Of BoInks and Lobsters

I apologize for not updating recently. This may be a slightly longer post than usual since I'm catching up on sharing all the photos. For starters, I need to write up a post mortem on Book of Ink Circles. I've showed the pictures around the Internet, but I really haven't squeed here properly. It's my biggest project to date so I'm understandably Proud.

I started BoInk when it was first online. This was the first project I actively picked my own colors for, rather than whatever was called for by the designer and I'm overall pleased with the results. Do over again, I'd do two things differently. First, I'd pick blues with more contrast. Since it was a Mystery project, I couldn't see all the pattern and realize "hey those will be next to each other and will need some pop!" I would also buy slightly more than suggested skeins for certain colors. I got a little bogged down a few years ago when I started running out of colors. People warn you of this all the time with overdyes -- buy early and often and even more than you think you'll need. There will be frogs and tears and you will suddenly run out of that one color and the next dye lot will be completely different. Fortunately for me, all the new colors were near the bottom in small areas, so it's not a massive change. I know where the issues are, but hopefully it's not too noticeable to the average person.

 Fabric is 28 ct Platinum Jobelan and the colors are all Vikki Clayton's Hand Dyed Fibers silks.

For this year I've gone back to small projects until I get started on the bigger ones. I finished up Ink Circles' (I don't just do her patterns, but it seems that way!) Ink Spot #3 aka "Lobster Bouquet" using some Olde Willow Stitchery "Philadelphia Red" thread I had in my stash. I used nearly two whole skeins on the project. I am fuzzier on the fabric. It's definitely a linen in consistency but not sure color, count or type. I am trying to get better at writing down fabrics.

 What's in the works: I'm slowly working on Ink Circles' "Pot Luck" but I'm have some frog infestations, so I need to sort that out. I really want to tackle the Mary Wigham sampler. I have the fabric for it but haven't found a good sunny afternoon to look at color options. I'm thinking of using assorted HDF colors from my stash rather than strictly what's expected. It might be a nice color challenge for me. I'm also pondering turning back towards blackwork, but I have to find the right project. I'd like to read more about historical needlework as well.

Book of Ink Circles updated finally!

I've been slowly getting back into working on my Book of Ink Circles project. I ran out of several major colors, which slowed me down. After reordering from Vikki Clayton, I've been slowly getting parts done during the hockey playoffs. I'm still not wild about either shades of blue, especially the lighter one.

Uncertain what to do next, I asked the designer. Tracy Horner offered some color suggestions. One idea was to swap the blues, making Magpie Warbles the dominant color in this corner and using my purple as a shadow. The end result created an interesting z effect with the center cross because of the way Mahogany variegated. I found I liked the old Ultra Maroon I still had left over. (I don't know if it's the new floss or a dyelot issue, but all of my colors are a lot lighter than before. Serves me right for not buying enough at the time.)

We make our own fun

So I finished the latest two parts of Book of Ink Circles. When you're doing a long term project, I've discovered you learn to make your own fun. I doubt it's entirely a coincidence. All of the "Dutch Beast" motifs had hidden in-jokes/meanings, so why should this Mystery be any different?

For this corner section, I think Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anya has reason to be afraid... very very afraid.



Maybe they're to chase the frogs away? Or keep the cats company? Or look furry and menacing? Cause they're not just cute like everyone supposes.

For the next section, maybe it was because of July 4th, but I kept quoting certain lines from the musical "1776". See if you agree:



FRANKLIN: The turkey!
ADAMS: The eagle!

So I figure the bird can be either done in browns/oranges for Thanksgiving or in patriotic fervor for the 4th. Your pick.

4/22/08 Celtic Masks

A quicker update this time. I finished most of the top section. Now I just have to lie in wait for the green and gold skeins to arrive in the mail. The scanner boxed the ears of one of the cats. Sorry about that.

My friend Lisa had an observation about the pattern today. When I asked if the colors were too Mardi Gras-ish, she pointed out the cats could be masks. I hadn't thought of that particular interpretation. Most people thought of them as gargoyles or ornamental beasts. I rather like it.

I'll be interested to see if any of the other squares work with that idea. But that's part of the mystery, right?

Celtic Mystery SAL Progress

I found a piece of 28 ct Platinum Jobelan at Scarlet Thread in Vienna that worked well with my chosen Celtic Mystery SAL colors. I steadily got started two weeks ago. I've been mostly working on the black borders with a couple of detours with two of green knots. Everything was going so well.

And then I hit another snag along the way. Last Saturday night I discovered I was off somewhere. I couldn't figure out for the life of me where. Finally I made a plea on the SAL mailing list. The designer is very nice and posted a larger version of the first part. I found my two errors. The major error was on the big square underneath the top green knot. It was missing one stitch which threw everything else off, of course. That involved the heartbreaking frogging of the whole green knot. Thankfully needlework can be redone.

After a morning with the frogs, I was able to close up some sections and complete my first corner motif. I still have to work on the left side some more before the next release. The design goes pretty quickly when things are clicking, even the black border. Then I hit another major snag. I was in tears and ready to throw in the towel, but I persevered. I finally found light at the end of the froggy tunnel and I finished off the interior framework. All that black...

I've included a closeup of Barfy the Cat-Owl. That requires some explanation. On the mailing list, there's been some discussion on what animal is in that corner motif. Was it a cat? An owl? Some strange mutation thereof? Then came the observation that the cat was puking a rainbow and Barfy (Or maybe Ralph?) was born. (Someone also joked it was the original Lolcat.) My variegated orange thread has made Barfy into a very mottled calico cat, rather than a tabby, kind of orange and brown, although the glowing eyes are rather owlish too. Hence the Cat-Owl, a rare species lost in Celtic times. Or something. The rest of the color scheme with the green and purple is very Mardi Gras-esque, especially once I add the gold interior border. Pretty though.



This is the fishtail section that comprises the second part. I'd like to thank my yellow highlighter for its part in my success, because keeping track of those color changes is no small feat.



And this is my full progress as of 4/21/08. I've since added more green in the border and completed the other cat on the corner. Thank god I've ordered more green and gold for the borders. Otherwise I'd be at a total standstill.

I have post?

My first order from HDF arrived! I stalked the post office long distance via the tracking info. I was worried it'd get booted over the post office. Long drawn out story, suffice it say my apartment building is having issues. But the infamous white envelope is here. The colors are quite lovely and silky smooth to the touch. I'm a little torn now. The floss of the month included a very very pretty blue and I'm already thinking of replacing the dark blue I chose. Does Blueberry Soup go with Magpie Twitters?

Anyway, here is the floss toss for my Celtic Mystery SAL. I hope the pictures worked out. My digital camera needs replacing.

I'm amazed the fabric color worked out so well. Unfortunately it's a stand-in piece of fabric because it's nowhere near big enough for the project. Going by my measuring tape, it appears to be 28 count. I'll need to go off to the LNS and see if they match this fellow up to its maker. It's not quite matching socks...

I can stop anytime... really!

I started that purple Ink Circles freebie in MLI's Needlepaints colors. I'm not wild about how it's turning out. I think either the darkest or lightest shade is off. But I'm over halfway done with that mini-project which is a Good Thing, since I went and bought some Vikki Clayton HDF silks for the Celtic Mystery SAL. I dithered over my choices for the longest time until someone posted their choices. Everyone wanted the bright bright colors and I wanted to pull it back just a little. You can earn points by ordering and participating in her forums and suddenly you'll have enough for something else. It's an icy treacherous slippery slope I walk on, because all of her colors are so lovely. But I can stop anytime, really. (In the immortal words of Miss Betty Roberts of Elkhart, Indiana -- "I admit it! I'm an addicted... addict!") They should be here any day now. I just have to lie in wait for the mailperson and find an appropriate fabric.

I need a new project obviously...

So the cross stitch bug is back.

Or I have to assume so, if I'm thinking seriously about starting a new project.

I was looking at Ink Circles' new Celtic Mystery Stitchalong. A Mystery is where there's a piece of the project revealed each month. This one looks like a Celtic parchment. Loving all things Celtic, I went "Oooh, I could do that!" until I looked at the dimensions of the full piece and boggled a little. But I saved the first pdf for future reference. You never know. I'll need to do a bit of thinking for colors/fabric anyway.

Maybe I'll start a little smaller with one of their other complimentary charts. I'm eyeing the purple one for May, especially since I might have all the supplies I'd need. I still have TIAG's Needlepaints in my stash. The purple range would be perfect. The only minus of this designer is they work in generalities. They feel you should be free to pick out your own colorways, rather than be hidebound by what has worked in a precise design. And while that's lovely in theory, some of us are better off letting others choose colors. Ooh, they have blackwork too...

There are a pair of color packs, both a "Rainbow Brite" and the more muted colorway chosen by the designer. I know the colors in Celtic artwork are bright, but not that bright!

I'm trying to come up with a conversion for Vikki Clayton's pretty silks. Her board is really helpful so far. I should have plenty of time to make my fabric/floss choices before the next section is released. I think I might have a fabric color, but I'll have to find out what it is, because the piece I have isn't big enough. I really need to write the fabric count and color somewhere when I buy them. The frame of the carpet page is huge.