January 07, 2011

8. Whale Hunting

Afternoon, all! Obviously, this is a WIP--even though I stayed up late stitching last night (I was uneasy because I kept hearing gunfire in the woods somewhere not too far away; I hope my deer friends are all accounted for today. Really--who fires a gun in the woods at 1 a.m. in the suburbs?) I have been working on this gem for several years, and I've determined that this is going to be the year for a finish and framing. This is "Whale Hunting" by Elizabeth Talledo of Finger Work. I'm stitching it on some sort of gray linen that seems to be about 36 count--or maybe 34. [Edited to add that I looked back through the blog, and I've been working on it since the late summer of 2006, and the linen is 34 count Legacy in Puritan Gray.] If I had it to do over, I'd choose a nice Picture This linen in 40 count in a mottled gray. I'm using the recommended fibers: GAST and WDW. This was stitched back before I realized that you should really cross one stitch at a time with overdyed threads, but I think it's turning out ok, and I won't change my approach on the final sections or I think it would look weird. The colors in the photo of my stitched work are right on target.


All in all, I'm happy with it--the design is great and charted really well. My only slight complaint is that when I bought it, I had expected colors that were a bit brighter, but I'm not unhapy with the result. I put it aside only because I was a little tired of it and because something else called to me. I purchased some new threads and it feels new again to me.


Pink, getting a little exercise. Like a lot of bunny owners, I'd love to catch him on "film" doing a binky, but it hasn't happened yet. Of course, as he tore by me, he binkied 360 degrees and I missed capturing it. (For those who are not bunny owners, binkies are when a rabbit expresses joy? playfulness? pent-up energy? by jumping and twisting in the air for no particular reason. There are some cute examples on Youtube.)



I'm paying a little visit to my friends at In Stitches tomorrow; who knows what trouble I may get into. Stay tuned!

26 comments:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

How pretty, Glenna! You're so close to being done - this will be a stunner, for sure.

Pink looks happy zipping around - would love to see her twirling/twisting in the air

Laurie in Iowa said...

LOL...bunnies 'bink' anf corgis 'frap'= frequent random acts of play. It's chaos here at Corgi Cottage after their evening meal.
Another design I've never seen before... I think I need to pay a visit to In Stitches someday... Is that where you find all these treasures?

Deb said...

Another great design Glenna! You know that I'm making notes of all these beauties that you're showing.

And would love to see a 'bink'. I think all animals have their bink moments, but they're so hard to capture on film.

Kristen said...

I love seeing this one, since it's been on my 'to do' list for a couple of years now. You're so close to a finish - keep going!

Michelle said...

Love this one! It's another one I'm glad to see come out to play. You can easily have a finish on this one. Love it!

Chris said...

Another beautiful one!

Alice said...

I would love to see a bink! What a nice 'new' project, I like the fabric.

Catherine said...

Wow! That's a stunning piece!

I learn something new everyday - now I know what a bunny bink is!!

Giovanna said...

And another lovely project - wow! Can't wait to see this one done!

Nancy said...

Another beautiful sampler in the works!

I hope you can catch Pink doing a bink some time. I'd love to see that!

Have fun at In Stitches!

Nicole said...

Oh wow Glenna!! This is beautiful!!

P.S. I never cross my over-dyed threads one at a time. ;)

Margaret said...

Argh! Another beauty!! Another beauty I want to stitch too! lol! You have so much done on it! You have to finish it! Love it!! Binkies sound interesting. I wonder if cats doing binkies counts. lol! I've seen Mia do such leaping and twirling a few times -- usually it involves one of her balls though.

Deborah said...

Love this WIP! I have never seen this design before but I will be looking for it. Pink is so cute.

Anna van Schurman said...

I'd check the paper for dead neighbors rather than deer. Your start on this pattern is what made me run out and purchase it. Someday maybe I'll even stitch it!

Sue said...

This piece is gorgeous and I like your colors better.

Ellen said...

Hey, can't wait to see you tomorrow Glenna!! Patricia and I are both here so we will tempt you into SOMETHING I am sure.................

Katherine said...

Hope the "girls" are all OK. We get poachers in the middle of the night out here all the time. My golden is afraid of the gunshots. It's not so bad now, but in the summer when we're sleeping with windows open, it makes for sleepless nights. Unfortunately, it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. The colors in the Talledo piece are pretty, but again, I'm not a big fan of the "hunting" part. So funny what you said about PS - Ark!

Cari said...

Oh Glenna this one is beautiful too. Sometimes with the over dyed threads I do not cross each stitch as I go because my work looks like it's in stripes. So...do whatever you want too I say...I do !! And I'm right there with you on the fondling of fabric and fibers. I'm having so much fun. My cats do that bink thing around 10:30 at night. I call it the 'rips' as they tear across the floor!! Hugs and have fun at the stitch store!!

RG said...

Great whale spouts! people travel far and pay big bucks to stand on the Oregon Coast to watch them - now heading South. Binky Pinky!

Kim said...

You always open my eyes to new samplers and designs! Thank you for that! This is wonderful!

Brigitte said...

Ahhh, Glenna, this is a beauty! And there's so much already stitched on it that a finish isn't too far in the future.
It often happens to me that the colours that I pull according to the called for thread numbers don't seem close to the picture of the design. They rae ofte darker on the picture. But usually I love the result when the project is stitched.

The Fab Furs said...

Go whales!

Melissa said...

Love this! Whale Hunting is in my stack to stitch one day.

barbara said...

I just love this, and have ever since I saw it on your blog for the very first time!

the striped rose said...

I have never seen that chart before! It will have to go on my list.

Kate said...

Always and forever a wonderful project to share. I have the same material like the woven basket in my rabbit hutch only it is a burrow... My rabbits just love hanging in the woven burrow. It is definitely warm in there.