Revisiting Old Projects

Jan is wandering down memory lane and looking at old projects over at her Stitch Lady blog.  The first piece is a Joan Thomasson class she took.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/down-memory-lane/

If you'd like to try one of Joan's wonderful larger class pieces, you can order from her website.

https://www.stitchinstuff.com/shop?page=4

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 5, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And the Award for Clever Use of Background Goes To....

...Anne Stradal!   I love the shading in the blue background.  It's just right--not obtrusive but interesting.
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-downtime-project.html

This is one of Joan Thomasson's Christmas bulb series.  I have stitched one of the two versions of Mrs. Santa (below).  There is also Santa himself and the angel.  These aren't on Joan's website now but I see them on eBay occasionally.
http://www.stitchinstuff.com/ProductCategories.aspx

Joan Thomasson's Mrs. Santa Bulb Center 

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Backgrounds in Blackwork

Janet Perry just posted about using blackwork patterns for backgrounds on her blog. 
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/blackwork-as-backgrounds

Both blackwork and darning patterns make nice backgrounds but be careful.  Not every thread is suited for this, so you have to choose not only the right color but the right weight/diameter of the thread.  You also have to be very careful to anchor your threads well and use long lengths to stitch with so that you don't find yourself having to end/begin a thread in the middle of a long row.

I've also found it difficult to work a blackwork pattern on top of tent stitches.  Perhaps it is just me, but counting out a pattern on top of tent stitches is much harder than counting out a pattern on bare needlepoint canvas.  I'm not saying don't use these patterns;  I'm just saying they are not like regular background stitches.

Joan Thomasson uses a lot of blackwork-type patterns on the dresses of her angel ornaments.  She recommends using less thread for the tent stitch base under the patterns and that seems to work well for me.  If you are not familiar with Joan's angels, you can see a great many of them on her website.
http://www.stitchinstuff.com/ProductCategories.aspx


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Introducing Joan Thomasson's Surfin Santa

I am a big fan of Joan Thomasson's small angel and Santa designs.  I must own 6-8 of her angels, particularly the slightly naughty ones, and I have 2-3 of her Santas in my stash, too.  If you were visiting Blog last year, you saw me stitch Joan's large stand up Wizard Santa for my niece for Christmas.   To see the range of designs Joan offers as kits and stand-alone small painted canvases, browse the Catalogue category of her website.  Very talented lady!
http://www.stitchinstuff.com/

The kits are great fun to stitch.  They come with a page of instructions, two pages of diagramed stitches, and all the threads you need as well as a photograph of the finished model.  Most kits have the backing felt and instructions to make up the ornament, and some kits also include a charm like the brass lock that Wizard Santa had for his trunk of magic.  So when I wanted something quick and easy and as different as possible from O'jishi, I pulled out my stash of Joan Thomasson angels and Santas and choose a particularly fun one, Surfin Santa!

I'm going to stitch Surfin Santa as an ornament for a brother for next year's Christmas using some of the DMC cotton floss and metallic threads included in the kit supplemented by threads from my stash.  You see, my brother wouldn't be caught dead wearing a red floral shirt so I'm going to have to change that right away to something more neutral and muted--the sort of shirt his wife and daughters might buy for him on a Hawaiian vacation and force him to wear.  LOL

The changed shirt version is underway above, and Santa's already wearing heavy black sunglasses (a style my brother favors).  Tomorrow I'll talk about how I stitched those sunglasses for Joe Cool Santa.  LOL

This is really going to be fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow