Silver Lining Fuchsias

Oh look what I found in my mother's things!
Pretty pink fuchsias!

Growing up there were fuchsias growing alongside our home. I always thought they looked like ballerinas.

When going through some of my mother's things, I found this lovely stitched piece. I did not even remember her stitching them. Maybe she stitched them as a gift for me...knowing how much I would love them. Especially because I love the colors.

I found this pretty frame in the bargain bin of my frame shop and I had my favorite lady, Donna pick out this lovely suede mat (which looks darker in this picture, and not near as pretty as it REALLY is). I wanted her to cut the mat to match the designs in the frame somewhat. So we played on her computer and came up with this. I just love it.

I'm sure my mum is smiling from Heaven...

Another Chatelaine Design--Alpine Seasons

YES!
I've framed up Alpine Seasons.
I just loved this design when I saw it. Years ago. Several.
Its been stitched and folded up neatly in my "finished" basket.

I had visions of stitching it on a hand dyed fabric that resembled clouds.
It might be hard to see in this picture, but it came out just like I wanted.

The mat I chose is suede. I just love the richness of suede mats.
I imagine you've noticed I use lots of them!

It took a bit of looking for the perfect frame, but I think I found it! I wanted it to look rustic, like the cabin.

Now, if you are a "regular" with Chatelaine things, you might notice that mine doesn't look exactly like most of them. I left of the outer border because I wanted to be different. I liked the idea of a hexagon mat. The other big thing I did that was a deviation from the original is, I changed the colors of the flowers around the center so they would better reflect the changing of the seasons.

You probably noticed that the trees have more snow in the winter section and the amount of water in the streams are different, as are the snow on the hills. (Hence the name, Alpine Seasons)

I will attach a picture below this that will show the center much closer so you can get an idea.

I have run out of room on my walls, as you can probably imagine (This framed piece is like 25 inches square, maybe bigger with the mat, actually...) so I told my sister that she was welcome to take it home to her house for awhile. It fits her house look.  She seemed really happy about it. I haven't been there yet to see where she put it, but I shall soon.

Ha. If you look at the bottom part of the framed piece, you can probably see my kitty, Alicon's reflection in the glass. lol
He was very interested!

Valerie Pfeiffer Hummingbird

I just love blue fabric that is painted to look like clouds.
I am so glad the days of using white Aida cloth are over! There are simply sooooo many possibilities nowadays!!!!!

This little darling is over one, of course. Because we all know how much easier it is to do over one with only one thread. There is no railroading involved!

And of course, the added bonus, you use less of the pretty fabric. Less thread...a SMALLER, less expensive FRAME for it and if you added a mat, well, a smaller mat, costs less! And not to mention, its easier to find a space on the wall to PUT it. BONUS BONUS BONUS.

And you know me, gotta add sparkle. So lots of blending filament because Hummingbirds are beautiful little things.

I plan to frame this. Its to be a gift for my Auntie. Her birthday is in May. She's to be 92 this time.

OH and a tiny change, I changed the color of the flowers. We don't have any fuchsias here that have blue on them. (Oh and French knots, too. I love French knots now because my friend, Ria showed me how to do them. Thank you Ria!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the first one

Remember her?

I stitched her about 10 or 11 years ago. 

Back then, I was really poor and I framed her the best way I knew how and could afford.

Recently I noticed her mat was just not very pretty (it faded, which means she didn't have any UVA glass, OMG!),  and I wasn't overly fond of the frame I had for her.

I also noticed she was looking a little "wavy" under the glass.

So, I took her apart and to my....uh...hmmmmm... horror...astonishment...amazement...? OK, we will leave it at amazement... To my amazement, I  saw that I had used DUCT TAPE to tape the fabric to the flimsy piece of the cardboard that was in that cheap frame I had acquired. lol

I must apologize for the flash in the picture. I just could not get an accurate color without the flash. (And I have no idea what that line is on the lower left corner...)

You know, framing options have come a long way since I framed her. I don't think they had suede mats available then. I know I could not have afforded one then. Also, if you can see closely, the inner gold mat I have has sparkle to it. I LOVE! that mat.

I also love the mat cut. Once I did something with an arch, so I kind of had that idea in my mind. When I saw this cut, I was excited.

Well, truth be known, I was excited about the whole thing!!!!

And I had to wait THREE WHOLE WEEKS for that sparkly gold mat to come in because it was out of stock. (I know, right, everyone wanted it!)

I shall attach Eleanor's "before" picture below so you can see my poor queen before she got her new look. If you look closely, you can see a tiny bit of her frame.

Enjoy your week! I'm heading for my couch and my stitching, and the fire that is already waiting there for me. (I sure my love my honey, he's so good to me)

Another bird--Ann Tarbox by Hillside Samplings

I bet it never occurred to you that I like birds. haha
But it's true, I do.

I was going to tell you which designer this came from but I have spent the morning (well, not the WHOLE morning) trying to figure it out. But nooooooooo. I don't remember. And I can't find it wherever I have looked. (If one of you really wants to know, I   *do*   have a box someplace that has all my previously stitched charts in it and I will look there for you)

Part of the problem is that I stitched it years ago. And the reason I haven't shown it to you before now is because I never finish finished it. And I put it away in my cupboard where I stored lots of other pretties.  I was originally going to frame it and I tried to find a frame that I liked but I just couldn't figure out the right color to go with it. So then I thought I would turn it into a box cover. But then, THAT never happened either because I couldn't figure out which color trims to use.  LOL

Recently, as you know, I've been pulling these things out of their "finished basket" and taking them to my friend at the frame shop. We work super well together. She picks the prettiest colors for mats, things I wouldn't have thought of. And then that makes me think of something else.  This is the mat she found. But the frame she had was too modern. So we fiddled around with frames until I came across this one.

I'm so into frames and the very last little details.

I was so excited to find this frame because the leaf design in the frame matches the leaves on the branches absolutely PERFECTLY!

Medieval Town Framed

I'm so excited to have Medieval Town all framed and on the wall in the living room!
Much better than on a wrapping paper roll, hidden away in the corner (where it was "lost" for a full year, hiding there)

The frame I chose for this one, I just love it to pieces!
So much so that I am going to add another picture below this one so you, too can get the full effect.
I think the frame looks very "Tudor-like" and I love how it looks with the roofs and all the other things going on.

I was so excited the day I came home after choosing what I wanted for which picture.

Just you wait...

I have several others I shall be posting soon!

I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tudor Rose Bookmark

My mom was so awesome. I found the kit to this in her things and since I love the Tudor times, I stitched it right up. Of course I had to add my favorite Rainbow Gallery gold braid to give it extra sparkles...you know how I am with the sparklie things.

I found the greatest thing to back bookmarks with!!
Its strap fabric off the rollie thing in the trim department.

The best things about the strap fabric is:

1. Its the perfect width
2. Its firm but not too firm
3. Its not too thick at all
4. And the edges are finished, so no extra bulk!

I did add a tiny strip of Skirtex (love that product) inside so the bookmark wouldn't be floppy.  I just don't care for floppy bookmarks.

This is the first bookmark I've ever done. And I'm really happy with it.   :)