'Tis the season....

This time of year, it's easy to get pulled in any number of different directions, and stitching often takes a back seat.  But I did finally complete the little door hanger, and I'm happy with the overall effect.

The same Vineyard Silk Classic Foliage that formed the lettering was used in a stem stitch for the flower stems, with VSC Sage for leaves in a satin stitch.

 The main portion of the hot pink flower was worked in an encroaching Gobelin stitch with VSC Cherry Tree, outlined in tent stitches with Peppermint and accented with stem and long stitches with Burmilana.  The center was worked in a Leviathan stitch variation with VSC Jewel surrounded by French knots of VSC Creme Brulee.  More Peppermint was used in an encroaching Gobelin stitch for the other flower, with tent stitches of VSC Dream and Bright White and French knot flowers of Creme Brulee in the center.

Thje butterflies were worked in encroaching Gobelin, satin and tent stitches with VSC Jewel, Celestial, Cherry Tree, Jet Black and bright pink Burmilana.  I need to pick up some lace trim from the local fabric store before sending this project off for finishing.

The thought that counts

Plowing along on the background, I finally stitched enough to add the lettering in tent stitch with Vineyard Silk Classic Foliage.

I'm hoping to get more accomplished over the long weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

A shining sun

My goal in the last week was to stitch enough background so I'd clear the outside rays of the sun.  With that accomplished, I filled in the rest of the sun with Vineyard Silk Classic Creme Brulee and Nectarine in an encroaching Gobelin stitch.  The facial features were added with tent stitches.

In the next week or so, I hope to complete enough background so I can add some lettering

A good start

This is just a little piece--about five in. by seven in.--so I wanted to keep the stitching fairly simple.  I started the background in basketweave with four strands of DMC floss 3841.

When the blue became a bit tedious, I treated myself to the center of the sun, working it in an encroaching Gobelin stitch with Vineyard Silk Classic Creme Brulee.

Back to the background for a while!

Crossing another finish line

One last finish for 2013!  I picked up the completed baby block yesterday at my LNS.  The little ornament is a gift for a friend's new grandson.

The cube measures 2-1/2 inches on 18-count canvas.  Stitched in DMC cotton floss and Kreinik metallics, it's personalized with the baby's initials on top and the year on the base.

I'm pleased with my first venture into designing a 3-D piece--hope the new parents like it!

In the nick of time

Another deadline met!  The finished Baby block went to my LNS yesterday afternoon, right after having its picture taken.

The threads, all from my stash, included DMC cotton floss Blanc, #666 and #704, with letters worked in Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #003 and #015.  The background for the letters was worked in a diagonal mosaic stitch, framed in slanted Gobelin and Scotch stitches.

The little recipient was actually born shortly after I last posted, so the top block was finished with HIS initials!

Necessity is the mother of invention

A time out from the Santa canvas--I need a baby gift!  A dear friend's daughter is expecting her first child, and I've been mulling over just what to stitch for some time now.  I've made baby gifts before--a "First Noel" mini-sock,  "Rainbow Juggling Clown" and  "Humpty Dumpty" stand-ups, and most recently a Penguin mini-sock for the expected baby's cousin.

I really wasn't excited by the idea of stitching something a second time. I wanted a new design that would be a quick stitch but hold my interest--and here it is!  A 2-1/2 inch block that will be finished as a 3-D ornament, it's being stitched in contemporary shades of Christmas red and green because no one knows--parents included--what the gender of the baby is.

The center of the top square has been deliberately left blank--depending on when the child arrives, it will either include the first letter of the family's last name or the baby's initials.  I've set a deadline of this Saturday to get the stitched piece to my LNS in time for Christmas finishing.  The baby was due last Friday, so the race is on to see if the new mother or I deliver a finished product first!

The full effect

Hooray! I finally made it over to my LNS yesterday and picked up two skeins of DMC floss #825. Now the little fish canvas is REALLY finished!

I love the colors in this project, but I dare say I've never met a shade of blue I didn't love. Balancing the different blues and greens was a great learning experience, and I'm happy with the way this canvas turned out.

There are some colors in the rainbow that I'm not really crazy about, and I'm wondering if I should try another project that incorporates a few of these colors. Sometimes it's good to step outside one's "comfort zone"--I may just do that down the road!

Swimming along

The "pool" of blue around it still isn't finished, but my little fish is all done!

I wanted to use various shades of blues and greens in different stitches--but not too many colors or stitches, which would have created a patchwork effect. So I settled on five colors and assigned an area to each.

All the fins were worked in a diagonal mosaic stitch with DMC floss #959, with the canvas turned 90 degrees to stitch the three fins at the bottom. The center section used DMC floss #3839 (periwinkle) and #943 (teal) to create alternating stripes in a slanted gobelin stitch.

The face (do fish actually have faces?) was worked in an encroaching gobelin stitch with DMC floss #519, and Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #005 in a Smyrna cross stitch formed the eyeball.

I am so glad I outlined the fish with the Kreinik metallic braid--now that the inside areas have been stitched, the outlining really makes the fish stand out.

It's a busy week here, with a magazine deadline looming, but I hope to still get over to my LNS for the last little bit of floss to finish off the background!

Murphy's Law

My goal in stitching this little fish canvas was to pull all the threads I needed from my stash--I've dropped a lot of money at my LNS so far this year for various projects. As luck would have it, I ran out of DMC floss #825--the electric blue--just shy of the bottom of the background. Had I painted the background initially, I wouldn't have needed to ply up and would probably have come out even. Another trip to my LNS is in order, but not until next week as I have other priorities right now.

To keep this project rolling, I've started to stitch areas for which I do have threads! I filled in the bubbles with DMC floss #807, the same color in the border. Using three plies of floss, I first turned the canvas 90 degrees and worked a satin stitch, then righted the canvas and worked another satin stitch on top.

I stitched the white around the eye with Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #032 in tent stitches. The lines dividing the body have been worked in tent stitches with DMC floss #906, the same green that I used to work the diamond ray stitch in the border.

I've pulled all the threads for the body of the fish. so I guess it's time to decide which colors go where and determining the stitches.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to everyone!

Accentuating the positive

I zipped along with the Nobuko stitch for the background until I got close to the top of the fish itself. Decision time: what threads should I use to outline the fish and the bubbles?

Why outline? A couple of years ago, I stitched an underwater fantasy piece (shown on the right) in collaboration with Judy Harper. I worked the sea horse first, outlining it with orange perle cotton, and then moved on to the angel fish, stitching the various parts of its body in different colors. The little angel fish totally disappeared within the jacquard patterned background. It was only after I outlined the angel fish in a dark green perle cotton that its body became prominent. I certainly didn't want my new fish to do a disappearing act! As my grandmother was fond of saying, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!"

The navy perle cotton I had in my stash was too dark, so I used Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #033 to outline the fish and Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #032 to outline the bubbles. Confident now that the fish wouldn't "go missing," I resumed work on the background. I'll outline the remaining bubbles, and then finish up with the Nobuko stitch.

Embellishing the border

When all the slanted gobelin stitches and basketweave were worked on the border, I added the final touch: a series of diamond ray stitches on top of the basketweave. When worked in four plies of DMC floss #906, these stitches look--to me, anyway--like little water plants.

It was for this stitch that I readjusted the size of the border--diamond rays are worked over four threads, both from top to bottom and from side to side. When I reached the corners, I added two more stitches on either side of the centerray stitch to better fill in the area.

With that much accomplished, I moved to the center, working a Nobuko stitch with five plies of DMC floss #825. Had I painted the center background first, I could easily have used four plies of floss--possibly three plies. At that point, however, I was undecided about the stitch for the background--I was considering adding some metallic thread. I've since nixed that notion, since the metallic would detract from the fish itself. So a solid background it will be!

Beginning the border

I started work on the border for the little fish using DMC #5 perle cotton #807 in a slanted gobelin stitch over three threads, then repeated the process for the inner border. Between the two raised areas is DMC cotton floss #807, stitched in basketweave using three plies of floss.
I've decreased the number of plies I normally use because I'll be stitching over the basketweave later.

If you look at the borders in the bottom right-hand corner, you'll notice that they're mitered. No big deal, you might think to yourself. But I've seen stitchers I'd consider to be expert who reach a corner, finish off the gobelin stitch, and resume stitching in a separate column. Sometimes those overlapping columns may actually become a design element, but for a simple design like this one, I personally feel mitering is the smoother, more graceful way to round the corner.

I've started the outermost border with DMC #5 perle cotton #825, again in a slanted gobelin stitch but over four threads this time. You'll be seeing this electric blue again, when I finish the border treatment and move inside to surround the fish.

Gone fishin'

Last weekend, I needed to paint a cylindrical ornament canvas to fill an order. With 98 different charts to sort through, it took a while to find the right one--and as luck would have it, it was toward the bottom of the stack. Stuck in with the cylindrical charts was a little fish, which I designed several years ago as a gift to a friend. I had never stitched it up as a model, but decided that its time had come. The colors of thread I found in my stash seemed particularly appealing as we await a full-blown spring on the Cape.

The design is six inches square on 18 ct. canvas including the border. I'm not yet sure how I'll have it finished--as an insert for a box lid or pillow or framed to hang on a wall for a little spot of color. After I drew the outline on canvas, I realized that the pattern for the border would require an even number of stitches--that's why the gray lines on the top and right side aren't painted over with blue. The exact colors of the fish have yet to be determined, too, but I promise they won't be timid! I'm planning on using different colors and stitches for the various parts of the body, and perhaps a little metallic thread, too, just to give the little fish some bling.

I'll begin with the border and--slowly but surely--make my way to the center. So stay tuned!

A good day's work

Yesterday was a mixed-bag day, but a good one!

I began the day with a trip to my LNS, Town-Ho Needleworks, shopping list in hand as if I were going to the grocery store. I also brought along my little Leprechaun, who will be finished as a cylindrical ornament.

Greeting me at the LNS was Humpty Dumpty, finished as a stand-up! If you recall, I designed and stitched this little fellow for my neighbor's newest granddaughter, Amelia, who was born at the end of August. I'm thrilled with the way this gift was finished--the cording provides just the right amount of twinkle without going over the top!

I also scooped up a bunch of threads that I'll be using to stitch the beagle in my new Nenah Stone canvas--I needed an assortment of browns that just weren't forthcoming in my stash. Now that I've finished painting an order, I can go back to needle-blending the sky behind the beagle. And I need to finish stitching an ornament that I've been working on behind the scenes as the last Christmas present for this year. Busy days, busy people!

April arrives in June!

No, the recent heat and humidity haven't affected my mind yet--I know it's the second week of July! But I've been busy painting orders and have been totally engrossed in stitching the postcard series for my son. It was high time to catch up on an unfinished project!

My neighbor's new granddaughter, April, arrived toward the end of June, so I needed to wrap up the pastel Rainbow Clown canvas. All that remained to be stitched when I'd put it aside were the first two initials--A and S--and the background of the balls the clown is juggling. An easy evening's work!

Now the little clown is heading off to the finisher to be made into a stand-up. I'm hoping it will grace April's nursery long before her cousin is born at the end of August!

As far as I can go--for now

Little Humpty Dumpty is finished--just shy of popping in some initials when my neighbor's new granddaughter is born at the end of August.

I decided to work the tulips with DMC floss #891, the same coral as his mouth, instead of the yellow as I'd originally painted the canvas. The coral provides an additional spot of color against the wall and ties the top and bottom of the design together. The tulip leaves were worked with tent and straight stitches with two strands of Wildflowers "Evergreen."

The centers of the tall flowers on the left used the same DMC floss #444 as the pants, but were pretty much covered over by the French knot petals worked with DMC floss #826. This shade of blue is the intermediate value between the darkest shade of the sky and Humpty's jacket. The leaves for these flowers, again in tent and straight stitches, were worked with two strands of Wildflowers "Moss." I like the effect created by mixing yellow-greens and blue-greens together in a canvas, since it mimics the variety of greens found in nature.

The "2010" was stitched with the same Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #221 as Humpty's buttons and belt buckle, and I'll use this again on the bottom left when the new parents decide what the baby's initials will be. The grass was worked in a diagonal mosaic stitch--providing a little texture but easy to compensate around numbers and letters--with one strand of Sheep's Silk "Green Leaves Dark."

Why did I stop work on the grass where I did? Based on the alphabet I'll be using, I figured the worst-case scenario would be if the new baby were named "Wendy Marie," for instance--M and W being the widest letters in the alphabet. So I counted over 19 threads from the left, allowing for my margin, and put a tiny dot where the outside of the last letter would fall. I know, I know--stitch painters are always counting!

A firm foundation

Humpty Dumpty is well-anchored now that his wall is finished! As I mentioned in my previous post, the bricks were worked in a cashmere stitch in Sheep's Silk "Lingonberry" and the capstone and mortar in DMC #5 perle cotton #644.

So far only one little vine is growing along the wall, worked in tent and satin stitches with one strand of Trio "Shamrock." Staring at the flowers as I finished stitching the wall, I decided I should change the color of the three tulips--too much yellow going on here! I'll make my final decision after I've stitched the leaves of all the flowers and started planting some grass.

The Great Wall of Humpty

Humpty Dumpty is finally a well-dressed egg! His pants were worked with DMC cotton floss #444 in a vertical slanted gobelin stitch over two threads. Using black Petite Very Velvet, I stitched his belt in braided knitting and his shoes in a satin stitch. Lastly I added the belt buckle, a Smyrna cross variation, using Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #221.

Now to the wall! For the capstone and grout lines, I wanted a thread that looked somewhat rough. I dug DMC #5 perle cotton #644 out of my stash and began with a slanted gobelin stitch over two threads for the capstone. I'll start filling in the grout lines with tent stitches when I've finished stitching more bricks.

The choice of a thread for the bricks was easy: ever since stitching "Joy to the World" for ANG's Needle Pointers magazine 10 years ago, my favorite thread for bricks has been Sheep's Silk "Lingonberry." The color is just right, and the spacing of the variegation in the thread as it plays out of the needle makes each brick look slightly different from the one next to it. I started working the courses with one strand in a cashmere stitch, and will start adding the vines and flowers when I'm a little further along in my brick laying!

Heading for the hills

Humpty Dumpty is now sitting beneath a needle-blended sky! Beginning at the top of the canvas, using four plies of DMC cotton floss #827, I then followed the following recipe:

Second row: DMC floss #827 - three plies; DMC floss #828 - one ply
Third row: DMC floss #827 - two plies; DMC floss #828 - two plies
Fourth Row: DMC floss #827 - one ply; DMC floss #828 - three plies

I then headed to the hills behind him. I knew I needed some non-directional stitches that maintained a low profile for these areas as well as some thinner threads. I like to use silk/wool blends for natural elements--to me, anyway, they look softer--so I rummaged in my stash and found three different shades of Impressions, probably the thinnest silk/wool blend thread I own.

For the distant hill on the left, I used Impressions #5061 in a Nobuko stitch. On the right, the distant hill was worked with Impressions #083 in a diagonal vertical oblong cross stitch. Both of these stitches produce a low profile so the background stays in the background. (You might remember the last time I used the diagonal vertical oblong cross stitch was on the shawl in the Shaker clock canvas--amazing the difference in the look of a stitch when you use such varying threads!)

For the nearest hill, I used Impressions #065 in a diagonal horizontal cashmere stitch to give this area a slightly higher profile without fighting Humpty in the foreground. I like the look created by mixing three different greens--they blend nicely with the sky and look more realistic.

I think it's high time poor Humpty put some pants on, so I'll be working on that area next.