Back to the Stars

I've restarted See the Stars.  I'm now officially two and a bit parts behind.  I seem to keep stitching slower and slower...

Graphic Sampler Start

Yes, this is a lot further along than most of my starts, but it's all been done this week.  The graphic sampler is a stitchalong from Marquoir, and it ended this past week, so... in order to stitch it at all, I have to hurry up!  Five blocks out of nine done, I think I'll make it.  I changed the original colors, too. 

Different Drummers

Sometimes, here, the only drums seem to be candombe.  This video shows that's not the case, and they're -good-.  I apologize for the quality; the camera I shot with doesn't adjust well to bright lights in the middle of darkness.  The group's name is Sociedad Anonima and is a humorista.

Another Buggy Block

Here is how I received Diane M's block for the Bees, Butterflies, and Beetles round robin.  To me, it looked like she wanted a flower fairy block instead, especially since she stated absolutely no butterflies.  Anyway, there was already a lot of floral stuff on it, so....

I added more flowers.  The green flowers at the diametric ends are from the same fabric - a lace I bought in Bulgaria last year.  They seem to fit the block pretty well.  I also added brass bee and dragonfly charms to the lower set of flowers.  I also added a black and pink dragonfly and a couple of seams.  I haven't heard yet if she likes it, but it's out of the house and on to the next person.

Down the Stairs

Still doing what is basically the prework for this piece.  There's certainly a lot of it, and I'm no where near done.  It's coming along a little, though, and the two bottom-most sides are the middle of the piece.  Next time I work on it, I'll be putting the other two sides on the square.

Random Swirls

Still working on my latest charity heart.  It's got eyes now, two stars.  Soon it'll have a nose and mouth too.

Pillow Ornament

I took this picture before I sent it off.  It's the pillow ornament of Wishing Ewe.  Came out pretty cute!

Carnaval Competition - February 20 - Feelings

Feelings is a revista (dance revue) group that we saw on the 20th.  They're good.  The opening, though, was just plain weird with people wandering around in feather and fish head costumes.  I'm still not sure if it was Finding Nemo or 20000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Here, they're dressed quite a bit better and it was definitely swing dancing.

This picture and the next were part of a miniskit while the group was changing costumes.  The girl in red is supposed to be a lady of dubious quality - she looks like bad anime to me - and in the next picture ... instead of what you think will happen, they end up playing video games together.  Was very cute.

This particular dance was really interesting.  It used the balls and mops as percussion instruments and the dancers in back were on pallets.  Very rhythmic and in sync and well done.

Turnabout - male cheesecake finally at Carnaval!

Part of the big finale, with lots of gymnastic dancing ... and feathers and showgirl strutting...

Getting Closer

I feel like I'm getting so close to finishing this part of the pattern!  I've almost got all of the last line done, and the last egg is nearly completely filled.  Next time I get it out, I may have to just finish it altogether.

Finally Some Purple

I managed to add some purple this week, finally.  I think when I get to the point of adding more, it'll be all purple.

Hard to See

It's hard to see the progress from the last picture, but I promise it's there.  I've been stitching less all of February due to the whole Carnaval and party schedule thing.  Hopefully, after this weekend I will be able to stitch more.

Another Start, Another Stitchalong

I was bad and started another project.  It's the fantasy stitchalong from Kustom Krafts called Naptime Dragon.  I'm doing it on 36 count Meadow Mist Edinburgh linen from Silkweaver and so far using the original colors.  Obviously, I'm still on the first page.  Anyway, I needed to start another project as much as I needed to shoot myself in the foot, but the deed's done.  I do like the look of it so far.

Lots of Little Houses

The outbuildings on this side are coming along nicely; I should have them done soon.

Lady Browning

Brown, brown, brown, brown... still going on brown.  Mainly, I did the flounce on the right.

Performances - Murga and Humorista - February 13th

I think it's a requirement that murgas have to dress up like Italians at Carnaval.  They are, basically, a capella singing groups and based on the traditions there.  When you don't understand Spanish, though, ten minutes is about all you can take before boredome steps in. 

And these are the humoristas.  They were pretty good, and I wish I remembered their names, but I don't.  Anyway, they had a girl!  And she was the main singer for them!

Toque Done

The top half of this third jellyfish looks a lot like a knitted toque now that I've got it done.  I've started the underbelly and will hopefully have it finished when I get back to it next week.

Sixth Square

Sixth square done, I'm only eight behind... on the other hand, I really do like the combination of threads and fabric I picked for it.

Madame Gotica February 13 - Part 2

More Madame Gotica photos.  They were onstage for a full hour, so there's a lot to show!

I think it's a requirement that each dance group have a primitive-themed dance.  At least, each one that I've seen does.

This is where The Electric Company's outfits went when the show was cancelled by PBS.  I always wondered.

And this was part of the finale.  You can see videos of some of the performances and such at http://www.carnavaldeluruguay.com/.  It's a fan site where they post all the information about Uruguay's Carnaval - in Spanish, of course.  Google Translate works pretty well on it, though.

Carnaval Performances- Madame Gotica - February 13 - Part 1

So yes, this is the kind of woman's costume one expects at Carnaval in South America.  The group is Madame Gotica, a revista.  Revistas are dance review groups.  They're the only category in competition here who do more dancing than the jiggle wiggle, and they're pretty good too!

I am certain I saw this print at Target last summer...

And the show goes on despite a wardrobe malfunction mid-dance.  They are on the stage for a full hour, and go through six or seven costume changes.  It's got to be exhausting.  None of these people are professional dancers, either.

Two shots in one!  One person caught mid-jump and a tower being made.   I have more pictures of this group to put up.  I just thought six was enough for one post.

Made for Ginny

Since she got it yesterday, I'm able to post pictures of the temari I made for Ginny in the Lunar New Year GITS.  It's one of lunar new year colors - red, gold, white and green.  The red isn't Christmas or bright red like usual, though.  I used Claret Watercolours from Caron.  I think it came out pretty well, and she says she likes it along with my explanation of the symbology I used.

A New and Mottled Heart

I'm stitching another heart for Hilfe fuer Kranke Kinder.  This one's by Asya, who's six.  His is rather colorful and with interlacing colors.

My First

I now own my first temari made by someone else.  I LOVE it!  It was made by Ginny in New York, and I got it because I participated in the Lunar New Year Great International Temari Swap in the TemariKai Yahoo group.  She was my partner.  I normally hate orange, but this just glows and it's sooooo pretty in person!  I'll treasure it always.  It also gives me reason to participate in more swaps of temari.

Ginny also sent me a temari-themed badge holder and a pen with Temari is a Ball on it.  They're so cute, and since I now have to wear a badge every so often, I'll use the holder.  Thank you Ginny, you've made my first temari swap so much fun, despite my anxiety about not being good enough.

Shuttering Up

This week it was the middle shutter, all green.  I put in three needlesful in two colors.  The break from just earth tones is kind of nice.

Still Crossing

I haven't broken down and done any of the specialty stitches yet.  The skeleton for them out of cross stitches is coming along pretty well, at least.

Still No Purple

More done on the piece, but no purple.  I added a lot of light green, though.

Asian Round Robin - Nicki's Block

Here's Nicki's block before I worked on it.  As you can see, I was the first!  I also decided not to do the obvious fan or geisha - to leave them for someone else.

And here's a picture after what I've done.  I made rickshaw wheels in the right upper corner, added a Buddha medallion, did some seams, and also did some maple leaves.  I hope she likes it.