Now the Finished Finishing

I've also been collecting examples of lovely finished pieces for you to admire. Let's start with Laura Perin who isn't just posting good photos of her finished designs, she's telling you how she used thread size and color in these pieces. It's fascinating reading!

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/07/old-switcheroo.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-kimono-trios.html
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/twilight-on-trail.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-amber-waves-of-grain.html

Speaking of changing a design through color, you might enjoy seeing examples on Orna Willis' blog. These aren't finished pieces but since they fit the color play theme so well, I wanted to include them here.

http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2008/06/sometimes-i-use-needlepoint-as-color.html

Now more finished pieces. Don't you love Pat's birds!?!

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2008/08/betsy-and-boys.html

And how about Jane's Santas?

http://janew1102.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/boxes-on-my-doo.html

And Ruth's strawberries? And roses?

http://www.tistheseason.org/blog/2008/08/chocolate-covered-strawberries.html

http://www.tistheseason.org/blog/2008/06/its-all-about-roses.html

What fun it is to examine great stitching carefully!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Finishing Tutorials

I've been trying out all types of finishing here since it saves a lot of money. I want to encourage you to at least try simple finishing yourself. I don't like doing it myself but I love how it turns out and I really really love saving cash for other things.

Today I have three items, a needlebook tutorial from Meari,

http://focusonfinishing.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/needlebook-tutorial/

a beaded scissor fob tutorial from Didi,

http://focusonfinishing.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/beaded-scissor-fob-tutorial/

and a book cover tutorial from Barbara.

http://focusonfinishing.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/book-cover-tutorial/

You'll note they are all posted on the Focus on Finishing blog which is a fun read even if you have never come closer to sewing than noticing a sewing machine display in a fabric store. Have fun!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Things I Should Have Said Yesterday

I forgot several things yesterday, one of which is that my old printer/scanner has been replaced. I'll be using the digital camera to take photos until I learn how to use the new one so you won't get a lot of detail now. I'll do my best but my camera doesn't do closeups and the new scanner won't talk to the computer yet.

Anne, avert your eyes when I do manage a photo. I've done the large book in apricot and the little one in red (all tent stitches). Love how it looks myself because I thought the blue book disappeared into the blue robe. (Feel free to not like it. We all have different tastes and desires for how to stitch our canvases.) I also used one ply of black DMC cotton floss to outline the edges of the books in long stitches. The next step is to find some white perle cotton to do the edges of the inside pages in long straight rows. I may even put titles on the books but I haven't decided for certain since they'd have to be partial words or very short titles since there's not much space. I've even debated writing on top of the tent stitches with a permanent marker. [Screams from the peanut gallery!] I am still debating whether to put steam coming out of the cauldron but I probably will. I love using wired Flair for steam and smoke but if I do this, it is going to be at the very end so as not to have to keep dodging the wire which will be quite 3-D.

I'm going to order the Vineyard silks in two browns I need to finish the trunk, staff and then stitch the firebird's wooden perch today. None of the browns in my stash were the right colors or looked good with the crinkly texture of the Vineyard silks.

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Birdee Floats in Air

That's because I haven't stitched the parrot stand yet! But the firebird is done. After I transferred my sketch outlines to the canvas I stitched the whole thing in tent stitches using 5-6 different reds, oranges, and corals and a bit of Trebizond in chocolate milk for his beak and foot. Then using the same fire colors, I put stem stitch on top to show his folded wings, tail and topknot on his head. Once the background and perch are done, I will do the background around the bird and then add a bit more stitching on top of the background to build out the topknot a bit and also give him a tongue. I think he's screaming advice to the wizard on his packing!







Here's a closeup. It's difficult to see but this bird is tent stitches with some colors added on top to suggest feathers. The large photo has the three main colors I used, a yellow orange Bella Soie silk floss from Crescent Colours called Carrot Cake, a toned red overdyed cotton floss from Crescent Colors called Cupid, and an orange-red silk that may be Japanese (there's no label). I put them down at the bottom of the wizard's staff to help me decide if I could use any of these colors for one of the wizard books. What do you think? Will the big book look good in orange Carrot Cake and the little one in the red Cupid?

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

2008 Exemplary Winners

Pour a cup of coffee, sit back, and prepare to be amazed by all the wonderful award winners from the National Academy of Needlearts' 2008 Exemplary show! Click on the tiny photos for slightly larger versions.

http://www.needleart.org/Exemplary08/

The photo above is Gail Sirna's Morning Glory Santa, a personal favorite I saw in person at the 2007 ANG Seminar in Baltimore.

Remember not to drool on your keyboard....

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow