Annette's Acre

Picked up my framed finishes today…

Joyful Summer (clickable pic):

Very simple and sweet.

And I love how Poppy come out! (clickable)

You can’t really see that the frame has a thin red accent line along the inner and outer edges.  It is a perfect match to the red mat (which is a black core, thus matching the black frame).  The molding had come in to the shop the day before I took Poppy in to be framed and I’m glad I didn’t miss it.

Thanks everyone for the great encouragement on my little house

I will share the chart/designer (as requested), but I want to be clear – I’ve stitched other things by this same designer with no problems at all.  This is an artwork adaptation and I’m sure we all can appreciate the challenge of recreating the intricacies achieved with pen and ink into little squares.

It’s Twas Twilight on Main Street.  I bought the chart in Louisville last October particularly for the RR.

Now, let’s all welcome a new reader:  Craft-i-Leigh

Welcome Leigh!

Leigh, thank you for a great question that has become today’s blog post!

…If you would answer my question… What type of fabric or fabrics do you prefer and why? Brands and counts?

Every fabric has its use.  For me, my “go to” fabric is Belfast (32-count) linen by Zweigart.  It has a nice soft hand, a consistent texture (very few slubs) and comes in a lovely array of colors.  I tend to grab for Platinum or White most often.  Cashel is the 28-ct version and I do use it as well if I am looking for a specific finished size or if I don’t have the 32-ct handy.

That said, I’m using more 36- and 40-ct linen, lately.  I collect Loose Feathers designs and my LNS packages them with fabric in that count.  (Note, I say “collect” – this would be due to the fact I’ve stitched all of 2 of the 15-ish that I own).  I like these counts for more expensive hand-dyed fabrics as I can get more usage in a fat quarter   Lakeside Linens (hand-dyed) are lovely in this count and for solid colors, I look for Edinburgh (36) and Newcastle (40) – both Zweigart.

Pearl Linen (also Zweigart, 35-ct) has made an appearance in the stash recently. I have Desiderata started on it and it may one day replace all my white and antique white Belfast

Now, if I have something that is solidly stitched or stitched over-1, I’m going to reach for an evenweave.

Jobelan (32-ct) is the leader for the dense stitched pieces.  I just find it holds up well under the weight of fiber and fabric.  It’s a cotton/rayon blend and has lovely drape and soft sheen.  It also comes in some *great* colors, so again, if I can’t find anything suitable in Belfast and don’t want to use a hand-dyed fabric, Jobelan usually comes thru.

For over-1, I *really* like Jubilee or Monaco.  These are both 28-ct and 100% cotton with thick threads and a tight weave.  I usually stitch in hand, but for over-1, I will use a Q-snap and the cotton fabric holds a tighter tension.  In a pinch, I’ll use Lugana in 25- or 28-ct, depending on my desired finished size (or what I have handy in the stash).

The exception to this is hand-dyed fabrics.  In most cases, linens take dyes much darker than evenweave blends.  If I want a lighter version of a hand-dyed fabric, I’ll try to get Jazlyn or Jobelan, depending on where the cut is coming from.  I’ve included some links below for perusing purposes.

Granted, this is what I like.  I’m sure you can ask this same question to any number of stitchers and we’ll all come up with a different list and widely different reasoning.  Anyone care to add their favorites in the comments?

The best thing is to try a variety and see what you like   If you use stretcher bars or Qsnap regularly, you may have other preferences.  I stitch in hand, so the feel of the fabric is important – if I am uncomfortable holding it, I won’t be working on the project very long.

A few handy links…

Wichelt Imports – Distributor of Zweigart and Wichelt fabrics.  While I’m not a fan of Wichelt linens, this is a very handy site to see colors (with DMC numbers) and what is available in each fabric count and type.

Silkweaver – Amazingly wonderful purveyor of hand-dyed fabrics

Picture this Plus – Another hand-dyed fabric site with some gorgeous colors.  DaVinci is probably my all time favorite hand-dyed color – it made a perfect backdrop for Emerald Mermaid.

Lakeside Linen - Beautiful neutrals.  My LNS focuses mainly on reproduction samplers and carry a large selection of Lakeside.

The Stitchers’ Village – A brand new online community of stitchers!  Come by for classes, shops and forums to chat about all kinds of stitch-y topics .

Hope this helps!

I haven’t posted because I’ve been working furiously on an RR.  I admit, I’m angry with myself that it took me 2+ months to stitch this house:

Difficult?  No.  But the chart was a pain-in-the-you-know-what.  Fractionals that just didn’t belong (and I skipped) and confusing backstitch directions.  I will never stitch the full piece.

Anyway, it’s off to Texas.  Thankfully when I was ready to throw it across the room, I picked up my latest Fair & Square round (it’s only going across town) or HoE Biscornu Exchange piece (a longer trip ahead for that one!).  Those went in the mail today, too.  I picked a *much* simpler chart for the next RR house and have already pulled floss to start it this weekend.  No more late mailing!!

This week I’ll pick up something a bit more soothing….

She’s done…I stayed up rather *ahem* late on Tuesday putting on the last of the beads.

Mirabilia Poppy

32-ct white Belfast

I’m taking her and Joyful Summer to the framer tomorrow

For those playing at home, here is the current WIP List:

1 – Summer Queen

2 – From Sea to Shining Sea

3 – L*K Boo Club

4 – Skeleton Crew (poll winner)

5 – Toy Shop (closest to finish)

I’ve got two items I must finish before I can pick any of them up again.  Tami’s Winter Neighborhood RR is due to mail on Tuesday (I’m off Monday, so shouldn’t be a problem) and then a Biscornu exchange piece for HoE.

Otherwise, work is busy.  I’m tearing thru a few books and trying to stay current on the DVR.  Life is grand

Complete!

Joyful Summer

Country Cottage Needleworks

Threads: as charted (Crescent Colors and DMC)

Fabric: 28-ct Little Boy Blue Cashel

Dawned on me this morning that I was actually more organized than I gave myself credit for in the previous post.

I just….forgot.  Hey, if you cram as much stuff in your brain as I cram in mine on a daily basis, I guarantee you will lose a few bits too!

I use Google Reader for my blog reading.  I’ve made great use if the “Add Star” function to keep track of posts I want to refer to later (or blog about… see the tie-in?).

A few items that have caught my eye recently:

Tim-Tams in the US!  Yes, all of you that beg your Australian connections to send the infamous Tim Tam cookies (or haunt Cost Plus), you can look at your local grocer to get your fix.  I’ll be checking Safeway this weekend.

Metric/Imperial Measuring cups… from Lee Valley Tools!  Yes, now when you order your Watchmaker cases, you can add these *great* measuring cups

One World One Heart – 900+ bloggers are offering giveaways.  There are some amazing things being offered.  No, I’m not telling you what I’ve put my name in for – it reduces my odds! LOL

Circa Notebooks – Mom found this.  I still love my small datebooks for work.  If I write something down, I am ten times more likely to remember it.  These customizable books look amazing!  I’ve got this sampler on the way to try them out.

And finally, I’ve received a Blog Award from Jeanne

As part of this I need to list my five addictions (only five?):

GoodReads – Reading in general, but this site is great for keeping track of what I’m reading and what my friends are reading, too (a never-ending supply of new books to check out)

PuzzleQuest – Love this game and eagerly await the new PuzzleQuest: Galactrix.

Battlestar Galactica – Ok, it took me almost four years to get hooked, but I am well and truly addicted

Starbucks – Vanilla Bean Frappaccino with a pump of mocha.  I don’t do coffee, but could drink one of these every day (it’s like a light chocolate shake…).

My Current Stitching Project – doesn’t matter what it is, but when I’m stitching, I’m happy

Why do I always think of great bloggable topics when I’m anywhere other than sitting in front of the “Write Post” window??

I did finish Joyful Summer   I’ll have a pic after it’s pressed this weekend.

Working on Round 11 Fair & Square…..then Poppy to finish and the poll winners (Skeleton Crew and Toy Shop) to add and Boo Club to start

(Trying out Twitter integration…  Melissa inspired me to find the plugin!)

I finally finished off my new 101 List today.  The 1001 days officially starts today  

Lots of pics today – all are clickable! 

First, the framed Autumn Queen (and a close up of the frame).  I think she came out great!  The new framer is a keeper.

Frame corner:

I participate in the Let’s Stitch blog run by Becky.  She recently had a giveaway for participants and I won!  A bag of goodies arrived this week:

I love the red toile fabric!  And with eyelets, I have no excuse not to try a floss tag (yes, I have a setter tool) ;)

Mom, Kylie and I went to the annual Quilt, Craft & Sewing Fair on Friday. 

I found buttons:

And some fun fat quarters of fabric:

And a few fat halves that spoke to me… (“take me home… take me home…”)

Isn’t the needlework print in the upper left great?

By this time we were thru the bulk of the booths and I was feeling pretty good that I had stayed within my budget.

Then I turned the corner and entered Cranberry Quiltworks’ booth.

Hanging in the booth was a quilted Pirate Map!!!  This is the kit (because, well, you know I couldn’t resist. I can hear Missy Ann’s gasp, too)

The very cool thing?  Gina (the owner) has one of the fancy computerized quilting machines in her shop (in California) and will quilt this with figures of pirates, ships and treasure chests!  The red bit is for a flag, but I’ve got about six weeks to stitch a little Jolly Roger instead.  Gina is coming back for a Quilt Expo (in Mesa… terribly convenient) in mid-March and she will have her machine with her for that show.  She’ll do my quilting while she’s here

Kylie then spotted this kit:

Just. Too. Cute.

Speaking of skulls, Skeleton Crew is winning the “Next WIP” vote handily.  I’ll pick it up after Poppy and Joyful Summer are done (and then add in Lizzie Kate’s Boo Club and Toy Shop).  Thanks for the help in choosing!

Time for the Super Bowl!!   GO CARDINALS!!