Hardanger - Balloons progress

The stitching is finished. The cutting is finished. Now for the wrapping.

So....what do you think??

Come Ride With Me

What a fantastic week we've had! The weather is beautiful and warm. You know what that means......finally I get to ride my bicycle outside again! The 2012 season has begun and I'm off to a great start. OK...there's still tiny little patches of old, leftover snow laying around in the shady parts of the woods. No worries...I just ride right by. Enjoy these few pictures of my morning ride today. There', of course, lots more to see, but gee, I just don't seem to have the time to take pictures!

Balloons - Hardanger progress

Oh, I'm having such a great time working on this piece!

I am delighted with my stitching. I think all the practice in this technique lately has paid off.

Also, I believe the fabric has a higher count so the stitches are smaller. As you know, I sure like all those tiny stitches! I also like working with the pearl #8 varigated thread I've been collecting.

Another great thing about Hardanger is that it goes fast. The stitching is just about done. Then I do the cutting and wrapping. Stay tuned for more progress on this piece!

Hardanger - Balloons

I'm working on a new project.  It is also Hardanger and I call it 'Balloons'.

I got a few ideas when working on The Yellow Project (see previous posts) and wanted to try them out.

As the song goes, 'we've only just begun'. I'm at the beginning of this so stay tuned for updates!

The Yellow Project - completed

I finished the Yellow Project.  It took exactly two months.  I still can't get over the fact that I actually made this!  It is pretty amazing, I do say so myself.  Please view the short slideshow below to see this piece!  If you would like, click on the picture.  That opens another window.  In the upper left corner of the new window, you'll see 'full screen' or something like that.  Click on that to get an awesome show!



Of course, I'm already working on my next project called 'Balloons'....it's also Hardanger.  So...stay tuned!

New Post on The Camera Lenz

This is a test.  I just downloaded a different browser that should work better.  I take this 'test' opportunity to let you know that I posted a new slideshow on The Camera Lenz.  Check it out!

The Yellow Project Updated

Hardanger moves fast and I like that sometimes. I do understand why so much hardanger is done on light colored fabric with light colored thread...so you don't see all those little cut pieces. This piece is so unique. I just love the shape of it. Of course, I've got alot more to do so stay tuned!

The Yellow Project

Although the next post will show that I have been doing other things as well, I will show you my main project at the present time. I started it on December 15th. It's called The Yellow Project. I got the materials at the Messe in Wiesbaden in October. It wasn't a great show for handwork but I still managed to find the few stands that had something for me.

This piece is a Hardanger table runner. I am still working on the stitching and have a lot of the borders to do yet. It is a large piece and getting sort of difficult to photograph. I don't want to iron it until it is finished so the pictures show how wrinkled it is at this time.

I don't know if you can say I designed it because I've combined designs from two different sources (Award-Winning Designs in Hardanger Embroidery 2006 and Elegant Accents IV both from NordicNeedle) in addition to doing my own thing.

So, is it my own design? I don't know but I like it! The colors are all me. Of course I got the beautiful varigated yellow pearl cotton by Anchor that doesn't seem to be available in the States. I was worried that I was going to run out of it but I don't think I am. Thank goodness!

I am really into this project, as you can probably tell. I'll post more pictures as the work progresses.

Quilted Table Piece - first finish of 2012

It's not that I don't want to blog much anymore, it's that my browser is no longer supported by Blogger so it takes a long time and it is very frustrating! But I have been busy working on things. Below is a little table piece that I finished quilting. I started it a long time ago...I don't remember when. Yes, I guess it was an unfinished project. And I suspect that I never finished it because it isn't even. But, I finished it figuring that it can have something placed in the middle and so the imperfections won't be noticable!

I have to admit, as much as I like working on the sewing machine, I don't think I'll ever take the time to be really good at it. I enjoy it but my heart is really in handwork, I suppose.

I like this little imperfect piece, I have to say. It's something that I made and it's colorful and fun.

Yeah, okay, I could have ironed it!

Blackwork - Fighting To Keep It Together

I finished this blackwork piece just yesterday.

I love working with tiny beads and YLI thread.

My bead collection is expanding so I have the colors I wanted for this piece.

The title, 'Fighting to Keep It Together' as alot of meaning for me at this point in my life.

I will be starting my next project today. It is going to be a larger Hardanger piece. Merry Christmas to all!