Black Friday

 I am not shopping today. Actually, I am doing very little today--the tree is up and (mostly) decorated and I decided to enjoy it instead of bustling around.

We had a quiet day yesterday since we'd already had our family Thanksgiving. I spent most of the afternoon making these tiny things that look a little like pink tadpoles.

We learned four different ways to wrap wire for the stumpwork class I'm taking. They are majorly fiddly, but I do believe this us a very useful technique. The basic wrapped wires are frequently used to make hands in stumpwork pieces. I did the tendrils with three different twists as an experiment to see which I liked the best, then decided that each one could serve a different purpose. We also learned how to add beads--and I do not believe I want to have that experience again--no, wait, maybe I do. The last technique works over twisted wire. I think maybe adding beads to a twisted wire could look like a branch with spring buds on it. 

Anyway, my hands were not very happy--you have to hold everything very tightly while wrapping, and I do have touch of arthritis in my fingers--and that may be another reason to let them rest today.

Back to our Regularly Scheduled Programming

 The last week was full of cleaning and cooking and company--and then there was the let-down after all the cleaning and cooking and company were over--and I'm finally getting back to normal. We have a few weeks before we go through all that again, so we stepping back into our rut.

There has been some stitching:

A few more rows on the mini-sampler that will fit into the drawer in Be Still My Heart. Again, this is really mini--the rows are worked over two threads. Looking ahead, I believe there may be a new rows worked over three. I don't think they will look any larger--but then again, I don't believe I've ever worked a sampler quite this delicate.

One of the pin cushions that will sit on top of Be Still is almost done. When I get the other stitched, I think I'll go ahead and assemble them. The insides for the big drawer are done already--and I'm thinking that putting parts together as I stitch them may be the way to overcome some of the finishing phobias I have.

And there has been some stash enhancement. Rachael Kinnison's 2022 limited edition ornament arrived. She has a few kits left . . . 

Just look at all those luscious filament silks!

Of course, I am now on my sugar scrub/heavy duty hand creme regimen, since filament silks will snag on anything the least bit rough on your hands.

At the moment, I am thinking I may start some Christmas ornament stitching. Do I believe I'll get this done in time for Christmas? Probably not, but I may be able to get my Alison Cole and Barbara Jackson ornaments done, and a good start on this. Maybe if I focus on ornaments and my online classes and don't get distracted by something else . . . well, we'll see, won't we?

Sparkly Stuff

 I didn't mean to drop from view for several days, but I've been catching up with the Deep Dive into Goldwork class I'm taking online from Sara Rickard.

This is what I've done in the first half of the first term.

It may not look like much, but it's literally hours of stitching.

I am a very slow stitcher, and I generally don't get much done during the actual class. I've found that I do much better if I watch the class, then stitch, referring back to the taped lesson as I work. Each class goes into great detail on how to work the steps involved in that week's assignment--including the angle of the needle as it's inserted into the fabric.

Sara is a phenomenal teacher, one of the best I've ever had--and I've taken a lot of classes over the years, both face-to-face and online. She not only tells you what to do, but why to do it that way. If there's an alternate method, she also demonstrates it, then tells us which method she prefers and why she does.

We're really covering the basics during this first term--padding with felt, both single and multiple layers, and with soft string. I've learned a lot about both. I also recognize that my soft string padding isn't great, but I know what I can do to improve it the next time I try. We've also learned how to couch gold threads and fill in shapes with couching. Again, I know how I can improve mine the next time I use that technique.

I'm also taking Sara's Deep Dive into Stumpwork class, and I have a couple of class motifs to work for that. I'll show that one when I'm caught up with it.

Meanwhile, I will be spending the next couple of days cooking and cleaning. We're having Thanksgiving early as usual, and I keep seeing things I need to do before Saturday. The grocery list has been completed, and Dearly Beloved is going on a hunting and gathering expedition. So I may be off the grid again for a couple of days until we go back to our normal rut.

Eye Candy 3

Last but not least:

 Based on Japanese family crests, Jane Nicholas has designed a series of stumpwork and goldwork projects. They really are eye candy:

Meanwhile, I still have two motifs from my online goldwork class that I need to couch and plunge, then I have a motif from the stumpwork class to work, and I will be completely caught up with both classes.

Just in time for more classes on Monday and Tuesday.

Eye Candy 2

 The next addition to my needlework library is Jenny Adin-Christie's Fine Whitework book, written to coincide with the Royal School of Needlework's 150th anniversary.

And it is very fine, indeed!

Whitework is one of those needlework disciplines I wish I had started to explore twenty years ago when eyes and hands were more cooperative. However, I think I can try some of the techniques in the book--if you've ever stitched one of Jenny's projects, you know how detailed her directions are.

I may not get good enough to do a creditable job on this:

but I can definitely admire the skill! And I think I can do some of the other, easier projects in the book, with Jenny's directions to guide me.

Eye Candy

I bought myself some books for Christmas this year, and this is the first--simply full of eye candy for the stitcher.

 Every couple of years, Inspirations magazine publishes a collection of lovely needlework projects, and this is the most recent addition.

Yes, I would like to stitch my way from cover to cover, but this is my favorite:

Alison Cole--stitched flowers--totally free-standing, dimensional embroidery. Just amazing!

Meanwhile, I am still working on couching and plunging gold threads on my online goldwork class. I made the mistake of counting the ends on the simplest motif--there are 28 of them The other motifs have more. My fingers and hands require a break periodically, so this going to take awhile.

It's a learning experience. I am also learning patience. At least I hope I'm learning patience and the embroidery hoop won't become a Frisbee before I finish.

More teeny-tiny, itty-bitty stitches

 To keep myself from doing all the border stitches for the pin cushions for Be Still My Heart, I looked around to see what else I could get myself into trouble with.

There is a sampler roll that will fit into one of the compartments in Be Still, so I rummaged around and found a scroll frame that is the right size, sewed the linen to the bars, and started on the first of the bands of border stitches in the sampler.

And, oh my, they are teeny!

The sampler itself is only about 2 1/4" wide, and each band is only two threads high.

And there are 77 bands.

I believe I will be working on this for awhile.