What's Next? The Doctor, Of Course

I should go back to Tony Minieri's Stars for the New Millennium and work another quilt block but I have a quick ornament I want to do next.  My niece has become enamored of the Dr. Who series on BBC America, so I am going to stitch an ornament for her that will remind her of all the fun we've had talking about what has been a favorite series of mine since the mid-1970s which she has just discovered.  The actors above are Tom Baker (left) who is my favorite Doctor, the 4th in the series and the just retired 10th Doctor (right), David Tennant, who is my niece's favorite actor in the part.

For those who aren't familiar with this vaguely sci-fi series, Dr. Who is a Time Lord who travels around the universe, having adventures. There are a lot of possibilities to choose between when it comes to picking something to stitch from a British tv show that has been on for decades.  I know I'll need something that is easy to translate into NP, which means something with fairly straight edges (circles are hard to do in NP) that is instantly recognizable despite my lack of drawing skills.

I could use the new logo but although I think it is clever, it doesn't really do much for me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/features/bulletins/bulletin_091005_01

I could use something iconic like K-9, the 4th Doctor's pet.  However, my niece hasn't seen him on any of the shows since she is just familiar with the 10th Doctor.  (By the way, ten actors have played the Doctor and the eleventh Doctor is due to premiere on BBC American in mid-April.)  So this shape would mean more to me than to her.
http://www.mistershape.com/blog/2006/04/dr-who-k-9.html

But one thing has remained virtually unchanged throughout the series, and that is the vehicle the Doctor travels in--his TARDIS.  It's in the shape of an old fashioned English police call box.  Inside, it is huge (larger on the inside than on the outside) and the interior design has changed with the Doctors.  But outside, well, it has remained virtually the same.  So this is what I will create for my niece--the TARDIS.
http://condemnedtorocknroll.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/doctor-who-tardis.jpg

Tomorrow I'll talk about how I transferred the design to NP canvas.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Woodlawn 2010 in Photos

As promised the Woodlawn Plantation exhibit is viewable in photographs this year.  Here is the link to the photo album.  I think what we see are all the first, second and third place winners.  Note the stickers on the id labels.  Blue is for first place, red for second and orange for third place winners. The name, age (junior or adult), state and technique are also on the labels.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/preservationnation/sets/72157623455198693/

This is a really great idea and I commend Nelly's Needlers for doing this.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Candy Cane Dog Stocking

Elmer the Candy Cane Dog stocking is finished!

Now he will be put away with the Joan Thomasson Surfin' Santa to wait for Christmas present time. Have you realized by now I'm devoting the bulk of this year to making small Christmas ornaments for my family and friends?

Elmer's trim around the edges is Facets from Kreinik.  This is a trim that looks rather like metallic square beads.  You can see the various colors available here.
http://www.fun2stitch.com/facet-metallic-kreinik-thread.htm

I looked at the gold, silver, red and both shades of blue before deciding that I would couch the lightest shade of blue all around the stocking. I did put two rows at the top of the tiny stocking, just because one row looked skimpy.  I used the regular Facets, not the Petite Facets.

The back side is blue velvet and the inside is blue chintz fabric.  I also added a few dangles made from the crystal cubes and the Sundance #11 and #14 hex crystal beads to make the stocking a little more fancy.  I think that if the stocking turns on the tree, the rear view will be pretty, even if it isn't as charming as Elmer himself is.

I think the stocking is really cute and was amazed that it took me only a little over a week to stitch.  Of course I worked each night on this but it still worked up fast.  Elmer is not very big.  The "ankle" is only around 3 inches wide and the stocking almost 6 inches tall.  That makes for a difficult finish.  Next time I won't make something this small a real stocking.

He's a cutie, though. I am so glad he caught my eye and came home with me!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow