A look ahead to 2012

2012 is going to be one busy year. I have made some commitments to a few major projects that I want to focus on for the year. The first one is the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012. I am committing to making a crazy quilt block each month that is at least 6 by 6. I plan on turning the blocks i make into a larger quilt. While the design of the quilt is still just a twinkle in my eye, I know I want to try some "new to me" techniques. I want to do some stumpwork. I want to make I fan block (believe it or not, I never have!). I want to do more ribbonwork and silk ribbon embroidery. And I want to make more peacocks. Oh how I love them!

In conjunction with the Journal project I am going to be doing Take a Stitch Tuesday with Sharon Boggon at Pintangle. I was fortunate enough to be in a three day class with Sharon in Connecticut, and her stitching knowledge is extraordinary. How could I not? I am hoping to find ways of integrating these stitches into the crazy quilt block. (An idea stolen from one of my good friends Deb, who is also doing the Journal Project.)

Both of these programs are open to all...come join in the fun!

And as if that wasn't enough...I enrolled in Sue Spargo's BOM for 2012. I am in love with her work and wanted to do a wool piece. The colors in this piece are limey greens, and bright rosey pinks which fit in my bedroom, so how could I resist?

And what to do in my spare time each month (she laughs aloud!). I'm going to be finishing the 37 UFO projects I just counted. (I guess it's time to slink back into my cave and feel very very naughty!)

Thanksgiving Leftovers

It looks like at least a few turkeys didn't make it
to the kitchen table this Thanksgiving. These gals were totally absent from our backyard the past few days, and now must feel that it's safe enough to return to their old habits. The pond is a big draw for all our wildlife throughout the winter.
We have been fortunate that until a few days ago, our November hasn't been the dark and bleak month we usually see around here. Not too long from now we'll be seeing white!

The Christmas Ornament Parade Begins!

The older I get, the more I appreciate and enjoy doing Christmas Ornaments. They are relatively quick to do, and provide a great opportunity to play with new threads and stitches. They are also one of the things that children and grandchildren are most likely to cherish, as opposed to needlepoint pictures or pillows that have to fit into a certain decorating scheme to look good.
Whenever I pull out my ornaments that are store bought, gifted, or home made, I have a strong and emotional walk down memory lane. There is the robot ornament from my nephew that brings back his childhood days when he was wild crazy over any robot he saw. Or there is the Christopher Radko breast cancer ornament that is a stern reminder of the fight my sister went through, with the diagnosis coming two days before Christmas.
I don't throw out ornaments, I just keep adding to what I have, as I see each one as a wee piece of memory of days gone by.
The ornament I'm sharing today is probably about 16 years old. The stitches were my own- I didn't even think of using stitch guides at the time, so stitches were simple, but still effective. I imagine I paid about $8.00 for the painted canvas- a far cry from what we see now!
This isn't one of my very favorites, but it still has its special place.

It's all about the PEARS!

I just bought a dozen lucious pears from Costco, which made me remember that I haven't shared my needlepoint Pear ornament progress up here in a long time. I now have 5 of Kelly Clark's pears completed and ready for finishing. I cut around the pears since I was originally going to finish them myself, but then changed my mind.I will send these off to the finisher along with some ultra suede for backing, velvet leaves and trims to add a finished look. It will be oo late, I'm afraid, for this years tree, but by next year I will hopefully have the whole kit and kaboodle done. I plan on using them to decorate the garland in our living room.

My favorites to work on were the crazy quilted versions- the green and multicolored patchwork ones. They made me excited enough to ask my needlework store to order Kelly Clarks 8 by 8 crazy quilt painted canvas that will be available in January.You can see it on Kellys blog entry.

I have a collection of needlepoint and crazy quilted pillows in my living room and this one would be a beauty to add to it!