tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-342316282024-03-05T08:00:33.278-08:00POSSIBILITIES, etc.!Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.comBlogger511125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-9451205717627461122011-02-21T12:22:00.000-08:002011-02-21T12:35:35.899-08:00Judy is very ill.Judy is in Hospital and very ill. More details will be posted here or at her main website.. <a href="http://www.elegantwhimsies.com/">www.elegantwhimsies.com</a><br /><br />My name is Steve Watkins and I am a friend and long time webmaster for Judy. Her family has asked me to help out with the internet aspects of Judy's life. I have limited access to these blogs and may not be able to update this post. We will try to keep this blog updated but due to our limited access that may become a problem. <br /><br /> I do have unlimited access to her main website and will be able to post updates on her condition there, if this blog becomes unavailable to us. Please check both places for information.<br />For people with outstanding orders please contact me at <a href="mailto:steve@starnetservices.com">steve@starnetservices.com</a> and I will do the best I can to help you...<br /><br /> Steve WatkinsPossibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-61000781170029477702011-02-20T21:11:00.000-08:002011-02-20T21:12:28.772-08:00This is a test postThis is a test....Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-56241757835140936162011-02-16T09:32:00.000-08:002011-02-16T12:24:05.215-08:00Decorating the Topiary (with Kreinik)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6rkDTQr0pxDRpCUMMJbEfo2qDtqlAIp8p6kCEPnghDuiri8a7ZsReRpm8KFoZwlq6XptwsK3HdDo3rAbmsAkhUqfEiEDAajBosYWeCuds1H40XPJA2-kF6LrOLoPByGRotDNIQ/s1600/Tree01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574372918088675714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6rkDTQr0pxDRpCUMMJbEfo2qDtqlAIp8p6kCEPnghDuiri8a7ZsReRpm8KFoZwlq6XptwsK3HdDo3rAbmsAkhUqfEiEDAajBosYWeCuds1H40XPJA2-kF6LrOLoPByGRotDNIQ/s320/Tree01.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Looking back on the blog posts here, I see that I've been playing with this thing since December 24! I'm still playing, but it's beginning to be interesting now. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">An experiment, it is - but I'm learning the variables of working with the Kreinik on it as I embellish. Be sure to go to <a href="http://needle-crafts.blogspot.com/">Freebies, etc.</a> to see the new metallic "Hot Wire" that Kreinik now has - a new thing. I found it just when I needed it for embellishment trials here. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway - back to the decorating. For the lower swag, I used #12 Holographic 002, and it's quite showy in the "heavy chain" I found at <a href="http://www.pintangle.com/">PINTANGLE</a> in Sharon B's stitch dictionary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Incidentally, I don't remember if I've shown this picture before or not - the arrows are pointing to my mistakes in not stitch counting symmetrically on these two swags. They are supposed to look horizontal when the tree is made into a cone, but they should have been perfectly centered - like the bottom. So far, I've hidden this effect with a generic sillk ribbon flower.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0X3vSOO-aFPVssKEYj462KlgabFGuB_PEK8vJ0OClO_VIXYmeQKxPXEz0IoaZl79h6cfrfG217sohpU6bs29HY34ClfBSEhNvybcgr2DoGKpvjyoAEWSpbEge4ElNRd1G6S4V9A/s1600/DtlRedFlr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574375727912461698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0X3vSOO-aFPVssKEYj462KlgabFGuB_PEK8vJ0OClO_VIXYmeQKxPXEz0IoaZl79h6cfrfG217sohpU6bs29HY34ClfBSEhNvybcgr2DoGKpvjyoAEWSpbEge4ElNRd1G6S4V9A/s320/DtlRedFlr.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Also, I was able, since stitch drawing that bottom swag symmetrically, I was able to do the chain stitch without tent stitching the line first - much easier, and of course less time consuming.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I realize I seem to be jumping around a bit here, but this is how I've developed it so far - just a little at a time to try out special effects. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Feather Stitch put down first makes a great background - pretty but understated - for whatever decides to come next. This, too, is on Pintangle in the Stitch Dictionary.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSprr3SVMCnc6Q5FZKx7g141NdvejI8O01j3mOt05-KIX95fenhqnYEGgm5Hw3LeBg7ULwUOjZSbuo3OJWttDAwc4_bLmtgiSv2JUAgV0Nb_CyYXud4tFjoapCfGN2aQ2iBTdKg/s1600/DtlSun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574376545295745794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSprr3SVMCnc6Q5FZKx7g141NdvejI8O01j3mOt05-KIX95fenhqnYEGgm5Hw3LeBg7ULwUOjZSbuo3OJWttDAwc4_bLmtgiSv2JUAgV0Nb_CyYXud4tFjoapCfGN2aQ2iBTdKg/s320/DtlSun.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I made this bottom shot with a bit of sunlight on it, as it was suppose to show the Holographic heavy chain - it's beautiful in person. The Feather Stitches Kreinik 002 #4 braid) were deliberately made to be irregular, but basically as perpindicular as possible to the chain so that they will be positioned correctly when the tree is made into a cone. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Recently, I saw somewhere a charming little ornament frame made with twisted DMC Memory Thread - so had to try it with the Kreinik metallic. It was more difficult to twist, due to the texture of the metallic covering, but I did find a splendid use for it - little candly canes! Here is a picture of a short length of it twisted as cording - you can see this on the other blog, as well as a candy cane (peppermint) made of three cords.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgAGnLppXgUGdlrb79dnVXcN6WsdngMVWtGtyNnqoeRLzxv2fClLgfw5YDxk7-nZk0rHK0PM2jHkmq2wfDdNFGUHq_DZWxsADdANmf5Br8xeDBZCcLLtx7Y4F2DlSWe40aGOVXw/s1600/twistdCord.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574380235170835666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgAGnLppXgUGdlrb79dnVXcN6WsdngMVWtGtyNnqoeRLzxv2fClLgfw5YDxk7-nZk0rHK0PM2jHkmq2wfDdNFGUHq_DZWxsADdANmf5Br8xeDBZCcLLtx7Y4F2DlSWe40aGOVXw/s320/twistdCord.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFawicrOdLF5J6rxkNurHAyaWnSvIyPQtJkiRDfpqDy98JE2cPHQMey4021YqoAvtihnnHGyvvw1l38UYRhK6QrADZprOB6NujPXNGdgsTNN8XR2-avCY785l_GA-b4kJJGj7Rg/s1600/RedFlrCone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574380742347531138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFawicrOdLF5J6rxkNurHAyaWnSvIyPQtJkiRDfpqDy98JE2cPHQMey4021YqoAvtihnnHGyvvw1l38UYRhK6QrADZprOB6NujPXNGdgsTNN8XR2-avCY785l_GA-b4kJJGj7Rg/s320/RedFlrCone.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is how it looks at the top now - I'll let it rest for a day or two.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-1123520131887072212011-02-09T11:17:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:21:36.098-08:00Festival of Needles<span style="font-family:arial;">This is something I haven't participated in, myself, but looking at<a href="http://www.pintangle.com/"> PINTANGLE </a>this morning, I saw that Sharon B. has a great post on it, and includes a link to a Stitchin' Fingers site by Carole Anne about it that she recommends highly. Do go see!</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-64494214294802525842011-02-07T11:54:00.000-08:002011-02-07T14:34:19.461-08:00Remembering Madeline<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQpqRUyFr51030FPYIGu0GQyzvIboubKQ9fr56qO93dFABGmxs_rCI3B0oRDyAo10YL5KjkvDF5M-TbxRwhzizexY5GBGy0T8ggI_ngFjh68AqvnaxMTqzRQtm-nnmISmTU7DXg/s1600/MadsieBrthAnn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571039178049933170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQpqRUyFr51030FPYIGu0GQyzvIboubKQ9fr56qO93dFABGmxs_rCI3B0oRDyAo10YL5KjkvDF5M-TbxRwhzizexY5GBGy0T8ggI_ngFjh68AqvnaxMTqzRQtm-nnmISmTU7DXg/s320/MadsieBrthAnn.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">She would have been 16 today, and oh what plans we had for when she could drive a car! I won't dwell on what would have been or might have been - like digging for fossils at Jackson Hole, and taking our needlwork with us - but will continue to be grateful for the 13 years of bright and beautiful memories she gave me to carry in my heart. </span><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3XWtDqCJiZShjeYz5q2iUVVZUm3lPpQuFS_Zcuk_896-NAXh6zRzlwvPMofYfamg3cgHgNJEftwxzTpe6lfidvUA1CVnolTgkJo6L9eI5M2TxO5IacrjcmZofsfSYrG7ZwolWg/s1600/madschair.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571039680164424530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3XWtDqCJiZShjeYz5q2iUVVZUm3lPpQuFS_Zcuk_896-NAXh6zRzlwvPMofYfamg3cgHgNJEftwxzTpe6lfidvUA1CVnolTgkJo6L9eI5M2TxO5IacrjcmZofsfSYrG7ZwolWg/s320/madschair.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The little rocking chair is the first thing I painted for her so long ago - she wasn't even walking yet. Her daddy bought the unpainted chair, and Granny decorated it. I took this picture with her Pooh, as she wouldn't stay still enough for me to get a shot with her sitting in it. Lots of smiles back then. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">At this point, I am thinking about and grateful for the wonderful kind of life she had. The colors and gaiety of the rocking chair have the feeling! Madeline had the important things, and for that we are all eternally grateful. Along with beauty and intelligence, she had parents who loved her dearly, and loved and liked each other - and a little sister whom she alternately adored and detested. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">She had kind of kooky (me) but very highly productive grandparents with whom I spent a lot of wonderful time - an added bonus. The other grandmother was a curator at the Kimball Museum in Ft. Worth, and the grandfather taught Russian history and civilization (and language) at TCU. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">There were lots of aunts and uncles, too, who thought she was wonderful, and who added to her life significantly - things like kayaking, growing fields of lavendar and making soap, and enjoying fine science fiction. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">She was blessed with material things also, and parents who were wise enough not to let her be spoiled and obnoxious.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-87970081994502248492011-02-02T11:52:00.001-08:002011-02-03T19:43:44.697-08:00Painting Monet - More Buried Treasure<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfCzfeyaiIDOLjy6SXhVTDDy2cxeSutxlhEu4TNKIg6ur0LItjNu8U8qGLP_LAWn4NCFPpfGTifSeAND2XHK_DPf52jW8jRH7XD7kTWLzXmxVgaHQD-MdYFhLnYqPQxScBP4-2g/s1600/MonetCanvas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569660416841452466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfCzfeyaiIDOLjy6SXhVTDDy2cxeSutxlhEu4TNKIg6ur0LItjNu8U8qGLP_LAWn4NCFPpfGTifSeAND2XHK_DPf52jW8jRH7XD7kTWLzXmxVgaHQD-MdYFhLnYqPQxScBP4-2g/s320/MonetCanvas.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I found more photographs while dumping out ancient files - these were dated 1996, so were taken long before I had either a digital camera or a computer. There are even shadows at the top right of this one, as I had taken it outdoors for good light. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I painted this for myself (copyright thing, etc. so I never marketed it), just to see if I could do it. It isn't the prettiest canvas I ever painted, but I will say it was the greatest challenge, the most difficult, and I thoroughly enjoyed it - and achieved what I wanted to do. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Being always mindful of painting to make the stitching easy and relaxing, I wanted to anchor the lily pads as they float on the water, but yet give the water depth and show the reflection of the trees. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The lilies and their pads appear very colorful, but if you look at the close-up, you can see that there are actually very few colors, and those are painted simply for easy stitching. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLYa_31ftWqc7H1n9bHKbQdrA19QN7MhrAV98uQ4UQsPugcHiCDRqi0U5B_iej0F2uQl_oJTFY3dGs09am-77HKwvyowBlYCp8Di1bBe1YDxmfCvyQiTx0V0fkHL1IpU_LgkwPA/s1600/LilyReflectn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569674732043216322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLYa_31ftWqc7H1n9bHKbQdrA19QN7MhrAV98uQ4UQsPugcHiCDRqi0U5B_iej0F2uQl_oJTFY3dGs09am-77HKwvyowBlYCp8Di1bBe1YDxmfCvyQiTx0V0fkHL1IpU_LgkwPA/s320/LilyReflectn.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The colors used are just "generic" enough that one could choose any of several ranges of the hues used. One would not have to stick absolutely to the color on the canvas.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTFQdNjRGI5FE6h5bM0F638wUV2OWMGRWmP2JxHhqU1RgN_8MwUwrSKk8165uCJ8UQLLAfQrzuwcvALfQ2VB4j7t8Da_RSq5-JQY_TErA3Fn8NhDPC11QKcDM3D4s3Acfe8NVBA/s1600/TreeReflec.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569664088189358690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTFQdNjRGI5FE6h5bM0F638wUV2OWMGRWmP2JxHhqU1RgN_8MwUwrSKk8165uCJ8UQLLAfQrzuwcvALfQ2VB4j7t8Da_RSq5-JQY_TErA3Fn8NhDPC11QKcDM3D4s3Acfe8NVBA/s320/TreeReflec.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The second detail shows the reflected trees with the lily pads floating on the surface of the water. This was the most difficult effect I've ever worked out. The trees had to be easy to stitch - but still kind of fuzzy like a reflection. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The water is smeared looking only because I was going to do it myself, and just wanted to cover the canvas. If it were a commercial canvas, I would have smoothed out the paint so it would look nicer in a shop. There was a second canvas - a pink one - that disappeared.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Monet painted these water lily pieces in several different colors - even green.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTh4Uj6Pwy6F1LnUzDkOU7nMLLNZj9Pr3oPSSlR4P6ZltI_qyz_fYkvUw0GBm-l-x6bxjYrFIit6iFWjzRzdfTeZTPZ08g0m4YMI56RiNdnbaLSfaph1Pdc8GOtgoMWaA_Slnfw/s1600/GreenMonet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569665731690373362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTh4Uj6Pwy6F1LnUzDkOU7nMLLNZj9Pr3oPSSlR4P6ZltI_qyz_fYkvUw0GBm-l-x6bxjYrFIit6iFWjzRzdfTeZTPZ08g0m4YMI56RiNdnbaLSfaph1Pdc8GOtgoMWaA_Slnfw/s320/GreenMonet.jpg" border="0" /></a> This flower pot was inspired by one of the green paintings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When I was first back in Austin, I still wasn't painting needlepoint canvases again yet, but started doing decorative accessories for Breed and Co. here and also the National Wildflower Research Center (Now Lady Bird's Research Center). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For Breed's I did a series of French Impressionist pots, including the saucers, which could be lids for enclosing a gift or candies or something of that nature. I used those little cheap bottles of acrylic paint - the Folk Art or Apple, made by Plaid Enterprises - great paint. It doesn't require a sealer, and I have pots that I painted many years ago that have been outside with plants in them - and they still look fresh. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">These were really fun, and very fast to produce, as they were done almost totally with natural sponges, and just smeared onto the pot. The little lilies were put there quickly with a worn out paint brush - just brush strokes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGBRj8-1NiujOvKtqp0F5ooPEBFJOSjs04dX0BorfuEU8R_BB1Ivk40OF-V_3ejP4aF6V5w4N7YcjJqye2llDORNm_0HpJ2MFAmaPiV9fr_mVooe2tr1RJrhjVBdw5gG5p3WHrA/s1600/MonetRoses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569667820884500722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGBRj8-1NiujOvKtqp0F5ooPEBFJOSjs04dX0BorfuEU8R_BB1Ivk40OF-V_3ejP4aF6V5w4N7YcjJqye2llDORNm_0HpJ2MFAmaPiV9fr_mVooe2tr1RJrhjVBdw5gG5p3WHrA/s320/MonetRoses.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The next pot is from the painting of "Monet's Roses." It was extremely simple - done all with a wet sponge except for the little roses. Those are just dabbed on with an old soft brush.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWR7FgkpuC8iYk1EWTxQLTE-esod3O01ZHwjGe4Ot-imGFZuBtRPPTHB8L3uJpMe93AGhcvh7GC_YLMo59EwAJP19iwrKQFUyXOCPpC8b8Deu2QR0xDBfHWZ_mbWKO62zbauwXw/s1600/MonetWtrLlyPot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569668681389182290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWR7FgkpuC8iYk1EWTxQLTE-esod3O01ZHwjGe4Ot-imGFZuBtRPPTHB8L3uJpMe93AGhcvh7GC_YLMo59EwAJP19iwrKQFUyXOCPpC8b8Deu2QR0xDBfHWZ_mbWKO62zbauwXw/s320/MonetWtrLlyPot.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Then another water lilies design adapted to a terra cotta flower pot. These are just the simple clay pots you can get at your garden center. Incidentally, if you want to try this yourself, do NOT use the tube acrylics, as they dry with a plastic finish, and water will seep through the walls of the pot and cause blisters and paint peeling off. The bottled paint seems to breathe with the clay, so gives no trouble.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6666DwzX1R3XgCjcdBNx5wLm0xX91oFuv2VWFwYXCNTZcES8iZiH6CRfwx5BraZaVBSEkqJel-_HCpiGyyFggJ40Du42iCt-1o9ThvmRrzy5EIZl7eHO0ibAXG83g2yxo_PrUiA/s1600/Cezanne.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569669872871827490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6666DwzX1R3XgCjcdBNx5wLm0xX91oFuv2VWFwYXCNTZcES8iZiH6CRfwx5BraZaVBSEkqJel-_HCpiGyyFggJ40Du42iCt-1o9ThvmRrzy5EIZl7eHO0ibAXG83g2yxo_PrUiA/s320/Cezanne.jpg" border="0" /></a> Enough is enough for tonight. It's time for tea and a good movie. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This last pot, I'm ashamed to say, is a mystery, as I cannot remember who the painter was. I'm inclined to say it's from Cezanne, as his style with the outlined fruit says so. However, Van Gogh's style also shows in the blue pitcher and flowers. Oh well. The arrow is pointing to a place that is a white paint mark - not something shiny.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_m8oydROXQicW5rnaj2PGgRwKmaIVN_pfeGyr7tTNSivFchAuzM76u9niQSn491NmJLpYmTVg-YsXuaYDEI38pzWbPPb-kXUvwKo_Rq1-FQP88V26vJxyd0Lpq-oWj9IPCe0BQ/s1600/VnGoghFlrngAlmnd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569671298732797746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_m8oydROXQicW5rnaj2PGgRwKmaIVN_pfeGyr7tTNSivFchAuzM76u9niQSn491NmJLpYmTVg-YsXuaYDEI38pzWbPPb-kXUvwKo_Rq1-FQP88V26vJxyd0Lpq-oWj9IPCe0BQ/s320/VnGoghFlrngAlmnd.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Oops! One more. This last one is one of my very favorites of the Van Gogh paintings - his "Flowering Almond Branch."</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-24526908691129905612011-01-31T17:07:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:59:22.519-08:00Learning/Practicing/Creating Needlepoint on Simple Shapes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid17q6tyc485WLAFt0jsbCGK1kx1VaL1IAxrvgLwpvcelaSYJl0JNMXBEC6JTDtY1dsoNLgLrv2HC-KpS0YA_yLCIaXB90BHIIkco1rwW1d0VF0sPemfxfLp_9f6VCP0ojgfObEA/s1600/TwoTrees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568528985801997842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid17q6tyc485WLAFt0jsbCGK1kx1VaL1IAxrvgLwpvcelaSYJl0JNMXBEC6JTDtY1dsoNLgLrv2HC-KpS0YA_yLCIaXB90BHIIkco1rwW1d0VF0sPemfxfLp_9f6VCP0ojgfObEA/s320/TwoTrees.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I'm still working on the conical topiary trees, and also on the Bavarian lace - but as a lot of background is required, and both pieces are green, I have to take a break. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This subject is a result of two things: First, I have been cruising around on the internet looking at painted canvases, and cannot believe some of the things I see. There are pieces that are so simple that anyone could put them onto canvas, and at rather outrageous prices, I think. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As a designer of painted canvas for so many years, I do know why fine HP Canvases are very expensive - but people need to know that they can do their own simpler small pieces if they are shown how.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oR2kN10tsOm5V9BO2u_pU0py8sNNawjMvSzseEVSsi4IjccR-OoEFrpk_MUGcN98srNmZdiHDBz03Y9dh5KwEro-VXU_QzVZzGf1NEr1ZH3yOqf7WDoyzSKRLybBocnvVPkaaQ/s1600/StarBluGrn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568524428413462242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oR2kN10tsOm5V9BO2u_pU0py8sNNawjMvSzseEVSsi4IjccR-OoEFrpk_MUGcN98srNmZdiHDBz03Y9dh5KwEro-VXU_QzVZzGf1NEr1ZH3yOqf7WDoyzSKRLybBocnvVPkaaQ/s320/StarBluGrn.jpg" border="0" /></a> I used to love teaching this. Actually, most of them don't even need to be painted!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLMj-O-KYZPJ-r09dKvzMMOYm-ID8K4JcgdfPVwFPJS3-qxBn32Z7QzogQYc6-8xTaORKTzPtdbPrftgGh-Kkf8ZdCZbck7N6A8xnpEuoiOi843IVxSc7mrF7uhYibyGNr2mHdA/s1600/HndsthHrt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568522182534826642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLMj-O-KYZPJ-r09dKvzMMOYm-ID8K4JcgdfPVwFPJS3-qxBn32Z7QzogQYc6-8xTaORKTzPtdbPrftgGh-Kkf8ZdCZbck7N6A8xnpEuoiOi843IVxSc7mrF7uhYibyGNr2mHdA/s320/HndsthHrt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The houndstooth check piece is one I did while experimenting with effects with mosaic stitch - and making my own houndstooth larger from the simple little count I developed for it. No paint required here, but just the symmetric outline of the heart drawn onto the canvas. I usually don't paint my ornaments of this sort- it's just not necessary. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Naturally, getting out these patterns (showing on the side bar as <strong>e-patterns</strong> to buy and download yourself) sent me spinning off in yet another direction: I thought of painting a bare canvas drawn in a shape- probably a circle or a heart - and doing some "scant coverage" things on it, after painting/smearing with a natural sponge in an abstract pattern..</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had to go dig out my collection of sponges from my pottery making for this, so the rest of the story waits (for success or failure). Liz Morrow is who told me about this technique.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If it emerges as I "see" it in my head, it will be great. If not, Oh Well. I normally do not like scant coverage, but in this case it has some possibilies. Now I'm off to find a movie to watch and more green stitching on the tree, and then some lace drawing.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQtrpdlxU7O9-F0r_rDxpjc3LSkKGTEgbbXSgsGX0E6RSn3rm-Ad06B225aFo188q8DwCkdJTE9Ojam1MaC0g1E3o6fYEcxEPmYDre701m6wMbwYg3U8uonF86rDq-siVyZThMA/s1600/JoeMiniPlaid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568532755213856978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQtrpdlxU7O9-F0r_rDxpjc3LSkKGTEgbbXSgsGX0E6RSn3rm-Ad06B225aFo188q8DwCkdJTE9Ojam1MaC0g1E3o6fYEcxEPmYDre701m6wMbwYg3U8uonF86rDq-siVyZThMA/s320/JoeMiniPlaid.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm showing here several of my "cookie cutter" ornaments - something I developed a number of years ago when I was experimenting with different fibers, stitches, and techniques, and tired of wasting time and canvas with just scraps. At least this way, I had something I could finish and use later - and they are small, bright, and entertaining, and they don't take long to stitch. A great relief in among larger projects.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-24764538515164187552011-01-27T13:25:00.000-08:002011-01-27T14:41:09.745-08:00Bavarian Lace in Needlepoint (hopefully)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASDfapv3oRNkuFRi8OGgd3g9ejcN_5QZ_-Nfsk5MPSfQGlUz9P7_Psz3dyD9NpHCwFwNphaDyYilqscfcuVFFSegMXsaTQR3p0-_h3HEqJppdx_spQKpYAgwUMQk3ZH0ca945zA/s1600/LaceIII.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566985417665598146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASDfapv3oRNkuFRi8OGgd3g9ejcN_5QZ_-Nfsk5MPSfQGlUz9P7_Psz3dyD9NpHCwFwNphaDyYilqscfcuVFFSegMXsaTQR3p0-_h3HEqJppdx_spQKpYAgwUMQk3ZH0ca945zA/s320/LaceIII.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Embarking on a new quest for knowledge, and I'm afraid gone a bit too far, as usual. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When I first decided to do the "ethnic" dolls in their national costumes, I noticed the beautiful lace insets on the aprons and sleeves of the German dirndl. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To back up a bit, I began replicating lace many years ago in needlepoint, but my facination was the Irish crocheted lace, as I had crocheted many pieces of it myself, so understood the construction. I especially enjoyed doing "filet lace," as you can see here in the top two pieces, in which a netting is worked with fillers in the "bump" stitches to create a pattern.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Bavarian lace is a bobbin lace, constructed down flat on a pillow, which produces a netting that is flled in with various patterns, but lies flat rather than having the "bobbles." I was amazed at the variation of the netting in the different regional laces, and that of different countries, and wanted to be careful not to make it look like the crocheted lace in my needlepoint things. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One of them has the same netting as filet lace, and others range from six to eight sided openings. So - my first chore has been to figure out how to replicate this fine netting on needlepoint canvas, which is an even weave scrim, and then to fill in a simple pattern - without making it look like crocheted lace.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-6Bx2ldC6RN4iYEM92j9BNj0XCFr_BJV2dDyIMxfa-HZPjTV2HFDZdKKvg2t6vWaW25vJTPJvuZ5ZQYIdRnHYp9eA2IyXWgMcRZt6K9L-ZuM01_Ms23_NORfguphRzaCC2fMXw/s1600/BvrnLace1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566988854435832274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-6Bx2ldC6RN4iYEM92j9BNj0XCFr_BJV2dDyIMxfa-HZPjTV2HFDZdKKvg2t6vWaW25vJTPJvuZ5ZQYIdRnHYp9eA2IyXWgMcRZt6K9L-ZuM01_Ms23_NORfguphRzaCC2fMXw/s320/BvrnLace1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3E92BA28XCyPLfp8bB5xbg2Mt_Ms6dp5nfZM5W9WAPGyVMjfJysgNYlVCqYy11AgVc_1eRkC5jDgnRT02P9aDlJ5P0HClfSFgzXdsFy940B_mQCsEaipAsk9zF2LeWi57eEdhQ/s1600/BvranLce2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566989601774089426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3E92BA28XCyPLfp8bB5xbg2Mt_Ms6dp5nfZM5W9WAPGyVMjfJysgNYlVCqYy11AgVc_1eRkC5jDgnRT02P9aDlJ5P0HClfSFgzXdsFy940B_mQCsEaipAsk9zF2LeWi57eEdhQ/s320/BvranLce2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who know a lot more about this lace thing than I do, as the construction of real lace has not been one of my studies over the years. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, what I finally devised as a netting has four pointers to show a fast and easy way to draw it onto canvas without having to count - or even to think, in this situation. That was a total struggle in the beginning, and I made some pretty awful mistakes with it. The canvas that looks like ladders is to show the quickest way to do this without having to count anything.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZVT_Eq3IiP6QW7MDiszSwwpkopuaRcKjpfUSB1T4adeyPJ4TBHpxj9kyJPTmz5_sQ8l2tre-_oCPuEkPPGysqsV80Lo5oJHkwnjj4i1iAbd-r6-mW8w4JVavlJMlxDiYG-mQzA/s1600/1st+bav+Lce.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566991634104227602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZVT_Eq3IiP6QW7MDiszSwwpkopuaRcKjpfUSB1T4adeyPJ4TBHpxj9kyJPTmz5_sQ8l2tre-_oCPuEkPPGysqsV80Lo5oJHkwnjj4i1iAbd-r6-mW8w4JVavlJMlxDiYG-mQzA/s320/1st+bav+Lce.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Next was the task of filling in a pattern of some sort to see if I could stitch it.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVTjkcDsANxtLDpG8Qlrnty2a_5r2OQ0hTF1gDUAq7R7oAH0_vcePF5oJUim-L9fYCzLUzCw164-G3lSY4zm7jrjy3hUU1VvydPxj5w-hTVflufyQ1ugKnqz7Jb5lOJTGv5TJpw/s1600/2ndBavLace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566992263892064930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVTjkcDsANxtLDpG8Qlrnty2a_5r2OQ0hTF1gDUAq7R7oAH0_vcePF5oJUim-L9fYCzLUzCw164-G3lSY4zm7jrjy3hUU1VvydPxj5w-hTVflufyQ1ugKnqz7Jb5lOJTGv5TJpw/s320/2ndBavLace.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is drawn with the light blue Sharpie drawing pen, as I intended to stitch it in white with a dark green "fabric" showing through. I like the second one best, as it shows "netting," which is the most difficult part of developing this thing. I have to keep reminding myself that's it's only to be a little band of lace on a small apron, but I enjoy the designing process and figuring it out. Oh well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_7UJdyhswmc5jQLG5tJysf43_d4ii4ueMz7_iUJH1wunyFdKK_GZgjTt8mpw8XXlfZgcE-0KQDSTyNhRpffG5FygXCvQyIadMSmAcGWadsXjKRC30feGSQqo9Iej-naH80LVUg/s1600/StchdLace1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566993443512202898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_7UJdyhswmc5jQLG5tJysf43_d4ii4ueMz7_iUJH1wunyFdKK_GZgjTt8mpw8XXlfZgcE-0KQDSTyNhRpffG5FygXCvQyIadMSmAcGWadsXjKRC30feGSQqo9Iej-naH80LVUg/s320/StchdLace1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There are several mistakes here, as I was trying out different things - and the pointer shows where I decided I could make a scalloped edging by leaving out the two little stitches in that space. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now I need to design an actual pattern to use, and although I never design on graph paper, I decided it would be easiest on this to have something on paper for doodling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVJT_l4xAGqW9Fy88-yCL86hPd1b1c-4EHLzbVIQyYOKzCMd2xqIePrne8YvI2xR_pvdOuAKFr_eevMElQr2DaSDAPYP29fegPvtVJ-EQbYC1EKY0ar6izJ5hnqcSHpbnXl1hFw/s1600/Netting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566995749005571618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVJT_l4xAGqW9Fy88-yCL86hPd1b1c-4EHLzbVIQyYOKzCMd2xqIePrne8YvI2xR_pvdOuAKFr_eevMElQr2DaSDAPYP29fegPvtVJ-EQbYC1EKY0ar6izJ5hnqcSHpbnXl1hFw/s320/Netting.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I enlarged the drawing on canvas, (150%) printed out several paper copies, and that will be my practice page. Canvas is on the left, paper copy is on the right.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">ADDENDUM: I used DMC cotton floss # 3865, which I like very much, as it isn't so bright white as the Blanc, and it lies nice and flat. The background is Vineyard Silk - "Holly" as I remember. (lost the tag) I tried perle cotton for the lace, but it was pretty awful looking for this due to the twist.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-46847019033166964072011-01-21T10:24:00.000-08:002011-01-21T10:36:03.697-08:00The Music and Ballet Continue!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkXI3OWItMJ_e6i5QN7WQtydN1LLRmgi4fHgU1tPuaXR0PwIm6X-odUF2879pAqGgrbXY_YcrPmCC5vlDOvhFVOWIU58EdK0U5w8ORr7IOSF0uRlSsNKxAY_IjhM8ttSqXTyCQA/s1600/Sugar_12_28_10_002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564708424257553554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkXI3OWItMJ_e6i5QN7WQtydN1LLRmgi4fHgU1tPuaXR0PwIm6X-odUF2879pAqGgrbXY_YcrPmCC5vlDOvhFVOWIU58EdK0U5w8ORr7IOSF0uRlSsNKxAY_IjhM8ttSqXTyCQA/s320/Sugar_12_28_10_002.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">For any who have missed some of these delightful renditions of the characters from The Nutcracker Suite ballet - be sure to look at Anne Stradal's blog, <a href="http://www.thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/">The Cape Stitcher</a>, often, as her little dancers are the best that have been done. They have amazing movement and personality as well as excellent choices of stitches to enhance them. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> This is a picture of the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is my own personal favorite, as is her music. She is completed, and the stitching is shown step by step in the blog posts. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Today is the beginning of "Chocolate," which should be most entertaining - a duo of characters dancing, dressed in costumes with more than a hint of the Spanish influence. If you aren't already following, this one will be great entertainment.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-23888143544268794182011-01-17T17:14:00.000-08:002011-01-17T19:06:46.967-08:00Another Site for Great Images and Color!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hU2ckaUW0WxgrgZa_7_kBpuL_ipt2K9e_PaAdb5wXhyphenhyphenLPAz5F_8XLBTeq2UXBCjKskuNDplouvA5EkBhhmDjP5nDwEYojOGUl7e6IIuQAUw2elu8vm_QHo3MG0-A5oweNmCcIg/s1600/Houston.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563329100436701618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hU2ckaUW0WxgrgZa_7_kBpuL_ipt2K9e_PaAdb5wXhyphenhyphenLPAz5F_8XLBTeq2UXBCjKskuNDplouvA5EkBhhmDjP5nDwEYojOGUl7e6IIuQAUw2elu8vm_QHo3MG0-A5oweNmCcIg/s320/Houston.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Before I get excited again and can't remember the name of the artist and the quilt - this is Laura Wasilowski of Illinois at the Houston Quilt Show, where she says she was a "woman packing iron." The quilt is named "Pressing Matters." </span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I found the site by total accident, and have spent several hours over a few days looking at things - there is a blog as well as a delightful web page.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This is an art quilt technique in which the fabric patches are cut and then fused onto a background, rather than sewn as they usually are. Then stitching embellishments follow. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Laura's graphics are delightful and colorful, and the text had me LOL in several places - especially the part about the Chicago School of Fusing. Her style ranges from whimsical to rather sophisticated and abstract.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzxacttlKVfzildu8gDxhVhllu0PvPTbEQHioGHdn9fH09dj0eHxjVZ3zxY4VmPtBZWnGsa0v8fT5tdVPubp87lt_NuQM7IZ5enjltGfWacMTVGxo6PF1MaUoEXBKjbt71cc07w/s1600/housingdept25.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563332416273981074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzxacttlKVfzildu8gDxhVhllu0PvPTbEQHioGHdn9fH09dj0eHxjVZ3zxY4VmPtBZWnGsa0v8fT5tdVPubp87lt_NuQM7IZ5enjltGfWacMTVGxo6PF1MaUoEXBKjbt71cc07w/s320/housingdept25.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Be sure to click on all of the "departments" on the front page of the web page - the "stitch-u-structions" is equally delightful and informative. It has a ten commandments for art quilters, which tells me we need one for needlepointers as well. (right now, I don't remember if this is on the blog or somewhere on the web page.)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The second picture is one of her large quilts from the "Housing Department." Equally wonderful are the Produce Section and<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Yb3NhGlZ12ZNjsnRaritCCnkh5ubjKEY9ZkKIDdyIyURxzDlVLNouakig2pknyG9udo4p0LvAdlFq4Eu2yMdSZ6-latRA8YLfiDqdKGGlBVJsLx3YyuAcKJj9xjuuZ7-maN0vw/s1600/youngforest2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333630181571570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Yb3NhGlZ12ZNjsnRaritCCnkh5ubjKEY9ZkKIDdyIyURxzDlVLNouakig2pknyG9udo4p0LvAdlFq4Eu2yMdSZ6-latRA8YLfiDqdKGGlBVJsLx3YyuAcKJj9xjuuZ7-maN0vw/s320/youngforest2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Landscapes and Nature.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WhmanJ4FANexr85fBlPiYRauPL4_RcuW5v0ott-vKrQJeeCjKn4wOTHTuS4CR2iW_AjhYn9nTIH0zB0caWpxaZC3OZtKaP9szjQ92rqlneefP4eHsyqePHWe7I5_YwXnDtkLVw/s1600/Wasilowski_seedpods.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563336132738661058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WhmanJ4FANexr85fBlPiYRauPL4_RcuW5v0ott-vKrQJeeCjKn4wOTHTuS4CR2iW_AjhYn9nTIH0zB0caWpxaZC3OZtKaP9szjQ92rqlneefP4eHsyqePHWe7I5_YwXnDtkLVw/s320/Wasilowski_seedpods.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I won't attempt to show any more, as I could go on for several more pages about this wonderful version of needlework, which is a new one to me. Oh where have I been?? </span></div><div> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This lady dyes her own fabrics, I forgot to mention, and has them for sale, as well as threads. Anyway, do go see her web page at <a href="http://www.artfabrik.com/index.html">Art Fabrik</a> and enjoy it. See also her blog, as there is a link to it on the web page.</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-33183605443307055382011-01-10T17:58:00.000-08:002011-01-10T19:22:58.570-08:00The Joy of Simple Things - Fun Stitches and Techniques<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8996K5aMHHrRCQVQh92GCmZ0pBWqE1tUaMp5vv5m_2aeVyNgJKjFchmqk448JQUzkZI7Qtnh2XgqcWnkkPjQSENBFWGHgWTqRD2s92YRETIAYngVm8WNewJRxho4lb4UOq0kuw/s1600/wreath_004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560745326667110642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8996K5aMHHrRCQVQh92GCmZ0pBWqE1tUaMp5vv5m_2aeVyNgJKjFchmqk448JQUzkZI7Qtnh2XgqcWnkkPjQSENBFWGHgWTqRD2s92YRETIAYngVm8WNewJRxho4lb4UOq0kuw/s320/wreath_004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I was checking again today on Mary Agnes' blog from <a href="http://www.needlenicely.blogspot.com/">Needle Nicely</a>, <a href="http://www.needlenicely.blogspot.com/">(click here to see)</a> and was happy to see what she's done with a simple, but effective stitch (Hungarian criss-cross, one of my very favorites) to make a bright, easy, effective piece of needlepoint stitchery</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Mary Agnes is a shop owner and teacher (In Vero Beach, Florida) - so it's very gratifying to see someone who strays "out of the norm" and gets very creative for herself and encourages her clientele also. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Needlepoint is supposed to be fun. I had become bored with my topiary trees, but after seeing this and it's potential, I'm back at the drawing board and into the stash and decorating more trees, etc. - it's fun and relaxing, and these little projects are great for decompression from more tedious and serious things sometimes. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">It's also a great way to use up stash threads, and to learn and practice new stitches and techniques. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">As it's time to get started for the next season, I have put purchase buttons for some of my e-pattern eggs and hearts - two on this blog, and two on the Freebies, etc. front page. Quick, easy, creative!!</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-68996221622064044922011-01-06T09:23:00.000-08:002011-01-06T09:33:58.083-08:00Great Thread Information!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc6MXQuifU9Sx9r7Z8ZfH55IryVtXsMCPmtEhNDVBGpHy_CqyyTeMxuAq_lmYpvxAbKSZTztGXIjuDSDo5wTM0w8kzjoOXSn3uEo_vbuFpDwgED2EF5LPtkjtPZ9Eb3Bbn5omzQ/s1600/s-twist-z-twist-11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559126136245387522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc6MXQuifU9Sx9r7Z8ZfH55IryVtXsMCPmtEhNDVBGpHy_CqyyTeMxuAq_lmYpvxAbKSZTztGXIjuDSDo5wTM0w8kzjoOXSn3uEo_vbuFpDwgED2EF5LPtkjtPZ9Eb3Bbn5omzQ/s320/s-twist-z-twist-11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Be sure to go see <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/">Mary Corbet's wonderful, informative blog</a> as soon as possible, as she has just started a great series of posts involving the effect of the "Z-twist and S-twist" threads on our stitches.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Click on the "continue reading" to see the whole thing as of now. </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">While I already was aware of the twist in the Perle Cotton (and who isn't?) I really hadn't thought of the effect it has on things like stem and outline stitch and even French knots!</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-56980378292054840692011-01-02T18:58:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:22:30.096-08:00A Learning Experience (a Big Mess)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GXUBSS9bw7RAIvz-goj4kcVANUrDTvJ8Ke72bxn78nqGpkwEVcmYbx0vcnr8w7FqHQdCl5WxR_MZKNxvv9NEpq75LOuA_UgzMpDBKExJZMDMx4C54Ol69nKw2AQoJEihRoBrzQ/s1600/Tree1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557790175317848562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GXUBSS9bw7RAIvz-goj4kcVANUrDTvJ8Ke72bxn78nqGpkwEVcmYbx0vcnr8w7FqHQdCl5WxR_MZKNxvv9NEpq75LOuA_UgzMpDBKExJZMDMx4C54Ol69nKw2AQoJEihRoBrzQ/s320/Tree1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">New things never quite end up the way I had imagined. I wanted to use some of the stitches on this tree from Sharon B's stitch dictionary, which you can find on <a href="http://www.pintangle.com/">PINTANGLE</a>, so chose as a base for the "tinsel" her <strong>heavy chain</strong> stitch. (You can find this dictionary on the list on the right side of her blog.) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The arrow points to an error I made when I decided not to stitch paint that line, centering it - it is quite off center and looks very strange. However, a few well placed silk ribbon flowers and a few French knots should disguise it, as I will NOT be ripping out anything here. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I switched to a chenille needle for the chain stitch, and found it quite easy and very effective, as it's fat and stands up well off the surface of the canvas. I didn't have the Kreinik braid I wanted to use in my stash, so used the 002V 1/16" ribbon, which has a lovely color and sheen. The lower arrow points to the place where I stitched in the mark for the next swag and failed to center it either. I'll have to make do with silk ribbon flowers here as well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4fX01BZuFRzNLL50Kz22auZ9JXQPPXaUhQeyaR5VhuCSyKf_SRyTtM9FUkUJ7BOEfH2LrVrTqIZ1zOXN_d3IOUYFyTqmif3mJFuNY7uYdYB5Nnz8HLWEeCXzLcfHbT96A4MAhw/s1600/Tree2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557791376985342034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4fX01BZuFRzNLL50Kz22auZ9JXQPPXaUhQeyaR5VhuCSyKf_SRyTtM9FUkUJ7BOEfH2LrVrTqIZ1zOXN_d3IOUYFyTqmif3mJFuNY7uYdYB5Nnz8HLWEeCXzLcfHbT96A4MAhw/s320/Tree2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's amazing how the curved lines become straight ones when the canvas is folded around to make the cone! The arrow points to a dip which is only there because of the way I'm holding the piece - it's just kind of crumpled and held in my left hand while I took the picture. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The lower arrows show where I extended the stitches down through the sawtooth gaps in order to continue the Nobuko stitches correctly, and as they are "blended," it will be even better. Again, the line looks wavy because of the way I'm holding it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Bux8B4Ahdqu1XjP7-Aqdhi6EXabh121WdxeRZIh1UkBHs9Q6kAK6Ri7kPJToe8yTJ73MwPDVAstkfUma9SL7D-eU_P3TYadeB_nV1TmMw558aPwcnR5PXNPRnviQoek6H5VB9w/s1600/TreeCntrd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557792847829408978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Bux8B4Ahdqu1XjP7-Aqdhi6EXabh121WdxeRZIh1UkBHs9Q6kAK6Ri7kPJToe8yTJ73MwPDVAstkfUma9SL7D-eU_P3TYadeB_nV1TmMw558aPwcnR5PXNPRnviQoek6H5VB9w/s320/TreeCntrd.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I redrew the line that was light blue, and made it totally centered for better appearance. The arrow at the bottom points to the center mark I had made when I drew the lower curve. You can see how far off center my blue line was - YUK! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, back to the stitching, a good movie, and hopefully some more inspiration. I do have something else working that I'll show on Freebies hopefully tomorrow.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-25961715007119372672010-12-27T16:01:00.000-08:002010-12-30T08:27:16.690-08:00Developing Patterns for Needlepoint<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCWhDQCcqTP_yovPf5jzPGxcUhCCQatwzgCCd38izbOzKx4UreUnXWrutGwXSS64RaxTodsNw_HJSMl3dNQ6F5GFENJW_1W91jB7YSFoEYnpjLb0OGF7uPbbRyG-LZeSGs9hxsg/s1600/PaperCone1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555519621061193122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCWhDQCcqTP_yovPf5jzPGxcUhCCQatwzgCCd38izbOzKx4UreUnXWrutGwXSS64RaxTodsNw_HJSMl3dNQ6F5GFENJW_1W91jB7YSFoEYnpjLb0OGF7uPbbRyG-LZeSGs9hxsg/s320/PaperCone1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">While working on this project and getting more and more addicted to it, I realized that many people don't know why we designers charge such high prices for some of it - it takes a long time and a lot of thought and effort to get it right! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As the ideas keep coming and I keep working, I'm getting excited about the possibilities here with these conical shapes. I think this form, rather than the painted canvas version, started with some Murano blown glass trees I saw in the catalog from The Art Institute of Chicago. These images kind of "implant" in the brain. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway - playing around today with the poster board cone and the white paper, I decided I needed to do something with "tinsel" swags going in a continuous diagonal line around the tree. The first photo shows a squiggly freehand line I drew. I had tried several things that didn't work, but we won't go into that now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Bear in mind I was sitting up on my bed, watching a movie on the DVD player, so the line isn't perfect. Opening these things out is sometimes the fun part, as it's a big surprise.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM83pbJd95lsedCS_jqYrL9FXksP5yh3ZK0Q4Rei0OuiN3_AwpBTBh5DXA4fMKuM0JOSvrgzmPZGfSIkPmCsAFrLybLux6FTlBaxYHIKR8UVYuhfeuBLGyua4_10SXSLiB-rR_Q/s1600/PaperCone1Flat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555520290997306770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM83pbJd95lsedCS_jqYrL9FXksP5yh3ZK0Q4Rei0OuiN3_AwpBTBh5DXA4fMKuM0JOSvrgzmPZGfSIkPmCsAFrLybLux6FTlBaxYHIKR8UVYuhfeuBLGyua4_10SXSLiB-rR_Q/s320/PaperCone1Flat.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It occurred to me that the curved lines appear to have their ends on a straight line, which would be great for making sure they connect at the right place on the back. So - out came the green marker and the straight edge - and Voila!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now to put it onto canvas with this as a guide. Obviously, the canvas will be oriented with the point at the top, and it will only require running a fingernail across to get the marks in the correct places on the edges. (I'll show it on Freebies, etc. when I get it drawn correctly)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1DTMZ3QbpHj7ctDysSYB5YjKUVeEBQduX5XQctdVcnzXnT6Efx9zuGH9Pwn1yLdDzxvRTPqUKO217t_bS6PEssP02_FIisYxRHSB-5tQ6YmNFTDLa_PxAgedhWG3e6hDJxyqQ/s1600/PrCone1GrnLines.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555521154399069634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1DTMZ3QbpHj7ctDysSYB5YjKUVeEBQduX5XQctdVcnzXnT6Efx9zuGH9Pwn1yLdDzxvRTPqUKO217t_bS6PEssP02_FIisYxRHSB-5tQ6YmNFTDLa_PxAgedhWG3e6hDJxyqQ/s320/PrCone1GrnLines.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Next, I decided to be clever and see what I could do with using my diagonal laces and trims of two years ago - so first I drew a series of straight lines parallel to the edges of the tree, as the laces were worked on the 45 degree angle of the canvas.. I didn't measure or anything, as this is just an experiment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyalFqIvzGzwqOjR4J7Xg3bk-_IfTBwH-EnNBCAv4dDF-8VWUSn8YVFQOfWNxxmn5EqdGGKjV-KazWNC3J5WaJiJJAXdRVgFA7T3Vi4XOZ08rKN_PGma56iLwZSytzSa3ApxE9AA/s1600/DiagLcesCone2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522711728663170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyalFqIvzGzwqOjR4J7Xg3bk-_IfTBwH-EnNBCAv4dDF-8VWUSn8YVFQOfWNxxmn5EqdGGKjV-KazWNC3J5WaJiJJAXdRVgFA7T3Vi4XOZ08rKN_PGma56iLwZSytzSa3ApxE9AA/s320/DiagLcesCone2.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I couldn't believe what it looked like on the back when I put it onto the poster board cone!! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You can see that the lines are drawn straight and parallel to the edges. Again, I didn't measure anything - just random straight lines made with my plastic ruler. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Looking at this also gives me another idea - using my laces that are stitched on the horizontal and vertical. It can be done with a bit more time playing with paper and scissors.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_14qH7UqY5m01Qh-XHs0n0eTCMykEos3gh9of_0QvH5rWap0gVMHmn9Lsx3FWNHU69ugBW-XpYhHD2xki-e-N6FatmaI81UrRs_02DF19Gocmg1pEUfagS-JHHZllCJYfLSFXFg/s1600/DiagCn2Back.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555523460592268162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_14qH7UqY5m01Qh-XHs0n0eTCMykEos3gh9of_0QvH5rWap0gVMHmn9Lsx3FWNHU69ugBW-XpYhHD2xki-e-N6FatmaI81UrRs_02DF19Gocmg1pEUfagS-JHHZllCJYfLSFXFg/s320/DiagCn2Back.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1DTMZ3QbpHj7ctDysSYB5YjKUVeEBQduX5XQctdVcnzXnT6Efx9zuGH9Pwn1yLdDzxvRTPqUKO217t_bS6PEssP02_FIisYxRHSB-5tQ6YmNFTDLa_PxAgedhWG3e6hDJxyqQ/s1600/PrCone1GrnLines.jpg"></a></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I won't stitch one in lace unless I come up with something different, as this lace binge lasted quite a while - I first did that in the early 70's, and then again about 12 years ago. I'm all laced out and drained dry, but still love it! (However, I'm working on replicating Bavarian lace in needlepoint for another "ethnic doll" I have planned.) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWE93yzD70W1IvTpQlW0xw7gTga5NkAUjXSM2q4HIgzpcfNZuG2H4xK_m9tzxdns_bjokqoN_GhxVDsKzEevCAHbQdwtc_BJEW1mjhAKh0ClOCXGYoFdQfP0_Wiz2pQuuuxbEgQ/s1600/VerticalDiagLace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555525672956431762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWE93yzD70W1IvTpQlW0xw7gTga5NkAUjXSM2q4HIgzpcfNZuG2H4xK_m9tzxdns_bjokqoN_GhxVDsKzEevCAHbQdwtc_BJEW1mjhAKh0ClOCXGYoFdQfP0_Wiz2pQuuuxbEgQ/s320/VerticalDiagLace.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm showing the diagonal laces for anyone who missed them, as they were made in May, 1998. The diagonal "rollie" shows how well they translate for something like this. I went on to do mini-stockings with "jeweled" chains - all kinds of fun and glittery things. I have put the booklet of these at a discount price on Freebies, etc. for anyone who wants to try it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ800tfSpYnwVezTv1zJwAP6Ca5tg3j2nfG7-O0WUEJswabwJEcOiLWctZC6Ua6wCZSJR5JP4aCOCKZYM5UqL7t2pY3Qf6ywrr3Y2i9d4fXfX5X4k9W7QFn6imTfHWbmQdOFyIQ/s1600/RollSpiral.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555526181767530370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ800tfSpYnwVezTv1zJwAP6Ca5tg3j2nfG7-O0WUEJswabwJEcOiLWctZC6Ua6wCZSJR5JP4aCOCKZYM5UqL7t2pY3Qf6ywrr3Y2i9d4fXfX5X4k9W7QFn6imTfHWbmQdOFyIQ/s320/RollSpiral.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1DTMZ3QbpHj7ctDysSYB5YjKUVeEBQduX5XQctdVcnzXnT6Efx9zuGH9Pwn1yLdDzxvRTPqUKO217t_bS6PEssP02_FIisYxRHSB-5tQ6YmNFTDLa_PxAgedhWG3e6hDJxyqQ/s1600/PrCone1GrnLines.jpg"></a></span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-81996989474283440242010-12-24T09:44:00.000-08:002010-12-27T08:20:23.799-08:00Needlepoint Topiaries: Ignorance was Bliss!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IrWk7AFocxiy-rHuN5CGKbmtYWSRo2weUj6uQscKr9LhGtcgy-WgdZE_Y-884BlrOUiY0vpKYT23a2tet7zLKybsS9tkaumNhiZNCXU0CQ-13kohgITCgmgW-rbDU_hY6yPXUA/s1600/TopiarySt1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555203270993216706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IrWk7AFocxiy-rHuN5CGKbmtYWSRo2weUj6uQscKr9LhGtcgy-WgdZE_Y-884BlrOUiY0vpKYT23a2tet7zLKybsS9tkaumNhiZNCXU0CQ-13kohgITCgmgW-rbDU_hY6yPXUA/s320/TopiarySt1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I wasn't thinking when I put the first topiary trees on canvas so long ago - as I was still doing everything in basketweave, and saw no problem with doing it so oriented. It also conserved canvas, as the bottom is very wide, and to put the top of the cone at the top of the canvas used more than doing it the way the photo shows.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I've been looking at it, and realize I would have difficulty stitching it, even in basketweave, as I want things upright for some reason. The first tree I stitched was sent to my mother, as she had announced that she was not going to put up a tree for Christmas that year - so I sent her my funny looking little needlepoint topiary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had just begun to design again, so was not acquainted with or aware of a lot of decorative stitches and novelty threads, so stitched it in baskeweave with Caron's Watercolours. The resulting diagonal stripes were not pretty. I did put little "jewels" of different colors on it with bump stitches of different sizes, and outlined them with Kreinik gold metallic braid.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now that my ignorance of these things has somewhat been cured, and my stash of novelty threads is outrageous, I've had a lot of difficulty with the project of resurrecting the little trees. I have to be sure the background stitches lie correctly - no diagonally oriented ones would work. It was much easier when I was completely ignorant and unaware.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I decided to just practice on this first one, and am using DMC floss with Nobuko stitch - needle shaded. I stitched a very light green line in tent stitch where I'll put surface embellishement in the form of a swag of silk ribbon flowers or something spectacular - I had to have the line showing so it will be horizontal and also meet where it should when the cone is closed and finished.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the first photo, I have stitched down to the first division for the needle blending - where I will begin using 1 ply of the darker shade and 3 of the lighter.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDbCnY2mX0H7RGPkmrYgGCNN_dxCM45I2o1LelvIpc8gwx5rHCALQIw5QIHZZe8ooEjLLjJR6VkK3pqbYqvNA627JqrcsB4fb3R-JsovX4-jSzi8Ou05eDL6KdMLJxWfmi7dqyQ/s1600/TopryStch2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555204645416689218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDbCnY2mX0H7RGPkmrYgGCNN_dxCM45I2o1LelvIpc8gwx5rHCALQIw5QIHZZe8ooEjLLjJR6VkK3pqbYqvNA627JqrcsB4fb3R-JsovX4-jSzi8Ou05eDL6KdMLJxWfmi7dqyQ/s320/TopryStch2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The second picture shows continuing Nobuko backgroun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qRi0iiBcLXxsu8YFx34e-7wUNJhfVgN_xadeuEJlbPXMzNRhCdal7QBDOi2k-aMv_EgKy2Hb0npDYe6919N30t5UbAkvb4YMMsFuHjlsDNl6cdEU5lNpLA6cus9xFEYbpX7whA/s1600/TopryStch3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555205861878044450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qRi0iiBcLXxsu8YFx34e-7wUNJhfVgN_xadeuEJlbPXMzNRhCdal7QBDOi2k-aMv_EgKy2Hb0npDYe6919N30t5UbAkvb4YMMsFuHjlsDNl6cdEU5lNpLA6cus9xFEYbpX7whA/s320/TopryStch3.jpg" border="0" /></a>d in the second group of shades. The work then needs to be turned upside down in order to continue Nobuko to fill in the space and keep it lined up as it should be. It stops where the light green line is, as that is the place for the horizontal swag or whatever will be put there on top of the background stitching later.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">ADDENDUM/NOTE: Rather than remove this post and start over, I am leaving it almost as it was - to show where I erred in judgment. I should NEVER make a blog post late at night when my reasoning/thinking is impaired. My brain wires short circuit after about 7 p.m. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, what I did here with the lines for the needle blending and the lines for the swags isn't good, and makes some really ugly looking places in the Nobuko stitch background. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU_IUnc3G0v0w3HcRofFeSYP28k78AXP2Dklu710K-MByX4ODM-5uvaoTfeF4orP1WKf-iXWizEm5szKsPX9rVA75BvWuNNAY8vM7F7SZvFiPZTKtRetZ4rE6M-qbRKisWPGcUA/s1600/TopryStch4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555395997184855186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU_IUnc3G0v0w3HcRofFeSYP28k78AXP2Dklu710K-MByX4ODM-5uvaoTfeF4orP1WKf-iXWizEm5szKsPX9rVA75BvWuNNAY8vM7F7SZvFiPZTKtRetZ4rE6M-qbRKisWPGcUA/s320/TopryStch4.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Therefore, as the "swag" lines - the blue ones which I stitched in light green, should also be used as the shading lines, as it works nicely for this.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Any irregularities will be covered with surface embellishment, and it also divides the space into four sections, which is adequate - my wish is to have the tree lighter at the top and darker at the bottom, so it doesn't really matter. By doing it this way, there will be NO need to turn it upside down to fill in spaces.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If this "needle blending" technique is new to you, visit <a href="http://www.thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/">The Cape Stitcher</a> for Anne Stradal's explanations when she uses it for skies on her beautiful lighthouses. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's very important to keep this background stitch going properly - so you can see by the lower left arrow where I started the next row. It's actually quite simple if you understand the structure of this stitch. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The 1 and 3 ply combo will continue down to the black line, and then change to 2 and 2 plies of each shade. If it's ghastly looking, I'll trash it and start something else. It has occurred to me that these things needn't be all Christmas trees - nor do they have to be green. I can see seasonal table centerpieces with little forests of them. I have put the pattern over on <a href="http://needle-crafts.blogspot.com/">Freebies, etc.</a> for you, as well as a tutorial on how to design your own.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-83587972151890122052010-12-20T14:54:00.000-08:002010-12-20T19:11:09.033-08:00Drawing the Topiary Template - getting started<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqqoATgqWwDvrux1-vm_FhfQtQ2NSuX8v7w5M3lshXhhL0q96MDk-8XZphuAMPiuL3I1bfKbEqkaP_baq2Vs68j9Rq9H9XCpeXIn6j6tNFQaOfPdPd90Myv_0eZWftPAH34BX8Q/s1600/Topiary1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552957361584078370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqqoATgqWwDvrux1-vm_FhfQtQ2NSuX8v7w5M3lshXhhL0q96MDk-8XZphuAMPiuL3I1bfKbEqkaP_baq2Vs68j9Rq9H9XCpeXIn6j6tNFQaOfPdPd90Myv_0eZWftPAH34BX8Q/s320/Topiary1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Arial;">When this idea first popped into my head a number of years ago, I had no idea how I would make a conical 3-D tree in needlepoint, so went to a craft store and purchased three styrofoam cones - three different heights, as I had visualized a nice little forest of trees on the mantel or dining table. To save a lot of time here, I'll just say it didn't work. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The paper pattern models I made with them were way to skinny. Then - and again, skipping a lot of other failed experiments - I decided to just make a simple cone with poster board, using a compass and tape. To my surprise, a 90 degree angle worked best, and the proportions were wonderful for a needlepoint topiary tree! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm showing in this first picture the method one might use if one's compass is buried at the bottom of an unknown box in the garage - it's my trusty tape measure. I measured down from the corner 7 inches, and then, using the tape measure, just made intermittent dots, along which I cut the poster board. Neatness is not a great factor here..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajQBtm3qqseKTPxDRGLZMJxaEDfXtgShSOK9LtmxA6581iK_WVmJ8YS2Cds8FISSpVThTaJJ7FWs_2Nk41NemewRIO0gzLDppHRs61rtBj30C2GxvrJJ0SMRbeUhqX-phr_YvNQ/s1600/Topiary2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552958905999278242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajQBtm3qqseKTPxDRGLZMJxaEDfXtgShSOK9LtmxA6581iK_WVmJ8YS2Cds8FISSpVThTaJJ7FWs_2Nk41NemewRIO0gzLDppHRs61rtBj30C2GxvrJJ0SMRbeUhqX-phr_YvNQ/s320/Topiary2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then I found the compass and it's extension arm, and did the same thing on a piece of white paper - but made more definite lines - neater, etc., and included two more concentric circles, as this willl aid in the pattern making to make any swags or other lines meet where they should when the cone is formed with the canvas.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVASqKOZg9mWcTZxRXuy18lKxgsldAQ8-BzACTdbs2-r0NiJN81r0ACaGGm6T_27M4egvLKVC2ri_oRtmSAGWPSLoTO32-Rk-Fdt3BM8r8PYbNuzj7NtnLUmLM7PCkBroBgPk6Sg/s1600/Topiary3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552959545932605410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVASqKOZg9mWcTZxRXuy18lKxgsldAQ8-BzACTdbs2-r0NiJN81r0ACaGGm6T_27M4egvLKVC2ri_oRtmSAGWPSLoTO32-Rk-Fdt3BM8r8PYbNuzj7NtnLUmLM7PCkBroBgPk6Sg/s320/Topiary3.jpg" border="0" /></a> I cut the paper model very carefully and neatly along the bottom.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">You can see the penciled lines that are partial concentric circles out flat on the pattern, but then are just lines that go straight around the cone when it's put together. (with a little bit of tape)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the next photo, I just lightly sketched some ornaments to demonstrate the reason for doing this on a curve drawn when the pattern is out flat - the swag appears as it should, and also meets at the same place on the back (the arrows show) When drawing it onto canvas, this will assure you that the pattern meets. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4427Wp-cIoT_KIWxaZZe5kmaBnwwjluim34jc7XLTlqt8GoY46pFHY2-8rImIA2Z33Q2fTIYu8NiELT68KfL6at1Zgsour0kpaJeQawRQn9ZELZpdPs2KXl8nppy6TyFYQ1UrXg/s1600/Topiary4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552960750373874914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4427Wp-cIoT_KIWxaZZe5kmaBnwwjluim34jc7XLTlqt8GoY46pFHY2-8rImIA2Z33Q2fTIYu8NiELT68KfL6at1Zgsour0kpaJeQawRQn9ZELZpdPs2KXl8nppy6TyFYQ1UrXg/s320/Topiary4.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">To do this, I had placed the paper cone over the poster board cone for the stiffness, which allowed me to draw the ornaments, etc. with ease. The paper will later be un-taped and flattened for use as the pattern when drawing it onto the canvas.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbSeQKkgp_CXQ8NB_ATMd8ARfRBjTFrIeCiZXRMU9QEEC4gB9jvxLz1f43QX1W5Kj3NrKcNXqopuXIQHtm52LUoYsJVxBLzgtIO_vMPWJmY-jejcDnJFOj5S9KFbWFA9peogtag/s1600/Topiary5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552962339840659138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbSeQKkgp_CXQ8NB_ATMd8ARfRBjTFrIeCiZXRMU9QEEC4gB9jvxLz1f43QX1W5Kj3NrKcNXqopuXIQHtm52LUoYsJVxBLzgtIO_vMPWJmY-jejcDnJFOj5S9KFbWFA9peogtag/s320/Topiary5.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The sketched ornaments and swags are just for demonstration - too messy to be a real pattern, but it gets the idea across, I believe.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Dp-Vz2_eBJWjOMPUzoRtVm0edREy_nq1-kIRcG5gQS-FmfX41KujyZiOM-f5NYVlLMjkXeVH7ZvR7zfZOJx-1wzDF4NJHPIM3ku4qzjhnJk8Zzyoxa-sS8h9CK3v5hbCwGK5g/s1600/Topiary6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552963029686308418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Dp-Vz2_eBJWjOMPUzoRtVm0edREy_nq1-kIRcG5gQS-FmfX41KujyZiOM-f5NYVlLMjkXeVH7ZvR7zfZOJx-1wzDF4NJHPIM3ku4qzjhnJk8Zzyoxa-sS8h9CK3v5hbCwGK5g/s320/Topiary6.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">With the paper cone opened out flat again, you can clearly see how the process works. The arrows point to where I left an overlap to make the drawing easier where the swags and concentric circles meet. That space will not be left on the canvas drawing. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have decided to do the rest of this tutorial and show actual patterns on the <a href="http://needle-crafts.blogspot.com/">Freebies, etc. blog</a>, and then show the stitching and decorating and whatever will be done here on this one. You can let your imagination to wild on these, using the stitches and techniques you've learned, and getting into your own stash of wonderful threads!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have so many of these things now whirling around in my head - I can see holiday/festive mantles or table tops - or dining tables set with centerpieces of little trees of varying heights and different colors - they needn't just be for Christmas!! Ideas for enhancements and surface embellishments are almost unlimited!!</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-6034453721970837412010-12-19T19:13:00.000-08:002010-12-19T19:25:27.391-08:00A Tree for All Seasons: Conical Topiaries!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpPR-YbSNiusOV-HOH-iuZRrLV3m3XSrrP-UhJ16v6xNEkB-x7hvdGaBIf2jAUrcaSZPI7D3cy72uorePhw6oBi1u8jbsHZZ50SFmQg5nEyot_EDweXoiYyrKFy07xL8y9AWz3g/s1600/TopiaryHolly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552598371208424786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpPR-YbSNiusOV-HOH-iuZRrLV3m3XSrrP-UhJ16v6xNEkB-x7hvdGaBIf2jAUrcaSZPI7D3cy72uorePhw6oBi1u8jbsHZZ50SFmQg5nEyot_EDweXoiYyrKFy07xL8y9AWz3g/s320/TopiaryHolly.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I was digging into boxes again today, and reached the bottom of one I hadn't seen in a few years - and found more "stuff." I had forgotten about this - dated 1998 - and thought it might be entertaining to do them again, as I have learned so much about stitches, and found so many wonderful novelty threads I wasn't aware of when I originally did them in 1996. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"> The little corner closeup is another design of the same thing. These went to the cash/carry market in Phoenix in 1997, and I sold quite a few of them. There was a shop in Marietta, Georgia who ordered lots and lots over a period of time, but I never got to see any of them stitched - I had no computer back then.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDEXheVlBYoE8x32QnCIEiTAgTZRV5d912huJc8nabSURrmCNsMxED7XmCTDAoa3lsKbA3U9xlpC6-Al79wnzANPbqAaT-yxXDTtc82hygjOIOpZlm3pRkjqwmZT9cHWQQmaAJA/s1600/TopiaryCorner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552598684164018866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDEXheVlBYoE8x32QnCIEiTAgTZRV5d912huJc8nabSURrmCNsMxED7XmCTDAoa3lsKbA3U9xlpC6-Al79wnzANPbqAaT-yxXDTtc82hygjOIOpZlm3pRkjqwmZT9cHWQQmaAJA/s320/TopiaryCorner.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"> I'll finish this later, as I must go eat something and make some tea and try to get my brain wires going again - they get kind of short circuited when I have neglected to eat.!! </span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-37232209923640347152010-12-16T19:02:00.000-08:002010-12-16T19:31:28.138-08:00Elegant Chickens!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz-4KWK8TO7tsvQE0jTQKZq2aHPAz-tLSAfjEY2hkgh5pWY1H4oxxl3PBjwltuZv_ZdZcsZNJUn3C9rTT1Ptslsaa082ndWHebZGPqMMp8Xt05XdtSzX6Nv7NNUi6zTkURcomBA/s1600/000_1583.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551482409149052786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz-4KWK8TO7tsvQE0jTQKZq2aHPAz-tLSAfjEY2hkgh5pWY1H4oxxl3PBjwltuZv_ZdZcsZNJUn3C9rTT1Ptslsaa082ndWHebZGPqMMp8Xt05XdtSzX6Nv7NNUi6zTkURcomBA/s320/000_1583.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The chickens have now decided I'm no threat to their health and well being, so I was able to get kind of semi-close to them today for picture taking. I've been told that if I would take their favorite bowl full of something called "chicken scratch" out to them, we would have an instant bonding for a close and loving relationship. I'll try that after this present cold front passes.. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This first photo is the view from my bedroom window - the "cottage" thing is my SIL's retreat - where he goes when he is not in favor with his wife - the doghouse, I think it's called. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's also his woodworking shop, but I think he needs to intall a bathroom and efficiency kitchen and let me live in it and use it for a studio, as it has a vaulted ceiling and a skylight. Anyway, You can see the chickens back in the corner, which is what sent me running for my camera and the trip outside.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38q2WRC5-ZvkTjor_9K0rBQ9d2LP0m-MoMU-aNGH7GRZGpoxWi5XJgvYetIN4KusXriWe48cevWkd5HqiwCNrQtjhKNv2YrjSzhkcL0McRb4x2L1JxEIyWsIlJmgk3HubuLF5kw/s1600/Five+chickens.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551484622690402978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38q2WRC5-ZvkTjor_9K0rBQ9d2LP0m-MoMU-aNGH7GRZGpoxWi5XJgvYetIN4KusXriWe48cevWkd5HqiwCNrQtjhKNv2YrjSzhkcL0McRb4x2L1JxEIyWsIlJmgk3HubuLF5kw/s320/Five+chickens.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04GSr3t_Z6XabHZTiVf2R13JRxuOm0PRUz1r9MADHmho8FbnaKASw_ML7KkSAgPFEio5RHfMN7vxO9N19B7nYOczRtR1qF-3tDuCkMvvEZP6_V4FXGUf5aN9-IPHjlkdpk2uJpw/s1600/Chickens.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551484963551439170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04GSr3t_Z6XabHZTiVf2R13JRxuOm0PRUz1r9MADHmho8FbnaKASw_ML7KkSAgPFEio5RHfMN7vxO9N19B7nYOczRtR1qF-3tDuCkMvvEZP6_V4FXGUf5aN9-IPHjlkdpk2uJpw/s320/Chickens.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The closeup shot of three girls is showing "Pillow," who is the largest - and so named by the little boys because she is all white and very fluffy. Then "Betsy," who is not large at all, but is definitely the head chicken of this bunch. (the white one with the black tail.) This has been very amusing to watch, as she definitely establishes herself in the "pecking order." The dark one is "Henrietta." </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This seems like a lot of trivia about nothing - but watching these feathered ladies has been one of the greatest stress relief things I've had in a very long time - it makes me smile!! Also, it has relaxed me </span><span style="font-family:arial;">enough, I think, to begin drawing and painting and stitching again. That feels good.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-45952993712570124342010-12-13T10:20:00.001-08:002010-12-13T10:58:31.736-08:00Awesome Numbers!<span style="font-family:arial;">I don't usually do this, but had to this time - I rarely look at my neo-counter any more, but started it about 2 1/2 years ago, as I remember. It was one of the first ones I found, in addition to what we called the "red dot map." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For some reason, (probably creative avoidance) I looked at it a little while ago, and saw the numbers at 55550. What an awesome number!! I remember when I installed that one too - another great new "gadget." It was glorious fun watching the international flags pop up one by one, and comparing them also with friends who were doing the same. Just thought it was worth a mention. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv01i7XrZDEwTcHwKRK3BPaP4AzIhu6AbvY9VyygnK3JGHQ7vd7D6QMPCGi_abPJZ4csniVp-lQi39m_GouJwoLdKg8IIcRKg2EY1hp9wjog2s2BBOswHcjhn3nw-gzM32aCsHyA/s1600/LeeNNcly"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550242355848039954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv01i7XrZDEwTcHwKRK3BPaP4AzIhu6AbvY9VyygnK3JGHQ7vd7D6QMPCGi_abPJZ4csniVp-lQi39m_GouJwoLdKg8IIcRKg2EY1hp9wjog2s2BBOswHcjhn3nw-gzM32aCsHyA/s320/LeeNNcly" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Maybe I was thinking about the brand new blog now going on - a shop owner in Vero Beach, Fla. has just begun one, and I was thinking back to how much fun it was in the beginning to watch those visible stat counters. Now most of us have them that are "behind the scenes."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, now that Mary Agnes has figured out how to post pictures, which she did a lot quicker than I did in the beginning, do go visit her blog<a href="http://www.needlenicely.blogspot.com/"> Needle Nicely.</a> This is a rug by Lee that she has showing now, and I'm sure there will be lots more to see once she's up and running with this thing and her store!</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-79179059373439991462010-12-11T15:32:00.000-08:002010-12-11T16:13:12.591-08:00Icing and Sprinkles (Beads and DMC stuff)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq2QsHugbKjmymRS-jlzoqs4Dk4j57W2LtF25yVbdHuM3ngkdFD2MlqXRC9FJeI55ycmlydruCsK_ZbeqUje9YQTkjrV8Z7OZaMnQ4enIcp0MZwFX5OJUat1YkpNG1WMu1kAMow/s1600/Shmrock1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549572499204526434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq2QsHugbKjmymRS-jlzoqs4Dk4j57W2LtF25yVbdHuM3ngkdFD2MlqXRC9FJeI55ycmlydruCsK_ZbeqUje9YQTkjrV8Z7OZaMnQ4enIcp0MZwFX5OJUat1YkpNG1WMu1kAMow/s320/Shmrock1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">When I was ready to start the icing around the green part of the cookie, I discovered that I didn't have the right green in my stash in perle cotton, so decided to go ahead and use floss. That wouldn't do in stem stitch, so I used chain stitch instead - and it worked beautifully! It was also very easy to turn corners, whereas stem stitch wasn't. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After the usual trial and error part (learning experience) I found that six plies were perfect. This is just a fantasy, after all - not a real cookie. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdhSN3fM8z_a1MglARoHtDFqf17e3Z00REmvAj7GErMzzV_AGct0oc32YFaOKqFwdE2oIhC38rdo98DaPmU3zPM5w5E9X-LA6UJ3Qu38F9ywAEVuF6VrtVi-lSmx3KGP_U6wTqA/s1600/IcngDotClsup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549574151857985522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdhSN3fM8z_a1MglARoHtDFqf17e3Z00REmvAj7GErMzzV_AGct0oc32YFaOKqFwdE2oIhC38rdo98DaPmU3zPM5w5E9X-LA6UJ3Qu38F9ywAEVuF6VrtVi-lSmx3KGP_U6wTqA/s320/IcngDotClsup.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The entertaining part of this, as with most of these little ornament shapes, is the trial and error part - what will work and what won't. I had originally thought to use #5 perle cotton, but the French knot blobs disappeared. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I switched to #3, and by trying out a few different "wraps" etc., I finally got what I wanted. Every little spot of icing is made with two wraps only - some tight, and some very loose, as the one with the arrow. One wrap wasn't enough, and three wraps made them stand out too far off the surface. Amazing!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnx8q4x79AvyWBbFd5jPo3YXpr8_K9n2esY4E9NefkV2e62DV1NZuI9OBqvfGS-BaG_njgeYUSm3yk9UOaNOmtoF7nc6G08mdVSVxmQdIAxvTZKjkHTuIzWLuVSOHOdHxecWy7A/s1600/ShrmrkBeds1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549575221754907618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnx8q4x79AvyWBbFd5jPo3YXpr8_K9n2esY4E9NefkV2e62DV1NZuI9OBqvfGS-BaG_njgeYUSm3yk9UOaNOmtoF7nc6G08mdVSVxmQdIAxvTZKjkHTuIzWLuVSOHOdHxecWy7A/s320/ShrmrkBeds1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Next - the "sprinkles." I started using beads with needlepoint almost 15 years ago, and as I had nobody to show me how, I worked it out myself - so it's an easy easy thing to do this way. The photo shows all that's required for this project - the little medicine bottle caps to hold them, the beads, the long, skinny beading needle, and a wire needle threader. You can see that one came from The NeedleWorks here in Austin - (mail order is quickly attended by these ladies). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">These last a lot longer than the little metal one that comes with the beading needles. ( I order my needles through Bead Buddies - link on my side bar.) The other needle lying there is the chenille needle I use for surface embellishment - in this case, icing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GA-3-u3gqsATMzRFcbo6oKQvvydcuz2OMeBZUmm-KwaXQlBie4jBfJ0oy-V2z7eDmI-5RoF-t5thsf1E2KFmAvZFDFFp38jEXZgeBV2xUdaDOyu1CXcaGBAfhYAtDy7qAEWyeg/s1600/ShmrkCookBedsClsup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549576794791557394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GA-3-u3gqsATMzRFcbo6oKQvvydcuz2OMeBZUmm-KwaXQlBie4jBfJ0oy-V2z7eDmI-5RoF-t5thsf1E2KFmAvZFDFFp38jEXZgeBV2xUdaDOyu1CXcaGBAfhYAtDy7qAEWyeg/s320/ShmrkCookBedsClsup.jpg" border="0" /></a> When putting the beads onto the surface, I had to constantly remind myself that they would fall randomly when sprinkled over the surface, so I took care not to put them in any kind of order. I didn't have the green or the white ones in size 11, which would have been better, but did have the clear #250's in that size. I used the background color floss to apply them, and just dipped into whichever cap I wanted to for creating an effect of sugar sprinkles.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> These are all Sundance beads - three different ones.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This won't be difficult to finish - and, although it has bordered on being boring, I have already thought of others I might try, which involve pots of gold (PVV and Kreinik metallics) and bargello rainbows. As I have said, these small pieces are great for practicing and developing new skills and techniques, and stash threads can always be used.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-31986247491263945232010-12-08T11:43:00.000-08:002010-12-08T11:49:57.078-08:00Choosing Colors! Kristina again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExyFlcZsPEpqJGNaAUMv_HaCnkRqNx5CG1JEVuqyDR689UolxaOeaMyz8C8MCOJkPzE80txo59OGDmD9NSB3OrtDTePSPCAZTGD0Ofm4uZAOe_bw6FX7-mhJwMhyzFwfpd7stvg/s1600/Kristina.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548400674124157106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExyFlcZsPEpqJGNaAUMv_HaCnkRqNx5CG1JEVuqyDR689UolxaOeaMyz8C8MCOJkPzE80txo59OGDmD9NSB3OrtDTePSPCAZTGD0Ofm4uZAOe_bw6FX7-mhJwMhyzFwfpd7stvg/s320/Kristina.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">If you haven't looked this week, be sure to go to <a href="http://kristinaklarin.blogspot.com/">Kristina Klarin's </a>new blog and see her photos and color "smears." I really like this new format of hers (formerly Kris' Color Stripes), as she shows with her paint blotches the colors in proportion to their importance in the photograph - which is a lot more help than just equal sized stripes, or in our case, just pulling out skeins of threads. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This is a wonderful way to put together a color scheme for a project in needlepoint - or anything else. Be sure to click on "color files" on the left side to see the swatches alone.</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-26620613127986429282010-12-07T15:51:00.000-08:002010-12-07T16:09:26.166-08:00Kimberly's Card: Elegant Simplicity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5fqAo1yCSiF40tKSNiSQR7-y8MVpxcPszC5R3GdbGQthJu8ait_LpCU3c4z-X8PlRugVmhAOFMK0kX2plLBJc7V4y9Gk8TjC3m0ZrPspcvlLiEZim76Ib0bxnY6ZnIg949tP0g/s1600/Kim%2527sCard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548093547479985778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5fqAo1yCSiF40tKSNiSQR7-y8MVpxcPszC5R3GdbGQthJu8ait_LpCU3c4z-X8PlRugVmhAOFMK0kX2plLBJc7V4y9Gk8TjC3m0ZrPspcvlLiEZim76Ib0bxnY6ZnIg949tP0g/s320/Kim%2527sCard.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">As always, I'm enchanted with Kim Smith's artwork! I received this card in the mail this afternoon, and had to show it here. She is not only very talented with her needle and thread and designing for needlepoint, but does the most beautiful of graphic art - whimsical, elegant, simple. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I treat myself to a new small picture to frame from time to time, and never tire of looking at her artwork. I love the Santa on this card, carefully placing his simple ornament on the simple little tree - so different from all the rest of the "stuff" out there. What an imagination this lady has! She does this in addition to working full time at The NeedleWorks here in Austin. Wow! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> To see more of Kim's art, go to <a href="http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/">A Kimberly Design</a> - her blog.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-636918673609101732010-12-06T15:34:00.000-08:002010-12-06T16:57:18.927-08:00Icing with DMC Memory Thread: A Festive Shamrock Cookie<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIkWOxi6an5ME9UadoVFfDyXXkrHI-yoXM7qGCtFnkv658-GHCI7PDuRySjnHAu28W-RdwNEWQNYc09kGwVuE_Z8P8s4qZcVZu1ejfMjyipTHj52-6ygbqEST2dt90p9nE0KGlw/s1600/Shmrck6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547721052819073874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIkWOxi6an5ME9UadoVFfDyXXkrHI-yoXM7qGCtFnkv658-GHCI7PDuRySjnHAu28W-RdwNEWQNYc09kGwVuE_Z8P8s4qZcVZu1ejfMjyipTHj52-6ygbqEST2dt90p9nE0KGlw/s320/Shmrck6.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">This is how it looks now - the first Shamrock cookie. There will be more swirls, and these are not tacked down yet, as I will have to move them around a bit to decide how much and where to put them. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0SxJk9ThSqO9ezpfj410YLV26BqPYyJPX1DHdkg8LLHvlZ122rv-TUg_TkplqfAS-v2zrjTVj8GajgzkSCgAoY1jDNtTeq3SjTmwr4RUTGgD4T2gzpJxLTa2nvrPHEFfAQH_Cw/s1600/Shmrck1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547722713303458674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0SxJk9ThSqO9ezpfj410YLV26BqPYyJPX1DHdkg8LLHvlZ122rv-TUg_TkplqfAS-v2zrjTVj8GajgzkSCgAoY1jDNtTeq3SjTmwr4RUTGgD4T2gzpJxLTa2nvrPHEFfAQH_Cw/s320/Shmrck1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As always, with a new project, it didn't go exactly as I thought it would. I had assumed that it would be a simple thing to push the end of the Memory Thread down through a hole to the back, shape the coils, and then put the end to the back. That did not work, due to the fact that the M.T. is very soft and very bendable. A learning experience! That worked when I was making coral with it, but not for this. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SMQ26OW8-uz_JNArQy-VY77XSiS4yjIc28SGG3lXLVM7nRHiAxSMrNKEKv_ThpWVza69vg3VT7MkMVdKOaguDP6avhyphenhyphenzpNwIrZiG6judyGbbTUAJJSaDTVtyahP3_RpXz4e_IQ/s1600/Shmrck2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547723282068956818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SMQ26OW8-uz_JNArQy-VY77XSiS4yjIc28SGG3lXLVM7nRHiAxSMrNKEKv_ThpWVza69vg3VT7MkMVdKOaguDP6avhyphenhyphenzpNwIrZiG6judyGbbTUAJJSaDTVtyahP3_RpXz4e_IQ/s320/Shmrck2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Instead, I cut short lengths, approximately 6" long, and then shaped the coils, using needle nosed pliers. The M.T., as it comes off the spindle, needs to be smoothed out by running it between the thumb and something hard and smooth.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547723701133096962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkr6vTpvO-7AsQMp31puykoYFkQ5sHQ5ndyqYSpBGPJCbIpiP1Y8pAmWYWnAFmLc87RiZQf1T5hJz6_S581AiW9_ELxMk5fqIHyvkMhWmZEJRvYBpQ05NjVwMY-ACpoKG4PrZvtA/s320/Shmrck3.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm showing this mostly in pictures, as it's easier to explain. There was more error than trial going on here, but as always, I enjoy a challenge!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Memory Thread is delightfully easy to work with, and has many possibilities - one just has to keep trying different things with it. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jE5cs8Upu3yLRTg5V3tEfLdXt3X6NNzvVngEUlPX27rDkYspxLfTNeR35OTgkyJeNJWsNHLt1VLef-n_QoUV0nF1VEPN6Ff94oabuq4Er7In0jxUFb9dHXAoyrOy6TZGFeWWrg/s1600/Shmrck4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547737418947191682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jE5cs8Upu3yLRTg5V3tEfLdXt3X6NNzvVngEUlPX27rDkYspxLfTNeR35OTgkyJeNJWsNHLt1VLef-n_QoUV0nF1VEPN6Ff94oabuq4Er7In0jxUFb9dHXAoyrOy6TZGFeWWrg/s320/Shmrck4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I haven't couched it down yet, and decided the best thing to do here is to place these coils where they look best - following the photo I found when I "searched" Shamrock cookies. Then I will place them on a tracing of the pattern so I'll know where they need to go - and stitch them down one at a time onto the surface of the cookie. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The last photo shows the coil after I twisted it to go in two different directions. This was easier, I found, than trying to make the "S" shape as it appears on the cookie - I tried it both ways.</span> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPICjt85fgSBLBGRfHKEylL9W_U19m7eWLSL2YwpNGveXV0m1xM3m4Oqw5r2s4f_DMjleSzFOaploI6lIaFpFXlIjw1Tz4TYFdgKxNcmnmh1U5Sgy35BLtuIU7UMLNLIEFN15N8A/s1600/Shmrck5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547725565363955954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPICjt85fgSBLBGRfHKEylL9W_U19m7eWLSL2YwpNGveXV0m1xM3m4Oqw5r2s4f_DMjleSzFOaploI6lIaFpFXlIjw1Tz4TYFdgKxNcmnmh1U5Sgy35BLtuIU7UMLNLIEFN15N8A/s320/Shmrck5.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">One great thing about surface embellishment is that if mistakes are made - it's very very easy to take it off, as long as one is careful not to damage the surface of the background stitching. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This Irish cookie thing seems a bit boring, but simple and boring are all I've been capable of the last few weeks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now, I've started to envision uses for them, and have also looked at more pictures, and can see a St. Patrick's Day table - or any festive occasion in March, with these cookies just lying scattered around on the tablecloth as decorative accents - what fun!! I have now figured out how to do a rainbow with a pot o' gold beneath it!!</span></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-4373884343444750972010-12-04T19:12:00.000-08:002010-12-04T19:37:49.164-08:00Decorating the Cookie: DMC Frosting<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMA-a438-cx-q-jWTacsAmRx8LA0ij-iQrroPKPdkacJEgxN6YNziLma7GnjbBPWwu4dxCBdt9vTLCWeVoy8oUSOHIzvqOn4dWt22oOzP4ltEJCAEMq1oGR0wwjRgjJD7iaDwMA/s1600/Shmrrk1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547031755403972434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMA-a438-cx-q-jWTacsAmRx8LA0ij-iQrroPKPdkacJEgxN6YNziLma7GnjbBPWwu4dxCBdt9vTLCWeVoy8oUSOHIzvqOn4dWt22oOzP4ltEJCAEMq1oGR0wwjRgjJD7iaDwMA/s320/Shmrrk1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The missing bag finally surfaced - at the very bottom of a large box, after I swore I had put it into a bag to carry with me in the car a few blocks. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, back to the Shamrocks. This is, I'm sure, old stuff to many people, but embroidery stitches are still a bit clumsy for me - especially on the surface of stitched needlepoint. I won't show the whole cookie again, as it is a few posts back, complete with explanation of threads. </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZQPBG1Ut_LVl8V_dEdLfTsOtDNN8Dq4jrK1PR5U9TR1KEiaiuQwh9C1tH8h_x4gmBtxTkJiR5zvWFm5U1Dj-VDU6V2_0yFBhhz2l5W5uDDqS3u5wiXJNgRZhfsTKLgmQ4UZ0Ew/s1600/Shmrck2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547033106622670914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZQPBG1Ut_LVl8V_dEdLfTsOtDNN8Dq4jrK1PR5U9TR1KEiaiuQwh9C1tH8h_x4gmBtxTkJiR5zvWFm5U1Dj-VDU6V2_0yFBhhz2l5W5uDDqS3u5wiXJNgRZhfsTKLgmQ4UZ0Ew/s320/Shmrck2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">For the frosting outline, which would be done with a pastry tube on the real thing, I used white DMC #5 perle cotton. The picture of the plate of cookies I adapted from didn't have this, but as the PVV "cookie dough" has more loft than the Vineyard Silk icing, it was necessary. Actually, size #3 would have been better for this purpose, but not only would the small chenille needle (size 22) be harder to thread, the #3 would overpower the look of the Memory Thread I intend to use.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5J5V0WfOoBY9ZycIRRqxfmcKXuUD8jHGnvhefzko226F5saZzsldse8pnepGE7VBxtiLpY0OF7toNIuxgwcA-_DkemJcsHIDHY6Acy4LETgY-M2_9hRbwAH25aRvQJHW0GJo7g/s1600/StemStitch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547034074832644034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5J5V0WfOoBY9ZycIRRqxfmcKXuUD8jHGnvhefzko226F5saZzsldse8pnepGE7VBxtiLpY0OF7toNIuxgwcA-_DkemJcsHIDHY6Acy4LETgY-M2_9hRbwAH25aRvQJHW0GJo7g/s320/StemStitch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I think I have mentioned that the chenille needle is essential for embellishing on top of stitched needlepoint, as a tapestry needle makes for slow progress and sore fingers.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Stem stitch was begun at the top with one short stitch, and then progressed around the shape. The trick here was to get nice, smooth curves where they were a bit sharp - this just takes some playing and practice. By looking at the little diagram of stem stitch, you can see what is going on with the icing and how it's done.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYnOMZItsjx7Hn8hISj46WPO6n7inx96OnHKMul8VcL2DDenaHqPap9sSJsDLxizvBwPTFvHD7gOy4wGRgIoTiRTa2bbpJrMNruvgEibmnbMiBh3YDNS6aX9t_mLqrcQQBFGkKA/s1600/Shmrk3b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547034994406501986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYnOMZItsjx7Hn8hISj46WPO6n7inx96OnHKMul8VcL2DDenaHqPap9sSJsDLxizvBwPTFvHD7gOy4wGRgIoTiRTa2bbpJrMNruvgEibmnbMiBh3YDNS6aX9t_mLqrcQQBFGkKA/s320/Shmrk3b.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In the deep inner curve in this picture, you can see the little short stitch I made in order to turn the corner smoothly. I have to remind myself that this is "frosting" and wouldn't be perfect on the real thing. I'll finish the outline in a little while during a movie, and tomorrow will begin the Memory Thread swirls. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL6rRkwVnJcHpF7nnRTR3R8FdpovdqoLyLB3Vy9gdaIorovoGZnRpFsMCe0lbUA13HgIjS4hAWKCjVQFYbHwCmeOFF3RH2Irxtaq2dBd_XsvtWuE12gN067WqcXwpuXTguPghoA/s1600/Shmrck4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547036065818233538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL6rRkwVnJcHpF7nnRTR3R8FdpovdqoLyLB3Vy9gdaIorovoGZnRpFsMCe0lbUA13HgIjS4hAWKCjVQFYbHwCmeOFF3RH2Irxtaq2dBd_XsvtWuE12gN067WqcXwpuXTguPghoA/s320/Shmrck4.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"> I think the dust is settling from this move, and creative avoidance must cease, as I have now found my tracing paper and paint brushes - no more excuses.. I already have something more interesting and challenging brewing in my head. The weather is cool now, so the energy level is up.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYnOMZItsjx7Hn8hISj46WPO6n7inx96OnHKMul8VcL2DDenaHqPap9sSJsDLxizvBwPTFvHD7gOy4wGRgIoTiRTa2bbpJrMNruvgEibmnbMiBh3YDNS6aX9t_mLqrcQQBFGkKA/s1600/Shmrk3b.jpg"></a></span></div></div></div></div>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34231628.post-65889020618602321822010-12-01T09:07:00.000-08:002010-12-05T08:12:11.830-08:00A Fancy Chicken<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMNa28-jYOcetosGxYCYaF1pLwplDZzVM_erN5-6aYZ3Tz8O10emPjEc1UNlvXoxMGbaekDGKRlZe_yzHHHweiTrIRZ8Y0CPQip6H1B6ZKmRDzpWzm7HiXt3SEdJTpQiJOo50xQ/s1600/Fanny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545762645319530514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMNa28-jYOcetosGxYCYaF1pLwplDZzVM_erN5-6aYZ3Tz8O10emPjEc1UNlvXoxMGbaekDGKRlZe_yzHHHweiTrIRZ8Y0CPQip6H1B6ZKmRDzpWzm7HiXt3SEdJTpQiJOo50xQ/s320/Fanny.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Everyone shows off their pets at one time or another on their blogs, so I decided to share my daughter's latest, as I am once again residing in her house to be waited upon hand and foot and well fed. (She has a different version of this)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, as she and the little boys explained, these are not "eating chickens" but are "fancy chickens." They aren't used to me yet, so I only have this one photo, which Jennifer had to take, as they ran from me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Chickens are delightful creatures - not like I remember as a child when my grandmother had them for eggs and for frying. (those were nasty chickens). This picture is "Fanny" - like my grandmother (Frances Henrietta). OR the character Leslie Caron played in the movie with Maurice Chevalier. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">All five chickens are different, and they all have names. A dog across the fence ate Audrey before her wings were clipped, so she was replaced by "Betsy." </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My SIL is an architect, so designed and built the lovely chicken house for them. The yard is enormous, so this is against the back fence with lots of space between the house and the coop. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Jake (age 7) decided we need more chickens so as to name them for Biblical ladies. He likes "Miriam," and I like Rebecca. My daughter suggested maybe "Jezebel." We could do the five women of valor in the old Testament, (Bathsheba is one of these) and then the "bad ladies," as I believe there were several. That's a whole flock of chickens, so Jennifer said NO.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, these chickens made short work of interference by the three family cats. The dog - Godzilla - is a big, lazy yellow lab, who ignores them.</span>Possibilities, Etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00301188397987608400noreply@blogger.com3