"Reproduction" Sampler

I do not do reproduction samplers.  Not my thing, never has been.  But this one tempts me.

 It is from InkCircles and can be ordered here.  The designer, Tracy Horner also has a blog where she explains what she has learned from studying the "original" sampler.  Here are the posts related to the Little Alien Schoolgirl sampler.  I will enjoy following her blog to learn more about the alien script and the end of the world as predicted by sandworms.

Little Alien Schoolgirl Sampler

I realized in reading back over this that I did not really explain what she did.  There is a whole backstory developing on the designer's blog.  About being called in to a secret government facility to see the original sampler.  It is a sci fi reproduction sampler. 

WIP Wednesday 9-26

I am mostly working on Elizabeth.  I have been doing the tent stitch background.  And I did the blackwork on the underskirt.  I have the main blackwork pattern on one sleeve.  Now I have to go back and add the shading - you can see where I have started this process just a bit.  The underskirt is done in the whole filled in pattern.  So the darkest areas of the sleeve will match the bottom pattern.

Elizabeth 9-26-2012

Elizabeth continues

It has been a full month since I posted any progress on Elizabeth.  I have worked on it.  We have also been doing some "renovations" (read fixing water damage) on our house this month.  So for part of the month Elizabeth has been packed safely away.  Her sleeves and underskirt will have blackwork on them.  The light gray you see in the picture is folds and shadows.  In the original, it was done in two different grays, but for the SNS kits the grays were too close, so we only have one shade.

Elizabeth WIP with gray shading

Bead soup from Kalmbach Publishing

And I got this in the mail from Kalmbach Publishing and Beadlush in Charlotte.  As part of the release of the Bead Soup book, they sent out some kits of beads.  Now I need to make a necklace with it and post some pictures.  I usually work with seed beads, so I have no idea what I'm going to do with this soup.

Kumihimo and Beadwork

I decided to play with something for the Operation Tackle That Bead Stash challenge.  Each month they post a color combo and the challenge is to use beads from your stash to make something and post a picture.  They also have a facebook page with lots and lots of eye candy.  The color combo for this month is blue and copper.  I did not have a lot of copper beads to play with and I have been wanting to try Kumihimo, so I decided to play with a paper plate and these 8 strand Kumihimo instructions.

My Kumihimo threads

 I started with one crochet cotton and Omega nylon from stash.  Lesson 1 - do not try to mix two different threads if you have no clue what you are doing.  The nylon wanted to slip and the cotton wanted to grip.  But I persevered.  Because I am stubborn like that.

Kumihimo braid

Wow I put a lot of links in that explanation.  And I am not done yet.  Another thing I wanted to play with is from a new beading book by Kate McKinnon and Jean Power.  The book is not out yet, but if you preorder the book, you can access some of the projects ahead of time.

The power puff ring as a clasp in progress

 I followed the power puff ring instructions but added the magnetic clasp at a corner. 

Finished necklace

My kids say I made myself a bow tie.

TAST update

 I have not done much on my Gingerbread house since I have been working on Elizabeth.  I have however made the base tree for that end of the house.  It is done in 1/4 Algerian eyelet stitches.

Tree super close up to show the eyelets

My husband says it looks like an arrowhead.  Maybe he won't be so critical when it is actually decorated.  And to be fair, I did ask his opinion. 

Tree or arrowhead?

WIP Wednesday

I am working on mostly on Elizabeth.  Not really much to report this week, but I will show you a picture of continuing on the bodice. 

Gay Ann currently has pictures on her home page of two smaller pieces that will be released as companions to Elizabeth:  Bess of Hardwick and Mary, Queen of Scots.  OK, now I will have to save up my pennies.  and $.

Elizabeth

Work in Progress Wednesday

Sharon on Pintangle is hosting WIP Wednesday.  The goal is for all of us to update our blogs and show what we have been doing on a large project as we work on it. 

My big project is Elizabeth from Gay Ann Rogers. To see other finished Elizabeths, click here.  I have been working on Elizabeth's bodice this week.  I have done the left side, and am ready to start the right.  A lot of the bodice will be covered with beads.

Elizabeth in progress