Nov Gifted Gorgeousness

Hello Everyone,

I hope your week is going well and that you are keeping warm (for those living in the northern hemisphere). Here it is -13C (9F) and snowing (yay for winter).

I have done a bit of stitching these last few weeks on some smaller projects and one of them fits into the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL hosted by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching (go over there to see the other gifts stitched this month). Jo is always holding community projects and blog hops and is starting to look for bloggers wanted to participate in the Christmas advent calendar. Shoehorning in projects is always welcome so even if I am not doing any specifically Christmas-styled projects I will be signing up and encourage everyone else to get involved.

I have finished up some more the of the flowers on the Energetic Tree that is a gift for my brother and his partner as a move in present / Christmas projects. I am all finished and just need to figure out how to finish / frame.

I have made a couple of colour changes to the piece because I like purple and red more than yellow. This was the first time I used Jacobean couching and I think the look is very striking.

I also started another embroidery piece that will be a gift for my sister, the shoe collector. It is a small and fun design and the fabric is a high count and nice to stitch on.

Now for the piece that I am shoehorning in to this months GG. This was a gift for my soul. This is a piece from the XStitch magazine that I received last month. For those of you who are not familiar, the first magazine was released a few months ago (revolution) and has some political projects.

This too shall pass

XStitch Magazine

32 count antique white lugana 

Colour & Cotton threads (Black Currant & Slate)

I made some adjustments to the piece including just using one colour for the words, although it is variegated, and adding the border to the outside. I made this for work for when I get so frustrated and need to focus on the big picture and see the what is truly important to me and what is always true. I found this piece very cathartic and it is now at work. I did a quick finish but it seems to be holding together well so far. I will clean it up over the holidays.

Have a good week everyone,

July Gifted Gorgeousness

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone has been having a good summer. It has been hot here for the last few weeks although it is cooling off during the nights again finally. The plants are doing very well though as long as they can stay watered. I just have a small balcony but we set up flowers, tomatoes and some herbs and they look very nice. It really brightens up the room and smells nice. We don't get any bees up so high unfortunately but the tomatoes will self-pollinate.

For Gifted Gorgeousness (hosted by the wonderful Jo from Serendipitous Stitching) this month I have been working on the Coastal View. This is a project that was gifted to me by Lucy and will be for my sister. I am working on the steps and the first building and am happy with the progress. I still have a fair amount to go and will start to focus on this project more while I am at home and not just while I am in the car.

Coastal View

Dimensions Gold Kit

18 count ivory aida

I also received a gift from Minnie at AllXX's who held a blog giveaway and then ended up giving a gift to everyone who entered. She sent me the great pattern below and I am very excited to start it, I think I will put it at work when I am done. I have begun to slowly kit it up and will probably get a hand-dyed fabric for it and maybe silk floss.

Be True

Little House Needlework

I have completed a few more blocks on the Dryad. I have about 1500 stitches left until this page (and top row) are completed which will be a major milestone. I am enjoying the detail in this piece and like exploring each new motif, I feel I have a much better understanding and appreciation of the painting.

The Dryad and the Dragon

Heaven and Earth Designs

Original Art: Josephine Wall

28 count evenweave

I also have picked up some more patterns. I took a couple of days off a few weeks ago and went on a road trip to Vancouver. We had a lovely time, saw whales and flew in a float plane, and ate tons of fruit. I also got a chance to stop in a quaint needle shop in Victoria called Buttons and Needlework where I had purchased the salmon and dolphin designs from years ago. It has stayed refreshingly the same and I picked up another pattern designed by the Stitching Studio and two needlework kits. I think the shoe design is fun and silly and will definitely go to my sister who loves shoes and plants. The other design is bright and happy and will go to my youngest sister as a house warming gift if I can finish it in time and as a Christmas present if I can't (good to always have a back up plan).

Virginia Creeper Slipper

Woodland Threads

Vigaroso Albero (Energetic Tree)

Crazy for Crewel

Urchins

The Stitching Studio

Original Art: Sue Coleman

The only other update I can think of is about my work at the University. It is going fine right now, I am focused on making a proof into a usable calculation (excel or matlab program) and am having fairly good success. There are a few kinks to iron out, but I feel like I am moving forward at least. I am hoping to have a very productive rest of the summer as the fall will be very busy with conferences (Montreal and Chicago!)

Have a good rest of the week!

Bekah