I had plans to post a verbose update about my recent stitching experiment, CDC, and my progress on my website. Alas, it is not to be because when I checked out the HAED BB I discovered this: The Tower of Stony Wood. I have been wanting to stitch this piece of artwork ever since I first saw it about two and a half years ago. And now it is MINE!! So I'm going to do a quick post of the last two WIPs I've worked on and then I'm going to dive in.

Here's Cirques des Cercles:



And here's Undercurrent:



Here's a link to the artwork: Undercurrent. I was in a bit of a stitching slump since I was still preoccupied by the website I'm trying to build. I thought maybe an experiment would peek my interest and so I decided to try doing 1/2 stitches on Monaco. I picked Undercurrent because it fit perfectly on the Monaco I had. The experiment was a total success, you can't see any of the diagonal lines that have kept me from using 1/2 stitches on other fabrics, I can use a loop start, and I'm able to do a whole 10 x 50 column in less than two hours.

And now I'm off to get set up for The Tower at Stony Wood. Woohoo!!

Labels: Cirques des Cercles

Cirques des Cercles! Finally!

I ended up using Silk N Colors Kaleidoscope on the Precious Metals fabric from Silkweaver. I'm still not 100% sold on the color, but at least I managed to finish the first motif and then some!

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to stitch each motif so the colors flow together nicely. But then I might be expecting too much since the colors all kind of clash anyway.

I decided to skip over Angel of Frost this rotation when I found myself cleaning rather than putting her on the scroll frame! Once I came to my senses, I started on the Days of Advant Sampler. It's all good though, since I no longer have to risk broken bones simply to walk across my living room. My youngest had decided to make a fort over the weekend which ended up including all the kitchen chairs, 15 or so boxes of various sizes, and most of our video tape collection. Don't ask me what she was doing with the videos, who knows what she was thinking. Oh, and two or three blankets, but blankets strewn around the living room is a pretty normal occurrence.

Labels: Cirques des Cercles

And the answer to that in this case would be NOT. I got a bunch done on Goblin Tree yesterday, over 1200 stitches! I thought it was looking a bit off, but instead of getting off my behind and checking the cover image I kept going. Sometimes it really doesn't pay to be so lazy... I discovered I'd been using the wrong color for at least one of the symbols!

That part there under her antennae is supposed to be 414. I'm not exactly sure what color it is, but certainly not the 414 which is quite a bit darker. Upon further inspection it seems that wasn't the only thread I had wrong. The top of that wing just doesn't look right. Normally, I might attribute that to the vagaries of HAED charts which often look off until all the surrounding stitches are filled in, when it suddenly all comes together.

Fortunately in this case, Louann (Stitching Obsessions) is also working on this and her wing top is much better defined. Which leads me to believe I've messed up more than one of the symbols. Rather than try to figure out where the mistakes are and frogging, I've decided to scrap this one.

Rather than move on to Angel of Frost, I think I'll replace Goblin Tree with Cirques des Cercles, which I'm dying to start anyway.

Labels: Cirques des Cercles, Goblin Tree

Can you tell I really like Selena Fenech's artwork? This is the fourth of hers that I've worked on recently!

I am stitching these ladies on 28 count Nebula Monaco dyed by Tirowen Fabrics. I had originally purchased Shadow Cashel opalescent dyed by Picture This Plus for this design (and had even started it). But the moment I saw this fabric I thought it would be the perfect background for this design.

The link I have to Tirowen Fabrics no longer works, which is such a shame, I really liked her fabrics. When I ordered the Nebula, I also ordered a piece of Monaco in "Fuschia" which is the most gorgeous shades of pink and purple. I still have no idea what I might stitch on it, but it was simply too lovely to resist -- a piece of art in and of itself! I also received a piece of Monaco dyed in the most lovely greens. I would have liked to use it for Cirques des Cercles, but the piece wasn't big enough.

Speaking of Cirques des Cercles, I received the fabric I ordered and it is lovely. I changed my mind about the thread again, and started the design for the umpteenth time. And still wasn't happy, so I did a bit of test stitching and I think I have finally found something I can live with. Maybe. I also received the 40 count Lakeside Linen I ordered for the Days of Advant Sampler. I went with the Examplar, since I wanted something darker than what I'd seen other WIPs on. I just hope it's not too dark.

I'm antsy to get started on these two projects, but for now have convinced myself to finish up with the current rotation iteration. Just Goblin Tree and Angel of Frost to go anyway. Eight days. Surely I can hold out for eight days?

Labels: Cirques des Cercles, Days of Advent Sampler, Luna Sol and Stella

This design is driving me nuts! I have started it SEVEN times so far and am still not happy. The interaction between the thread colors, fabric colors, and fabric counts are just not popping. I've given up on using Fraises du Bois. It's just not dark enough. It would probably be okay 2 strands over 2 on a black 32 count, but I ordered 40 count. I also tried it on 36 count rue green, the coverage is better, but it doesn't jump out. I then decided to use Havana waterlilies. I tried it on a greyish-purplish opalescent which looked great, but it's a 28 count and I wanted the design to be a bit more compact. Then I tried it on the rue green. Which looks okay, but again doesn't have that WOW factor I'm looking for. Will I ever find it? I don't know, but to that end I've gone and ordered Silkweaver's Precious Metals on 32 ct Lugana. And now I'm wondering if Poltergeist might not have been a better choice.

I despair. And I just know the men in the white coats are waiting just around the corner.

Labels: Cirques des Cercles

I spent my day searching for the perfect fabric. Alas, it just does not exist. Or perhaps it does, but computer searching and image mockups just aren't the way to find it. So I surprised myself and simply made a decision.


And since I really don't like stitching with more than one thread, I opted for the 40 count. I'm a bit concerned about being able to see well enough to be able to do it, but I know if I can it will look stunning!

Labels: Cirques des Cercles

Three tries on Cirques des cercles and am not liking the way it's looking.


I think I'll stick with the Fraises du Bois for my thread, but I'm not happy with either fabric. The colors are okay, but the count is just wrong. I also really need to remember that I quite hate Cashel linen. So I'm on a mission to find another fabric, although I'm not sure whether I want to go with a green or a darkish color. Blah. I hate it when a plan doesn't come together.

Labels: Cirques des Cercles

I'm trying to stick to my 4 day rotation rule this time around, that last round seemed to last forever! Here is an updated pic of Rose Fae:


Click here for details. This one is a lot of fun to stitch -- particularly following Bubble Flower! Not so much confetti to wade through.

I've been feeling a horrible itch to start some new projects. I'm restraining myself since the ones I really feel pulling at me aren't fully kitted (why do my whims always seem to work that way??) and right now all my extra cash is going towards Christmas gifts for the kids. After Christmas though I think I'll spend a child support check on stash. Shhhh! Don't tell my ex, seeing how he forbid me to spend any of his money on cross stitch. Hahahahahahahahah HAH!

This is what started the itch:


Ink Circle's Cirque des Cercles stitched on black with DMC varigated gold #111 by Marc Davis. I had absolutely no interest in stitching this design until I saw this. Isn't it gorgeous? I realized it is perfect for the Waterlilies Fraises du Bois I've been wanting to use for something, but couldn't find anything that "fit". I'll stitch it on either teal Dublin linen or Picture this Plus Crystal Shadow Cashel. I can't wait to get started -- and since I have a skein of the thread and the fabric I might just break down and order the pattern now.

Labels: Cirques des Cercles, Rose Fae