Finish: Tin Pin

Miss Mary was stitched from La D Da's larger project--which I will stitch someday as well. In 2006, it was all the rage. Lots of us stitched it. And then it sat around waiting for me to get the tin pin. And then I needed something to fill the space at the bottom. When I went to M & J Trimmings on Saturday, one of the things I was searching for was a thin black lace and some tiny silver buttons. I came away with three silver buttons and some black velvet ribbon. And the ribbon was too wide. And all three buttons didn't fit but I'm happy with one. One silver button to remind people who they are looking at.

Tin pins were big for a while but they no one was designing for them. Sometimes we need to figure out how to make things work for what we have rather than waiting for someone to design something specific for the finish, you know?

The main technique here is lacing and here are some tutorials to help you out:

Kiwi Gets Crafty

Mary Corbet

Janet Cottrill has a video if you like that sort of thing

Great Frame Up

It took me so long to pick up my framing from the January sale, that they had already started the May sale when I finally hit the store. Sadness. I guess it has been a busy few months--and I'm sure you don't forget, snowy too--and when you only have one day to get to the LNS (Saturday) that's 40 minutes away, yeah, you get the picture.

Anyway, the first picture is Midsummer Night's Me & You Sampler. I think the gold on the frame coordinates nicely. I'm very happy with this one. Soon it will find space on the anniversary wall.

But I am over the moon with how this one came out! The frames themselves are a little brighter, not quite as muted, just like the piece itself. I was all set to enter this one in the fair when I noticed (to my horror!) that I forgot to finish four stitches on the coral flower that hangs over the house. I don't know if it is worth it to me to have it taken apart and put back together just to show it off to a larger IRL audience. Oh well, my light will be hidden under the bushel again. ;)

Framed!

Did you see Madame Muriel over at Grey Tail was all decked out yesterday for Carnivale in Venice? She is ready to move on. Check it out.

I picked up the framing I had done during the January framing sale at my LNS. I had two gift certificates, so these frames were free! Well, to me anyway.

Love, Me
Hands to Work
Called for materials

Molly picked this one out. I had chosen something else, but she started playing and well, love it more!

Christmas Elf Fairy
Mirabilia
Limited Edition Kit

I wanted this to have a fancy frame because it is very fancy--not my usual style at all! But I love her and I love it. I am going to be so thrilled to pull this one out of storage every December. You'll see in the close-up that the frame has a lot of red in it. I thought that was appropriate.

Scared Silly
Birds of a Feather
Called for materials

I kept passing over this piece when choosing items to be framed. I love it--LOVE IT--but it seemed so crazy to frame something that wouldn't be out very often. The love grew too much to bear, and I decided to bite the bullet. (Actually, it was free! Why not?) This piece just makes me so happy. The close up shows that this shabby-chic frame had beads on it as well. It must have been a beady kind of day.

Here's Something I've Forgotten

We had the Frank Lloyd Wright Tree of Life Window framed as a Christmas gift for my in-laws. The interior of the frame is silver with a goldish hue. It's perfect for my SIL who is a museum curator. (Or so I tell myself!) The colors are perfect for her house--they did just buy a new one, but I'm hoping they won't change too much!

I'm a little peeved at myself--there's a loose thread. Not unstitched but just not tight enough. Because it's so graphic, it's all I can see.

Frame Up

Last week, I so deluded myself into thinking that my framing was ready--really, I even imagined a phone call from the shop girls!--that I drove all the way out to Strawberry Sampler. It turns out Lise had only gotten as far as May 19. (She has over 400 pieces from the May framing sale! She's working her fingers to the bone!) Of course, I brought my pieces in on May 20th. Just a few days later, on Saturday, while we were in Maine, I got a phone call telling me my framing was ready. Of course, the first thing I did once we were home was to pick up these babies.

Here's Sissy and Jersey's wedding sampler.

Love, Me by Hands to Work
Called for fibers and fabric.

There are small bows forming a border. I hope they like it. (I'll let you know!) Close-up below.

Next is the spot sampler for our bedroom. It's got a "pearl" border on the inside. I've used this frame a lot. 

Lilybet, Spots II
Called for fabric, NPI silk called for blue only

And my favorite one of all, one of the anniversary pieces I made for the dude. Love that chunky frame! L-O-V-E.

Monsterbubbles, Don't
Called for fibers, 35-ct WDW Havana

There are touches of copper metallic which play nicely with the fabric. The only drawback to this frame is the faux distressing. Too little of it. And, in the black section, too faux. Still there was too much to love about this frame.

Just picture me with my little fists held up to my beaming face! I'm just so happy! Lise did a fabulous job...again!

Craftilicious Weekend

It's been interesting hearing your perspectives on the reunion. Unlike many of you, I enjoyed my high school experience. I really did. I mean, I was a cheerleader! (It's just like all the movies: popularity, boy friends, parties, cross-town rivals in the cheerleading competitions, stolen routines, zombie cheerleader camp.) And I actually enjoy my college reunions whether or not my circle of friends attends. I'm just not feeling this, and I'm not entirely sure why. Anyway, I'm not sure I need or want to figure this out.

Friday night was stitching night again. Jenna was there working on a wedding sampler. Yup, she's still stitching; it's just the blogging that is suffering. ;) I worked on getting the charms on my Shepherd's Bush stockings. I finished Anna's stocking by the skin of my teeth--they were clearing up around me. I did have to finish the name first, and I was only able to do that because of the fantastic customer service I received. I called in my order for the skein of Crescent Colors Perle that I was missing and Molly brought it to the stitch in. Can't ask for better than that! I had hoped to get both stockings done but I'll just have to build it into my (overstuffed) schedule. One of the wonderful things about Friday's stitch in how many times the women who work at the shop told us they appreciated us coming. Ruth Ellen told us she enjoyed seeing the younger faces in the crowd. (See, cross-stitch isn't just for grandmothers!) I guess I count in that one, but only just.

When I got home I had to sew the charms on Sisters because Saturday was the last day to bring in the framing in time for Christmas. It was a late night.

Saturday was an early morning. I had to be at a stamp-a-stack at 9:30 am. Fortunately, they had breakfast for us. I had to take a break from making my first card (a waterfall) and get some food into me because I was making silly mistakes. Though not as silly as the mistake I made at the end of the day when I glued two fronts on the same card. It was a long day. Then I hightailed it to the Strawberry Sampler to bring in my framing. Then I picked up dog food (we fed Stella the very last cupful in the morning). I pulled into the driveway at 5:00. It was a very full day.

I'd show you the cards, but I think it would spoil the surprise when one arrives in your mailbox!

Stairway to Heaven

This weekend, I got tired of seeing my three newly framed pieces sitting in the chair.

New frames lounging.

So, I gathered up all of pieces I had and I put them on the wall.

Well, first I had to attend to the three pieces that had been laced but not actually put in their frames. I got out my point driver and drove them into the frames but good. Then I applied the backing paper and hanging wires.

Just in case you've never seen backing paper and hanging wire.

Then, I started hanging. After I had hung about four pictures, I thought it might be a good idea to put them on the wall in a less permanent way in case I was screwing up. So I cut out kraft paper squares to match the picture sizes. Then I put the stand-ins on the wall with repositionable scrapbook adhesive and played with the layout for a while. I might be a slow learner, but at least I get there in the end.

New gallery

I have been basking in reflected glory...or something like that. I feel quite accomplished. Not that I was any less accomplished when they weren't hanging on the wall. But the pictures sort of remind me (almost constantly) that they exist.

Looking up as you enter the house.

Top down.

It reminds me of when I was writing my dissertation. I had been in the program so long I was growing moldy. But then I started keeping track of how I was doing--how many chapters complete and approved, how many pages in progress. Every time I started writing, I would open that document first as a little reminder. Suddenly, instead of lamenting how long I had been working on the project and how much was left to do, I had some kind of grip on reality. I was, say, 2/3 of the way through chapter four and had outlined chapter one while chapters two, three, and five were done and dusted. (Chapters 2, 3, and 5 really were done first. Chapter 1 was dead last.) I could see the light at the end of the tunnel--and it was rapidly moving closer.

Suddenly, all I want to do is stitch--I haven't been stitching so much you might have noticed. I want more things on that wall. And I think a few of them should be a bit bigger. I feel so focused! Let this be a lesson to me.

Anna's Bird was really the inspiration to all this. One of the places the dude and I discussed hanging her was right where she is now. Because she leads you into the dining room.

Anna's Bird, leading you into the dining room.

Framed

I got a call yesterday from the Strawberry Sampler! When I walked in they greeted me by name. I have apparently crossed a threshold, which is nice but a touch embarrassing. Without further ado, I give you My Needle and Floss. I went with the same frame I used on Tall Flowers.

Pop over to Sue's blog because the traveling pattern is getting ready to go again!

Next is La D Da's A to Z and in Between. I thought this deserved a plain dark wood frame to go with the letters. I made changes in the floss, you can find those recorded here.

Finally, Moon Garden by Birds of a Feather. I love how this came out!!!

And a close-up of the frame because I.Am.In.Love!

The dude was pleased with my cooking yesterday as well. We started out with eggs in a basket for breakfast. He had a midmorning cold brewed coffee. For lunch I was making zucchini/summer squash fritters, when the dude suggested tomato and cheese sandwiches. Since I had the cast iron skillet out, I grilled green and red tomato and cheese sandwiches to go with the fritters. For dinner, I popped a pork loin into the slow cooker with 2/3 of a bottle of LC's barbecue sauce (our favorite from the KCMO trip), roasted some CSA green beans and made sweet and sour red cabbage from the head that has been languishing in the vegetable bin. He told me I could have charged $20 per plate. I love that he loves my cooking so much. Not that it shows. Skinny fucker.

picture gallery

The Strawberry Sampler called on Saturday to say the pieces I brought in during their May framing sale were ready. Yay! I hopped right in the car so not another minute would go by without these lovelies in my house.

Trio of Hearts
Twisted Threads
Completed June 2004

You Are My Sunshine
La D Da
Completed June 30, 2006
Gift to the dude for our 5th anniversary

My Whole Heart
SamSarah Designs
Completed July 7, 2007
anniversary gift, 6th anniversary

And presenting, my favorite and yours
In the Tall Flowers
Liberty Street Designs
Completed February 21, 2008

Now I have about ten framed pieces for my stairway gallery. I need my mom to come help me hang. She has a way with these things.

Happily I have filled my second "discount card" at the store and will get 20% off. I have about 60 more pieces that need to be finished, mostly framed...