Sunday Status and LCE

One more week... another status...

Tree Frog has some progress, still working on first color green:

And just for the record, I have abandoned using the railroad method to keep threads laying nicely.  I decided to go for speed over perfection, although given the nature of the piece it wasn't a tough decision.  Although now when I have a twisted stitch, I can't just ignore it, I have to try and get the threads to lay a little nicer by fiddling with it using my needle as a sort of laying tool.  By the way, I am liking the stretcher bars very much.  They are so light.  And there is no adjusting the tension or having to move the q-snap to a different spot.  Q-snaps are still my go to frame for travel projects though.  I have taken this one out of the house, but it is a bit awkward, and it just barely fits in the backpack I use to carry it.

Introducing the new small project... I've had this little kit in my stash for quite awhile.  It is called Sunny Thought by Dimensions.  Interestingly, it is on a small plastic mesh instead of fabric.

I've finished the first color so far.

As you can see, I didn't grid it as usual, since it is so small, but I did have to use a spare bit of thread to do a quick line on two sides to mark the gridline points to help with stitching the separate areas.  Should be cute when it is finished.

 Now for the LCE (life changing event)... I am active duty in the Air Force, and after 22 years it is time to retire from the AF.  Friday was my last duty day...yay!  Tomorrow is the start of my terminal leave (aka using up all my accrued vacation days).  After the terminal leave is done, I am officially a military retiree.  Then I really having to figure out what to do with myself next.  I have to look for a job, since even though military pension is nice, it just isn't enough to pay the bills and keep a family household going.  So, the job search begins.  And I am going to have to learn to dress myself to go to work, no more just throwing on the uniform everyday.  I am very happy and scared at the same time.  One good thing is, until I get hired somewhere, I have more time to stitch and stamp.  Stamping may have to be a priority while I am prepping for the Stampin' Up convention in July.  After that though, I can get back to stitching until my fingers go numb.  8)

'til next time... happy stitching (and stamping)!

 

 

Sunday Status

Over the past week, I finished gridding the fabric for Tree Frog, and yesterday I got it mounted on the stretcher bar frame.  At first, things weren't going so well as I was having trouble getting it to go on straight and even.  This was especially important since it will stay on the frame once completed and get hung up in Alex's room.  And if it is not straight and even, it will bug the crap out of me every time I look at it.  So, after struggling with it for a while, I had an idea, which worked beautifully.  I used regular sewing thread and ran basting stitches, first on the center lines.  Then I measured to half the length and width of the frame from the center lines, and ran basting stitch all around the perimeter.  I used these basting lines to keep it straight and even as I was tacking it down.  The one thing I did have to just let go of, was keeping the distance between the tacks the same.  It just wasn't happening.  So, I figure I can glue a strip of cloth around the edge to cover the tacks, and walla, ready to hang up! Here are some pictures to show you what I am talking about.

 

Once I pulled the basting stitches out, I put painter's tape down the sides to cover the ends of the EZ-Count.  If I don't do that, my floss is constantly getting caught up on it.  If I use a grime guard, that covers them, but since I am not planning on making a grime guard for this frame, the painter's tape works very well.

 Progress on Tree Frog:

I am moving right along with the orange border.

Progress on small Bloom:

Since I generally work on this while on my breaks at work, or while waiting to be seen at an appointment, it is coming along sort of slowly.  It is a great take everywhere type of project.

 

Now it's back to stitching!

Venturing into new territory...

I have decided to give the stretcher bar type frames a try.  The fabric that came in a kit that my son picked out only has 2" margins, which will not work very well with my usual Q-Snaps.  Besides that, the bonus will be that when it is finished it will already be mounted on the frame and ready to hang up in his room.  This is the kit he picked out when I asked him if he wanted Mommy to make something for him:

 

Tree Frog Among Leaves

I've watched several YouTube videos on stretcher bar frames, so I know how to assemble the frame and mount the fabric.  I just ordered the stretcher bars and thumb tack kit from Nordic Needle.  Now comes the wait for my order to get shipped to me.