One Chicken Done

Day 113: By request, and because I am really struggling for both material and inspiration. 

Although I'm using the design elements for a sampler, the pattern for the "Mexican Chickens Tea Cozy" appeared in "Buttermilk Biscuits," published in 1981 by The Vanessa-Ann Collection. It is the only pattern I have ever used from the booklet, but I have made it at least half a dozen times on various fabric counts. For this version, I'm working on 18-count oatmeal Aida using two strands of floss for the cross-stitch and one strand for the backstitch in order to get good coverage of the canvas. The second chicken is roughly one-third complete. A border of golden chicken-wire will surround them and the verse, "The goal of Life is living in agreement with Nature," the dictum which frames my existence as quoted from the Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium. I have not yet decided how the piece will be mounted.

Hoopingcrow

Day 360: Meet Hoopingcrow, my stitchery assistant. Geocaching friends know me as Hoppingcrow, so when this bird-like creature moved into my house and was assigned the task of holding a variety of needlework hoops, "Hoopingcrow" was a logical extension. He has seen many quilts in his day as well as assorted cross-stitch, needlepoint, bargello and crewel projects. His jointed body and neck make it possible to adjust his height to a comfortable level regardless of where I'm sitting, and of course he makes it possible to have one hand on top of my work and the other underneath. I've never had floor space to dedicate to a full-sized quilting frame, and although I have to change "screens" much more frequently, working with a hoop when quilting only requires a little more care than having the fabric fully stretched. Secure pinning and/or basting does the trick. At this point, Hoopingcrow and I have completed seven of the 63 Patience Corner blocks, a ninth of the way done!