Wednesday, December 7, 2011

In the bleak midwinter .....

Perhaps not quite midwinter yet, but tell that to the weatherman - today hit its high temperature at 1 a.m., and it's been dropping since then - now into the well-below-freezing range with snow continuing.  But I'm cozy and warm here in our suburban cottage, sipping green tea with honey (from our Saskatchewan beekeeper friends), using a favorite china cup shown above :) and enjoying some fine Advent music from the first album that I've ever bought through iTunes.   I wish you all could hear the music .........do check out Advent Promise for a selection of fine choral and instrumental music honouring this ancient season.  

I've had time, though, for a fair bit of stitching - want a peek at some? 

Here's an ornament for an exchange, though I'm sure I'll do another one for myself - the background fabric it`s resting on is the silk that I've used for the reverse side, and the pattern is one from a Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue from several years ago. 

A Guild stitching day allowed me to make more progress on a couple of projects - one of them is the ongoing Monasterium Four Seasons Quaker ......



After a Guild presentation about peacocks, I just had to stitch a little one for myself - this handsome fellow will become a Christmas ornament, with the same silk backing as shown with the Quaker Noel - I stitched him with dark teal DMC floss and a green Kreinik blending filament, though I'd not sure I'd include the Kreinik again - I love the final effect, but it was more than a little frustrating to stitch with  - perhaps there's a secret to it that I haven't yet figured out .....

Did you know that peacocks were sometimes included in Renaissance paintings of the Nativity, as symbols of Resurrection?  

I`ll save photos of a few older pieces that I`ve completed for another post, and in the meantime I`ll keep on stitching and sipping tea and watching the snow fall :)  




7 comments:

  1. oooo you sound quite cozy there ... with the kreinik have you tried thread heaven ??? lovely ornaments and that backing fabric is divine :) love mouse xxxx

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  2. I love your cup and saucer almost too good to use.I also really like the 4 season Quaker.

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  3. Thanks, mouse, "cozy" continues with even colder weather outside today. Thread Heaven? - haven't used that, I'll have to check it out. The backing fabric was from a dressmaker - gorgeous pure embossed silk :)

    And yes, Denise, I'm too often tempted to let beautiful china sit on the shelf, but decided recently to use everything, often :) Thanks for your comment about the 4 Season Quaker - it's becoming a favorite of mine too!

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  4. You are the perfect picture of cozy :) Love the stitching! I always think of one of my favorite writers when I see peacocks, Flannery O'Connor. She raised them and her comments about them are always interesting. Flannery

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  5. I am the recipient of the lovely teal ornament that Di made...I am receiving many positive comments from my visitors, regarding this ornament. It's a favorite of mine, for sure. Thank you for the lovely ornament, Di.

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  6. Thanks for the comments about Flannery O'Connor, Kathy - fascinating link that you found.

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  7. Thanks, Chris - glad to hear that my little Quaker ornament found a good home, as has yours :)

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