Filed under: Uncategorized
It didn’t take me long to realize that once I sit down with a project to stitch, I want to get a significant portion done on it. So, stitching a block a day for this project, Patchwork of Peace, won’t work. If I stitch sections for a couple of days every 2-3 weeks that will get me through it by Labor Day. That’ll still allow me to stitch on other projects during the year to come. The more I stitch on Congress Cloth, the better I like it. With good light, it’s not too difficult on my eyes. Anything smaller and I’d have to get out my magnifying glass.
The design area is 9″ x 13″ on Congress Cloth. I add 2″ on all sides and use 13″ x 17″ bars.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#11), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Impressions 100 and DMC #12 Ecru
2 – Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands) and Subtley Y899
3 – Burmillana 3845 (2 strands) and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
4 – Bella Lusso 001 and Elegance E800
5 – Wildflowers 000 and Pashmina 261 (2 threads)
6 – Designer’s Dream 002 and Treasure Braid Petite PB10 (2 strands)
7 – DMC #8 B5200 and DMC Floche Blanc (2 strands)
8 – Soie Perlee SPS694 and Kreinik #8 102
9 – Wildflowers 118 and Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands)
10 – Trebizond 125 and Elegance E800
11 – Impressions 100 and Kreinik #4 032C
Filed under: ANG CyberPointer's Chapter
The ANG Cyberpointers chapter offered the Florentine Heart by Patricia Tector for the September project. Instead of using an overdyed thread and 5 colors of Planet Earth Silk from the Cups canvas leftovers, I used two “solid” overdyed threads, the green one is Lettuce V052 and the dark purple one is Port V171. The other three solid threads are Embers 011 (orange), Burgundy 170 (light purple), and Midnight 102 (black). The colors remind me of Halloween.
Pat has the design worked in 3 main lines establishing the bargello patterns which I followed. The heart is the same 4 & 1/2″ x 4 & 1/2″ size as I’ve been stitching. That was a fun design to stitch. I finished it a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post it to my blog.
In addition to some non-needlepoint gifts, I will enjoy these gifts from my husband and sister. How did they know?? Happy Holidays!
Shapes of Needlepoint, Series IV, by Sandra Arthur makes it my 3rd of the series I own now. Great books.
These are the 4 tools that I asked Santa to bring after seeing Linda’s tools at our ANG Main Line meeting. As Buff said, I had tool-envy! The needle storage tubes have magnets to prevent the needles from falling out. I have a seam ripper but the rubber tip on these grab and “erase” the loos threads away. The thimble pack is one I’m not sure I’ll need or use but worth trying. And, I hope the Hummingbird will be helpful threading really small eyes in needles.
There are 12 designs by Madeline Lake that features a different stitch of the month. Each is on 14 mesh and are 5×5 designs. There is a stitch guide on the back of each.
An alphabet book with clown letters – someone needs to have a baby!!
And, a clear plastic project bag. Never have enough of these because apparently, I find starting projects more fun than finishing them!
Here’s another heart that I will call Broken Heart for two reasons. At this time of year, I always remember the wonderful people, family and friends, that are no longer here to share in the holidays. So many good times bringing bittersweet emotions.
I made up stitches as I went along. There are 2 halves of a heart on each side pointing outward which is why I named it, Broken Heart. I’m still using Planet Earth Silk threads from Coffee Cups included here are Midnight 102, Port V171, Burgundy 170, and Lettuce V052.
Best wishes to all of you this holiday season as you go about visiting folks and making new memories!
Filed under: ANG Keystone Garden Chapter
Thanks to Holly who is a member of my ANG Keystone Garden chapter and works at Rittenhouse Needlepoint, Russell and Steven graciously donated needlepoint canvases for everyone attending our Holiday evening (about 20 of us). We each got 2 needlepoint canvases! Here are mine. The ornament is cute. And, the scene of England should be interesting to stitch.
Many thanks to everyone at Rittenhouse and best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year!
I’m not sure where I got the design but I apparently used Watercolours Cinnabar, an overdye without a lot of variation. A few years ago at an ANG Main Line meeting, I made a cord using the Kumihimo Japanese braiding technique to finish the ornament but never did attach the cord and can’t find it now. So, I cut around the design to fit this silver ornament. It beveled up just a little for a perfect fit.
I was trying to stitch a block a day. But, I ran into a snag. You may be able to see where I had to remove blocks 1 through 9 in between the 2 white rows. Yes, it took me 9 blocks to realize that I didn’t skip a row for the red stripe. At least I didn’t finish the row and the blocks restitched faster the second time around.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#11), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Wikdflowers 000 and 118
2 – DMC #8 B5200, DMC Floche Blanc, and Kreinik 032C
3 – Wildflowers 000 and Soie Perlee 694
4 – Gloriana 0057 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
5 – Pashmina 000 and Elegance E800
6 – Bella Lusso 001 and DMC Floche Blanc
7 – Pashmina 261 and DMC #8 Ecru
8 – Trebizond 125
9 – Burmillana 3845 and Au Ver A Soie
10 – Wildflowers 118 and Elegance E800
11 – Wildflowers 000 and Gloriana 261
Filed under: Uncategorized
Four of us from ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter enjoyed Orna’s open house at her new studio. It’s a wonderful area to work. Great sunlight. We’ll have to figure out what class our chapter would be interested in doing next. There’s Carol Ann and Buff in the back. Rae is sitting working on writing up our purchases.
I found 4 pretty Bijoux threads and a couple of sparkly red threads for my Patchwork of Peace. Orna’s packages are all so pretty but I only picked up the kit for a pair of earrings.
Orna has a lovely selection of snacks upstairs which we enjoyed as we sat and chatted with her and Carol from NJ who follows my blog! And, later, we were there to see Barbara from MD and Brenda and Roseanne from DE – all ANG folks.
Wonderful day! We look forward to returning for a class and wish Orna all the best in their new home and studio.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Since I had too many ornaments for our little table top Christmas tree, I decided to create another tree to hang some hand-crafted ornaments in 2016. I forgot to put it up in 2017 but remembered this year. I still have more that didn’t fit.
The board is the center part of a black poster board trifold with the side panels removed. One side panel is taped on the back to add some spacer for the push pins. I used black duct tape to protect the edges and green duct tape to make the tree.
All the ornaments have been hand-made by myself, my mother, and my grandmother or bought at a craft show except for the 3 wooden ones near the top because I wanted a couple of more snowflakes and a big star to top the tree.
This year, the tree holds a different collection of ornaments including more needlepoint ornaments than cross stitch designs that were displayed in 2016. The golf bag and purple bulb near the center are probably the newest.
I thought I’d try to stitch a block a day. At this rate, I’ll be done July 26, 2019. But, finishing on July 4 would be nice. Or, September 2, 2019 for Labor Day. I think Memorial Day would be overly optimistic. We’ll see how it goes.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#11), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – DMC #8 Ecru and DMC Floche Blanc
2 – Soie Cristale 0057 and Renaissance Delight Shimmerlite 01
3 – DMC Floche Blanc and DMC #8 B5200
4 – Designers Dream D02 and Treasure Braid Petite PB10
5 – Wikdflowers 000 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
6 – Trebizond 125, Pashmina 000, and Pashmina 261
7 – Renaissance Delight Shimmerlite 01, Bella Lusso 001, and Burmilana 3845
8 – Soie Cristale 0057 and Treasure Braid Petite PB10
9 – Subtlety 4899
10 – DMC Floche Blanc and Sparkle Braid SK06
11 – Gloriana 261 and Wildflowers 000
Most of the time, when I stitch over one canvas thread, I repeat the stitch for better coverage.
Very easy to follow the instructions from the supplements (Connie sells them at Nashville Needleworks) and a fun way to try different stitches.
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