My sister gave me this darning Loom for me to have fun with. It’s similar to the one that I have, but the long metal piece with the hook on the end is quite a mystery. It is called a loom pick tool. But that’s as far as I got on YouTube and the internet. Why is the metal sticking out near the middle? The needle is nice and long. It’s very handy as I don’t have one anywhere near as long as that one. Between readers of my blog and folks at the Needlework and Textile Guild of Media, I am sure I’ll get some help. I think the loom brand is Quirzx Darning Loom Speedweve Type Weave Tool.
The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter decided to do a birthday plaid as a name tag, but I made a reversible bookmark for Bill and I. Not only did I finish stitching Bill’s Birthday Plaid, but I was able to finish them while Bill was out golfing – all before Christmas!
I carefully cut windows out of 2 pieces of ultrasuede for each bookmark. Then, I glued them together. It’s not easy to cut even with a sharp blade on my x-acto knife.
Mine has one white side and one black side.
Bill’s is beige on both sides.
These were done and wrapped under the tree Christmas morning. It was a good year to get bookmarks because there were several books under the tree for both of us for the long winter hibernation! One book of mine is already done. I highly recommend A Thursday Murder Club Mystery series by Richard Osman.
Filed under: Needlework and Textile Guild of Media, Quilt Magic Poinsettia
Santa brought me Mary Maxim Quilt Magic Kit of a Poinsettia.
My sister got a more traditional pattern, a Christmas Star Quilt. Since too many miles separate us, Santa got each one our own. She couldn’t have all the fun!!
While Bill enjoyed another 9 holes of golf, I opened my no-sew, no glue wall hanging. That’s when I discovered that I have to cut 52 pieces of fabric!! I was hoping to be done before Bill got home. It seems unlikely since Step 1 took me quite some time. The mitered corners were tricky. You tuck the fabric into the foam cuts.
The gold sides went easier except they didn’t say how to cut the pieces. Pinning the pattern seemed like puckering might be a problem. So, I cut the paper and traced it with my purple pen. I’ll need a new purple pen to trace all these shapes!
With that, Bill came home. More another day.
Merry Christmas!
Buff got this kit for me from Needle Workers Delight at the 2023 NJ Needle Fest (because I drove). Such a cute wooden base made it irresistible! There were a couple of different ugly sweaters and a couple of different shapes, but this was the one I liked best. Buff got a different design with hearts and also cute. Online, Canadian Stitchery does sell the wooden base, backing, and cord, which you could use to make your own design. The red felt gets pressed against the back when done. Self finished!
Most of it was done during the Monday night’s disappointing Eagles loss, but I waited to post it today.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
Our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter’s Stitch-in was Saturday. Several of us were all ready for Christmas and enjoyed an afternoon of stitching.
I never like to count much at a Stitch-in. So, I stitched the corners boxes in the evenings prior to the meeting.
I also stitched the large crosses and couched according to the instructions for the zigzag appearance. The zigzag is evident because Linda guided us through the thread selection. The contrast between the crosses and the top stitches was essential for the pattern to be seen.
That left the thread blending gobelin rows to fill in, which was easy to do and talk. I got 2 corners done during the Stitch-in and the other 2 last evening while watching TV.
Filed under: General comments
The Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA, has a wood show and juried craft exhibit that was quite interesting. Linda and I enjoyed seeing the creativity of people.
My favorite ones are in the Fiber category, which you can see at https://craftforms.org/craftforms-2023-online-exhibition/craftforms-2023-fiber/
How do people come up with some of the pieces? They are divided by category, and all can be seen at https://craftforms.org/craftforms-2023-online-exhibition/
The Bowl Me Over bag that Linda made for me could have been exhibited – it is flawless! It does remind me of a bowling bag and has got a magnetic snap flap, zippered pockets, a mesh pocket inside, and 3 slip pockets inside. Her fabric choices are fantastic.
I got a lovely green trim at Joanne Fabrics to use instead of the green yarn supplied in the kit for the Christmas Lights Garland.
The last 12 bulbs are done.
And, the Garland is hanging. I’m surprised that a 6 foot trim isn’t longer when actually hanging, but that’s because of the droops.
They were fun to make. I almost picked up 7 mesh plastic canvas to make more, but I decided that other projects await me!
Then, at Fireside Stitchery, I found a skein of the DMC dark green yarn. It was being discontinued. So I got that, just in case I decide to make some another time.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Pomegranate Heart by Melissa Sherbring, the EGA Seminar class I took earlier this year, is a 3″ x 3″ heart that surrounds a pomegranate and is worked in three late 16th / early 17th century English embroidery stitches. I do love learning new, or in this case very old, stitches/techniques.
I’ve gone over this piece in detail previously at https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/embroidery-guild-of-america/seminar-2023-boston/pomegranate-heart-by-melissa-sherbring/
I did the finishing myself. There were no issues with turning the fabric back because I didn’t cut my tabs close to the design.
Bill helped with the cording, and I twisted by hand. I got a good suggestion by a professional finisher in my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, Cleo of Busy Lizzy, that I make the loop separate and thinner than the cording that surrounds the ornament.
Filed under: Fabric Cinnamon Stick Ornament, Needlework and Textile Guild of Media
I had to try the Cinnamon Stick Fabric Ornaments that I had seen at The Festive of Trees yesterday.
It took some phone calls to locate long cinnamon sticks and a knowledgeable customer service guy at Wegmans who directed me to Williams and Sonoma.
Eventually, I tied left over right alternating with right over left. And, some of the strips were long enough to tie, wrap around, and tie again.
I think the type of fabric I saw used yesterday was different from what I had in my limited fabric stash. But, I made a few for the friends whom we are meeting for a holiday dinner get together tomorrow night.
One YouTube video shows tieing the strips like I did but cutting them in the shape of a Christmas tree 🎄 and gluing a star on the top.
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. Sue, Rosie, Bill, and I enjoyed all the lovely trees in 2 large rooms on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd). You can see them through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
While we were there, a mother and son stopped to admire the NJNA tree, commenting on the beautiful needlepoint ornaments. There are lots of lovely ones.
I contributed 37 ornaments since they had a 5′ tree this year. A few of the stockings, banner, metal, and one of the Textured Treasures motif ornaments can be seen among others in this close up.
I want to share a couple of other trees that had some cute ornaments too.
A close-up of the Penn Jersey Basketry Guild ornaments shows a mini version of the basket I made for Circles but with a handle.
The kids at The Goddard School of Branchburg made string art ornaments by wrapping thread through slits on a disc. Simple and clever!
The Basking Ridge Garden Club tied fabric scraps around a Cinnamon stick and placed a variety of buttons on a round ornament. This could be a great seller at Linda’s quilt guild sale! No doubt scraps from a project would already be color coordinated. They would have to be only Christmas colors. I have a ton of buttons that I thought I had to have may now find themselves becoming an ornament!
That only scratches the surface of the wonderful displays. There are so many clever ideas.
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