For some reason, I've had a hankering to do some Hardanger. It's been awhile since I played in that sandbox, so to speak, and I have WIPs out the wazoo and have committed to finishing some of them before allowing myself to take up anything new. But yesterday I succumbed - started a very small (and therefore quick) Hardanger indulgence. I need a birthday gift for a friend next week, so I pulled out some fabric, threads, a prism, and a design (see, at least I'm using my stash, so I can feel good about that!) to make a suncatcher.
Using up stash always counts as a good deed, so I think you have nothing to feel badly about.
Can't join you though. I'm afraid I blew my New Year's resolutions re diet, budget and stash last weekend. I attended a 7 course gourmet dinner, with different wines for each course (all of which I at least sampled) then bought 3 balls of qiviuk wool.
Bad Dora who is trying to get back on the diet wagon.
Well to tell the truth, I'm not sure what I regret more. Eating all that food or not being able to eat all of it. The only time in my life I haven't had enough room to eat a chocolate at the end. Ah well, salad tonight. Dora
Ah, funny - I just went through a box of stash...and found 2 Emie Bishop chart books. I've been crashing to finish Amethyst Dreams to get to the framer, and was down to thw last couple of hours work - when the migraine demon hit on Thursday. Knocking out the stitching finish for then and Friday, and, well, most of yesterday. So, too late (since I was supposed to drop it at Woodlawn today). But.....
Digression tangential chat followed by back to topic: While not stitching yesterday, but thinking about how well was the medication working - I did decide to go through and clear up some stash (mostly because I had to clear things from the sewing/cutting table which was preceded by me having to use the sewing machine to fix DH's hockey ref all-in-one pants - as I digresss. Conversation - at 12:55 pm "umm, hon, did you get a chance to fix up my ref pants?" "Uh - NO - they were in the wash and you didn't remind me." "Um, weeeelll - could you fix the pocket, and well, the crotch - the dryer is done now" "Me - are you kidding - if you asked me an hour ago - sure." "OK, I'm sorry, just, well, I was worried about the crotch blowing out..." "big sigh, you're leaving in 30 min? - OK
- just go get them and meet me downstairs" What's the big deal? Haven't used machine in a couple of weeks, and there is much STUFF piled all around as I've been sort of trying to find all the various stash, etc. And I have to find the right thread, bobbin, take off some of the temporary markers for seams set for current project. Plus, sewing on these is a PITA - the pants are rip stop nylon, the inner legs - thru crotch - has a 3" band of heavy weight stretch knit (they're pro ref pants), and the pads are built in - essentially in a bunch of mesh compartments that are attahced at the entire waistband, and then tacked down in the legs, crotch rear, etc. So, okay, I fixed the trying to open up crotch - dead center - stretch stitch, regular stitch, and the opposite direction with the nylon - from zip around. But the pocket - forget it - I found a way to get in - thinking I could slide it onto the machine arm - space is about enough, but some of the rigid pads won't fit thru the space in the machine open area. So, I then sew thru the very tough 3 layers of rip-sotp - by hand - while trying not to pick up the inner mesh with the pads. Oh, did I mention I cut my thumb in a bagel accident on Wed? So that's healing. Anyhow - it got done. DH very nicely thrilled. At least 1 pocket done - the other will wait - I need a thimble to do it. Why do I care. Well, he was working a Girls U-19 game from the Women's Junior Hockey League - about the best women's hockey there is. Seriously. Something like 14 officials came in from out of town - mostly Colorado, and only a handful of locals got to work some games. Tourney for this weekend including u-19s & U-16s. Many national team members from Canada & the US. The women reffing & lining, most all with IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) certs - so you'll see them at the Olympics. First game was NAHA (Vermont place, North American Hockey Academy
- we like this group a lot, Cheryl) versus IIRC a team from Winnipeg. So, I guess in this elite company it behooved me not to have the DH flashing all the gals on and off the ice.
Back to topic:
Anyhow - I ended up going through a box, finding the stash of unstitched, unkitted charts. And, well, 2 Emie Bishop books - including one that is all kittedd up and waiting to go - "The Faith Sampler" . Plus the great book "Embellishments" which has several small projects, plus 2 samplers.
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I had a good time re-reading a bunch of the stitch descriptions andtechniques which are part of the Embellishments book. Really well done.So, I also put a bunch of my fabric pieces in their new home and am temptedto just whip off one of the little designs in Embellishments. Maybe Sue & Iare thinking alike.
And, yeah, I found a little "Be Mine" piece which I had finished stitching a couple of years ago, and then had it in the "to finish" pile (aka Lost). So, found some lovely fabrics to go with and am now going to go and finish it as a little wall hanging (DH got to choose hanging or pillow). More channeling Sue.
Sounds like a good little rest stop from the wagon. I'm so impressed with your knitted afghan! And some of the garden pics. Got me thinking about some design things.
I prefer to think of it as "Great minds think alike!"
Well, my friend's BD is tomorrow, in Massachusetts, and I'm in Maryland. Will finish the small Hardanger piece tonight, so she won't have it for her day, but it'll come later. But that's okay. I'll just tell her "Happy birthday and watch the mail."
Is the EB faith sampler the one that also has the "Live well, laugh often, love always"? I did that one for DBIL and DSIL for their wedding.
I've been keeping watch on her website because she has a new one coming any day now, according to her newsletter:
"L144 MY CHRISTMAS QUILT is ready for the printer. In spite of our best efforts, it was impossible to have it ready for the 2008 Christmas Season. It will be published after the first of the year. As soon as we have our copies, the cover of the book will appear on the opening page of the website and we will be able to fill your order.
Warm Christmas colors of holly and berry are placed on a background of cream linen in a design reminiscent of a Christmas quilt. Sections of the design may be combined and rearranged to make bell pulls. Stitched singly, the section are transformed into ornaments. It is a personal favorite!"
Yup. If you can believe this, I bought this leaflet in ABQ, when I'd only done a couple of XS pieces. And liked for me the Live Well... Piece. However, the then MIL, who did a lot of XS (most not to my taste at all) really liked the FAITH sampler, so I thought I'd do that for her. Pretty ambitious for someone who had just done their 1st linen piece (which was my
2nd ever), and a piece on Jobelan - both of which had been preceded by a piece from a kit, on Aida. After buying said leaflet, I did actually when coming back to VA, sign-up for a hardanger class at the LNS. Just never got around to stitching the Faith sampler - so I think it's appropos for life at this point, and am going to do it. Though, not white on white. I have plenty of perle 8, and floss, so I'll do it in some other color - I think. Can't pick it up until a couple of other things which are close to being finished make it.
I'll be interested to see it. As you know (I think) I don't really do Christmas things (except for the occasional gift - and that's rare). But, I do love her work, and have been in the mood to do some cutwork. I was going to teach a drawn thread class last summer, but that fell apart. So, maybe I'll whip that piece out - it's a small sampler, and if I do it, can likely arrange to teach it.
Right now I'm frustrated 'cause I cannot find where in the heck I put my copy of "Beautiful Stitches" - Emie's book - which is a fabulous reference. Darn it.
I've come to hate " Mom please mend xxxx" calls. I took DD's shoulder pads to a local sports repair place. No way I could get a needle through those to mend the separation. DS's sock shorts shred, it is just time for a new set I think. And lets not talk about DD telling me the 6.5 skates are getting tight. She's gone up in height again too....
no national accreditation at this time. But the girls look like they are headed to some decent schools
I will say that generally DH will do his own equipment repairs. He has awls, leather stitching stuff, and has doen repairs on his goalie gear. However, in the latest fiasco - he asked to borrow a seam ripper so that he could take the logo patch off one of his new pairs of ref pants (it has an "officials Wearhouse" logo on the butt pocket). OK - I give him one, review how to not go thru the fabric, etc - I'm stitching nearby - and he goes to work. After a while I hear him muttering, and then "darn - I think there's no fabric underneath - I see air". Huh? So, I go look, and I wish that I'd paid attention originally. It wasn't a patch, but a machine embroidered logo - with really heavy stabilizer on the back side. Great. So, after I explain the "duh" to him that you can't pick out a big embroidery like this cause indeed the needles have poked a lot of holes in the pant fabric. Brand new. So, now I'm hoping that when I cut off the excess to hem them, there is a big enough piece to make a patch the entire pocket so they'll look ok. Honestly. In his defense, about the other repairs, I don't think he'd dare try to use the Bernina - so he has to wait for me....
They must have some - the girls indeed are going to some good schools. Today he reffed a team from Rochester - the Edge - thought they were fabulous, and loved their unis.
Thanks - it is sweet - a Heart in Hand little chart that I did in overdyes. Looks nice.
That explains it. Honestly, next year when they have this tourney here, you should come on down with the namesake. It is FABULOUS hockey. The guys who work the games are those that have experience with upper level womens, at least locally. Only DH and a couple of the others had done these national crews before - of course all the women officials that came in had as well. The locals who get the privilege are just a handful. Trying to assure that the teams get officiated the way they will at other national/international levels - so they can really play and not get called for stupid stuff by people who don't know about body contact. Anyhow, DH said that 2 of the guys in the room yesterday (one, a lovely young 23?) guy, we've known since he was 11 - working at NIH while he tosses med school vs grad school - were really overwhelmed and thrilled with what really good hockey the games were. Nice thing.
Anyhow, FWIW, the teams we've seen have really shown great spirit, discipline and been nice. I had a chance to spend some time with the Vermont team people last year, and the Winnipeg group as well - pretty impressive.
Also - DH did a kids (youth) tourney - championship & consoloation games in the afternoon (another rink). Guess what - team from Hollis, New Hampshire
- The Cavaliers - if I got it right. Just PeeWee B. DH talked with the coach a bit - said they did a fine job, IIRC they won their division (the Chicago team dropped out cause of injuries). He told them we had friends in Londonderry - but there weren't any Londonderry kids on this squad. Next week, tee hee - I think I'll go with him to watch the bad Juniors game in Frederick - Monarchs C.
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