Back from Finisher

Good things come to those who wait or something like that. Today I received the finished White Santa stand-up and a Herringbone Eyeglasses case in the mail.  I must admit that sending items off to another state for finishing incited anxiety a few times, but in the end I am delighted I did so.

Marlene's Custom Pillows in San Francisco did a beautiful job on both pieces, used quality materials, were reasonably priced and finished both pieces professionally. Very happy. Even the back side of the stand-up is lovely. For more information on stitches and threads used on White Santa, click here.

Next, another beautiful job on the eyeglasses case. This was the second of these that I stitched from a class I took (way back in 2009) at my local needlepoint chapter. It was laying around waiting to be finished (the first one I finished myself, click here) and I finally admitted that something needed to be done - action should be taken. So off to Marlene's. I totally think it was worth sending out. Again, very pleased.

I've been moving full speed ahead on Christmas Flowers and really have to push as Christmas finishing deadlines are fast approaching! This weekend I'm hosting, "Stitching with my Peeps IV" and have been getting ready for that too and working on the raccoon and the pilot class piece and beginning the season of art fairs and festivals. More on all this in a few. Thank you for stopping by today, hope you have time to come back soon.

Santa is Stitch Finished

Last writing I said in so many words that I was nearly finished with White Santa, that I was going to get to gettin' with the tedious turkey tufting and then on to the background, rounding out with a few other minor finishing details and I'll be done. Well all that happened it just took weeks instead of days. One might begin to think I'm slowing down or something. No, I'm not. It was just wishful thinking that I could get this done sooner than later. Yes, that's what it was.

I very much enjoyed working on White Santa especially with all the various stitches involved providing a number of learning opportunities, I enjoyed them all.....well almost all. The turkey work pretty much bogged down the project for me. I do find it a bit tedious but hold out hope that it's just me and the way I execute the stitch. I take 4 passes with the needle and a lot of holding everything out of the way. Using 3 strands of Medici doubled over I was thankful there wasn't that much of it on this piece. If you have any tips or suggestions to make this stitch a little easier or work up more quickly, I'd love to here from you.  Maybe you blog and have addressed turkey work and would like to leave a reference or just want to share how you handle this stitch. Thank you in advance for any advice.

In contrast, one of the stitches I enjoyed and surprised myself with was the double bullion used on the mustache. The stitch guide provided excellent instructions making it very easy to do. At first apprehensive whether I was up to the task, after a few practice stitches I got the hang of it and am still amazed that it turned out as nicely as it did. I wanted to demonstrate this technique but needed a third hand to hold my camera so I will attempt to explain the process in my own words and hopefully you can visualize this.

First, using 2 strands doubled over and knotted, secure the thread away and come up through the canvas pulling through the length of the thread until it stops. Hold the needle between your right pointer and thumb and begin twisting clockwise until the strands have a very tight twist. Grab the twisted thread at the center point of the length of thread with your left hand and then with your right hand plunge the needle down through the canvas one thread over stopping just short of the needle going all the way through and keeping hold of the thread in your left hand and the needle in the right. With the twisted strands still in the left hand begin to twist them counter-clockwise until the threads are tight. Now gently begin to pull the the needle all the way through to the back of the canvas and as you continue pulling the bullion begins to form on top of the canvas. Once you've pulled the thread all the way through, bring your needle back up through the canvas where you want to secure the loose end of the bullion and secure it catching a thread on the underside of the formed bullion. In my case, as instructed I made my bullion curve to form one side of the mustache and then repeated the process on the other side. I was impressed as to how easy this was.  I am really proud that I was able to satisfactorily execute the mustachio thanks to the explicit, step by step instructions provided within the stitch guide.

Another interesting technique was used on the bag. The stitch is reverse basketweave but to me it looked more like a T stitch. Either way it creates the textural effect of a burlap bag and is perfect in this application. I also want to mention the pant legs which were stitched with rows of basketweave and French knots on one leg and turned one quarter turn on the other, again creating a great textural effect.

All in all the stitch guide, created by Susan Portra, made stitching this canvas as fun as it looks. Providing new challenges balanced by bursts of the familiar kept my interest peaked throughout the project. This, probably more than anything can motivate me to continue and finish my projects. Even though White Santa took longer than I expected I thoroughly enjoyed it. It will be finished, not as a stand up as first thought as the background is too "open" and IMHO needs more support, but instead as a 3-d rectangular block decorated to look like the front of a Christmas package. As always thank you for stopping by to visit today and I hope you'll come back soon!

Bodice, Bell and Belt

I am thoroughly enjoying this project; it's very compartmentalized (unlike me who is all over the place usually). The center chest area was next and I really liked the lacy effect of this stitch, Four-way Continental. It's easy and quick and adds texture even using floss. The grey outline is perle coton.

The jacket bodice was outlined in gold Neon Rays (regular Continental on the right and reverse Continental on the left side, you need to enlarge the photo to view it). The inside was filled in with Criss Cross Hungarian in white Neon Rays and Continental stitches in floss in between. The sleeves are the same stitch again reversing on the left. Another fun textured look.  The bell is mostly Basketweave but the outside of the bell was padded 3 times! Then diagonally long stitched in Balger braid #8 to cover. The belt buckle to the right is Smyrna Crosses and tent stitches; using doubled over Balger #8. The white part of the belt is outlined with Neon Rays and then padded once with perle coton and covered over with a vertical long stitch in 5 ply floss, stitched over twice.

Santa's mittens were padded once with perle and stitched over in long stitch with 5-ply floss. Cuffs on the sleeves were French Knots in 2 ply Medici in grey, then a row in 1 white and 1 grey strand, then all white. Cute!

I didn't get to stitch today but plan on tackling the fur on the jacket and hat in the next day or two. I still haven't practiced my Bullion either. Santa seems to be coming together pretty quickly. I think I like this as a stand up instead of framed or as a pillow...but I'm always open for suggestions. Many thanks for stopping in today!

White Santa and a little history



Who's watching who?

 I've been house/cat sitting at my daughter's home while she is in India. She lives about 10 minutes from me so it's easy to go back and forth between houses. It's been lonely though and I am so thankful for having the time to pursue all my favorite past times. Excuse me a moment while I brew a fresh pot o-Buckery and toast a bagel. (I could live on bread alone even though there are wise people out there that say otherwise.) Oh, and remove this curious kitty from my lap.

I haven't ventured very far away from either house in a week and have another week of "time to myself" to go. This type of reclusive lifestyle allows me to indulge and I've been stitching up a storm, surfing the net and looking out the window. I also made a turkey pot pie, mmmmmmmm! Just for me!

One day back at my house and feeling industrious I decided I should tidy up my stash room.  While sorting through my queue drawers I came across this canvas and stitch guide all kitted up and ready to go.  It's a nutcracker called White Santa, an awesome project I purchased some time ago. There is a little history with this piece as I first saw it stitched about 15 years or so ago and have coveted it ever since. Imagine the thrill when coming across it at my LNS.

I saw it stitched by a master stitcher and one of my favorite people of all time. Her name was Katherine (Kay) and she didn't begin needlepointing until she retired from the NYC School District at age 65. I met her when she was around 80 years young, highly active in AAUW and living with her 90 year old sister in South Carolina. Neither girl ever married, no doubt a contributing factor to their longevity and freedom to pursue their numerous interests unencumbered. Both of these fabulous women lived into their 100's and have since passed. I was very fortunate to enjoy the company of both brilliant woman for 10 years and am forever grateful our paths crossed. One day Kay gathered a huge bouquet of gardenias from her back yard and presented it to me; I carried it from room to room enjoying the fragrance for days.

White Santa is a canvas by designer Damarj whose painted canvases were often accompanied by thread and stitch guides created by Susan Portra, as is White Santa. My personal experience is that these painted canvases and guides are not that easy to find though you still run across them from time to time.  But if you do happen upon one you'll see they're beautifully painted.

When the stitch guide was created in 1990 there wasn't a vast variety of threads available and much of White Santa was to be stitched in floss. I have made my own substitutions.  Because the majority of this project is stitched in all white threads, Ms. Portra wisely begins with the face and from then on guides us to stitch from top to bottom to keep the stitched thread pristine.

This first photo is of the stitched face minus the mustache. I used Mandarin Floss, 5-ply in basketweave whenever possible. The eyebrows are french knots. The nose is padded with perle coton and then stitched over vertically with more floss and back-stitched.

In the next photo you can see the padding process for  Santa's hair using diagonal rows of perle coton then overstitched in the opposite direction with 2-ply stranded wool (I had a hank of Medici on hand). I am saving the mustache for last because it calls for a large bullion stitch and I need to practice first.

Santa's cap is first outlined in gold Neon Rays and then stitched in the Byzantine stitch using white floss, and then white Neon Rays for the tent stitches. The gold stars are Balger Braid #8.

Next up: the bodice, sleeves and bell.