I finished my Hardanger piece and have the book!

Hi!  It's been so very long!  I have so much to share but have been so busy and also just uninterested!  I seem to get the 'instant' gratification through my IG account!  If you would like to follow me, check me out at @alia666.

For the 11 ladies that commented on this, I hope you see this!  

I finally finished my Hardanger Bargello table topper!! 

I've bought a table for it.

 I'm about to move into my new home and 

my college bound daughter claimed it as hers.

 That's ok!  I'll just borrow it until she settles into her own home!!

Now for the pictures!

Can you see the piece in the top center?  I followed the instructions exactly.  I used the same color threads and fabric and I stitched the same size.  No one in our Hardanger group made it smaller; but many of the ladies made theirs larger.  They are still stunning!

Thanks for stopping by.  Off to cook dinner…Shrimp Scampi

Hardanger Books

Wow.  Has life been busy!  This is a good thing.  I hope you all are well.  My readers.  I was asked about my Advanced Sampler and the stitches in that post and I am still trying to find the sources that we used.  I will have to contact my teacher in India and see if she remembers and I will also ask tomorrow at the Hardanger meeting.

However, these following books, available at Nordic Needle and Amazon, have been instrumental in helping us over here in Oman to make beautiful pieces.

Yeah, I'm not all that good at photography!  I try though!  You get the idea of the books.  They are really good basic books.  I also have a few (5) Japanese books that are gorgeous!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hardanger Bargello Table Runner Progress...92711

I have been working on my Hardanger Bargello a bit this past week.  Here is the progress...

They might be a lot of the same pics... ;-)

I'm excited to understand this pattern and how to read it.  It is coming along very well and I am getting bored of the flowers and might jump to the cutwork next week.  I shouldn't though!  I should finish the flowers, so let's see what behooves me!  I also had said that I was going to put it down last week didn't I!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I had a GREAT day today! How about your day?

What a great day I had!  I went to Hardanger (every Sunday) and sadly we said goodbye to Sylvie, our French wonderwoman!  She is incredibly kind and amazing and giving and one of those people that everyone loves!  I had tried to organize a group Hardanger/Quilting project with the group but it did not work out.  Hardanger takes A LONG time to complete.  In the end, everyone basically just did what they wanted.  Four of us got an eyeglass chain made for Sylvie.  It was made with garnets and Omani silver beads.  I wanted her to remember us on a daily basis and she L.O.V.E.D it!  She is wearing it around her neck.

From the left to the right and front row:

Rajashree, Anisa, Shirin (hostess) Sandra, Megumi

Back row:

Supriya, Sylvie (leaving ={), Moi (adjusting the scarf!)

Another shot.

Shirin surprised me to bits!  We had done a very 'Omani' themed wall hanging quilt with the Muscat Quilt Guild.  It has been a project we have been doing for a few years.  I haven't made it as I am married to it, ya know?  Not interested but for the expats, they will take it away as a nice reminder of their time here in Muscat.  I really liked the bed sized quilt and I think Shirin did a great job.  She still has some work left on it and it is very detail oriented and she has done a lovely job!

After I finished at Shirin's, I ran home (the kids were home sick) to check on the kids.  Hubby was home and never questioned where I was.  Heehee... I was home for about 15 minutes and then ran out the door and he asked where I was going and I told him I was going to a friend's house.

I ran out the door and did not come home for 4.5 more hours!  Ali decided to cook dinner but I had to go to the store to get the ingredients.  He made a lovely spaghetti with meatballs!  Wow, and, and, AND he cleaned up the kitchen!  Wow!  Whatever I did, said, threatened WORKED!!

He set the table too but a picture would have had to include both kids and neither wanted their pics taken!

So, now it is 9:25pm and I was entertaining a cup of coffee with a piece of cake (that Ali made!) but I weighed in 15 pounds less today so I don't want to gain just because I want a piece, ya know? Plus, I wanna sleeeeeeep!  I think I have mentioned before that I have insomnia!

Thanks for stopping by.  Really...

Last Hardanger update on Bargello Metallic until it's done!

I am going to show you a series of photos in their most natural light that I took this afternoon of the Hardanger Bargello project with the Metallic thread.  After this, I will not keep posting pics until it is done.  I don't want to frighten off my other readers!

So, comments are lovely and welcome as always! 

 It is really shaping up and I am very eager and pleased to see this project done.  However, my wrist is starting to hurt and that spells trouble for me so I need to put it down for about a week.  I need to let my arms and hands rest but I'll be back posting updates on other projects!

Thanks for stopping by...

On the left above, is the other flower.  So, you can probably determine the pattern.  There are two more three leafed flowers (or whatever they are called) on the opposite sides and then four of the larger flowers.  Around the center there will be open cutwork with Picots and Woven Bars.  Then on the outside double layer of Kloster blocks will be more cutwork.  Stay tuned, you will see!

This is the whole piece.  I will do all the above and then sew around the very outer edge to secure those stitches (all by hand too!) and then I will cut out the shape and there you have the completed project!

I couldn't resist this one with Ali zonked on the couch.  Both kids are fast asleep.  Amal feels worse and has a lot of homework and will be missing her Oud lesson with a new teacher tonight!  Oooh, stay tuned on that subject!  Lots of R.E.A.L.L.Y cool things happening for this kid in this department but I am not allowed to say anything until it comes to fruition.  Darn it!  Anyway, I feel like jumping into bed myself but will hold out and eat my chicken that just came out of the oven and finish the laundry and at least re-affix the crystals on the banner!  Oooh, so much to do!

Hope you all are lovin' life in your neck of the woods!

One flower almost done!

Ok!  How is everyone today?  I hope well!  I got the kids to school late ;-) (not my doing!) and am back home now.  My new part time maid is here and cleaning my house!  I am having my breakfast and posting two new pictures of my progress with my Hardanger.  Then, I need to get working on last minute changes/touches to my winner's banner and get that off in the mail and then I need to work on my Mystery Quilt!

So, busy days for us all no doubt; here goes...

The center bits need a really pretty pink metallic thread still.  I have a better idea of how this will look and thank you to all that commented on how this will be elegant and um, .... subtle?  Another word was used but I don't remember it right now...

A larger view of the piece and you can see my progress on my second flower.  I have two more like this and then bigger flowers!  I am really enjoying this!

Off to accomplish these things and What's On The Menu today?...

Baked Chicken with vegetables and a Green salad.  I think I will make it in my slow cooker or crock pot.  Hmmm....

Both babies are sick.  Amu is C.R.A.B.B.Y!  Bless her.  Ali is the one I have to worry about in the sense that he will end up in the hospital if it gets worse.  Here's hoping that won't happen and that I don't get sick!!

Hardanger Bargello Table Runner Progress...1011

After Sunday's Hardanger meeting; the ladies helped me understand how to read the pattern and I took pictures of Sandra's blue piece to follow along.

I'm really disappointed.  My colors do not have a huge contrast.  However, I am the only one following the pattern exactly.  I am using the same colors and size that the pattern dictated.  The other ladies chose fabric that has larger holes, bless them.  In fairness, I have to mention that one other lady followed the pattern as I am.  She was the first one and the rest of the ladies eventually made one.  Unfortunately, she passed away this year.  I remember hers was very pretty so maybe I should stick with this.  It is not like I can run to the store and get a different color.  I would have to order it online and wait, wait, wait.  I am not prepared to do that!  So, enjoy the shots.  My area of question would be the medium shade of purple.  It is too close to the lightest shade.

You be the judge!

You can easily see the darker shade in the middle.  You can clearly see the lighter shades.  Can you see the medium shade?  

I think it will all work out as I mentioned above.  You can vaguely see the three shades here.  Maybe my lighting is not good...

Still, I am pleased with my progress and have enjoyed working on this!  There is still so much more to do!

Thanks for stopping by.  Off to start a productive day!  Hope yours is too!

More Hardanger projects from my buds today...

I went to my Hardanger Sunday group and really had a great time with these ladies.  As I had hoped; they helped me out on my next step on my project.  I snapped some pics of their work to share with Wendy and all my readers!

This is Sandra's Bargello in blue Lugana fabric with three shades of blue and a silver for the center of the flowers.

This is another flower in this round project that most of us ladies have done or are doing.  I am always 'late' on the bandwagon so finally I started working on it.

This peach and coral project is Naina's.  It really is pretty and I think it will be a table cloth?   Gee, I don't remember!

A close up of her work.  Thanks to Naina and Sandra in particular for explaining to me my next step!

This lovely table runner is Shirin's.  Isn't is GORGEOUS!?  She is almost done.  Do you KNOW how EXCITING this is for us??????

This is Supriya's piece.  I really like the white on the dark tan.  She is doing a really great job.  I think this is her first project.

Thanks for a lovely morning ladies.  Sandra, as always, you are a wonderful hostess and thanks for all the treats from Goa or Bombay?  Gee, I forgot!?

Hardanger Photos for Wendy!

This post is for Wendy.  I am so sorry it took me a long while to get this up on my blog.  I hope that this is what you wanted and if you need anything else, let me know...

This is a pillow cover I made for my daughter.  It has a white background with pink and white stitching. I got this gorgeous pattern out of a Spanish magazine.

This is an Advanced Sampler I made a few years ago.

The stitch below is called Edelweiss and is my very favorite stitch.

I know that this one has Wrapped Bars but don't remember the name of the whole stitch!

This one is called Bullion.  Love it.

These are Picots.  My teacher said I was really good at this stitch!

Those are most of the stitches on the Advanced Sampler.

This is my Bargello that I am working on now.  It has a lavendar fabric with 3 shades of purple.  I have done all the base work and am now ready to move on to the flowers but don't know how to do it as it is Bargello and the stitches are completely different.  I need help and hopefully someone can help me tomorrow at our weekly Hardanger meeting.

I hope this is the eye candy you wanted Wendy.  I can try to get the names of all these stitches if you would like.

Also, there is a You Tube group from the UK called Hardanger.  This might be good for you as you are in the UK!?  You can google Nordic Needle to buy supplies.  This is based in the US and is extremely expensive but this hobby is expensive.  They ship overseas and are very well stocked.  You can just get a catalog and enjoy browsing it.  They are also online.

All the best and let me know if I can help more!