I was almost done with the wild flowers when I saw Janet Perry’s Nuts about Needlepoint’s blog about an ‘open water stitch’ that would work for my river. She said it is a slight variation of a stitch David McCaskill used for an ANG Stitch of the Month. So, in addition to the waves, I added some water using Water n’ Ice. It’s WT1, a translucent thread, perfect for a reflective surface. However, I had quite a time with that thread fraying.
The ANG Yahoo Group and private emailers came to the rescue (thanks so much) and suggested various products:
Thread Zap II (to sear the end)
Fray Check
Fray Block
Nail polish (I don’t own any!)
Given some terms to search, I also googled and came across Beeswax and Thread Heaven (their website offered a chart comparing several products). I had picked up some beeswax a few years ago. So, I tried several methods to test the various products. But, it probably will vary depending on what type of thread you are working with to find what works best for the situation. I found beeswax, Fray Check, and Thread Heaven was working ok at the start but not for the length of the thread. I never tried Fray Block. And, I didn’t have Thread Zap so I tried a match and found searing the ends worked best. Also, using a larger eye in the needle seemed to help stop the drag. So, I invested in the safer battery operated gizmo. It helped as did using shorter lengths of thread.
I stitched 3 rows for the framer to cover with the mat leaving the design area 6″ x 6″. And, yeah! I’m done!! I might get Mylar for under the water to increase the reflectiveness of the water. What do you think?
Filed under: A Berlin Work Cardinal with Susan Hoekstra, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
Susan Hoekstra came to Lori’s house yesterday for an intimate class to pilot her 2014 Seminar class. Patrick and I rounded out the class participants – that’s individual attention. And, Lori made a delicious lunch. The day just flew by!
Susan finished her piece as a pillow and it really pops in person! My mom sure would have loved this piece and it would have been great on her couch. The vibrant red cardinal was her favorite bird, and the purple in the flowers was her favorite color! Apparently, cardinals are favorites across the country. It is the state bird of seven states, more than any other species.
Susan gave us a history of Berlin Work as we progressed through the key areas and we talked through each page. I remember seeing on the ANG Yahoo discussion list a conversation about the Irish stitch & we’ll use that for the background. Traditional Berlin stitches will be used with Vineyard Merino and Planet Earth Silk – both new threads for me.
I’m looking forward to working through the rest now! And, I promised to get it done by Susan’s 3rd Annual NJ Needle Festival scheduled for April 26, 2014. Susan reminded me that I began Crescent River at last year’s Needle Festival. So, that will be done by April too. Ample time to be ready!
Thanks for landing on my blog today and drop by later for progress (with permission from Susan to post pictures). FYI: I probably got the bird puns out of my system!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Tootsiebubbles: Pinwheels & Whirligigs
My ANG chapter, Main Line Stitchers, voted to do Brenda Kocher’s Tootsiebubbles: Pinwheels & Whirligigs. Independently, both I and Lori, our chapter President, decided to do this project. And, so we showed it to the rest of the group & everyone liked it.
There are 3 color ways presented. Lori bought the green color way kit but I decided to use my stash (my husband was thrilled). But, I still ended up buying extra Watercolous and Impressions to make sure that I’d have enough. And, I needed Splendor to go with the other threads I selected. I didn’t get my fill of using autumnal colors from the Crescent River (which I am still working on because between the stitch I’m using and the fraying Water n Ice, I needed a break from the water-Thread Zap works best so far).
I selected Petite Very Velvet V609 (dark brown), Watercolours 123 Spice (a minimally over-dyed brown thread) and 223 Rye (has yellow, orange, and brown), DMC Floche 433, 434, 435, 436, and 437 (a range of browns), Impressions 1106 and 1104 (light and medium orange), Accentuate 228 (brassy/brown sparkly filament), and Fyre Werks F9 (brassy/brown sparkly metallic ribbon).
As Projects VP, I wanted to get started to see if there were any tricky areas. And, we’re going to practice the Sprats Heads and Amadeus stitches at a meeting and make them into a small ornament if desired. Since mid-August, I made the 2 ornaments & progressed quite far on this piece. I haven’t done much Bargello before and that is what you start with in this piece. I find you do have to be careful counting. But, I have not had to unstitch much so far.
You’ll see that I am only sharing the start of this piece for now – I want to surprise my chapter members& I know a couple of them read my blog!
Karen described the event more completely (http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/07/apple-needlepointers-comes-to-visit-and.html). But, a few weeks ago, the Apple Needlepointers (ANG Chapter central PA) came to visit. It was a great day & met many new folks.
I suggested for their 2013 Retail Therapy Excursion that I would design a small project as a 45 minute mini work shop allowing the members to try out some new threads. And, Karen chose the threads including shaded Very Velvet, Brown Paper Packages Stardust, Petite and Regular Frosty Rays, River Silk ribbon and Painters Thread Perle 5. The idea was to try out new threads – no two apples had to be alike and it was a great way to learn what threads can and can’t do.
It was a huge hit and the design may become their chapters name badge. Just yesterday, it was presented to the rest of the chapter members not present at the Saturday event. They loved the apple and thought it was great that I designed it especially for them! I am thrilled that they enjoyed the day so much and that they liked the design enough to consider it for their name badge!
We both stitched prototypes and Karen’s is on her blog – here’s my final one (I think I stitched about 4 before I settled on the shape that I liked.)
I finally got around to finishing my Kumihimo bracelet. I needed help with attaching the clasp on each end. Thanks to the ladies at The Bead Garden in Havertown, PA – they have everything! I figured out how to create the pattern all by myself. Generally, I do prefer symmetry over randomness. That does take more time but I like the effect. Of course, sometimes you’ve got to be wild and crazy!
I went in Stitch Haus for a thread for my Crescent River on my way home from work today and walked out with a pair of sandals!
The sandals and 16 mesh canvas (BF413) are designed by Birds of a Feather and were on sale (more than on sale, on deep discount). Initially, I thought they fit me but now I realize they are too small (size 39 European or an 8 in US). I really didn’t think of them for me anyway. I wanted to stitch something for the auction for next year’s seminar.
So, if you are an 8, just you wait – these will aid your gait!
In case you didn’t see my blog Tuesday, my husband, Bill Glavin, is one of the finalists for this week’s The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest!! Please vote for his caption (golfer walking into operating room, contest #388) at: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/caption
The ‘flowers’ are growing wild on the left side of the river. I say wild because there is a slight deviation from the diamond eyelet pattern that I began using from The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen. First, I didn’t use the frame stitch but that’s not what I’m talking about. I was trying to blend the light portion of Watercolours Sierra 222 into the Rye 223 but I got confused on the pattern. Can you find the “wild” flowers? And, I just realized that when I first stitched them, I followed the diagram fine. But, after I put it away and went back to it a few days later, I put all stitches into the center hole. Now I know why it was harder to stitch the second batch of flowers! Oh well.
I thought that I was going to be done with this piece but there will be one more thread added. Those of you in ANG Yahoo Group will have an idea of what thread I will be using. More later.
In case you didn’t see my blog Tuesday, my husband, Bill, is one of the finalists for this week’s The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest!! Please vote for his caption (golfer walking into operating room, contest #388) at: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/caption
Filed under: Uncategorized
My husband, Bill, is one of the finalists for this week’s The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest!!
Please vote for his caption (golfer walking into operating room, contest #388) at: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/caption
You do need to register to vote but you won’t get emails from them – I have been registered and not gotten any. When you do register do not select a password with any symbols and use dashes for your phone number. It won’t take long – promise!
Thanks for your support!!
Melita
P.S. Normally, I do not stray far from needlepoint-related blogs but this is just so exciting!!
I am thrilled that I finally finished the Ort Box! At least 2 others from ANG Main Line Stitchers are mailing ours in for the special exhibit at Seminar.
I must admit I had quite a time with the bottom. I used a suede of some sort but it was fraying & had to turn a small edge. The tough part was connecting it to the sides. The holes seemed to shift out of alignment but I did it! After that, I took a short cut & used felt with adhesive for the triangles. But, the binding stitching has gotten easier with each side edge probably because the lining isn’t sewed in like the bottom. I used 2 threads of Wildflowers, Firecracker (154), an overdyed red,white, and blue thread. And, it took all but 24 inches of the 36 yards! That’s a lot of binding!
I stitched Bill a small change purse that he uses to keep his tees in and he likes that. But, I wanted to stitch something more for him. So, I picked up this Stitch-A-Pen by Kreinik for his birthday. He loves pens and is picky about the ink and how it writes! Parker’s are not his favorite but I think he’ll probably use it.
I just went with the design that came with the pen. It’ll be like Christmas in July! And, snow and trees are universally pleasing to men and women. He should like it. It worked up very quickly and was easy to assemble. With only 3 threads, can you believe I accidentally used the pearl for the trees and by the time I figured out what I’d done, I wasn’t going to switch it. And, I actually like it better. The trees are more noticeable and the snow flakes are more shimmery and delicate! Serendipity.
This makes a great gift (not too expensive and not too much time to stitch)-don’t tell Bill. The pen is refillable and useful. Just a satisfied customer sharing my thoughts.
Now, I just hope Bill likes it!
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 