I wanted to post this closer to Christmas and almost forgot! I shared the comprehensive review that Pat Mazu provided on my two submissions as part of the ANG Correspondence Course, “I Can Do It” with my ANG Main Line Chapter at a previous meeting. Pat discussed that while the center motif of the stocking was visually joined to the background with a continuity of color, the center motif would have been more emphatic if the pearl metallic and the silver metallic were switched. The pearl metallic tends to vanish into the white canvas. This makes the four, blue double cross stitches the focal point of the motif. Excellent point. Another interesting point was that I correctly allowed the shading to fade out towards the toe which is an area of the stocking, in Pat’s opinion, that should not become dominate. And, as a service to students of her courses, she offers her finishing service at very affordable rates. I took advantage of her offer and love how she finished them. Thanks again Pat for the time you took to comment on each piece and to answer my finishing questions.
The “I Can Do It” booklet is about 45 pages and will serve as a wonderful resource for additional pieces. There are templates for various shapes and she breaks down designing into very simple terms. I used exact or slightly modified stitch patterns located in the booklet. Yes, I Did Do It and You Can Do It too!!
This is the mini-stocking (4″ by 6″) and the light bulb (2″ x 5″) I designed.
Filed under: A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That by Linda Damiani
About a year ago, my ANG Main Line chapter played with “A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That” by Linda Damiani. I had so much fun choosing threads from my stash for the Florentine Star, a 4-way bargello pattern, that I decided to make enough of them to give to my Philadelphia Quartet Club shuffleboard members. And, I’ve been stitching them periodically over the year getting a good number of them done on our vacations this year. They traveled well.
I love the off center star rather than locating the star directly in the center. Each one has an overdyed thread (or two) and then one or two solid colors. No two are identical. I used fusible interfacing to cover the bottom. Then, I placed each in an acrylic trivet that can withstand temps up to 350 degrees. I got the trivets from AllStitch. We followed the Secret Santa rules which allowed people to pick a preferred color scheme. And, I was very happy that everyone loved them. Great times at the PQC!!
A few weeks ago, Doug Kreinik shared with a group of ERA & DVSHG folks what you can do with the various Kreinik threads. One of them used the cording tool.
The basics are that for the length of desired cord using 2 threads, you need 3 times as much thread to start with. If you twist 3 or more threads, add 3″ for every extra thread.
He recommended using a dark green Chenille and red Petite Facets to make a wreath. And, that was the “project” for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter Holiday Celebration this past Monday night. Here are my samples. Each one is about 1&1/2″ in diameter. I put one-sided adhesive felt on the back to make a small ornament. But, it could have couched onto a Christmas design or stocking too.
A tip from Doug Kreinik has proved useful with Bijoux thread and can be used with blending filament.
I’ve used a Larks Head Knot to lock a thread on the canvas when I need to stitch with 2 stands. For this, you lock in the center of the thread. But, you can also use this knot to lock the thread onto a needle to prevent it from falling out of the eye. And, you can stitch with just one thread by locking it near one end of the thread.
First, put a loop through the eye of the needle.
Second, put the point of the needle through the loop.
Lastly, pull both threads to make it taut. Now, thread will stay in place as you stitch!
Thanks to my ANG Keystone Garden Chapter who wanted to stitch this for a project, I restitched it using different threads.
I can’t remember where I found this stitch for the grass but it worked well. The shades of green Watercolours Wasabi 271 provided most of the grass. The slightly dark grass is from Watercolours Guacamole 206. I wanted the shading to look like sun making certain areas lighter. I think I added too much grass. So, I may have the mat cover some of the right grass area.
And, the wild flowers are either Diamond Eyelet from Stitches by Effect by Suzanne Howden and Beth Robertson or Diamond Eyelet Variation from Plants & Animals by June McNight. To avoid a streaky effect from Watercolours Autumn Frost 143, I didn’t always complete each eyelet. Rather, I would start a second or third in order to get to a new color along the overdyed thread.
This one doesn’t have the threads showing under the crescents but it seems to lack the contrast that the first one had. I forgot to check the gray values of the threads. Others are still working on the project.
Filed under: Blue Bonnet Stitching Retreat 2017, Bronze Purse, Time For Needlepoint
Thanks to Andrea and Pam for a lovely weekend (first weekend in Nov)! We had a beading lesson, mini display of our stitched projects, 3 vendors, and Sunday brunch. Pam’s beading lesson on Saturday night sure was timely because I used one of the 3 methods for attaching the bugle beads which made it a lot easier.
And, Pam gave us a blank canvas, directions, and 2 skeins of DMC floss that could be stitched into a crazy quilt base for applying some lovely ribbon work. She’s offering a 2-day ribbon class at The Edwardian Needle in January. I sure hope the weather cooperates because Linda and I’ve been wanting a ribbon class. This will be perfect.
There were door prizes and Linda, Buff, and I won canvases!! Isn’t this cute.
I was almost able to finish the Bronze Purse on Sunday but was too tired to apply the final medallion and fill in another area when I got home. Monday was running errands. So, I finished it last Tuesday. I usually wait until after my ANG meetings to post a new finish but I’m getting behind on my blog postings! The Main Line Chapter meets tonight & we are loving our new Starbucks location in Wayne, PA.
I set up our itinerary to stop at 4 stores on our way to The Edwardian Needle and the Time For Needlepoint Retreat. Friday we took off from our meeting place in Wayne with Linda behind the wheel, I was navigator, and Buff was wing woman (& luckily more familiar with that part of NJ). They are great travel buddies!!
In just under an hour we got to Knit One Stitch Two in Pennington, NJ. As their name implies, knitting is their main focus bit they had enough of threads and canvases to be an enjoyable stop and good local resource. I picked up another Bead Buddy because mine must be tucked away with a WIP.
Only 15 minutes away from there was Pins and Needles in Princeton, NJ. They had a lot more canvases including a Scott Church trunk show. And, more thread lines; some knitting supplies.
About 35 minutes later we found Needleworkers Delight in its new location on the second floor (almost didn’t find it – there is an elevator) and it is huge!! Look at all the supplies (the selection of needlepoint fabric and canvas has to be the largest)!! Can you find Buff & Linda busy shopping? I picked up a couple of Quaker Sleds for EGA’s ornament charity project. Linda found Finca and swapped out pink for blues in a project.
Our final stop, another 35 minute ride, was Beyond Knits and Needles which Buff & I had stopped at before (also tough to find as the entrance is on the side street and the store is upstairs – there is no elevator). Lovely store with 3 rooms (photos in my 2016 road trip blog)!! I added “Decorative Backgrounds”, a June McKnight book to my collection. And, I saw the painted Patchwork For Piece 14 count canvas. But, I want to stitch it on 18 count.
From here, we were just 20 minutes to our hotel in Parsippany. Saturday was The Edwardian Needle and Sunday was the Time For Needlepoint Retreat (more about this in a second blog posting to come).
Filed under: Blue Bonnet Stitching Retreat 2017, Brandywine Chapter, Bronze Purse, Embroidery Guild of America
Thanks to my ANG Main Line Chapter member Patrick who is also President of the Embroidery Guild of America (EGA) Brandywine Chapter, our members have been invited to attend a talk by Doug Kreinik if we join EGA or Delaware Valley Historical Sampler Guild (DVHSG).
Today, I joined 8 EGA members at a Stitch ‘n Chat at Shirley H’s house. Among all her beautiful needlepoint, I recognized her piece, Roses, from seeing it a few years ago at the Rehoboth Needlepoint Exhibit. It won Best in Show! All the ladies were nice and welcoming.
They were all working on different projects which is fun to see. And, I got quite a bit done in the 4-hour session excluding our lunch break. This is the Toni Gerdes Bronze Purse that I started at Blue Bonnet in February. Today, I finished the bottom left corner including the dark brown laid stitches with the sparkly diagonal cross stitches. And, I finished the honey bronze diagonal wavy Smyrna pattern. I’ll add beads in the open spaces later.
A couple of my ANG Main Line Chapter members started Metalforms designed by Jeff Kulick very shortly after we got the publication but I didn’t have time to start then. The first 2 members selected the silver on black colorway. Another member started a few months later with the copper colorway on white sparkle canvas. And, I finally got started with the copper colorway on green canvas.
When I initially ordered threads from ABC Stitch Therapy, I only got half of them (pictured below) – the rest were on back order. I knew the bright pink thread, Frye Werks Soft Sheen FT9 was wrong. And, there was a typo – it should be Fyre Werks Metallic Ribbon F9. Trebizond 3637 has been discontinued; so, I will try 3639 or 3635.
This is step one of the outer border, a pattern of mosaic stitches, using Fyre Werks FT44. Next, I’ll fill the open areas with Flair F508.
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Filed under: General comments
My husband got me Golden Friends by Toni Gerdes for Christmas this year. The design supports the Golden Needle Society of The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) and helps the goal of preserving this art for years to come. ANG has brought me many great new friends some of whom have taught me how to make gifts for many people over the years.
Speaking of great friends, Linda did it again! First the tool tote bag earlier this year and now this. Isn’t this a lovely bag? Just look at the beautiful coordinating fabrics. It zippers shut and has pockets inside and out. Thanks Linda!! I do enjoy our times together.