“Candles Glow” by Joan Lohr -- April 29, 2009

I’ve Finally finished “Candles Glow” which was designed by Joan Lohr for Rainbow Gallery.


“Candles Glow” was the August, 2008 Canvas of the Month club from The Stitching Post. I only have two more (September and October, 2008) and I’ll be done with the 2008 canvases. Then it's on to the 2009 Canvas of the Month Club canvases.

Why do I say “Finally” finished? Well, this design took a little bit longer to stitch. Mainly because I got in the rhythm of stitching the candles and somehow, somehow, somehow, I ended up stitching the middle candle exactly one stitch short width wise. Of course I didn’t notice this until I finished stitching all FIVE candles and half of the gold border on the bottom. I FINALLY realized that I had a problem when I couldn’t get the bottom gold border to come out correctly. After much recounting, I finally figured out that the center candle was the problem. Heavy SIGH!

So, after ordering new threads, undo stitching and then re-stitching three of the candles, I was finally able to finish stitching the gold bottom border.

Then all I needed to do was fill in the background with the T-Stitch using yellow pearl Hi-Lights. This was a lot of fun but a bit of an adventure as I had to spend time repeatedly untwisting the Hi-Lights as it tended to want to curl back on it’s self. This wasn’t a real problem but it just took a while.

I do think that it turned out lovely!

Once I’ve written the journal entry for “Candles Glow”, it will be added to the container to wait its turn to be finished into an ornament.

I hope that you are having a great week, that you are staying cool (temperatures here were in the low 90’s earlier this week!), that you are safe and dry (it’s started raining here again but we need it), and that you have found some time to stitch!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Fabric Giveaway - April 28, 2009

Daffycat (Sharon) is giving away fabric that she hand-dyed herself!

Please check out Daffycat's blog as she has all of the details on her April 26, 2009 entry.

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane” -- April 25, 2009

I’ve made lots of progress on my “Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane” by “Melissa Shirley Designs”.

I’ve finished stitching the black hats with the bright green hat bands. Now it’s on to the flowers and the background!

I purchased this canvas with a stitch guide and fibers from Pocket Full of Stitches in Lubock, Texas.


I’m very comfortable selecting my own threads and stitches for painted canvases but sometimes I enjoy purchasing a canvas with a stitch guide and fibers from a LNS. Especially when I’m very busy and I don’t want to take the time to work out the details for a design! And life is very busy right now!!! LOL!

I also like to see what thread and stitch ideas someone else might come up with for a canvas. Especially since many LNS’s, such as PFOS, will pull fibers and write up a stitch guide for any of the canvases that you purchase through their shop.

Now after saying that, I should add that I don’t always follow the stitch guide as written as I’ll change things up. :-)

So far for this design I have followed the stitch guide and I’m using the included threads. And by the way, I’m not the only stitcher who changes things. This not only happens in the needlepoint world, but you ought to see what the cross stitchers change! LOL!!!

I’m so glad that you stopped by my blog!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

After many months of effort, I’ve reached a major milestone in my organizing campaign, the threads are finally organized! Wahoo! Let the celebrating begin!!!

Oh, wait a moment…

Drat…

Just found the Rainbow Gallery specialty threads (non-Splendor).

Sigh…

Let me try this again…

After many months of effort, I’ve almost reached a major milestone in my organizing campaign, the threads are almost finally organized! Wahoo! Get ready to celebrate!!!

What’s that? You also want to know what’s in the other gazillion containers, those bags on the floor and those piles that are about to topple over?

Ummmm, please ignore the man behind the green curtain. They are nothing, just nothing. Okay, those are my books, magazines, needlework charts, painted canvases, beads, and bead kits that still need to be organized. But hey, the threads are almost done! Wahoooooooooooo!!!

Actually, the Rainbow Gallery non-Splendor threads are organized, inventoried, and just need to be dropped into the appropriate containers which did not quite… happen this weekend. But since I’m so close, I decided to share my organizing progress with you anyways! :-)

As my dear readers and family know, the great organizing campaign began last summer when I looked at the mess and send to myself, “Cynthia you have got to do something with all of this stuff!” This occurred after a very frustrating hour or so of looking for something that I know that I have probably bought ten of but right then I couldn’t find any of them!!!

The first thing I did with my stash is pull it all out. When we redid the basement several years ago, all of my stash was dumped into a lot of large storage containers (40 and 60 gallons). Please keep in mind, I started stitching and collecting when I was about 7-8. :-)

The first step was to open up these containers and rough sort it back into the containers, but it would now be organized by large categories such as threads, beads, canvases, UFO's, WIP's, canvas of the month clubs, canvas, charts, etc. Well you get the idea.

I then looked at all of the large containers and decided that I would start with organizing my threads. Why? Well, I have a lot of threads and if they were organized that would downsize several of the larger containers. I also thought my sorted threads would probably need the most of my new storage containers and boy oh boy was I right!

I then started on my quest to find containers that would work for what I was sorting, were non-paper, would be available for a long time, and weren’t going to be very expensive. This way, I could purchase several storage containers every week or so to spread out the cost. After I have several containers, I would wash them to remove the oils and any dirt and then they would be ready to be labeled with their contents.

I have found several storage solutions that are working very well for what I need. The first ones that I found are large 12” x 12” x 3” containers at Michael’s that are available in several colors. They are Iris Scrapbook Central ™ Scrapbook Cases. Michael’s puts these frequently on sale from 30% to 40& off their usual price. These are the containers that you see in the left of the picture. The three shown here are holding part of my DMC Floss collection. What’s that you ask? Yes, I do have every color in DMC floss so yes it is just part of my collection. :-)



For smaller collections, I finally decide to use Sterilite ™ containers that are 11” x 6 5/8” x 2 3/4”. These are in the center of the picture and the ones shown here hold part of my Kreinik collection.

For future storage needs I’ve also picked up samples of two other styles of Sterilite ™ containers which are not shown here. They are the 8 ½” x 11” containers and the 11” x 6 5/8” x 5 3/8” storage containers.

As I’m organizing, I’m allowing room for my thread collection to grow so I won’t need to keep reorganizing my threads. No, I’m not admitting how many containers I’ve purchased so far but it’s been quite a few! :-)

It’s taken many hours of my spare time to organize my threads but I’m so glad that I did. It’s a wonderful feeling to finally know what is in my thread stash and to be able to find thing quickly!

While I was organizing my threads I decided to also organize how I worked on projects. I’ve been storing my ongoing projects in plastic bags which I always disliked.

One day while running around Target, I found their new scrapbook containers. Okay, they were new to me. :-)

I brought home one of each size, washed them, and tried them out. Instant success!

The large green containers are approximately 14” x 14” x 1 ½”. These are working beautifully as they hold and protect fairly large projects even on stretcher bars or I’m using them to hold the fibers and patterns for several of my larger projects.

The smaller containers are 9” x 11 ½” x ½”. These are also working out well to hold smaller projects such as small cross stitch projects and Mill Hill kits.

These are also helping greatly with my rotation system as I have a stack of at least 12 of the larger and 6 of the smaller containers by my stitching nest. When I want to rotate I put the current project on the bottom of the stack and pick up the one of the top. Or I spread out several of the containers on the dining room table and move from the contents of one to the next as I work on different projects. When I need to clean up, I just put the contents back in the container and put them back in project stack. I just love this system!!!

Now that the threads and my current projects are organized, I’m moving on to beads! Or I will as soon as I label my Rainbow Gallery thread containers. :-)

Dritz ™ now has smaller containers (Purple, Pink, Blue/Aqua) with lids that are going to work great for the beads. I found mine in Michael's in the sewing notions section.

Hope you seeing my new storage containers!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane” -- April 18, 2009

Please meet one of my new projects. It’s a “Halloween Hats & Flowers Candy Cane” by “Melissa Shirley Designs”.


They have a series of candy canes and one of the sets is for Halloween. Well, when I first saw these I just had to laugh! I love them!!! I now have two in my stash and I’ve started working on the first one which is “Halloween Hats and Flowers”.

I’m looking forward to adding the rest of the Halloween Candy Canes to my collection. I also love the new candy corn designs. You can see all of the new Halloween designs at “Halloween Ornaments”.

Also please check out the other candy cane sets, “Wintergreen”, “Peppermint” and “Chocolate” which you can see in the “Shaped Category”.

I’m trying to decide which of the chocolate candy canes I want to order first???

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Update:
I've updated all of my Lists on the right hand side and added lot's of new stitching blogs. Please note that if you are interested in Cross Stitch blogs, please look at the ones I have listed. These are the ones I read on a regular basis and most of them have links to many, many, many, more cross stitch blogs!

I'm also planning on updating my blog header picture as soon as the leaves emerge here in Windy Meadow. They are almost out!

Have fun with all of the new blogs!

"Journalling Needlework -- April 9, 2009"

Beth asked how do I journal my needlework?

I started journalling a while ago so that I would have a record of what I've stitched, when I stitched it, what threads I used, who it was for, etc.

I decided that as I finish each project, I'll write up the journal entry before finishing or sending it off to a finisher. Then I would just need to add pictures of the finished project to complete the journal entry.
I also decided that I'm going to journal the projects that I've already completed or at least those I still have as I've given away many Works of Art (WOAs) over the years. LOL!!!

I take different pictures while I'm stitching and I only load up a couple to the blog. The rest I save for the journal entries. Since these are for my own use, these pictures include closeups with a lot more detail.

For those WOA's that I've already finished that I still have, I'm working on taking pictures and writing up journal entries.

For those who might be interested in what information I include in my journal entries, I've included a sample journal entry below. Please note that this is formated much nicer in my actual journal entries. :-)

Please let me know if you are journaling and what information you include in your journal entries.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Update:

Once the journal entries are completed (these are typed in Word), they are printed off with the pictures and placed in a journal. So not only do I have the printed copy, we also have the electronic copy.

I've found that it's easier to journal if I'm creating the journal entry electronically as opposed to creating it the entry by writing it in a journal. Please note that these are journal entries, not scrapbooking entries as I feel that the pictures are all of the embellishment that is needed. Though I might get creative with the paper or with borders! :-)

I'm also helping my daughter with journaling her projects, especially as she has only stitched and finished a few so it will be easier to catch up with hers! LOL!!!

“Title of Project”
Designer

Stitched By:     Your Name

 


Designer:        Designers Name

 


Gift:            Yes or No

 


Class Project:   Yes or No

 


Purchased:       Name of Store.
  From

 


Kitted:          Yes or No
  Project

 


If Kitted:       Yes or No
  Did the kit include canvas and threads?

 


Cost:            $?.??

 


Started:         Date or approximate date.
  Stitching

 


Completed:       Date or approximate date.
  Stitching

 


Professional:    Yes or No
  Finisher       If professionally finished, 
                 add in name of finisher or store 
                 through which finishing was done. 
                 If finished by me, add in 
                 finishing details. 

 


Finishing:       Date and any finishing details.
  Date

 


Finished:        This project was finished as a … 
  Details        It’s about ??“ tall by ?? wide.
                 Add in additional finishing 
                 details. 

 


Finishing:       $?.??
  Cost

 


Threads:         Thread List
                 Thread
                 Thread 

 


Stitches:        Areas – with stitches and threads.
                 Next area.
                 Next area.
                 If using a stitch guide, note any 
                 changes from the stitch guide.

 


Description:     Add in a description of the 
                 project and any fun details such 
                 as why it was stitched, how long 
                 it took, any problems with 
                 threads or stitches, who it was 
                 for, and why I had it finished 
                 the way I did. 

 


                 Add in progress and finished 
                 photos with the description.

 


Journal Entry:   Written on Month Day, Year.
  Date 

“JB Nutcracker – 1st Day of Christmas” -- April 7, 2009

One of my favorite design series is the JB Nutcrackers. I started collecting these many years ago as I would find them in different LNS’s. These are a fun stitch and they work up very quickly.

I don’t actually collect nutcrackers but there is something about these little guys that has always appealed to me. So much so that I have stitched quite a few of these and actually had them finished into nutcrackers! As many of you know, I do finish stitching projects, but I’m not the best at having the project actually framed or finished into something. :-)

The JB Designs line became unavailable for a while and I was very disappointed… :-(

But there is a happy ending to this story. The JB line including the JB Nutcrackers was picked up “Julia’s Needleworks” so they are available again! Yeah!!!

You can see all of the JB Nutcrackers that are currently available here;

http://needleworks.ehclients.com/index.php/gallery-jb/category/C133

I’ve added a Nutcracker into my rotation so that I will always be working on one, especially since I have so many of the little guys! LOL

The first one to be added to the rotation is the “1st Day of Christmas Nutcracker”. I’ve made some progress as I have most of the face and the hat done. The next time you see him, I should have both of these areas done.

Update: The problem with uploading the picture was with our main computer. DH is working on it now trying to take off several viruses. Fun in Windy Meadow! Sigh...

Glad that you stopped by and I hope you enjoyed seeing my progress on my nutcracker!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow