A Finish and a (Re-)Start

I missed a question from Kathryn in an earlier post. Yes, I'm switching to an evenweave for my BAP restart. The gridded Aida came with the chart, but I've never really been partial to it.

Also, thanks to teageeare for schooling me on my flower. :) I feel much better knowing that I haven't taken my plant killing abilities to new levels. And it has bloomed a few more times already!

I finished the stitching on gecko #1! I'm going to make him into a patch for my son's backpack and then I'll get started on gecko #2 to hang here. I'm glad they sent me enough fabric to stitch him twice!

I also got a small start (or should I say restart) on my BAP. It took me a while to get it all kitted up - which I hadn't done the first time around - so I haven't put much stitching in yet. I'm doing it on a tea-colored monaco since it's a solid pattern that I intend to mat and frame so the fabric won't be visible anyway. No sense wasting a pretty hand-dye!

My Very Amateur Needlebook

First, to answer a question. Chiasmata - I'm using 3 strands of black on the gecko, per the instructions. I think they're right that 2 might not be enough coverage.

Here are the pics of the needlebook I made for my friend Alicia. This was definitely a learning experience! I didn't measure accurately enough which made the front and back designs offcenter. And, I handstitched the hem around three sides and then turned it right side out. I *should* have used a slip stitch along the last side, but I thought it would look bad against the lining fabric. I didn't realize backstitching along the last edge would totally flatten that edge! Argh! Oh well. I'll make a nicer one next time. :) Oh, and poor Alicia had to sew the seam down the "spine" of the book herself. lol I really need to get a sewing machine and learn how to sew...

I really like the chart I used for the cover, though. I think I may do it again for myself as a redwork piece!

Another Finish, More Stash...

...la dee da. :P


First off, thanks for the nice comments on the last post! I'm feeling a little less obnoxious. I'm just really glad I didn't express my irritation to Silkweaver!!

I made an ornament out of the Mary Engelbreit kit my friend Alicia sent me. This is my very first ornament, and I'm afraid it shows. lol I think it's cute, though and I'm hanging it off a lamp switch at the moment. I thought about putting it on the wall, but I'm kind of digging the fact that it moves a little when suspended. Now that I'm posting this picture, I'm also really noticing how badly I need to paint these walls something other than white!

I also picked up yet a little more stash today. I've been on a serious stash buying jag lately!! Pretty fun... :P I was at the craft store picking up some polyfil and they had a basket full of stitching kits on the cheap! Most of it wasn't to my taste, but I thought this was kind of cute. Not totally me, but for $5 I'll figure out something to do with it! And the floss was already carded! Yay!