SAL SAL SAL

I feel like my life has become a big SAL.

I am working on three right now and having lots of fun. I feel as though I have abandoned my blog but it is more about getting caught up in Facebook. I never realized how many stitching peeps were on FB. I have been introduced to so many designers, fabric, threads, and people. It has been so much fun.

Right now I am working on an mystery SAL at Passione Ricamo. When I get a share-able pic I will post it. It is a mermaid and so very beautiful. The chart will only be available to people participating in the SAL, so if you haven't joined, my sorrow goes out to you as it has unfortunately closed. But let me tell you, she has beautiful thread, petite braid, beads, treasures galore.

My other SAL is Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks, An Important Flower. I am using a 29 count piece of fabric that I have had forever and stitching it over one with Waterlilies African Sunset.

My other, other SAL is a Cross Stitching Art, The Siren of the Deep. She is being stitched on a 28 count piece of fabric from Silkweavers called Seaside Melody

I'm waiting on some wonderful threads and fabric which I will definitely share when I receive. I have also been playing around with an idea I stole from someone else's blog. Unfortunately, my poor brain can't remember who I stole it from, but when I do I will share their name. The idea involved paint, washi tape, and clothespins. The original idea was to a different purpose but I decided to combine their idea with someone else's idea and create little floss keeps. I don't think the idea would work for a project with a lot of colors but it is definitely workable. 

While I have been enjoying myself immensely stitching, I have also been very busy back at work on my Master's. While this has kept me busy, I am also busy getting everything together for a renovation of Mom's roof, floor and other things which included purchasing a new refrigerator. And of course, as always taking care of Mom who unfortunately was recently back in the hospital. 

If I were to be honest with myself, I would admit that I had no business beginning a new project, let alone three new projects. My only excuse is that I really, really, really, wanted to. Some might say that I am acting a little manic and while I might agree, I will simply sat that I have the Stitching Bug

btw this is another SAL that I am thinking about joining ;)

Well it's been a busy bit

I've been busy with all sorts of things. I went on a job interview Monday and then on Tuesday was offered the job. On Wednesday, I resigned from my current position and then on Thursday, my current job gave me a counter offer so I decided not to resign. Whew! What a busy up and down week.

A midst all of that, I didn't really get much stitching done as I had finally received my beautiful fabric from Polstitches Designs in the UK. This fabric is for my Passione Ricamo Mystery SAL that I mentioned a while back. The fabric is gorgeous; it is called Monsters and Mermaids (very appropriate for the pattern). Here are a few pics

This light didn't show the colors the way I wanted.

This light was better 

Here is it with the bling, floss, and braid (I was actually short a few DMC)

The pattern uses size 8 beads, so I decided to stay with the recommended 28 count. I have decided to grid as a go. This is a mystery stitch, so I don't want to make an error in counting and then be faced with a bunch of frogging. Before I gridded, I neatened the edges with buttonhole stitch. I began stitching the first part last night and am hopeful that I will finish the first element tonight. It is the cutest fish ever. I decided to stitch the fish over 1. I'm hoping that I it will compliment the utter cuteness of this fish. As soon as I can I will post a picture.

I pretty much stopped stitching on my other projects but as soon as this first fishie is done, I will go back to my rotation. On a side note, Polstitches Designs were ridiculously fast in getting my fabric to me. I received it in about 12 days. I highly recommend them!

Kreinik the thread we all love to hate...KreinikGirl to the rescue

Many people will not even attempt to use Kreinik or any other metallic thread because of the horror stories passed down from stitcher to stitcher. While many of these horror stories are true, I urge stitchers to be brave and stitch on. The finished product that uses metallics always has a wonderful bling-y beauty about it, that you will happy that you persevered. 

There are hints galore about how to successfully use metallics. The three universal truths are:

1. Use short lenghts, preferably no longer than 12 inches. 
2. Use a needle big enough to allow the thread to pass through without too much rubbing against the fabric. 
3. Use some sort of conditioner. Most use Thread Heaven but bees wax works well also. 

If you follow these three main hints, you will lessen your frustration and increase your success. As you work with metallics you will probably discover tricks of your own. 

KreinikGirl from Mr. XStitch's blog recently blogged about a cool idea using braids, which she entitled Altered Threads. I enjoyed reading it so much, I was tempted to just excerpt the entire blog. But once the giddiness cleared my head, I remembered that we were only in the cloud and that you could just as easily access the link. With that said I do want to share some photos on how to rouche braid. 

The tree is loosely rouched braid and the ribbon is tightly rouched,

Quick pictorial on how to rouche braid.

She also introduced two products that I had never heard of:

Kreinik wired thread called Wired Facets

Threadworx overdyed metallics

The main point of ThreadGirl's blog was that you should embrace the fraying tendency of metallics and incorporate that into your stitching...make these threads work for us. 

Now go forth an conquer metallic thread!!!!!