Too many irons and Toppy too

You know for a woman who hates ironing I have a lot of them in the fire right now. I have not taken a stitch all week except on the computer. I forgot to post on my blog last week and so now I am feeling behind and I am sorry that poor Toppy has taken a back seat to other things.

But Toppy has duds and is feel’n mighty proud…and now he has shoes, sock and a hat. From a week ago and he will get hair and other stitches this week (I hope)…Then I hope I can remember not to leave him on the finishing table until 4^th of July (my usual handling of needlework.)

From the pictures you can see that I should not be stitching with a cat and dog close by…not sure who is the culprit… but Very Velvet is a magnet for pet hair. And since we have had no winter to speak of the animals at our house have been shedding all winter, than goodness for lint rollers!

Toppy’s socks are linen thread overlapping cross stitches over two threads. I covered the shamrocks…you will see why later…

I needed some extra black rows for Toppy’s shoes (yes, he has lifters)…I added the two rows using my new favorite marker: Copic sketch (http://www.copiccolor.com/) (http://www.copicmarker.com/). More about these later…I’ll put them on my to write about list…they are too cool. I also added two rows to his hat…not for stitching but for finishing. Sometimes when you turn the canvas you get a grin through and this will help minimize grin through. But that’s finishing and I’m still stitching. And tose little straight lines under the shoe areas are marks for the shamrocks.

Toppy’s shoes are stitched with Rainbow Gallery Patent Leather…the real one. This thread is pricy and breaks easily (see previous blog on how to work with delicate threads: http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/dressed-to-the-nine/) …But is worth the effort…sorry Sister Ann Marie (aka Sister SAM), she did not like patent leather shoes (old bad joke). You should stitch with short lengths no longer than 12 inches; must lay this thread front & back (see picture left) Even Rainbow Gallery recommends laying this thread front and back {http://rainbowgallery.com/JaysTips.html#20}); and straight stitches are best for maximum effect. I have always stitched Patent Leather in Gobelin Stitches and I lay it front and back always! That’s why I added two threads to his shoes I needed at least two threads for the Gobelin stitches under and over the gold buckles. Patent Leather is so classy and well worth the effort..sorry Sister SAM.

I also used Patent Lather for the belt on his coat and two horizontal straight stitches in his hat.

Toppy’s hat is stitched mostly using Very Velvet. The body of the hat is stitch in brick stitches, stitched on the horizontal. The brim of the hat is Continental stitches stitched 2 directions and the brim is filled with a Gobelin pattern fill. I stitched the Continental stitches with short lengths (12 inches or less) to minimize the wear on Very Velvet thread. I added the cross stitch (over 1 thread) buckle and one horizontal straight stitch.

I think I have added all the gold with Kreinik #8 Braid (http://www.kreinik.com/ ) where gold needs to be. I usually keep a needle threaded on my magnet with Kreinik to add these small embelishments as I go. This week I will try and do the gold bag also.

I will try to better this week but I still have a few hot irons still needing attention (Hint: hot irons = new class projects for stitchers). Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have time to stitch today!  ttfn…sue

2 Finished projects

I have been saying I was going to frame “The eye in the keyhole” painted by Sharon Garmize (http://www.sharong.com/index.html) forever. It is probably the oldest canvas I own and I have never intended to stitch it; I knew I could never do the painting justice. But I have always wanted to frame it and today was the day. I went ahead and put glass over it because it is going to hang in my hallway close to the kitchen.

This second canvas was a chart and pin from Just NAN (http://www.justnan.com/index.htm) but I can’t remember the name. I took a bunch of liberties with this design, starting by putting it on canvas instead of linen. It was my take-a-long project and somehow I managed to stitch the complete sunflower…I didn’t see the stitched crows until after I was well into the space for the first, so I decided these buttons were too cute and I could use them. And the sunflower looked cute attached to corner.

Today I went to Hobby Lobby to look for frames and found ready-made frames for both. A nice lady in the framing department cut the keyhole mat and backing board while I waited…They have a computer that cuts mats in no time with little or no waste. She also gave me the piece of mat board to mount behind the sunflower and even taped them to the mats for me. I won’t tell you what it cost me but let’s just say Andrew Jackson just needed some change to cover it.

I am a happy camper and even have time to stitch…

Hope everyone has time to stitch today!  ttfn…sue

Happy Thanksgiving or a 3 C week

I am in the middle of the three C’s this week: Cleaning, Cooking and Computing. Mostly cleaning and cooking since I am having two Thanksgiving dinners this year; 1st on the day, everybody has to eat and then on Sunday with all the family and friends. And when you have a house full of people you have to make it presentable so they can mess it up…so I am cleaning. Not that I just clean when company is coming, because someone is here most every weekend for dinner.

But I cannot forget my computer. I like it better than TV. All the blogs (and especially the ones I follow and there are a bunch of these) are so much more interesting than the tripe on TV. My Mother said that every day you should learn something and I feel I do. Just reading all the neat and creative things others do is so humbling to me. I do not hold a candle to you all, you are so creative and inspiring. Thank you!

But I thought I’d take time to share my turkeys with you…

These are the first six that started my collection. The one on the right was the very 1^st and he came from a consignment store that supported the elderly by selling there crafts. I never get him out that I don’t think of all those wonderfully creative people who have come and gone in our lives. I had this poor lonely turkey sitting on my mantle with a bunch of candle sticks and my saintly Mother told me; “You decorate with a great Halloween display, and your Christmas is lovely; but your Thanksgiving display is not worth a $#!+***! Needless to say after picking myself up off the floor I simple replied, “Then go shopping.” And shopping she did, within a week I had the other five to start my collection. As I was arranging them on the mantle I noticed they bore a great resemblance to the men in my life at the time: Three sons, two grandsons and of course the patriarch of the flock. I assembled them pretty much like you see them in this picture and waited. That year on Thanksgiving it wasn’t long before one of my two legged turkeys came into the kitchen to tell me my turkey display was not funny. Before the day was out all my sons had made some comment…I guess they are either on my wave length or Humm, if the feathers fit….

And so grew another collection…The ones on the other side of the mantle are an eclectic collection I change every year. The turkey on the right is Janet Zickler Casey’s (http://www.jzcdesigns.com/index.htm) Tom-tom Turkey and his feathers are so pretty that when I display him on the mantle I pin his feathers on so you can see them. (Also showing you a picture of the back; the tail feathers are supposed to Velcro to the back) The Indian Girl, my mother started when she was in her late 80’s. She finished all but a few stitches so I finished her up and she proudly sits on the mantle every year. The Indian bear I have no idea whose painted canvas this is, and I always wanted a Pilgrim to go with him. The small ones in the front are a Hallmark do-dad on right and then these are two shell figures my Grandmother used in her village she set up every year. I painted the box years ago…it was my painting period and I loved hex signs. Always wanted to own a hex sign, but I never thought about the true size of them until we were in Pennsylvania and I saw them…oh my, BIG. The drum on the left is a Kathy Schenkel (http://www.kathyschenkel.com/index.htm) canvas piece; it was a long panel and no longer listed but if you ask she might paint it and my finisher Patty thought it made a perfect drum. There were two stalks of wheat but I only stitched one and I used a button for the turkey. I also have a larger version of the Kathy Schenkel turkey (HX107) (top shelf on the left in cabinet) I stitched with a stitch guide for my local shop. And of course, the picture of one of my Grandsons, who is in the Navy AND will be home for Christmas this year.

Okay I guess I have procrastinated long enough, the house is not cleaning itself. Thank you very much for stopping by to see what I am doing. I am grateful for all my family and friends, good health,  all of you who stop by to visit and for all those who take the time to write about your lives and creativity too.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and have time to stitch today and all week-end!  ttfn…sue

Daphne’s Needlepoint

You have to see this! I wrote Daphne to get her permission to share her websites and she graciously agreed.  Thank you Daphne, you efforts should be shared with anyone who needlepoints. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Saturday Jane over at Chilly Hollow (http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/11/daphne-goodyear-and-friends.html ) suggested a visit to Daphne Goodyear’s website: http://needleartartistry.org/home.html

Saturday evening, instead of watching TV or stitching, I spent the evening looking at Daphne’s website. What a treat this is! I was just amazed at all the
needlepoint, not only Daphne’s needlepoint, but her friends too. It was just
eye candy for the imagination. I can’t tell you what I liked best, it was all
beautiful. I was so impressed that I sent Daphne an email to let her know that
her efforts at sharing her needlepoint with the world had not gone unnoticed.

I wrote; “… your needlework and web site are incredible. I think you must have been born with a needle and thread in your hands and a head full of great imagination. Thank you for sharing with us…”

 Daphne wrote me back and graciously sent me a link to a book about her needlepoint: “You may be interested in a book I published with pictures and
descriptions of my needlepoint over the years. It is called Dancing With  Stitches. The following is a link. http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2210157. “

Talk about a history of her stitching, this is something to see! Grab yourself a POT of chosen beverage  and settle in for a great morning of eye candy! I spent a wonderful Sunday  morning reading Daphne’s book(s); they are wonderful.

Then if you have ever wanted to go  on Pat Daltons’s Textile trip to China, fix another pot of your chosen beverage  and look at this book. The link is here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2000280 or you can just click on the tab “Author’s Bookstore” And  if after looking at this book, you decide this trip is for you Daphne wrote me  that she is planning to go again in the Fall of 2012. Contact Daphne, or Pat  Dalton  (http://www.daltontours.com/index.html ) if interested.

There are teachers who inspire us and  teach us new techniques in needlework; there are authors who write and also  teach us about needlework; but the true artists of needlepoint are those people  who take those classes, read those books and then with their own threads,  colors and ideas produce works of art that reflect their personality and love  of the art. Daphne is one of those artists, truly one of the great  needlepointer’s of our day…what a treasure.

I don’t think Daphne and I have  ever met but I am sure we have mutual friends (I do know Pat, we took our first  class together at ANG…no year mentioned, it was a while ago and have run into  each other at several other ANG seminars.) And the other thing I know is I  would want to be Daphne’s friend; I am in awe of her talent and creativity. Just  visiting her website and book has made me want to stitch more and more.

Let your fingers walk over to  Daphne’s web pages and books…you will not believe this.

And  after looking at these links you will  make time to stitch today!
ttfn…sue

 

Candle project

I have a problem and I hope those of you who follow my blog may be able to offer assistance. Please feel free to comment here or email me privately.

I want to make needlepoint advent candles for each of my sons’ families. I have the design concept in my head, I have the threads in mind and of course the colors will be purple and pink; but for the life of me I cannot figure out the finishing. I can see the finished candles, I just cannot figure out how to do it and it may make a difference in how I stitch the tops and sides. I think it would be easier to access the candles from the top, but am not sure.   I am going to use either the small battery-powered candles that look like votive candles (option A and I think these would definitely have to be accessed from the top) or the table candles (option B and these probably could be accessed from either end). Each of these presents their own problems.

Option A: Votive candle will require an insert to set the candle on.

Option B: Full candle will also have to be accessible.

Either option needs: to be weighted; I would like the sides to be hard; I think the top would be easiest to remove to access the candles…

I thought about PVC pipe with a top area to hold votive, and a bottom area for weight, but I couldn’t find all the right parts to make these…I guess I could go to a plumbing shop and get some help, but it would probably be expensive to make these.

I also thought about making cardboard tubes but wasn’t sure this would be heavy enough. I can use aquarium gravel for the weight and make muslin bags to put gravel in.

I just can’t see the finishing and it is keeping me from starting because I am not sure until I make this decision how large the sides of the canvas will need to be to cover  the finishing forms. Any ideas? I’ll keep everyone posted.

Thank you for stopping by and spending a few moments with me; hope you have time to stitch today! ttfn…sue

Kansas Crab

My how time flies…forget the pigs.
I can’t believe I have gone two weeks without writing but trust me I have been
just one step ahead of one deadline after another. In fact I am still running
from deadlines and probably will for another month or so.

Some of you will be enjoying the
fruits of my labors in an online class, others have signed up for a local class
that are more fruits and my guild almost has there project completed for this
year. I also did some finishing for a friend as a favor (I really owed her) and
that’s the post of the week.

I did several but my favorite was this Kansas crab. A Kansas Crab? Boy was this crab in the wrong place…especially this summer, although the heat did make me cabby and I do live close to Kansas. But I digress…I decided that the cording should sea shells and I was lucky to find strands of these small shells at my local Hobby Lobby. I shortened the length by re-stringing them on plastic beading thread. Then I sewed between
each shell and made a picot hanger. Turned out cute didn’t it?

Okay, I’m off to the next deadline(s)…
And I need to get the second project for the guild stitched…dumb me gave the
first one away without even taking a picture.

My new computer is navigable; I
still feel like it is smarter than I but that doesn’t take much these days to
make me feel not so smart…I did give away a project without taking a picture…

Thank you for stopping by and
spending a few moments with me; hope you have time to stitch today! ttfn…sue

More on the classes

My desk is looking better but still has lots of projects to complete; four down four to go and that is the computer work.  Stitching projects are still holding at four, well maybe five in the nest…millions in the wings (I’m going to live forever if my needlework round-toit projects are any indication.)  I think I will refrain from signing up for another class for awhile but I won’t make any promises.

Many of you are heading for San Antonio and the national ANG seminar (http://www.needlepoint.org/Seminar-11/index.php) … have a great time and keep us posted about all the good times. I’ve always thought they should call it the “Great American Stitch-in.” When I did attend, there was always a place where everyone could gather and stitch into the wee hours of the morning. I learned lots of new ideas, new techniques, found new threads and met many great friends here…I do hope they still have this area…that’s what we are all really about…stitching, learning and sharing. So all you wonderful stitchers have a great time, stay cool and keep us posted on what’s happening.

Here are my first two Christmas presents completed; now if I can just remember where I stash them and to whom I plan to give them. There was one small hitch with the finishing but the framer made it worth the mi$take ; one was suppose to have a blue mat, but two pictures framed for under $100 is very rare (one would be rare), so I’m not complaining.

Here’s the progress on my class, Laura Perin’s, One Long Panel (http://laurajperindesigns.tripod.com/index.htm). I am keeping up with the class and this week I have two weeks to complete the area (our instructor is headed forSan Antonio). I try to make every class or even just a project I do learning experience.

First I started stitching the border, I always pay attention to the where and how I going to anchor my threads, so I sometimes change the stitch order, especially if it does not affect the appearance of the stitch. I did this for the Overlapping Cross stitches in the border. Our instructor for the class suggested we stitch the sides of the border as we go because there has been a discrepancy in the count (more about that later) so I just stitch far enough to complete the next session but I do make sure I have places to hid travel threads and bury threads starts and stops.

I happened to notice while stitching the first panel that I did not care for the green in this overdye with the other thread choices, so I removed it. Yes, I added to my ort jar…gone. Now you might ask why I just didn’t choice another thread with no green…remember this is a class and the threads were in a kit. Purchasing a new thread was an option, but I also could purchase one more overdye with the same dyelot number in case I will need it (and it looks like I will).  So I am manipulating the thread by removing a portion of the thread…

And I am also watching the placement of these stitches. Before stitching areas of the piece, I am really thinking about the order/ direction I am placing the stitches.  I am not only watching where the colors may be placed but I am watching how I place the stitches. I noticed when doing the first panel I could see the travel threads being carried from one stitch area to the next, but if I thought about the placement these travel threads were not so visible. So I made a decision to take the time to plan my stitch order while I was still trying to place the color in a pleasing placement. You can see when I hold the canvas up to the light  the open areas and when you look at the front close up you can see it too.  It may have been unnecessary but it was an interesting study and I will know.

On panel 1 and 2 when stitching with the overdye I placed the center stitch of these areas first and then placed the outside stitches next. I did not pre-plan panel 1 (LP Area 2) this way; the instructor/ moderator suggested this placement to get the stitch in the correct place. So after panel 1 was done this way I decided to repeat it for panel 2(LP Area 4)

 On panel three (LP Area 6) I stitched both sides of the area (Herringbone) at the same time so the overdye was symmetrical, others in the class stitched up one side and down the other (I’ll try and take a picture of this and show next time.) I also tried not the have the overdye cross the open areas where the Rhodes Stars were to be placed. And when I stitched these Rhodes Stars I buried my travel threads.

The rest will have to wait for another day, must get back to the computer.

Those of you heading for San Antonio have a stitching good time and if you have a blog don’t forget to write!

 Thank you for stopping by and spending a few moments with me; hope you have time to stitch today! ttfn…sue

Recipe for Finishing Carrots

Take 30 carrots (10 designs stitched 3 times each). Originally intended for cross stitch from Vicki Hastings , The Cricket Collection( http://www.cecricket.com/catalog21.html ) and I adapted them to needlepoint using 18 count orange canvas.

60 pieces of illustration board (front and back): Cut out, identified (number and or arrows pointing to top) , and trimmed. I try to get both illustration boards to be identical as possible; these are probably the most important yet boring steps in preparing the boards for finishing. The more time you take preparing the basics the easier the rest of the finishing becomes.

  

Cut 60 pieces of quilt batting slightly smaller than the illustration board and attach with glue to bright side of each board. Yes I said glue, I use it. These pieces are going to my grandchildren, not the Smithsonian. They will probably last my lifetime and maybe even one of my grandchildren will have one or two to share with their children but adding glue will not destroy them next week or in a lifetime.

Next I added white material to 30 front side pieces; clip the curves and pull snugly around illustration board, taking care not to distort the boards.  The batting and lining are optional finishing steps but I like the padding and thought the lining was necessary since I did not have a background stitch on the canvases.

I finished 30 pieces with the backing fabric; clip and snugly fitting these also.

Then I carefully centered the needlepoint to front side of pieces with lining…clipping and wrapping boards snugly being careful not to buckle boards.

I allowed all these pieces to set and dry… but when you’re working on 30 ornaments at a time, by the time you get to #30, #1 will be set and dry enough.  I matched the fronts to the backs…remember the numbering I did in the beginning…this is when it pays off especially when you have 30 ornaments all alike! Also at this time take time to make the cording and cut the ribbons.

Next steps are best completed one at a time. Apply glue to both sides of the ornament pair, place ribbons on one side of the ornament and place both sides together. At this time I also applied the cording around each ornament and set aside to dry. I place these ornaments between wax paper with a phone book placed on top to help set them.

After all the ornaments were completed and I recovered from sitting days and hours I tied a bow with one set of ribbons and with the second smaller satin ribbon tied each ornament on the trees with another bow.

Placed Easter eggs and bunny candy around the bases (it was cold and rainy, so no egg hunt at our house this year) and waited for the Grandkids to arrive.

Finishing may not be a four letter word but it could be. BUT…Every time I take on these monumental tasks, it reminds me of how much I really appreciate Finishers.  Yes, Finishers with a capital “F”, because they really do deserve a title and our accolades. So next time you think the cost of finishing is high, remember it took me a 4-5 days working 6-8 hours a day to complete 30 ornaments. AND these ornaments were all the same so I could do each step while your finisher probably is doing one ornament at a time, and even if she is doing 30 round ornaments each will be a bit different. So Finishers of Needlework in the world, you deserve a thank you note every time we pick up a finished piece of needlework. You have made our needlework into a finished piece of art. So from me to all you beautiful, wonderful, talented Finishers of Needlework in the world…

THANK YOU!

Hope everyone has time to stitch today! Me? I’m still recovering from Easter and just reading and resting. ttfn…sue

Bunny and Carrots

As my Grandmother would say, “Oh Shaw”, I might use another term but since this is open to the world we will stick to Grandma’s terminology. But “Oh Shaw,” I went by the shop the other day to pick up Mr. Bunny and to get the perle cotton for the carrots. …Got the bunny but forgot the perle cotton! Went back Saturday because I didn’t it would have been Tuesday before I could go again. I hate it when I have these senior moments and the worst part about it was when I was there the first time I thought about the perle cotton. The shop had customers and they were using the DMC thread chart so I waited; …waited it right out of my mind!  

Mr. Bunny is so-o-o cute with his wired ears. He is a Brenda Stofft bunny and way back in February when I started him (http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/bunny-one-bunny-two/ ). Brenda gave me permission to show the canvas and she still paints him in brown and white but will do black and white. Brenda, I hope you think my Mr. Bunny is as cute as I do; his fellow bunnies have welcomed him to the brood with twitching ears and tails. I think the small bunny to the right of him is his cousin…Brenda painted him too but he spoke to me many years ago and I’ve had him stitched for some time. They have the same turkey tuff tail, so they must be cousins!  I’ve had Mr. Bunny canvas a long time but he was worth the wait, wired ears and all.

I am still stitching carrots, hope I get done! As I have been stitching I realized that the finishing will also be a monumental undertaking, another one of those I am glad I do not do this all the time and how much I love finishers moments. As the canvases mount up, I took a mind looking inventory: 10 ornaments per set; 2 piece of illustration board cut per ornament equals 20 cut carrots; time 3 sets equals’ 60 cut cardboard pieces. Um-m-m maybe I better start marking and cutting…stitching…cutting…cutting…stitching. Have the perle cotton for the cording and the ribbon for the hangers (stash is good.) I’m going to use green ribbon for the hangers, so that you can tie them on the tree.

So needless to say, you probably will not be hearing from me the rest of this week… I’m down to the last three designs and I may have to finish two sets and leave third for later. I will be stitching, finishing, finishing, stitching, finishing, finishing, and then cooking.

Hope everyone has time to stitch today and the rest of the week, I know I will!

ttfn…sue

St Patrick’s Day

  Happy St Pat’s…finally got this charted.

Hope everyone has time to stitch today!  ttfn…sue