Weekend Update

I am almost positive I did not stitch anything from Thursday night until this morning. That doesn't mean I wasn't crafty, however. I spent part of a drippy, dreary Saturday at The Crafty Framer in Largo, talking with Peggy and Lexy about getting some things framed. The rest of the day I spent pin stretching items with Lexy.

I have a number of finished projects that are sort of languishing in paper towel rolls, waiting for frames. Obviously the Pelican and Elemental Cosmos are among those. I discovered a 12X12 black frame I picked up a while back as a clearance special at Michael's, so I needed a foam board to use to complete it. Into that went Elemental Cosmos. Still not sure where I will hang it, but it is ready.

I also got quotes for the Pelican, a project called A Room With a View that is a lighthouse cross stitch, and a piece I did called Always Kiss Me Goodnight (pictured below, pin stretched) that I purchased at the 2013 Market Day sale at Crafty Framer. I completed the project just a month or so after the sale, and there it sat, all rolled up, waiting to be remembered.

We also talked about the FAST event that is next Saturday, and called and recruited a fellow stitcher and veteran of FASTs past, to come and join us. Lexy will not be able to make this FAST (boo) but she will be there in spirit.

Pin stretching a 28 ct piece of fabric, as I learned, can be tricky. It does not take a lot to throw the design off center, or pull it out of true. My first attempt was not very successful, so I went home and removed all of the pins. Last night I gave it a second attempt, paying a LOT more attention to detail and trying very hard to keep a straight row of pins. It isn't perfect, but it does look better than it did.

Also, I managed to acquire more Kreinik #4 Very Fine Braid 001 and Kreinik Blending Filament 032. I bought all that Peggy had, just in case. So now I can get back to the mask (I hated knowing I needed colors even though I could do other portions of the project).

Elemental Cosmos - COMPLETED

I officially finished this project yesterday afternoon! It was not completed without some floss drama, however, as I ran out of 820 on the last 40 stitches or so to go. I was probably the first man in history to be waiting, alone, to get into the JoAnn Fabrics right as the doors opened.

At any rate, this one is completed save for the framing. Next project is already up and running - post as time permits today.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 23

Two more sections to fill in! And one, as you can already see, is already well underway because of the nearness of the colors in the pattern (I hate making a half dozen stitches with a fresh thread to just have to put it away...)

Elemental Cosmos - Update 22

Got to stitch yesterday sitting outside at a picnic table under a shady oak tree. if anyone asks you what the best light to stitch on black aida is, tell them it is natural light at dusk. None of my lights create this, and I had no problem seeing the grid on the canvas. Plus, it was beautiful outside.

In addition, I got to give my gift to its recipient yesterday, during a welcome work break of strawberry shortcake and strawberry pizza (fresh Plant City strawberries, too). It was very well received, and she has a place ready for it in her RV.

Finally, big swaths of the same color = lots done quickly.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 21

Not much new except that Page 4 is now officially in the books. Only Page 2 remains.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 20

And what a weird busy weekend it was. Not as much progress as hoped. but still slowly filling is bottom to top.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 19

Catching up on housework did not keep me from making progress last night. And since I did all my chores, I will have more time tonight to stitch.

I have gotten a lot of questions about the pattern. I do wish someone would market it again for sale - based on the feedback I get, I think it would sell quite well.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 18

Well, if the circle looks oblong, don't worry - it is. It has been looking taller than wider for a while to me, but I wanted to see how it looked as a complete "circle." Then I looked at the pattern - the circle part is roughly 140Hx130W. I don't mind it - it is just the way it is. And it is still complete, for those who require a circle to be closed.

Anyway, you can see all that is left to complete for the pattern.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 17

Well, waiting while the car was being fixed certainly gave me time to stitch. not a lot. And I had to redo a section of the circle because I left out two rows. but the star and circle could be completed tonight.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 16

Great weekend! Page 3 is complete, and Page 4 will be soon to follow. That will leave the bulk of Page 2 to complete. I should not have to move the project in the q-snap again before I complete it. I will probably not do the back stitching - I don't see any value added, though I may change my mind.

Went to the Market Sale at our local/regional cross stitch store, The Crafty Framer. The owners came back with a lot of new and very cool items from their annual buying trip a few weeks ago, and the store was fairly bursting with new items and old friends. I did pick up several items, won a door prize (more stash) and then got even more stash just for purchasing! I will post the items I bought on a separate page.

Finally, the project I took to have framed came back wrong - either it was measured improperly when I ordered it and we all missed it or something else. Anyway, it remains to be framed. I need to get a hold of the person it is for and rearrange a pick up meeting date with them. Next week at the earliest...sigh.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 15

Looking forward to the weekend so I can get in a solid few hours of stitching. Should finish Page 3 this weekend, and hopefully the rest of the bottom part of the circle I am working on. Also going to a market Day at our local (well sort of local, let's go with "regional") craft store Sunday - The Crafty Framer!

Elemental Cosmos - Update 14

Busy days/evening the last two days, so I haven't accomplished as much as I would prefer to have accomplished. nevertheless, I wanted to get up a new status image. I admit, part of it is because I like to scroll through them and get the time-lapse photography effect.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 13

Nearly finished with the two sections before the large circle-piece at the bottom. And, even then, I could not resist extending the same color thread across the star to start filling it in since I already had it out and threaded. A few more stars, and a few more swirls.

Of course, I am doing all of this with the song "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" stuck in my head. Trying to flush that out with some classic Rush (Hemispheres and Hold Your Fire).

Elemental Cosmos - Update 12

Long weekend, now safely behind us. I was productive at a number of things, but I did manage to forward my progress with this pattern. The bottom of the circle/star is a lot of swirling blues, which I appreciate visually but I sometimes struggle with when stitching. I prefer large areas of one or two colors, not small areas of several colors. Hopping around for a few stitches here and there is time consuming - I just don't feel productive. And I tend to leave the fewest stitches required to the end of the area I am focusing on - less looking back and forth at the pattern. But it will be worth the effort.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 11

With page 1 finished, it is on to page 3 (I am working down instead of across). I had to shift the canvas in the q-snap, and the blue swirl that was part of the previous updates was out of place by a few stitches. I have since tried a second time, and keep screwing up the placement/count. So I have decided to complete the star before filling in the rest of that portion.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 10

I had a lot of time on my hands yesterday, so between then and this morning I finished the first page of the pattern. Well, all but the backstitching. I am going to save that for when i feel like dealing with it, though it is pretty straight forward on this pattern. Outline the ring and the star with black, outline the flames with garnet (310, 814).

Elemental Cosmos - Update 9

Did not get to stitch this morning, as some fool got into an accident on one of the major arteries leading to work and flipped their car. I have little patience for people who cannot drive. Likely this was caused by some other idiot who felt they JUST HAD TO GET THERE FIRST...and the driver is included in that possibility.

So, aside from being grumpy at the people I must drive with every day, here is today's update. I did get a point of the star finished, and the next section of the circle is off to a good start. Hopefully lunch will provide more progress.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 8

Busy weekend, but I managed to accomplish a pretty good amount on this pattern. I did complete the portion of the circle I wanted to get done, and then some.

Also, I got the framing paid for for the RV project I mentioned a few weeks back. Hopefully it will arrive before the recipient goes on her 6 month trip.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 7

Terrible headache last night, so minimal stitching. One of those headaches that actually makes you nauseous. Still looking into causes, but I did manage to make a little progress - though finishing that section of the circle before the weekend is not going to happen. Maybe by the end of the weekend.

Still, even an hour of stitching is better than none at all.

Elemental Cosmos - Update 6

I did not get a lot accomplished, but I did get to use a couple of blues that I like. My goal is to complete that section of the circle by the weekend.