Holi's Hearts (For you, Barbara)

I got a note through Yahoo 360's messaging system that I wasn't able to answer Friday morning. The default if you use this system to send messages is No Replies Allowed, so when Barbara asked what the heart stitch on Holi's skirt was called and where she could see the stitch diagrammed, I wasn't able to reply privately. Barbara, this stitch is called diagonal hearts.

Diagonal hearts, like most of the stitches on the pet guardian angels that are new to me, seems to have been created by the designer Kandace Merric. I have not seen this stitch anywhere else. I looked again last night in my books but it isn't there, at least not under this name. If you happen to have a copy of the February/March 1992 NP Plus, you can see diagonal hearts diagrammed. But I bet the percentage of people who have a copy in their collection is low.

So last night I pulled out my black 10 count plastic canvas and stitched a diagram. You see my pretty awful looking attempt above. I should have pulled some tapestry wool to stitch this so it wouldn't have looked so awful but I didn't have the time or energy to go looking for it last night so you all will have to forgive me for the twisted threads. It's not possible to get good stitches if you use so little thread for a larger count ground material. So stop snickering and look at the diagonal row of red hearts. This is the basis for the stitch. I hope you can see where the diagonal lines go over two lines and where they go over three. (If you count boxes, it's over one box or two.) Once you do a diagonal line of hearts, you add the orange tent stitches around each side of the hearts. The red bits are where a contrast like a metallic thread goes, also in a tent stitch. The partially completed heart in the second line of diagonal hearts shows how I center the next row to make sure everything fits correctly into the framework of tent stitches.

And that's it! Hope this is helpful, Barbara. Kandy Merric has made us a lovely stitch.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Evolve UPDATED

Not all of us needlepointers are really interested in stitching painted canvases. Many folks like charted pieces (which we tend to call counted thread now here in the U.S.) as there isn't much ambiguity about such pieces. You know exactly what you are supposed to do and where. Of course many counted thread people are very good with color as they often vary the colors in a design and I admire their expertise. I hope they enjoy watching me stumble around making it up as I go when I stitch painted canvases and line drawn designs.

But Blog is more about painted canvases than anything else and occasionally I try to talk about charted pieces, just to amuse my visitors who would prefer dental surgery without benefit of anaesthesia to stitching a painted canvas. So this eBay auction is for you guys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/KIMBERLY-CRUM-EVOLVE-Chart-Threads-Beads_W0QQitemZ150339079278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150339079278&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

It's is a wonderful (and increasingly rare) chart by Kimberly Crum (now Kim Smith) with all the threads called for in the pattern. You will need to buy the needlepoint canvas elsewhere however, as that doesn't seem to be included in the auction. The piece is called Evolve and I think it is beautiful.

It also reminds us that we need to climb out of our comfort zones and stitch something a bit different occasionally so that we stretch our creative muscles and grow.

UPDATE: This chart plus all the threads and beads needed sold for $78 plus $4.95 shipping.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Asian Purses

I stumbled across a series of lovely purses with oriental themes this morning. What you see above is one of them, a Mindy design. I love Mindy's pieces, especially the Japanese quilt patterns, one of which this is adapted from.

Start your journey here. Click on Go Shopping on the left , then click on Painted Canvas in the middle of the page. Now click on Mindy and prepare to enjoy! There are seven purse canvases on the first page, including a Christmas one and one from her sheet music pattern.
http://www.homesteadneedlearts.com/

I also found clutch purses from Shorebird Studio/Katie Molineaux at The Needlepointer. Start here by clicking on Canvas Gallery on the left side of the page. Then scroll down to the Ks to find Katie's pieces. There are two sections. I found the clutch purses with a carved closure bead and obi fabric for finishing on pages 4 and 5 of Section I.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com/

Have fun dreaming of where you might carry such a purse!

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Daily Meditation

My usual nightly routine--
Drive 45 minutes home from work, greet dogs greet spouse hand over newspapers and mail let dogs out tidy kitchen and living room change dog water dish let dogs in clean dogs feet feed dogs put dog bowls away change dog water dish start dinner start coffee pot check laundry put clean clothes in dryer fold dried clothes and put them away check on dinner tidy living room again answer questions about mail check dinner dish out dinner eat watch depressing national news clean up kitchen wash dishes change dog water dish sit in recliner and pull out needlepoint.

Cut 18 inches of DMC cotton perle #5 and carefully and deliberately basketweave background of Pet Guardian Angel Holi until thread is gone. End off.

Put dry dishes away turn on outside lights let dogs out for last night's run and keep an eye on them let dogs in and give them small treat turn off outside lights and turn on lights upstairs put last laundry load away turn on electric blanket and alarm clock brush teeth lay out clothes for work put away next dried load of laundry check washer and dryer for missed socks go back downstairs check email return computer to spouse read newspaper while watching television and talking to spouse finish newspaper and move dog beds to nighttime sleeping spot settle dogs for night.

Cut 18 inches of DMC cotton perle #5 and carefully and deliberately basketweave background of Pet Guardian Angel Holi until thread is gone. End off.

Watch television check dogs are asleep empty trash can tidy living room make thermos of coffee for spouse to finish later climb stairs fall into bed and sleep. Repeat each night Monday through Friday.

You can see why I don't get a lot of stitching done each night. And you can see why stitching a bit each night is essential to my mental health!

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Arrows for Wings

I made a little progress on my wings last night. This stitch seemed particularly hard for me to get the rhythm of, and I ripped out arrows several times before I was happy with the base line of three medium green arrows. The tops of the arrows are the acid yellow-green color. The gaps at the base of the wings are arrow tips like the acid green ones but turned to face the other way. I plan to do that area in dark green. The spaces between arrows is supposed to be a straight line and I'll probably use the thick Ultrasuede that makes up Holi's collar there. I looked carefully at my stitch diagram this morning and discovered there will be empty spaces that reveal the background between stitches. Somehow this failed to sink in when I choose this stitch but I like how it looks so much that I will do what I always do when faced with a problem--I'll plaster beads over the empty spots!

This stitch is a creation of the fabulously talented Marnie Ritter. She calls it Marnie's Interlocking Leaf-Diagonal and it is diagrammed in the March-April 1991 issue of Needlepoint Plus magazine.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow