Bra Background

I posted a photo of the bra and it's memory thread coat hanger yesterday.  I'm reposting it so you can compare a Before and After photograph to see how a background changes the design.

I used a crochet filet lace pattern I found on the Internet for the background.  Whenever I want to use a darning stitch-type pattern I look at SuZy Murphy's Darn Stitches first.  If there isn't a pattern there, I look at Brenda Hart's books as they usually have a few included. If all else fails, I use Google to search for "free filet lace crochet" designs. You'll find many such patterns, including "small deer" which is what I used, here.
http://crochet.about.com/library/blfreecharts.htm 

I still need to finish the top partial row and then do another column down the right side.  Hopefully I'll finish that tonight.

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

Announcement from Gay Ann Rogers

I saw this message in Gay Ann Rogers' classroom this morning.  I am quoting her in full here so you can pass the information along to any friends who have stitched her The Flowers of Spring.

Gay Ann said, "I have taught The Flowers of Spring at two seminars: EGA Pittsburg last fall and at Callaway this year.  At Callaway Lee Courtney discovered a mistake on page 80 of the instructions.   One of the reasons for my website is so that I can post corrections to my instructions and I have duly posted the correct text for page 80.

If you know anyone who was in my class at EGA's Pittsburgh seminar, would you do me a favor and alert her to the correction? She can print the corrected text off my website.  Click on The Flowers of Spring."
http://www.GayAnnRogers.com

Please pass the word around.  Gay Ann thanks you!

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

Tidbits

I have several tidbits of knowledge to pass along this morning.  First, the Cyberpointers Chapter of ANG has a new class available that mixes beading and blackwork--Copper River Canyon by Mary K. Campbell.  You can learn more (and see two alternate colorways) here.
http://cyberpointers.org/copper.html

To take the class you have to be a member of the Cyberpointers, which costs $18 a year in dues.  Here's the link to the sign up form for Copper River Canyon.  If you want to join Cyberpointers, click on Join, also at this page.
http://cyberpointers.org/copper-form.html

Remember O'jishi, the Noh Theatre mask I just finished?  Thanks to Leigh Richardson, I've got a photo of another stitched mask from the Japanese mask series to show you.  It was stitched all in silk ribbon by the late Paul Krynicki of River Silks.
http://www.riversilks.com/Site/Site6/FINISHED_SILK_RIBBON_PROJECTS.html#37

Here is the series of painted canvases so you can see the Before and After.  Isn't this an amazing interpretation of Karura, the legendary bird?!
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp467x.html

Finally, while looking for something else, I noticed that Ro Pace has a new look to her website. It sets off her amazing geometric patterns very well.
http://www.designsbyro.com/needlepoint_designs_by_ro/Welcome_2.html

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

Beaded Tap Pants

Here is a photo of the totally beaded tap pants.  Don't they look great?!  It's a unique look to have a canvas covered in bead "ice."  I've put this aside for a bit as I am working on the bra's background.  More on that tomorrow as hopefully I'll finish Step One of the background tonight.

I like to do backgrounds first but on this project I didn't have a frame yet so I beaded the tap pants while looking for frames.  I intend to frame these two canvases separately in identical frames.  Once I found frames, then I decided on a background for the pieces and started working it around the bra.

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

Bead and Stars Tidbits

Lots of folks who have stitched or who plan to stitch Tony Minieri's Stars for the New Millennium have emailed me, many with interesting tips.  Amanda, who has seen many versions of this design stitched, remarked that she thought darker colors showed up well.  In fact, she changed her planned colors slightly when she realized one of her originals was too light a shade.  My preference has been for darker versions of Stars also, particularly those that have a lot of contrast between colors.  I'd love to see an all -pastel version, though.  In fact, if you have finished Stars, send me a photo and I'll post as many as I can get here.

Amanda used Trio and Vineyards Silks on her Stars, and discovered that when she had to split these for stitching, the plied threads had lots of fuzzies.   It was frustrating for her, so you might want to be careful about choosing these new threads for your version.

I'd also like to direct your attention to the Needlepoint Study Hall blog which is intended to be a gathering place for stitchers working on Amy Bunger's new Halloweenies class which will start in a few weeks.  Right now, Amy's staff are posting about interesting products and their current stitching.  Beads and a SharonG lingerie set are among the blog entries.

Robin King is stitching her own SharonG bra and tap pants set there, the kitty one.  You'll want to see how she added beads to her tap pants. It's totally different than the two techniques I'm testing.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/01/bead-lesson-with-geography.html

Peggy mentioned a new kit from Sundance that has a variety of beads and a project to stitch with them.  It's a great introduction for new beaders.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/01/since-we-are-talking-about-beads.html

By the way, I've finished beading the silver dog tags on the bra canvas and using DMC memory thread, have shaped a long length into the black coat hanger.  I couched the coat hanger wire down with matching black DMC cotton floss.  The hardest part was enlarging the canvas holes enough to thread the memory thread through under the bra straps, but it looks quite nice.

I am going to wait to do the dog tag chain until I bead the rest of the canvas.

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