I'm closing in on the Rooster

MY MY I've been plugging away on this rooster canvas from CanvasWorks for many a moon now. The canvas is handsomely stitched painted, so I can't blame the years of slow progress on a poorly painted canvas. It's just darned big. And primarily stitched in basketweave. Not to mention I've had a few other stitching interruptions along the way. But I am determined to get this done THIS YEAR. I'd like to say this month, but we're already 3/4 the way through September.

The canvas is 16x16" on 14 count canvas. I've used a lot of Silk 'n Ivory (the cream background, the dark navy border, the light navy border) and the copper border is a done by laying long lengths of Silk'n Ivory all across the canvas border, taking care to mitre the corners and then couching with #16 copper Kreinik Braid. The chicken wire is also done in the Braid. The tail feathers have really been calling my name, stitch me stitch me next, and I've been trying to maintain control whilst stitching the tedious borders. Maybe I'll indulge in the tail once I've completed 2 of the 4 borders. I have a 3-D technique in mind for the tail. I love this beautiful canvas, but I will be glad when I've finished it so I can move on to something new.

For some reason, Blogger, isn't allowing readers to enlarge the photo. I am not sure why, I wanted you to see things a little more clearly (not too close, just a little closer). I'll figure out what I've done wrong uploading the photo and try to get a few close-up shots too. Thanks for visiting today, wish me luck that I don't run out of steam on this labor intensive project. See you soon.

Comments

Hi ladies, it's always exciting to get mail from you. I'm already back to my normal schedule (that would be doing what I want when I want...mostly...within reason....certainly when no one is looking ), thanks for asking. I forgot to mention when telling my tales of woe that when I arrived home my own computer was not functioning. It didn't take long to figure out that my keyboard and mouse died while I was gone. Replaced both immediately and not a minute too soon as I was ready to chuck the whole thing across the room and start over. But....I didn't. Now I've got a wireless mouse which apparantly to has a mind of it's own. Seems it jags when I jig.

Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement with the redoing of the older canvases. It's just something different to do and I have fun with it. Not a priority. One of my biggest surprises was that I didn't have any bleeding of either the fibers used or the paint on the canvas when I cleaned and blocked them. I went very gingerly and everything was clean and brighter and didn't fade. They were filthy with household dust, etc. No evidence of smoking either.

I haven't done anything with the two stained glass (the two that go together) canvas' because they seem to be stiffened with something. They were mounted onto what I would call particle board. Anyway I think I will take them to the dry cleaners? Thinking that the dry cleaning would dissolve whatever is making them stiff and then I can re-block them if necessary. I'm just not sure what would happen if I put them into water, but they need cleaning before I can/will handle them.

I have yet to catch up with all of your blogs, that may take a whole day to myself; Pat I quickly went through your blog and cannot believe all the work you've done. You really are a turbo stitcher and living proof that rotation stitching works! Beautiful work. And Jane, I read the latest entry on your blog and instinctively knew that I needed to set aside the afternoon to do justice to all your fabulous links of enabling, I don't want to miss one! And Lesley, can't wait to see what you've been up to lately, love all the photos you provide of your work, totally inspiring and I love the look of your blog and your biscornus are always so unique and wonderful.

I am so happy to be back and looking forward to catching up. Thanks again for taking time to comment. See you online!