Monday, May 30, 2011

MEMORIAL DAY

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day! 

I hope you all have great plans for today - barbeques beaches and blue skies.  Today is not a holiday in our company so I am "working" today however I will be attending a BBQ at one of the local stores.  That will be a nice break in the day and something special that we don't do every day.

I have been working on a little patriotic piece by Handwork - the America pillow. It is on BOAF Sparrow and done in the called for overdyed cottons. It is so fun to work on something like this - I don't typically do these colors. I've made good progress in the past two days. I think I am going to keep it out this summer and make it my "fun" piece to break to when I am tired of working on my samplers.




I promised a photo of the new persian oriental rug I started last weekend in my workshop.  Here it is - I need to do some tweaking here and there.  I'm not happy with how the larger red flower came out - not enough contrast so I need to add some outlining of a lighter shade of red or perhaps that yellow green. Overall I'm very pleased with how it is coming out.

Here is a closer photo - you can see what I mean about the larger flower needing some enhancement.

I did not say before but this is hooked in a 5 cut and some stems in a 4 cut.  I am proud to say that all the wool except a few pieces came out of my stash cupboard.  I had purchased all the yellow greens from the teacher Eric at a previous workshop so I definitely wanted to put some of that in the rug and I also wanted some of Linda (the workshop director) in the rug so the beigy brown center of the pomegranate is from her lovely wall of wool.

This is a KAL I have been doing on the Madeline Tosh board on Ravelry - only knitters will understand all this jargon.  It was called MADMAY and the object you chose to "knit a long" was supposed to be finished in May to be eligible for the prizes - oh well - it won't be finished in May but I have enjoyed working on it - I need to put on a longer circular needle - that one is getting crowded with stitches so it would not lay flat.  The yarn is MT Pashmina in a color called Wash - the yarn is yummy to work with and I would highly recommend it.  There was as great article in the new Vogue Knitting mag that just came out about the Madeline Tosh company.  Take a read if you are a fan of this awesome hand dyed line out of Texas.

I'm going to leave you to celebrate the day in whatever way you enjoy most.  Whether it be quietly stitching or lounging around the pool, lake or ocean.  It's a day that we Americans should all hold dear to our hearts and always remember those who have given their lives for our freedom. 

16 comments:

Margaret said...

My local yarn store just got Madeline Tosh yarn in. I should go check it out! Love that piece you're knitting -- pretty color! Your rug is wonderful! I think it looks great, flower too, but that's me. And your xs piece -- I so want to stitch that! It's such a pretty piece! Hope you enjoy the day off.

Cari said...

Oh my gosh Mel....you have busy, busy fingers!! I love your rug. Ms. Henri and I had a wonderful discussion at stitch. I simply MUST try my hand @ rug hooking. I have several kits in the stash. I love your patriotic pillow too. It's fun to depart from the sampler isn't it? This design looks like so much fun to stitch. And of course the MadMay project....love the color of the yarn! I'm going to have to get that latest issue of Vogue and read up! Have a wonderful week Mel...and happy needlework!! Hugs

The Scarlett House said...

Hi Mel, so many pretties to drool over. It all looks great. I tell you...one of these days, I'm going to show up on your doorstep and beg you to teach me how to rug hook. Sorry you have to work today, but enjoy the BBQ later.

Beehive Needleworks said...

Upon my word, your fingers seem to be flying about like butterflies! So many projects going at one time...and they are all gorgeous!

Happy holiday to you...

Ever warmly,
Judy

Kim said...

Mel your rug is going to be STUNNING! I'll be puttering along with my #6 cuts and the rug I started a while ago for quite a while, and you'll have a persian rug done in no time!! You rock! Love the colors in your America piece too. Just screams summer! I've got a few skeins of Pashmina in the stash....tagged for a couple projects. I'll have to check out the Madtosh board more often! I hope you enjoy your day even though you're "working". ;o) Happy Memorial Day friend!

Laura said...

Wow!!! Your rug is stunning! I will follow along excitedly.

And the piece you are stitching on is great! In fact, I started it awhile ago....you have inspired me to get it back out!

Susan said...

So sorry you don't have a day off today. I enjoyed part of mine by shopping at my LQS--it was crowded due to a 30% off sale they were having.

Your rug is gorgeous!! I'll look forward to seeing your progress on it

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'm so glad to hear the Pashmina is wonderful to work with. I have a couple of skeins I purchased "just because". Though, MadTosh doesn't seem to have a bad skein out of anything that they sell.

Your rug is going to be lovely. Color selection is something that is very difficult for me. I admire your ability to get things just right.

mdgtjulie said...

Wow, all you stuff looks great. You do so many crafts!! Love the color of the yarn you're using. It's gorgeous!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Melody ~
All your wips are wonderful! Love that cross stitch piece.
Happy Memorial Day to you and your loved ones.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Katrina said...

I had a perfect Memorial day, three of my friends came over and we stitched the day away :-).

Love your rug and the stitched piece, the colors are gorgeous.

Nancy said...

What pretty projects you are working on! I agree that patriotic designs are fun to stitch - maybe it is because we don't do them all the time. I look forward to watching your progress on your beautiful oriental rug!

Michelle said...

Oh the rug is stunning already. I love the colors you chose. And your America piece is so fun. That's another chart I need! I hope you enjoyed your BBQ!

Karoline said...

All your pieces look lovely, great progress on all of them

Siobhán said...

I love all of your projects! I need to do a patriotic piece for this year. The Hand Work piece is gorgeous.

Deb said...

You have so many great things in progress. I love that yarn and it makes me want to start knitting, although it's a little hot here for that right now. And I love your rug too. And you stitched piece looks wonderful - I really like the fabric that you're using!