June TUSAL

  

My June ORT jar was very poor last month. I've mainly been working on Japanese embroidery. In my down time I've been working on doing the finishing on the Virgin Queen Wallet and I decided to start a separate ORT jar for it. There's a lot of scraps.

I took some in progress pictures documenting the finishing process, but here's where I'm at now. I'm ready to start putting together the body of the wallet but am missing a few things, like the ribbons and buttons. I've placed an order for one but can't find the other. The buttons needed are 7mm flat two hole buttons which is really tiny, and I need three of them. I haven't been able to find anything online, my best bet is to hit the local flea markets and haberdasheries, and pray! So if anyone knows of a good source, please reach out.

Virgin Queen Wallet

I'm not starting the year right with this blog, but at least I can make up for it by striking off an item from this year's goals. My Virgin Queen Wallet is done.

I need to start looking at the finishing. I have some lightweight fusible, but I need to figure out where to find interlining (also called buckram). It's basically what gives the piece stiffness. I also need to find felt, coordinating fabric for the lining and a few other little bits and bobs. The original is lined with a willow green dupion silk, I'm probably going to go with a quilting fabric as it's easier to get locally.

While stitching what will become the needlebook, I realized I don't dislike blackwork after all. I think it was stitching with such a dark contrasting color. You get such a sense of satisfaction watching the pattern unfold. I may do more of it if I can find the right pattern.

Below you can see the stitching for the thread winder and scissor fob.

The next three pictures are what will make up the actual etui.

Slight change from the original, I switched out the vanilla for the cinnamon on the interwoven pattern. It was really hard to see and I was just not enjoying it at all. Plus the cinnamon is really pretty and goes well with the carnations.

Doing the finishing is not at the top of the list right now. The next three months will be very busy with classes. I'll be starting Japanese embroidery classes and revisiting cords technics, I want to make sure this piece gets completed before I got back to Grace. I'll also be getting back to Arabian Nights, the bead embroidery piece I was supposed to start in December. Lots coming, I just need to be patient.

December TUSAL

Last TUSAL of the year! All that thread is actually from the last week. Between work and Christmas parties, I didn't have any stitching time. Once my stitching vacation started, I figured I'd start slow by working on Betsy Morgan's Virgin Queen's Stitching Wallet and just never stopped. I was hoping to finish (and I'm nearly there) before the end of the year but no dice.

I got most of the larger panels completed. 

Right now, I'm trying to complete the last of the big panels, isn't this flower cute! I also still have the embroidery for two little panels left to do. I guess I'll have to leave it for next year.

September & October TUSAL

 

I've been really bad at keeping up with my blog. I didn't realise so much time had passed since my last post. A lot was going on between work and at home. I even got to travel for work for the first time in 3 years. I've been stitching here and there as you can see from my TUSAL reports for September and October.

I worked on the Contrast Color Wheel, that should be finishing very soon. I hit a wall last week when I ran out of one of the materials in the kit. More is on the way and I'm really looking forward to finishing this piece.

Grace is at a halt right now. It might very well be the reason why I've been avoiding posting on the blog. I've set her aside for now and will get back to her over the Christmas holidays (maybe). For now, I will concentrate on getting back on track by working on phase 5 cords. We had a class the first weekend of November, more on that soon.

I did start a little cross stitch project. Something easy for those days when I don't want to work on a frame. It's Betsy Morgan's Virgin Queen's Stitching Wallet. I kitted it together with a stitching friend. By doing that it allowed us to save money on the threads as it doesn't need a full hank of each color to stitch it. I liked the shape of it and the colors.

As I write this, I'm away from home. I'm spending two weeks in Vermont, working remote. I brought some stitching with me but haven't had the chance to get any of the projects out. I'm hoping to have time tomorrow as I only work in the morning on Fridays. Just sad it won't be my cords as I had to leave that big frame at home.