Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Moment of Truth

Or as I call it, the Bucket o'WIPs!


I am pleased to announce that I do not have over 100 WIPs! There were 52 in the bucket, and I know there are a few floating around in drawers and stitching bags, so we'll call it an even 60. After much consideration, I have chosen 17 pieces that I will work from this year. The first is still Mirabilia's "Lady Alexandra", which came along pretty well over the holidays:

Of the 17 pieces I chose, nine of them are by Nora Corbett, who remains my all-time favorite designer. The others of hers that I plan to work on are "Charlotte":

"Titania", who had the misfortune of being started right before I discovered the joy that are hand-dyed fabrics, and has therefore languished in the pile for years on her boring Chestnut linen:

"White Christmas":


"Snow Queen" (see, I do stitch subjects other than beautiful ladies!):


Two more of Nora's reindeer (only seven to go!):

The 2006 Christmas Tree:


Nora's adorable "Pincushion Fairy":

And last, but never least, my ruby conversion of "July's Amethyst Fairy":


I really want to make myself finish this one for sure, as I am looking forward to playing with bead colors after the stitching is finished. Unfortunately it has two strikes against it: first, it is not on a hand-dyed fabric (see Titania, above), and second, I made the brilliant decision to stitch the wings with a blend of floss and blending filament. Have you seen how BIG those wings are?! But I am determined to get her done this year.

I'll post my remaining WIP pics in the next day or so, but for now I will close with a picture of an actual finish, my last for 2011. Nora Corbett's 2011 Christmas Tree:

11 comments:

  1. The fabric Charlotte is absolutely gorgeous! What is it?

    Beautiful WIP's I look forward to their progress!

    J

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  2. Thanks so much! "Charlotte" is on a color from Sugar Maple Fabrics called Shimmering Nightshade, on opalescent Belfast linen. Unfortunately, the company went out of business a few years ago. It was a real loss, as she had some of the most beautiful colors I've seen.

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  3. Stunning WIP's. I also did Titania before I discovered Hand Dyeds. Same with Middy. My mother in law scored those off me and since I love them so much I am going to stitch them again once I find the perfect fabby for both. Titania is what made me fall in love with Nora's designs

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  4. Mel, luckily I haven't stitched Middy yet, so she will definitely be on a hand-dyed! I would love to have Titania on one, but I don't think I'd ever stitch her again, as there are so many other Mira's I want to do. :)

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  5. All your Mira's are lovely!!! Expecially your conversion of July's Amethist Fairy. Are you stitching all the reindeers in one piece? I'd like to do it myself.

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  6. Valentina, thanks so much for all your kind words; it's so much fun to share with other stitchers!

    I am going to stitch at least eight of the reindeer on one piece. I started these before Rudolph came out, so I don't know if there is enough room on the fabric for him. If there isn't room, I'll probably stitch Rudolph on a piece, Santa's Sleigh on another piece, and then frame all three separately and hang them as a group. Of course, I have to actually finish them all, first! ;)

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  7. I love your Christmas Tree! Would you mind sharing what fabric you stitched this on?

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    1. Thanks so much! The fabric is a Silkweaver solo on Belfast linen, which I thought looked like the perfect winter forest-y background. :)

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  8. These are lovely! I love Nora's designs as well. Does she do a Christmas tree each year? I have been out of the cross stitch loop doing quilting now for a long time. Have you stitched the winter queen with the reindeer? I am working on one of the Mermaids and buying my first reindeer. I am not a huge linen fan (old eyes) and am thinking of using Lugana in silvery moon. What do you think?

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