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I started and am almost done with the band I started this week. All I have to do is add three eyelet stitches. I'll be doing that today and then starting the next band. I've got maybe two or three bands to go and then add the beads before making it up into the huswif. It'll get there. This is probably the next non-round robin piece I'll get done.
I need to remind myself to count twice, stitch once. I think I pulled out the stitches on this band at least thrice to get them to line up right. In the end, it looks really good. My husband, of course, says it reminds him of string art. I'll work the border down a bit more before starting the second row. Definitely will be getting to it again this week, and hopefully I'll remember to take my own advice!
I added the first of the metallics on Tuscany this week. It is a multicolored one, with bits of red and green in it and brings out the red of the columns well. I managed to do more since this picture, in fact I think I've stitched on everything this week (something I haven't done since going to France) and feel a sense of accomplishment about it! I'll be behind on this, though, after Wednesday. On the other hand, I won't be far behind.
As you can see, I finished band three this week and started on band four. Band four's huge, and I haven't quite decided on what threads to use where, but I'll get there. Since taking this picture, I finished the upper border of band four, which you'll see in its next picture. Since getting back, I've really increased the pace of my stitching. Now to see if I can keep it up!
This is an open aida round robin (I didn't know it was aida until I had already signed up.) that is international. I didn't get to start this until I got home from France because it was sent to the States instead. What I have to do is the area from what is already done to the upper blue line. Since this picture was taken, I've made quite a bit of progress and expect to be done by the end of the week. I then send it on to India, where I sent my planet piece, which is part of this round robin.
Well, it still doesn't look like a lady, even if it's part of her skirt, but at least the progress is visible. The kit I'm working this from had very very long cuts of floss, so I just fold them in half and do a whole length at a time. This means I'm actually doing more stitches per length on this than I am on my other projects, which leads to more progress. It's been pretty easy to do so far, at least. Maybe when I get to the flag it'll be harder.
One great thing about finishing stuff is you can start something else! This is my latest start - Tuscany Town Mandala from Chatelaine. I'm using Picture This Plus's Carnival linen as the fabric and all silks, to the point I ordered Vikki Clayton silks to substitute for the DMC colors. It's going to a very good friend of mine - he bought the pattern - and I'll be trying to get it done in a reasonable time frame. So far, I really like the color on the fabric.
I'm feeling really good about the possibility of finishing this whole quarter this month. I can really see how close it is to completion and I like it. Now to get some time to stitch! Actually, I probably will be getting a lot of time to stitch starting on Saturday when everyone is where they're supposed to be and I've got things caught up.
I'm back in the USA now - got back on Wednesday. Was home less than a day before leaving again and still am jet lagged, so I'm not really doing a lot of stitching yet. Anyway, here's the progress on the Victorian Garden mystery. It's slow going, but I love looking at all the colors. This one I'll keep for me when it's done.Thank you all for your encouragement and comments on the pictures from France. I'll be using them soon to design some needlework, I believe. I'll be going back to Europe next year and will try to do the same thing!
It doesn't look much like a fish in this picture, but it IS becoming one. I'm hoping to have it done by Monday so I can pop it into the mail. I think I'll be able to do it. Got more than half done after working on it this morning.
As I said in a previous post, my husband took pictures of the cathedral from several angles. Here are a few of them.
Last time we were here, the cathedral had pews. I'm not sure if they're permanently removed or were just taken out for the medieval mass Sunday morning. I like the look of it better without them.
I still have only two colors on this, but I can see already that I'd better really like these two colors. They're the main ones of the skirt. I probably won't get anything done this week, but at least it's started. For me, that's a good thing.
Yesterday we went to Bayeux for their annual Fete Medievales. This year was their 21st. We had no idea this was going on until Saturday, when we saw the poster for it in Creully. This thing is HUGE. It's also in the center of Bayeux and winds through the streets. You can get lost easily and there's so much to see. Large crowd, too. Many more pictures than usual because of the size.
A couple of the people in costume. There was a good proportion of the people in costume, especially kids. The costumes were not Disneyfied, either. No Cinderellas walking around. The event was free, too, so they weren't doing it to dodge admission price.
Right in front of the cathedral, this is a small span of one of the less crowded areas. It gives you an idea of the crowd.
Garb for sale. Most of it is relatively well made, handcrafted, but using such things as velcro and zippers. Usually, both those things are not visible when worn.
Fete-goers in costume.
More garb for sale. I especially liked the tabard. It was womanly, yet protective for archery.
The masons in the shadow-courtyard of the cathedral. The cathedral itself is being renovated and these pieces will eventually be part of it. They're using, in the main, medieval techniques, especially for the details. For the big stuff, they use power tools. I just think it was the perfect place to set this up. The masons and carpenters wore white shifts and did try to dress up somewhat. Most wore jeans, too. My husband was snickering because of the fits OSHA would throw at their practices. Not even in the pictures of their workshops was there a pair of safety glasses.
This man was making a leather sheath. He had a lot of swords for sale and evidently, later in the afternoon, was part of an arms demonstration.
A silversmith actually casting buttons. He finished them well, too. His stuff was beautiful.
Speaking of the tents - which would you sleep in?
A guy demonstrating the making and parts of different weapons and armor.
I'm taking the American Needlepoint Guild's cyberworkshop Cobblefield Road - a Jean Hilton design being taught by Ro Pace. I got my kit just a week before coming to France and I didn't want to start it until I finished another project, so I was just able to start it this week. The colors are beautiful greens and blues and purples - my kind of colors. Hopefully, with the big geometric stitches, it won't take too long to do.
I decided it'd been a while since I posted about where I am living. It's the Chateau du Mont just outside of Beuzeville. This top picture is between the lines of trees in the front garden. There used to be three lines on this side, but the caretaker took out the outside line just before we got here.
This next picture is the view from the front door.
The view of the chateau from the inner gate. It's rather imposing. Driving down the driveway's fun, especially right in front of the chateau. It's covered in about six inches of pea sized gravel.
I managed to finish the calendar round robin I've been working on for a few days this week. I'll be mailing it out on Monday before I leave for Paris. I've got a couple of other things to mail. This makes number two on my twenty-five project challenge. I've been -really good- this week about not buying stash. Maybe I'll get back on track. I'm not sure my suitcases can hold any more.
