Friday 6 February 2015

A finish at last

I've started quite a few new projects in 2015 which is always exciting, but I've also had one tiny finish.  This Halloween table mat was one of 4 items on my Finish Along list created about a month ago.




It's a purpose built mat for my Haunted House to sit on when it gets finished later in the year.  I'm pleased to say that yesterday I finished embroidering the back of the Haunted House, and it's the biggest section.

Haunted House by The Victoria Sampler

The other sections will be slightly faster now that I've got the dimensions of the house, and figured out the satin stitch at the top.  I often find it easier once I've done the first section. 

So, come Halloween, the house will be sitting on this mat in the hallway.



As soon as I finished the Halloween mat I pulled out the next item on my Finish Along list. A Christmas Tree mini quilt. I know, I'm doing everything at the wrong time of the year, but if I leave these until the end of the year they just won't be done in time (again).

I always intended to hand quilt this Kaffe Christmas Tree.  I decided to try something new and quilted free hand squiggly lines in the green section. I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. I used the green sparkly thread I picked up at Symposium. It's great to quilt with, but it does fray terribly so I have to be careful with the ends.  I've still got to decide what to do out in the white section yet.


 

Although I'm trying to be good and stick to my list, I couldn't resist the temptation to join up with a needlelace stitch along being run by a Russian lady - Daria. Here's a link to her blog

I've met many Russians on Instagram and they do beautiful embroidery. Daria has got permission from a Japanese lady (Erba?) to run a stitch along based on one of her free patterns.  Here's a link to casaerba.  This is what we are going to make.  It's shown as a table runner here, but I might just make mine a square and get it framed. 



Isn't it beautiful? It looks Eastern European / Turkish / Russian to me with those domes on the buildings. Although I don't usually do things in white, I think this one should be white so I'm using the bright white - B5200 coton a broder. I have accepted that I can't see clearly enough to do 32 count anymore, so am using 28 count linen for mine.  Daria says the instructions will be spread over 15 fortnights, with about 6-10 hours work per fortnight. I think that's manageable. (don't laugh)




Last night I made a start on the four sided stitch (box stitch) border, and I hope to finish that this weekend.

10 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Congratulations on your finish - it looks great!

Ruth said...

Really like the fussy cut tree in your mini but I love your Halloween needlework! The patterns on CasaErba are gorgsous. Really looking forward to seeing how you go with this one!

Julie said...

Wow that Stitch A long piece is fabulous. Good on you - does 6-10 hours a fortnight leave you time for other projects too?

Granny Maud's Girl said...

White embroidery - that is very low volume, Wendy! :)
I think working on Christmas and Halloween projects now is very sensible. I love how the tree quilt's quilting is developing.

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

Yay! for a finish :) That embroidery is going to take you lots of fortnights - me thinks ... white on white ... you must great eyesight, it's going to be spectacular :)

Oops-Lah said...

Well done with your finished mat and progress on other projects. I love what you are doing next. Is it an online course or do you go somewhere? It's going to be amazing, but what a lot of work ;)!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

I really like the white on white stitching project. It will be great to see it come together fortnight by by fortnight

Anonymous said...

Well done on your finish and on starting another WIP. Your embroidery project is going to be stunning.

ukcitycrater@live.co.uk

Heidi said...

Hi Wendy!
I haven't stopped in for awhile, your blog is looking wonderful with all your beautiful works! Love the squiggly-quilting! And if I were to make that gorgeous piece, I would frame it too;-)

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

This is really cute. I love how you're being so disciplined and organised!