Quite by several accidents, I find myself really liking this variation on the SOTM. I used a different color family for this portion of the outer border by accident than I think the directions called for. And, instead of stitching both inner & outer portions, I completed the outer portion first. The outer portion used even less couching than called for by alternating every other row – worked out perfectly: 4 in the longest thread, 3 in the next smaller, then 2, leaving 1 small cross stitch in the corners. I like how it looks in the darker thread with white showing through.
Filed under: Melita's Pinsation's Designs
I placed a photo of this piece on the front of my Christmas cards for 2007. I drew out the design with the pin in mind so that the figures would look like part of the scene. It is another Pinsations original design & stitch selection. The pin can be removed, worn, & replaced. It is a pin that I’ve had since I was a kid.
I used the Jacquard stitch for the night sky using a black Snow thread & a Kreinik. The ground snow was Nobuko using a white Snow thread. The trees are just random straight stitches using boucle thread. The 2 trees on the right have been decorated with Bullions. And, trees are topped with a simple star in a thin Kreinik. Stitches are from Stitches for Effect by Suzanne Howren & Beth Robertson. It’s not large (5&1/2″ x 4″).
Filed under: Christmas Card, Melita's Adaptations, Melita's Pinsation's Designs
This is a Pinsations adaptation of a design from a piece of bronze wall art with stitches I selected. The pin can be removed, worn, & replaced. I placed a photo of this on the front of my Christmas cards for 2006. I had to tell people it was stitched by me – they didn’t realize that! Then, I framed it & gave the piece to my sister, Anita, as a Christmas gift in 2007.
This was my inspiration – a piece of bronze wall art clipped from a catalogue.
My sketch:
I used gold Kreinik & mostly straight stitches but also Lazy Daisy stitch for flowers & a Vandyke stitch for the vase (both stitches are from Stitch Sampler by Lucinda Ganderton).
Wow, I’m late for posting this one – didn’t realize Dec arrived so soon after Thanksgiving! Except for stitching stars for the buttons, I stuck to the pattern for this one. Happy Holidays to one & all.
Filed under: Melita's Other Completed Pieces
I picked this kit up in the Poconos from Selma’s Art Needlework. I love the simplicity of the design. It used just satin & stem stitches. There are only 4 colors of DMC floss. Some part of the design was stamped or drawn on a piece of linen. Simple but stunning. And, didn’t Dan at Framers Workshop pick a great frame?
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
October had a lot of couching which I found quite time-consuming. And, I think I got my Family A, B, & C out of order for this month but it looks fine. I see November has more couching as well. But, we are coming to the end soon!
The Peace Rose is beautiful! Thanks again to friends of Myrl Good, the Princess Grace Boehm Rose Award sponsors.
As I’ve mentioned, for our ANG Chapter Project this year, we are doing samplers. Last night we had a sampler “Show & Tell” at our monthly meeting. Folks brought in a wide variety of samplers such as miniature, wedding, couching, stamped cross stitch, & historical ones. We didn’t stitch at all but had fun looking & talking about the individual histories of the dozen or so samplers people brought to share. Good time!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Bookmark, Melita's Adaptations, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
For our ANG Chapter Project, we are doing samplers. I found 2 speakers from the Delaware Valley Historical Sampler Guild who gave excellent presentations & “Stitches for All Seasons”, a booklet with 7 different samplers on the Stoney Creek website.
It was a discontinued item & I didn’t find out until after the newsletter was sent. And, because Stoney Creek is not the designer, they could not make more copies. However, they were gracious enough to provide 6 of them at no charge & said, “Hope you enjoy them.” And, I went on eBay & found 7-8 more copies of the book.
I did not realize that the samplers in the book would be based on 28 or 32 ct (our group prefers 18 ct). So, I calculated the sizes if done on 18 ct (Summer Butterflies: 7&3/4 x 10&1/2, Spring Flowers: 7&3/4 x 10&2/3, Winter Wonderland: 7&2/3 x 11, Autumn Leaves: 7&3/4 x 11&1/8, Christmas Love: 7&3/4 x 11, Friendship: 6&2/3 x 13&1/8, Hearts & Waterlilies: 7&1/8 x 12&2/3). I reminded folks that the threads suggested would be thinner than what you’d need for 18 ct. Except for the Butterfly sampler, they should up nicely on 18 ct canvas. I have learned a lot! And, the threads recommended are also not longer available. They are mostly a DMC flower thread – never heard of it!! But, everyone seems willing & able to handle the adjustments. Phew!
I really liked the Hearts & Waterlilies Sampler but didn’t want to stitch the full sampler with so many other open projects. So, I selected the bands I liked best & placed them on 18 count Aida bookmark. I love it!
FYI: Stoney Creek is mainly a cross stitch store but not entirely. For example, there are 3 lovely pieces called Faith, Hope, & Love. And, Love (http://store.stoneycreek.com/love-p8646c20.aspx?Thread=True) was taught at the Stitching Jubilee seminar last year in Lancaster, PA and features several stitch techniques including Queen Stitch, Lazy Daisy, Twisted Straight Stitch, Rhodes Heart, Long Armed Cross Stitch Variation, Smyrna and Four-Way Tied. Faith features Long-Armed Cross Stitch, Smyrna, Rococo Variation, Four-Way Tied, Rhodes Butterfly, Long Tail Daisy Stitch and Star Stitch Variation. And, Hope features Leaf Stitch, Vaulting Fan Stitch, Large Angel Stitch and Star Stitch.” Thanks again Stoney Creek!
Nothing says Thanksgiving like a turkey. So, I kept the design but used some large Gobelin stitches at different angles to create depth. And, to work up quicker than all cross stitches! For the main body, I went browner on the threads.
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