Another post out of order!
I struggled with what thread to use to fill in the water next to the Finca 3822 Perle #8. I tried a blue Bijoux, which was too dark, the yellow gold Bijoux was too light, and the combination of dark blue Kreinik cord 051C with light blue Kreinik Balger Blending Filament 094 was just right!
That Balger filament shreds easily. So, I had to use shorter lengths. But I liked the little bit of sparkle. I went back to it every few days. It got a little better but not great. Balger is not a favorite thread of mine! Easy enough stitch, but I can’t work with this thread for more than 2 columns without getting frustrated. So, it took me a couple of weeks.
This may be a New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter project in the fall of 2025, but I had already purchased it to help raise funds to sponsor the exhibit, Shoreline Stitchers Showcase.
The beads and sequins (Sundance, White Iris, BDS-SQ-113) were fun to put on, which I did during the NJNA Chapter meeting that I attended in May. I had already placed Kreinik Braid into Flair and got the 7 oral arms placed just before the meeting ended!
The Flair was slipping down the Kreinik.
So, I tacked the oral arms into place with invisible Sulky thread. Then, I added more tentacles (same Kreinik without the Flair) and trimmed them.
The finishing went well, which I already posted. I shared this in person at the New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter luncheon on Saturday. It was a nice get-together as usual with 30 people attending. One member flew in from NC, and one drove from Wisconsin! It was a grand Show & Tell.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, Medusa Sea Jelly by Kim Griffin, Needle Artists by the Sea
My experiment with optical color mixing or pointallism that was discussed previously in a post and in Needle Pointers (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/09/21/timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-covers-optical-color-mixing-and-more-in-september-october-issue-of-ang-needle-pointers-magazine/) has been finished into a coaster.
I wanted to practice before tackling the Medusa Sea Jelly.
I cut a round piece of Craftex, glued the canvas tabs to it, and placed it on the sticky side of a piece of cork. By making the circle smaller, I was able to cover the side and I only needed one length of Watercolours as it comes off the skein to placi in the slight space between the top and cork bottom. I didn’t bother sewing the 3 strand cording into place. It’ll stay taut with the ends tucked in.
The Medusa Sea Jelly was designed by Kim from the Needle Artists by the Sea Chapter to support an exhibit, Shoreline Stitchers Showcase.
I had stitched extra rows around the design because a few of the sequins went up close to the edge. Again, I cut the Craftex small enough to cover the edges. For this one, I tacked the Craftex into place on the back of the stitching so that I could lace the tabs to the Craftex to avoid glue. It really worked out great.
I placed the backing fabric on magazine board and glued it on. I love this fabric.
I placed a piece of felt between the front and back, thinking it would puff it up some, but it didn’t do much. Then, I used invisible Sulky thread to attach the two sides, leaving an opening at the bottom so I could slide an acrylic clear stand inside. The Sea Jelly is at a slight angle to give the impression of it swimming. I didn’t add any cord around the edge because the front and back cinched up close enough. I love it!!
Two finishes in one day! I did take breaks throughout the afternoon and evening. It is definitely easier, quicker, and less stressful than it used to be.
Filed under: 2023, Medusa Sea Jelly by Kim Griffin, Needle Artists by the Sea, New Jersey Needle Festival
Not much got done on the Sea Jelly the weekend of the Kelly Starke finishing class. Sue, Buff, and I stitched some Friday afternoon when we arrived but then chatted with Rosie, and we were too tired after the Saturday class – plus we were watching the Phillies win Game 1 of the playoffs against Atlanta!
This weekend, I was back in NJ and stitched on it during the 2023 NJ Needle Fest. This year, we’re at The Historic Women’s Club of Glen Ridge. Buff, Beth, Patrick, Lori, and Kathy D from ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter and Kathy’s sister, Veronica, shared a table.
We were right next door to 3 tables for the ANG NJ Needle Artists chapter. I enjoyed seeing what they were working on, including Jill’s neutral blue colorway of Crescent Journey. And it’s great to see Brenda from Delaware again. She brought A Spring Sampler and likes her colorway that Linda helped her pick out. It’s looking good.
Walking around the tables, there was more cross stitch pieces than canvaswork, but I did recognize a Laura Perin piece and saw a Toni Minieri piece.
Between chatting and visiting other tables, I did find time to complete the stitching on the exumbrella on Day 1. The beads will be added later.
On Day 2, I got most of the light blue pearl thread in the water stitch done. It wasn’t nearly as crowded on Sunday. Buff, Lori, and I joined Brenda and Dee from NJ Needle Artists for a nice day. It was much easier to talk and we were nearer the windows. The rest of the blue pearl was completed during the Sunday night Eagles football game, but compensation around the jellyfish was tough.
There are a couple of mistakes. One can be covered by a sequin. The other blends in well enough that it won’t bother me. Had I seen it sooner, I could have fixed it. I realize now why it happened. I miscounted from a compensation stitch. Oh well!
However, the larger issue wasn’t evident until I started the fill stitch. That’s when I realized that I hadn’t done the water stitch as diagrammed. Then, I looked closely at the photo I’d taken of the original piece at the EGA Seminar, and I’m sure that I stitched it the way the designer stitched it. So, I am leaving it and would have left it anyway because either way would have looked good.
Kim verified that the stitch diagram differs from how she stitched it (same as me) but agrees that either would work.
The outline of my Medusa Sea Jelly is ready for my October weekends in NJ.
I was all set to use my stash for this 5″ round as Kim (the designer) suggested when I stopped in Nimble Needle in NJ. I liked the orange one Kim had done (see a previous blog showing 2 other lovely colorways). The only orange Watercolours in my stash was 208 Tangerine which has a very slight variation of color and probably would have been fine until I saw Watercolours 280 Calabasa hanging on a peg calling to me! It was perfect. My stash drawer always has room for one more skein! The rest of the threads are from my stash. It doesn’t take much thread.
I’m going up to join NJ Needle Artists for a finishing class with Kelly Starke (we’ll probably stitch one evening sitting around) and later in the month to NJ Needle Fest. Both adventures are with my usual roommate, Buff. Sue is hosting us for the weekend of the class, and the Marriott will be our resting place for NJ Needle Fest. I am not thrilled that the event is not at the hotel. It’s not as convenient, but I digress.
This will be the primary stitching project that I hope to finish. I find it best to prepare a piece for these stitching events so that I don’t miscount on the tough parts while talking.
Doesn’t it and the threads look wonderful in this lovely color coordinated blue Floral Project Bag “by Linda”. Maybe this is why I have multiple projects ongoing – so I can use these beautiful project bags!?!
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