First, pretend you're listening to.....

Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey". You know where it goes like this:
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

 baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah,

taaaa daaaaaaaaaah

boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom

He's done! But not finished, you know what I mean; The stitching is complete, finis, ich bin fertig. Aren't I brave to show you this before I've cleaned up all those loose ends? Oh well I am just excited about this piece and well, I have no shame.  It's not like you haven't seen them before, although I know there are many of you out there that I'm scaring. The next step here is to remove from the stretchers and give it a good zig zag a few times around the perimeter edge of the stitching, thusly, ensuring that none of the tie-offs move around.

Oh I think he is soooo cute. He's stepping right off the canvas with his pink toes and GPS aka tail. And he's a big fella. These are 18x18" Evertites. Ruth Schmuff has added her special touches to this project including the Sundance Designs drop beads on the bottom of the canvas. And....the ribbon.trees.....no regrets here, if you could see the texture that was achieved you'd understand why I'm not sorry about the ribbon. The Lorikeet used in the larger tall trees was a dream to use; it's soft yet sturdy. I just love it and will use it whenever suitable.

His larger than life face was first padded with a felt cutout, then stitched over with Burmilana, another favorite thread. His nose is several layers of Frosty Rays; I went vertically, then horizontally then vertically ensuring amply puffy pepto pink nose leather (that's what the professionals call it).  His body is stitched in nothing less than Vineyard Silk, naturally-like butta- for a smooth, shiny, regal coat.

The background was fun and fast! Using differing combinations of Gloriana and Sparkle Braid made the background both sparkly where it was supposed to and softer where it  wasn't. Just not on mine. I stitched it just the opposite of Ruth's directions, no not intentionally, on accident. But you'd never know.

Those deco looking leaves at the top used Gloriana's Duchess Silk and Silk Lame Braid. Ruth really knows how to choose threads.

For finishing, take a look at Ruth's creative framing here, adorable and very clever. I want a pillow. I have exactly what I want in mind and hope I am not too diappointed when I can't find it. Fingers crossed.

Hinting around

I think I might be giving you waaaaaaaay too many hints about my cyberspace mystery project, but that's my crime-lock me up (she said extending both wrists). The photo at right is the Fan Vaulting stitch using a Lorikeet wool nine-ply. Three plies are used in this application. I decided to do something different when stripping (aka, pulling apart) this thread. I stripped the entire "skein" of Lorikeet, divided into three strands each, knotted the end and voila! All ready to start stitching without having to stop and strip threads. Is this what you normally do? I usually strip as I go, so to speak.  The photo on the left uses a single strand of Gloriana Duchess Silk stitched in Staggered Cross Variation. Both of these stitches are highly textural and are brilliant choices for these particular applications.

 The designer noted that because Lorikeet is slightly felted due to the dying process it was easier to strip by pulling one strand down several inches and then straighting out the thread that pulled up in the stripping process. When I begin to strip thread, I tap the end splaying out the plies, making it easier to grab a ply. Then I begin to slowly pull the stripped ply several inches away from the main strand and straighten the thread; pull another several inches, straighten repeating this process of pulling and straightening until the stripped ply is easily removed.

I know you probably know how to strip threads but it gave me something to do while avoiding housework. Have a happy day and great weekend! See you soon.