Lots of Victorian styled lovlies

I've got some WIPs to share and also a couple of new projects that I will hopefully be starting soon.

I've been working on Sue Hillis' Christmas in the Kitchen as a SAL with a couple of ladies on Flosstube.  I had not done much one it, but about a week ago really felt in the mood for it.  (Finally.)  So I pulled it out and got it about half done. 

 I changed the called for threads in the word Christmas at the top.  I used a merino wool and silk blend that also has some sparkle running through it.  It's a thin yarn, intended for needlepoint, but it works ok on this 14ct fabric.  I purchased it on a whim last year, simply thinking I would do something Christmas related with it.  I think it works perfectly for this project.

Next is a project that I am creating myself.  Not the patterns, but the stitching and decorating of this object was my idea.  All the patterns I'm using come from the book, Anne Orr's Charted Designs.  It's filled with Victorian motifs, silhouettes, alphabets (it shows you how to space and place your letters for monograms as well,) and florals.  

I found this rounded box that spins at a craft store.  It has six photo frames around the outside and the lid comes off.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to turn it into a stitching box.  I currently have four pictures done for the outside frames.  I have a lot of plans for the inside to dress is up and make it nice and lovely.

I've still been working on the Edwardian Garden Party by Cross Stitch Collection magazine.  I started it at the beginning of last year and have pretty much been working steadily since then.  I'm about 2/3 of the way through.  I just finished this gentleman in his suit last week and the lady next to him, I did her face, hat and decolletage last night.  I'm hoping to get her dress done in the next 2-3 days.

I recently went on quite a search, trying to find one of the patterns for Judy Odell's project, Attic Collection Stitcher's Accessory book.  It was quite the adventure trying to find one, as it is an old pattern that is no longer easily found.  I ended up contacting Judy Odell herself and even she had a hard time finding one ~ but in the end, I found two!  It was given several different pattern ways.  And I'm so excited to have two of them.

This is the original one I found out about and was looking for:

It has two color options, the one shown being Autumn and another that is Summer.  I'm going to kit up the Summer version ~ it is variegated purples and lemon yellows and navy blues.

Then this pattern is called Floral Romance Remembered.  I'm going to kit it up as well.

As well as stitching, I've been doing a lot of baking.  This week a wanted to see if I could create a recipe for Butterbeer Cookies ~ like the drink in Harry Potter.  I did pretty good if I say so myself.  Everyone gave these a thumbs up.

Recipe:

1 butter cake mix, 

2 eggs, 

1/2 C oil, 

2 Tbls water, 

1 tsp. cinnamon, 

1/2 C butterscotch bits, 

1/2 C english toffee bits

Mix all ingredients by hand until batter is smooth and shiny. Drop by tablespoon full onto parchment lined cookie sheets and bake for 10 minutes at 350*. Once cooled, make the icing drizzle ~ 1 C powdered sugar, 1 Tbls vanilla, 2 Tbls french vanilla coffee creamer. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

From my home to yours ~ enjoy!

Week in Review - 2/8 through 2/14

 

 

Last week was all about preparing for bad weather that was predicted to come our way.  I must admit, I didn't do much, lol.  Stayed out of the stores on purpose and stitched instead!  So let's see what I got done.  :0)

 

I've been determined to get a more respectable amount of work done on Garden Party for the Cross Stitch Collection magazine SAL.  So I worked with serious intent on the lady I had started.  I got her finished!  She has a lot of confetti that drove me a bit mad.  But looking at the other ladies in this section of the pattern, they don't have a lot of confetti like this one.  So perhaps I can whiz through them faster.  Here are two pictures of her from the week.

 

 

 

 

I'm also doing 12 (hopefully I'll get a full 12 done) smalls for the same SAL as Garden Party.  I'm doing Christmas ornaments for them.  Christmas never truly ends for a stitcher, does it?  I got another stocking done on my first small.  This will be an entire set of ornaments that tell the Night Before Christmas story.  I know it doesn't look like much, but with the progress I've made this week, I'm certain I will have this one finished this month.

 

 

I also did some work on a birth sampler that I'll be getting a commission on.

 

 

And just a teensy bit of progress on Lady Victoria.

 

 

Other than that, our week included some hearty and warming soups with homemade rolls:

 

 

Chocolate dipped rice krispie treats:

 

 

And games of "find the poodle" when he sits on the pillows that look just like him:

 

 

:0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drowning in the stitches!!

I'm feeling a bit in over my head.  Well, perhaps that's not the right phrase because I *can* do all the things I have going on in my stitching life, I just don't know if I have enough hours in the day for all of them.  I've got my own personal stitching and SALs that I'm in.  I've got my stitching charity to run and stitch for.  I've got a few pieces that will be paid work once I'm done with them (and I'm just starting on them now.)  And I also have a museum piece hovering around in the background that I'll be helping with, once all those in charge work out all the details and funding for the project. 

 

Soooo.......can I have a few more hours in each of my days?  Please??

 

Current progress: With the Garden Party SAL everyone has the option of doing 12 smalls.  So I'm doing them for Christmas, in addition to the Garden Party pattern.  I got started on this ornament the other night.  On 28ct Irish Linen.

 

 

Cross Stitch Collection, Garden Party SAL update

 

I haven't gotten as much done on Garden Party for the Cross Stitch Collection SAL as I wanted.  I've had a Love Quilts deadline to meet and I've been stitching for that like mad for the past couple of weeks.  I do have - at least - a start on Garden Party though.

 

 

Can you tell that is a dress coming together?  The brighter pink section on the right is a purse.  I really hope to get a lot more done in February.  I haven't started my smalls yet (sadness) but I will get those started too because I *really* want them for Christmas this year. 

 

My Love Quilts square really took center stage recently so I could meet the deadline.  But now that's done and I'll pour much more time and energy in the Garden Party SAL.

 

(My Love Quilts Square)