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.

CONGRATULATIONS NCPAT OF NEEDLEARTNUT!

In celebration of ticking past the 20,000 mark on the blog counter, and in an attempt to show my gratitude to you as the first visitor to comment after reaching this milestone, I have a "thank you for visiting" stash giveaway for you. Sort of a stitcher's hospitality basket. I hope you'll send me your information soon so that I can get your gift off to you right away. I'm excited it was you Pat!

Silk RIbbon

Hi all,

Well I've calmed down and I learned a few things. First I practiced with my stash and canvas using a smaller sized ribbon, 4mm on 14ct because it is what I had available. The original materials used are 13ct canvas with sizes 7mm and 13mm ribbon.

Just using the smaller ribbon helped me to understand that ribbon size made a big difference in how everything looked. Plus I learned that ribbon isn't necessarily supposed to "lay" like threads; it's wider than the hole it's going through or coming out of and might not be smooth and flat, or even neat depending on the stitch and materials involved.

The photo on the left shows the stitch using smaller light colored ribbon. Lo and behold it laid neatly, cooperated and covered very nicely. Also in the photo is a sample sewn in the same stitch with the darker larger ribbon I had left. If you enlarge the photo you will see how bulky and puffy the larger ribbon looks and how easy it is to detect a mistake. I find the use of large ribbon isn't all that forgiving. But that could just be me looking through my "mag eyes". It didn't help either that I was expecting something completely different than I should have.

The effect of using the larger ribbons on this project was to look like leaves on a tree, large bulky leaves giving the tree dimension. The 7mm was used on the top two-thirds of the area and the 13mm was used on the bottom third. In addition, by my not pulling the ribbon far enough through in most cases and too far in others was also a problem leading to my frustration. And I was not watching my back which is why I got into trouble with the "wad" in the first place.

For me, this chosen stitch and ribbon is exactly what was needed for the so-called artichoke trees. I can't think of anything else that would have been as effective. No, it was just me jumping into something that needed more time and attention than it looked. Live and learn that's why we're here. So after all is said and done, I feel I must continue to practice and get more comfortable using ribbon techniques and then I'll finish up this fun and fabulous project. Thanks for stopping by again today, hope you have a wonderful week to enjoy in peace and good company.

I've made a

HOT MESS of things. Look at this wad (no other word) of silk ribbon nonsense. That (on left) is the back of this front (on right). I've been keeping this mess to myself and then just decided I had concealed it from you long enough. Time to come clean and share my misery. How thoughtful of me.

This is the final part of my cybermystery and what you see is the latest of a minimum of 5 attempts at filling in the last space on the project. The thread (River Silks Silk Ribbon) is beautiful, plentiful and all the other positive "ful"s you can think of. It's not sold in Colorado mind you, but it's readily available in other parts of the country. The problem is me. I've used up all but a scant yard of all 3 cards included in the kit; more than enough for most. The stitch, is very simple as in not complex. Go up at A, come down at B and pull until it starts to curl. Piece of cake. Not for me.

The photo on the right depicts my version of the Japanese Ribbon Stitch.  It starts out really nice and uniform, then I accidentally pull the ribbon too far through and that's it. Forget about making an attempt at correcting it, it just makes it worse. So I lived with the non-uniformity, accepting that after so many tries I'll just have to settle. Kept stitching and when I turned it over to bury my thread tail, I found what you see in the photo on the left. A big tangled mass refusing to come loose in any other way except by taking a pair of scissors to it. Hot mess.

So now I'm stuck until my thread arrives. Unable to work on this large piece over the past several weeks, and now that I'm back to normal again and able to proceed, it hasn't turn out so well. Sometimes the best laid plans, or stitches for that matter, just don't cooperate....and I had such high hopes for a finish.  Looking back, I should have taken a piece of canvas and ribbon from my stash and practice, practice, practice. Which is what I will do until my RS ribbon arrives. Thanks to a good friend advising me to hold the back of the stitch in place while stitching, I should have better luck. Meanwhile, I'm not going to ruin my weekend over it, I'm going to the fridge.....

"Needlepointers"

magazine arrived yesterday much to my delight. Normally I stop whatever I am doing and tear (figuratively speaking) through the issue ogling at the photographs and ads. Oh yes, I don’t miss a single ad; how else would I discover what stash I need? Except yesterday I didn’t get to it right away and I forgot about it! Well, it was lost in a relatively small stack of mail that shouldn’t have been delivered in the first place, i.e. newspaper fliers, aarp stuff, bills.

This morning as I “stumbled to the kitchen to pour myself a cup of ambition” I spied with my little eye the corner of said magazine peeking out from under the other stuff and voila! this morning’s entertainment revealed. Sudoku be off with you and take your eraser with you I have other fish to fry.

It's a stellar issue and while perusing I noticed an ad or blurb on a new stranded silk thread from Planet Earth, Silk Opal (somebody out there knows how to name a thread); brand new to me, never heard of the company. But it looks like something I would enjoy using and I'm sure I’ll soon be on the hunt and will let you know, if you haven't already tried it yourself and you could let me know. Then Zweigart  has new Congress cloth colors including Khaki, Spice, Merlot and Country Blue for future stash enhancement; it's on the list as I pride myself on keeping a cut of all colors on hand, just in case. Seeing these and an ad for Kreinik I remembered that recently I found, in limited quantity, a few colors of DMC’s Memory Thread and Kreinik’s Holographic braid. Both products are certainly wonderful to look at,  likewise to use I'm sure.

One thing leading to another and since I had my camera out I took photos of  my new threads and more beautiful beads that I ordered from Robin Atkins' website. Robin has a unique selection of beads and all those that are pictured here are from her.

In the next day or two I should be receiving a supply from Fire Mountain Gems on the advice from a thoughtful reader pointing out that she thought their catalog was the phone book when it arrived. I just checked it all out online and sure enough they had some pretty special beads that were hopelessly irresistible; especially when one is trying to build up one’s bead stash. That should do it for now with the beads.

Thank you for making it all the way down here; I have three ornaments that I want to show you that are on the verge of being finished and those will be up by tomorrow so I'll have some stitching to share then. See you soon.

Beads Glorious Beads

A few weeks ago I had the good fortune to be drawn as one of the four winners of Robin Atkins giveaway of her first book, "One Bead at a Time" now out of print. It arrived and the obsession began. Many of you know that I've never been an avid beader, I loved the way beading embellished my stitching, but I've never been good at it. Didn't know how to choose, place or attach beads. Plus I was always stabbing my fingers with those thin needles.

That was then this is now. After reading my prize book and then purchasing the companion book, I was hooked. DD and I took a trip up to Frisco, CO to a bead shop that we had visited once before. Luna's Beads and Glass has more beads than you can poke a needle through. I nearly lost the nest egg, not because they are unusually expensive, but because there are so many temptations. I'm not good at resisting temptations either.

Luna's also offers a variety of classes. And as a cool coinkydink, I learned that Luna's shop owner has studied under Robin Atkins. Small world. I wanted to show you some of the fabulous gems I found. I went for color and shape since I don't have any particular project in mind. But I'll be ready once I decide.

Check out Robin's blog Bead Lust and get inspired. On her website, she also has beads for sale and other accessories like needles, beading thread and stuff like that. Beautiful stuff. Robin's books can also be purchased on her website. I used to think that most beads were used for jewelry making and that in large part is a true statement, but using your imagination to embellish your needlework, or create, of all things a bead journal, opens many possibilities for expression. It's all so fascinating and oozes of creativity. I'm just getting started on this odyssey and cannot wait to make something wonderful. Heart to Hands gives ideas on what type of project to start but also includes 20 different techniques for creating  forms, textures and even ruffles. Oooo a bead ruffle. BTW "One Bead at a Time" is now available as an eBook on Robin's website. Thank you once again for stopping by for a visit today, I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the wonderful beads available; I write as if this is something new but I know there are many bead artists out there that have been practicing this art for years, it's only new to me.

Quilt Show (off) Today

I have been collecting quilts for a long time and wanted to share a few of them with you. The number I have does not indicate the years spent in finding these treasures. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that I know what I'm doing while collecting these quilts, or hold me to accuracy when it comes to the information I write about them. I simply collect them as hand works of art by someone much like myself' a lover of creating beauty with a needle and thread. There are two that were handed down to me from great aunts long since passed and one that I purchased from the quilter nearly 30 years ago. All the others I have found poking around antique malls.

I only purchase quilts that are in good repair, no stains and those that are neatly hand quilted and also affordable to me.  One of my favorite quilts was purchased as a training lesson in restoration. It's colors are vibrant, the stitching is lovely, but there are a few patchwork pieces here and there that have disintegrated over time for one reason or another. It's the Dresden Plate with yellow centers shown. Look closely and you'll see the damage. I have yet to begin my restoration process namely because I haven't a clue as what it entails. But I thought I'd give it a try someday.

Then there is this one in my beloved "signature color" of turquoise. A beauty. The pink and white quilt on the right above with the signatures is called a "Community Quilt" and though I have no history on these (or any others for that matter) apparently this was made my many members of the same quilting club. The green Dresden Plate is the one I purchased from a quilter in Maryland in 1982 for $85. I wish I knew more about these lovely blankets and the quilters that made them, but for now I just keep them safe and appreciate them more and more every time I bring them out to breathe a little. Maybe someone out there may care to chime in and tell me more about any of them.

I cannot sit at the computer for any real length of time and this has given me the chance to at least say hello. I do thank you all for your thoughtful posts concerning the state of my side. It's slow healing and nothing to complain about. I have been stitching on small things and each day I make a little more progress on my cyber mystery piece. Thank you for stopping by today for a visit. If you blog, you know how much visitors mean to us. Take care til next time.

Ouch!

I've been off line lately due to a few life events (some expected some not), one which does not allow for me to sit and stitch or surf for very long. WTH???  No carrying anything either if you know what is good for you. Ever have a rib cartilage injury? It's painful and seemingly the only comfortable position one can maintain for any length of time is lying down. And even then I require "hoisting" up and down. Ridiculous. Because the ribcage protrudes inward when one is sitting in a slouch while stitching, that can only happen for short spurts at a time. Same with surfing the net. Now what?  Guess which rib? The one that requires me to wear my gramma bra otherwise it HURTS! I did it to myself too; instead of rising up from my office chair and bending over to pick something up off the floor like a normal person, I leaned over the arm of the chair and reached and separated the soft tissue from the rib. AHHHHHHH!!!

Anyway, I've retrieved this last week from the framers but couldn't get it online until now;  I think they did a pretty good job. I wish the computer image better depicted the 3-dimensional features which is one of the things that makes this a special piece. Additionally, the frame is also deeper than it looks here setting everything back so the curtains stay well behind the front of the frame. I am happy with my very own Monet.

I have also been working on my cyberspace mystery piece, which apparently isn't such a mystery anymore. It's coming along quickly with all the large stitches and would probably be done by now if I weren't....sniffle sniffle....injured.

Well that's it for me now. I've got to see what you all have been doing out there in blogville. Talk later.

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.

Identity Crisis

Just between you and me and speaking confidentially, I've been experiencing a blog header identity crisis lately. I just couldn't seem to find any thing that really suited me or my blog-anything original that is. I kept changing my header photo from one thing to another which was in direct conflict with my perceived concept of what a blog header should stand for: a consistent and, therefore, readily recognizable theme that says, oh that's the so-and-so blog.

It finally dawned on me that I could use this name tag that I've been wearing for years when attending most of my ANG and EGA chapter meetings.  It's a bit worn and raggedy and is more of a southwest theme rather than Colorado (you can take the girl out of the desert but you cannot take the desert out of the girl), but it will do until I can replace it with something else. Thank you for bearing with me during this period of header block nonsense. If you are a fellow blogger, how did you decide what to use for your blog header?

Stitchin' on the QT

Here's a sneak preview of  my cyberspace mystery project. I am having a wonderful time stitching this large canvas and thankfully, I've been able to progress without detection this far. I had a suprise visit from the recipient of this piece and actually had to throw a garment of clothing over my floor stand to avoid a premature reveal. It was a close call.

The photo above left shows medium sized balloon stitches in Vineyard Silk and then reverse diagonal scotch also in Vineyard Silk. Then at right is a giant sized balloon stitched in charcoal Silk and Ivory (I changed from using black VS). You can't tell very much now but the round, long stitched area on the right of the photo is cleverly padded for effect and stitched with both Vineyard Silk and Burmilana. Lucious threads provided in the kit by the queen of fun projects and glitzy stuff!

Today is Mother's Day, a special day indeed to celebrate the best gift of all, our children! I am hoping you get in all the stitching your heart desires today and always. See you soon.

Curtain Time

The curtains have been attached to Red Kerchief and I've only got a little housekeeping to do before taking it to the framers. Invisible thread was used to attach the pieces of lace. I have never used it before; it's tiny, sort of like using one strand of gray hair-only stronger. True.

Creating the openings in the doors worked out really well. I thought that the horizontal and vertical "bars" of the window frames would be flimsy. Not so. They remained very sturdy and even the last window frame to be stitched was not a problem. I will never be afraid of cutting canvas again.

I see I could have taken a little more care in folding the curtains back but that is something I will take care of once it's framed. Anyway, the photo at left was taken with both canvases still on the Evertites; the foreground canvas situated in place on top of the background canvas. This creates dimension and during the framing process there will be spacers used to keep the canvases apart. Glad I'm not the framer, this seems tricky.

Well it's done and I am happy dancing all over the place. On to the next project. I've been eyeing the pink walnut lately. It's so small and will only take a little bit of my time to get it finished. I have been "playing" with the interior and have discovered my fingers are clumsy working with the slick fabric and small space. Not much I can do about it so I am trying not to get discouraged, but that is the only thing holding me back from completing this pretty piece.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today. I get so much done knowing you might be by for another visit.

Amphibians

and turtles. Another collection that has been well hidden for several years emerged from hiding yesterday. It all started about 20 years ago and we kept finding these creatures. Then one day at a huge Atlanta antique flea market we found these two large-marge sized yard ornaments. The large turtle and frog were actually meant to have a hose put inside (there is an opening on the bottom) and then when the water was turned on out spouted the stream. Yes, whatever.

 

In any case these buggers are somewhat difficult to display. These were made from the 30's to possibly the 60's in Ohio by the Brush-McCoy Pottery. The large ones are rare, all are popular and collectible. Most of these were found at various flea markets and antique fairs in the southeast. I have never found any here in Colorado....think it's too dry. : ) Would I ever part with these? Yes!

Thanks for visiting today, back to my stitching.

RK-The Final Frontier

I'm about to take the final steps on Red Kerchief. It has been a wonderful project and I do recommend anyone wanting to take a class from designer Caela Conn Tyler that you do not hesitate to do so. You will learn and accomplish much in the process and have a first class piece of needlework in the end.

My final frontier on this piece is the cutting and stitching inside the window panes of the door. It's a big step for me and I've been practicing on scrap canvas. Once the canvas is removed from the stretchers, the procedure then is to cut within 4 canvas threads inside of the stitched window casings making a rectangular opening. Then diagonally cut through three more threads in each of the corners-creating four flaps. Fold back the canvas flaps to the wrong side of the canvas and finger-press them down leaving one canvas thread exposed above the stitching.


Begin with the designated sequence according to the instructions, align the canvas threads and start binding the edges with 4 strands floss.

Once all the windows have been bound, the canvas will be reattached to the stretchers and the lace curtains will be sewn into place.

What next? Locusts???

Honestly, yesterday when a few inches of hail fell here I thought, well this is a big storm, there were tornadoes in the area, etc. All was well when we went to bed last night, even opened a few windows. It's been snowing since about 5 am. Not complaining, it's a perfect day for staying in and stitching. In Colorado, winter is never over until it's over.

Check out DH, he's in town this week and is determined to keep the satellite dish free from snow lest we lose the signal. LOL! God forbid. No that isn't snow on his feet, it's Birkenstocks with white socks.  That's my boy!((((squeeeze)))) See you soon.

PFOS

 (under new ownership) has a new blog.  I only found it today when reading my snail mail. I never pass up their snail mailings-always something great going on. I am adding them to my blogmeisters so I can keep track of things I might need. :) Have a peek here.

I am hoping you all have a wonderful weekend and that you'll be able to get some stitching or, at the very least, stash enhancement in. I'm hosting another Stitchin' with my Peeps tomorrow. Always a good way to start out a Saturday morning. Hope I have some progress to show you on Monday.

Sepia

plates came into my collecting world when I started looking for "Harker Pottery" dinnerware and baby dishes for a friend. Once exposed to the antique collecting bug, the symptoms become chronic and lifelong. I can name at least three couples that, thanks to us, are infected. Yes we are still friends; friends that collect together, stay together.

The plates shown in the at right are a type of transferware (I call them sepia plates because of their color) and were made from the early to mid-1900's. They have been difficult to find but I fell in love with the charm of the subjects and don't seem to be able to resist those that have these vintage designs. I have others, but these are my favorites.

This plate is all together a different maker and I grew up with it hanging on my mother's kitchen wall. I have always loved it and feel it's sort of a Mother's Day plate with the mare and her colt and the female with her litter of puppies. It was made by Taylor Smith & Taylor, again sometime in the early to mid 20th century.  None of the plates are particularly valuable and I am quite sure I paid less than $10 for them.

Thanks for visiting today, I am currently working on a Ruth Schmuff class from Bedecked and Bedazzled-from cyberspace-now this is shop I'd love to visit one day. For now you'll have to guess which class I'm taking as I'm stitching it on the QT.

I hope you have the day you deserve today. See you soon.

Rooster back in the Roost

I am so glad this rooster is completely finished and ready for hanging. It's been a long road. Five to seven years ago I was overwhelmed by the size and detail of this CanvasWorks painted canvas. DH purchased it at a LNS and asked me to stitch it. He asked the LNS to pick out threads too. He brought home a huge bag of Silk and Ivory mostly, Krenik braid, some beautiful silks - the threads were as costly as the canvas.

So now that we have hundreds invested, I contemplated the canvas for about a year. I didn't think I could do it, it's waaay to involved and I'll never finish it. I didn't really think I needed a stitch guide because there would be so much tent used. Without a doubt I should have had a stitch guide.

It has taken me a very long time but it's the only project DH ever chose for me and I wasn't about to give up on it. It's a beautifully painted design and was not much trouble to stitch at all, other than it's size (15x15") and the heavily painted design. I have learned that unless I'm totally in love with the subject matter, I'll drag my feet. He's learned to let me do the choosing when it comes to painted canvaswork.  SHHH! I recently spied its companion piece.

I am very pleased with how unique the framing is. It's sort of country French, at least the color is right, and it's distressed. I'm very satisfied.

Oh, did I mention

that I am a collector? Among the other things I do when not stitching is aerobicizing around the local antique malls looking for "things". I call it aerobicizing which means "upright and moving" in Madonnaspeak.  Not a hoarder mind you, a collector....there's a difference. For one thing all of my collections aren't under a pile of other stuff, they're displayed and somewhat dusted off. See, there's two differences right there.

Anyway, today's header hosts many of my "California children" that were made in, duh, California in the 1950's mostly. Brayton Laguna, Heidi Shoop and Kay Finch, to name a few of the manufacturers, are among some of the most collectible. I had fun several years ago running across one here and one there and it just turned into a collection. I am sure these can now be found on eBay but that's just not my style, I like to aerobicize....

For me, collecting  is like a treasure hunt. Sort of like combing the beach for seashells and sand dollars; you're walking along and then suddenly you spy something familiar, check for blemishes and, of course, price then before you know it two turns into 20 and there it is. Now what? Good question. :)

Chinese Lanterns revisited

I'm revisiting Chinese Lanterns today because I just discovered that for some reason my original posting is no longer carrying the photographs. Very odd indeed. This is one of my favorite projects to stitch and since I haven't been stitching lately and wanted to post something today, I chose this.

Stitched entirely with DMC Perle Coton and only one type of stitch, Gobelin it is amazing that something like this could be achieved without fancy threads and complicated stitches.

The chart came from Classic Stitches magazine, (which much to my disappointment is no longer being published), and was stitched over the course of 1 week.  Total cost of materials, $10.00.

Thank you for bearing with me until I get back to my regular stitching projects. I'm not in a slump or anything like that, I've been busy and have set my needlework aside temporarily. If anyone out there in blogland has any clue as to why my photographs are no longer on the original post, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for visiting today, be back soon.