I got a lovely green trim at Joanne Fabrics to use instead of the green yarn supplied in the kit for the Christmas Lights Garland.
The last 12 bulbs are done.
And, the Garland is hanging. I’m surprised that a 6 foot trim isn’t longer when actually hanging, but that’s because of the droops.
They were fun to make. I almost picked up 7 mesh plastic canvas to make more, but I decided that other projects await me!
Then, at Fireside Stitchery, I found a skein of the DMC dark green yarn. It was being discontinued. So I got that, just in case I decide to make some another time.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Pomegranate Heart by Melissa Sherbring, the EGA Seminar class I took earlier this year, is a 3″ x 3″ heart that surrounds a pomegranate and is worked in three late 16th / early 17th century English embroidery stitches. I do love learning new, or in this case very old, stitches/techniques.
I’ve gone over this piece in detail previously at https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/embroidery-guild-of-america/seminar-2023-boston/pomegranate-heart-by-melissa-sherbring/
I did the finishing myself. There were no issues with turning the fabric back because I didn’t cut my tabs close to the design.
Bill helped with the cording, and I twisted by hand. I got a good suggestion by a professional finisher in my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, Cleo of Busy Lizzy, that I make the loop separate and thinner than the cording that surrounds the ornament.
Filed under: Fabric Cinnamon Stick Ornament, Needlework and Textile Guild of Media
I had to try the Cinnamon Stick Fabric Ornaments that I had seen at The Festive of Trees yesterday.
It took some phone calls to locate long cinnamon sticks and a knowledgeable customer service guy at Wegmans who directed me to Williams and Sonoma.
Eventually, I tied left over right alternating with right over left. And, some of the strips were long enough to tie, wrap around, and tie again.
I think the type of fabric I saw used yesterday was different from what I had in my limited fabric stash. But, I made a few for the friends whom we are meeting for a holiday dinner get together tomorrow night.
One YouTube video shows tieing the strips like I did but cutting them in the shape of a Christmas tree 🎄 and gluing a star on the top.
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. Sue, Rosie, Bill, and I enjoyed all the lovely trees in 2 large rooms on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd). You can see them through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
While we were there, a mother and son stopped to admire the NJNA tree, commenting on the beautiful needlepoint ornaments. There are lots of lovely ones.
I contributed 37 ornaments since they had a 5′ tree this year. A few of the stockings, banner, metal, and one of the Textured Treasures motif ornaments can be seen among others in this close up.
I want to share a couple of other trees that had some cute ornaments too.
A close-up of the Penn Jersey Basketry Guild ornaments shows a mini version of the basket I made for Circles but with a handle.
The kids at The Goddard School of Branchburg made string art ornaments by wrapping thread through slits on a disc. Simple and clever!
The Basking Ridge Garden Club tied fabric scraps around a Cinnamon stick and placed a variety of buttons on a round ornament. This could be a great seller at Linda’s quilt guild sale! No doubt scraps from a project would already be color coordinated. They would have to be only Christmas colors. I have a ton of buttons that I thought I had to have may now find themselves becoming an ornament!
That only scratches the surface of the wonderful displays. There are so many clever ideas.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
Heather, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading the chapter through the stitches used in Ro Pace’s, A Flower From Italy, Stitch of the Month in 2011.
Last month, she discussed the Chilly Hollow stitch. This is the original from ANG’s website:
Once I understood it, I decided to try alternating colors with each stitch rather than in each quadrant. Getting the stitches to lay nicely took 2 attempts.
I used red and white DMC Pearl #8 for the stitch and the cording and got a tighter cord this time. I used the Kreinik cord maker for each color but then twisted them together by hand. Bill was my vice again.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
Linda, from Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading this project presenting a short explanation of the next section. These areas employed a simple thread blending formula that used 3 values to make 5. Many times in shading, you can’t find 5 gradual color differences within a particular color. Fortunately, this is very effective.
Serendipity, the Stitch used, overlaps on one canvas thread, which I think helps make it appear as a gradual color change.
All ready for tomorrow’s meeting and the next section. Three more areas to go!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2008
I forgot to post the stitched final piece for ANG Stitch of the Month 2008, Circles by Lois Kershner. My ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter did this earlier this year, and I decided to finish mine as a lid for the wicker basket I made in a class with several other members of our chapter.
To make sure the lid wouldn’t sink into the basket, I added a ring of tent stitches around the border in the light blue (800) Pearl Cotton #5 used elsewhere in the piece. That is what the cording is made from, too. Bill served as my vice, and I twisted by hand. It’s still not as tight as Kelly Starke’s drill method, but it’s good. Here’s the front. I added a padding of a thick wool felt.
The back has the pretty fabric that I picked up at NJ Needle Fest in October. I picked it up for the back of the jellyfish ornament, but I have plenty for both with more leftover.
Here it sits on the basket.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Elfin Stockings (Ornaments), Festival of Trees, Other People's Designs
Since posting this first in 2012 (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/12/25/set-of-12-stocking-ornaments/), I have found all the information about them. These came from my mother’s ornament collection, and she noted on the instructions “Rita made – 1984”. Thanks for noting that, Mom, and for holding onto the instructions!
The 12 Elfin Stockings were designed by Norden Crafts exclusively for Better Homes and Gardens Custom Design Collection (Product No. 27815). Norden Crafts were in IL but closed permanently, perhaps in 2017; but they have an Etsy store now.
There are 6 designs for these stockings done twice in a different color. The kit came with everything, including the finishing (a simple cotton backing). Mom did a nice job on these!
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Crewel Wreath by Lucy Edmison, Embroidery Guild of America
The Crewel Wreath by Lucy Edmison calls for Appleton wool, which appears to be the preferred wool for crewel. However, I don’t like Appleton wool. So, I went to my stash and found substitutes. I volunteered to stitch the EGA Petite Project for my Brandywine Chapter.
For the brown, I used Weeks Dye Works Crewl Collection, labeled Crewel Wool and Merino Wool (CW-1268 Molasses).
The green overdyed thread was identified by Therea A on Needlepoint Nation to be Needle Necessities Overdyed French wool, a discontinued thread line. But ThreadworX has photos of the threads online for informational purposes only. So, #34 is Utopian Green. The tag helped identify it.
I picked up white linen twill at Nimble Needle in NJ.
The gold trim Kreinik #16 Braid 017HL and unmarked red beads were also in my stash. I used a long enough strand of Kreinik to make the loop from the trim. Hopefully, that works with how I finish it!
There were 2 different pictures of the design on EGA’s website. One had a very round brown ring of chain stitches while the other had more of an intertwined look to it, which I tried to emulate. So, I made the ring of chain stitches as directed and then added the outshoots. I wrapped the chain and added a small French Knot to give some texture to the outshoots. It’s not like the photo but the instructions didn’t say what stitch was used. Oh well! Maybe I’ll try again when we have the program. I’ll have plenty of thread. It’s only a 2″ diameter.
Another finished ornament for 2023 and is ready for my EGA Brandywine Chapter Holiday party today. I have been getting a lot of practice this year. But I still need more. That hot glue is HOT, and I got a 1/2″ long but slender burn from it, which blistered up quickly. Put my left finger index finger right into the glue. Also, cut the gold thread for the hook accidentally. I should have thought that working on linen was like working with fabric, not canvas. I cut a tad too close to the edge (which you do with canvas), and Kelly Starke is correct in that you can’t hide those errors . . . at least not easily. I decided to go around the edge with 2 different cords to cover my issues. But, I also forgot to leave an opening to tuck the cording in. The glue works really well, but I managed. I am so glad I started with this ornament and not the Pomegranate Heart from EGA Seminar (because it’s on linen, not canvas).
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Filed under: General comments
The Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA, has a wood show and juried craft exhibit that was quite interesting. Linda and I enjoyed seeing the creativity of people.
My favorite ones are in the Fiber category, which you can see at https://craftforms.org/craftforms-2023-online-exhibition/craftforms-2023-fiber/
How do people come up with some of the pieces? They are divided by category, and all can be seen at https://craftforms.org/craftforms-2023-online-exhibition/
The Bowl Me Over bag that Linda made for me could have been exhibited – it is flawless! It does remind me of a bowling bag and has got a magnetic snap flap, zippered pockets, a mesh pocket inside, and 3 slip pockets inside. Her fabric choices are fantastic.