Filed under: Uncategorized
I had several good suggestions from my last post. But, I decided to go with the rust. We considered about a half dozen different rusts. This rust (Splendor S1009) is the winner! It’s difficult to get an accurate representation of the color in a photo. The light reflects on the silk thread differently because of the angle of the stitches. So, it does look lighter in the center than the corners. There will be Kreinik added along the angled edges.
Kathy Rees, designer of Star of Stitches, suggested that 5 or 6 threads might be needed if using a dark thread. Instead, I used a Copic marker that exactly matched the rust and used 4 threads. These areas use straight stitches which are taking a lot of thread. It’ll take two cards of thread.
Filed under: Swirling Leaves
Finally, this is the last post for Swirling Leaves (DH3825) an Elements canvas by Dream House Ventures Inc. Janet Perry (NAPA Needlepoint) wrote up a stitch guide during her online/cyber Stitch Guide class in 2015.
The gold threads for the swirls are Access Commodities Metallic Soft Twist Trim Cord which I first saw at the Edwardian Needle. I picked up a few packages of it to consider for this project. Well, years later, I realized that I didn’t get the correct silver and found they make it in gold too. So, I placed an order with Traditional Stitches, a store in Canada, it was on backorder, after it finally arrived I realized that I didn’t order enough gold and ordered more. Now, I am finally done!
To recap the whole project: Janet suggested stitching the background first so that the focal points are on top of the rest of the stitching. She suggested an open Tent Stitch pattern but I stitched it as Alternating Continental by mistake which took forever to stitch and covered the canvas completely. The blue bubbles were next which are also in the background and she recommended a couple of options that would serve to bump up the glitz from the Elegance used for the white background. I went with Silk Lame Braid Petite and a darker one where the bubbles overlap using basketweave as Janet recommended.
Since the green leaves are behind the red ones and cool colors like green recedes while the warm color, red, advances, Janet recommended related shapes in which a similar but a smaller stitch should be behind a larger stitch which were a smaller offset Mosaic for the green and a larger offset Scotch for the red.
Lastly, she recommended several techniques to permit the swirls to be the top focal point layer. Initially, I was going to couch both the gold and silver swirls with Access Commodities Metallic Soft Twist Trim Cords #20 in silver and #16 in gold. Well, the #20 trim turned out to be too large to insert into a #18 canvas hole. Since of the larger silver swirls lie underneath the leaves, I basketweaved them all in Kreinik #8.
This is the oldest painted canvas project that I’d started and not finished. That leaves Embracing Horses from March 2017. And, the two JP canvases Bird of Paradise & Bamboo and JP Orange Orchid & Bamboo from August 2017. I can’t believe that was 4 years ago! There are two other older projects including Stitches in Sterling by Nancy Cucci from October 2011 which is a counted project and Tar River Trail by Gail Stafford from August 2012 which is a landscape with a partially painted and line drawn canvas. What project will be next?
The opening of “Celebrate the Art of Stitching” went well yesterday! I’d like to thank Lisa and Linda for presenting 2 of the portions. Jared is the Media Arts Council technical expert who also presents the “gallery” in the video. He was a pleasure to work with. And, thanks to Stephanie for inviting our group to exhibit. And, to the members of Main Line Stitchers chapter who contributed to the show.
The complete video (with Q& A portion) is available as well as a static view of the “gallery” pieces. The video shares the gallery pieces, a talk on the various ways needlepoint can be finished, a discussion of stitch selection, and on how color and value impacts stitching. Each gallery piece can be viewed individually as well. A list of the canvases, size, and designer are provided.
Here’s the link to the photos and video: https://mediaartscouncil.org/mac-gallery-guest-artist-mainline-stitchers/
The ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter’s “Celebrate the Art of Stitching” exhibit being hosted by the Media Arts Council is entirely online with a live Zoom opening on June 12 at 4 pm. There will be 3 discussions (finishing options, stitch choices, and influence of color) and a viewing of the “exhibit”. We are excited to have this opportunity to share our passion through about 100 pieces of needlepoint. Save the date & join us!
Exhibit dates: June 12 – July 10, 2021
Reception: Saturday, June 12, 4:00 – 5:15 pm.
Here’s the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81165003366?pwd=clRjYmRnaUZXK01IaFVsY3E2ak92dz09
Meeting ID: 811 6500 3366
Passcode: 432364
A few times a year, they invite “outside” groups to exhibit. Unfortunately, none of the pieces will actually be on display in our host’s gallery in Media, PA due to the shutdown. But, they are slowly beginning to reopen (https://mediaartscouncil.org/).
“Celebrate the Art of Stitching” showcases numerous, diverse pieces of extraordinary needlework that allow you to explore the variety of techniques and threads stitchers can produce. The exhibit includes original designs, adaptations of art and photographs, and commercial designs from nationally known designers.
The Main Line Stitchers chapter meets on the second Monday of each month from 7 to 9 pm. The group also holds a Stitch-in on the fourth Saturday of each month, from 11 am to 3 pm. Contact us at ang.mls.needlepoint.org for more information.
“Celebrate the Art of Stitching” is an exhibition featuring the needlework from members of the Main Line Stitchers, a local chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild, Inc.™.
I stopped into the Starbucks today and was again thrilled to see it hanging in it’s new home.
Filed under: Uncategorized
When NJ Needle Artists chapter had their last Stitch-in, they reviewed their background choices for the couple of us working on that project.
A light color to match your canvas worked well on some but dark worked on other colorways. So, I tried a dark thread (Soie Cristale 1141 Golden Brown) because I thought that would recede. But, it blended in with the green area. So, then I tried a light brown (Splendor S840 Camel). It’s better but it doesn’t look great next to the yellow areas.
Then, my husband Bill suggested a light green. And, I found DMC Linen Embroidery Floss (L3013). Not better.
Then, I decided to try white. The designer, Kathy Rees, said besides Splendor, Kreinik 1/16th Ribbon would work. So, I tried both.
I thought I would have preferred the Splendor but it was stark white. You can’t see it in the photo but there is sparkle throughout the star. So, I stitched with all Kreinik. Then, I shared my progress at our Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting and Cleo, a visiting guest from my EGA Brandywine chapter, suggested rust. So, rather than ripping out, I moved on to the next area and tried rust Splendor S1009.
What color do you prefer and why?
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