Getting Organized

I sat down and pulled threads for the ornaments I picked up at Peacock Alley tonight. I have several fibers from the stash, but am picking up a couple of colors that I wanted for all but one of them. These will be several smaller projects over the next couple of months. I figure each of the ornaments will take a few days to stitch.
I also worked on the next project you will see. However, the battery needed charging on the camera so I don't have a photo for you. I have started a new line drawn canvas my mom did for me. It is an interpretation she used to paint, and I will post a photo for you tomorrow.

An Octagon by Kick Back & Stitch

Since I love geometric charts, I could not resist when the LNS got in the line of Kick Back and Stitch patterns. This particular one is what is pictured on the pattern and there are five or six other colorways in the directions. This was also stitched in the car. DH likes to drive and I like to stitch or read, so I can get a lot done on the longer trips.

Answering questions: I am not sure which one of the new little projects I will do first. I need to gather thoughts and ideas as to how I will be working them, but I will let you know.
Summer Dream is at the framers. It is going to be a very simple gold frame with a black interior to show off the piece.
I will be starting the next piece in progress shortly. I am still getting my fiber decisions made.
Yes, I will be doing more stumpwork, but not the next one or two pieces.

New Projects

We went to visit my family in Michigan last week. Of course I had to visit the LNS while there to get a couple of skeins of floss to finish a project. My sister, her husband, and my niece all came inside and had a ball looking around while I picked up my two skeins of floss. They found a rug I could stitch, and lots of other goodies! LOL So, instead I convinced them I would be happy to stitch them small ornaments! Niece Sara will get the sheep box, Sister Karen will get the Jody Holly design ornament, Great Niece Kailyn will get the pink princess purse, and Great Nephew Peyton will get the penguin stocking. These will be lots of fun!

Another Loretta Spears Design

This is one of the ornaments that Loretta Spears designed under Needle Adventures. It is worked with Needle Necessities on some rows. Other rows have two strands of Accentuate blended with the Needle Necessities. I did the ornament in the car on our recent trip and will be backing it with white velvet and adding some pink trim. I will post the completed piece after I pick up the trim!

Summer Dream is finished!

Here is my finished piece! I have attached all the elements by inserting the wires through to the back. Most of them are then twisted and then stitched to the back to keep them stable.
I hope you have enjoyed watching this piece develop. I encourage you to try stumpwork and highly endorse Luan Callery's instructions. She has made this piece a joy to stitch!

Cutting out the stumpwork

I have been cutting out all the stumpwork pieces. Each piece has to be cut close to the buttonhole stitch so there are no fabric whiskers showing. I use my Hardanger scissors and cut very slowly and carefully as close to the edge as I can. Here are all the components ready to attach to the piece.

The Lily has Stamens!

Aren't these wonderful?? I have never done anything like this before! I thought they were going to be bullion stitches, but I was wrong! I started by using one strand of thread folded in half through the needle. I came up from the back and then twisted the needle until it was very tightly wrapped. Next I folded that in half and it twisted back on itself. Then the needle goes back in the fiber and gently pulled the thread down and voila! Stamens that are free like the ones in a lily. Luan, you are very clever!
Gail: The piece does not use a lot of thread to complete the different features. I was very surprised!
Cyn: Since we are so close to being done, you will have to wait a couple more days for a full picture as I want to show the closeups of all the individual components! Be patient, my dear, the end is in sight! LOL

The top flowers are done

The top flowers are all done! I finished the rest of the needle weaving and have twisted the wires to the back and stitched them all down. I should have taken another overall photo for you to see but you will have to wait as I am done for the night! LOL
This piece is moving right along and thanks to all of you for the encouragement!

The flowers at the top

I started the flowers at the top of the piece. First, three of the blue beads were stitched in the center, and then I filled in with French knots using the DMC fiber. Next, I cut wire and shaped them into the petals. Then after inserting the wire into the fabric, needle weaving is done to form each petal using Watercolours. Voila, pretty, dainty little flowers! Then, the weaving thread is taken to the back and it and the wires are stitched down.
I will finish the other two tomorrow night.

Forget me nots

This is the start of the forget me nots. First I worked french knots around the dots previously traced on the background. Then, using two different colors of Neon Rays, I stitched two loops over each of the french knots. This created the petals for each flower. Tomorrow night I will add more french knots and some beads.

I Love your Blog Award

I've received a "I Love Your Blog" award from Laura Perrin !

So thanks for reading my blog and sharing the award!
I continue to be amazed at how many people tune in to see what I am doing....or not! LOL
I enjoy the stitching and I also read several other blogs.....as you can see by the partial list to the right!

Well, according to the rules of this award:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from
.3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

So, I am in a dilemma, since I read more than 7 and don't want to hurt any one's feelings!
I love to read all the blogs posted on the right. Most times I just start at the top, and hop down the list, checking in and reading what all those stitchers are doing.....and then I read the blogs they read......and then......Oh, no, it is waaaay past my bedtime again! LOL

So, since I already read Laura's, I am going to recommend that you check it out as ishe is a  great designer!! Lots of wonderful ideas, great photos!
And, since I cannot possibly pick just five others.....I am inviting you to start reading and roaming through the ever increasing blogs that a world of creative people are writing....and showing pictures.....

Enjoy!

The Lily is stitched!

I filled in the front two petals with the long and short stitch. Last, I added the red beads. I laid the batiste piece on top of the background fabric so you could see all the petals together. The front petals will be wired in and then the added third dimension to this flower.
All the wired elements will done after all the stitching is done.

The front petals are started!

Tonight, I switched back to working on batiste in the smaller hoop. First, I traced the outline of the petal shapes onto the fabric. Next I cut two pieces of wire to shape around the outline of each petal. Then, I couched the wire in place with a single strand of DMC floss. Last, I did the Buttonhole Stitch around the outside of the shape and created a double strand of wool across the bottom of each petal to make a continuous stitch all around each one. The reason for this is you will notice that the wires coming out the bottom of each petal is separate. This makes it easier when taking the wires to the back and keeps the hole smaller and therefore less noticeable. Tomorrow, I will fill in each of the petals.

Petals 3 & 4 are done!

Here they are! Completing these two petals tonight, finishes the lily on the fabric! I really like how these have turned out, and, again compliment Luan on her excellent instructions. The padding in these two leaves accentuate the flower and the wired petals, yet to come, will really "pop" because of their dimension. Tomorrow night, I will begin working the wired petals on the batiste.

Petals three and four

I started petals three and four. They are foreground petals so they are treated a little differently. First, three different sizes of felt are cut and stitched inside of the split stitch. You can see the one on the left is higher in the center than at the edges. We started with a small piece, then a little larger, and finally the top and third one which fits inside the petal. Then the one on the right has the first row of the long and short shading shading worked.

Second lily petal

The second leaf is stitched. It has the edge turned over. The three darker colors are stitched in the split stitch but the turned edge was first straight stitched and then a buttonhole stitch worked over the top of it to appear turned.
Tomorrow night I start the bottom two petals!

The first lily petal

This is the very back petal of the lily. First I worked a split stitch all the way around the outside edge of the petal using Appleton wool. Then I started the long and short stitch with the lightest pink. Then I filled in with a medium pink working to the center of the petal, and last using a dark pink in the center. I am pleased with the petal. Tomorrow I will work the one to the left that has an overturned edge. All four of these petals are worked directly onto the background.

The butterfly is done!

Tonite I finished the wired wings for the butterfly. These will be attached by the wires at a later lesson. Like the body, I used three different shades of pink to fill in the outline stitched areas. This completes the butterfly sections and I think it is going to be a gorgeous one! Remember the leaf at the top will be attached to the top section of the piece, also at a later time.
Tomorrow I start the lily located at the bottom right of the design.

The back butterfly

I have completed the back part of the butterfly tonight. I used a single strand of three different DMC colors. I think it looks great and it is only the back side! Tomorrow night the wired wings get stitched.

Bumblebee Wings

Pretty funny looking, you say? LOL They really aren't! Each of the bee's wings are formed from a piece of wire, twisted to close and then stitched onto a piece of sheer pink ribbon. Luan had instructed us to twist the wire and then buttonhole all around the outside. This would have left the interior empty. As I had read the instructions before beginning, I had starting thinking about doing them on sheer ivory ribbon. Donna, in the group, had shown us hers done on the pink and I liked them better. So I too, raided my stash and used real pale pink as well. You will also notice I did five wings instead of four. I was not real pleased with how the first one turned out, so I did four more, so I can choose the four that I like the best.
Jane in CH has asked what other pieces are there to be wired. I checked the instructions tonight, and there is one leaf on the lily that goes on the bottom right of the piece that will be wire stitched. The butterfly wings will be shade stitched and I will be started on that tomorrow night.

Summer dream resumes

As you can see I am back to stitching! I finished the top butterfly wing, or the one on the right, tonight. The wings were first pencil traced and then the wire was couched down to hold it in place while I buttonhole stitched all around the outside. Then the inside outlines are stitched with a single strand outline stitch. Next, the satin stitch is worked over those up to the buttonhole stitch. Last, the little white seed stitches are place all around the outside.
Tomorrow, I start the bumble bee wings!

A new avatar?

Jane in CH sent us to this website for the Our Lady Designs.
This is the one I chose for me!
http://www.sundancedesignsonline.com/detail.php?Product_ID=2236

Great description for life lately!

We will be home on Saturday afternoon, but I won't have a new entry for you until Sunday!

Finishing Santa Heart, Part II

Okay, so we got that one all glued and while it was drying I did the backing piece and the standup part as well. I looked at the back of a picture frame and cut my little backing standup part on the very right to match that--just so you know. I have also done both sides of that piece. I brought the first piece all the way around and glued it. Then I cut another piece, pressed in a seam to lay over the top and then glued it down on three sides. I then cut a small 1/2" wide piece of ribbon and glued it to the top. Then, I glued red cording, narrower than the pictured one at the beginning, around the three sides. Now, the front and back get glued all around the outside edges and I use clip clothespins to hold it together, and let the glue dry again.

When it is dry, and I allowed that overnight, I started with the glue pins and the cording and went all around the outside of the piece.

Last, I stitched the ribbon piece to the back of the piece to hold the frame upright. This takes a little fuss time of pinning it, standing it up to make sure it is level, and then finally stitching it in place.
See, that wasn't so hard, was it?

He is pretty cute! We like him and look forward to the next Santa!

Let's finish the Santa Heart!

Remember the Janet Zickler Casey Santa Heart? Well, it is about time to finish that piece!

I have gathered all of my supplies
Top right is quilt batting, plastic foam. The second row is red satin, cording, and a back mount piece cut from cardboard. The bottom row is the finished piece, a copy of the finished piece, and a thin carboard piece cut to match the copy of the finished piece.

Having grabbed the scissors, I cut the canvas piece piece allowing a fold back section all the way around. See, he is pretty close to the copy. Then, I cut a hard piece of cardboard to match the paper one on the bottom right.

Next I cut a piece of my quilt bat, which I think is called angel bat, as it is pretty thin. It goes on top of the finished piece which is now laying face down. On top of that I have put the hard back cardboard cut out. Everybody with me, so far?

Now, I grab my special stash of sewing pins--the ones that have glue hardened on them, used only for finishing--and have started applying a little of Ailene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue. Now grab a pin and push it into place folding the canvas edges to the back. I pin about every 1/4 inch or so. Even though it is is quick dry we have to wait for the glue to dry!




I have been very busy helping DH the last few days, and many of you have asked about us. We are fine, but taking care of some business, and will resume the stumpwork in a little while. Thanks for checking on us and we are fine and do appreciate your concern.