Favorites

I was just looking at a few stitchers' WIP photos and somehow the thought popped into my head about what my favorite projects are.  Then I thought, hey this time away from my enormous box of stitching supplies got me thinking.  I mean, I have a few projects with me and I've worked on only Cirque des Triangles and UFO RR this quarter.  Well the quarter is almost over, and Triangles has a bit more outline and a lot more filling in.  See?

So just now I thought, do I have a project that I've been wanting to work on since I've been back in California?  And if so, do I want to make some sort of hierarchy or rotation system... Hmm.  I think I've been eager to work on beading my Cirque des Cercles.  So perhaps do I want to work on only the Cirques until I have the 3 of them finished so they can be framed together?  How to frame them is another issue, meep, because they're all different color schemes and sizes.  Then there is my HAED serial starting problem... uhh what I have been wanting to work on the most is Phoenix 1 by Law.  Second maybe QS Jem by Hannah Lynn Disney.  I have a full page completed on Phoenix and all the black and a bit of color on Jem.  That's a more manageable number of WIPs, right?  Maybe I should get a trunk with a lock and give the key to a roommate for the rest of the projects.

By the way, I was thinking of doing a thing for the new year.  Like a song of the day that describes my mood, thoughts toward whoever at the time, or just generally stuck in my head for no apparent reason, and see what comes of it, if anything.  I thought of this because the song today might have been My Favorite Things by Incubus.  And the title of this post was favorites, and I felt like ranting about it!

Country Music Without Prejudice!

Country boys don't rock and roll
Yeah the record man told me so
Yeah you'll never get it on the radio
Why they trying to complicate
The simple music that we make
Oh cause if it moves my soul
I'm gonna keep on rollin, rollin

Hey, just wanna hear everybody sing (rollin', rollin')
At the top of your lungs till the windows break (rollin', rollin')
Say hey, hey, hey

The title comes from a Big & Rich song.  For some reason they have been up on my Winamp for several days.  I think I've listened to their song Live this Life about 8 times.  So I wanted to rant a little bit about how certain things are wonderful.  Such as music.  When a song, whatever the genre, language, instrumentation, or lyrics relate to me in some way, I feel stimulated.  As in maybe I want to dance, sing out loud, etc.  So today when I was blasting my go-to favorite song for when somebody asks, Stricken by Disturbed, and a few others, I thought about the emotions and thoughts this music evokes when I listen to it.  I had similar feelings when I went to Intervarsity large group this past weekend and church with various friends mostly in the past year.  I've been thinking about it quite a bit lately, and I think that there is something to be said about people coming together in groups and getting to know each other on a deeper level, whether it is through sharing experiences on a sports team, a fraternity, classroom, church, family... I also think that there's a connection between the actions of people and the events that transpire in their lives.  Think Aesop's Fables or those stories told to you when you were a kid, with a moral at the end.  A good majority of the time this holds true.  Maybe someone who scams somebody in poker will win in the short run, but think Rounders, they'll get the crap kicked out of them somewhere down the road.  In Hinduism I think this is the concept of Karma.  (Enqueue Spngebob:  10 minutes later.)  Kind of lost my train of thought there...... um, anyway, I think maybe that I need sleep.

Or stitching therapy.  Yes, that will definitely help.

Oh I think I remembered.  I wanted to say that I think the two things are similar.  Finding something you're passionate about and being modest and making an honest effort to be your best.  I'm not sure this has anything to do with God or a historical person.  Maybe those things are for people to believe in, maybe a placeholder.  And in believing in something they feel a duty to be a better person, then as a result  their life changes.  *shrugs*  The thoughts in my head are always completely different than what appear on "paper".  I am really grateful for my good friends that invite me to join them for fun events, and to talk to about the serious stuff.  It is friends like you who give me confidence that I'll find someone to share my life with.

Gearing up for Finals

New update posted by Rachel as my Round Robin leaves her.  The whales are so adorable, in that deadly nautical sort of way.

And my latest on Cirque des Triangles, which has had a small amount of loving.  I completed a few more motifs, but there is much to do yet.  Maybe next time I'll keep going on the outline.

Flying Orcas? I Mean Needles!

This is my UFO round robin, and a photo of my piece as it has arrived at its latest destination.  I am so thrilled with it so far!  Thanks, ladies! :)

I'm working on Linda's UFO at the moment.  A few hours have added up so far.  I'm doing a big chunk of one color so I can pick it up at any time when I'm on the run.  So far I have caught myself on the backward stitches a few times.  I ALWAYS start my crosses and half crosses on the top right or bottom left.  Had some down time hanging out with brothers today.  No pants Thursday. lol

Let me Outline this for You

Flying Circus!

I'm just going to say that this week has been phenomenal and I even got some time in on stitching, as it turns out while watching Monty Python's Flying Circus.. 

I would say the progress on this is slow and steady.  I've been pretty on-the-go lately.  Getting more used to the 32 count fabric.  It's cool to get so many stitches in with only one length of thread (compared to other counts) lol. 

Ren Faire!

Huzzah!

I went to my first Renaissance Faire today.  So entertaining! 

On the 2+ hour car ride up, I worked on CDT a little.  There were distractions, hehe, but the outline of Page 1 is basically stitched and some odd motifs are emerging!

Plane Triangles

My little bit of progress on my CDT. I stitched during my two short flights and basically slept through the 5 hour one lol plus a few days, a couple minutes here and there working on it. My stitching is 1x1 32ct Antique White Lugana.

Did I mention no class tomorrow? I think it is worth saying, as it likely will not happen again this quarter. lol My only Friday class seems to have exams and quizzes every Friday.

Some Oldies

Packing has been intense in the past few days. Getting rid of things is very difficult for me. I believe most stitchers can say the same. I found many interesting things in the process, and even something that made me cry a little inside, and smile at the same time. Maybe more on that one later. So in conclusion, reminiscing happened. Speaking of which, here are some past finishes that hopefully you will enjoy looking at!

I could go overboard and explain everything, but I think I'll save that until someone asks about a specific thing. The one I'd like to point out is the little flower in the oval frame. I think that was my first embroidery ever! Well a few pieces of similar cloth were my practice stitches and Grandma showing me how. The frame was actually from a cross stitch kit of a goose! You see, I was interested to try this little cross stitch kit, but when I started it I think I probably counted wrong and got messed up. I was seven, so I did not know how to fix it. lol I messed up the thread with that attempt and never stitched the Goose (still have the pattern though) but eventually used the frame for the little flower. I think my skills have improved over time. If you look closely enough on some things like the bookmark, there are definitely some crosses in both directions!

First HAED Page!

This is the spot reserved for the first full page I finish.  And I hope a photo will appear tonight.  I am getting close with Phoenix 1!

Meh, sore throat and very nasty headache happened.  Guess this did start last night, but I was in denial.  This is the exact same "cold" I've had 20 times.  Each lasting at least a month, up to about eight.

Had to stop working on Phoenix for the night, but I did get a chunk completed.

Edited to add a photo of my completed Page 1! Phew, that last section took much longer than I expected it to. At any rate, this piece is going to be put away temporarily. I have some work to do on the UFO Round Robin, and possibly more Cirques.

Cirque des Carreaux

My friend, Zack, did not think I was excited enough about my something shiny because I didn't type it like this:  SHINY!!!!!! So yeah.. I'm close to finishing the first page.  Not sure if I'll get distracted by something else before I finish it, though.  And apparently I really like antique white colored fabric, I seem to have a lot of it.  o.O

 Woohoo!  However insignificant this may seem, I'm feeling very gratified by changing my first Excel cell background to 20% blue colored.  This means the page is finished!  Alright, I'll admit there are a few stitches at the bottom and sides not yet complete, however, I didn't really want silk threads hanging down for too long.  I'm trying to handle the thread as little as possible so I don't mess it up.  Well that was fun!  2 full pages and 3 slightly shorter pages to go.

And now back to beading.  Just a few things I need to get finished *ahem*.. CDC page 1, overcast stitch the fabric edges of that one and two others, change thread on sewing machine back to straight stitch to finish 12x12 heart quilt block, take quilt to quilter, cut bias strips & sew together & sew onto quilt, continue packing.  *stifles a scream*

My Own List of Lists

Alright, aside from the obscure IB Physics Exam 2009 reference... a laughable copying machine error by our lovely IB coordinator.  Some random English class had like this list of Princess Diana's lists, and we had no idea what it was for or whose it was, but it was attached to our data booklets, and we all laughed hysterically for like 10 minutes before the exam started.

Maybe whoever is reading will find this interesting or helpful.

I made a few lists on Microsoft Excel 2007 for stitching works in progress, information and dates for projects and whatnot.  Since I have just started this year, my list includes anything I can find or remember that has to do with cross stitch projects.  A few of the dates are my best guesses and memory lol but this year's stuff is more accurate from lots of digital photos, receipts, and blogging.  Here goes, hope it makes sense!

Shiny

Magical Driving Adventures

A fun little symbol I found thanks to Jennifer and her pit section shirts.  I visited my buddy, and apparently future wife yesterday at her college "dorm" *cough* hotel and it made for a fun 2 days including lots of driving.  Maybe if I have any left over silk after the cirques...

Okay in like 5 years if/when I finish stitching the Mona Lisa, this was the day the fabric arrived in the little baggie from Stitching Bits and Bobs.  The shop owner is so nice and helpful, and I get nice discounts for just walking into the shop, though most of their business is online.  But also this fabric count wasn't in stock so I had it ordered and shipped for free.  I very much like!

Oh - and Round 5 of my UFO RR.  Finally getting pictures up, but here is Melissa's The Magical Night by Teresa Wentzler.

Thar she Grows!

I know, I know, my titles are getting cheesier by the post. I'm not positive my Cirque is a she but if she is, she's probably a lesbian. This project will probably remind me of The L Word because so far that has been what plays in the background while I stitch and bead. My poor bead nabber is dying. It won't hold beads very well at all anymore. lol Poor, abused bead nabber.. I just don't know what to do with you anymore.

There is a little teaser of the green beads. What do you think of it so far?

The Motif is Growing

I think this first circle is probably the most complicated one, but it is turning out so pretty!  I think the photo is pretty true to it. The silver beads are kind of a strange combination of clear glass and metallic.  Maybe it wasn't a good choice to combine the three different bead finishes, but they appear to work well together.  I can't wait to start on a green section!  Also, I just switched today from using a Mill Hill sharp beading needle to using a size 28 Piecemaker tapestry needle.  A couple of the beads have gotten stuck around the eye so far, but I am liking the blunt tip better, and I do not worry as much about putting the needle in perpendicular to the fabric, about breaking the needle, or frankly stabbing myself.  lol  I did not realize how much this section was growing until I saw the photo next to the last one I had taken 4 days ago.  Thanks for reading!

Side note - HDF Silk!  *cough*

Double Take

Alright, here's try two on Cirque des Cercles by Ink Circles.  While the pattern looks simple, somehow symmetric things don't like to line up when counting over 2.  This time I started in the upper left hand corner.  Progress is happening, but maybe I'll put it down for a while and do the monthly SPML SAL this weekend on the HAED Bulletin Board.

After all, I still haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do when design starts getting to big for my 11x11 q-snap-ish lap frame.  Page one is taking up a good most of the space lol.  I'm only concerned about the beads really.  Jem seems to have survived being underneath q-snaps with the extra fabric folded over on top of it and below the snaps.

And now photos!