Back to "real life"

I finally finished this Temari. I couldn't figure out why it was taking so long until I described it to someone: C10, extra marking, 20 tri-wing figures in variegated DMC perle, 12 Kiku on 20 centers. The pink is #5 perle, the white, #8.

My fingers got sore pushing the needle through the mari; I think I may have to unearth my thimble. But I like how it turned out.

My next one is coming along as well.



I've been reading every one's reasons for blogging, and one of the benefits people mention is that there's more incentive to keep at projects when other people know what you are working on. So I am going to show my WIP (work in progress) for that reason. This is Martina Weber's design "Indian Summer Afternoon." It is definitely more than 1/2 way done, but there is a lot of work left on it. The fibers are fun to stitch with, a lot of variegated, mostly silk. The rayon is not fun (the black) but everything else just glides.



I was just running over my schedule this week, and the next full evening I have to stitch is next Friday! How did that happen? I may have to pull out more WIPs just to have things to talk about (but my mom and DH read this).

Challenge from Pin Tangle--SharonB

Sharon Boggins from Pin Tangle has asked:

"There are lots of people in the craft world starting a new blog or have just started a new blog for the new year. According to statistics many will start but will flounder and stop.
I though I would throw out a bloggers challenge and ask why do you blog? What are the advantages? If you have time, share your ideas with me and new bloggers on your blog, swing back here and leave a link so people can follow it. "

I had been reading blogs for a year, and more people I knew were beginning blogs. Several people encouraged me to begin a blog; but I couldn't imagine myself writing about WIPs (Works in Progress); I usually work on large cross stitch patterns and don't have very many finishes, so I resisted for quite a while. Then one day I saw Jude's library blog, and I thought "I could do that!" I started blogging to record and comment on my textile collection along with comments on current projects and daily happenings.

The benefits of blogging are what have kept me going. I am enjoying the friendships that are beginning to grow, and the sense of community. A hidden benefit has been that my family can keep track of what I am working on on their own schedule. I'm enjoying showing off my treasures, and I've learned a lot too. I am amazed that I am even enjoying the process of writing; for many years writing in English was difficult for me. I look at my blog stats and I get excited when more people visit. I'm even approaching my 100th post. These are many small reasons that add up to blogging being a very satisfying activity.

12th Day of Christmas

Myrrh!



Here's the latest Temari ball, and I think it turned out great. The base is cone thread, it is a s16 division with DMC spool metallic for the marking thread, and DMC #5 perle for the embroidery. I thought I was copying one of the Temari from "4 seasons" while I was stitching, but when I was done I went back and looked and the color arrangement is different. (It is actually sort of a combination of 3 different ones.) I really like how it turned out.



This is the first Temari I stitched with doubled thread; I think it took longer to make sure the threads were arranged smoothly than it would have taken to just stitch it twice with single threads. It was good practice, though.

I'm taking a pile of Temari to my guild tonight; I wonder what people will think of them.

11th Day of Christmas

Frankinsense.



Seeing this pattern started on a stand in Designer's Desk is what inspired me to stitch it. This is my favorite of the three gifts. The designer is Victoria Sampler.

10th Day of Christmas

Gold.



Design by Victoria Sampler.

9th Day of Christmas

The wise men found the place where Jesus was, and they gave him gifts.



Today I was very crabby. It is the last day of my vacation and didn't get nearly as much needlework done as I wanted to. I spent all my time with family, and reading, and sleeping in, all good things, and I had no excuse to be crabby. I just don't like the thought of going back.



I did get a couple of Temari finished. The one above is one I have had planned since I started making them. It is called striped Obi in Barbara Suess' book. The base is cone thread, DMC spool metallic as marking, and the stitching is with Madeira silk in jewel-tone colors. I think it turned out really beautiful.



This is the first Temari I have stitched from my new books. This one is from Temari for 4 Seasons. The base is cone thread, the marking is a c10. The marking is DMC spool metallic. There are 12 pentagons stitched in perle #8 which form the stars. There are 12 stars stitched with 6 colors of Kreinik, three blending filament, and 3 #4 braid. I thought I had 6 colors of the "star" colors in the blending filament, but I must have used them up, or they are packed with other projects. I still really like how it turned out, and I will be exploring this pattern again with more color combinations.

6th Day of Christmas

So the Wise men found the house where the baby lay.



I had a wonderful vacation day yesterday. My daughter and I went to a shop on Belmont and Clark, "Toguri" a shop of Oriental gifts. There was a section with Japanese groceries, books covering Japanese language and other Japanese cultural interests, cards, origami papers, paper lanterns, Japanese fabrics and some obis and kimonos, all kinds and shapes of paper lanterns, and a big section with Saki and sushi sets. A lot of the pottery was gorgeous. And they had Origami and Temari books!



It was almost as much fun as exploring in a foreign country!



I found more Temari books than I could afford there! I bought four of them, and I will be going back (or at least sending my daughter there for me). I sat and studied them; I am so excited! I think they have all the titles that are available. I got Cosmo 6, Cosmo 5, Shin Shu and Temari for 4 Seasons.

We had lunch at Ann Sather and shopped at a couple of used book stores. Then we went back to my daughter's apartment and spend the afternoon hanging out. I read my new books, and we talked and had tea. I had a cup of Key Lime pie tea. It was better than the Carrot Cake tea from the same company.