First Finish of 2021

I did say that this will be the first finish of 2021, I just didn't realise how long it would take me to get around to it.

Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons

The last bit that was left were the branches that are backstitched and then whipped.

For the eyes, I decided to deviate from the pattern and use beads. These are size 15/0 hex cut beads that I purchased a while back from the JEC. They have a blue green sheen to them, perfect for the blue dragons

The great thing about finishing this piece, I can finally put away all these threads. They've been in this box since 2015. There were two or three threads that were shared with another cross stitch and I kept losing track of them. It will be good to have them in one place for once.

Another Making Weekend

Last weekend I didn't do much embroidery as I was getting more acquainted with my sewing machine. This year I was invited to join my friend's family for Christmas and I bought some things for the little ones. I decided that instead of wrapping the gifts, I should make fabric bags to hold them and then the kids can use them as shoe bags. I'll share pictures once they are gifted. I had three to make, which made for good practice. By the time I got to the third one, it was a breeze. I still need more practice on how to properly cut my fabric. I'm still having a hard time with that.

I did do some cross stitching when I took breaks from my sewing machine. Today I'm looking at past pictures of Tracery Dragons and I was surprised by how much the piece has progressed. Before I pulled it out in November, the last time I had touched it was back in 2016. Three years later, I managed to finish the entire lower half within a month. I don't think it will be finished before end of year, but chances are high I will finish it next year.

December 2016

December 2019

I See Traces of Dragon

Tracery Dragons is still holding my attention. I'm almost done stitching the bottom half. Originally I planned on only stitching the stone and leaves but since I need to move my q-snaps, I figured I might as well finish it all before moving onto the top. You can't really tell from the picture but there is a little sparkle in the dragon. The colors are just so pretty against that dark fabric.

The left side of Hedebo Starburst is ready for stitching. I ended up powering through it while watching Disney movies. I'm loving Disney+.

I've started another piece, but it will be a while before I share anything here. If you're curious on what it is, check out my Instagram stories. 

Blast From the Past

Remember this piece? It's Tracery Dragons by Teresa Wentzler. I had to look it up, but the last time I stitched on it was December of 2016. After I finished Mermaids of the Deep and Miniature Midnight, I didn't have enough time to start something new (I was leaving for Winnipeg) and I didn't feel like working on my other WIPs. So I decided to pull out something that I haven't touched in forever.

Another more practical reason is that the thread box is taking up some space and hogging floss. It would be great if I can finish it and pack everything away.

Once I got back into it, I made some very good progress. There is still some stitching to do on the bottom half (more leaves) but it should be almost done. Except for the dragon, I haven't started putting him in yet. I think I will leave him for last. I really should have been working on my Japanese embroidery but I couldn't stop once I started.

I also worked on Hedebo Starburst. The top side is all done and you can see the entire pattern. I need to clean up the sides (or at least one) in order to continue. I'll try to put in some time tonight.

Short Update and Surprise Win

So I did no stitching this weekend on account of being busy with the Lakeshore guild's exhibition. I was there Saturday and Sunday. Saturday to help out l'Atelier de Pénélope with the setup and customers, and Sunday I was volunteering with the guild as a "guard". The day was very long so by the time I got home I was too tired to do anything.

The guild holds exhibitions every two years. When I initially joined they asked if I wanted to submit something but I decided not to. Instead, I went to see it just to get an idea of what members submit so I would know for next time. I remember my dad saying I should have put in my Peacock Tapestry to the exhibit. Good thing I didn't because I wouldn't have gotten THIRD place in the Best in Show category =D

Here I am accepting my prize from our guild president June Berry.

The voting was open to both members and the public. First and second place went to long time members Paula and Rita. Paula's piece was the huge Elizabeth Almond Save the Stitches blackwork piece and Rita's was one called Insomnia set in a wooden tray, which took the second place for best in show AND first place for best original piece.

As a prize, we each received this beautiful oak ORT box (click on the post to see the video below). The pieces were made by Denise Tremblay a member of the guild. They were purchased by long time member Erma Scrimgeour (who sadly passed away this year) to donate to the guild for the Best in Show prizes.

I've been eyeing the one that Nancy, my Japanese embroidery friend, has and thinking: One day I will get me one of those. It's so much more satisfying to receive it as a prize for all the hard work I put into my peacock :)

I took pictures of my pieces as well as my favorites. I also took a walk-through video of the exhibit, I just need to do the editing before I can share it. So watch out for that soon.

WIPocalypse 2017 – January

This month's theme is: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year! So here we go:

My name is Dima. I'm a Software Engineer by day and stitcher by night. This is my sixth year blogging and I've been stitching for 7. I started with cross stitch, but have been trying to add in other types of embroidery (hardanger, pulled/drawn thread, punto antico...). You'll notice that most of the embroidery I'm drawn to is whitework, although I love color. I'm still hoping to learn crewel as I have a lot of kits in my stash but looks like it will be replaced by goldwork this year. Better luck next year :P

I also crochet, mostly amigurumis that I give as gifts, and I am learning how to knit (still very bad at it). Last year I added Kumihimo and this year my new addiction is beads. I hope to use lots and lots of them.

I've already posted my goals here. but I will re-iterate them below. I picked easy goals again this year as I will be very busy again this year come spring which means I will be very busy in the coming year finishing projects.

I had finished my goal last year on Bramble and the Rose and I got a head start on this year's goal as well. I always take out this project the last week before the New Year. The goal for this year is to again finish at least one page.

Ink Circles - The Bramble and the Rose

I worked on Tracery Dragons last year which was great. The goal this year is to finish all the stonework.

Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons

I haven't touched Fantasy Lace since the summer. This year I'm hoping at least to have the hemstitch border done. Most likely to happen in the summer as it's a great project to take outside :)

	No Update
Satin Stitches - Donna's Fantasy Lace

Officially being added to the roster this year is Katherine Drummond's Romantic Rosebud which was a Creative Festival class in 2015. The goal is to finish it this year.

The second WIP being added that is also to be completed this year is Annie Penin's Fleurs de Sakura.

More projects will likely come and go during the year, but these are my offical WIPocalypse goals for 2017.

More Grays

A short post today. I'm still working on Tracery Dragons, but I didn't get much progress last week. I've been too busy baking for work and for home.

Luckily, we had a snow day on the weekend and so I got loads of time to stitch. It doesn't look like much, but for Teresa Wentzler it's a lot ;)

I was hoping to stitch some more on it (until the end of this week), but I've had to sideline it. I received my order of silk fabric for Hana and so I will be working on that this week when I get the time. For someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I sure do get busy around this time of the year.

WIPocalypse 2016 – December

I'm doing things in reverse this time, starting with updates.

I finished all the stitching for my Hana scissor case. Now it's just a matter of waiting to get the fabric to finish it and the fob. I think after Fandango this is my favorite piece this year.


I didn't get those olive green leaves done this month on Fleurs de Sakura. This piece will be one of my pieces for WIPocalypse next year.

No update on Fantasy Lace.

	No Update
Satin Stitches - Donna's Fantasy Lace

No update on Bramble and the Rose.

	No Update
Ink Circles - The Bramble and the Rose

My dragons are back, but still invisible. I decided to concentrate on stitching one element of the piece so that I'm not constantly threading and un-threading needles. So for now I concentrated on the stonework. I'm going to keep at this piece until we break for the holidays.

Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons

I didn't touch Sfilati Fantasia.

No Update

This month's theme is: Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)

I reached all the goals I had set for this year. It helps that I kept them very small ;)

• Finish one page Ink Circles - Bramble and the Rose - Done

Before

After

• Finish beading Mirabilia - Tree of Hope - Done

Before

After

• Stitch on Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons - Done

Before

After

• Finish eyelets on Donna M. Olson - Fantasy Lace - Done

Before

After

For my finishes of the year, I will do a post for it closer to the end of the year so look out for it :)

Out of Hiding

I had kind of a tough weekend. I was supposed to go to an embroidery class on Saturday and even baked cookies the day before to take with me, but then I woke up sick on Saturday and couldn't go :(

In order to forget about it, I decided I needed a project that will really take up all my concentration. The first thing that popped into my head was Teresa Wentzler. There is nothing quite like a TW to really get you absorbed and make you forget everything. Because let's face it, anything but 100% means combining the wrong threads, miscounting stitches, forgetting a quarter stitch,...

So for the first time in almost 2 years, Tracery Dragons finally came out of hiding and saw the light. I started stitching Saturday but it wasn't until Sunday that I got my TW rhythm.

Saturday I was stitching all over the place constantly switching colors, winding and unwinding threads. Until I remembered my technique from Peacock Tapestry and decided to concentrate on stitching only six colors for now. Once that decision was made things went much faster.

I think I will keep stitching on this piece until the next WIPocalypse post on December 14 which is also the last one for the year. That way I will be able to put in a nice amount of stitching on it :)

By the way, anyone else out there ever stitched on Picture This Plus cashel linen? Is it always so fuzzy and the linen threads so uneven? It's already hard to stitch on darker fabrics but this linen makes it twice as hard.

WIPocalypse 2015 – January

With encouragement from Jan I decided to join WIPocalypse this year. So here is my first post with the topic: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year.

My name is Dima and I've been cross stitching for about 8 years. I just did the count and I can't believe it's been that long. For some reason I thought it was less, but that might be because I didn't really get into stitching until I created this blog 3 years ago and started interacting with other stitchers.

I've already introduced my projects in a different post, but here they are again with updated pictures.

Ink Circles - Bramble and the Rose

Mirabilia - Tree of Hope

Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons

Satin Stitches - Donna's Fantasy Lace

Gingerbread Girl - Gelati al Cioccolato

Karen Dudzinski - Pulled Thread Miniature Ornate Carpet

I'm also working on the Dentelles SAL, but I won't post pictures of that until the first part is done.
These are the only projects I will be working on for now. I think my goal for WIPocalypse this year is to try and finish Bramble and the Rose. But...I'm not counting on it happening this year lol with all the other projects that are holding my attention. So I'll at least try to finish one page ;)