Seven Trip Herringbone

On Lara's Wedding Ribbons I first worked the 7 trip Herringbone above the heart and Amadeus.  I used  3 ply of Gloriana, Monet Pond, DMC 499, 157 for two runs, 3848, another 157, and lastly the Kreinik gold.  Next I am working on the borders.  I did elongated cross stitches on top of the Neon Rays using three ply of 340, then cross stitches on top of those in 3848, 3 ply.  Last I have started the eyelets using 3 ply of 340.  All of this is on the left border and I will do each side completely before moving to the next side.

Just Silver

Today I spent the two and a half hours filling in silver....doesn't look like much, does it?  It is pretty slow going as there are lots of curves and starting and stopping the pairs....but worth it!

Starting Silver

I finished up the pairs of Kreinik and have now started the pairs of silver up the left side--the waves cresting
from what I see.  Here is what I have changed on this piece:  On the inner border of gold pairs I couched with the Kreinik cord in 021 C instead of the black Kreinik called for.  On the waves I couched the copper with the copper cord instead of the red silk and I did not create the spot of copper and gold that were to be on the left side but just continued with the Kreinik 102.....that is all...you can go back and look at each post by clicking on Ocean Waves on the right side of blog and it will bring up the progress pictures and descriptions for you.  Hope that helps!

Moving on

I finished the gold pairs on the left and moved up into the pairs of # 8 Kreinik in color 102.  I hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday!

Adding gold

Back to Ocean Waves and time to add in the pairs of Japanese gold above the copper.  I almost have the section done....just that little bit on the left to fill in.

Second Layer

The second layer is stitched!  The Treasure Braid arrived in the mail today so I was able to complete the
Cat's eye Jessicas.  These used up the second card of the Treasure Braid and I glad I ordered more as I may need it as I work my way out.  I also completed step 30 which is the 3 x 3 Jessicas on the N S E & W using 2 strands of Bijoux 483.  Step 32 was to work the Eight Point Starrs on the diagonal bands using the various Bijoux, Treasure Braid and Kreinik.  the diagonal side Rhodes stitches are also worked in Bijoux and Treasure braid.  I am tempted to start adding the beads but know they will catch my other threads so I will behave and not put any of them on yet......drat!

48 Jessicas

Step 30 is done!  48 3 x 3 Jessicas all stitched with two strands of Bijoux 483, and more to fill in between all of those is coming up!  Jane commented that there are a lot of fibers and lots of counting to be done in this piece.  This is very true, but it keeps it interesting and I think it moves quickly because I am changing threads and stitches so often!

 First, this one is an overall shot of the progress on the second layer.  I picked up again at step 26 with the Cat's eyes Jessicas using the Treasure Braid.  However, one card of fiber only did half of them, so I have ordered another card and will have to come back to them.

Step 27 is the small stars next to the red sheaf stitches and is worked with Kreinik #4 in 664.  The small star Jessicas inside the top interlocking crescents are done in two strands of Bijoux 465.  The large stars inside the bottom interlocking crescents is done with two strands of Bijoux 439.  I completed all four sets of steps 27, 28 and 29 and will continue on to page 16 and step 30 while waiting for the fiber to get here.

Back to Venus' eyes

Time to rotate again.  I started on step 21 which is the eyelet stitches done on top of the stars from the last time.  they are worked in Bijous 483.  Next was to work Sprat's Heads on the inside of the layer and they are done in Neon Rays N59 as the Chicago Variation of the stitch.  The outer Sprat's heads is also done in the Chicago variation and these are worked in 2 strands of Bijoux 439.  Step 26 is a Cat's Eye Jessica using Treasure Braid 871 and I have the one on the left completed.

This n that

First, I finished all the border stitches between the star patterns by laying in Neon Rays not with dark green but my color of blue 55.  Next I did the eyelets by the Amadeus design using three strands of 340.  Next the Rhodes Heart is done with not burgandy but 09.  The double crosses around it are worked in three strands of Gloriana Monet's Pond instead of Waterlilies spruce and then the small cross stitches on top of them are worked with the Kreinik gold.  This is being worked on tan canvas and so this is pretty close to the color.

Four corners

 This is an overall shot of all four corners completed.  After doing the stars, I then came back and did Mosaic stitches and slanted Gobelins usingmy 3 three strands of Anchor  876 instead of the called for 340.  Then the gold metallic is worked over half of each Mosaic on the corners.  Last, single back stitches are worked both horizonally and vertically.  Belos is a closeup of one corner.  Notice the light play in the above picture versus the close up.  See how some sections appear darker even though they are all the same color of thread.

 I have framed the Amadeus by laying Neon Rays in 09 instead of the called for #6 and then stitching with the
gold metallic over the top of it in Herringbone stitches.  Then, instead of staying with the instructions, I had to move to the outside to establish the edges.  The reason for this is instead of counting over to start the next pattern, I am having to delete some of the elements to fit the size of my tray....remember?....so I did the Stars in the corners.

They are called to be worked with one strand of Anchor 683 which my color is 799.  One strand was too little coverage to my taste, and two still did not cover, so I used three to create the stars.  I have also laid in one strand of Neon Rays in 55 instead of the green, as a start to identify more placement of future stitches.

Lara's Wedding Ribbons

 I framed up the  canvas and decided to look at the Sudberry tray I have on the shelf.  Boy, am I glad I did!
This design is about 6 x 14 finished but the tray opening is 7. 75 x 10.75.....width wide is not a problem, but the length is an issue.  After studying the design, I decided I can do most of it and still use it for the tray.  In order to make sure I don't have an issue, I have basted in the outline of 7 x 10.5 and am going to work most of  the elements, but not all in order to fit this in my tray.

I have also changed my colors from the design by Brenda Kocher at www.brendakocherdesigns.net and I will tell you the fibers that were supposed to be and what I am using.  Page 1 starts with a large Amadeus that called for 3 ply of Anchor 683 for the first four stitches of the top Amadeus.  the second step called for Gold Metallic for stitches 5-9 and stitches of 9-16 were supposed to be 3 ply Anchor 876.  17 through 20 called for the Gold Metallic again.  I used DMC 799, purple, instead of the dark green 683 and used DMC 340 medium purple instead of the Anchor 876 medium green,   I did use Kreinik 002 in #8 for the gold.
the bottom two smaller Amadeus are worked first with the three strand of dark purple for three stitches and the balance of them were done in the medium color and no gold in them at all.
I then moved on to page three and did the Hungarian stitches not in the Anchor light green 1042 but DMC 157 pale blue.

Voila!

Voila! is by Kimberly Crum design and is also sitting on my worktable.  I am trying to decide if I want to use these colors or switch them out to something different.....hmmmm.  Okay, I have some of the ones it calls for...except not brown canvas....do have white though....
I am cleaning in my room trying to restore some order to my stitching haven and decide which one to work on!  Can you tell?

Is that a smirk?

I have finished filling in the bottom of the ocean section with the two strands of Japanese copper.  Sort of looks like a smirky smile to me at this point!  LOL

Happy Mother's Day!

A very Happy Mother's Day to everyone in blog land.  We are taking Mom out to lunch and then playing cards this afternoon....plus I made a coconut flavored, filled, and frosted with coconut cake!  DH tasted the batter and said it is going to be great, so I hope so!  It is a small token on such a day.  I hope you all enjoy the day and take pride in what great moms you are!

Hiogi

It is time to decide on a new project as there are only two in the rotation right now.  This design is sitting on my worktable ready to start and is called Hiogi by Kay Stanis.  It will be worked on a piece of black Congress cloth using silk, Kreinik braids and Japanese metals.  I have not started it yet as I am, of couse, switching colors!  Stay tuned as I hope to get this one going soon.

Koral Kiss

This is A Different View in the Koral Kiss colorway, not the one shown above.  To see a picture of the colorway finished follow the link.  http://threedles.com/06012011/Current%20Year%20Designs/A%20Different%20View/Koral%20Kiss.html
This is another Christmas gift that is sitting on my worktable, waiting patiently for me to finish another project so it can get its' turn......can you see why I am having a hard time trying to decide?

Bottom of the Ocean

I have started the center at the bottom of the ocean by laying in a pair of the Japanese copper and couching it with a single strand of copper cord.  The directions called for gold silk couching thread but I thought it stood out too much so I switched back to the copper cord.

Lara's Wedding Ribbons

This is  sitting  on my work table and waiting for me to start it.  I have everything for this one and so I am trying to decide what to do next!  Lara's Wedding Ribbons is by Brenda Kocher.  This was a gift to me from a dear friend and we switched the colors from those shown to purple, lavender, blue and teal from the pinks and greens.  It is designed to fit in a tray, and I just happen to have one of those sitting on the shelf....I think my friend peaked in to the stitching room!

Laying copper

Here you can see the four areas that I have laid the copper, in pairs, just like Japanese gold.  It is Japanese Embroidery Center copper and is couched with a single strand of Kreinik cord.  Below is a closeup of the section in the middle right so you can see the detail.  Next up is starting the center design as the Kreinik 215 did not arrive yet.

Lower Left Corner

Today is back to Ocean Waves.  I started the lower left pattern by laying in two strands of cord and then tacking the intersections.  Next using the Kreinik #8 I started the pattern to fill in the squares.  This is as far as I got when I ran out of the fiber.  Not to panic as I ordered it last week and expect it anytime!

Step 20

Step 20 called for Crescent Stars.  First I worked four with 4 ply of Gloriana 151 (the green) and then the
other four with 4 ply of Gumnut 468-the turquoise. This completes page 12 of the instructions.

Three more

First, I finished step 17 with the set of interlocking crescents, and then moved to step 18 which added bottom crescents to those that were worked close to the edge.  Then, Step 19 is the sheaf stitches worked with the Neon Rays 120.  They are then wrapped with Silk Lame Braid 05.  BTW this canvas is blue not white but hard to get the color while enhancing so you can see the stitches.  This is a little closer but not quite it!

And the winner is.....

A couple of days ago, I said I would send off the pattern for Mystery #4 Summer Reflections by Loretta Spears.  The random number generator chose Linda Wright Grainger.  I put the pattern in the mail today.
Congratulations Linda!  I do ask that you pay the pattern forward when you are done stitching it so others can enjoy the wonderful design!  I can give you the list of the other people that would love to have it!

Step 16 is done

I finished the step 16 double border of Smyrnas!  Yippee!  Now on to the fun stuff......step 17 is interlocking crescents done with more of the 3 ply Gloriana 066A.  The center stitches of the crescents share the same holes.  Three down one set to go.

Smyrna marathon

I am back to working on Threedles Venus' eyes and am adding the next set of borders. It is all done
in Smyrna crosses with three strands of the Highland Gardens Gloriana silk.  Gloriana silk is wonderful to
stitch with BTW.
Also, if you are interested in my pattern for Mystery #4, Summer Reflections, send me an email with your address at ndleartnut@aol.com.  I will do a random number drawing and send it off to the lucky winner!

The Enriched Stitch

I was in Connecticut this last few days and on the way there, we stopped at The Enriched Stitch in Wilton, CT.
www.enrichedstitch.com.
Suzie Vallerie is the very pleasant and friendly owner and the shop is a new one and now on the list for me when we travel that way now.  She has a huge thread collection along with many beautiful canvases.  While there she had a Jody trunk show with a great sale on those too!  I think it was buy four get one, but don't quote me on that....should have written it down.  I picked up several threads for an upcoming piece along with some 18 count canvas.  I recommend you stop by and visit the shop.....you will love it!

It is a wrap!

Mystery #4, Summer Reflections, is done!  I finished the last corner and then laid two strands of the Kreinik braid around the outside.  I then did diamonds in Soie Perlee in a light and dark pink to finish the edge.  This is the same edge Loretta used on the Winter Reflections design that I have also completed.  Beth, I had three projects that I was working and since this one is done, I will be adding to the rotation again!