Chatelaine Herbularius updates

Here are some updated pictures of Herbularius. Parts 4 and 5

Finally finished finished

Here's a reindeer (I forget which one now since its been awaiting framing for a few years now) I put it all together this morning

My new kitty

I just had to share a picture of my new kitty. I've been volunteering at the shelter for a full year, so those that know me knew it was inevitable that one day I would bring home a new kitty. My most favorite kitty of my whole life died 2 years ago just after Thanksgiving. I've never met another kitty such as him. But then...I was at the shelter Friday and there was this new kitty! Such a pretty little guy with beautiful blue eyes (hes a Lynx point)This picture doesn't do those eys justice, I took it with him next to me today, happily laying on the couch in front of the fire. He was so sweet, laying on his back doing the happy feet in the air and I had to pick him up right away. Immediately I flipped him over on his back and put my face in his tummy (I always see if the kitty lets me do that to him [must be a him]--its part of the criteria!) and he did and not only did he tolerate it, but he loved it! And he purred. So I took him in the room and held him. He was content to stay on my lap and not get down to play at all. Oh my, I just knew he was the one! So I adopted him right then and there. Totally spur of the moment! I brought home this little 7 month old jewel and he proceded to be such an awesome, calm, loving little kitty that just wanted to hang out and purr and sit on my lap (as he is right this moment). Hes already earned the name I gave him, Romeo!!!!

Gift Exchange

I received this beautiful little house ornament in the mail yesterday. It was made by Patty Howard, a wonderful lady in my guild, Bay Area Sampler Guild as a Christmas gift exchange. I just love it and thought I would share it with you. Its very tiny (2 inches wide?) and its stitched and finished sooooooooo nicely. Thank you Patty!

Gather ye Roses

I was so productive yesterday!
I was straightening up my stitching area and noticed a little packet of beads.
I thought I had finished this design a couple days ago, but no! So I added the beads (oh so pretty!) and I framed it, too :)

the gift...

I signed up with my guild to make a Christmas gift for someone. Of course, my luck drew the name of THE most challenging, talented, knowledgeable woman in the group...of course.
So I knew I must make something extra wonderful.

I thought and thought and thought and thought some more!

OK. I'll make a tote bag. Everyone loves tote bags!
And they are USEFUL. I like things that serve a purpose.
(Its my practical nature)

I went to the fabric store and chose the fabric. Its so lovely.

Then I snapped a photo of the fabric, put it in my designers program and then spent many, many hours redoing my picture. Because of course, it PIXELED it. And I was not about to stitch "confetti."

I found some red Lugana 25 ct. to match the background of the fabric and stitched my design on it. I liked how it turned out.

Then I finally had to put the tote bag together.
Oh dear...

I've never stitched one of them before.
So I procrastinated until nearly the last minute.

It was a lined one, to make matters even worse (and it did not say "EASY" on the pattern. Plus I changed the shape of it, too.

Now, I'm NOT a very experienced seamstress.
Fact, I should have really had someone else do it.

But I did it.
Definitely learned some things while doing it.
(not how to avoid having a pucker here or there, though) sigh lol
I wonder if I should place an apology note in the bottom of it....

But its finished!

Garden Plot

Ohhhh the Garden Plot Thickens...

I'm only working on this when I'm all caught up on Herbularius. Each month another section of the design is given out and I just don't want to fall behind. I shall feel DOOMED if I do!
(Needless to say, I have fallen behind before in a couple of these massive undertakings and they are left in my cupboard, awaiting a reawakening)

I'm not overly crazy about the colors in this design. In fact, soon as I uncovered this again, I was struck by how dull the colors looked. I had to remind myself that they are NOT dull, they are lovely in their own way and the reason they SEEM dull is because one cannot help but compare them to the colors in Herbularius, which are quite vivid, rich and gorgeous.

Herbularius part 3

Herbularius is coming right along.

The colors are gorgeous.
The textured stitches in the pillars look really dimentional.

I used my creative license to add my own version of backstitching on the pillars. I just wanted them to be more outlined than was called for.

I'm really enjoying stitching this piece and I can barely set it down.
I keep thinking to myself "oh just a FEW more stitches...!" haha

Herbularius

ok! I'll tell you, its Herbularius :)

Here are some more progress pictures

A new something...

I started something new last Sunday. And I don't think I shall tell you what it is. I think it will be more fun to see how it turns out, rather than showing you a picture of the finished goal.

Hints though...
it will take about a year to complete
this center picture is a pond
I will put all the beads in at the end
I have made others by this designer

Those of you that know what this design is (because you just know me), please don't tell. But those of you who are guessing--please guess away!

Who do you think the designer is?
Which design do you think it is?

The Garden Plot Thickens...

Here's what I've stitched so far. This is like...part 4(?) of 12, so far

Iris Garden

Can you imagine how wonderful it smells here?

I can. My sister and I took a trip all the way to Salem, Oregon in the spring one year just to see the iris' bloom. lol

Garden Plot

I've been stitching away on The Garden Plot Thickens. I changed her dress from the original design (isn't that what we all do?) haha

I also changed the green out to a darker one. The one I received in my kit just blended right into the fabric.
I notice some of the colors are quite pale, but not so much once there is a white background behind them.
Oh, and she didn't have a face in the original. So I added some eyes (instead of lines that were meant to look like her eyes were closed) and some lips and eye brows. lol She needs to be able to look around! I gave her a pensive, kind of concerned look. I used regular sewing machine thread. I also used sewing thread for the tiny blackwork on the inner part of her dress.

The Garden Plot Thickens

Just this very morning I put the first stitches into my newest project: The Garden Plot Thickens, by Amy Mittens. Its a beautiful design with a lot of blackwork (in colors) and other lovely stitches, complete with a mystery story written by the designer. Looks like lots of fun.
I'm posting a finished picture of it, done by my friend, Ria. She did a gorgeous job on hers and inspired me to do my own. The picture I'm adding is just one small section of it because its very large--I'm thinking about 36" long.

DONE!

Flower Power is FINISHED! I put the final touches on this morning. I ironed it and snapped some pics. I can't believe its actually 36 inches wide!. Its just huge. Lucky for me, I've already got a frame for it.

Its too bad the camera doesn't pick up all the sparklies in the hummingbirds. (I used Kreinik and rayon floss.) They are just beautiful in person.

Awwww

So snuggly and cozy

Fathers Day

Such a lovely day. My sister and I took Dad out for lunch. We went down to the harbor that has had memories for us all the years of growing up.

It was wonderful.

Lately...

I've been working on Flower Power because I am on such a roll and have told myself I can't start anything new until I finish it. (I'm so tough!)

But I won't bore with you more pictures of it.

Instead, I'm showing you my daughters cute puppy, Shasta. She's a cute little (omg, so friendly and non-barky!) thing, named for a huge mountain.

Shasta turned one year last week and Holly had a dog party. She stayed up until 3 a.m. the night before making party hats (with their names) and bandannas. What a fun night.

Valerie's Gift

Today we celebrated my best friend, Valerie's birthday :)

I thought of her when I saw this kit on The French Needle's website because she loves little boxes. It didn't come with any trim, so I found this black and white gingham at the fabric store. When it comes to "finishing," I really procrastinate, but I just love how it turned out!

Spot Sampler

I'm starting to get tired of stitching flowers...

My eyes started wandering and I've come across something lovely and challenging!

I found it at The Essamplaire website in the classes section.

I understand the class will be in June. hmmmmmmmm I guess it *is* more flowers...but they are way different! lol

What do you think?

Flower Power so far

Here's what I have so far. (Just pretend there aren't any wrinkles) I was thinking about how hard its going to be to frame it-- lacing isn't going to be easy considering its size.

I am missing a bird or two and a butterfly in there. I just really wanted to finish those daylilies and daisies and move on to something brighter. lol

Flower Power Nasturiums

Just a quick 'lil picture of what I've done so far on the Nasturiums. They are so vivid and lovely. I'm so happy to be finished with daisies and daylilies!!!!

Wow...

I don't have a picture handy for you, but I'm past the middle of "Flower Power" now and I've finished those Daylilies and white daisies. Whew!

I am starting to get tired of stitching flowers...

The first butterfly on Flower Power

Here's a closeish picture of the other butterfly that I've completed so far. They are so lovely. But yes! I love that second one the best. :)

Its so stormy out, I'm going to sit here and stitch ALL DAY! lol

Flower Power closeups

I'm back to working on Flower Power. I am so loving this gorgeous design. And the fabric! Well, that just makes it ever so much more lovely!!!!

Here's the latest little butterfly close up. And a close up of the pretty columbine.

Tiny Hummingird Picture

I was inspired to do this little picture last year. It is done on 32 count polysilk over one, using 2 threads to give it the dimentional look.

The polysilk is clearish, so I had to be careful not to have any threads show through.

The finished size of the center design is only 2 1/2 inches.

So distracting!

LOL Look at those teeth!

I love my Siamese, Kidden.

He is just so cute. I have to keep stopping what I'm doing and love on him.

Quadrile first 2

I did it! I took a picture! lol :)

These are the first 2 sides of a 4 sided ornament.

I sat by the fire yesterday and watched Netflix and stitched the day away. Oh what a great way to spend a Sunday...

Busy me!

Its so true there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do! (Especially sewing things) And sometimes I will lay in my bed as I am coming awake, thinking about what I will do this day and I make all these plans for SUCH productivity then I sit down here at my computer and sip my coffee and one thing leads to another and before I know it, I'm out of time! (And I've not accomplished much, either...but I HAVE seen all the new things I'd just love to stitch!!! lol)

I just found out yesterday that one of my dear friends reads my blog. Actually, let me rephrase... CHECKS my blog regularily to see what I've added. It came to mind that I do not update it near often enough.


I've got this thing in my head that whenever I post, that I MUST put a new picture. And pictures take effort, (to TAKE the picture and more harder: to DO something big enough to take a picture of!) :)


I love pictures. Pictures say a lot. So today I will take a picture. But not post it right now. Because... I haven't taken it yet. And just now I will make this into a "pictureless post."

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend

Flower Power so far

Here's the big picture of what I've done so far. The colors are just lovely in person and I've really enjoyed stitching this.

Flower Power WIP

Here are some of the Hummingbirds I've finished. I love how sparkly and pretty they turned out

Crossed Wing

Happy New Year!!!!

This past summer I came across a lovely design. A HUGE design with flowers and hummingbirds and butterflies. It was quite lovely. AND THEN... I saw someone's blog that was stitching it on a hand dyed fabric. And that hand dyed fabric was actually done FOR this design, by the actual designer of this lovely flower garden. http://www.crossedwing.com/

Quickly I got on the phone and called her to see if she was still doing that since this was a few years old and YES! She ordered fabric for me (a very large piece of 32 ct. linen... somewhere in the ball park of 28x50"-- did I mention it was huge?) I dont even remeber the finished size, maybe its 20x36?

Today I will show you my fabric and the design. Today or sometime this week I'll take it off the frame and snap some smaller shots and post them.

~Narita