More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

WIP Wednesday and Finishing

Its been a busy and exhausting couple of weeks, thus no blogging!!!

During mid November for the last five years I've been one of the organizers of a Live & Silent Auction, Wine & Cheese event to raise money for the school we support in the Dominican Republic.  Our project was recently featured in a local magazine called Faces you can read it here if you'd like.  Running this event just takes everything out of me, from the weeks leading up to it getting my students to get in donations for the auction, to the shopping, to all the behind the scene things that need to be done.  The night itself is a very long one!  This year I didn't get home until 12:45am!  I was rather frustrated this year because I didn't get to go to the Timberhouse Retreat I've been attending every November for years.  Now the reason I didn't get to go was because of when we scheduled the auction on the same date, but because the Timberhouse messed up our booking , it was supposed to be the week before.  Though we booked that date before we left last year it wasn't put in the system right and they booked someone else instead.  Needless to say I was quite bitter that I couldn't be there.  I've been going to that retreat since almost the beginning, when it was first held at the Butler Creek B&B before it closed.

So since November 14th if I wasn't sleeping I've been stitching.  All I've wanted to do lately is be a hermit.  Winter setting in and the darkness hasn't helped.  I think this is going to be a rough winter for me, psychologically.

When  I last posted, The Accolade has been moving along nicely, I finished page 8 (of 12) and started page 9!  It would be nice to Happy Dance this piece next year.

Snow Business
Just Nan
Stitched on 28ct mystery fabric
Stitched with DMC & using Mill Hill Snowflake charm

I took a bit of a break from The Accolade last week and stitched up and finished this adorable group of snowmen by Just Nan!

Tall Snowman - The Trilogy

My finishative came out to play, and I finally turned these two ornaments I had stitched earlier in the year into on the tree finished ornaments.  These two show the comparison between over two on 32ct and 40ct. I must say more and more I like my ornaments to be on the small side!

I'm working on another ornament this week, the picture didn't turn out and I couldn't be bothered to get up and take another.  Again its on 40ct and if you follow me on Instagram (@tkd_chick) you'll see it in progress there!  I'm sure I'll be happy dancing it for you next Wednesday!

Saturday, November 08, 2014

PhotoHunt

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Hero"

At first when I saw this week's theme I thought hmmm what picture am I going to pick to reflect this theme?  So I started going through my pictures, and came across just the right pictures!  Also very appropriate for this week.



This summer, Todd and I had some wonderful adventures in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  We had two amazing days on the Cabot Trail.  I don't normally take pictures of monuments, etc. but this one really struck a cord with me when I read it.

"They will never know the beauty of this place,
see the seasons change, enjoy natures chorus.
All we enjoy we owe to them,
men and women who lie buried in the Earth
of foreign lands and in the Seven Seas.
Dedicated to the memory of Canadians who
died overseas in the service of their country
and so preserved our heritage"

Here's the spectacular view that goes with this special monument.  These photos are very appropriate at this time for Veterans Week here in Canada, followed by Remembrance Day on Tuesday.  A true hero is someone who serves and stands up for what they believe in.

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Belated WIP Wednesday

For some strange reason this week my days were just all mixed up!  Its not as if I've been on vacation or doing anything so awesome that I've lost track of time.  When I realized yesterday was Wednesday, not Tuesday it was pretty late in the evening, and I was quite engrossed in my stitching.

Since last week's post I've done the finishing on one piece, happy danced another piece, and I've been working on my BAP!  So here we go...



Batty Boris
Just Nan
Stitched on: 32ct Natural Linen
Stitched with: DMC, Kreinik #4 braid

Batty Boris was finished up just in time for Halloween, he took his place next to Miss Witchy Mouse.  They were a charming couple on Halloween!

Hats Off To Halloween 2
Lizzie*Kate
Stitched on: 28ct Burnt Papyrus from Sugar Maple Fabrics
Stitched with: DMC & WDW

Next I started Lizzie*Kate's Hats Off To Halloween 2 and it stitched up super quick!  I really enjoyed the colours on this piece which is what made me buy it.  I also adore the fabric I've used, its too bad the company is out of business because I'd sure buy more in a heartbeat!


The rest of my stitching week has been spent working on The Accolade, I'm getting close to the bottom of my current page!

Saturday, November 01, 2014

PhotoHunt Two-fer

Last week I didn't get my Photo Hunt picture up.  So this week you're getting a two-fer.  Last week's theme was "funny" and this week's is "barbie".  Barbie was a really tricky one for me without going through like thousands of pictures.

I managed to come up with two pictures that are related.  A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked me to help record her wedding day by following her around for the day to the hairdresser, the makeup artist, etc.


Sometimes when you're getting your hair done, things look pretty funny before you get to the end result!

All the primping and preening that goes with a wedding day sure must make you feel like a live Barbie doll.