Mystery in a Corner - the final picture!

At long last, I've been given the go-ahead to post my completed Mystery in a Corner, designed by Gay Ann Rogers. I actually finished it much earlier this month, but since not everyone had received theirs yet, Gay Ann asked me not to post the picture. Now that some other stitchers have finished and are starting to post their finished pieces online, I'm proud to show off mine!
I chose both corner 1 and side 1. I had already posted about why I chose corner 1. I chose side 1 because I thought the overall design shape more pleasing when I combined this side choice with my chosen corner (as opposed to side 2).

I'm sorry if the picture is a bit dark. I just got a new computer and I haven't tweaked all of the monitor settings yet. I may have darkened the picture too much to compensate for the brightness of the monitor!

With the new computer, hopefully I won't have to deal with the sudden "blue screens" that made dealing with my old laptop such a pain. I hope to start posting more again!

Rotation trial: Over already!

I really, really appreciate some stitchers' dedication to their rotations. It does take dedication to put down a piece you're enjoying and pick up something else. If a rotation works for you, that's wonderful!

I've tried a rotation for a couple of weeks now, and I've decided it's not for me. I need to be in a certain "mood" to work a given technique, and I can't schedule that. If I'm enjoying a certain piece and making good progress on it, I don't want to put it away until its next "turn" in the rotation. I'd rather ride the momentum on the project until I need a break on it or until my mood changes to work a different technique.

Aaahh! I feel better.

For the last few days, I've been "cheating" on my rotation (or, to be more honest, I gave it up a few days ago but just didn't "officially" end it by posting here). I've been having fun with the Bargello motif on Catherine Theron's Examplar IV. I also worked the first color of the spiral trellis stitch on a couple of the flowers.
I'm going to continue working on this piece until either ScottLee or Cinders starts calling my name! I'll keep these three as my "focus pieces", and still plan to start something new in each of my three categories (linen, canvas, and uncounted) when the current piece in that category is finished. That little incentive will hopefully keep reminding me to work, at least occasionally, on each of these.

A girl, her dog, and a BIG flower

Actually, the title should be "A girl, her greyhound, and a REALLY big flower". I've been making good progress with Catherine Theron's Examplar IV. I took breaks from the seemingly-unending yellow basketweave background around the spiral trellis flowers by working on the next few motifs, shown here. I morphed the girl's non-descript dog into a greyhound so it would feel at home here. Ok, so it's either a small greyhound (I refuse to believe it's a whippet!) or the girl is a giant. The backs of my greyhounds come up to my hip, but I didn't have the room to make Ms. Sampler Greyhound that big. If she was tall enough, she would need to be longer, and there just isn't room! I can rationalize this because next to the girl and Ms. SG, the flower is HUGE! In a sampler, it all works! :-)

I've been too tired the last few nights (since I finally finished the yellow background) to concentrate on the spiral trellis stitch, so I've started on the bargello motif. It's nice to see good progress on this piece!

Cinders - plodding away

I'm slowly plodding away on Cinders. I don't know why, but I've been procrastinating when it comes to stitching on this. There really isn't that much left to be done, but it was 9:30 last night before I got to it, and then I only added the handle to the coal scuttle (a.k.a. "the bucket).

I think part of my hesitation is that I'm not really satisfied with some of the patterns/colors I've used, and I don't know how adding new patterns/colors will alter the piece. I know I should just try something, but I end up putting it on my lap stand and staring at it in dissatisfaction.

I restitched the vest. I had originally tried it in a light yellow, but it just didn't show up enough. I've now tried a medium green from the wall, and I'm debating if it's still too light.

I've added a bit more to the hair, but I have to be in a "random mood" to stitch the hair, or I over-analyze it to death! Sometimes my engineer's brain is not helpful when it comes to stuff like this.

These are all the thoughts and feelings that go through my mind when I pick up this piece. It's just not fun for me right now, but I really do want to finish it, just so I won't have to deal with my frustrations on it any more!

A Sneak Peek at more of the mystery

WARNING - GAR mystery spoiler (at her request)!

Because my ANG chapter meets tonight, our chapter president requested to receive our copies of Gay Ann Rogers' Mystery in a Corner Part 2 early. Through some misunderstandings, these were both received and distributed to the chapter members early.

In recent communications with Gay Ann, she's asked me to give a "sneak peek" of a portion of the mystery. If you don't want to the mystery spoiled, don't look! :-)

Part 2 begins with two choices of corners. I chose Corner 1 because it used more metallic and less pearl cotton. Since I'm still trying to enhance the purple (metallic) accents in this design (rather than the burgundy in the pearl cotton), this corner worked for me.


The final part of the mystery also involves two choices of sides between the corners. I've made my decision, but you'll have to wait until Gay Ann gives me the go-ahead to share. What will you choose?

June recap & July goals

June was a fairly good stitching month for me. My goals were:

• Keep blogging, aiming for 3-4 posts per week. Same as last month! 11 posts / 30 days = average 2.5 / week.
  
• Finish Cinders. No, but I made good progress once I put her into the rotation.
  
• Finish Part I of Mystery in A Corner. Yes!
  
• Work on WIPs. I made good progress on ScottLee and Examplar IV.
  
• Maybe start one of the GCC's that will be due this fall. No. Stay tuned for next month!

Starting a rotation has been both satisfying (when I see progress on multiple pieces) and frustrating (when I want to keep working on one piece). I'm going to stick with it for a bit to see if I get used to it.

******************************************
For July, here are my goals:

• Keep blogging, aiming for 3-4 posts per week.
• Stick to my rotation.
• Finish Cinders.
• Finish Part 2 of Mystery in a Corner.
• Work on WIPs.
• Start one of the GCC's (Victorian Bonnet) that will be due this fall.
• Start Strawberry Girl by Gay Ann Rogers.

I'm looking forward to starting a few new things as I finish some pieces in the rotation!