Monday, June 30, 2008

She is stitched!

Here she is, in all her glory! Next I will turn her into an ornament and you will see the finished photo of that in a few days. Thanks, again to Janet Burnett of A Collection of Designs for her permission to blog stitch this piece.
I have another one of the Collection of Designs canvas in my stash, and you will see that in the future.
mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Tulip Study is framed! And, Fatima .....

I finally picked up the Tulip Study from the framer! It is a wooden shadow box, with a gold mat to accent the gold in the border. I also put museum quality glass on the front of this one. Notice I did not get a reflection from the camera!


I also have been stitching away on the background for Fatima the Flamingo! She is really getting close to be done!

Friday, June 27, 2008

More about birds and attaching canvas

You can pick on me later, but I read the Martha Stewart blog every few days. She takes great trips, has a great flower garden, and photos to go along with them. This morning she has great pictures of barn swallow babies! Take a look!



http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/martha/2008/06/a-sneak-peek-at.html#more



Madonna noticed that I don't tape the edges of my canvas from yesterday's post! Good eye! She asked that I explain. I started using Evertites a while back and now have a sets of 2-10", 2- 12", 2- 14", and 2- 16". Thank heavens for birthdays, etc. Anyway, due to the ability for tightening works in progress, I won't use anything else now. I have found that my stitching is less distorted. So to accomodate my different canvas pieces, I zigzag strips of muslin to canvas pieces so they will "fit" in the Evertites! If the canvas is a 10 x 10, I simply staple it right to the frame, and do not tape the edges at all. I rarely use tape on a canvas. This is just my preference and I am not preaching to anyone on how to attach a canvas. I hope that answers the questions, Madonna, and if not, please leave me a note.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Beginning the Background

I am back to stitching and the background is worked in the Hungarian stitch using 6 strands of Splendor 879. The Hungarian stitch makes a very nice diamond pattern, adding some texture, but not so much as to detract from the design. Nice choice of stitches by Janet Burnett, the designer, don't you think?
I hope to finish the background by the weekend. I hope you are enjoying this fun, quick stitch!

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Monday, June 23, 2008

I will be right back...

We have some company for a few days, so my stitching has had to sit on the side, and wait for me for a little while longer. Be back soon with the background on Fatima.

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Leaves and a bow

Tonight I filled in the holly leaves and the bow. Janet called for using J.L. Walsh silk for the holly and Flair for the bow. I did not have any of the colors called for and so I substituted from my stash. I used Vineyard Silks for the leaves and Neon Rays Plus for the bow. I also changed the stitches she called for. I did a stem stitch for the vein and tent stitched the rest of the leaves. The bow is also done in a tent stitch, and then I did put the X on the center for the knot.

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Friday, June 20, 2008

She's got legs!

Tonight I finished the underbelly with four strands of the Splendor 898, outlined the wing with the 819, and did some Random Split stitches to finish off the tail. Then, using Splendor 877, again in four ply, I worked the Split of Encroaching Gobelin over two for the nose, and legs. I added an eye, and although Janet did not say to, I gave Fatima a couple of eyelashes! Girls just gotta have fun!

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Getting fuzzy

Tonight I took four more strands of Splendor 898 and added a strand of Wisper and did the Nobuku stitch across his back and wing. You will also see a few of the stitches are done with the Splendor 819 and a strand of Wisper. You will notice there are a few compensating stitches to fit the body shape, and that there is the aura of fuzzy! LOL

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Let the stitching begin...

Following my instructions, I first started stitching at the top with 4 ply of Splendor 898. When I got to the eye, I added my own light around it with Splendor 897, and the did the black cross with 4 ply of black DMC. It was painted a lot lighter around the eye, and I decided to make that small change. Continuing down, I added the shading with Splendor 819 under the chin and down the side of the neck. All the stitches so far are Interlocking Gobelin, worked over two. This is great fun and going to stitch pretty quick!

This is Fatima, the Flamingo by Janet Burnett of A Collection of Designs. The website for other great designs is: http://www.acollectionofdesigns.com/

Have you seen this?

I got an email from The Needlepointer about a:

New Thread! Baroque Silk!From Dream House Ventures and The Pure Palette, we have a new thread called Baroque Silk. It is 100% silk hand dyed in the U.S. 15 yard skeins for $4.25 can be used single ply on 13 count or plyed for 18 count. Stop in for a look and try some on your next project.
Purchase this 15 pack color selection in June at new thread special price of $57.35 – 10% off. Buy all 86 colors at new thread and get 15% Off for JUNE ONLY!!!




Jill Likes
The Needlepointer
email us at shop@theneedlepointer.com
visit our website www.theneedlepointer.com
call us toll free 888 252 9733

It looks yummy! Has anyone seen this??

Or these:

Colorful Needlepoint Boxes, also at Jill's! ???

Thursday, June 12, 2008

More longs and shorts

I continued working on the tummy from the left over. Then I moved up and filled in above the right wing and brought that down to the small area in the center and under the right wing. Little by little........
mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Chris has wings....




Okay, so not both of them yet.....but the right one is all done, and part of the left one is too! I knew I wanted to fly stitch the wings, and Jane in CH suggested only using one or two ply of the red thread instead of the four strands. That is exactly what I did, and used two strands of the red and the pink Splendor. I think they do look like wings, and will finish the left one tomorrow and then it is tummy time.

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Chris Cardinal

Chris is eager to know all of you! So, I started, again using four strands, and did the darkest red with Splendor 826, in either half cross in the small areas, or, basketweave when space allowed. Then, in Splendor S1005, I came down the right side, under the wings, and did the face areas as well. Next, in DMC 317, I did the gray eye outline, and dotted them with the white Splendor 800. Using Snow in black, I did his face mask. I started the pink at the top, and also filled in his face, but forgot to write that color number down for you. I will post that tomorrow night. Given I did not stitch at all on Saturday, due to the BBQ, I think that is a good day's progress!

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Bobbie has eyes!

Tonight, I finished another row and started the next one to the right. I also added his black bead eyes.
Thanks for all the concern about the flu, but I am hoping to get even better tomorrow. Today is still a little iffie, and I sticking with the toast and ginger ale for another day. We will see how it goes.

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut

Monday, June 2, 2008

Not so much progress

Unfortunately, I have been in bed since Saturday with some stomach virus! I tried to stitch a little today, but just not a lot strength to even sit and stitch--how bad is that! I will be feeling even better tomorrow and should have a lot more progress by then!

mirror blog: http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut