I'm Still Alive! Updated WIPs and Finishes

This spring has been hectic with boards, patient completion, requirements and graduation. Officially, graduation is in one week and I cannot wait. I have been stitching but not too much.

Finished!!!

Garden Party Cakes - Mirabilia (framed)

Stitched on 32 ct Imagination by Polstitches.

Promessa - Alessandra Adelaide (framed)

Stitched on 22 ct Jade by Picture This Plus
Guests at my wedding will sign the white border as the "guestbook."

Persephone - Mirabilia (unframed)

Stitched on 32 ct Lavendar by Steph's Fabbys
My all-time favorite. I can't wait til I make some money to frame this beauty.

WIP!

Queen's Farmhouse - Chatelaine

 


TTAS (Touching the Autumn Sky) - Mirabilia

Stitched on 32 ct Cotton clouds by Stephs Fabbys (I think)
I have a more updated picture somewhere, I am just not sure where. When I pack up my stuff to move, I will take a better picture.

A Goddess, a Farmhouse and French Treats

My favorite non-stitchy things to acquire are cookbooks. I have quite a few dessert cookbooks, and I enjoy making something from each book every once in a while. Lately, I have been cooking up a storm from the Martha Stewart Cookie Cookbook and rather than sitting on the couch and eating them all, I "taste" a few and give the rest to my classmates.

Ever since I bought a macaron from the local bakery, I have been obsessed with learning how to make them. I bought all the accoutrements (see, French!) like a digital scale, almond meal and a decorating kit, and have been waiting for the perfect time to try out a recipe from my macaron and cake pop cookbook. Fiance's mother is kind, wonderful and generous and has been making us delicious eggplant parmagiana for our lunches, so I think it's time to give back.

This is my attempt at a chocolate macaron with salted caramel.

Delicious!


I don't mean to hijack the stitching blog with baking news. So here is what is up, stitching-related:

1. Put in long hours on Queen's Farmhouse. Looks awesome. Love every stitch.

The center of Versailles, up close

2. Picked up Persephone and struggled through the confetti in her hair, backstitched her face and marveled at her loveliness. Also, I think I misplaced the Caron Waterlilies used for the background. Oops!

  

 What's next, you ask? Probably cake pops. Oh, stitching-related, you mean? I feel itchy for a new start! I think it's time to bust out a wedding project. More news on that, coming soon!

WIP: Queen's Farmhouse

I have spent quite a few hours this weekend working on Chatelaine's Queen's Farmhouse. It looks beautiful, and my tired eyes are a testament to what it's like to work on black fabric.

You can see my attempt at a Jessica stitch to the left of the center. I thought I figured it out but halfway around, I got confused as to how to connect all the points. I am going to watch a video or look at a diagram later.

Chatelaine: Queen's Farmhouse

I started the Farmhouse last week since I had all the materials, and it has been an absolute joy to stitch with silks. I love how smoothly they pass through the fabrics and the very subtle changes in color with largr stretches of the skein. It is looking beautiful, if I do say so myself. 

I think that I will work up from this center piece and work on the palace. I would assume that it is Versailles,  but I am not as well versed in French history as I'd like to be.