Jan 3, 2011

Marvelous Monday Update 1/3/2011


This was posted on one of the Yahoo Groups, and I really liked it so I'm passing on the good wishes:

Throughout the rest of this Year and all of 2011...

• May you always make the right moves.
• May your cup runneth over with love.
• May you always find shelter from any storm.
• May you remain good looking and looking good!
• May you find the perfect diet for your soul.
• May you find perfect balance in the company you keep.
• May you have as much fun as you can before someone makes you stop.
• May the worst thing that happens to you come in slobbery pink and furry tan.
• May you manage to make time for siesta.
• May all the new folks you meet be interesting and kind.
• May your accessories always harmonize with your natural beauty!
• Should your mouth be bigger than your stomach, may you have a chewing good
time!
• May you always know when to walk away and know when to run.
• And may your friends always bring you joy!

Lastly,
MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR FILLED WITH LOVE, HAPPINESS, AND HOPE.


STITCHY STUFF




I had a few late straggler Christmas cards. This stitched one came all the way from Scotland. Isn't it adorable?









2011 PROJECTS
I've got three main projects that I want to work on in 2011. As mentioned in my previous post, I want to make some good progress on Japanese Garden, aka "JG". I started it in 2006. Here's what it looks like currently:


I started Elegance of the Orient in 2001-2002. It a kit by Dimensions that uses 18ct aida for the fabric. I decided to re-start it on evenweave. I went to pull out the project and only found this:

No chart!

I'm sure it's at The Homestead, somewhere, but where I don't know. Rather than look for it, I emailed Dimensions for a replacement. Several emails later, they agreed to send me one. It should be in my hands in the next 10-12 days. Talk about good customer service!

And just because it's a new year, I wanted to start a new project. I saw Blossom Splendor (also called Summer Geisha) last year and Viv RAK'd me the magazine with the chart in it.

©Joan Elliott





The design calls for Polstitches English Rose hand-dyed fabric as seen to the right...







After checking on pricing ($32.50 ouch!), I decided to hand-dye my own with a piece of Jobelan I had. Mine is a bit darker but I think it will look good.


That purple splotch in the middle is my stitching progress after 2.5 hours. By the end of New Year's Day, it looked like this:

53 comments:

Gabi said...

Happy New Year Meari :)
Your JG looks fantastic - that's one of the mandala's I really really like. Great that you got a replacement chart from Dimensions. And your new project looks very promising. Love your self dyed fabric.

Sue said...

Meari, I love all the wips you have chosen.

The oriental pieces are so colorful and so gorgeous. I know you will do a fabulous job!

Hugs,
Sue

Shelley said...

Happy New Year's to you too Meari :)

I look forward to seeing JG more often...the fabric for your new endeavor turned out fabulous!

Kathy A. said...

Oh no a missing chart. I'll bet that made your heart sick. Thank goodness they are kind enough to send you a replacement.
You did a magnificent job dyeing your own fabric. I love the color.

Katie said...

Your fabric looks perfect! Great Progress. Keep it coming. Good luck on all your 2011 projects. I look forward to reading your blog updates.

htimcj said...

Your stitching looks great as usual. I like the way your fabirc turned out. It will look fantastic. I am glad that Dimensions is sending you the pattern. Bummer when they get lost.
Heidi-ILCS

Vicky L said...

What a great start. I love summer Geisha and I went and brought the magazine too. I want to do it for my sister, since she loves Asian themes too. I cant wait to see more progress!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how much you got done in such a short period of time. The piece you dyed looks perfect for it. Great start for 2011.

Hugs,
Laura

Emily in NC said...

Your dye job is great, good luck with all you projects in 2011.

Anonymous said...

Meari,
Good luck on all three WIP's. I know you will accomplish finishing them in 2011. I love your fabric you hand dyed. It looks great with your start of the colors. Happy New Year!

EvalinaMaria said...

Happy New Year Meari! I love your new WIP and what a clever girl you are! Your fabric looks awesome!

Anonymous said...

Happy new year Meari. I love the pieces you have chosen to work on in 2011. I want to work on one of the Joan Elliott geishas from the Oriental Odyssey book this year but haven't decided which one yet.

Hugs,
Lynette

Alberta said...

Happy 2011 Meari!

I love all the colours Joan Elliot uses in her designs...why restrict yourself to just a few when there are sooooo many to play with!

You did an awesome job on hand dyeing your fabric...is there a tutorial in the works? As if you need more things to do!

demeter83 said...

A lady after my own heart, those oriental charts are lovely.
They all look lovely, and are already looking fabulous!

CJ said...

I love the Geisha. The material you dyed looks good it will be a nice contrast for the stitching.

CJ

Carol's Stitching said...

That is fabulous news about Dimensions sending you the copy of the chart. Wonderful customer service indeed! I love the oriental pieces; so much color and your hand dyed fabric turned out beautiful. Happy New Year to you and your family Meari!

Habibi said...

HNY 2011 Meari.
I really liked your new start.

Anonymous said...

All of your WIPs are beautiful. I like the colors and the images.

Tina

Mel said...

Lovely job on dying your fabric Meari!
Looking forward to more progress on JG.

Shari said...

wow Meari,you have some ambitious projects ahead of you, but I know you will do it!!!!!!
Your dyed piece looks great!! Congrats on it

Anonymous said...

Everything looks great. Looking forward to watching you stitch these up & finish them.

Betty in AZ

Nancy in IL said...

LOVE JG!!! I know you'll make great progress on it this year. You did a fantastic job on hand-dying your fabric - looks like a Silkweaver Solo! I also love the new project you started on Jan. 1. I love the Joan Elliott design. I have one of hers I'd like to do from one of those UK cross stitch mags. Happy New Year to an ambitious sort of gal!

Kathy said...

All three projetcs are wonderufl and will be gorgeous once they are completed. I can just picture them framed as a grouping. Talk about stunning!!

Good luck with them.

I like you hand-dyed fabric. And the pattern should be perfect done on it.

Happy New Year!

Terri said...

Great stitching :) Love JG and can't wait to see more Happy New Year as well Meari. I hope it is a good one for you and your family :) Love your hand dyed fabric :)

Rachel S-H said...

So glad they are sending you the chart for that. Have fun stitching it! I really like the fabric you showed for your new WIP. Joan Elliott is really on her game lately and that will be beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Meari,

I love that fabric!! Great start on it. I love your goals for 2011 too. Happy New Year!

Berly

Blu said...

That is very nice of Dimensions to send you the chart! Your fabric came out gorgeous.
Those are some gorgeous designs you're planning on working on!

Sunshine said...

Happy New Year Meari!!!!
I look forward to seeing your progress on all your stitching.

*-* said...

I love the colour of the fabric you dyed. Very clever of you and a very pretty result.

JessB said...

Those look like fun pieces to work on. Your stitching is always so pretty. Best wishes for 2011.

Mary said...

Happy New Year Meari!
Hugs!
Mary

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Meari, and good luck with all your WIPs.

Marl

Debra said...

Best of luck with your progress. Love the new piece and the fabric.

Carol said...

I'm really impressed with your dyed fabric, Meari--great job! I'm such a chicken about trying things like that.

Both your Japanese Garden and Elegance of the Orient are incredible. I'm always amazed at how many hours it takes to complete just a teeny bit on a chart.

Happy New Year, Meari :)

mbroider said...

Good luck with your selected projects!! Love the colors you have already stitched on the Dimensions piece. Eager to see how these all turn up

Have a great 2011!!

Anonymous said...

Happy new year Meari - hope 2011 is a wonderful one for you :) Your latest WIP is looking great on that fabric - look forward to seeing progress piccies this year :)

Mary Ivancicts said...

The oriental pieces are so colorful and so gorgeous, your are right about customer service, they are good! Love the handmade fabric, good color!

Patti-Rocky Mtn Stitcher said...

Isn't it exciting getting the New year projects going?? I love the colours!

Nancy M said...

Glad to see the JG is on the forfront this year. It really is too pretty to let languish in UFO land. Your other pieces are very pretty too and the fabric dying looks great. The best to you in 2011 and I hope to make a trip there this winter. I want to go to your LNS and take a better look at the Nancy's Needle models! LOL

Akila said...

Happy new year to you :)
Wow, you already have a stitching plan/calendar!! Am sure you'll do much more than this.
Love your own dyed fabric.

angel parker said...

I always enjoy reading your blog. By the way, your birthday and Aiden's birthday is also my great nieces birthday. My mom's first two grandkids have the same birthdate, jan 24, just 7 years apart!

Carolyn NC said...

Happy New Year, Meari! Can't wait to see all the progress you make on your projects!

Anonymous said...

Meari,

Happy New Year to you too. Only three projects for the coming year? LOL, just kidding. I love the fabric you dyed yourself -- I think it is lovely. Good luck with your projects, especially "JG", hehehe.

Coleen

Shelleen said...

The color of the fabric that you dyed, is yummy.

Cathy said...

I love Joan Elliot designs. Keep posting progress pics.

Maureen said...

i am impressed with your hand dyeing skills - looks great. That's a great choice of new start as well, Joan Elliott has some really nice designs

chrisstitches said...

Glad you are working on JG again or I would post about that...LOL. Love that piece.
Cute snowman card.
Also, $32.50 for dyed cloth...Double yikes....love your progress so far.

Anonymous said...

Meari

Your WIPs looks great. Nice that you get that new chart. I really love that Summer geisha picture , it is so beautiful and your fabric is that perfect in it, great drying work

Tinna

Chiloe said...

Happy New Year Meari ♥

I love the fabric you hand dyed yourself: very pretty ;-)

You got lucky for the chart! I'm missing one part of an UFO's ( after moving) and may give it a try with the company. ;)

Katrien said...

Happy New Year's Meari!
That's a lot of progress you made, and it looks perfect on that fabric

Sharon said...

Happy New Year Meari! I love the new start-it's going to be gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Meari,

Happy New Year to you too. Only three projects for the coming year? LOL, just kidding. I love the fabric you dyed yourself -- I think it is lovely. Good luck with your projects, especially "JG", hehehe.

Coleen

too_busy_to_stitch said...

Oooh lovely - looking forward to seeing it grow - what a perfect fabric!