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.
The Irish have a wonderful saying that my mother (whose birthday is today – yes, on Halloween) stitched for my husband for his birthday one year. Both his mother & father are Irish. It is a stamped cross stitch piece. Oddly enough, his mother picked that to be on the back her memorial card when she died. So, now, it make us think about both our mom’s! Happy Birthday Mom!!
This must another “vintage” piece although I don’t have any of the information. It was a kit my mother bought & asked me to finish for her a few years ago. All in tent/continental. The black & white coded chart was tough to follow. There a some lines on the piece to follow but then you had to look at the chart too. I was glad when that was done. But, she loves it. Big bird lover.
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
I got Sept SOTM done! Coming along nicely. I like that turning the corner technique. Just hope I’ll find the instructions when next I need them. Actually, I’ll note that here!
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2010/feb.php
“Points of Tranquility” in 3 color families were entered in the 2010 ANG Seminar in the original design category. My artist’s statement follows:
When I was given a lovely blue and gold square frame, I decided to design a piece of needlepoint for it. I like to be challenged and felt I had learned enough from recent geometric designs we had done as part of ANG Main Line Chapter projects to make the attempt.
Because the square frame has an inner portion of thin royal blue and gold strips, then a wider blue strip, and lastly a gold strip, I wanted to create that same ‘frame within a frame’ effect in the design area and keep the piece symmetrical. I found enough triangular-shaped stitch patterns that squared up nicely and didn’t require much compensation. Although I had to stitch no larger than the opening for the frame, I didn’t plan everything out in advance. For example, the Triangular Ray band, had a diagonal gap that filled in nicely by the Pearl stitch, with its small triangle portions, and really added to the effect of depth. The Raised Lattice Band for the outermost band could be as wide as needed. It all seemed to fit into place as I progressed.
I couldn’t think of anything other than, ‘Trianguality’, for a name but I knew it wasn’t good. So, I solicited input from the wonderful women who help take care of my mother. And, I just fell in love with Kathy’s suggestion, “Points of Tranquility”. Thanks again Kathy!
When I showed off my finished piece at our end-of-year dinner and my fellow Chapter members asked “Who’s design is that!?!”, I was thrilled. Then, I was flattered when they actually wanted to stitch it as a project. From my scribbled notes, I wrote my first stitch guide using just Adobe Acrobat. And, to make sure I was writing everything down, I stitched a second one in another color family. Then, when we stitched it in the fall, I did another in a third color. So, I distinguish each “Points of Tranquility” by adding “in the Sky” for the blue piece, “on the Earth” for the brown piece, and “in the Sea” for the aqua green piece.
Thanks for the frame Dottie & for many tranquil visits to your Pocono home!
“Points of Tranquility” scored the lowest (73% of total and 19% lower than the top score in the category). But, this was my first attempt at a geometric design and not surprised that they had issues. The comments get quite technical but key issues were around values chosen and confusion about the focal point. I’m still struggling with seeing different focal points in each piece. Apparently, in the blue, there are 2 focal points – one within the navy/metallic area and the other the true center; in the brown, it is the area enclosed with the brown metallic; in the green, it is the true center. I’ll keep studying them! One of the elements I liked the best was the outer border. I just love how it was described, “Your wrapped stitches for the outer borders are an effective and inspired selection. It is effective, provides a variation in texture and loft to the pieces and lends itself to the utilization of subtlety while still providing weight for balance of the piece.” I said it before and I’ll say it again, I really appreciate the thoughtful and thoroughness of each critique.
Filed under: Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Sun Flower with David McCaskill at Fireside Stitchery
“Sun Flower” was entered in the 2010 ANG Seminar in the Painted Design with Stitch Guide category. For this piece, the judges noted that the twist of the thread was lost in some sections, a comment I got for certain areas on several pieces & something I’ll have to work on. And, the French knots were too big in one of the lower petals, making it a focal point. Looking at the overall % of total points allowed in this category, it scored only slightly lower than “Madam Carina” and got nice comments such as “fun to look at” and “an outstanding piece of needlepoint”. My artist’s statement follows:
I selected this painted canvas at Fireside Stitchery in Frazer, PA for a David McCaskill workshop. The piece is actually called ‘Daisy’ and is designed by Paula Manning for Dream House Ventures, Inc. But, I thought it was a sun until David said it was a flower! Thus, it is named “Sun Flower”. David picked the threads and created mostly free-style stitch patterns for the piece.
The dark green area used Wild Hairs couched with Anchor floss. The light green area used DMC #5 Cotton Perle and Kreinik Very Fine #4 braid for the sparkle.
The petals in the forefront are a brighter combination of Neon Rays + and Trebizond while the receding petals are muted by using Grandeur Silk Pearl and a subtly overdyed Watercolours.
Once I got into a rhythm of the skip tent stitch, the green area surrounding the petals filled in quickly. David recommended using that stitch to cover the holes from the back.
The abstract area used 3 Wildflowers with DMC Cotton Perle #5 couched on with matching DMC floss. The Wildflowers, rather than the Watercolours, is thin enough to allow the canvas to show through. Because I matched portions of the overdyed thread to the canvas as much as possible, I found this area of the piece particularly challenging.
And, I want to thank Dan at Framer’s Workshop in Philadelphia for always steering me to just the right frame! However, the judges thought the luster of the gold frame was a little bright for the mostly matte needlework. I’m going to have to politely disagree – I love the frame! And, I totally agree with the parting comment in the critique, “I know that you will enjoy this piece for many years.” I certainly will.
Madam Carina was entered in the 2010 ANG Seminar. I was really pleased that she scored just 1 point lower than “Beautiful Ohio” in each area: design, color, workmanship/technique, suitability, and finishing. They were both adaptations but Madam Carina used a variety of stitches. My artist’s statement follows:
This mysterious woman appeared at my hair salon as a stained glass piece (original designer unknown). As I continued to be intrigued by her at my appointments, I decided she’d look striking in needlepoint. So, I took a photo and looked through my collection of pins for one to adorn her hat. But, as soon as I saw the pearl and gold pin, I knew it was ideal for her earring. I’d been designing needlepoint to showcase jewelry, mainly pins (which I call “Pinsations” and is designed so that the pin can be removed and worn).
I enlarged the photo using a xerox/printer until I determined a size appropriate for the pin to work as an earring. Then, I drew the design on the canvas and selected stitches as I progressed. I started with the jacket and chose stitches based on the angle of the particular piece of her jacket. For the collar of the jacket I decided to use the darkest portions of the overdyed thread to help bring that area out and I did some free-style weaving with threads that added some sparkle. Once I decided to couch the outline of the jacket and face, she came to life. If the pin were removed and worn, there is an Octagonal Rhodes stitched underneath the pin which serves to attach the pin and look like an earring.
Naming “MadamCarina” became the hardest part. I finally chose Madam because she is mysterious and Carina, a Danish short form of Catherine which is my sister-in-law’s name and the original owner of the pin!
The parts of the coat include: interlocking gobelin (5×1 and 2×2) & diagonal cashmere. The collar is padded alternating continental & free-style weaving with Accentuate (275) to match Watercolours (090 Ruby). The outline of the coat is couched Petite Very Velvet. The face & lips are tent stitch. The hat is Alicia’s Lace Variation with the outline using threaded back. The earring (under the pin) is octagonal rhodes & the hair is turkey. The background is the palace pattern.
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Filed under: General comments, Ohio Star
The Peace Rose is beautiful! Thanks again to friends of Myrl Good, the Princess Grace Boehm Rose Award sponsors.