Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Gilded Dragonfly Finis and a great mail day :-)

Gilded Dragonfly Scissor Purse designed by Just Nan
28 count cream linen
Recommended AVAS silks

I finished the work on my Gilded Dragonfly Scissor Purse yesterday and even got the scissor fob done! I changed my scissor fob a bit, I used the Renaissance Gold metallic cord for the scissor loop rather than the green silk the pattern recommended. I filled it with emery and I love how it turned out. I love it when something that has been hanging around forever is done! Especially when it cost a fortune to buy it.

As far as the finishing for the scissor case goes, it turned out ok and I'm hanging onto the instructions in case I want to use this technique again. The lining did turn out nice and smooth using the sewing machine method. But to those of you who still need to finish their piece two tips. First the directions say to cut 1/2 salvage at the turning point on the scissor case and the rest of it trimmed to 1/4 of an inch. Don't forget to do this! Especially if you use silk lining like I did. I forgot to do this and the silk shredded so much from the stress of turning it right side out I didn't think I would be able to close off the opening. But I manged and you really can't tell how much I needed to adjust the silk. Second, put the snap on the body of the case on before you stitch it all together. The directions say to do this after you stitch the case closed (this part is by hand) and I don't know about you but my hands and fingers just aren't that small and I had a devil of a time getting the snap in once it was closed. I tried twice and both times it came out a little off center. Also make sure it's in right place before you sew it on. I didn't close the top of the case over to test it's position before I put mine on and it's too high so I had to either stitch it in for the third time or put the second piece of the snap on the needle holder wool. I put mine on the wool. I now have three Just Nan treasures and they look so cute together.

The mail came very late yesterday. In my stack were two packages with international postage on them. I'm not expecting anything so I was quite surprised. The first package was from Karen V in the UK. A while ago, I sent her some rings to make some floss holders and she stitched me a thank you. And what a thank you it is! :-) She made me one of her wonderful travel bags for stitching and the prettiest Quaker pinkeep in my favorite shade of blue. And she even tossed in a nice piece of Purely Primitive because it's my favorite linen to stitch on. I am quite overwhelmed by her generosity.

Karen's blog was the first I ever read a couple of years ago. I had just gotten back into cross stitch after an almost twenty year gap and she had just finished up An Open Heart by The Drawn Thread and posted a photo of it on the Legacy Embroiderers Guild Board that I had just joined. I didn't know anything about Drawn Thread and I did an internet search for the chart and for Drawn Thread and one of the websites that came up was Karen's blog. Her work has been an inspiration for me for quite a long time now. And to be the proud owner of some of her work is a real trill. :-) If I were a stitching stalker, I would stalk Karen for sure. :-) The next time I make one of my infrequent trips to the UK, I'm going to ask her to tea.

My second package was from Anna in Belgium. Remember the Stitching Blogger's Birthday Group I joined last year? Well it was my birthday package! Anna said on the card that it was a replacement for a gift that never arrived. Late or not, it is much appreciated. I was feeling pretty miserable when I thought my partner didn't bother with a gift. Anna sent along a beautiful piece of linen, some fibers, chocolate (yummy) and a chart from my wish list, Inspiration by Rosewood Manor as well as a few finishing items. Thanks so much Anna!

My vacation is already half over! How times flies when you are having fun at home. What's on tap for today? I'm going to work on an exchange piece, clean out my craft cabinet - yesterday I needed something and had to go through five boxes to find it so it's long overdue! And I think I want to find a new book by Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser called Master Your Metabolism. I love that show and the push I get from it every week to keep to my diet is enormous. This book sounds very interesting, it's all about how hormones effect your metabolism and I need all the help I can get - I'm at the 50 pound gone mark now and just have around 8 pounds to go. I've started to buy new clothes and they are all smalls - imagine that, me in a size 6! :-)

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! It turned out beautifully! I'll have to remember your tips whenever I get to my scissor case...Nice gifts you have received!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Its a beautiful finish! Gorgeous from start to your perfect finis :)
Karen is a wonderful person and friend and she spoiled you! How nice of Anna to send a replacement package...lovely things there too!
Congratulations on your 50 lb loss! I'm on the diet road as well and just hit my 25 lb. mark. I know the hard work and firm mind needed to walk the road. It's hard....Continued luck on your final 8 pounds :)

Sheila said...

Huge congratulations on your weight loss :) Love your dragonfly set - absolutely beautiful.

Jan said...

OH my what a truly wonderful treasure you have created!! How happy and proud you must be with it completed!! Lovely packages you received in the mail, as well!

Congrats on the weight loss!! What an achievement!

Patricia Lessell said...

Gorgeous finish but huge congratulations on your weight loss. I love that program but we haven't got it here yet - well not the current one anyway. You have done so well. Love Patti xxx

Alice said...

Its awesome!!! I love dragonflies and you really encouraged me to consider stitching this scissor case. All your goodies are lovely. Ok, you just beat me to losing 15kg. I was going to skip but now I MUST workout for an hour.
Alice

Julianne said...

Congratulations on a beautiful finish. What lovely gifts you received.

I'm glad that Anna came through with a gift for you. I just wish that she had had the courtesy to follow-up with me about what I had sent to her for the Stitching Blogger's Birthday group. Very frustrating!

valerie said...

Awesome finish! The scissor pocket looks great especially alongside the other coordinating smalls. Congratulations on your weight loss! Size 6...I wish I could fit in that size! =)

Leah said...

Wow, beautiful finish!!

Leah said...

I forgot to mention a big congrats on the continued weight-loss!!! I love the Biggest Loser too, it's very motivating for me.

Margaret said...

Beautiful finish! I love it-- and I love your stitchy mail too! And huge congrats on the weight loss! Wow -- a size 6!

Siobhán said...

Congratulations on the weight loss! We just got Jillian's DVD... 30 Day Melt down or something like that?? Anyway, it just arrived & so far, so good. It's hard! I'll have to look into that book. YGG on the size 6. I think I was born a size 12 and kept growing from there. LOL

Love the finish! It's beautiful! And your mail, too--wow! I will join you in stalking Karen--she always inspires me with her stitching. We can take shifts. ;)

Carmen said...

congratulations for the beautiful thing that you stitching, and for weight loss. enjoy the half vacations.

Lucy said...

Beautiful Gilded Dragonfly!!!

Karoline said...

Congratulations on finishing your Dragonfly, it's gorgeous

Kristen said...

Oh, what a gorgeous finish! I especially love the tiny dragonfly dangling from the scissor fob.

Congratulations!

Sandra said...

Your scissor purse has turned out beautifully, and to think you only started it a short time ago. Lovely gifts received too.

Stitcher said...

Congrats on a great finish. I think this is my next JN to start.