Experiments Monday, Oct 30 2006

I am up to another, this time huge experiment. Again concerning Dimensions. My previous experiment failed, but this doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try again someday; and this day came. Today when I went to see B. she pulled out an original chart of “Valley of the River Beck”

and asked if I want it. She does “display stitching” (I think I mentioned that before) but by now she never mentioned giving away any of the charts from her completed projects. Seems this time her boss has let her keep the materials from the kit. So I of course accepted, but asked how could I stitch it without the complete kit, mainly the Dimensions threads? Then B.’s hidden plans came to light. She did an own conversion of the design’s colors which she also gave to me. So this conversion will have to be tested. Eh…

(if anyone’s interested in this color list I can provide.)

I liked this design and that’s why it’s in my wish list. But when I looked at the chart, now THAT is not an easy thing. Full of scattered stitches, all over the design - there’s plenty of grass, trees and small flowers/flower bunches. I will start it, but only if the result is coming nicely I will continue.

Finally, I must of course be bad and show you the original painting from which the design was adapted. Do what you might, no way to achieve all this in cross-stitch. Neither I think this is needed, but still the difference is great.

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Castle update (again) Sunday, Oct 29 2006

(x-posted to the Solarium). 

I did a considerable portion of the lower right page, but had no patience anymore to swim in that sea of rocks. A bit more is left to be done from it so to reach the top of the page.

Then I moved back to the upper left page and started the dragon’s wing. It’s more intriguing to do yet also more difficult with the many quarter stitches and tiny areas.

I already wish I was getting a bit closer to finishing this project, as it appears I underestimated its size. “The Castle” is very large, but maybe along with other factors my speed was positively affected by the notion of it being smaller than it is. Now when I see how large it is comparing to what I imagined, my confidence drops a bit With each section complete, it feels like the picture itself is gaining more and more own power and presence.

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Solarium Sublime Thursday, Oct 26 2006

Solarium Sublime, a gathering of artisans, mainly needleworkers focused on cross stitch, that are interested in pursuing the craft of needlework and pushing personal limits to become artisans of the craft, creating pieces of art with needle and thread.

This forum is geared towards those who approach needlework as a personal form of art, and as such are interested in refining and furthering their skills and growing as artists.

Folks who enjoy stitching simple, small, easy, or anything in the “primitive” / “prairie sampler” genre, are not banned Just leave the discussion of those types of stitching to other forums/blogs.

Art is a highly personal and individual appreciation, so if this isn’t something you’d like, no worries. If you know of anyone who might be interested, feel free to copy this notice and post/email it.

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Tuesday, Oct 24 2006

B. was delighted with the small landscape. To my surprise, actually. I did took more things for her to chose from, but she chose this one. As I know she mostly stitches children’s theme (bears, rabbits and don’t know what) I kinda wasn’t expecting her to “feel” the landscape. Suppose I am sometimes too much biased before giving it time to uncover the whole truth of people’s capability :blush: She even went to chosing a serious frame for it; I’ll have to take a picture with my rubbishy webcam someday when she’s done framing.

Otherwise nothing new on the stash front. No kit(s) yet, so I have to continue with The Castle although I am getting a bit bored with it already. In the sense of wanting to have something *new* going alongside with it. Guess I’ll wait one more week (by then Castle might already be to 60%) and if still no kit, will start something else.

I suppose at some point I might get flooded with WIPs, though. Me and B. spoke about eventually helping her with her “display projects”. This is not model stitching as she does Dimensions kits for the shop display.  But my curiosity to Dimensions is great and I’d work something just for the sake of stitching it, no matter that later on I’ll have to give it away.

There’s less work these days, but we’re getting close to month’s end, so it means a lot of administrative tasks waiting for me.

P.S. Yesterday I’ve read in some forum a comment that some TW designs are being discontinued recently because they’ve been on the market since almost 10 years. There’s something to say about this: as always people’s (and businesses’)  idea of “the market” means “US market” or if we’re nice, “EU market” as well. But for me, I am just starting stitching these designs as I became familiar with them less than 2 years ago. Besides, over here it’s very possible that no one else is at all familiar with them, unless I show something of my works. So “market niche” is a thing one has to be mindful of. But the mindfulness of most corporate publishers is a thing questionable.

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B-day project finish Saturday, Oct 21 2006

Here I am again. The reason for not updating for so long - work. I finished the little thing just yesterday, and usually I would in less than 2 days time. So work, running and various other issues made me not able to stitch at all. Generally…if I do not update for a long time it means something’s wrong. Not necessarily something very bad had happened, it may mean things went out of the usual routine. And when I am tense or struggling to deal with something, I do not stitch, neither I have the mood to go into any details by blogging. 

We also had to reinstall Windows and together with that had to add all the software once again, including the scanner and everything. So suppose it’s clear what this means.

Anyway, on to the small landscape.

I did forgot to place the coin. But suppose you get the idea. Working on Aida 18 was a pain in you know where. Not because of the size but because the fabric is very stiff. I must find a way to make it softer before starting work.

But I also decided that it’s best to have B. chose between several things, this one among them.

I also switched to a new theme, a (finally) left sidebar addition. Not that it’s the best but one must make some change once in a while, be it to cheer himself up.

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Birthday project Monday, Oct 16 2006

B. gave me a few pieces of Aida 18 and asked to stitch something for her if I need a “break” from big projects. Her birthday is near (Nov. 1st). It’s been a while since I stitched for someone else, but she’d surely enjoy it; perhaps best way to be sure in this is to make such presents to someone who is also a stitcher. 

As I am currently hooked on landscapes (that is a trend from DMC landscapes crush) I chose Derwentwater miniature “Heather Tarn”. It will be a miniature indeed because so far on that Aida 18 things are looking diminutive. I seemingly forgot how it is to work on Aida; before I enjoyed it, now it feels very stiff and difficult to stick the needle through. But the small landscape will be there.

I doubt I’ll be stitching ornaments or random “smalls” from now on; no matter the size I feel a need to keep to a certain style, call it “more serious one”.  And now I am going to torture my eyes with the small thing; expect some coins next to the finished picture, as is modern to scan for comparison.

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Sunday, Oct 15 2006

B. told me to not have big expectations about starting the DMC kit soon. The van from France is “delayed by Hungarian customs” and best case it will take another week (I mean best case). I couldn’t stand to not joke about this. “What exactly are you guys transporting?” I hope at least I’ll get my stuff.

So I am as always working on The Castle. Here are some rocks backstitched, for the viewer’s curiosity:

A lot of work for backstitching but the result is well worth it. However those rocks are seemingly addictive - I’ve moved to the next page with rock multitude. It will be also good if I finish all the rocks first and then do the essential part, the castle and dragon’s head. Eat dessert last

I think I am a bit of “one-at-a-time” stitcher because once I get hooked into a project I have difficulty putting it away and working on something else. There are moments when it’s itching me to start a new thing and the kit delay is contributing to the frustration. I have some new magazine designs well worth starting, but I think I’ll resist. The Castle is going very fast and if I keep to it, it will be finished within several weeks maybe.

Also multiple WIPs are disturbing my sense of order. To look down and see a pile of things unfinished, meh. Better to have one or two and know their “infestinals” instead of having to go through the process of recalling “now what was that, and where I got with it by now?” Just my personality trait.

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Castle walls and towers Wednesday, Oct 11 2006

‘nother progress from the Convertor’s office.

Thought that perhaps I should start adding the backstitches to all this part but I am hooked on moving on with the cross-stitches. The amount of backstitching waiting for me in the end will be enormous.

I also worked on CM last evening, did some more on the brick walls (the second page). The walls are boring; this is the “patience part” of the design. With this I am entirely leaving CM to rest for a while because I’ll need to start (and finish) something else along the way. Conversion propaganda might suffer a bit too, but what to do when various people are waiting to see something particular being stitched and are poking me about it. My own curiosity also drives me.

I am off to do various other tasks and will visit the shop (if I have time) to see if the kit has already arrived. Perhaps it’s too early, was supposed for this Friday, but one never knows.

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Other people and CM Sunday, Oct 8 2006

How about this.

http://svetta.multiply.com/photos/photo/83/13

A bit puzzling why it’s put on the side but with such stand I’d go the other with double speed than usual (minding that my speed is already known as “illegal” ;))

/note to self: have husband finally make a stand. If there wasn’t so much work we have to do this days…

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