Stitches And Stones......

 

 

 

Soothing Patterns.....

I Don't Know about you, Dear Readers, but I am finding the rhythmic process of stitching to be a very Soothing activity in these trying times. The minute I finish one piece of stitching I want to start another. And it is almost the same with the Stones for the Castle doors and windows. There is a sameness to the construction and a predictable outcome, with minor variations. I don't have to think too hard or figure out complicated new processes, I just need to keep applying myself to the job of making little "stones" to fit the door surrounds. It's a good thing that I have a whole batch of little stitching kits waiting for me, and a Whole Castle full of unfinished doors and windows! The current batch of "stones can be seen under construction below......

Exciting....! Right?

Well, there was a Little bit of Drama about installing them.....

I had to Negotiate with Slitherwing to get access to the Dungeon doors!

I can't reveal the Terms we agreed upon.....

But I managed to get the stones done.

 I think the doors are looking good, 

all they need are the grout lines repainted.

Slitherwing didn't want me to get any closer to the Dungeon....

Here you can see where I need to repaint the grout lines around the doorways... 

but the Stones are in place.

It is really difficult to reach the Inner Dungeon

 even without Slitherwing in the way!

 

As for the Stitching, Dear Readers, 

The Prayer Rug is coming along quickly. 

(It is a small carpet)

It is such a Beautiful pattern!

I Love the colors, the theme, the Patterns...

I want to make more and learn to design them too!

But Meanwhile, I will just keep Stitching...!

 

And as for the New Blogger.... Grrrrr.....

I am coming to the conclusion that I will have to redesign the whole blog template....

 it appears to be the wrong structure for the new photo format,

 and I don't know how to adjust it. 

So don't be too surprised if things are different here one of these days...

When I figure it out.....

Sigh

Rocks and Rugs.....

 

 

 

On the Edge.... 

I suspect, Dear Readers, that my photos are going to run over into the edges of my blog template again. I have no idea why they are doing this, or how to fix it! Please be patient while I try to learn New Blogger-ese. Meanwhile, You can see in the picture how close to finished this little rug was when I last showed it to you. I quickly completed the petit-point and then I had to learn some new techniques to complete the rug itself. It needed hemming and a fringe added to the ends.

Here you can see the stitching is done. And the hemming not yet started.

This is the carpet along with the "cover" picture showing the fringe.

I have hemmed one side of the carpet.

Here both sides have been hemmed, but I need to add the fringe. 

I thought I would test it with one of Sally May's parlor chairs.

 I think they go well together!

Here I have started the fringe stitch. It is trickier than it looks!

It is hard to hold the rug and the thread and the loops all at once.

 Like many things, it gets easier with practice.

 But I still have not finished it.

Instead, I started another small Rug!

It is hard to tell what the pattern is just from this!

This rug is a little smaller than the previous one.

 It is a Lovely little Prayer Rug!

It is zipping right along!

It was at about this point that I started to want to make

 a few tiny adjustments to the design... 

mostly in the color placement.

The kit provides only one color of green for the leaves and vines.

I wanted the leaves to stand apart from the vines.... 

and I had greens of several shades left from the previous rug!

Why not swap out the colors?

I debated with myself about following the directions of the kit....

Then decided to add the darker color for the leaves.

I think it looks better this way!

And the other tiny change I made is in the border... 

the "peach" colored blobs... are they roses? were just supposed to be peach. 

I thought they might need a center "eye" of a different color...

 I chose the light green.

I'm glad I did! I think it adds just a tiny layer of interest to the edge!

As for the Rocks.... I spent all weekend again, 

making the pieces to surround more of the kitchen doorways... 

and more for the arched ceiling frames in the Pannetry and The Buttlery. 

But these are dark little rooms and really hard to photograph. 

It was too hot and I didn't take any pictures.

I will have to do a catch up post on them when they are done.

And as for the fringe for the first rug....

I started the other edge!

It's a bit like the Rocks, Dear Readers... 

not as much fun as the stitching.... 

But it has to be done!

So I'm working on the Edges.

(I am not enjoying this New Blogger......)