Playing Catch-Up

I was reminded today that I hadn't posted here in quite some time, so here I go playing catch-up again.  I do that a lot - I've never been able to keep a blog going for long because I forget about it.  But this blog is pretty important to me.

Some bad news, though.  We mourn the loss of the original Pemberton commission.  During a White Tornado episode (Company coming in five minutes, OMG must clean FAST!!!) my husband mistakenly threw away the tube that contained the commission.  It was my fault, for putting the piece in a cardboard tube and leaving it where it didn't really belong - nevermind that it was marked in black marker and felt heavier than it should have.  We didn't realize until two days later that it was gone, and by then the garbage men had been by.  Unretrievable, and totally my fault.  The good news is that I have redone the collar and it's better than it was before; in addition I will be creating a smock to go with it to enter into Kingdom A&S in September.

These following two pictures are my foray into Opus Anglicanum on a mantle for a friend of mine.  White silk in split stitch, outlined with black silk on green linen.  He was very pleased!

 These two pictures are pieces that are destined to become biscornu.  The one to the right is still in this form, the one to the left is already stitched into a biscornu with its matching form on the reverse.  Both of these are stitched in freehand blackwork following outlines; the one to the right has fill patterns in the leaves as you can see.  Note the slightly different vinework in each circle!  I enjoy changing up patterns and creating new ones, and adapting pictures I see into lovely blackwork pieces.  In fact, the design to the left was actually a woodburned pattern on a box that a dear friend made (and who surprised me with that box as a gift! Thank you again, Finian!!)

And last, but not least for this installment, my most recent stitching (that I actually took a photo! So many of my pieces don't get a picture :/ ) was a set of five miniature needlebooks for Her Highness Miriel to give in gift bags for Bastille Day.  She did specify that they were to be 'small' gift bags, so I thought miniatures would be a sweet addition!

They are white linen with black silk stitching, white felt leaves, and black silk fingerlooped cord with matching tassels.  Each one has a small bead and a black silk loop closure, and two gold needles were included in each needlebook.

So many things to post! I give a shout-out and a BIG thank you to Mistress Liadain over at Practical Blackwork (http://www.practicalblackwork.com) for encouraging me in my work!