Finishes and so on

This past weekend was our local EGA chapters biennial show. I entered 15 pieces - 8 of which needed finishing first, 1 was framed, the rest I did. I only just scraped in on time - I misjudged how much time I'd have to finish things while our international exchange visitors were here and so ended up with 6 things to finish in 3 days. But I did it. And the judges were impressed enough with two of my (framed) pieces that I got two merit awards.

So without further ado - what you've all been waiting for - photos:

The two ribbons (sorry - I did take my camera to the show, but completely forgot to take actual photos of the ribbons on the pieces and them all on display). They were awarded for An Open Heart and Linda's Celtic Heart.

An Open Heart

Knotwork Garden Box

Tree of Stitches

Bug Collector (I actually found a cool fabric with ants on a gingham background that would have been great if I hadn't already had the fabric I wanted to use, and if it hadn't been red and white and just plain didn't go with pink)

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Birds of a Feather (love the backing fabric on this one, so you get a picture of the back too)

Winter Welcome (I think I need to learn how to make points better lol)

Tempest (and just cos I feel like it, the back on this one too)

Other pieces I entered were Lindas Celtic Heart, Christmas Elf Fairy, African Animals Needlebook, Southwest Amulet bag, Christmas Humbug, Smarties Bookmarker and the Art Deco beaded Ornament. The only requirement was that pieces hadn't been entered into one of their shows before - so that meant that I could choose anything I had that was finished, or I could finish before the show. So I tried to choose a selection of interesting pieces that would hopefully interest people and make them want to stitch.

Speaking of humbugs and other biscornu type finishing shapes - this weekend I'm teaching a construction class for the diamond drop ornaments, 15 sided biscornu (in both the round and horned versions), and the humbug (we're calling the class biscornu variations). I also tacked on the end of the instructions the basic fold the corners of the square in to get a diamond shape just for good measure. I'm just starting to stitch a sample or two, so I'll have to show those to you later (if I remember to take photos as I'm planning for it to also be my donation to the groups seminar basket so I won't be bringing it home).

In other news - I've finished the back of the jumper I'm knitting for DD:

Tomorrow is beading group and we're working on bracelets from February's Bead and Button magazine. Somehow I managed to buy materials not only for the bracelet we'll be doing tomorrow, but for another one from the mag too. Course these may not get completed tomorrow but I'm sure there will be something I can photograph. I did have great fun at the shop choosing the supplies and decided that one of the bracelets will probably be for DD - in pink and purple of course.

And a picture of a recent visitor:

I was looking for something for a birthday present recently and found this (Shalom right at the bottom) - that I love, but unfortunately think it's slightly out of my price range. DH is convinced I can design my own - I'm not so sure, but I'll give it a go :)

Knotwork Garden

My garden is now finished.

And for the curious - the process of giving it a haircut. The loops are done in turkey stitch, and I left all the tails hanging. So my first step was to cut off the tails. I actually quite like this overgrown look, but it does hide the other stitching.

So now the apprentice gardener sets to work.

Almost finished, just a few touch up bits now, and we get the result in the first photo.

Here's the pile of what was chopped off:

Not bad for the apprentices first try :)

Big hairy monster

Well ok so it's not that big, or a monster - but it is hairy.

But I have finished all the stitching on it. My next step is to do the cutting, and then I'll have a finished garden.

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

Thought I would post my progress on this. I've made it my new swimming project. Half an hour a week is about all I can stand of those loops. Still it's getting done and soon I'll be up to the fun part of giving it a haircut.

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

I realised I didn't post a photo of the small progress made on the hedge on this either, so here it is:

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

And I'm up to the last colour on this one - unfortunately it's a time consuming stitch, and I think I'll need more thread for it too.

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

I've pulled out three skeins of thread for the flowers - now I've just got to choose one of them. I really like the Iris on the right, but then I'll have to actually use some of my thread. I sort of want to use the blue on the left as it's unlabelled and I don't like things that are unlabelled, but it seems to bland on it's own, so I was wondering about adding the Heatherleigh in with it, or alternating stitches or something. Anyway - here is the picture of them.

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

I thought it was about time I did an update on my stitching.

Here is the knotwork garden a bit more progressed. I think though that I will take out the 'flowers' (the brown loops in the centre green area) and redo them in a nice hand-dyed flower colour. I think that will add a bit more interest.

Owen Davies Knotwork Garden Course

I went to a show at the NEC last week and took one of their little sample course things. I chose to do a knotwork garden with Owen Davies. This is what I had done after the 1 hour course:

And after doing a bit more work on it - it's really very quick and easy: