kerrykatiecakes

This is part of a table runner making the rounds in a counted thread round robin I am in.  There are three offset rectangular shapes outlined on each end of the runner so what you are looking at here is one end.  I was the third to contribute to this piece.  Here is what was already done: The first section done was a section of pattern darning.  Since it was open to any form of counted work this was a great idea - the colour looked very bold.  The second section was pulled thread work which was another great idea - I would have thought it would be too difficult to do on this fabric.  It is Chinese silk and has quite a loose weave but as you can see it turned out very nicely. And, last but not least, my own contribution to the piece which is a section of a blackwork filling stitch.  Not as adventurous as the others but done and off in the mail without being too late.

 As I mentioned in a previous post, I am just getting used to being home again after working away for five months.  Being away that long, you can expect a few changes in the neighbourhood - folks moving in, folks moving out... So, this is my new neighbour who has moved into the tree on the other side of my front yard.  He might not look like much here but when he spreads his wings and flies across the yard, he is pretty impressive.  I haven't got close enough yet to determine what kind of owl he is for sure but he seems to be making himself at home which is fine with me as long as he doesn't start eyeing up the cats or my little 5 lb Pom!  They aren't going outside unsupervised anymore. Yesterday I met the newest addition - a muskrat!  It has been so dry around here most of the ponds have dried up so I guess he is adapting.  While I was sitting on my porch I watched him scamper across the front yard.  My heart did a little flip because at first he looked like a rat!

 I received such a treat in the mail last week from my Secret Stitcher!  This is an exchange we have on EAC Virtual Threads, the online chapter of The Embroiderers' Association of Canada.  It is like a traditional secret sister exchange except, of course, we are all stitchers and that is reflected in the gifts we exchange. I love Hallowe'en and decorate the house and yard every year even though we get very few trick-or-treaters coming to the door. Isn't this embroidered bellpull to die for?  The front features three cross stitch pieces on a spider web background fabric. The back is pieced with so many wonderful Hallowe'en fabrics - I love it!  The top section of embroidery is two adorable trick-or-treaters.  I love their little loot pails! The second section is just as spooky - pumpkins, jack-o-lantern, bats and crows! Then at the bottom of the bell pull this wonderful piece with dancing skeletons, ghosts and more! I really wish I could take cred

Well, I am finally settled in at home again after a long summer working at the campground!  I have actual been home about a month now and it has taken this long for me to get used to being home again, catching up on some things and getting back to stitching again.  It feels very good to be home! So here is what I'm working on... This is a canvaswork project called "First Snow", designed by Carolyn Mitchell.  It is a workshop on Virtual Threads, the online chapter of The Embroiderers' Association of Canada, and the chapter paid for the teaching fees from the proceeds of a little silent auction we had at Seminar in 2014.  So, all we members of Virtual Threads needed to do for the workshop was to buy the supplies - who could resist?   Carolyn is teachine this as a mystery project and what you see here is the first of three lessons completed.   I am really enjoying this - canvaswork is so relaxing!  I have chosen to do this in silk threads instead of the co