Saturday, March 31, 2012

Spring

Way back in January I started this ornament by Loretta Spears called Spring.  I ran out of the Kreinik and set it aside.....then got caught up in other projects even though I picked up the Kreinik....  I finished it....it is now in the ornament to finish pile, which is now growing larger too!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Lesson in couching, 2

 I took a close up before I started today so you can better see the laid long stitches of Kreinik that are couched down, or tied down, if that makes more sense.  Then I went on and did the padded cross stitches in the center of each box using two strands of Waterlilies....same as what I used for couching.
this is the finished ornament.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A Lesson in Couching

Today I started a Lesson in Couching which is a 2 .25 ornament by Loretta Spears worked on white Congress cloth.  One needle is threaded with Kreinik braid and the other with Waterlilies.  the Kreinik is then
laid according to her pattern and couched with the Waterlilies....all I have left to do is fill in the centers.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Glitz and Glamour Diamond....done!

I finished the Glitz and Glamour Diamonds by DebBee's designs!  I first finished the Diamond Pavilion stitches on the corners and then added the last half diamond shapes by laying in Fyre Werks.  The final touch is the 5 mm crystals.  This piece is about 5.75 square and will be the companion piece I did called Black Onyx--also by the same designer.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Longer than I thought

Apparently, I don't judge my stitching time well....I thought I would have this finished already!  LOL....so I laid in the big Rhodes stitches with the Sparkle Braid and that did take a lot longer than I thought as it must be done with the laying tool......As does the Pavilion Diamonds I am adding to those with the Frosty Rays...maybe another day or two?  Who knows!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

She is framed!

I picked up The Snowbird by Dorothy Lesher from the framers.  She is done in a polished silver frame which while it won't photograph, sets off the snow and the shimmer in the piece beautifully.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Thanks, everyone!

The comments about Aurora Borealis have been phenomenal!  Thanks!  I will be getting this framed and it is for me....yippee!  I will not be stitching the companion piece for it as I have several other projects that are in line and a couple of UFO's to get done.....
 Speaking of which.....I am almost done with this one and will be working on it until it is finished which I hope is only a couple of sessions.  It has been a while since I worked on Glitz and Glamour Diamond by DebBee's Designs:


I had just finished the four waffle stitches when I set this aside.  I have now added the large cross stitch on it with Fyre Werks.  I then did overlapping Crescents using a single strand of HiLights to finish the stitching on the center design.  Moving back to the outside, I used Neon Rays and stitched Large Rhodes Diamonds on each side.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Finished!

 Here is the overall shot of the finished piece!  I am real pleased with how this finished.
The top two patterns on the last row went fast.  The hearts were stitched with two strands of silk and then the center crossed cross stitches were done in the Madiera. Candlelight was laid in between the rows and then a sheaf stitch holds it done and the sheaves are tacked down with more Madiera.  The same silk is sued to create the fade out design with double wrapped French knots in the centers!
I was putting everything back together, in order, and realize I have lost my instruction sheet for the far right column!  Argh!  Not happy but if you have a copy of the July/August 2001 Needlepoint Now magazine, would you send me an email!  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

One down, two to go

Pattern 32 is done.  I added the Madeira, Accentuate for the upright and horizontal stitches and then seed beads.  There is not much more to go!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Long Tall Sallies

 Pattern #30, Long Tall Sallie is finished.  Using Madiera to offset the Waterlilies, each column is completed and notice the movement.
I started 31 in Column H, the final one, by using two strands of silk and started doing the diagonals part of this combination stitch.  Next will be placing Madeira.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Oval Chain Variation

Pattern 29 is called Oval Chain variation #2 and is worked with silk and then Accentuate ties down the blue rocaille or bugle beads....might be a good water stitch?.......and I then move on to strart pattern 29 which is called Long Tall Sallies.  I have not finished that pattern yet but will tomorrow.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Pattern #28

Humming right along on Aurora Borealis....I started pattern 28 which is a flat pattern.  After miscounting, I ripped my stitching out and started over but thankfully had not gotten too far!  I was using Soie Perleee to create the grid when I realized I was off by one, so a little ripit, and back to business.  then   two strands of Soie d Alger create the straight stitches and Madiera is the top turquoise crosses.  I looked ahead as I realize I am getting close on this one and there are only five more patterns to go!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 27

Column G is done in blues.  Pattern 27 is worked across 36 threads and started with laying Silk Serica horizontally and vertically.  Next overdyed floss created the heart patterns.  Last I used Madeira to create the boxed squares to finish this pattern.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Pattern #26, Aurora Borealis

Pattern 26 is the top of the creme row.  I finished up the pattern of upright stitches using the 2 strands of silk and then fragmented those out to two and one single stitch clear to the top....Madeira was stitched in between the rows and large crosses placed over them to tack down the long stitches.  Column G tomorrow!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 25

So, time to get back to Aurora Borealis!  Pattern 25 is a Bargello pattern that uses Waterlilies in two strands to create the pattern that almost looks like another butterfly.  Silver Madiera or Accentuate highlights the pattern.  Then I have started Pattern 26.  It is a flat pattern and so far I have been laying in the two stands of Soie d" Alger silk.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Finished Mystery 14...Updated

Mystery 14, Mystique by Loretta Spears is finished.  The sun is out today so I did a better photo for you!  Not

sure how I will frame this one, but it is for me, not a gift.

Monday, March 12, 2012

It's Hearts!

 The center is filled with layered color stitched hearts!  Using 3 colors of Perle, each heart is stitched to fill the box.  From a distance, you really see the dark center design and up close you see the individual hearts.
A shot of the overall finished piece!  Happy dancing here!

UPDATE:  Yes, this is the end and I am glad you all enjoyed it too!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Lesson 4, Pattern 12

This is the final lesson and Pattern 12 is the final corner design.  More of the octagon stitches and diagonal stitches are put in first using the 712.  Then Smyrna crosses were done in the center of each of the octagon stitches.  Last I did double cross stitches in the center of each of the diamonds.  Tomorrow the center box!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Can you picture the end?

I finished Pattern 10 and 11 on Lesson 4....isn't if funny that the box is still empty?  I think so....but I am working the pattern, step by step.  Pattern 10 is worked in the DMC 224 perle and is a leaf stitch.  After all the pink design is in, I came back and did horizontal stitches in the ecru at the tip of each stitch.  Then Pattern 11 is worked in the 712 perle again and is a four sided stitch.  It appears that the box will be filled in last and there are more stitches to go in the final corner.....

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Two more bands

Pattern 8 in lesson 3 is a backstitched pattern with small rays on the ends and is worked side to side to create the shadow behind the backstitched area, done in the medium pink single strand of perle.  This completed Lesson 3.  Lesson 4 starts with another pulled pattern in a single strand of perle in the ecru to create more pulled boxes but worked with long stitches.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Reverse Giant Scotch

 Pattern 8 in lesson 3 is all worked in Reverse Giant Scotch stitches using the 712 perle.  Above is the new overall photo while below gives you a closeup....I am not sure if either one shows you the light play on the perle cotton....

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Pretty Pink Posies

I finished pattern 6!  I had to first finish doing the rest of the cross hatched four sided stitches above and below the ox.  Then using a using strand of 226 perle, the pattern called for the six sided posie looking stitch in the middle.
It is very faint so i hope you can see it.  This time, I took the photo at the bottom of the box.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 24

Pattern 24 in the creme row is Reversed Fans and flowers with beads.  A single strand of silk created the fanned flower shapes which are like half eyelets.  Then straight stitches and detached chain leaves are worked for stems.  Diagonal tent stiches are by the clear pink lined beads that become the flowers.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 23

I have moved to the left side of the design.  There are only three columns left to complete!  The variety of patterns and fibers has kept this piece very motivating.  Pattern 23 is another composite pattern.  The horizontal straight stitch pattern is done first using silk and that creates the main triangle pattern over 5 4 3 2.  Then the upright stitches are done using a grey beige silk with one strand and it covers 8 7 6 5.  Then the fans are stitched using the silver accentuate.  Last a single strand of perle cotton is tacked down with more of the silver.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Aurora Borealis, 21 and 22!

These last two patterns went fairly quickly!  Pattern 21 starts out by laying Trebizond in the dark purple, then adding metallic braid in the diamonds and lastly tacking down the Trebizond.  Pattern 22 is a zig zag stitch worked randomly using Madiera in two different purples......
Moving over to the left side!!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Aurora Borealis, Column E

 Column E is pattern 20 which is a composite pattern.  First using silk, I laid in the 4 5 6 7 6 5 4 pattern on the diagonal.  Next, raised square stitches are placed using Madeira aka Supertwist, aka Accentuate, then the zig zag row of diagon tent stitches are done using a strand of silk as are the over 3 diagonal stitches between those.  Then I decided it was time for an updated photo of the overall.  As you can see, this is the last column on the right.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Starting six

I have started Pattern six in Lesson 3.  Again, using 712 perle and a tight pull, I have done the three diagonal rows of the four sided stitch, both above and below the box.  Next above the box, I have come back in and have started crossing the first row with more of the four sided stitch, but only completed the ones above the box.  Notice the diamond shape this is leaving......