THE FLOWER DIAMONDS NECKROLL PILLOW

Unbelievable!  I received a call last Friday my project was ready for pick up at Marlene's.  I had to wait all weekend....but I knew they would do a great job....just anxious to see it! The pillow could have been finished with an almost infinite number of color combinations but I think this combination is very nice.  I had initially thought of tassels but this end treatment seems more appropriate.  There are 5 shades of silk and the custom cording with only 3 really visible in this shot.  The flower button is 2 colors.    Of course, the design wraps completely around and the horizontal bands match up along the seam.  That was the plan, but one is never sure if things will work exactly as planned. 

I can't write much now as I am actually getting ready to take a class for the next two days....from Joyce Lukomski.  The class is Fabulous Fillings and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Over the summer I will be posting followup photos of "squares and diamonds" (no final title yet), a dinosaur painted canvas my son-in-law just delivered to me this evening, and a three dimensional pear design.  I last posted a photo of the "squares and diamonds" initial palette on April 29th so it's about time I get back to it. Both the pear and squares will be new class proposals.

Also, my daughter is going to design some beaded scissors fobs and needle threaders specifically for my website.  Hopefully she will have the first prototypes ready to show in a week or two.  She already has some threaders and knitting/crochet stitch holders on Etsy, but these will be different. 

Hope everyone has a good week and weekend.  First day of summer on Saturday!!!

FLOWER DIAMONDS COMPLETED

As promised Marlene (the pillow finisher), called yesterday for me to go back to her shop to sign off on the the fabrics she had selected for to complete Flower Diamonds.  She has chosen five silk fabrics to use for the sides and I can't wait to see it finished.  Maybe just a few more weeks before it is done! 

I also know that next April's pilot group is probably anxious to see what the project finally looks like.....so here it is!  As you can see, there are lots of options and lots of thread, bead and ribbon choices. 

On another note I have been enjoying the new online group for stitchers:  Stitchin Fingers. The site was started by Sharon Boggins and it has grown to over 500 members in just a few weeks.  There are lots of things I like about the site but most particularly are several groups which are interested in specific things....such as Blogs, Designing, and Hand Embroidery.  Also, there are members from all over the world, which is great!  The link is near the bottom of my navigation, if you are interested in visiting. 

Have a great week.....I probably won't be writing again until next week because there is Father's Day and DH's birthday is the next day! 

Hope everyone is enjoying nice weather.....it's actually warm here in San Francisco!

Computer Problems

It has been almost two weeks since my last entry and....oh what a time!  Last Wednesday my computer finally just quit functioning.  It had been running slow for about a week or so but just enough to be a nuisance. I had joined a new online stitchers group about that time and had visited a few member's blog sites.  But then on Wednesday I visited a few sites I felt would be "safe" and wham!  My anti-virus software found 11 viruses and "cleaned and deleted them".  But..... the computer just kept getting worse and worse and by Sunday it wouldn't do anything.  My DH is good with computers and can usually fix anything but this was beyond him.  So, I looked around and contacted someone on Craigslist.  We were soooo lucky.  He came out on Sunday and did a fantastic job!  His anti-virus program found 61 viruses and that is bad!  Even so, he was able to save the majority of my needlework files.  But the computer had to be wiped and the operating system reloaded, etc. so I did lose my Outlook....so all my incoming and outgoing emails.....and related files.  But, all in all, I was really lucky!  Needless to say, I now have the anti-virus program he used installed on my computer. 

As any of you might have guessed, or can imagine, it took DH and I most of yesterday and part of today to add back everything.  Of course, I'll be downloading things as needed as the days go by.  If you did try to email me during the last two weeks or so.....and have had no response.....please resend your email....or try again.

In the midst of this I did finish Flower Diamonds and took it the finisher.  But I forgot to take photos of it before it went. However, Marlene has to put several fabrics together and call me back to look at them.  When she does that, I plan to take my camera and take some photos while the project is still flat.  Otherwise, I will post photos of the project after it is finished into a bolster/neck roll pillow. 

Also, thank goodness, I had already completed the written instructions for this Thursday/Friday Poppies pilot class.  You just don't think about how dependent you are on the computer until something like this happens!  I'll definitely be more careful about which sites I visit.  I thought I was careful before...but it is so easy to "get something". 

Next week I will begin stitching a new design proposal and possibly a new dinosaur canvas for my new son-in-law.  He is working on translating several of his dinosaur artworks to canvas.  So I'll have some photos to post. 

If anyone wants further details about the computer issues, please email me separately.  Hope everyone has a great week.