Nocturne: Sixth Post - Framed

I'm trying to get through all my backlog framed posts that I've started, but never finished and published.

Let's see... when was Nocturne finished, October 2014.

So it's not the best picture, but at least I'm finally posting it.  Yay me!

I've been working on the HAED Challenge #2.  I'm over 80% done with it, and I'm hoping to finish by the end of this weekend.

Nocturne: Fifth Post - Complete

I, once again, had the desire to clean up my WIP page.  This time I had some success!  I pulled Nocturne out from it's drawer and within two nights I completed it, makes me wonder why I took so long to finally finish it.

It's always interesting going from 28 ct stitching to 14 ct.  I always feel like the stitches are way too big, especially when I'm doing 14 ct on 28 ct.  I start thinking, maybe I went over three instead of two.  And toward the end I actually did on two stitches, but I caught that before I even crossed them.

And as I've been doing with this piece I've taken a picture one dragon at a time.  First dragon:

Second dragon:

Third dragon (and complete):

So, one off of my to finish list, and one added to my to frame list.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Finished Stitching: October 3, 2014
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 8,799 out of 8,799 complete

Nocturne: Fourth Post

While adding items to my WIP page, I had another urge to finish up some of the "easier" items and get them off the page.  This time I was drawn to Nocturne, and now, one more round of color is complete.

Here's the first wing:

Second wing:

And the last wing:

So now there's just one more color left.  I might keep going on this just to finish it off.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 74.21% complete
Stitches: 6,530 out of 8,799 complete

Maritime - Pelagic: Second Post - Complete

As I mentioned I finally got the thread for Pelagic.  Tomorrow I'm going to be framing all my pieces at work so I had to get him done tonight.

I got the rest if his head done earlier in the week:

2621 Stitches

Tonight I did the last bit, a fin, I think, on the right.

Complete

There he is.  These pictures look a bit more dingy since I was using regular incandescent lighting.

Hopefully I'll soon have a group of pictures to show you all of my Signets framed.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Pelagic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: July 7, 2013
Finished Stitching: August 1, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Twilight Cashel Linen
Floss: Dinky Dyes - Mint Ice, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,941 out of 2,941 complete

Maritime - Pelagic: First Post

Here's the other half of Maritime, Pelagic.  I was going to change this one from the sample, but I ended up not doing so.  I did like the background color, and still do, I love blue and this is a great blue color.  I didn't really like the yellow that there seemed to be in the picture of the sample.  I looked up the color anyway and didn't see the same yellow color in the photo of the thread.  I decided to buy it and decide if I wanted to use it when it arrived.  I'm guessing the light source for the sample was slightly yellow since I don't see any yellow at all in my thread.  So I decided to use it.

One thing I did notice about the Dinky Dyes thread I received is the varigation isn't very even, it seemed odd, but it seems to be working out well with Pelagic.

Up first is... this...

175 Stitches

I really don't know what part of the body this is.  Is it a fin?  I'm just going to call it an appendage and get on with the rest of this post.

Next up the main body and beginning of the tail.

1030 Stitches

And here's the rest of the tail:

1841 Stitches

I was going to post at this point, but I was pretty sure I was going to run out of thread so I decided to keep going until I did run out.  I got one of this fins completed.

2198 Stitches

And then I got a portion of his head done.

2419 Stitches

I can't help but giggle and think he looks like he has a shaved head.  I ordered more thread but it won't be in until almost the end of the month.  However, I have stitched enough to order the mats and frame for him.  I know that I've stitched the furthest right, left and bottom stitches.  And there's only one stitch higher on his "hair".

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Pelagic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: July 7, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Twilight Cashel Linen
Floss: Dinky Dyes - Mint Ice, 2 over 2
Percentage: 82.25% complete
Stitches: 2,419 out of 2,941 complete

Now I'm just waiting for materials to come in to work on the other Signets.  But that doesn't mean I'll be idle.

Maritime - Benthic: Second Post - Complete

Another one down!  I finished Benthic just minutes before midnight on June 27th.  I was actually going to go to sleep early too.  But I had to post so I'm still up. :)


Here's how he was left the night of the 26th:

1820 Stitches

 And here he is all done:

Complete

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Benthic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 24, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 27, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Icon Cashel Linen
Floss: Weeks Dye Works Peacock, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,550 out of 2,550 complete

Now I must crochet!  It's getting hot here, it was in the high 90s today (um... over 32 degrees in celsius), so I'd like to get my nephew's blanket done before we get to the few weeks every year where we get to triple digits.  Saturday's completed project will be my next post.  Now I must sleep.

Maritime - Benthic: First Post

So it seems that I'm obsessed with the Signets at the moment.  I started Benthic pretty much right after I posted the Pilot finish.  Benthic is part of a two pack set along with Pelagic.  These are water dragons, with Benthic meaning the bottom of a sea or lake, Pelagic means living or growing at or near the surface of the ocean.

The fabric I'm using is 28ct Cashel Linen Icon.  The thread is Weeks Dye Works in Peacock.  I find it kind of funny that I'm using a color named after a bird for a water dragon.

When I stitched this I didn't exactly start in the middle.  The piece of fabric I ordered had a tiny pink spot that I wanted to make sure was covered.  I figured what would approximately cover that spot if I had started in the center and did that first.  It ended up being the right fin... or is that a dorsal fin?

262 Stitches

I next worked on most of the body and a few more fins.

1,063 Stitches

Next up, his head.

1,497 Stitches

The fabric color isn't really showing up in the pictures, it's just a very light blue.

I'm not sure if I'm going to have time to finish him up tomorrow or Thursday.  After that I need to make myself work on my nephew's blanket.  I'm going to try to finish up another skein before I let myself work on the next Signet.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Maritime - Benthic
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 24, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Icon Cashel Linen
Floss: Weeks Dye Works Peacock, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.7% complete
Stitches: 1,497 out of 2,550 complete

Pilot: Second Post - Complete

I didn't think I'd be posting this early on Pilot today.  These just go so quickly.

I fixed the first swirl that I stitched and continued on with the main structure of his left wing.

1631 Stitches

A little more of his wing was added.

1992 Stitches

And here he is finally done!

Complete

Project Stats:
Pattern: Pilot
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 21, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 24, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Monet Cashel Linen
Floss: Caron Waterlilies Aubergine, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,307 out of 2,307 complete

I think Benthic is going to be next.  Originally I was going to do Messenger next, but I don't have the thread for him yet.  I forgot to order it with my last order.  It's not like I don't have plenty of things to work on.

Pilot: First Post

As I mentioned, Pilot was going to be the next Signet I was going to work on.

I decided to use the same color fabric as the sample, Monet.  While I did decide to keep the thread color similar, I did use a different thread from the sample.  I'm using Caron Waterlilies, Aubergine.

I first started with the large curl in the center, then went on to the tail.

840 Stitches

Next, I stitched his right wing.

1128 Stitches

I was going to take a picture right after I finished the wing, but I forgot.  So instead you see a little bit of his neck already started.  I just took a tiny break to take a snapshot when I realized.

I continued on with his head and finished it up.

1361 Stitches

Project Stats:
Pattern: Pilot
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 21, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Monet Cashel Linen
Floss: Caron Waterlilies Aubergine, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.99% complete
Stitches: 1,361 out of 2,307 complete

While I was writing this post I noticed a discrepancy in the photo on the chart and my stitched version.  Well, I'd made a mistake.  So I'm going to need to fix the large swirl in the center.  Then I will continue on to his left wing.

Nocturne: Third Post

I've had a busy few weeks, unfortunately they weren't busy due to stitching, but I did get some work done:

Nocturne finally got two dragon bodies:

2939 Stitches

And now it has three:

I've gone back and forth in my mind about adding sparkly to the wings.  Just when I finally thought I'd decided to do it, I was talking to my mother and she asked me if any of the others would have it, and when I said no, she said since none of the others would have it, this one might look strange with it.  So it's been decided, no sparkly.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 44.31% complete
Stitches: 3,902 out of 8,799 complete

Warrior: Second Post - Complete

He's done!  Ready for the pictures?

I did the long thin line that outlined the left side of his wing.

As of June 11, 2013, 1684 stitches

Next I did the talon on the wing and the top half.

As of June 11, 2013, 2190 stitches

Finally here he is complete!

As of June 12, 2013 - Complete

Pilot will be the next new Signet I work on.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Warrior
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 9, 2013
Finished Stitching: June 12, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Cauldron Cashel Linen
Floss: Threadworx Rocky Mountain, 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,649 out of 2,649 complete

Warrior: First Post

I'm such a bad stitcher.  I started another Signet.  This time it's Warrior.  I'm using the thread used in the stitched sample.  It's called Rocky Mountain, it's rather pretty.  It has three different colors, brown, a smoky blue and green.

I didn't like the fabric color it was stitched on.  It looked too yellow.  After much consideration, I picked a fabric by Pucture this Plus called cauldron.  It's referred to as a medium silver gray with burnt orange smudges.  I thought that might look good on a piece called Warrior.  Maybe he's an older warrior in grayish armor that is slightly rusted, the burnt orange smudges.

Initially I started him because I was afraid the fabric was too dark, but he just came alive and I couldn't put him down.  I'm still in my I don't want to work on anything except what I want to work on mood, so if I find something I really want to work on I might as well.

The first picture I took has his tail and, I think I can call that a shoulder, done.

As of June 10, 2013, 705 stitches

This is pretty much where he is now, I've worked on him a little bit more, all that's left is his wing.  At least his head isn't last like the previous two.

As of June 11, 2013, 1549 stitches

I think I'm going to finish him up, he's very close to being done.  You might see him completed tomorrow!

Project Stats:
Pattern: Warrior
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: June 9, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Cauldron Cashel Linen
Floss: Threadworx Rocky Mountain, 2 over 2
Percentage: 58.47% complete
Stitches: 1,549 out of 2,649 complete

Nocturne: Second Post

I did one of the dragon bodies on Nocturne.

I was hoping to have all three bodies done by now, but I caught a cold and mostly slept the past few days.  Hopefully I'll have more to show and be more chatty next time.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 22.35% complete
Stitches: 1,969 out of 8,799 complete

Nocturne: First Post

As I mentioned in my post for Samurai I fell in love with this the instant I saw it.  I just knew I had to stitch it!

As I mentioned I loved the subtlety of the blue on blue version.  I am not changing any of the colors from the sample piece.

I started working on it last night and I already have a color finish, the inside dark purple.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Nocturne
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: May 29, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Lunar Cashel Linen
Floss: DMC & Weeks Dye Works 2 over 2
Percentage: 11.62% complete
Stitches: 1,023 out of 8,799 complete

I think I'm going to try to get through as many of the Signets as I can.  I want to frame them similarly, so I don't want to frame them until they're all done.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about Paladin.  Therefore, if I don't work on them, I'll never be able to enjoy the ones I've finished.  They all shouldn't take too much time, maybe a week each except for Nocturne, Eclipse and Duality.  I'm planning on making myself Anthera and Colombina as well, but not in the immediate future as they can be framed differently.

I also, unfortunately, am really liking Eva Horne's Dragonflies designs.  So the sooner I finish with her Signets  the sooner I can work on her Dragonflies.

Colombina: Fifth Post - Framed

And now for Colombina:

It's harder to see on this mat, but it's the same as Anthera's, just silver.  These swirls are actually easier to see in real life than Anthera's.  It's odd how the pictures display the opposite of real life.  This one was my favorite of the two from the beginning. And I think I like the framing job better as well.  I really wish I could have used a matching black frame on Anthera, but it just didn't exist.

As I mentioned before these were Christmas/Birthday gifts for my mother to put in her "mask" bathroom.  However she decided she didn't want them in that room.  She decided she wanted to put them in her "gray" bathroom downstairs.  In a way this is nice, more people will be able to see them in this bathroom since it's downstairs.

Well, this is it for me today.  I'm hanging out at my parents' house and since I finished Lambent I have nothing to work on.  I'll find something to occupy my time.

Anthera: Fourth Post - Framed

Here's the last two posts for the first five projects I framed recently.

I rarely single mat anything anymore.  I just think they usually look better with at least two mats.  However, on these two pieces, there just wasn't another mat that looked good with the pieces.  You can see on the upper right hand corner the mat has glossy black swirls on it to kind of match the swirliness of the piece.  According to Google, swirliness isn't a word... I'm using it anyway.

Colombina will be posted in a few moments.

Light and Shadow - Lambent: First Post - Complete

I wasn't going to work on these for a while, but I had already purchased the thread I wanted to use on Lambent, and I had some extra fabric from You're Never Too Old that I thought would work great for Lambent.  Only after I decided what fabric I was going to use did I realize that it was the same fabric used on the sample.

Apparently Lambent was the first of these small dragons that Eva Horne created.  I find it very interesting that it was also the first one I stitched.

Each dragon has a name associated with Light or Dark, which is where the name of the set comes from, Light and Shadow.  Lambent means: Glowing, gleaming, or flickering with a soft radiance.  The sample had it with a light yellow that got a little bit darker.  The thread I chose, Golden Star by Crescent Colors, is a bright yellow that goes orange.

Time for the pictures.

Here's just the first few stitches:

120 Stitches

 Next, I finished up his wing:

563 Stitches

 He has a tail now:

791 Stitches

 Now for his body, legs and feet:

999 Stitches

 And I seem to be doing their heads last, I guess that's just the way it works out.

1,187 Stitches - Complete

Project Stats:
Pattern: Light and Shadow - Lambent
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: April 21, 2013
Finished Stitching: April 22, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Dusk Cashel Linen
Floss: Crescent Colors Golden Star 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 1,187 out of 1,187 complete

I knew this wouldn't take long, and he took less than two days.  I do like the color I picked for him, I think it looks better than the sample, but I'm biased.

Out of the remaining three I think I might be doing Stygian next, the upper left piece.  I think I have a piece of fabric that will look good with him.  But Nocturne will definitely be the next signet I work on.  I just have to wait for it to arrive.

Samurai: First Post - Complete

I finally started working on Samurai!  And as you can probably tell by the post title I finished it too.  I was going to break this up into two posts, but I wasn't near my computer for the past week, so you're getting it all in one post!

When I first saw the picture of this one on Fire Wing Designs' website I just fell in love with it.  I loved the dragon, I loved the colors.  Most of the other Signets I'm probably going to change the fabric or the thread, or both, but not this one.  I love how he looks in the picture so that's what I'm going to use.

I started this last week, after I did a bit the fabric looked a little small, sure enough it was, I'd cut it too small.  I was so mad at myself.  I had the rest of the Valor cloth, and it was big enough.  So I started again.

As of April 14, 2013, 431 stitches

As of April 18, 2013, 1239 stitches

After getting this far I showed it to my mother and sister, both said it looked like a heart, what can I say... I agreed.  However, my nephew took a look at it and said, "Fish."  I don't see it, but I think everything looks like fish to him.

As of April 19, 2013, 1676 stitches

After finishing the tail I showed it to my sister again, now it doesn't look like a heart right?  She said it looked like a heart with a string on it.  Ah family... so supportive.

Then I got a whole bunch done on the 20th.

As of April 20, 2013, 2254 stitches

 He's headless!  But that's all I have left!

As of April 20, 2013, 2588 stitches

 Here's his head!

As of April 20, 2013, 2991 stitches - Complete

He's so gorgeous.  I need to get a good picture that really shows the changing thread.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Samurai
Pattern by: Fire Wing Designs
Started Stitching: April 13, 2013
Finished Stitching: April 20, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. Valor Cashel Linen
Floss: Crescent Colors English Ivy 2 over 2
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,991 out of 2,991 complete

Oh my gosh!  I hadn't been to the Fire Wing Designs site for a while... and she has three new pieces!  I am lusting after Nocturne!  I must get this piece!!  The blue on blue is just gorgeous!  I think I'll use the same colors as the sample like I did on this piece, but I might add some sparklie to the wings.