Filed under: ANG Seminar 2015, Assessing the Art in Needlepoint with Mary K Campbell | Tags: ANG Seminar 2015
We spent today talking about judging, reviewing color theory by studying the color wheel and value scale, looking at balance, focal point, and more! I learned that I need to pay more attention to value. The Color Evaluator II is a new tool to help with seeing the value of threads in a piece (without a black and white xerox copy). And, I’m still learning about the tent stitch!
We arrived at Myrtle Beach yesterday in the rain. But, that didn’t bother us. Marilyn & I set up the Distance Learning Programs in the exhibit area. I checked in for seminar and here are the goodies.
Then, Bill & I headed to dinner at Angus Steakhouse & a movie, Black Mass. Great dinner and movie. No rain to start today. That’s nice!
The ninth clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is “Hello, Mrs. Pot”. And, what lady wouldn’t like to be dressed in cashmere! So, the background (left side) is done in a diagonal cashmere stitch.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
Thanks to Linda for walking the Main Line Stitchers through some goldwork basics at our first meeting of the year. I feel better about being prepared for a one-day basic goldwork class at seminar & the November one-day class our chapter will be taking. We used 2 weights of pearl purl, several check purls, and smooth purl.
I can see some canvas where I didn’t carry the gold piece far enough. But, that takes practice.
I’m more curious about than interested in goldwork. And, I’m sure that the 2 classes will allow me to appreciate that much more every one else’s goldwork.
Most people think needlepoint takes patience but I think goldwork takes much more. And, working with tweezers under a magnifier using a small, very sharp needle with a tiny eye isn’t relaxing. Tapestry needles with blunt points don’t hurt. As with most things, once you get used to it, it becomes easier!
Filed under: ANG Correspondence Courses, ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, Spirit of Jean by Kathy Rees | Tags: Spirit of Jean and Mae
Because we have the ANG CyberPointers meeting over Labor Day weekend & because I am anxious to get back to stitching Spirit of Jean, I am dedicating what stitching time I have this weekend to this piece. After reading the meeting reports Saturday morning, I finished the 4 diamond pavilions. Then, we enjoyed the afternoon at the Arden Fair & killer Golden Margaritas over dinner with our Delaware friends!
The members leading CPs certainly do a fine job. And, this is one of the Correspondence Courses they voted to do as a group.
Sunday morning I worked on the Smyrna stitches. I got to this point and realized that I had missed the inner ring of Smyrnas. So, I ripped & started restitching it Sunday. And, Monday, I got back to where I was!
I’m glad I had to redo it. I didn’t have enough of the thread for the diamond pavilions. So, I found a better match in my stash! And, I rethought my upcoming planned thread placement & made a couple of changes. The over dyed Watercolours was from Mae’s stash & the length was fantastic to match the pattern symmetrically. I found the center green & stitched outwards to all sides. I’m very happy!
Great weekend with friends & for stitching!
The eighth clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is “apple”. Since I saw others already used the Issac Newton gravity connection, I decided to go with the other apple guy who, as it turns out, introduced apples to the state I now live in (PA). John Chapman, often called Johnny Appleseed, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as the northern counties of present day West Virginia.
The popular image is of Johnny Appleseed spreading apple seeds randomly, everywhere he went. With that in mind, like seeds falling randomly, I created a random stitch pattern for the sides. It’s not irregular continental, oblique beaty, or nobuko. The closest it comes to is Kennan but it is still different from any of the diagonal stitches in The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen. I’m not going to check other books. Here’s the diagram:
And, the piece:
Filed under: General comments
It had been awhile since I was at Strawberry Sampler on Wilmington Pike (Route 202) in Glen Mills, PA. So, I had to show Linda! And, we both managed to find something we had to have.
I just loved the colors of this cross stitch piece, Baked Alaska, by Cheryl Granda. It is from a Mandala series of A-Maze-ing Desserts Collection. I am afraid to look for the others in the series!
They carry mostly samplers and cross stitch projects. Very nicely arranged, bright, and a huge stock. They carry DMC floss, Sampler Threads, and Weeks Dye Works Floss.
I finally made a trip to Needle Me to use my gift certificate from our Christmas exchange. I found a purse half off (& with the gift certificate was half off again). While the piece of needlepoint isn’t a perfect fit. It will be fine for a while.
And, look at what 40 yards of Watercolours looks like!
To thank members of the Board for our efforts, our President Patrick B, gave us laying tools that he made from an African porcupine quill. He added the decorative top bead. Some people are so creative & handy! Thanks again Patrick.
Filed under: ANG Keystone Garden Chapter, Fuchia Needlebook by Merrilyn Heazlewood
One of the projects from my second local ANG chapter, the Keystone Garden chapter, is a needlebook called “Fuchia Needlebook”. The designer is Merrilyn Heazlewood & this was published in Needlepoint Now Mar/April 2014. I’m happy with how it turned out! It’s a stem stitch connecting the pages mainly to the lining but I picked up enough from just below the lining that it doesn’t pull up the lining. This is going to be donated to ANG auction. I’m not sure it’ll be sent in time to make it into this years auction or next.
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