Feb 4, 2013

Marvelous Monday Update 2/4/13

WEATHER
I think Mother Nature and Father Winter have been at each other lately! It's the only explanation of why we've had a 67F temperature swing in two days. Last Monday and Tuesday, it rained like cats and dogs. The temp was 60F on Tuesday. When I got up on Wed, it was -7F! We've gotten at least 10" of accumulated snow over the past week. That includes the 4" of snow I had to shovel off my driveway at 4am this morning!

STITCHY STUFF
It's been two weeks since I showed progress on my work project, Welcome Banner. This is one of those kits that uses full stitches and then uses backstitching over part of the full stitches to outline. I really don't care for the look of those kinds of charts so I've been creating fractional stitches... a lot of them. I think it makes all the difference.

Other WIP photos can be seen HERE.

I pulled out Eight Immortals and spent a week working on it. I've made quite a bit of progress. Here's what it looked like last November when I last worked on it:


and here's what it looks like now:


Isn't she beautiful?

Until next time,

49 comments:

Irene said...

Your work is looking great, as usual.

I agree with you about creating fractional stitches; I do the same thing. It can be a lot of work at times, but it is definitely worth it.

Faith... said...

WOW you really got in alot on the Eight Immortals - it is beautiful!

I hear ya about the weather; it is crazy for sure!

Karen said...

I can't even imagine getting up at 4am and shoveling snow!

You've made excellent progress and both pieces look great. :)

Pam in IL said...

Wow, you've had so much more snow than us! We've only had a couple inches total.

Your work project is looking great. I agree, I'd be doing fractional stitches too.

Eight Immortals is gorgeous!

Anne said...

She is beautiful Meari!! I really love the colours that's in this design so far. The banner is so sweet too. I just adore chickadees. They make me smile :D

Anonymous said...

Meari,
I like your version of your work project. I love chickadees!

Wow! your progress on Eight Immortals is beautiful.

:)

Akila said...

Oh my, that indeed is quite a variation in the temparature!! Poor you having to shovel at 4.
Am loving both your WIPs. Love the peaceful look on her face

*-* said...

It's good to catch up with your stitching progress. The Eight Immortals looks great.
I hope the bad weather is soon on the way.
Kay.

Cleejoow said...

oh you made great progress! She looks stunning

Kay said...

I know what you mean about the weather. Here in Ohio the last week we have had so much snow daily. My son is not loving shoveling the drive. Your wips that you are working on are coming along beautifully! I look forward to seeing what they look like when finished! Have a good week

Mylene said...

Great designs you are working on, Meari & updates are looking gorgeous especially the Eight Immortals.

cucki said...

very sweet stitching..
love xx

Ruth said...

Very nice Meari. You stiching re coming along nicely. I woke up to more snow today too, but only a dustng. YUK. Hve a great day. Ruthie

Chris said...

The weather has definitely been crazy!
Lovely projects! Lovely stitching!

Berly said...

Yes, she is beautiful! I agree with you about those kits. I think that's why I have one of my UFOs. It's an older pattern and a huge solid stitch, but there are no fractional stitches anywhere in it. Maybe I'll follow your lead!

Anonymous said...

I love the Welcome Banner! Such delicate stitching. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress!

Hugs & Stitches
Debbi from Iowa

Joyce Clark Frank said...

Love you pieces you stitched on.
The welcome banner is very colorful and the lady is looking really good.
Our weather has been crazy too.

Julie M said...

She is beautiful Meari! Your welcome banner is wonderful also.

sorry about your weather. Ours has been up and down but we never had 67. Most it got up to was mid 50's. And no snow here today. possible rain tomorrow. I am so ready for spring to get here!!

Unknown said...

I have to agree about the back stitching. I am not keen on anything that contains lots of back stitching!
Both projects are lovely Meari!

Vicki said...

I'm with you on the full stitches covered by backstitching. I'd rather take the time to make fractional stitches for a smoother look. Both of your projects are looking great. I love the colors in the 8 immortals.

Katie said...

I do the same thing with patterns like that. I know they are supposedly to help basic stitchers but they look horrible when finished that way in my opinion.

Your other piece is gorgeous. Great Progress!

Mary said...

They are both very pretty.

Carolyn NC said...

Yes, she is beautiful! I agree with the fractionals - does make a huge difference! Nice work. Hope it warms up a little for you.

Elena said...

She is beautiful. You have made some great progress.
Happy Stitching

Sue said...

Morning sweetie! Awwww I just wish you didn't have to shovel that snow! That is way too early for you to be up and out but I know you have to leave earlier for work. Rest tonight!!!

Your wips look wonderful; I love the Eight Immortals! It is so detailed and lovely.

Hugs,
Sue

Sue said...

Morning Sweetie, I am so sorry you had to get out so early and shovel snow! You shouldn't have to do that...your MAN needs to do that but.....lol......anyhow you rest tonight.

I love your wips; especially the Eight Immortals. It is so detailed.

Hugs,
Sue

JessB said...

It's been pretty crazy weather all over this year! Good for you shoveling snow, although not at 4am-! Love the stitching as always.

Sharon said...

Oh wow....that is weird weather...makes it hard on the body to adjust. :(. I miss making snow angels but I can be happy making sand angels here in Florida. Wow, what a great amount of progress you've made on Elementals. the colors in that piece are stunning. the little chickadee is so cute. I agree with you, fractional stitches work so much better. I don't think all of the designers actually understand stitching on an "up close and personal" level.

Anonymous said...

Meari I love your WIP's.

So far our only snowfall was in early December and it was gone in a couple of days.

You are lucky to have a white winter, but shoveling at 4am is brutal.

Tara

Ranae said...

Crazy weather, huh??
Beautiful stitching

Denise SA said...

Please send the snow my way all we get is dust storms

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have had crazy weather! Ours has been doing the big temperature swings too, but from about 40 to about 70....so no snow. :) Eight Immortals is looking great!

Karin in CA

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

Gorgeous stitching.

valerie said...

Ugh! Hope you get a break from shoveling snow! I think the weather has been acting wacky everywhere! Love your Eight Immortals!

SoCal Debbie said...

Eight Immortals looks great!

Anonymous said...

Hope you do not get too much more snow, the weather in Canada has been the same up and down with lots of rain and some snow.

Your stitching is beautiful as usual.

Marl

connie said...

You have made some great progress.Our weather has been crazy..It is warming up now.

Anonymous said...

Yuck - we had some serious snow the other week, it lasted about a week and went. Now they're saying that we could get more this month :( Not good.

Love, Viv x

Sandie said...

Eight Immortals is coming on great - I love the finished piece - maybe one day I'll get it? I hate the weather at the moment - wet and windy one day, snow the next, followed by a grey day with a few moments of bright blue sky.

Anonymous said...

Hi Meari

Just remember that Spring is coming :)

Your stitching looks wonderful :)

Tinna

Anonymous said...

So sorry about your winter weather woes. That is the kind of weather that will make people sick & keep them sick. Your WIP's are looking great. You have made some great progress on Eight Immortals.
Betty in AZ (ILCS)

Carol said...

I'm so tired of winter--I think it seems doubly bad this year because last winter was so mild!! Love your WIPs, Meari--I don't like those charts that use the full stitches and then backstitch over them either. Seems like they are just in a hurry when they're designing or something...

Your progress on Eight Immortals is incredible! Enjoy your weekend--at least we won't be getting that blizzard that is forecast for New England.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Yeah the weather has been weird lately! I create fractionals when the chart calls for full stitches with backstitch over them.

Anonymous said...

They're both coming along beautifully, but Eight Immortals is especially phenomenal. I create fractional stitches, too, but I won't do them on aida - I swap out the fabric for evenweave to make it easier. You're a much more patient person than I!

Unknown said...

I so agree with the backstitch over crosses - but I never thought to try to create fractionals myself. Thank you Your the best...

Eight Immortals. So pretty

Nancy M said...

Nice progress on the Immortals. I think you've gotten more snow than us this year. But we have been getting snow and then rain to make it disappear. So right now....nothing on the ground.

Shelley said...

I like the changes you are making on your work piece.

A bit of progress...very underspoken. That is a huge amount of progress on Eight Immortals.

Vickie said...

Excellent Progress on anything!!!! Love your stitching!!

glenda said...

I hear you on those full stitches with the damn backstitching not matching. Makes it look sloppy imo. I've been fixing those on Monopoly, lately.

I just LOVE the Immortal piece. I am DYING to see it done. Was that enough drama? Seriously though..it's fabulous :)