So it seemed interesting to try and continue what would have been the boiled wool pattern using beads. I like how it’s going so far! There are a bunch of new techniques I’m learning here. I have historically couched beads flat - mixing bead types, but laying flat. This time, I’m overlapping beads and layering them. This is a new challenge (really, it’s just beads, how big of a challenge can it be…) but still, it’s new for me and adding an element of planning (which section comes first so another color can overlap.) See the twists in the turquoise strands? Also the dark green on top of the pink swirls. One of the red sections is a bit fringy, too. Anyway, really liking it. Watching Homecoming on Amazon. It’s great.
New!
It’s time for a new project and I’m so excited! Last year I picked up a scrap of boiled wool from the Bead show and have been excited to use it ever since. It’s going to top this stocking and I’ll use the existing pattern and bring it down. The color choices are great and I’m going to sew this one in full beads, just varying patterns with the colors already provided. Should be fun.
I think I’ll call this one “Boiled Wool” for lack of a better title.
See what was added?
Little by little, step over step. Added a few things, included my bib number and the bottom tear part of the bib from this year’s epic Boston run. Also, “amen and pass the peas” which is one of Laurie’s favorite sayings. Michelle thought I should add “not such a….” to precede #stupidhobby. Also added “RUN.”
Have had a few small things going on at work…yeah…so this project is taking a while. I’m ready to wrap it up and move on. Maybe this weekend.
Forward motion.
Creative time is more important than ever, and so are my running girls. Notice the new donut, (“It’s a good day for a donut and a shortcut.”) (which has never happened - thanks, Laurie) the Boston road sign, a McMansion Loop map, “so smahhht” - referring to our pre-race Boston bathrobes and of course, “I’m in,” the two best words in the English language.
so fun.
Turns out, this one is fun!
I'm coming up with ideas like crazy on this one! Going to add maps, shoe laces, more words, pictures...this is fun! Super motivated on this project.
Oh, all right. I'm in.
Next up:
it's a good day for a shortcut and a donut.
aw geez.
broomingham palace. khumbu icefall. metzger loop.
these words will only mean something to me and the girls, but (heart.)
Running.
Every ridiculously early morning when me and the girls run, we kick it off by saying, "stupid hobby." Annnnd since I cross stitch, "stupid hobby" has two meanings.
I've been writing down the sayings we repeat to one another on the trail for a couple of years, and the girls want me to cross stitch our sayings onto a stocking. Silly, yes, but this may turn out to be the most treasured of all the stockings since it will remind my of my best friends and the hours we've spent left-right-lefting together, remembering what makes us laugh, and (hard to imagine) increase the love and appreciation we have for each other as we've bonded through this #stupidhobby.
Not sure all of the words can fit, and most won't mean anything to anyone but us, but here's the list. I'll try to fit as many of them as possible onto this canvas.
the big ugly
man-o-schevitz
aw geez. my achin' tookish
lets go have coffee and pancakes instead. (never happened.)
it’s a day for a shortcut and a donut.
we could go north?? i hate that route.
mcmansion loop
kumbu icefall
all gurgly
margarita shot blocks
are we getting credit for this, julie?
i like to get up at hours without a 4 in them.
my panties are literally in a wad.
triple flagpole
the fairview bridge
2 metzgers
the View.
i gotta pee. again.
i forgot my headlamp.
so smahht
stretchy dude
whose idea was this?
for the love.
westminster heartbreak.
boston is downhill my a$$
right on hereford, left on boylston
bluebell ice cream: pistachio, brides cake, peppermint bark, christmas cookies in july...
pumpkin patch
submansion.
broomingham palace
ugh. anthem loop.
WHO WOULD POST THAT ON NEXTDOOR?
all of Broomfield is uphill.
we were fast today. we were slow today. at least we got out today.
lauries family tree.
the gift of meat.
this is your safe place, we're on your side here
you have a key and i have a bar in my basement!
michelles granola
the walking dead.
this is us.
sooo glad we got out early
let's cross stitch that on a pillow
i'm in!!
watertowers
at laurie's this week
end of julies driveway
20 miler in negative temps
red devil hill
.262 sounds better
some sports take more than one ball
headlamp bridge
let's become walkers.
grilled squash and black beans.
superhero muffins.
sprinkler alley.
sheridan loop.
julie's the routemaster.
jen hatmaker.
save schnappi
rain ponchos and shower caps
when i smelled something coming from under the stairs...
Gonna go like this...ish.
Just playing, but maybe this is how I'll lay things out. And, some good news. There's enough room to add more colors (I wasn't thrilled the colors I'd picked here), so I added purple and orange. Purple and orange fabric is ready to use, did two pink picados (only one is pictured here) so a nice adjustment that will add to the plan.
Forward motion.
I wish I'd picked different colors. But, things are moving forward. It's hard to not second guess and often I make choices that I'd change or approach differently. Still, in the end, it will work out.
New. Papel Picado.
If you know me, you know I love all things Mexico - and two things to call out as special are papel picado (so celebratory) and margs. My friend Christy brought me a beautiful box of rainbow colored raw silks, which I will try to turn into sewn rectangles that resemble papel picado. Somehow the pieces will be strung across a stocking (ha! big surprise) and maybe I'll sip on a marg while working. In fact, I'm doing that right now. (20 Boston miles today! Ow.) Qué bella es la vida.
Finishing. Finally.
So, sometimes it's not easy to figure out how to finish something and call it done. This design, again, perhaps not my favorite, needed something. I decided to put a bit of the french pink fabric in the gaps along the side and I'll bead on the light parts. This will add several weeks to the project, but it seems to add balance. With the end in sight and heavy Boston training miles in full swing, this will be fun to do on Saturdays after a long run.
What's changed.
It's 2018. Three things are better.
1. A new light. It's LED, I can adjust the brightness, and angle it. It's so great. The old light was hot. This one isn't. It's amazing what an extra $20 will buy...
2. A new storage cabinet. Next to the sofa, I now have a cabinet in which I can put my projects at night. No more looking a a big mess of beads and scraps of fabric. I held out for three years to buy this cabinet. Now I appreciate it even more.
3. New energy. 2018. Deal done at work. Boston. I'm finding energy and creativity again.
This isn't the design I'd have planned and not sure it's going to be a favorite. But, who cares. Moving on.
Farther along.
I ran out of purple blended beads so used purple ones with the red lining on the bottom. Not sure that was a great choice, but it's done now. Will begin to fill things in and see how it goes in between the three large designs.
Progress.
It's been fun to figure out how work with this bead. I've added some fabric in the middle and will be using the pattern on the pink fabric to cover with purple beads. I think it will be cool and less predictable. Not sure how to deal with the green stripes yet.
New Project.
I went to the Rocky Mountain Bead Bazaar last weekend and had so much fun. By myself. So, lots of time to look and decide. I picked a few large pieces and will use them to design around. The one you see here is sculpey clay, topped with something iridescent and then glazed. I liked the colors, I haven't done anything in this pink/red/gold range before so I'll enjoy working with that palette.
This large piece is actually drilled to SEW onto fabric, which is different from lots of centerpieces which are challenging to attach and where you'd have to bead-weave around them to attached them, losing the edges in the process. There are four other beads in this color scheme that will also go on the fabric, eventually.
I use white colored pencil to map out where I think I'm going with this design. But who know.
Added bees.
I added some bees. Then, I added some ladybugs, not pictured here. I've decided to outline the top red butterfly with gold beads, and it is looking better. There is a Bead Show this weekend in Denver and I am *super* *super* excited to go buy some new beads. Also, I'll add antennae to the butterflies.
Coming to life!
Adding some beads.
adding beads!
I decided to reflect the butterfly like a mirror image and have started adding beads. The farther down on the stocking, I'll do another reflection of some kind as well. You can see the whole image does not fit and I like that, actually. I'm using some metallic beads mixed with some colors I've been wanting to use, orange and yellow. Not sure what I'll do in the gaps between the wings but plenty of time to think about that.
New Project, new year!
I like to use scraps of fabrics from found places and then build on them. I have this piece of butterfly, it's upholstery fabric, and it was incomplete...which is actually perfect. I've sewed it on the top of the stocking, and picked beads for the rest of the stocking.
I've picked various sizes and colors of beads that should go with the butterfly and I'm super excited to start sewing them on! Hello, 2017.