Stitching with Sandra P

Finally - MIR Halloween Fairy finished!!

2010-09-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, it's taken me forever to finish her, and then forever to get a her framed - but here she is!! (sorry- the photo colour is a little off - it's not as dark as shown here)

I made quite a few changes. I added the bat and pumpkin buttons, changed the shape of her antennae, changed some of the colours in her wings, added sparkles, changed some beads and used fuzzy stuff on the neckline and dress trim - she looks like she has feathers! ;)

So what else is new? We just came home from a week vacation in San Diego. I've discovered that no one there wears running shoes (unless they are actually running) and that I am too old and frumpy to fit in there! LOL! Seriously though - we had a lovely trip and it's always nice to visit places that are unlike your own!

I've been working on a hardanger bookmark that I *think* I will give to my son's girlfriend for her birthday, along with some books. I haven't done Hardanger in a while so I really needed to do something to refresh my memory!

I signed up for a class at the art gallery today. I am going to take a drawing course. I already know my way around with a pencil fairly well, but I'm hoping to improve my skills and even learn some new ones!

The kids are back to school next week so we've been busy getting ready for that. School supply shopping and such. It makes me happy, but surprisingly - they aren't so much! ;)

Well, that's about it for now -Here are a few pieces that we've been lucky to work on lately!

I am a delinquent!!

2010-06-25T19:49:00.001-07:00

I don't post here enough - but what the hay! It's not like I live a riveting life that I must inform everyone about! ;)
ok - soooooo..... New design just released by X's & Oh's and being distributed by Hoffman's Distributing!

Ima Spook!
Isn't it fun?!!

Also, in my absence, another pattern was released - this one from on of my very own photos, called Which Way??Lots of colour to keep you busy on this one! It was a truly brilliant sunset that night, and I think that it translated through nicely!

So what else is new in the world of me? Well, school is out and my hubby is on holidays which means that I'm the only one who HAS to get out of bed in the mornings. It's a bit depressing!

I've been keeping busy with taking photos, working on a few XS designs, and yes - I FINALLY finished the Mirabilia Halloween Fairy that I've been working on for 2 years!! I still haven't finished framing it yet though -we have been SO busy at work that my own framing has to take a back seat - but it won't be too much longer - probably by my next post....... should be about a month from now ;)

The weather has been so crazy all over. We have had so much rain that towns in our region are flooding. Farmers can't get their crops in because the fields are too wet, or else their crops have been drowned and washed away :(

To the North of us there are forest fires running rampant because they've had NO rain. Only an hour away from my home town. I'm hoping they get some much needed rain soon. If only we could send them some of ours!!

Thanks for following me, friends, and I hope that you are all doing well!~

A few of my recent photos:

Shore Birds - Gold Work

2010-04-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Last fall our guild took a gold work class. I'm happy to say that I finally finished my project. It was something really different to work on. I enjoyed it, but I did end up changing the pattern quite a bit because there were parts of it that I wasn't too fond of.

First of all, we had to stretch 2 layers on a stretcher bar. The first was cotton muslin, and the second is a layer of Ultra Suede. The ultra suede feels wonderful to the touch, but beware - if you ever use it for anything - it's very unforgiving. If you get a dirty mark of any sort on it - it's there to stay!

We used tissue paper and pencil to transfer the pattern to the ultra suede, and after that it's all surface stitching. There was supposed to be quite a lot more gold work in this pattern, and I did stitch most of it, but I cropped it out in the framing. The shiny gold part of the birds is done using kid leather, and if you look at the smaller bird, it's stitched using japan thread and the gold work technique where you basically plunge one end in, couch it along the length, and then plunge the opposite end through. After you are done plunging all the ends to the back, you have a big mess that looks like a pile of straw - then you have to secure it by stitching it all down. It's quite a process!

This pattern was supposed to have a gold line using the Japan thread all around where you see the oval mat. Outside the oval was some tall grasses that were done completely in gold work. I chose to omit the gold line and the grass because I felt that the oval wasn't oval "enough" for me (I'm anal about things being symmetrical...) So, instead of using a gold oval line, I decided to put the straight stitches in that you see for the moon/sky behind them, and then I used a "feather" stitch to make the waves in the water.

Once finished I framed it using a new tool we just acquired at our shop. You can see the flying birds and the footprints debossed into the matting. It's a bit faint - but it's perfect for something like this where you don't want the extra details to stand out too much!

Hope you like it - thanks for looking!

Sandra

Spring is finally here!!

2010-03-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

Thankfully! yay! I've been out for a few walks with just a sweater on (no parka) and its been wonderful!!

I finished a new project - or maybe I should say an "old" one. It's called Shore Birds and it is a Gold Work design. It's very pretty. I don't have a photo of it yet, but I'll take one when I get it framed and tell you all about it then.

I've also started stitching on my Mirabilia Halloween Fairy. It's actually fairly close to being finished, so hopefully soon I'll be able to share that finish with you as well!

I did some spring cleaning last night - washing walls, throwing some junk out, hanging some pictures up. It seems that the work never ends! I need to have a real good "throw out"! I admit that I tend to let junk pile up around here. I get sentimental about things and that's never good because it means that you never know what to do with them - even when they are useless!

I have been out a few times this winter taking photos, but I'm really looking forward to everything turning green - as that's when I really enjoy going out for walks and catching the sunsets!
Here are a few from my albums:

Thanks for stopping by!

I've been MIA

2010-02-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

I am so terrible at keeping up with my blog - and I apologize for that!! We are now a little more than half way through winter, and I am so looking forward to spring! I can hardly wait!

We just came home from a trip to Florida, where we went to Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios.

We came home exhausted, but happy, but now it's time for me to smarten up and get back at the designing process!

I have completed the sketch for Big Trouble II, and I will begin the design work on it soon! If you are familiar with Big Trouble - you can expect more of the same idea - and definitely something that most parents can relate to! As a refresher - here is Big Trouble :

Also, this week Hoffman's has listed a new leaflet of mine:
These are two quick stitch little quips that I hope you'll enjoy stitching!

I'm still slooooowly working on the Mirabilia Halloween Fairy. I really need to get at that too! I swear - there are just not enough hours in the day to do it all!

Christmas is coming!

2009-11-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

and so are dead lines!!

I've had to start a "to do" list for myself today! Right now, I'm trying to get a model for a new design for next year's Craftways hard cover book "Cross Stitch Christmas"! I've been in it the last 2 years with Candy Cane Tapestry, and Christmas Tree Tapestry, but next year's project is going to be quite different than the first two years. This one is going to be a bit more of a "fun" design! I've only got a month to finish stitching it and mail it out - so I've really got to get my act in gear and get busy stitching it! I've just been SO slow at stitching lately! I've got too many hobbies these days, and not enough time to do them all!

Finally, a design I sold to The Cross Stitcher has been released in the December 2009 book! It's called "Igloo Bulb" and here it is from the magazine!!

I haven't picked up my Halloween Fairy in weeks now... I have to get this model done first!

Otherwise, we've been running around to hockey, getting our flu shots, and I've been fighting some sort of chest cough for the last while. hopefully it's almost run it's course now - I'm getting tired of it!

oh! and the wedding sampler "I'll be Yours" is now out by X's and Oh's (see previous post for picture)

Have a great holiday season my friends!!

2009-11-08T08:06:00.001-08:00

I've been a bad girl and I haven't been updating lately like I should be!!!

coming soon at Patterns Online : Abstract Hearts! Coming Soon! so watch for it!!

Things have been pretty quiet around our house the last while. My kids keep bringing home flu's and such so right now I'm trying to get over the latest one. It seems to have settled in my chest and won't go away, so I'm thinking that a trip to the doctor is in order maybe later today. I think I may have bronchitis settling in.

We've been busy with hockey season starting up again, going to the kid's games, etc.

Right now I am working on a cute Christmas design that shows some sweet little snowmen having a snowball fight. I'm stitching this one myself so it's taking me FOREVER to get it done - but it's turning out pretty cute!

The wedding sampler I recently posted about has been released by X's & Oh's and should, hopefully be available for sale at Hoffman's soon! Speaking of Hoffman's - they can't seem to keep up with the demand for Spooky House charts!! I can't even get any for my own store!! So, if any of you are stitching it, please keep me updated and if you send me pics I'll add them to my blog - I'm very interested in seeing what fabric you've chosen and how you are coming along with it!!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Thanks Giving my US friends!!

SPOOOOOKY HOUSE!!!!!

2009-08-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

yippee!! it's finally been released and so far I've been hearing a lot of positive comments! This is a rather large piece, and sorry folks, but it does contain blended threads, kreinik metallics, and a LOT of Glow in the Dark Kreinik threads! (moon and windows) You can also find hidden pictures in it if you care to take a good look. I'm pretty excited about this one - I had a lot of fun designing it and I LOVE Halloween XS's - so it's about time I did something Halloween related!

I've been stitching away on the MIR Halloween Fairy (Halloween - go figure??!!) but I keep forgetting to take a picture of it! I'm off for 2 weeks on holidays starting right now, so I'm hoping to have a couple of weeks of good weather and lots of R&R!

Thanks for following, folks!!

Long Weekends and Stash Rummaging!

2009-08-03T11:53:00.001-07:00

It's a long weekend in Canada, and unfortuantely the weather hasn't been *great* . Which leaves me with the opportunity to get some things done around here that I've been putting off.

One of those has been to sort through some of my stash and pick out a few things that I no longer think I want or need. I don't have a HUGE stash - seeing as I own a XS store I can sort of pick things up as I need them, but I have collected a bit of stuff over the years.

It's a good idea to go through all your pretties now and again and just fondle things, get re-acquainted with old friends and to inspire you!

I'm getting closer to starting on the sequel to Big Trouble, and trying to get working on my Mirabilia Halloween Fairy. I finally finished the large "celery" part of her wings and am now moving on to more interesting parts. I'm making a few changes in this pattern - just a few things to dress her up a bit more for Halloween! I'll post some pics with my next blog!

Here are some photos of our trip up to Northern Manitoba - the lakes there are amazing. I was so sad to leave them behind!!

Gone Home

2009-07-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

Hi friends!

I've had a busy week - we went home to visit my family last week. It's 6 hours drive North for us, so it's a bit of a trek in the long and empty wilderness.

We had a really good time though. We spent a lot of time at the lake with the boat. Exploring wild beaches, swimming (brrrr.......... it's a HUGE spring fed lake. Absolutely gorgeous - but COLD) tubing, etc.

It was good to see my mom and my sister - we don't see each other very often- we had a lot of laughs and my sister and I never used to get along. We get along very well now, and it's always hard to say good bye :(

So, I haven't done any stitching in the last while, or even any designing. I'm getting close to starting Big Trouble II though, and I'm forming ideas to keep the series going for quite a few more designs. My children give me good ideas for these patterns! ;)

Tubing

2009-07-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend! we went tubing and had lunch on the water. It was wonderful! Until, of course, I took an unplanned leap off the boat, onto the tube, and bounced off of it, while dunking my young son into the lake (he was sitting on it) and going face first into the water.

Bunch of asses I live with laughed at me all afternoon about it.

I do have to admit though - I certainly am not a graceful woman......

a few pics from the lake:

I haven't been stitching much, but I Just finished a cute Christmas design that I am hoping will be picked up. Next, I am going to start working on a sequel to "Big Trouble". People really seemed to like Big Trouble, and I have ideas for 2 new ones.

Hey, next month my Spooky House pattern should be released by X's & Oh's! I'm REALLY excited about this one - I hope others will like it as much as I do!!

Welcome to my new blog watchers! I appreciate your following my blog!

2009-06-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Since my last blog, I've:

read all 4 Twilight books (it took me a week)

Been sick with a flu that expanded to other things

Been working on some new designs.

One of them being a Christmas design that I won't be able to share with you until it's published.
Finished up a new design called "Pretty Fishes". It will be released soon on Patterns Online. It has several beautiful Kreinik sparklies in it, and it's sure to be a fun, and colourful stitch!

I've stitched a little bit on Mirabilia's Halloween Fairy - bit it's slow going! I'll have to post a pic of it one of these times!

New Release - Guardian

2009-06-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

My newest dragon design "Guardian" has now been released by X's and Oh's. This one is not as big as my other dragon patterns. He's a richly coloured orange/rust coloured dragon, who guards over a planet that looks surprisingly like Earth!!!

I started reading the Twilight series 2 days ago. I'm on book 3 now! LOL!

I borrowed the first 2, and I loved them so much that Terry bought me the boxed set today for our anniversary!! He's so sweet!! I resisted this story for a long time thinking that I probably wouldn't care for it much, but I'm hooked. It's a story for anyone who is a romantic at heart.

Marley and Me

2009-06-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

Well, if you haven't watched this yet, be prepared. It's a great movie but it incredibly sad at the end. It leaves you wanting to go hide somewhere and have a real good cry!!

I watched it the other night with the kids and then tonight I went for dinner with a good friend, and came home to find the kids and hubby watching it again! so, of course I had to watch it again with them and now I'm thoroughly depressed!!

I've worked on my Mirabilia Halloween Fairy for the last few nights. (The Halloween Fairy - NOT Trick or Treat) I'm working on the large expanse of the wings and it's a bit boring because it's big blocks of the same colour, but I started it a long time ago and still haven't finished it, so I'm going to try to keep at it.

Not much in the design area to report as of late. I'm thinking of doing a sequel to "Big Trouble".

Thanks for reading all!!

not much stitching

2009-06-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

I haven't been stitching very much at all lately. I finished the wedding sampler and it's framed now. I hope they'll like it when it's done!

My oldest son has been sick for the last few days with a flu, and today I have it. I basically feel like a bag of crap. Hubby is in Miami for a conference. I had thought about going with him, but I'm glad now that I didn't. I feel too crappy to be somewhere like that!!

Well, that's about it for now! Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

2009-05-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

We went to X Men Origins today. Let me tell you, Hugh Jackman is THE MAN. It's worth the ticket price just to see him. Especially seeing as he gets totally nekkid! *drool*

I haven't been doing much with my stitching the last few days. I finished the wedding sampler I showed a few posts ago, and it's at the shop for framing now. I'll post it when it's done.

I'm still working on the design for the photo I posted. It's almost done - I might even try to get it finished up tonight.

I bought a new *toy* for myself. I've been wanting a new lens for my camera for a few days and I found a really nice one - so I've been trying to play with that a little bit - but the weather hasn't been very good.

It's been a nice couple of days off, but it's back to work tomorrow. I love my job, but I love being at home even more ;)

Have a great week everyone!

big decisions!

2009-05-13T20:15:00.001-07:00

Well, I've spent the last few days looking at camera lenses. I'd like one with more zoom but good gosh are they expensive!

I've finally found one I like - I just have to wrap my head about the price tag! My husband keeps telling me that I should just get it. He knows how much I like to take pictures, and I really don't spend a lot of money on myself. If all goes well and I don't chicken out -I should have it by tomorrow night SQUEEEE!!!! I'm so bad at making big ticket decisions though!

Well, I've decided to try making a chart from one of my photos. Here is the photo - and I've got the chart about half way done. I think it looks good so far. I'm not scanning and having the program design it - I'm putting all the stitches in and picking all the colours myself.

Seems like everyone in this house has been sick with a flu in the last week - but not me... YET. I'm sure I'll get it for the long weekend!

We only have one more meeting of our guild until we break for summer. I'll miss the guild over the summer months, but summer is too short here to waste ANY nice evenings by not being outside doing something!!

I'm almost done the wedding sampler I posted about last time - I should have it done soon, and I'll post a photo of it then.

Have a good long weekend everyone!

My First Blog!

2009-05-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

So, here is my first blog. I don't suppose that anyone will really see or watch it for a while - but just in case, I do have one now.

I'll be adding this link to my website for those who are interested in following what's going on with me or my cross stitch designing.

I have a few projects that I'm working on right now. I designed a wedding sampler for my husband's niece who is getting married this summer. I'm not quite half way through stitching it - but it will probably be published by X's and Oh's in the near future.

I'm also working on another design. It's called Watching You and this is the sketch it is based on:

And following is the stitched model so far:

I'll try to keep this blog fairly updated, so check in now and again and visit me!