Filed under: Books in My Library, Embellishments for Canvas by Mary Lou Helgesen, Needlepoint Books, New Twists on Needlework Embellishment by Howren and Robertson
Two new books joined my library for Christmas. As you can see, they are focusing on embellishment for painted canvases.
New Twists on Needlework Embellishment by Howren and Robertson is well indexed. Ruching a variety of threads is discussed, although what they call ruched ribbon is more of gathered ribbon like that done in All That Shimmers.
Embellishments for Canvas by Mary Lou Helgesen is primarily for nativity figures but has an interesting use for a wide ribbon. Jacqui talked about ribbons at the New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter meeting this week and supplied us with several ribbons, including the wide ribbon in our kit. There is also a canvas pattern that turns corners, which should be fun to try.
Here’s the photo of the ribbon suggestions in the booklet. I couldn’t figure out how to weave around the French Knots on the wide ribbon or where I would use it, but couching ribbons would be easier to incorporate into a piece. I played a little with the other ribbons supplied by NJNA.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
There’s been lots of participation among the members of the group that makes it more interesting. We see lots of variety without all the stitching.
Day 6. Horizontal Twill Stitch
Playing with an old skein of Watercolours Mediterranean (hand written label and lot number but no item number) for today’s Horizontal Twill Stitch. I see an ocean and my husband sees a sky.
Day 7. Greek Stitch
Good texture to the stitch. I think this would be a tough stitch to compensate.
Day 8. Daisy Stitch
I like how they can nestle up next to each other.
Someone posted a variation that nestles them even more closely. Randomly placed and different sizes would be good too.
Day 9. Eyelet Rows Stitch
You could make a single or double fence around the garden of Daisys.
Day 10. Irish Stitch
Looks like a large brick stitch.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Ellen Johnson of Serendipity is encouraging members to participate in exploring 25 stitches over 25 days. I’ve got plenty of scraps of canvas for this challenge!
Day 1. Parisian Stitch
Here’s a variety of DMC perle threads on 18 count. If it was a colored canvas, #8 would allow some canvas to show which might be desirable, #5 allows very little to show, and #3 covers. Changing colors on rows is an option. Easy to compensate, especially good for backgrounds.
Day 2. Kalem Stitch
For the Kalem stitch, I used 1 strand of The Gentle Art Simply Wool with 2 strands of Soie d’Alger first 2 columns, 2 strands of Simply Wool in the 3rd column, and 3 strands of Soie d’Alger in the last 2 columns. You can clearly see the wool in the center as duller.
Day3. Checkerboard Mosaic Stitch
Here’s what 1 strand of Impressions 181 Ocean Breeze looks like. I worked the Mosaic stitches first and then filled in the tent stitches. It’s more striped than Checkerboard. Two different colors are needed to obtain the checkerboard appearance.
Day 4. Brick Stitch
One stand DMC #5 in 2 different paths. The top sample was stitched every other thread on each row. The bottom sample was stitched every thread on two rows. Coverage looks better on the bottom.
Day 5. Jump Through the Loop Turkey Work Stitch
I used a 12 stranded Soie d’Alger without stranding it in this small sample. It feels more secure than the way I’ve stitched it previously. I only did a small sample. It’s not one of my favorites but useful when you need something fluffy.
With multiple finishes over the past few weeks, it leaves me with a pile of threads to be stored away. I do it by color. What a mess! I wish I were disciplined to put them away after each project.
How do you manage your threads after finishing a project?
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, General comments, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
It’s that time of year to thank you for your interest in my needlepoint journey, review what I accomplished over the year, and reflect on what’s ahead. Only 300 below 10,000 visits to my blog. That’s amazing.
I’ve gotten a lot of stitching done including:
- Tumbling Stripes by Marilyn Owen with the ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) that I finished into an ornament.
- Amanda Crawford’s Christmas Angel (my first commissioned piece – not something that I will seek out again but I was glad I helped the woman).
- Blue Violet Name Tag by Lee designed exclusively for ANG Central Jersey Chapter (CJC). I joined them as they meet on Saturdays 10-3 and are a little over an hour away (I try to attend quarterly). I enjoy the people, seeing how another chapter operates, and being “just a member.” This group only meets in person and combines a meeting and stitch-in. There are a few programs you can sign up for (or not, but of course I did).
- Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed with ANG Main Line Stitchers (MLS). Gifted.
- Sashiko Mini Sampler by Miniature Rhino (a gift from CJC). Undecided about what to do with it.
- Stitches in Sterling by Nancy Cucci from a class in 2011 with the ANG DE Seashore Chapter has been finished and framed.
- All That Shimmers by Sundance with my ANG Main Line Stitchers (needs to be framed).
- Bookmark using one of many patterns from Ruby Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz.
- An overdyed thread experiment that I made into a coaster.
- A pointallism experiment that I made into a coaster.
- Medusa Sea Jelly by Kim of the Shoreline Stitchers that I finished as a stand-up ornament.
- Silken Sonata by Jim Wurth. Goal #1 for 2025; DONE & I did the finishing. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/04/01/silken-sonata-by-jim-wurth-finished/
- Tar River Trail by Gail Stafford from my second Seminar in 2012 has been finished and framed.
- Roman Ruins by Joan Rinehart, an EGA Petite Project and Casalguidid Flower by Becky Quine were both stitched so I could teach Casalguidi to my EGA Brandywine Chapter. I’m undecided about what to do with them.
- Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn with my ANG MLS Chapter. I did 2 colorways. I enjoyed doing them but am undecided about what to do with them.
- Rainbow Butterfly by Danji. Goal #2 for 2025; DONE & I did the finishing too: https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-main-line-stitchers-chapter/laurel-burch-rainbow-butterfly-by-danji/
- Two small metal frames with a Christmas Day Plaid (1 2 2 5) and a Christmas Tree with lights. They were part of the display at the Festival of Trees on the ANG NJNA tree.
- Three Ribbon Candy Ornaments with ANG NJNA.
- My Needlework and Textile Guild of Media continues to meet and we take turns sharing an in depth discussion of our various crafts. I completed a felt purse with beaded edges that now holds another a beading project that was inspired by seeing Jan Huling’s beaded pieces at a museum (google her) and qualifies as Goal #3 for 2025.
Teaching opportunities included:
- A Spring Sampler in fall colors and not as wide as my original design as I led my EGA Brandywine Chapter through the design during several workshops. I finished mine onto the front of a purse.
- A Stash Sampler for the ANG Cyberpointers May meeting program. It was a mini band sampler that gave the stitchers different options each day. I made 5 of them them into bookmarks and/or small framed pieces. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jennie W enlarge hers and make it into a snap tray. Gifted two of the framed ones.
- Crewel Wreath by Lucy Edmison is an EGA Petite Project that I led for my EGA Brandywine Chapter.
- Cardinal Felt Ornament by Liz Kisielewski for my EGA Brandywine Chapter. I had taken Liz’s class at an EGA Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting.
I exhibited my Fireside Sampler at ANG’s Seminar (no ribbon) and at Woodlawn (3rd place ribbon). I am pleased to say it is on display now at Fireside Stitchery.
Besides shopping at my local needlepoint stores (Fireside Stitchery, Nimble Needle in NJ, and Rittenhouse Needlepoint-listed in alphabetical order), I also enjoyed my visits to Ye Olde Cross Stitchery in Bristol, PA, Edwardian Needle in Fairfield, NJ, and the Valley Forge Quilt Show.
Classes were great and always a good learning experience. They included:
- Landscape Features: A Notebook Class with Gail Stafford (online) with ANG Cyberpointers (going through that gave me the added confidence to tackle and finish Tar River Trail).
- Explore and Design with Debbie Rowley (online). I created Diamonds, Triangles, and More to test various stitches from Debbie’s booklet. I have yet to start the garden path, Flowers Along a Rhode, that I designed during class. Goal #4 for 2025. DONE & I won the ANG Creative Inspiration Award! See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/melitas-designs/flowers-along-a-rhode/
- From Summer Stitch Camp with Ellen Johnson of Serendipity, I took the 16 stitches she taught and made 2 coasters and a mini framed piece.
- From the Compensation Class with Ellen Johnson of Serendipity, I took 7 stitches and placed them into a 3.5″ round that I finished into coaster.
- At ANG’s Seminar in Kansas City, I took 3 classes including:
- Byzantium with Lorene Salt; Goal #5 for 2025 is to finish stitching for my cousin, Kathy. DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2024/byzantium-lorene-salt/.
- Treasures of the Great Lakes with Dawn Donnelly; Goal #6 for 2025; DONE & I did the finishing. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2024/treasures-from-the-great-lakes-dawn-donnelly/
- Heart Swirls with Janet Zickler Casey; Goal #7 for 2025; DONE & I did the finishing. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2024/heart-swirls-janet-zickler-casey/
The two new techniques I learned in classes with Katie Kriner from The Bee and The Bear were Punch needle and rug hooking. Goals #8 and #9 for 2025 are to finish them. Goal #8 DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/general-comments/punch-needle/
There are 2 more projects I’ve barely begun:
- Summer Fireworks by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes with CJC; Goal #10 for 2025 is to complete the stitching. DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-central-jersey-chapter/summer-fireworks-by-ann-marie-anderson-mayes/
- Ort Box with a Twist by Marilyn Owen; Goal #11 for 2025 is to lead this for my ANG MLS Chapter. I have the basting done (took me 3 tries to get it correct). DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-main-line-stitchers-chapter/ort-box/
Goal #12 for 2025 is to complete the succulent from Scarlett’s Stitch Gothica’s Skull & Succulent piece. This is considered stumpwork and I need to practice this technique.
Goal #13 for 2025 is to stitch a pair of earrings. My design is ready! DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/03/16/2025-national-academy-of-needlearts-nan-assembly-opening-banquet-the-exemplary-and-the-needleworks/ and https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/jewelry/gemstone-earrings/
Sixteen books were described and added to “Books in My Library”. Goal #14 for 2025 is to continue to go through my library of stitch books and post about them. I got 2 booklets for Christmas. DONE. Search Books in My Library for 23 books added.
I’ve really been enjoying reading the archived issues of the ANG Needle Pointers magazine and writing articles about various topics. Goal #15 for 2025 is to continue the articles and, of course, continue to write up projects provided by various authors and format them for the magazine. I am particularly excited for the Jan/Feb issue to be released since Meghan M from my ANG MLS chapter contributed an excellent stitch guide for Folk Heart, a painted canvas by Mindy. She really did an excellent job. Her notes were great and easy to follow. And, there is an article about Crescent Journey with several more colorways discussed. DONE. See
* https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/02/07/design-by-susan-dawson-contrast-talk-and-folk-heart-by-meghan-in-jan-feb-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/
* https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/03/31/hearts-of-ang-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-mar-apr-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/
* https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/05/10/hearts-from-1980s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-may-june-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/
Goal #16 for 2025 is to stitch Sunflower Heart, a Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design. It is my favorite of the 6 designs that will have stitch guides provided in Needle Pointers this year. This was a Christmas gift as well. If you’re not a member of ANG, it’s a great magazine and guild. DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/14/sunflower-heart-flower/
Goals #17-21 for 2025 will be to finish 2 classes I will take at National Academy of Needlearts in March and 3 classes at ANG’s Seminar in New Orleans in August.
- Flowering Maple with Celeste Chalasani at NAN 2025. Goal #17 is DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/national-academy-of-needlearts-nan/2025/flowering-maple-with-celeste-chalasani/
- Project Runway with Dawn Donnelly at NAN 2025. Goal #18
- Walk in the Woods with Deborah Mitek at ANG 2025 Seminar. Goal #19 DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2025/walk-in-the-woods-with-deborah-mitek/
- Nautilus with Kay Stanis at ANG 2025 Seminar. Goal #20 DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2025/nautilus-by-kay-stanis/
- Nights in White Satin with Jennifer Reifenberg at ANG 2025 Seminar. Goal #21 DONE. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/ang-seminar-2025/nights-in-white-satin-by-jennifer-riefenberg/
Goals #22-29 for 2025 is to kit the eight pieces in The Cabochons series by Susan Portra that I have acquired and at least get started stitching them (to make this a realistic goal). DONE: See
* Love – https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/other-peoples-designs/susan-portra-the-cabochons-love/
* Joy – https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/other-peoples-designs/susan-portra-the-cabochons-joy/
* Charity – https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/other-peoples-designs/susan-portra-the-cabochons-charity/
All the Rhapsody threads have been acquired plus a few extras in case I find #11 and #12 in the series.
Final Goal #30: Don’t get any more goals!! Wasn’t possible. See https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/02/13/the-cabochons-series-by-susan-portra/
Good luck with your goals and Happy New Year!
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.
It took a couple of extra days to finish stitching needlepoint for Bill’s Lee Credit Card Case. Apparently, one square inch per hour isn’t my speed.
At one point, Bill inquired how I was coming along with the pips. That’s when I learned that pips are the small symbols on the front of playing cards that indicate the card’s suit and rank.
If you look carefully at my earlier post, you may notice a difference between that wallet and this one. Apparently, at some point Lee stopped placing their name on the inside flap.
After giving it to him prior to Christmas and before I finished stitching it today, the original wallet disappeared. Unfortunately, Bill wasn’t able to make it reappear! We’ll never know for sure what happened to it, but fortunately, a replacement arrived today. Who knows, the original may magically reappear one day. Love the self finishing aspect. I’m really glad I stitched 3 extra rows on each side. Bill’s thrilled with it!
Filed under: ANG Delaware's Seashore Chapter, ANG Seminar 2012, Stitches in Sterling by Nancy Cucci, Tar River Trail by Gail Stafford
Back in April, I got Stitches in Sterling by Nancy Cucci framed by Jim at Repenning Fine Art. And, Tar River River Trail by Gail Stafford was been framed by Jim too. They were my two oldest unfinished pieces (12+ years ago) that I finished this year. I began Stitches in Sterling in October 2011 and Tar River Trail in August 2012. Neither one was as difficult as I thought they’d be this many years later.
Looking at my new oldest projects list of unfinished counted projects begun in a class setting, I see:
- Rozashi – Patterns in Blue and Green with Margaret Kinsey (Aug 2016)
- Fire and Ice with Toni Gerdes (Feb 2017)
- A Toast to Tiffany with Kay Stanis (Aug 2019)
- Byzantium with Lorene Salt (Sept 2024)
- Treasures of the Great Lakes with Dawn Donnelly (Sept 2024)
Finished two and added two to the list but these are all under 10 years old.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Laurel Burch Rainbow Butterfly by Danji
This post is out of order. I wanted to share how I stitched the lower areas. I started with a 3×3 Jessica and placed a couple of stitches in the center to help raise the center sequin and black bead.
There are black daisy stitches couching a short length of the Waterlilies African Sunset (all 12 strands).
I ignored the dark blue painted area and stitched the light blue Planet Earth Silk 8 ply Azure 1233 (3 strands) in a Hesitation Stitch (Painted Canvas Embellishment An Idea Book by Carole Lake and Michael Boren, pg 65) leaving room for a dark blue bead (Seed Beads, 14/0). The beads are from Beads by Blanche in Bergenfield, NJ, which closed after 27 years in May 2024. A few years ago, several of us from the ANG Keystone Garden chapter benefited from Trish Vine’s downsizing. I have a 30 gm tube of these tiny blue beads. I needed to diagram the Hesitation Stitch before stitching it to see if it would work.
A buttonhole stitch with 2 strands of Silk Lame Braid Petite (SP174) surrounds the center sequin and bead.
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