Already August

How did it get to be August already?

Suddenly I have a lot to talk about, so this may run long. You have been warned.

First of all, obligatory stitching photo:

 Here's the bottom? Base? Whatever, of the waxer carrier for Betsy Morgan's "This One's for Betty." Lots of specialty stitches (which I like), pretty colors, I am enjoying this.

However, this was done Friday and a needle was not threaded at all yesterday. Best Daughter Ever and I went on a road trip.

Williamsburg isn't all that far away, and America's Tapestry is on display at the Muscarelle Museum at William & Mary. I've wanted to see all the panels together since I had a feeling you couldn't see the details from the photographs online. I was right. It is an amazing body of work, the result of thousands of hours of stitching from talented fingers. We were both amazed and impressed at the variety of needlework skills embodied in each panel--everything from lacemaking to goldwork and in between.

The exhibit will be in Williamsburg until September 6, and if you're anywhere in the area--or want to make a road trip--I highly recommend the experience.

The additional allure of the trip was a chance for brunch at Le Yaca. Just check their website and take a look at the brunch menu, available on Saturdays and Sundays. The food is amazing, the service is impeccable, it's a lovely way to spend a relaxed hour or so. 

And, no, I didn't need supper when I got home.

Now, on to August and stitching plans.

I've been following the Snitch Stitcher on Instagram for awhile. She announced something she called "Annihilation August" a week or so ago. Basically, we all have projects that are very close to a finish, those things that will just require a little more work and they will be done. So, she suggests we "annihilate" them in August, just pull them out of their hiding places and finish them off.

I think I'm going to get my class samples for the needlelace class I'm taking finished, and then get the needlelace petals attached to Elizabethan Rose done.

There seems to be a needlelace thing going on.

And then, what would I like to see done?

I'd really love to significantly lower the level in one of the finishing baskets. I don't know how far I'll get, but I'd like to try to see some FFO's instead of UFO's in my life. 

Then maybe I wouldn't feel so guilty when I start yet another new project.

A Day Late

Happy World Embroidery Day!

Yes, I'm a day late.

I was trying to decide which project I wanted to do in celebration of my favorite pastime, and I couldn't make up my mind. I have a lot of coulda, woulda, shoulda projects but nothing really calling my name. Actually, it has nothing to do with the projects themselves, just that I've had a bad case of the blahs and don't feel like doing anything that requires thought or movement.

Basically, I've turned into a summer slug.

It ain't the heat, it's the humidity.

Which is dreadful.

Anyway, I finally decided I had to do something to celebrate, so I started something new.

New-ish.

I've had the kit for Betsy Morgan's This One's for Betty in the stash for maybe twenty years, and now is the time for it to come out of hibernation. I got this much done:

This will be the waxer pocket. I think I'm going to work on it for a little longer today. Or maybe I'll work on my classwork before the last minute before class.

BDE says waiting to the last minute before finishing my homework is one of the things I nagged her about when I was attempting to civilize her, and she finds this ironic. I think this comes under the heading of "do as I say, not as I do" and she should show some respect for her aged mother.

We'll see how that goes. 

A little at a time

You may have noticed that I'm blogging more lately than I have in quite awhile. 

Part of it has to do with keeping a record of when I started something and when I worked on it and when (or if) it was finished. But the major reason is simple. If I'm going to blog, I need to stitch. Even if I only put in a thread or two, I'm stitching. And I want to winnow down the size of the stash, so I need to stitch daily.

The last few days, I've barely threaded a needle, but a needle has been threaded. I don't have much to show, but I do have a little, and here it is.

Last night was our local EGA chapter's meeting. I took All that Glitters because it is the ultimate fill-in project, and easy to do and still talk to people and ooh and aah over what they're doing. I got a little of the glitter done:

  I believe that's going to be my evening stitching for a few days.

And then, today I had my RSN class on needlelace:

Really not much to see here at all!

As usual, I don't stitch much or well in class. And the three stitches we did today require a lot of care in terms of tension. And tension is my downfall when I'm doing needlelace. I am not a relaxed stitcher. There are those who would say I am not a relaxing stitcher to be around. (Dearly Beloved has been listening to my ranting and raving when I pull out the stitches on Carmen, which were quite firmly stitched to the linen.) In class, I'm so busy listening and trying to take notes and remembering what the teacher is talking about that I generally can't stitch at the same time.

So I have a lot to do before next week's last class. I'm going to take everything slowly and try to relax so I don't strangle the stitches.

Christmas in July

Nope, not stitching for Christmas in July--but I got something that should count as a Christmas present!

And it didn't arrive all wrapped up in pretty paper. Actually, the box was so beaten and battered and torn on one side that I am amazed that it made it from the UK to the US.

The kit for my next class with Sara Rickards arrived.

This was (thankfully) wrapped in bubble wrap inside the box, tied with pretty pink grosgrain ribbon:

And then you open it, and WOW--raspberry colored tissue!

Honestly, I almost hated to tear the sticker that held it closed. But I did, and here are the goodies inside:

I must be patient--the class doesn't start for several weeks, and I have my online class on needlelace to finish and that beautiful design from Kate Barlow to stitch--but then I can jump into this one.

So today I will work on my needlelace homework and add this to the pile of goodies I want to work on.

One Thing

I only needed to order one thing, one little spool of Soie Surfine.

 Well, it couldn't travel alone, so I filled in some Weeks Dye Works threads for a couple of other projects.

It most definitely didn't travel alone.

Although why I think I need threads is the question. The last couple of days I've been in a bit of a slump and this is all I managed to get done.

I think I'm going to make myself finish this motif today and then switch to something else entirely.

Like, maybe I'll get my homework done for my online class?

Seeing Double

 The problem with schoolgirl motif samplers is that they tend to have two of everything.

The first time you stitch a motif, you can be entertained by figuring out the best way to move from one part of the design to another, seeing how the colors look once they're stitched in and are affected by what's next to them, and discovering any little quirks or idiosyncrasies of the stitcher.

Then you have to do it again.

Unless the child goes off on a tangent, it can be just a shade boring.

My plan for today was to get the right side stitched to the same point as the left side on Sarah Ann Purdy.

I didn't make it. The longer I worked, the more sloooooooowly I stitched.

I got this far.

I may pick this up again after a little break.

Or I may work on All That Glitters.

And I just realized that I will be filling in the red motifs on All That Glitters.

Which I have done before.

Ah-HA!!

Shout out to Sandra!

She found my flower--it's a bearded iris, and it comes in the colors Spot's stitcher used almost four centuries ago.

Mystery solved.

Here is the first row of motifs:

 I got all excited because two of the motifs on the next row are birds and a lot smaller than the floral motifs.

Then I looked at the other motifs on that row. Three of them are tent stitched flowers. Humongous tent stitched flowers. I mean, REALLY BIG tent stitched flowers.

Four year project, for sure.

Meanwhile, I started my current online class yesterday. It's a three-session class from RSN on needlelace. I have samples for two of the stitches started.

Don't laugh, this is more than I generally stitch in a class.

And I love the tutor already! Her name is Amy Burt, she is encouraging, she is definitely accustomed to online teaching so her demos are clear--and she's already provided tips and techniques that I didn't get in previous classes. I am chuffed! I'm even looking forward to doing my homework before the next class, and I've never looked forward to doing homework.

But now I need to shift loads of laundry.

I definitely never look forward to laundry.