A New Finish!

Last night I finished the project I was working on for my parent's 50th anniversary. I stitched Golden Hearts by JBW. I used the silk and beads that it called for though I think I substituted the metallic. I did make one last minute change. The chart calls for a "Happy Anniversary" at the bottom. I changed it to the top and put "50 Years" at the bottom. I stitched their names on the left and the years (1956 2006) on the right. I think it looks really good, I'm glad I was able to personalize it. Tonight when I get home from work I will check out the frames that I have handy to see if one of them will work out for this piece. If not, then I'm headed to the fabric store to get some matching fabric to make it a soft wall hanging. Their anniversary is Saturday and this will be done well ahead of time instead of the last time I made something I was putting in the last bead at 2:30 am that day.

Edited to add pic - and note that I obviously framed it and didn't have to go to the fabric store. I think it looks pretty good as is.

As for the rest of my stitching - it's been pretty much put on hold due to the deadline stuff. I have 3 more weeks to get the 21st birthday present done. I don't think I'll be matting this one so that will make it easier to frame (and cheaper).
The model has been put on hold due to having to frog a bunch of stitches that I don't like to do in the first place. (I hate lazy daisy's.) Starting tonight I will make myself put in a couple of stitches to the model so I at least have some daily progress. (Note to self: Must contact designer soon.)
Emerald Mermaid - have started putting in beads and she looks terrific! But she has also been put aside for the deadline stuff.
I have new progress pics but still need to get them into my webshots album. Maybe tonight...

Progress slowed

I finished the book I bought last week then spent most of the evening cheering up a friend who was down in the dumps. Therefore I didn't get much stitching done. It's kinda been a lot like that lately. Plus, I had a faire-type gig last weekend and didn't get any stitching done.

I got some good work in on Emerald Mermaid before the first phone call came. That phone call was a discussion of stash, what kind to buy for the project, and where to get it. That was what made me get on the computer to begin with. I took the M Designs letter with me into the computer room but got very little work done.

Golden Hearts is about 50% done now. I've been trying to figure out how to finish it. I had thought to make it into a pillow, but maybe it should just be a wall hanging. I've got two weeks to get it finished. I'm taking it with me this weekend and if I get it finished while I'm gone I will head to the fabric store next week to find coordinating fabric to make it a wall hanging.

I have found out that the recipient of the M Designs letter that I'm working on won't be where I'll be when it needs to be done. So basically I've extended my deadline for this. I'll keep working on it steadily, but I now don't need to hurry. I've got two more weeks.

I've got a system now for Emmy - two needle's worth of thread and one of beads. I've decided that if I alternate this way then the beads will get on faster and I'll be less frustrated with it. At least there's very little backstitch. She's looking really good right now. I'm going to be taking her with me as well.

Lots of stitching happening!

I've made some good progress on a couple of pieces and have had to frog a couple of pieces as well. One was because of mistakes that I made and the other was because I didn't like the fabric choice that I made.

The progress was made on Castle Sampler - I nearly have the border stitched all the way around. I've also got a good start on an M-Designs letter and Castle Ridge for my sister.

I was able to stitch Saturday, Sunday, and last night. Tonight I don't know what I'll pick up, but I'm hoping to get to something although I need to go get insurance and I'm sure I'll go shopping after that!