The Needlepoint Queen

Update on (scant) Progress on my Needlepoint Class Project

NPQ — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:19:09 +0000

Seems like there simply are not enough hours in the day to get everything done any more. This Pink Lady is a canvas I just adore, yet have not been able to spend nearly as much time on as I’d like. Be that as it may, here’s what we have, so far. Her decolletage got stitched twice – started out with Splendor S1098, which is normally a pretty good flesh tone. It seemed a bit flat for her, so, out it came. Instead, I used some of my precious stash of Cascade House Lame Silk (no longer available, so when it’s gone, it’s gone!), #3040. Because the over-dye is a bit pronounced, I used a combination of Skip Tent and just jumping around to stitch it in to avoid any striping. Using the Lame Silk gives her a nice shimmery look (Glitter Body Gel, anyone?). Satin Stitched her pink cheeks, and added a perfect, pouty pink mouth. Since no self-respecting Southern Belle would leave the house without her pearls, on went a tiny necklace created with Mill Hill Beads. Completed the bodice, belt, part of her lacy black glove, and the wrist corsage. I’ve said it before, and will say it again – boy, is that Gloriana Silk Ribbon yummy! Barely got a start on the floral paper her bundle of roses is wrapped in, but will press on with that. Can’t wait to get started on the bouquet, but would like to complete the dress, first. She just knocks me out, and is fun to stitch. Here’s progress to date:

Been surfing around needlepoint blogs, and can’t believe how many truly wonderful, creative ones are out there – will share some of my favorites, and will be adding to the Blog Roll so you can hop over to them, too. Have a great weekend, and keep on stitching! NPQ

Needlepoint Cyber-Buddies

NPQ — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:08:03 +0000

The internet fascinates me, endlessly. Being a Baby Boomer, using the computer is definitely an example of an old dog learning new tricks. Years ago when we lived in North Carolina, the school my son attended offered a computer introductory class for parents. The fourth grade students (my son, now 32 years old, was one of those students) taught the class. The teacher who set up the program told us that the difference in adults and children when faced with a computer and manual is that the adults will spend hours poring over the manual, while the children just start hitting keys to see what happens! He suggested we let our inner child out to play………

Been playing ever since, still love it, and especially love connecting with other lovers of needlepoint. The ability to “visit” via the internet so many beautiful and creative web sites, blogs, and people is priceless. Have to admit to being guilty of surfing more than may be advisable, but, it’s just such fun! Have just serendipitously met Jan, who creates her own needlepoint designs and has a great blog, Thread Medley- check it out. Jan researches tiles, rugs, etc., and then adapts those patterns to needlepoint canvas. She also does a fantastic job of organizing her supplies. At my class in Memphis at Amy’s Golden Strand, the New York Stitching Sisters were also in attendance - more wonderful new friends to commune with via cyberspace. Their blog is great, too – so, do a bit of surfing between stitch sessions – keep on stitching! NPQ

Do You Need a Good Clothing Stitch? Try the Needlepoint Stitch of the Week

NPQ — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:22:47 +0000

Try Diagonal Scotch with Cross Stitch Variation. Just to clarify the name of the stitch, all Scotch Stitches are diagonal; it is referred to as Diagonal Scotch when the group of individual Scotch Stitches moves in a diagonal flow. I used this stitch on my Scheherazade (Melissa Shirley Wild Women series) canvas for the red jacket – it really lends itself to the use of a very subtly over-dyed thread (In The Reds by Silk ‘n Colors on that particular piece). You get just a hint of color change as the stitches progress, and a bit more when the slant is changed (the red jacket was stitched with the bodice in one slant, the sleeves in the opposite slant – changing the stitch direction makes the delineation between areas more apparent). On that piece, the small Cross Stitches were added with Kreinik #8 braid (since you can’t be too rich, too thin, or have too much glitz on your needlepoint…..). This stitch is very versatile as it offers ease in changing size, direction, thread, covers the canvas quickly, etc. It looks great using two different colors of thread, or, one color in two types of thread, alternating from row to row. Think of it for tree tops, carpet, billowing clouds – you’ll find lots of places to use it.

Here in the Deep South, we are fighting prickly heat and heat stroke – don’t remember when it’s been so hot for so, so long! Best solution (to my way of thinking) is to stay inside and stitch – so, you keep on stitching, ’cause I sure will! NPQ

Needlepoint Stitch of the Week

NPQ — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:58:54 +0000

The Slanted Victorian Step stitch produces a strong, directional flow on your needlepoint canvas, and works beautifully for hills and mountains, clothing (especially on a reclining figure), and, lends itself well to the use of overdyed threads such as Gloriana Silk, Silk ‘n Colors, Waterlilies, and Poppies, just to name a few. In teaching a canvas embellishment class for members of our local ANG group, I suggested this stitch for the distant mountains in Sharon G’s gorgeous Tuscan Spring canvas – blending thread colors, alternating with Double Cross, it was just divine! Here it is, diagrammed slanting both ways:

Don’t forget to consider perspective when you have a canvas such as the Tuscan Spring. Working the areas farthest from front first will allow you to better control the “weight” of each area. Another trick to make an area seem to recede is to “gray” down the thread, rather than simply darkening the hue. Try adding a gray thread, or a shade of your main color with gray already in it to alter perspective – you’ll be amazed what a difference it makes – and keep on stitching! NPQ

Progress on my Amy Bunger Class Project

NPQ — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:16:45 +0000

Well, finally, a bit of time to work on my project from the recent class at Amy’s in Memphis. Honestly, don’t cha just hate when life gets in the way of your needlepoint fun? Anyway, have accomplished enough to deserve some stitching time, and couldn’t resist that hat – it’s been calling to me. So, on this perfect-for-stitching-day (it’s been cloudy, rainy, and stormy all day, so Missy is happily ensconced on her little bed at my feet, in no mood to do anything but sleep, leaving me with the freedom to stitch away).

The threads for this canvas are pure eye candy – especially the Gloriana Overdyed Silk Ribbons for the flowers. If the ribbons alone aren’t enough to delight you, check the color names – Peach Blossom, Rose Flame, Narcissus, and more. Then there are the stranded silks, velvet – you know the drill. Suffice to say, just pawing through all of it is fun! The hat uses Rainbow Galleries Neon Rays rayon ribbon and a Kreinik #8 metallic.

As is typical of my class projects, the first stages suffer more “reverse” stitching (i.e., ripping out) than anything else. After any number of attempts, I have resigned myself to the knowledge that no matter how carefully the Rainbow Galleries Neon Rays is stitched, there is unavoidable damage when adding the Kreinik #8 braid. Alas, perfection continues to elude me……..

Having said that, the overall look of the black hat thrills me – it’s oooh sooooooo very Coco Chanel. Note the single silk ribbon flower on top – since the flowers are the most fun of everything in the piece, I am trying desperately to save them as rewards for completion of other aspects…………but, there was no way to resist stitching at least one. Will post other pix as the work goes along……….keep on stitching! NPQ

Needlepoint Stitch of the Week

NPQ — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:15:13 +0000

This week, have a look at Alternating Mosaic. This stitch is great for small areas, has a fairly quilted appearance, and is non-directional. It is lovely stitched in stranded silk because you get such good light play. Rainbow Galleries Petite Very Velvet looks grand, too. In the diagrams below, the upper has arrows indicating the path in which to stitch the diagonal rows, and two colors are used to more clearly show the individual Mosaic three stitch squares. The lower diagram shows all stitches in one color. Now, for variations: You could lay a foundation thread where each of the directional arrows are shown in the upper diagram, to be stitched over with your Mosaic Stitches. You could stitch all the Mosaics in one color, or, you could use two colors as shown in the diagram (which would produce a checked pattern), or even two different threads. You could also add a bead or French Knot where the arrows intersect.

Your choice of threads will make (as always) a huge difference in the appearance. I used this stitch for a red coat on a bunny, hovering over a Christmas Tree adding garland…………used three plies of Medium Red Splendor trimmed with fur made from piles of French Knots in white Arctic Rays – it was just yummy!

Next week we’ll add Alternating Scotch – a perfect companion to this stitch (just increases the number of stitches in the “square”). It is helpful to have stitches that look approximately the same but are sized differently. You can use them together in something like draperies or pleated bed skirts, etc. – the Mosaic (smaller) stitches seem to recede. Try some variations on your doodle canvas – bet you’ll find lots of places to use this stitch. Keep on stitching! NPQ

Storage Solutions for your Needlepoint Stash

NPQ — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:44:26 +0000

There are (surely) needlepointers out there who work each project from start to finish before starting another – can’t say I’ve ever met one, but it stands to reason that such people exist. Most of us have a number of projects, ranging from two or three to “never-mind-you-wouldn’t-believe-it”. My own approach is to have several underway simultaneously so that there will be a choice appropriate to my mood of the moment….. and, I subscribe to the theory that when you see a canvas you love, you better buy it – the artist may wake up tomorrow no longer interested in creating these wonders for us and fly off to Tahiti or some other exotic place (not a bad idea, see picture below).

Looks like heaven to me!

Having now been around my elbow, so to speak, on to the subject for today: how shall we store all those fabulous threads, canvases, books, stitch guides, tools, etc. in such a way as to have them readily available, yet organized and out of the way?

You may have noticed that there are links both at top and bottom of my page to the Original Scrapbox . It purports to be a storage solution for scrapbooking; however, it seems to me that you could adapt it for almost any craft or artistic pursuit. It has an amazing number of spaces in myriad shapes and sizes – including some clear plastic bags that could be grabbed and used as “go bags” for projects. It’s not an inexpensive piece of furniture, but it does come in a number of sizes and finishes, and would be fairly unobtrusive when closed. Have a look for yourself – it might be just what you’re looking for. My plan is to ask Santa to throw one in the sleigh for me……………..

How do you sort your thread stash – by color? by thread type? some other way? Would love to hear suggestions for sorting and storing – please add them to comments to share, and keep on stitching! NPQ

Needlepoint Stitch of the Week

NPQ — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:31:04 +0000

Wow, my trip to Amy’s was so fun, it completely threw me off track – sorry ’bout the lack of posts, but here goes a stitch for ya – this one is a variation of the Parisian Stitch, completed in two steps, and is another very versatile, non-directional stitch that affords one a number of options to alter the look with color and thread selection. If using one color, try Ribbon Floss for Step 1 together with Vineyard Silk for Step 2. That creates a great texture, gives you some nice “light play” off the threads, is easy to execute, and pretty fast – not bad, huh? Step 1 is numbered to remind us that the direction of each individual stitch should be opposite to the direction the stitches are flowing (diagonal rows, here) on the canvas (i.e., when moving from top to bottom of canvas, work the thread from bottom to top of the stitch). If you need a hardcore basis for that, we’ll have to ask Tony Minieri (taught me this) because the exact reason escapes my memory……suffice to say, it has to do with the path of the thread on the back of your canvas lining up what comes next on the front. Anyway, you may want to experiment with different sorts of threads, as well as the use of more than one color thread, depending upon the effect you wish to achieve. Here’s the diagram:

You could use this as a background (be sure to use light-weight threads for a background so that it doesn’t “upstage” your subject), for clothing, wallpaper, sky (how about using one of the fabulous Gloriana Silk, Silk ‘n Colors or Threadworx overdyes with a solid shade found in that overdye), – again, possibilities are unlimited. Have fun with it, and keep on stitching! NPQ

Fun and Games with Amy Bunger

NPQ — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:36:54 +0000

Well, our class started this morning at 10:00 sharp – three friends from Atlanta and another from New Jersey/New York are there, too – we’re all having a great time. Class members spent a few minutes getting acquainted, settling in our “spots”, looking over the thread kits and Stitch Guides, and admiring each other’s projects. There is a terrific assortment in this class – everything from a carousal horse, kimonos, a Kelly Clark Santa, Victorian perfume seller, Washington, DC scene, adorable “Bad Habits” canvas from Maggie Co., a 3-D cottage, lots more – the class room is filled. The most spectacular project is the Octopus Chandelier by Barbara Elmore – and Amy’s stitch guide for that is out of this world. Layered stitches, Blackwork patterns, Flair Applique, ruffled ribbons, and simply delicious colors. Amy has already taught me two new techniques – tri-color overhand braid (makes a fab chevron pattern), and a Colonial Knot ribbon rose to die for! Forgot my camera (naturally), so can’t add pix til back home, but will do so on Monday next.

Being in Amy’s Golden Strand (her shop in Memphis) presents a “golden” opportunity to see up-close-and-personal the many beautiful items she has stitched through the years – more than may be assimilated in a short time. you need to keep walking through the shop’s rooms

Kelly Clark's Baby Jesus

staring (often open-mouthed!) and discovering things like the Baby Jesus pictured here – he is one of twelve pieces for a nativity collection available from Amy with Stitch Guides and kitted threads. Don’t cha just wanna hug him? If you can’t find inspiration here, take up another hobby (or art form, if you will)! More on class later, keep on stitching! NPQ

Walkin’ in Memphis

NPQ — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:34:44 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Whooee, headed for Memphis for three lovely days at Amy’s Golden Strand, taking camvas embellishment class with Amy. Cannot wait to get there, it’s always so much fun, and it’s been a couple of years since I was able to get away to treat myself. Amy’s classes are always filled with lots of learning, laughter, eating (duh!), stitching, and shopping. Sounds like heaven to me – throw in side trips to Corky’s Barbeque, Graceland, The Memphis Zoo (they have Giant Pandas!), and Beale Street (not to mention evenings with a little something cold to drink by the hotel pool) – pluperfect! If you have never been to one of these “Cook Up A Canvas with Amy” classes, go now to register for one – they fill up fast, because many of the same people sign up for the next year’s class while there. This gives the feeling (and added benefit) of “camp”, in that you reconnect with friends you might otherwise not have made. The camaraderie is terrific, Amy and her staff see to it that you have a fabulous time. A picture of my project for the class is below – there will be postings of my progress on it after my return. This is a darling piece by Shelly Tribbey, Lady in Pink. Amy will surely come up with fab flowers, dress fabric, straw hat, etc. More later – keep on stitching! NPQ

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

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