The ironweed flowers were fun to put in. And, as I was adding the green leaves, I noticed that I had missed 2 pods and one whole ironweed flower. I wasn’t and am still not sure if I have enough leaves but I ran out of the 7 mm green fill in ribbon. So, I am done!
Deborah Mitek really explored the Japanese Ribbon Stitch in this piece.
I’ll have to make a trip to the framer soon. Since I’ve been doing my own finishing lately including 4 framed pieces, he might not remember me!
I pulled out my Beeswax following a suggestion to possibly use it to prevent the silk thread from snagging while working on Nautilus.
The first thing I noticed is how much red thread got left in the wax from a previous project. So, I cleaned it up by scraping off the top layer. I also see in the photo that this only cost $4.40. So, getting a new one wouldn’t break the bank but I like the heart shape! This looks better.
Before I did use it though, I decided to research the issue on Mary Corbett’s website (On Thread Conditioning & Beeswax for Embroidery – NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/oEKTD6N6ppVkR75pm).
She says in part: If you coat your threads with beeswax (or anything, really) it changes the look (darkens) and performance of the thread (won’t spread or reflect light as well).
So, I searched her website again and found her post with lots of great suggestions in Working with Soie de Paris (& Other Filament Silk) at NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/8Z1Z6onu77qKHBRZ1 .
Thanks to Mary, I’m less afraid of starting back on Nautilus now! Mary is on vacation and taking a well-deserved break from posting. Her website is such a great resource. If you haven’t checked it out you’re missing out!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
Sunflower Heart by Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design was one of six painted canvases featured by Needle Pointers, ANG’s magazine. The stitch guides were created by Ginny Stapleton.
Since I knew which six were being featured, I ordered my favorite one early (in time for Christmas last year) but hadn’t gotten to it.
Needing a break from Nautilus, I decided to work on this heart from the July/August 2025 issue of NeedlePointers.
My stash had different threads that worked out well including Watercolours Golden Grains 176, Silk Lame Braid Petite Dark Avocado SP37, and Wildflowers Elderberry Wine 192 (just enough left in the skein without using the purple parts except on the top edges that will not be seen anyway). Here’s Ginny’s stitches with my threads.
Adding the flower will be a reward for working on Nautilus for awhile!
Well, the next part of Nautilus by Kay Stanis involves more separating of Trebizond or Silk Serica. I like using stranded Silk Serica less than Trebizond and I didn’t think that would be possible.
Generally, I try to find something positive to blog about. As a kid, I remember being told, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” But, I have to warn you not to strand especially when it involves this much silk thread. I had to stitch all the spirals first and will fill in the chamber with 1 or 2 strands in the Outline Stitch battling snags. None have been worse than this one but all are annoying. I’m not using too long lengths either.
The only positive is that the final piece will be lovely if I can ever fill in the chamber. It feels like I’ll be doing this for days. Two strands cover more but snags more too. I really want to get this stitched in 2025. Fingers crossed!
I have to give it a break to give me time to forget how much I dislike stitching with this thread.
Ruth at Bedecked and Beadazzled just provided the fastest ever order. It started yesterday with an email reply to my query (from 1:25 pm) about whether 18″ Evertites were indeed in stock. Within half an hour, I got a reply they were. Then, since shipping was pricey (UPS shipping rates), I decided to make the most of that and order a few sizes especially since Evertites are getting harder to find (no local store carries them anymore). A second query (at 2:30 pm) to ask what other sizes were available was returned in less than 5 minutes indicating pretty much all sizes are in stock! So, in went my order.
Her receipt email followed immediately and said among other things, “We are filling orders as fast as possible.” but when I thanked her for her prompt replies, I also let her know there was no rush especially since this is Thanksgiving week. So, . . .
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear (the following day at 4 pm),
But a 24″ box, and eight lovely bars (safely wrapped in tissue paper), . . .
Even though her email ended with “P.S. Sometimes miracles happen and things ship immediately. ;-)”, I think that it is amazing service from her and UPS. I know Bedecked and Beadazzled is only a little over 2 hours away (from Philadelphia) in Maryland but that’s deserves a shout out.
Happy Holidays to all and especially Ruth and her helpers!!
Peace from the Cabochon series by Susan Portra is coming along nicely. I counted the tent stitch blue border in advance of our Saturday Stitch-in because it requires concentration.
I added the pink Fyre Werks outline during the Stitch-in yesterday.
As in a previous cabochon, I substituted French Knots with cross stitches of various lengths (over 4, 3, 2, and/or 1) depending on the number of available intersections. I got the idea from Painted Canvas Embellishment: An Idea Book by Carole Lake and Michael Boren (Bands and Borders Over One).
Not wanting to start anything more difficult later that night, I added the bugle beads and all the long laid diagonal stitches. There were no instructions to stitch one row and then couch. So, I laid all the threads. Hopefully, I won’t regret that! I do have enough in case I need the remove it but I should be ok.
I am contemplating a T-stitch for the cabochon squares. The instructions leave them unstitched. Thoughts?
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Laurel Burch Rainbow Butterfly by Danji
The background from my Sharon G Vases with Curly Bamboo used the T stitch and a very light blue floss because it appears very delicate almost invisible. She did not want to detract from the vases. I, too, did not want distract from the butterfly. So, that’s what I used to create the appearance of it flying in the sky. I used an overdyed thread with a slight color change. Don’t ask me what thread I used – I didn’t make a note about it and don’t see anything in my stash that matches! I’m slipping.
I made an outline on Velum (stiff tracing paper) of where I wanted the outer edge and used it to trace the shapes for the upholstery batting (obtained from Fireside Stitchery as recommended by Sue Parsons for finishing on the front side – it is fluffy on one side and thicker than the Pellon sew-in stabilizer) that I used for the fabric backing. A piece of magazine board was placed in between the front and back for some stiffness but it remains light and the single loop I placed on the back is sufficient.
Goal # 2 for 2025 is done!
I felt the urge to go for a Walk in the Woods. This is a Deborah Mitek design from ANG Seminar in New Orleans this summer.
The leaves on wooded stems included a variety of ribbon stitches with a few different overdyed green ribbons. The seed pods were tricky and are probably slightly different from Deborah’s but they are fine!
The ironweed flowers are next and I am excited about that!
I found this stitch tossed in a bag of canvas scraps. Very pretty motif. I have no idea of the source. I’m not sure how I stitched it. Does anyone recognize it?
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
Pat Mazu offered Needle Pointers (NP) a stocking design done with her take on Trianglepoint after rereading Sherlee Lantz’s book of the same name. It’s in the November/December issue along with an article by Patty W, the editor of NP reviewing the book and a pattern I stitched from the book.
I selected Persian Carpets Knots because of the 3D effect it creates and it was described as a “mysteriously interesting pattern”. It was a bit challenging especially the compensation. This grid helped keep me on track.
Here is is stitched.
And, placed onto a tissue box for the bathroom (with a vinyl cover held in place by double stitch tape).
Luckily, there was one article/project in a past issue featuring Trianglepoint by Nancy Perry that allowed me to include that. So, it makes for a lovely, coordinated splash on Trianglepoint in this issue of Needle Pointers!
You are missing out on some great information if you’re not a member of ANG, the American Needlepoint Guild (needlepoint.org). It’s easy to join. There are many free designs exclusively available to members.
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