The coasters in the bottom left corner of my pending projects picture needed to be cut in a round shape. But, I didn’t want them fraying or looking unfinished. So, I decided to stitch up to the design in a blanket stitch. That also allowed me to cut right up to the edge.
These will go nicely with the napkin ring holders I finished previously: (https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/napkin-rings-pieces-of-eight/)
In case people ask, the coasters came from AC Moore and they come in different shapes:
Hexagon: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25204-acrylic-paper-weight-hexagon.aspx
Circle: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25213-acrylic-paper-weight-circle.aspx
Scallop: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25203-acrylic-paper-weight-scallop.aspx
Square: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25209-acrylic-paper-weight-square.aspx
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Needlework in Progress, Pieces of Eight
Looking again at my works in progress pile, it doesn’t look as big as I thought it would. Yet, there is work to do in everything you see. Since I like immediate gratification, I decided to work first on the 4 southwestern-colored octagons (top picture, middle left) from the Pieces of Eight project we did last year at our ANG Chapter.
And, it’s first because I want to give it (bottom picture) to my framer (Dan at The Framers Workshop in Philadelphia) who I’ll be seeing this weekend to drop off the 2010 SOTM for framing. I got lucky finding a 5″x5″ matte in the brown frame. I just added a few stitches along the edge & into the unstitched corners (a Byzantine filler).
I can’t remember who gave me the suggestion of “Four Corners” but thanks. That is the only place in America where 4 states touch. And, they are Utah, Colorado, New Mexicao, & Arizona.
Come join us at 7:15 pm on the 2nd Mon of each month just 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia & 10 minutes from King of Prussia. Or contact us at: MainLineStitchersChapter@needlepoint.org for more information.
Filed under: Uncategorized
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 36,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 4 days for that many people to see it.
In 2010, there were 142 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 337 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 441mb. That’s about 6 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was January 26th with 686 views. The most popular post that day was ‘Sun Flower’ stitches, with David’s permission.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were chillyhollownp.blogspot.com, mail.yahoo.com, webmail.aol.com, mail.live.com, and groups.yahoo.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for value scale, stitch milanese, melita stitches 4 fun, fireside stitchery, and melita glavin.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
‘Sun Flower’ stitches, with David’s permission January 2010
2 comments
Beautiful Ohio October 2010
5 comments
‘Pieces of Eight’, Octagons A B C February 2010
3 comments
Madam Carina October 2010
2 comments
A Visit to Winterthur and the Plimoth Jacket May 2010
4 comments
Last year’s mantra was “Connect” with other needlepointers & I’ve done that!! Over 36,000 hits in just under 1 year. I met some wonderful people at my first ANG Seminar, won a 2nd place ribbon, & a national award! It was amazing. And, our Chapter meetings have been well received.
As 2011 is set to begin, I have to decide what to do to make 2011 half as good as 2010! I don’t do resolutions as they can be so elusive & I am left with guilt & disappointment. Well, my husband & I went shopping just before Christmas for fun! When I got the last 2011 Monet weekly planner/calendar, I realized that I want to focus on my needlepoint adaptation of Monet’s Poppy Field in 2011 – that is going to make me most happy & be the most fun & that’s why I stitch. The 4-day class I took at Seminar was Landscapes so that I could make my 5th (& last?) attempt at this piece. Since returning from Seminar something keeps getting in my way.
And, I’ve decided that’s my mantra for 2011 – “Focus and Recommit”. While I’ll focus on the Monet piece I also want to recommit to the 18-month Tudor Gold class that I began 8 months ago. I’ve also decided to free myself of a few almost finished projects – not all of the ones stored in my messy cabinet – just those ones that are cluttering my immediate vicinity. Below is a picture of my most recent pending projects.
I’m glad I saved my college friend (now a life coach), Ann Daly’s newsletters. They are going to help me recommit, prioritize, & do what’s important to me – FOCUS! Many thanks to my BFF, Ann, for all her wonderful insights & encouragement. I gain nothing financially from her work just free guidance from a good friend’s newsletters. Since most of us don’t live in Austin, TX, check her out at www.anndaly.com !
Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year!! Melita
As a recent member of the ANG Cyberpointers Chapter, I support our deploying armed forces with the Kissing Pillows community outreach project.
The current request is to support a member’s brother’s Navy Helicopter Squadron (HSM-70) who are deploying in spring 2011. The Chapter’s goal for this effort is to support one unit’s deployment, preferably entirely by ourselves (not needing any additional help from other chapters).
I’ve almost got 5 done for our own ANG Chapter’s, Mainline Stitchers, Kissing Pillows community outreach project. But since we haven’t set a deployment goal for a unit, I wanted to get these to Cyberpointers. They make such an easy project to carry with you or keep at work. Anyone else out there done some?
While at the 2010 ANG Seminar, I picked up this snowflake stocking to stitch for the 2011 auction. It was available to First-Timers such as myself. The money goes towards educational programs of the ANG Guild. So, I couldn’t help but take one & I’ve finished stitching it. I’ve been working on it off & on since October & decided this week was a great time to finish it. If Pat Thompson, 2011 Auction Chair, is reading this, mine is in the mail!
All you had to do was buy your own threads & the stitching was easy enough but I don’t care for the Tiara thread. I found it difficult to work with (snagged easily & it didn’t stay twisted). You could have used a combination of Tiara & Patina. The finished size is 4″ x 6″.
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
Thanks to the Dec 26th snowstorm, I finished this in 2010! I love the finishing touch with the beads & how they bevel up just a tad.
There has been great discussions lately about what part of the piece folks prefer: starting, middle, or end. Each has good & bad points but I lean towards preferring starting. I love the designing & planning of threads. Many times I’m so anxious to get to the next piece that I don’t get the just completed piece finished (put in a frame, etc). Hopefully, we’ll be able to shovel out soon & go purchase a frame – don’t know where to put it yet!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
This was a Christmas present to my brother, John in 2007. It is Judy Dubrow’s Octagon Square Creation & was a project in Sept 2006 for our Mainline Stitchers ANG Chapter. I added the outer wide border to fill in the opening of the box. It looked manly enough for my brother & functional. It can hold whatever he wanted!
And, our Christmas Tree for 2010. This year I’ve got my needlepoint ornaments on it that I’ve blogged about over the last few days. Each year I select different ornaments. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Early Needlepoint, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
These were made by my Grandma (Mom’s side), Mom, & myself. No doubt there are more at my mother’s house but that’ll be for another time.
Grandma did this on plastic canvas (a little worn):
Grandma tried her hand at all sorts of crafts, including painting:
She was a great seamstress (sewed dance costumes for my mother & later for my mother’s dance pupils). These are cute felt mittens with a hair clip inside to grab something.
My Mom made these for everyone at my sister Anita’s wedding as favors.
I made these a kid – probably when I was in my teens.
And, this was an original design for my Pocono friend, Dottie.
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Early Needlepoint, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
These are some more cross stitch ornaments, 8 to the set. I finished off them myself by cutting the dowels, glueing the ribbon hangers, & applying felt backings. Believe it or not, I actually made the set of 8 for my mother, my sister (& her husband), my brother (& his wife), my husband’s mother, my husband’s sister (& husband), 2 girlfriends, & myself – 64 ornaments in total! Can’ just make one set – no!
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