Needlepoint: A New Needle Adventure

I have been so happy with all the specialty stitches I have learned this year thanks to Chatelaine designs and all the wonderful facebook posts that I have been drawn to branch out.   I just enthralled with the stitches I have learned so far and am always looking for  a place to use them.  I have not been called to do any hardanger I think because I cannot bear the throught of cutting holes in something I spend hours stitching!  I am a big chicken I suppose.

I have done a few needlepoint kits in the past that were basically just half crosses; tent, continental and basketweave.  I got a little bored with them frankly.

After a visit to a shop, I have been looking again at Needlepoint sites and have realized a couple of things.......

There are incredibly beautiful pieces out there that are far beyond the typical 'half cross" technique that I have done before.  There seem to be thousands of variations on the tent and continental stitches.

Needlepoint canvases can be VERY expensive.....as can the fibers used.  But oh my are they beautiful!  There seems to be a huge difference in the hand painted canvases versus the canvases I have dealt with in kits I have purchased and worked in the past.

Many Needlepoint canvases do not come with "instructions".  There are "stitching guides" available in some cases, but they, too, are expensive.  For the most part, it seems that needlepoint stitchers pick their own fibers and stitches and create really amazing things.

So I have gone a little crazy trying to find out where to learn some of these wonderful stitches and found a Cyber class offered by Laura J. Perin (a needlepoint designer).  I am thrilled to be a part of it and will be posting my progress.  It is called Autumn Leaves.

I was luck enough to get the last kit available.
Just what I need is another project!

Today, Monday, November 2, 2015 the "kit" came in from Laura J. Perin.  I am so excited about starting on this new adventure that I am over the moon!  So, I put the binding on the mono canvas and looked through all the instructions....I have to decide how I am going to mount the fabric on either 11" stretcher bars that I have or a scroll rod.

I choose the teal option for this project.  The fibers are just beautiful.  This will be a first for me.

I use seam binding that I get from thrift stores to bind the edges of the mono canvas.  The canvas is very stiff so this makes the edges softer and I do not like using masking tape for some reason.  Hopefuly this will work

I have not yet found any other participants in this class but I am sure some will emerge as time goes by.

For those who follow me, I think I am going to tag these posts as needlepoint so you do not have to suffer though them if you are not interested.

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for the "progress".

February Changes to Rotation

Whenever a finish a larger project (see last week's post) I tend to take a few days and re-evaluate where I am on other projects.  As usual, I have made a few changes.


I decided to put the Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler, Things Unseen, away for a while.  I just found that I was not into it.  I have never been one who does samplers so it does not really surprise me.  It kind of surprised me that it appealed to me in the first place.  I think it was the threads and embellishments that hooked me.  So, it is out of the rotation for now.

Am starting on Page 4 of Books Reading Books.  As I mentioned, it is slow going through all the confetti.  I am not happy with how far I am carrying my thread, so I am going to do even more cutting and restarting.  The good thing is that all the colors are DMC so I am not worried in the least about running out.  Even though I am not completely happy with the Aida fabric (it is really stiff) I am glad that I am not using a smaller thread count and am REALLY glad I have a magnifying light!

I began studying the Gardens of London Chatelaine as I have accumulated almost all of the supplies for it.  I am pretty daunted by it and will probably delay starting it until 2016.  The investment in the materials is considerable with all the silk, special threads and beads so I do not want to have to rip anything out.   I have a smaller Chatelaine design that I am waiting for which may be more suitable for a beginner to Chatelaine designs.  I have done no other work on the Christmas Tree free mandala as I have had a little trouble getting into a rhythm.  I may pack it away for a later time.  Perhaps if I replace the metallic that are called for with DMC gold and silver grey colors I will be more into it.  May work on that this week......or not.

 I have decided to restart Tree of Stitches since it is a learning piece for specialty stitches.  I intend to use some of the Mo's threads and the threads that I died for it this go round and see if I like it any better.

I also kitted up and prepared the Purity, Strength, Truth project that I am doing for someone who requested it.  Instead of starting in the middle this time I am going to start in the upper left corner as with the HAED design and see if it goes smoother.  I have done this piece before so I should be able to complete it by the end of March (that is the plan anyway).  Interestingly enough, after gridding, counting many times and starting in the top left corner, I realize that the piece is not in the center of the fabric!  It will fit, but there is a larger margin on the right than on the left.  Not sure how that happened but at least I can keep going!  Weird.

I received my first "Stitchy Box" with all the spring looking materials.  Not sure what I am going to do with that yet, but I think some pin cushions or biscornu might be perfect.   There are also some spring and Easter designs that are pretty nice. Pinks, aquas, purples and some spring greens.  Very nice colors.  I will be going through some of my free patterns to find one that will work with these supplies.

 

I still have a couple of travel projects that are smaller that are also in the rotation.  It helps to have some finishes  

 

That is it for this week.  Thanks for visiting!

 



Roughly Week Two of 2015

Now that I have reached a new part of the Books Reading Books chart and the colors have changed, there is considerably more confetti stitching. I am thinking that a page a week is too optimistic.  I seem to be able to do about 100 stitches an hour when the confetti is heavy.  I am sure there is an easier way with all the thread changes, but I find I get very confused if I try to have too many thread colors going at one time.    I am definitely making progress and still hope to finish this by the end of the summer.  I am enjoying the fact that there are no fractional stitches, no blended threads and no back stitching.  Started on Page 3 today.  Should be interesting to see how long it takes.  I do love seeing the design take shape.

I have also made considerable progress on the Celtic Welcome Friends project.  The 14 count seems really large!  I would not say I am half way finished, but would like to finish this by the end of January.   I have another gift project to go in its place so I need to get it done.  I am very pleased with how this is coming along.   I am thinking I am going to add some beading to it.  Not quite sure, but there are some places where some little beads would be appropriate I think.

Part 3 of the Lizzie Kate Things Unseen sampler arrived this week.  I am going to slow down on this project I think.  I  moved it to a bigger frame so I can stitch with both hands.  The jury is still out on the Qsnap. 

I am enjoying this project but am looking forward to completing it for some reason.  I have never been fond of samplers so that may be the issue here. 

I am wanting to do a quick finish so I kitted up Teaching is a Work of Heart by Lizzie Kate.    I have some waiting room time coming up so I made this a traveling piece since it is small (3 x 5 or so).  I will be doing it on a 28 count evenweave in Mushroom from my stash and using the Weeks Dye Works threads that are recommended.  I should have used DMC from my stash, but it is only 6 colors so not too bad. 

I added two more things (both kits) to my 2015 box.  One of from Lenarte and is called Quartet of Penguins.  It is only about 3 x 5 or so and is one white linen.  Should be really quick.  Will probably start it as another traveling project since it is small.  The other is a kit by Glendon Place and Dinky Dyes.  It is a learning piece that teaches how to sequence a fiber with 5 distinct colors (the words on the kit, not my words.....we will see how well I learn it).  It will also be my first experience with silk threads and some more basic help with using variegated thread.  All in preparation for my Chatelaine that I am anxious to start.

 

And speaking of Chatelaine.  I make minimal progress on the Christmas Tree Mandala so I am not going to post it.   I did a little outline stitching while waiting at the dentist office....not enough to write about.

I got frustrated with the Biscornu from Riolos so it is in the "probably never be finished" pile. 

I did make a small start on another Biscornu using the thread that I dyed myself that I will share next week. 

Thanks for visiting. 

End of the year Update

I have had a few finishes and some starts that were scheduled to be in 2015, but I got anxious and started them early.  I just needed some smallish projects during this busy time of year.

This is a tiny ornament size piece that was fast to stitch.   More practice on linen for me.  It is from Twisted Threads.  There was actually enough fabric from 123 Stitch to do the thing a couple of times.  Sweet.  This was also my first project using Weeks Dye Works threads.  I like them, and the variegations look much better in the photo than I can see in person. 

 

And in keeping with my resolution to actually finish my finishes, here is the finished product.   Since it is only 3 x 3 I got a little canvas and easel at Walmart.  I laced it and covered the back with felt which gave me a place to put my initial and date.

 

 

 And speaking of linen, I did not post the finished yellow rose from Thea Gouvernour.  It was not bad either.  There are a couple of places where it is off, but I can't even tell where it is anymore.

 

So, all in all I am feeling pretty good about linen and evenweave fabrics.  I think I will prefer evenweave simply because, as the name implies, it is more even than linen and is easier to count.  I have not attempted to grid on it so far.  I am going to switch out the fabric on the Thomas Kinkaid Tinkerbell (5x7) that I am going to do.  In checking the pattern, there are a ton of half and quarter stitches, so I am going with a 28 count evenweave.  It will probably come out bigger than 5x7, but I wanted to do some framing this year so what the heck!

 



 

Made some progress on Books Reading Books.  Am into the second page.  Still enjoying it, but still not able to get the hang of parking.  The colors are so close I just cannot seem to make it work for me yet. 

Pulled out Bay Dunes to finish it now that I am headed into the new year.  Would love to finish it before New Year's Day, but.......it is beginning to frustrate me for some reason. 

I started on the kitted Biscornu but I am not too happy with it.  I am not sure there will be enough fabric for the bottom and the top, and somehow I am a row off.  I will probably finish it, but I have found I am not fond of stitching with a hoop.  Makes it harder for me to stitch with both hands and always taking it on and off the hoop is a little annoying to me.  Probably why I like the larger projects.

 

I also broke down and started another project.  It has been kitted up for months and I just felt the need to start something new.  So far so good.  It will be a gift this year.  I switched out the white Aida for this fabric because I had the fabric and I thought it might be a little more masculine.  I also switched out the threads from the kit for DMC.  I have supplemented kits before, but this is the first time I have done a total replacement.  Seems like a waste to me.  Not sure what I will do with the kit threads.

 

 

 

 

And here is my Christmas Present.  I know it looks funny, but it is a QSnap holder that goes on my Lowery stand.  Have not used it yet as I am just working on a 6x6 hoop.  But I am ready for a larger project.  Perhaps the Chatelaine I have planned for this year. 

 

 

And last but not lease, I have been doing some work on Tree of Stitches so that I can learn the specialty stitches for the Chatelaine.  I am not too happy with it.  I am better with some stitches and not so good with others.  Not sure if I will finish it or start over.  I began using random threads that I had left over and the colors are, well, just terrible. 

 

 Did not get this posted before the end of the year, but that is the update anyway. 

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

Hope your New Year is fantastic.

 



 

2015 Plans and Resolutions

As I begin to think about stitching in 2015, I find I have several projects planned that I am stitching specifically for someone in my family.  I am liking that idea, so 2015  may be the year of the stitching gift. (Warning to family)

I also am going to attempt some new techniques, new fabrics and new types of threads.  I am looking forward to it actually.  I think it is easy for me to get into a rut with my stitching which may explain why I had so many starts toward the latter part of 2014 and very few finishes. 

I am also going to try my hand at some fabric dying.   I picked up some thrift store buys on fabrics so I don't feel as if I am going to throw money away on something that might not turn out.

And I want to work on actually finishing my finishes. 

This is where the internet, facebook, UTube and the like have really been enablers for me.  I have seen so many beautiful projects done on various fabrics, colors, threads and so forth and they are made into banners, pillows and all sorts of lovely things.

I am going to try my hand at making a biscornu.  It is a funny shaped pin cushion.  Should be interesting.  I already have a bag of walnut shells that are used for filling and I have more beads than any human needs so it should be fun.

Of course my HAED Books Reading Books will take me well into 2015.  I would like to finish it in 6 months, but we will see how it goes.

I am going to do a project that is sent from the designer in parts.  I have received parts 1 and 2 already but will not start it until January.  It is the Lizzie Kate Things Unseen project.  It comes with a fabric and threads that I have never used before and is an embellished sampler which is a new thing for me. 

I will be doing a projected called Tree of Stitches so that I can learn to do some specialty stitches.  Should be interesting.   I am going to use variegated threads that I already have in my stash and plan to dye the fabric for this project.  I am doing this in preparation for a Chatelain design I want to do.

 Because several of my projects are huge ones, I am also going to do a small 5x7 Charles Kinkaid Tinkerbell.  I think it is just a section of a larger piece, but I figure I will need some finishes to keep me going.



 

Big plans for 2015 in the stitching arena.  I should also add to the list all the Christmas projects that I didn't even start this year. 

 

I am also going to make a concerted effort to learn to frame my work.  The cost to have then done is just crazy and I have not been happy with the last two things I had professionally framed.  The Michaels is only about 30 minutes away so I have access to mats and supplies so I am going to go for it.

 

And finally, I am going to refrain from buying any kits, patterns, fabrics or notions.  I am putting myself on a cross stitch diet.  I know a lot of stitchers take great pride in their stash, but it is just making me feel overwhelmed and lazy!  Of course that has not stopped me from stocking up during this final month of the year.  Kind of self-defeating I know.

 

Taking advantage of more sales I picked up some fabrics for next year.

These are linens,  32 ct.Belfast Ruby Wine, 28 ct Antique Green Jazlyn and 28 ct Thunderstorm Cashel.  The Thunderstorm is much more grey than it appears in the photo.  Lovely.  One of my 2015 goals is to try fabrics that I don't normally use.

And because I have several large projects planned for 2015 I picked up two kits that are smaller and should be faster finishes.

These also fit into my plan to use different threads and fabrics as they use threads from The Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colours and Classic Colorworks.   I may start these before the end of the year just for  the heck of it.

And last but certainly not least I hit the HAED sale on patterns:

These will probably be 2016 - 2017 projects.  They are huge, of course, so I do not plan to kit them up until after 2015. 
So as you can see, I certainly do not need any more supplies. 

Wishing you a great December and wonderful Holiday season.  Merry Christmas to all.

Thanks for visiting.



Golfer Finished

We have had a good bit of rain lately.  So much that it is too wet to mow. 

Although the temperature has been mild it has been overcast and humid.  It is supposed to start heating up again this week, but so far there has been no sun.  All the better weather for stitching!

Finished the golfer.  It was the smaller of the WIPs (5x7) so it didn't take too long.  The backstitching is the kind that I avoid doing whenever possible.  It is all slanted, does not follow any definite line and just makes me crazy.  But it is done.  Hurray.  Just need to frame him and get him on the wall!

 

I still have several projects in the works to keep me busy.  And I am in the process of organizing two really challenging projects (challenging for me anyway) to stitch in the next couple of months.

 

I am going to attempt my first Heaven and Earth design.  It is one of their freebies off their website.  Their designs are quite complex and use a lot of color (90 to 100 different colors in some cases) and are done on very small count linen.  I have never used linen before. '

 

I will post my progress on the first one soon.  I am still getting it prepared. 

 

More as it happens!  Happy stitching.

Not a Bad Day

 

Not much to report these days.  It is pretty quiet here.  It does seem to be cooler in the mornings lately and today we are getting a little bit of rain. 

 

Also, finished the Unicorn project.  Whew.  It was actually a fun project and I like all the detail on the unicorn.  

I have so many projects that I want to get done now that this one is finished.    Have a couple that are in progress. 

I would also like to do some seasonal stuff, Halloween, Christmas, etc., but I never seem to get to them, and I don't stitch fast enough...or should I say I don't start them soon enough!

Southbound

Had a great day of travel.  Found a very cool rest stop in Illinois (I think) that had a bridge that would be perfect in Blanco over the creek to the East side.

 

 If I were covered in money, I would definitely get this bid! 

There is something amazing about the Mississippi River that I enjoy every time we cross it. 

This is between Illinois and Missouri

We made it to West Memphis, Arkansas.  We stayed here in about 2007 and the Mississippi had just flooded the park out.  We loved it.  And what could be better than staying at the Tom Sawyer RV park on the Mississippi? Watching the boats push barges along the river is so amazing.   

It is considerably warmer than Michigan.  This will probably be the last night we can sleep without the AC.

Finished the Chicken needlepoint while we were traveling, and started the Butterfly needlepoint.  They are both small, 5X5.  Not sure what I will do with them, but then, that is nothing new for my projects!

 

And also making progress on the Magical Unicorn that is one of my projects in progress.

 

I am a little worried about this project.  The colors are a little strange, and I am not sure there is enough thread.  Also, it has LOTS of color changes.  I was going to try parking techniques on this one, but so far I have not found it to be convenient.  I do not get the weirdness of the photo.  Those are not markings on the bottom half, just some odd photo thing. 

 

Onward and Westward tomorrow.

 

Just Tooling Around

It has been very relaxing, although the sun has been avoiding us lately. 

The boys played golf and we visited a few little small towns on the Michigan coastline.  We did not have any of the weather I just saw on the news, whew.  The boys are golfing again today so we are off to visit an antique mall in Muskegon.  Who knows what we will find.


I did complete one project and have started another.

 

I actually  now have two WIP going, one is birds and one is a  unicorn.  I can't figure out which one I like working on better.  I guess time will tell.

 

Muskegon, Michigan

A relaxing day.  Got my tooth fixed so my IQ is back to normal. 

We are staying at Duck Creek RV Resort.

And this, I think, is Duck Creek

This is the view from our spot.  There is an unusual amount of green space

Here is my set up to do some stitching.  It is so pleasant here.

And the dogs are lovin' it.

 

 

Day 3

Finally the sun is shining on us!  Got out of Oklahoma City early this morning with no problems at all.  I have to say that the tollway (highway 44) is really boring.  And the toll is a little steep as far as I am concerned.  $10.75 about twice between OKC and the border.  Yikes.   But I did finish one project and start another.    More about that later. 

Stopped at the Missouri visitors center just outside Joplin.  It was very nice with lots of space, picnic tables and, of course, maps.   We opted not to go into Joplin to see how they are doing after the tornado a couple of years ago. 

I know that Missouri is supposed to be the "show me" state, but I think they are the trucking state.  There is a trucking company or depot every few miles and there are a plethora of truck pull-offs on the sides of the highway.  Not really rest areas like you see on highways, but just a big paved turn-out kind of thing. 

We are staying tonight in Lebanon (pronounced "LE banin" as well it should be)  Nice park, wooded, has a little lake and great WiFi.  Only downside is it is right next to the freeway.  Which really is not an issue since we are only here for one night and it is hot enough that the AC is running. 

 

There is a cute little lake on the park property.  Very soothing.  I am grateful that my dogs do not like water as it is a little green.

 



 

 

Now to the needle projects.  I finished the Ehrman needlepoint and started the small rooster project.  I am definitely going to have to find a shop so I will have a project for the trip home.  The small project is going alot faster than I thought it would.

 

 

 

That is it for today.  Tomorrow we are headed to Springfield, IL where we will spend a couple of days to visit the Land of Lincoln.  I like a little history every now and then!