope that there might be a faithful dear reader out there who might have additional ideas... Stitchers -- what say you?

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  18. You've got some fantastic projects lined up for the summer. I had to go to the Zecca website to look at their designs, they have some very tempting things.

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  19. Coni, Thank you for the help. I am currently working on the Amish Trip Around The World Quilt from Nancy's Needle. It is worked on 18" canvas with Caron Watercolours and DMC #5 Perle cottons. I can't decide if twisting them so that the "twist" is thick or thin (without being tight) looks best. The threads have a natural twist in them. The stitches in your Tahiti all look so even. I do use a laying tool for anything requiring 2 threads but using 1 for this has me stumped! Thanks all for any help!!

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  20. I have done the big flag called One Nation it is beautiful and a fairly easy stitchin project!

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  21. Maybe Tracey`s problem has something to do with s-twist versus z-twist threads?

    Maybe this will help?

    http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/01/s-twisted-vs-z-twisted-embroidery-threads.html

    http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/01/s-twist-vs-z-twist-embroidery-threads-stitched.html

    This is just a guess, I can`t see why it should make a difference with pearl cotton on canvas though...

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  22. Thank you, thank you! The "twist" of the thread is what I am trying to explain. Using the pearl cotton in the canvas causes the S twist to "untwist" so the thread looks different. My question is how do you keep it uniform? So many of my stitches do not look like the one next to it depending on how much it untwisted itself or how much I twisted it back! Can someone please tell me how to fix this?

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