Here it is, gang, my greatest embroidery pattern EVER.
I'm so happy with it all around. I actually tested all the colors on a scrap of the fabric before starting to stitch (unheard of for me) and I think that really helped, as I'm really happy with that aspect as well (though the blue is a bit bright in certain lights/pictures.
Anyway, the pattern is now up in my Etsy shop.
Currently working on a Christmas present that I can't post here, but I've also got a small free embroidery piece going that I should be posting soon. I'm intending to restitch my Roman mosaic too, now that I own all the DMC colors.
I've started using software to convert some of my patterns into all symbols versions, since I know a lot of people prefer that. They're so hard for me to read myself though. When you've got a lot of colors obviously that's the best option, likewise if you've got limited printer ink, but for a simple pattern I think colored squares are so much easier to read. Of course I can't use printed out patterns at all since I'm pretty well lying down when I stitch.
Tomorrow I'll have a post about this year's Quilt National exhibit at the Dairy Barn. It's an especially incredible group this year, with loads of embroidery incorporated.
Man, I've been so dozy lately. I'm sure it's partly just the summer, but I don't know, there's a serious case of ennui here.
In any case I finished Cthulhu, and I must say, I'm quite pleased with it. The pattern is for sale in my shop now. Getting the greens to work and be distinct but blendy was a fucking nightmare. Seriously, I hate the color green, I think it's worst for "Oh these look completely distinct unless I stitch them at which point they are indistinguishable."
Now I've started a small piece or St. Trinian's art, featuring field hockey players of course, but after/in the middle of that I have many plans for this thoroughly unimpressed owl.
The first one is for a parent friend, and will say "Yes, please tell me your opinions on my parenting decisions." Then I think one for me that says "Yes, I'm sure yoga will cure my neurological disease."
It's a concept with no bounds, I feel. Oh, the owl is from a medieval motif, which makes it even better.
The last three or four weeks have just been... UGH. I got a really bad flu in combination with a bad fibromyalgia flare. I felt so terrible I wrote down all my online passwords in case I should croak.
Then, which I was just feeling well Madre and I went to the beach for our timeshare week. I felt fine but still hacked up phlegm all week. Got zero crafting done, and spent quite a lot of time in thrift stores (which is generally what Madre and I do, in addition to sitting on the beach with cocktails/food). I found this pretty awesome cross-stitch themed mug (if you want one and live near Morehead City, NC and want one, there's another at the thrift store run by the animal shelter).
I've been back home since Saturday, but my normal recovery time is further hampered by having to *do* things. Madre's moving house so I'm trying to be helpful there but I am beyond exhausted and aching now. I just want to curl up with a never-ending mug of tea and watch Rocky and Bullwinkle all day.
I did manage to finish a cross-stitch project yesterday and get the pattern posted in my shop. When I saw the quote (which it proves impossible to find an attribution for, though I have a feeling that it's a much older line which just suddenly gained new favor), I thought, as the Quakers do, "Friend speaks my mind."
Well I think I'm done with this piece. I'm certainly done enough that I've posted the pattern on Etsy.
Right now the question is to outline in back stitch (probably all in black), or not? Now, if I'd done this on evenweave and with half-stitches, there'd be no question.
Only with counted needlework your eye tricks your into seeing roundness. Once you outline it with only horizontal and vertical lines that goes away. I know that some patterns put diagonal outline stitches in even with no half-stitch of color underneath, but I really don't like that.
No idea what I'll start on next. Maybe another blackwork quilt piece (I already have the pattern made). I would like to get back to my Frida Kahlo piece, but I also feel like my shop hasn't been active enough lately. Maybe I'll do another shop piece and then work on Frida.
