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 :)

Tree of Stitches

I finished Tree of Stitches this weekend:

I didn't realise when I downloaded the last two parts that they didn't download properly - so I made up the last branch, and then used buttons instead of the stitched owl and rabbit. I think it turned out just fine though - better in some ways as a owl in bright multi colours may have looked just a bit strange lol

Some finishes and some updates

I've finally been stitching again in the last couple of weeks or so and have some progress to show.

First are a couple of ASG (Austin Stitchery Guild) projects that I started and finished at the meetings - a beaded Christmas Bell, and a patch for the crazy quilt project.

At the Antique Sampler satellite meeting you get a pin for every project you finish and bring for show and tell, so since I finished the bell at that meeting I got my first pin (they provide the pin cushion too):

Now for some progress pictures.

Tree of Stitches:

Happily Ever After (not so happily lagging in progress):

And Stained Glass Sampler:

Tree of Stitches

I haven't really felt like stitching much since I finished my pilot piece, so I haven't got much to update on, but here is the latest progress on Tree of Stitches:

I also joined a SAL on the HAED board (yes, again) called Siberian Forest and here is what I've done on that so far. I'm stitching over 2 on 40ct, and even with my brilliant light it's easier to stitch on during the day.

Finally - the back of the pirate quilt - the pale blue is waves and was originally going to be the border on the front but it washed out too much so I got the dark blue map fabric instead for that. Then I used as big a pieces as I could from the fabric that was left over for the back so it would be as little work as possible. I have started on the quilting it all together now and hopefully will finish that soon and then I might even have my first quilt. I'm just quilting along the lines of the blocks for this one, but I can already see that a nice decorative stitch along the seams would be more forgiving and hide the bits where I could steer properly.

I've still got quite a lot of fabric from this quilt left over so I'm thinking of doing a baby quilt (like the original kit was for) for the school fund raising auction. I may not get it done for this year though.

Tree Of Stitches

Yeah, well, I started another one. This one is Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden. Stitched on a piece of fabric from Kate's Kloths in Threadworx Bradley's Balloons.