What's on My Q-Snaps

I am in Vonna's stitching corner when it comes to using Q-snaps. All of my Q-snaps are the same size: 8 inches. I do have one smaller set for small cuts of fabric. I have a larger set that I don't use because it makes my right hand tired. I never had any luck with scroll frames--just didn't work for me. Unlike Vonna, I don't use a piece of felt or fabric between the plastic and my fabric--I don't like the fabric too taut, because I am a sew-er and not a stabber. I haven't found that I've got excessive wear on my threads, although when I'm showing my projects to the owner of my LNS, she goes "eeek!" and tucks the ends of my fabric under the plastic clip (then I take it out when I get home). Anyway, here are a couple of things in my Q-snaps this weekend. I'm calling this project "South Beach": the architecture is not art deco, but the colors are. I'm also on the SB diet--which means I could eat that bird, but not eat the pears hanging on that tree or the black-seeded, mostly unripe strawberries. Because I cannot eat them, I want them, although they're decidedly funky. If the bird is gone next week, it's because I have skewered him for our rotisserie.

Also on my Q-snaps is this little design, LHN's "Winter Welcome." I have a little easel in my foyer that displays SB's Tiny Flag (is that what it's called?), and I've decided it might be nice to have a season-appropriate welcome sampler instead. Then I thought in the obsessive way I do, about finding lots of welcome samplers and stitching them all for my foyer. Welcome, welcome, welcome from all the samplers in my foyer--like stitchy echoes.

And here's my progress. My fabric isn't quite that dark, but I'm taking pictures under a lamp today because of the cruddy weather. I'm using 40 ct Lakeside in Sand Dune, and using some of the called-for GAST threads. Instead of the silver DMC called for, I'm substituting Kreinik blending filament and braid. Instead of DMC colors I've substituted more GAST threads.

Speaking of fabrics, here's a new color I have sampled (in the smallest size--a stitcher's eighth) in Lakeside 40 ct called "Misty Rain." This is a fairly true photo--I'm comparing it to last week's "Wild Rose" Lakeside. It's the perfect light silvery color if you're looking for a light fabric with a slight blue-ish/gray cast but not too much. I can foresee using it for lots of projects, so I'll buy larger cuts later.

The cats are complaining that they're rarely pictured on my blog. This is Shy Tabby, Scratchy and Buckaroo, sleeping on ratty towels on the only one of the three sofas in our house where they are not supposed to sleep. Normally there are four cats here. How do they know? It's a mystery.

And speaking of ratty towels, here's Peaches, busily rearranging her towel. Why? Also a mystery. Rabbits very fussily arrange things and then re-arrange things.

Happy week ahead!