Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Octagon, Ghost Carrots, and Joyful World SAL Finish!

Had a flurry of stitchy energy in the last few weeks.   My eyes are feeling better and I'm feeling better in general after some much needed meds finally kicked in and did their job.   I'm showing photos that have been on FB and IG, but I know not everyone sees those and besides, I like to have the chronological record that blogging provides.

First up is this adorable four seasons freebie design from Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.  She gave this to the members of the FB Primitive Stitchers Society.  The original had red and white striped candy canes for winter, but I substituted a teacup with steam rising from it.  That little motif is courtesy of one of the Little Stitcher's designs.  I decided to try and bind this in an octagon shape.  I almost ruined the piece in the process, but did manage to rescue it.  I had planned on a much wider border originally.  The backing is the same as the border fabric and there is a layer of quilt batting for the sandwich. This may be the last octagon I ever attempt. It's basically coaster size now and I rest my glasses on it when I take them off.  The fabric is 36 ct Edinburgh Dirty Linen.


I recently discovered an adorable Italian designer who goes by the name of Cassandra FairyWool and sells her designs on Etsy in the "FairyWool in the Wood" shop.  Her designs are primitive style that show-off her quirky, humorous side.   I fell in love with one of her recent designs called "Rabbit and Ghosts".  The rabbit looks very much like her real-live pet rabbit.  He's digging up carrots from the garden while ghost carrots are flying all around him.  I stitched it up and made a pouch for my newest wooden hoop.  It's stitched on 36 ct HDF linen.  That's a little wooden heart button in the bottom right corner, added for symmetry.


The finishing urge struck me and I completed the final five (count 'em, 5!) pages of the Joyful World Calendar SAL.  So all done now and nothing to do but wait for each month to 'turn the virtual pages'. Each used a different fabric, all from my stash.  Here are the final five:



 



And here are the ensemble photos:




19 comments:

Robin in Virginia said...

Super post, Annie! I really like your octagon shaped finish along with your hoop pouch. Way to go! Congratulations on getting the remaining Joyful World SAL pieces in finished form! They all look great.

PS Like the new blog background!

Jane said...

glad you are feeling better. Love all the calendar pieces, that will be so much fun through the year and the octagon is very effective. It'll be easier next time

Mii Stitch said...

Nice to know you are feeling better :)
Well, your octagon finish might have been a pain to do but it was all worth it! What a sweet finish! I love your design swap too. That cup of tea looks great.
Great finishes on the pouch and calendar. Now sit down & enjoy your handy work :)

Vickie said...

Holy smokes Annie! I am blown away by your octagon piece! I keep staring at it. Amazing. The rabbit on your hoop pouch is so sweet. Congrats on finishing all the months now.:D I am so glad your health is improved my friend!

Gina E. said...

I am so pleased to hear your eyes and general health has improved :-) Loving your stitching as always. The octagonal coaster is a masterpiece! I have just finished making some folded patchwork coasters, and the trickiest one was a hexagonal. I'd hate to try to make an octagonal, although I've seen them done. I'm for the easy life, lol :-}

Jackie's Stitches said...

No one would ever know that you struggled with the octagon binding! It looks amazing!!!

Great job on doing all the finishing work. I'm glad you're feeling much better!

Margaret said...

So glad you hear you are feeling better and are seeing better too! Love your finishes, and of course, the Joyful World finishes are the best!

Cindy's Stitching said...

Annie, they are all just beautiful. Some really pretty pieces to display.

Carol said...

Wow! You really were on fire this month, Annie! I feel like a real slacker :) The octagon finish is incredible--I don't know how you figured that out--must be that mathematical mind of yours!

And the Joyful World finishes... all I can say is congratulations! They look fabulous and will brighten up your fridge all year long.

The ghost carrots are a hoot--that piece just makes me laugh! And a great finish for your hoop.

Finally--how wonderful that the meds have kicked in. It will be nice to be feeling better and getting out and about in this warmer weather :) Really happy to read that!

Mini said...

Some very pretty finishes in this post. I have seen so many finishes of the Joyful World SAL but yours is the best till date.

Astrids dragon said...

Your octagon piece looks wonderful, a bigger border might have taken away from the design.
I love the Rabbit and Ghosts, she does have some fun designs!
The finishes for the calendar are fabulous! I think you are the reason I did french knots in my hydrangeas, but I wish I had stuck with just a couple colours instead of using so many. Yours are beautiful!

Desiree Ehleiter said...

Your stitching is wonderful, but I am so motivated by all of your incredibly creative finishes! I love your Joyful World calendar. Each page was just finished off with the perfect fabric! I'm so inspired to try something new.

♥ Nia said...

So much stitching!! :D wonderful!!
I love that bunny pouch, if I had just seen the photo first, I would think of you immediately! Looks very much like the style of designs I'm used to see here =) I bet you are happy to have found that designer!! :D

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Annie, your Joyful World calendar looks absolutely gorgeous. Great stitching and finishing. And you are right, when the finishing bug is visiting you have to pull out as many finished projects as possible and finish-finish them, lol.
A nie little bag that you made with the new designer's pattern. I always love to discover new designers, too, and I love the fact that many of them now sell their designs as a pdf format. This makes everything so much easier.
Your octagon looks gorgeous.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

The octagon coaster looks great. I made an octagon box once, that wasn't easy!
I do love the way you've finished the Joyful World SAL, such an easy way to display each month in turn.

Cindy's Stitching said...

So pretty Annie. I want to do the series. So many pieces, so little time.

Sheryl said...

Glad that you a feeling better Annie and able to stitch and complete some pretty work. The coaster is a lovely design and I like the colours used. The rabbit is adorable and finishing for your hoop just perfect - I must have a look at Cassandra´s shop. Also beautiful finishing on the Joyful World designs.

Meari said...

Beautiful finishes! What are you going to hang your calendar pieces on?

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

SO many lovlies!!!