Erica's Stitches

With the right supplies Hardanger is easy.  Although the elapsed time since I started was longer than I wanted, the actual stitching didn't take too long. Hardanger the wrong way involves the wrong supplies.  In my case it was 28 count linen with pearl cotton 5 and 8 from a kit.  With my own 28 count linen and pearl cotton 8 and 12 it went smoother. The results:  I am not frustrated and the only thing in my trash can is snippets of thread and the cut-away linen.

The following challenge was posted on the Embroiderers' Guild of America Facebook Page recently.  It came from Philly chapter. Nametag Challenge: 5 + 5 = 2010 Use 5 fibers and 5 stitches to make a new nametag in 2010. Isn't this a great challenge?  I'm going to have to do this just for fun.  Deciding on 5 stitches was relatively easy.  I have 5 letters in my name so I'll use one stitch for each letter. E = Eylet Stitch R = Rice Stitch I = Interlaced Running Stitch C = Chain Stitch A = Arrowhead Stitch Some of the stitches were easy to come up with (eyelet, rice and chain).  I had to search to find stitches which start with "I" and "A".  Algerian Eye would work but it was too similar to an eyelet for me.  The Arrowhead stitch looked like something fun to try.  I'll admit using the Interlaced Running Stitch for the "I" is pushing it, but it was the only "I" stitch I found.  And, I think it will look great. Finding ...

At the beginning of April the pasqueflowers started blooming and now they are almost finished with their annual showing. The crocus-like blooms announce the beginning of spring.  The end of spring is heralded by their fuzzy seedheads. At the start of spirng, the flowers a few inches tall.  By now they are about 12 inches tall and going to seed. What a transformation!  They seem to be a different species now. I would be sad, but in the last week or so other flowers have started blooming - bluebells, goldenpea, kinnikinnik, desert parsley and assorted weeds. In the next month the penstemon, cranesbill and dogsbane will appear - a summer full of flowers to look out for.

I was at the far west side of Denver today and on the way back stopped at Buffalo Bill's Grave.  It was a beautiful day and I had never stopped there before. Right near the grave there was a Swallowtail Butterfly sunning himself and I had to snap a few photos.  Isn't he beautiful? The site is on the top of Lookout Mountain which has great views in all directions.  Some have changed since the burial in 1917 - I don't think there were nearly as many radio towers back then.  Others are probably unchanged - except for the trees.  Pictures from 1917 showed no trees nearby. Inside the museum was the history of Buffalo Bill and artifacts from his life and shows.  The best part was the Indian Beadwork.  Pouches, gloves, necklaces and shirts all covered with beads.  There was even a "design your own beadwork" display. It was a table of blocks, each side of the blocks a different color.  You could rotate the...

I like to finish small cross-stitched items as box tops. Paper Mache boxes are inexpensive and come in various sizes.  I like that I can paint them any color to go with my stitching. Usually I glue my piece around cardboard and quilt batting.  Then I glue it to the box top and glue on a trimming.  It is quick and easy.  But it can't be undone. I wasn't ready to do this to the Striped Mountain  so I decided to try a no glue method. I laced the work around the cardboard backing instead of glueing.  Next, I cut holes in the box top.  The plan was to sew the item in place. Unless you have curved needles or infinite patience that will not work.  There's not enough room to manuever the needle around.  Instead, I marked the location of the holes with a maker (yes, I know, that can't be undone, but I made small marks).  Then I attached a length of thread at each hole.  I was able to thread the thread through the holes and tie th...

Subtitle - Why is that crazy lady out on her porch taking pictures of a wastebasket? Yes, that is Hardanger in the trash.  I have given up! It is a cute little tree that I thought I could finish rather quickly in my spare time.  I had the kit about a month and when the time was right I started stitching.  I thought I'd have a tree a few days later. Wrong!  It went slower than usual.  I was making more mistakes and having to undo them.  I was halfway done with the klosters (for the 2nd time) when I realized the problem:  28 count linen and pearl cotton 5 and 8.  The thread is way to big for the linen.  It pushes the holes together and it makes it harder to count.  I figured that I'd made a good start and if I was careful I wouldn't make any more mistakes.  Wrong!  While the klosters where difficult the buttonhole was nearly impossible.  Still I struggled on.  I got frustrated.  I got headaches. The next time...

Everywhere I turn something is looking at me. It's sort of creepy. Leave me alone!