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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!