My third class, also 2 days, is Blue Hills with Dawn Donnelly. It is another type of applique of a different sort – applying paper to a canvas. This is also referred to as Mixed Media. Dawn makes her own paper. We didn’t have to do that but she explained the process and has a Zoom lecture on that topic which I was fortunate enough to be an invited guest earlier this year. She gave an abbreviated talk about the process today.
Her advertised description of class is: The hills in Michigan may not be big or blue, but they are beautiful. We are surrounded by water and a wide range of terrain. Blue Hills is my attempt at bringing that beauty to life. After a short lecture on handmade paper, the student will spend time exploring the paper by painting, wetting, tearing and cutting it into shapes. It will be attached to the canvas and surrounded with stitches including Corset, French Knots, Branscombe Edge, Criss Cross Hungarian, Butterfly Chain, Oriental, Rhodes and a fake Bullion.
We cut and ripped paper in the am and then painted some of the pieces.
In the afternoon, we started attaching one of the pieces. We also did 2 of the toughest stitches, Corset (top stitch) and Branscombe Edge 2nd from the top stitch). Corset comes up under stitches and Branscombe Edge builds 3 buttonhole stitches next to each other. Dawn said that we could make the backstitches over 2 or 3 canvas threads. I did over 2 and they got crunched together.
This is over 3 canvas threads so you can see the difference. I kind of like mine better because it is not as uniform.
Day 1 progress. I will be finishing the 4th band tonight so that the paper is completely attached.
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2022, Photographing Needlepoint - Jennifer Riefenberg
We got some great tips on photographing needlepoint from Jennifer Reifenberg. I have been getting photos on cloudy but bright days but need to get a white board to help get rid of shadows. Also, I need to get a white and black matte background fabric depending on what I’m photographing.
Photo taken a few years ago.
Today’s photo during class.
So, I can already see an improvement in my photos.
Terri Bay was selling Cottage Garden Threads (.com.au) at Expo! The Grasshopper colorway popped right into my bag and wanted to come home with me. CGT is a mother-daughter duo from Victoria, Australia. Lovely hand-dyed threads. Not sure what to do with them yet!
Filed under: General comments
While wandering around today on 4th Street in Tucson, AZ, I discovered a local fibert artist who repurposes materials. Jenn posts on Instagram/Facebook under “Trasherella” but only sells through her sister’s store, Pop Cycle. The whole store has “upcycled handmade goods”. Very cool store. I got permission to blog about Jenn’s fiber art.
All went well again today! We stitched more in the morning.
In the afternoon, we got our fabric.
I selected a darker triangular piece because the background is going to be light. We learned how we would attach the batik fabric applique (it is being “previewed” in the photo – it is not attached yet). The applique looks big but is the same size as hers. I didn’t get much stitching done in the afternoon but that’s OK.
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2023, Crescent Journey, Melita's Designs
I’ve been busting to share that Crescent Journey is going to be the 2023 Stitch of the Month! The five colorways were revealed today at the exhibit for the ANG 50th Anniversary Seminar.
Starting in January 2023, instructions will be released monthly. I also explain how selecting colors needs to consider value. You can see that influence in the various colorways because different features appear more evident than in others.
Filed under: A Spring Sampler, ANG Cyberworshop, ANG Seminar 2022, Making Stitches Work For You with Carolyn Mitchell, Melita's Designs, President's Award
What a wonderful surprise it was to hear A Spring Sampler got the final award of the night – The President’s Award from Janice G!
It didn’t get any ribbon from the judges but it was my first year in the professional category for original designs. Janice said that not only was it a pretty design but my Artist Statement explained how this is a result of my dedication to learning from 10 different ANG teachers who have offered design classes over the years including Making Stitches Work For You, taught by Carolyn Mitchell who challenged us to make our own band sampler.
A Spring Sampler is a symmetrical band sampler (9″ x 12″) that uses different stitches in each of the 21 bands (all my stitch choices and thread choices). To create additional symmetry, the stitches for bands on either side of the center band are related and use the same threads. This pattern of related bands continues as the bands progress outwards.
My first class at the 50th Anniversary of ANG is Mesa Triangle with Kathy Rees. I decided to make 2022 the year of the applique (my EGA Step 5 post will be coming soon).
Her advertised description: “An abstract geometric, Mesa Triangle features a triangle of batik fabric appliqued to the canvas. A variety of stitches, including couching over laid cording, are used to produce movement within the design. Compensation and placement of stitched areas will be discussed and the student will be encouraged to adapt the piece to reflect their personal interpretation.” The piece is 3.5″ x 12″ design size.
Day 1 went well despite me forgetting my lap stand. I am managing by resting it between my lap and the table.
I stayed pace with the class. Some are ahead of me, some behind, and at least one person decided to place things where they fall upon her first count (not following the diagrams accuratly at least twice from what i heard). Kathy reminded her that consistency will be important. At least 3 of the 6 people on my side of the room had to rip out something once or twice – ok – 3 times! Only one mistake irrated me because of how far I had gotten. But, it was rectified quickly enough.
Progress from the morning and afternoon 3-hour sessions. The overdyed floss is Mesa Sunset. Beautiful! No stitching in the evening. Giving my eyes a break!
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2022
We should have been here in Tucson, AZ for the ANG 2020 Seminar (cancelled due to coronavirus) and so I brought my bag along to carry stuff for my third class.
We missed 2021 in person but did online classes. This year we are back in person and got a goody bag that included the smaller 50th Anniversary Seminar bag which matches the larger zipper project bag. I’m using the for my first class tomorrow. I’ve got to take a closer look at those little gadgets. I also have to find another 50th Anniversary pin for my husband!
Our first stop after landing was to visit The West, a non-profit, volunteer based needlepoint store in Tucson. Half of a large store has needlepoint books, tools, threads, painted canvases, really everything. I had previously ordered the stitch guide written by Sundance Beads for Embracing Horses, a Danji canvas. And, I got a 50th Anniversary ornament to commemorate the occasion. This is one Seminar that I will never forget – for a couple of reasons. I also picked up a thread for a project that I didn’t bring along.
Well, nightmare is too strong. However, pulling out beads you stitch through twice is not easy.
I was trying to get full coverage with the beads. But the 8/0 seed beads were too big for clusters of 5 even on 14 count. And, it looked messy.
So, in the May/June 2021 issue of Needle Pointers, Marilyn Owen had written an excellent article on various beading techniques in needlepoint. I thought I would try beaded basketweave with the same 8/0 beads (still on 14 count). But, as Marilyn said, that stitch is only good in small areas because it gets quite cramped. So, once that happened, out they came – again and I switched to 11/0 seed beads. Finally, it wasn’t too cramped. For a self-proclaimed non-expert, Marilyn was spot on.
I wanted full coverage and it is covered! I estimate that there is about 800 beads on that one flower. I used the beaded basketweave method which employs a cross-stitch to attach the beads following the grain of the canvas to turn beads causing the vertical canvas thread to raise the beads above the adjacent horizontally placed beads. It did take some time too but I got through it ok.
Once the beads were done, the center diamond waffle got lost. So, I had stitch over it a second time. Much better.
Considering that the first flower required that many beads, I knew that I would not have enough to cover the entire second pink flower. So, I had to go in another direction. The Partial Eyelet with Crosses is from Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches by Susan Sturgeon Roberts. I used 3 shades of pink Sparkle Rays (SR26, SR58, and SR57) to create shading. I filled in with a Raibow Gallery thread from a 6-thread card, maybe 24 Karats, possibly a discontinued color. I wanted to tie in the pink beads so I put one in each eyelet center.
As I had hoped, one project is done before I leave for Seminar where I will be starting two new ones. It’s a small one at 4″ square. Probably going to frame it. We’ll see.
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