Filed under: 2024 Summer Stitch Camp, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Here’s a second coaster that is square to eliminate compensation using 6 stitches from Ellen Johnson’s Summer Stitch Camp. With this, I have completed 4 of the 6 badges!
I used Rainbow Gallery’s Persian, Silk & Cream (2 colors), and Vineyard Silk Shimmer.
Filed under: 2024 Summer Stitch Camp, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
It was a fantastic day to join Ellen Johnson from Serendipity for a day-long stitch camp (in AC) because it was too hot to do anything else yesterday!
The kit arrived on Tuesday and was filled with lots of goodies. That Zee Zees was tasty.
We dove into 6 stitch families, and I earned my first badge as I used the day to stitch 3 rows of the first 3 stitches Ellen discussed.
Today, I earned 2/3 of a badge by finishing off both sides.
Besides teaching stitches, Ellen discussed which stitches combine well together. Very enjoyable day.
It’s 13 count canvas and I used DMC Perle #3 and Silk Lame Braid for 18 ct (about 3 and 1/2″ round).
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Laurel Burch Rainbow Butterfly by Danji, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
I fell in love with this canvas at NJ Needle Fest a couple of years ago, and Linda had it in her stash and gave hers to me for my birthday! Thanks again, Linda. I’m finally getting to it. Kristen has the canvas, too, and we are going to stitch it for discussion at our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meetings. I introduced the canvas at our Monday night meeting earlier this month.
There is so much going on this 6.5″ wide x 4.5″ tall canvas that it is kind of tough to decide where to start. I joined Ellen Johnson’s Stitching Club where she has amassed a series of videos on “Evaluating Your Canvas”. I went through them and immediately knew that I was learning to read my canvas better.
I want this to be a flat ornament hanging at an angle like it is flying.
I decided the focal is the red and orange portions on the wings – not the whole butterfly as I thought initially. Those areas contrast in temperature (warmest) and are completely outlined in black compared to the transition area where red changes to purple (warmer to cooler) and which is partially outlined in black. The opening along the bottom takes you into the cooler portions of the lower part of the wings.
I also read up on butterflies. Butterflies have 4 wings – not 2 wings as I thought initially! The 2 top wings are the forewings and the 2 lower are the hindwings.
The body may be the entry point that takes you to the antennae, which leads you to the wings. It may be a focal point, too.
There is balance within the design. The right and left sides are symmetrical (alike on left and right sides) but there is also some asymmetrical balance between the larger forewings on the top and the smaller hindwings below because of the large flower motifs.
My research also found that there is texture to the butterfly’s wings – not smooth and flat as I initially thought. The wings are covered in tiny scales that possess a microscopic texture that can produce iridescent colors by reflective interference. That sounds like what we see when stitching alternating scotch or cashmere with silks.
Possible textured stitches include Rhodes, French Knots, couching, surface embroidery, beading, and sequins. Possible thread suggestions from members of my chapter included memory wire, Petite Facets, and fuzzy threads. Kristen expects hers will be so embellished it will be too heavy to fly!
For the body, possible ideas include stuffing beads inside Flair, chipping with goldwork (would look good but would tarnish), and padding with kid leather.
I’ll be selecting threads tomorrow at our chapter’s monthly Saturday Stitch-in and the first time at Fireside Stitchery!
Filed under: Compensation Coaster, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
A few months ago, I joined Ellen Johnson’s Stitching Club in order to learn to “read” my Rainbow Butterfly canvas better (more on that another time).
A month ago, Ellen held a 3+ hour Compensation Class online that I joined and stitched along. I had to make this a tad more complicated because it was for all skill levels and I prefer a challenge. So, I divided a circle into 7 areas, knowing that I would make it into a coaster.
Note to self: My template coaster is a retired coaster in a drawer in the living room. It’s 3.5″ in diameter. They do sell 4″ rounds online. There are quite a few round 4″ painted canvases, but I knew I wanted to cut the cork to my size.
I used stitches Ellen suggested, including the Cashmere and Pavillion Diamond stitches (each are in 2 areas), Alternating Scotch stitches. I added the Interlocking Gobelin and Horizontal Kennan stitches.
I placed Craf-tex inside (it is machine washable, and so I figure it will be OK for absorbing moisture from glasses).
I tacked the tabs taut and into place through the Craf-tex with my trusty Sulky Invisible thread. Two stands with 2 tacks per tab.
I found a roll of 1/8″ thick Cork Liner with adhesive backing (where else but Amazon). I used Ultrasuede for the first 2 coasters, and they are doing well, but I think cork is going to be better. Now, I have 2 rolls of cork. That’s got to be a lifetime supply!
You can just see the dark blue thread that I glued in place (Aleene’s glue) along the very small space between both halves.
I love it! And, I finished it yesterday before today’s class, which was all about backgrounds.
It got a workout for our Friday night pizza and beer.
In case you are wondering, no, we are not bikers! How we came to be at a bikers 10th annual festive, we can’t remember. But, we had to get the mugs from wildbill’s soda! We do remember they were filled with root beer, which was delicious, and the mugs were great, keeping liquid cold longer because of the metal.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 