2010 Stitching Review

Wow! I have not posted for a very long time. I have been stitching!! I'm also very late posting my 2010 review! It was, apparently, a year of smalls for me. It felt like I stitched far more than this post shows. Strange!

First up -Reindeer Dog from Mill Hill. First start of 2010 and one of the last finishes as it was mislayed under some fabric for most of the year. Oops!

Next is a Scissor fob. Testing out the colourfast varigated threads from Valdani. This one is stitched with Orange Blossom over two on 36 ct linen. The pattern is a freebie that I found on own_two_hands journal.

Front


Back


Another project using the Valdani threads. Another freebie, from this site. (#29,30) (I love my freebies!)

The reason for the test stitching? To see if I want to do the Sunflower Fairy from Nora Corbett and the Day Nymph from Mirabilia in the charted threads or find substitutions. I decided to use the charted Valdani threads. To me, they stitch up similar to Weeks Dye Works or Gentle Arts.

Here's Day Nymph from Mirabilia stitched in the charted Valdani threads. I stalled on the over one skin. Would like to get this finished this year.



2010 was also a year of workshops.

First workshop was during Gitta's first Stitch Getaway in May. Dragonfly needle book designed by Kathrin Ellison. I still need to sew it up as a needle book. (hate sewing)


(Already planning to go to Gitta's Second Stitch Getaway at the beginning of April. I had such a great time last year.)

I signed up for a number of workshops at this years CreativFestival in Toronto. My first time doing so, and I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to signing up for more during the next one. Hidden Treasures by Enchanting Lair




Perforated paper dragon designed by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams.



Make and Take workshop at the BritStitch booth. "Echinacea" by Rowan Dean Embroidery. (www.rowandean.com) A very quick and easy stitch. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up this kit while there.

Took the no-sew ornament finishing workshop at Gitta's for a second time, as a refresher. Finished my Ink Circles "Full Moon" from the Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue. Stitched on 28 ct grab bag linen using detritus bag HDF silks from Vikki Clayton.



I also began two baskets of biscornu. The details for each of these are already posted on this blog.

My first was Filagree biscornu by Gitta's Designs from the Filagree Chair Necessaire kit.


August Biscornu from Faby Reilly.


September Biscornu from Faby Reilly.


Biscornu from Kissy Cross designs.


Maple leaf biscornu


Autumn biscornu from Barbara Ana Designs


Citrouille biscornu



Hallowe'en biscornu from Barbara Ana designs


Mr. Spock by black lupin that I found on Deviant art. Stitched it up for a friend. Sewing it onto a tote bag. Eventually. :D


Witchy Brew from Witchy Stitches. I used Crescent Colours that I had in my stash instead of the charted threads. Stitched on 35 count HDF linen.


Reindeer ornament by Fresh Threads Studio. It was a freebie on the Just Cross Stitch website.


Prairie Schooler freebie that was part of the thank you package at Gitta's Christmas Open House.


Skier from Stoney Creek Collection.


Polar Bear from Mill Hill that I stitched on a piece of 32ct linen from a grab bag, instead of the perforated paper. I plan to make this into an ornament like Full Moon.


Lizzie Kate's Think Winter on 32 ct antique yellow linen. This will be an ornament too!


Owl ornament - another freebie from this blog. It's part of a larger project, but it was just perfect as an ornament for my godmother.

Thanks for looking! :D

October Biscornu

Here are my October biscornu!

Citrouilles (pumpkin) Biscornu by Frimousse. A freebie, of course!, that I found here - I opted not to do the witches on the bottom (or top as you prefer) I may do it as a separate biscornu next Hallowe'en. I stitched this on 32 ct grab bag linen using my detritus bag silks from HDF. The buttons might be Just Another Button company, not sure. My 6 year old picked them out at Gitta's.

Top view


Side view


Bottom view



Halloween Biscornu by Barbara Ana. Freebie that I found on her website. Stitched with the charted DMC floss on 18 ct fiddler's lite. This one is for the boys basket. The button on the top is a wee candy corn from Just Another Button company. The button on the bottom is a little bone that I picked up in a dollar store variety pack.


Top View



Bottom View


When I showed the completed biscornu to my 3 year old, he promptly grabbed it, ran over to the basket, and plunked it in with the rest. :)

Have yet to start on my November ones yet as I'm working on my first commissioned stitch! I may end up doing 4 in December.

September Biscornu

Sound the trumpets! I am finally posting my September biscornu!

First up for my basket-Maple Leaf biscornu designed by Marie W. that I found on her blog. It is yet another freebie. I stitched it on grab bag 32 count laguna, using Thanksgiving floss from Carrie's Creations.

Top view -


For the bottom I used the leaf design from the bottom of the Barbara Ana biscornu pictured below.
Side view-



And now the boys biscornu -Barbara Ana's Autumn Biscornu. Picked it up off of the Creative Poppy website. One of the few biscornu that I'm stitching that is not a freebie. I wasn't able to find the charted Anchor threads for the acorns and squirrel, but I did find substitutes that were close enough for my taste. It was stitched on 18 count fiddler's lite. I discovered, as I was stitching, that the weave on this fabric was not even. So the biscornu has a more rectangular shape than it normally would.



Top view-


Side view-


So now I'm up to 6 out of 24 stitched. Still full of ideas for the rest of the year.

One thing I am finding a little frustrating is buttons. I cannot seem to find a good source for buttons. I know that the online stitch shops carry the Just Another Button Company style, but I would like some more choices.

August Biscornu

Here are my August biscornu for my two basket of biscornu projects. Four out of twenty-four completed! :D

The one for my basket is a freebie from Krissy Cross designs. I stitched it on 35ct linen from HDF and used HDF silks from my detritus bags. I love using bits of this and that to complete a project. Feels thrifty... but it's silk! And linen! I tried to find a nice bee button for the centre but didn't have any luck. Still, very pleased with the finish.

Top view.


Bottom view.


Side view.



Once again I used a Faby Reilly freebie for the boys biscornu. This one is the Back to School biscornu. Stitched on 18ct white aida using the charted DMC floss. The centre button is a little pencil sharpener that I found in the scrapbooking section of my local dollar store. My eldest, who just started grade 1, was very pleased with it. :)


Top view.


Side view.


Thanks for looking!

My Basket of Biscornu project

Inspired by a post from a fellow member of cross_stitch on livejournal, I have started on, not one, but two baskets of biscornu! One for myself, and one for my two little boys, ages 6 and 3. I think this will allow me to explore two sides of my cross stitching nature. The one that loves bright, fun, and colourful designs, and the one that loves the more earthy tones and repeating motifs.

These are my "July" biscornu (yes I know that it is August). I hope to post the August ones very soon.

The first biscornu I stitched for this adventure was the Filagree Biscornu. It's from the Filagree Chair Nescassaire kit by Gitta's Designs. It was stitched on 32ct linen using Gloriana silk and magnica beads. I love stitching with silk. The centre buttons are so beautiful in real life!



While stitching it, my two boys, ages 6 and 3, kept asking who it was for, and if I was going to stitch one for them too! So I decided to do a second basket for them.

The first biscornu for the boys basket was the Seaside Biscornu freebie by Faby Reilly. Found here on her website, with a bunch more freebies! Stitched on 18 ct white aida using DMC floss. They were so happy with the finished piece and they're very eager to see what I will be stitching for them next. :)



I've had such a good time searching for free designs online. I found far more than the 24 designs I will need for this project. I do have an idea of what I'd like to stitch each month, but I think I'll also let my creativity flow and stitch what appeals at any moment in time. It's all about enjoying what we do, no?

Finally decided on a blog site for my Sterling Stitches blog. Will be tweaking the layout over the next week or so as I familiarize myself with it. Hope to get photos posted soon!