A Wise Old Owl

A wise old owl lived in an oak

                                        The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard.

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? 

I am not sure why this owl reminded me of one of the nursery rhymes I know learned when I was little.  (Words that I have failed to live by, incidentally!)  This is a really cute little fellow.  He is taking it all in with those big orbs of his and not saying a word!  The stitch guide calls for some beading on the feathers (see below), but I could not get the strings of beads to look even on top of the fluffy fleece.  I think I like it without, but will consider adding them before they go to finishing.  

We are headed to Marble Falls for a few days with the Bridgers ~ sans James :(  ..... he is still recovering from surgery and so we will have to take our show on the road to see him!  I am not sure what project to take.  The stocking is too big and complicated to take when I will be distracted with lots of visiting.....not sure what I will take.....thoughts. blog-o-shere?

Below are the photos of my owl as I began adding the fluffy fleece and the sample owl with the beading.....will continue thinking about it!  Feel free to add your suggestions, if you give a hoot!

TGIF

Just a quick chronicle of my stitching evening.  I am finished with all but the feathers and the beak of the owl that I just started.  I had a difficult day and my stitching calmed me down and I think I will sleep better for it!  Thank you stitching.....thank you Friday!

Slowly Getting Donna Summer's Message!

Remember the famous words of Disco Diva Legend....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...?  Well, I am trying to incorporate those words in context with my stash collection.  You hear people laughingly say at Needle House, "She who dies with the biggest stash wins!"  I have subscribed to this thought process since I started my "collection".  Now, I am slightly depressed that I will never have time to finish all the things that I own and I love them!!!  Every time one of my canvasses catches my eye, I think, "That one is definitely next!".
Part of the reason that I started this blog was to track my progress on the needlepoint journey (whilst feeding my writing craving as well...you know the "two Birds" theory).  So far in 2012 I have completed 10 projects.  I am absolutely planning on finishing the Bride's Book for Abbey & Corwin as well as Henry's stocking.  I seem to be fitting in other projects in-between......this current trend must cease!
I plan to keep a rolling list of projects that are "next".
I really am not all that tempted by new projects except for the ones that I have already identified.  I am trying to add a "slideshow" to the blog of all of those items that I am still craving.  I think the list is as follows:
Nancy's (Needle House) Thanksgiving Series by Once in a Blue Moon : Sandra Gilmore including Miles, Priscilla, Turkey, Brave One, & Little Feather
8 of Melissa Shirley's Acorns
Ears of Corn (3D) that Nancy showed me (artist escapes me!)
That is not so bad, is it?

Separate from my plan to start reducing my STASH, or back stock, is my desire to drag my friends into joining me in several projects.  Currently, I am trying to talk Mary Jones into starting Raymond Crawford's owls.  Or at least some of them!  I realize that this is rather cruel of me to try to drag those that I enjoy into the my same predicament.  What can I say, I can only focus on correcting one vice at a time, right?

More Owling

I decided to start on another owl today.  I got the eyes in the little green sides in, but did not finish the red area (needs sequins and beads).  This is a really cute one!  Will order the thread tomorrow for the Brides Book for Abbey and Corwin.  I am so worried that she will not like it, but I had it painted as she described.  Fingers crossed!

Time to turn in ~ Good night!

Owling

Here is a sampling of the owls from Raymond Crawford that I have completed.  I still have 5 to complete ( I gave one to Lynn ...it was white and I did not really like it...she loved it! Lynn, if you are reading this...please post picture of owl that you are stitching from this series!)  These owls are named from the series, however, I would like to rename them.  I am currently accepting suggestions!

Dear Spider, Send Faith!

I feel I need the "Spider" to intervene to give me some faith to begin on the stocking project!  I think I am actually going to start on it tomorrow.  Tonight, I am starting on one of the Raymond Crawford owls.  Really just because it will be easy to start and then stop when I get the stocking set out upstairs.
I am very overwhelmed by the outrageous number of canvasses that I own.  I am getting a good number of them completed this year; however, I never seem to see the number in the stash go down.  I realize that is because I have jumped the gun and ordered the canvasses that I needed to complete the 12 days of Christmas.  I actually have decided to do them all in one year and then give them to Emma Grace when she moves into her first apartment .... one a day like the actual 12 Days of Christmas song!  Corny, I know, but she will then have 12 ornaments with which to decorate her first tree.  This is slightly odd since I do not use Needlepoint Ornaments on my own Christmas tree.  I like the ones that my grandmother and mother made and beaded and then glass ornaments that sparkle when the lights hit them!!!  So, I will inflict all of my latent needlepoint ornament desires onto my children!

Off to start the next owl....how will I finish them??  I want little stand ups, but what will I do with all of them???

Stitching Marathon

# 8 before I added the crystals...very fun to stitch!

The time was right, the projects were available, and I had a Saturday/Sunday stitching marathon!  Shaw and RIchard were out of town at a Lacrosse Tournament in Denver, so it was a girls weekend.  Indeed, I did drive Emma Grace around a bit during the daylight hours, but overall, I sat in my new stitching chair and completed two projects.  First, the Princess & Me Cake Topper that I stitched for Corwin & Abbey.  Then, this morning, I started the #8 Egg in the From Russia with Love Series at Needle House.  It is my favorite one yet and it is finished!  Will turn it in tomorrow.

Completed #8 Egg...Love it!

Sweet Confection!

Just finished the Princess & Me Cake Topper Ornament for Abbey & Corwin.  I will send it to be finished and then add it to a shower gift or a Christmas Gift.  It was FAST and fun to complete.  Of course, it was small enough to use threads from my stash, but I ended up buying some background colors...what a shock!  I will add a photo to this post tomorrow!

Epiphany!

I feel like it is January 6th and I am celebrating the Epiphany!  Why, you ask?  It is clearly June 8th (actually since it is 1:39 a.m., it is June 9th).  However, the camel has "arrived"!  He is ready to go off to finishing and then join his fellow nativity members.  I cannot at all remember when I started the Nativity Home Study with Amy Bunger, however, we can all safely assume that I did not complete one canvas a month like I set out to do from the beginning......it was much longer than that!

While Laurie and my stitching buddies will find this hard to believe, I actually enjoyed the process of this nativity project.  The stitch guides were amazingly detailed (no surprise), the threads were varied and interesting, the details are remarkable, and the learning curve was HIGH for me!  All of that said, my favorite thing about this "journey" has been stitching it "with " Laurie.  It was so incredibly helpful to me to have her as my personal nativity coach.  Thank you Laurie!

Here is a photo of the finished Camel....still on the stretchers:

I will trim the tassels and the red fringe later.  My scissors were not getting as clean of a cut as I wanted, so I still have that to do before finishing.  In this photo, the handler's face looks frightening....rest assured that he looks like a very nice camel handler in person.   I need some suggestions for his name!

I think you can pretty easily tell where I added to the painted canvas near the handler and the nose of the camel.  I just wanted to make sure that his nose was not "around the corner" after he is finished.  The line is pretty noticeable, but I do not think it will be after finishing....or at least I am crossing my fingers!!!

Will post names for both camel and handler when I decide on them!

Saturday in H-Town

First Saturday in June marks the Needle House annual sale!  I was there for a bit this morning and people were busy getting inspiration and new projects and tools!  Now I am about the embark on the stitching for the day.  Still working on the Camel.  How very optimistic I was to think that I would finish it the week of May 20th!  I certainly did not meet that goal! Currently working not he camel "hide" and then tassels, bridle and lead rope, one more blanket, stars in the sky....not too much, right?

I extended the left edge of the camel ask that I could see his entire face when he is stitching instead of having his nose turn the corner towards the seam.  It does not look perfect, but it looks good enough!  Hopefully, I will finish the camel proper today and then he blanket tomorrow!  Glass half full!