Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
For the flower and stem in Sunflower Heart by Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design, I had Treenway Silks 7 mm Yellow 201, River Silks 7 mm yellow variegated 260, and River Silks 7 mm green variegated 265 in my stash (different but similar from what Ginny Stapleton used in her stitch guide from the July/August 2025 issue).
I found Splendor Lite Golden Brown S902 and used 6 strands for the French Knots and beads of 2 sizes of the same color (unmarked) but only used the large ones for the loft.
I couldn’t be happier! Goal #16 is done (finishing it was not stated in the original goal).
So, “finishing” this may actually be a reward for stitching the next 6 pairs of strands onto Nautilus. I wouldn’t have said that a year ago!
Here’s an update on Nautilus by Kay Stanis.
Thanks to Mary Corbet’s post on handling silk threads, I can say using a larger eye needle to open the holes is helping alot. Also, even though my hands didn’t feel rough, Gloves in a Bottle helps too. I’ve had this bottle almost 10 years. I haven’t used it much because my hands aren’t a problem, generally! Just like my spool of invisible thread, this bottle will last my lifetime. I got it at Stitch by Stitch in Cape May, NJ in April 2016.
The other strategies that I am employing are starting in the smallest areas to see visible progress, using 2 strands to cover more, and staying with Trebizond (not using Silk Serica). After cutting 2 lengths of white and 2 lengths of light Turquoise Trebizond, I separate and iron them. That gives me 6 strands of each color. Once I finish stitching them using 2 strands, I have to take a break. It helps. Some.
It’s time for a break!
The ironweed flowers were fun to put in. And, as I was adding the green leaves, I noticed that I had missed 2 pods and one whole ironweed flower. I wasn’t and am still not sure if I have enough leaves but I ran out of the 7 mm green fill in ribbon. So, I am done!
Deborah Mitek really explored the Japanese Ribbon Stitch in this piece.
I’ll have to make a trip to the framer soon. Since I’ve been doing my own finishing lately including 4 framed pieces, he might not remember me!
I pulled out my Beeswax following a suggestion to possibly use it to prevent the silk thread from snagging while working on Nautilus.
The first thing I noticed is how much red thread got left in the wax from a previous project. So, I cleaned it up by scraping off the top layer. I also see in the photo that this only cost $4.40. So, getting a new one wouldn’t break the bank but I like the heart shape! This looks better.
Before I did use it though, I decided to research the issue on Mary Corbett’s website (On Thread Conditioning & Beeswax for Embroidery – NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/oEKTD6N6ppVkR75pm).
She says in part: If you coat your threads with beeswax (or anything, really) it changes the look (darkens) and performance of the thread (won’t spread or reflect light as well).
So, I searched her website again and found her post with lots of great suggestions in Working with Soie de Paris (& Other Filament Silk) at NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/8Z1Z6onu77qKHBRZ1 .
Thanks to Mary, I’m less afraid of starting back on Nautilus now! Mary is on vacation and taking a well-deserved break from posting. Her website is such a great resource. If you haven’t checked it out you’re missing out!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
Sunflower Heart by Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design was one of six painted canvases featured by Needle Pointers, ANG’s magazine. The stitch guides were created by Ginny Stapleton.
Since I knew which six were being featured, I ordered my favorite one early (in time for Christmas last year) but hadn’t gotten to it.
Needing a break from Nautilus, I decided to work on this heart from the July/August 2025 issue of NeedlePointers.
My stash had different threads that worked out well including Watercolours Golden Grains 176, Silk Lame Braid Petite Dark Avocado SP37, and Wildflowers Elderberry Wine 192 (just enough left in the skein without using the purple parts except on the top edges that will not be seen anyway). Here’s Ginny’s stitches with my threads.
Adding the flower will be a reward for working on Nautilus for awhile!
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 