Studying the Eye Candy

I like to bookmark wonderful stitching for inspiration later.  I thought you'd like to see some fabulous stitching that is full of ideas if you have a similar item in your To Do pile of needlepoint canvases.  Do you have buildings or straw on a canvas?  Then you must look at Amy Bunger's Nativity stable in the June newsletter from her shop.  It is an amazing piece of work.  (The whole newsletter is fun and includes photos of many of the styles of the new Sundance sequins but not the black ones.  Trust me, the black ones are FABULOUS-O!  You know, those purple ones look pretty durn good, too....)  The newsletter also shows the brand new Fairy Tale Witch series from Melissa Shirley which Amy has promised to write stitch guides for.
http://www.amybunger.com/f/Amy_s_e-newsletter_June_2011.pdf

Peggi's stitching a Day of the Dead character that she took to a Tony Minieri embellishment class.  You may not have a skeleton in your stitching future but you've got to see this hat!
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2011/06/lupes-progress-thanks-tony.html

Do you need a large heart on your canvas?  ANG's Stitch of the Month released today is a Fleur De Lis heart that is beautifully charted.  (This is for my counted canvaswork friends who must be bored silly by all this talk of painted canvases.)
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2011/jun.php

Want to see a spectacular glitzy canvas mixed with a light coverage background?  MaryLu Leger is teaching this in a class.  Man, wish I was there to see it in person as this is the most beautiful interpretation of Klimt on NP canvas I've ever seen.
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2011/05/kleo-embellishment.html

Do you love birds? Then you will want to see this trio of small Shorebirds canvases which are beautifully stitched and framed together.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2011/05/katie-molyneaux-small-canvases.html

Are you a fan of all tent stitched pieces?  Check out this Tapestry Tent stocking topped by mink!
http://phoenixneedlepointnews.blogspot.com/2011/05/tapestry-tent-stocking.html

So much to see, so much to learn!

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

How Ruth Brought Tulle Into My Life

Cat Topiary Garden with Aqua Tulle Fabric

Yesterday we bought tulle for the cat topiary garden.  Today I'm going to explain why Ruth Made Me Do It.

I keep a careful eye on what Ruth Schmuff does with her mystery classes.  They are always inventive and fun, and give me lots of ideas.  Last year Ruth stitched a geometric painted canvas that she ended up finishing as the front of a tote bag.  Ruth put a protective layer of black tulle on top of the canvas to minimize snags.  You can read about it here and compare a photo of the finished canvas to one of the canvas covered in black tulle and attached to the bag.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/11/harvest-colors-puzzle-mystery-solved.html

I thought that was a great idea!  So when I stitched Red Geisha to go on the front of a Stirling leather purse, I covered her in tulle, too. It's Tulle with a Twist but you'll have to wait until Red Geisha debuts at Columbus or buy the Red Geisha stitch guide to see what the twist is.  I have to have some secrets, you know!

I learned later from Melissa Shirley that Cynthia Thomas used tulle on one of Melissa's bracelet canvases but I haven't seen a photo.  It's probably one of these canvases but the photo isn't clear enough to tell which one.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/index.cgi?index=1145919392_9576&col=123

If you want to keep up with the Mad Scientist that is Ruth, here is her blog.  She is always doing something different and fun and she shares the chapters of her mystery classes freely so that all stitchers can benefit from her inventive ways.  Thanks, Ruth!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/

Tulle Pinned and Basted in Place

With the experience I gained adding tulle to Red Geisha, I knew that I could minimize the problem of my background stitch trying to take over the world by adding a layer of tulle on top of those stitches.  (The problem is still there but less prominent, which I can live with.  Anything's better that ripping out all that background!)

Once I picked the color, I cut out a piece of tulle roughly 13 1/2 and 11 1/4 inches, then laid the aqua tulle on top of my cat topiary garden.  I pinned it in place, starting at the top, stretching it taut and pinning at the bottom, then pinning the sides.  Above is a photo of the tulle on top of the needlepoint canvas with both the pins and the basting stitches.  In person the background stitches have become less prominent.  I will not add short horizontal metallic stitches to the middle of the Woven Diamonds as I once planned, however.  I can't risk making the background come forward again and metallics definitely will made the background prominent again.

Another View of Pins and Basting Stitches

If you squint you can see the straight pins that held the tulle in place, and then two rows of basting that secure the tulle on top of the needlepoint canvas.  I used some left over yellow floss to baste until I ran out and then used up some left over dark green floss.  It doesn't matter what thread you use.  I just picked something loud so you could see it in the photographs.

 Blue Illusion Added

Here's a closeup.  On the left you can clearly see the illusion of blue that the aqua tulle adds to the canvas.   It is like adding watercolor on top of the canvas.

I'm going to pull out the straight pins so I don't stab myself and then put the stitches back on the left spruce tree, stitching right through the layer of tulle.  I'll talk about the stitch I used next Monday so that everyone has time to finish stitching their background, shop for tulle, and then attach the tulle on top of their canvas.

Here are the threads I'm going to use next so you can pick out something similar for the right and left big spruce trees:  For the left tree, the one behind the fish topiary bush, I choose Au Ver A Soie #1826, which is a deep spruce green similar to DMC 3847.  I may use Soie Crystale #8092 for the right spruce, the one behind the mouse topiary, which is similar to DMC #3851.  I haven't stitched that spruce yet so I am not sure that's the right shade but we'll see.  I hope to have both trees stitched by Monday and the stitch diagrammed so you can replicate what I've done.

By the way, I'll use the same tapestry needle to stitch the spruces that I used to stitch the background.  The tulle is so fine that I don't need a sharp needle to pierce it.  Just pretend it's not there and stitch!

Any questions?  Ask away in the comments section or email me at chilly hollow at hotmail dot com, whether you are stitching the cat topiary garden or not.

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

The Winners of the One Million Page Views Giveaway

The winners have been chosen.  The Tassel Wreath winner is Pat from Illinois and the Haunted House winner is Maryellen Seeley.

Congratulations to you two.  Please email me your addresses so I can get your prizes in the mail to you.  My email address is chilly hollowat hotmaildot com.

Many thanks to all the folks who entered.  It was great fun talking to all of you.

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

Blame Ruth For This, Too

Since Ruth posted the final photo of her latest mystery class (everyone knows which canvas Ruth has picked but no one--not even Ruth--knows what will be done to it) this morning, I thought you'd like to see what she does when she's not tempting me to play with tulle on canvas.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/06/i-cant-believe-fun-is-over.html

The next two mystery classes are posted on her shop website.  She sends out mail order lessons the Tuesday after the real class so you can sign up for some long distance mystery solving if you like.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/mysteryClasses.php

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

It's Ruth's Fault We Are Going Shopping

One Side of Cat Topiary Garden

Well, actually it is my fault, too.  Let me explain.

When I finished stitching the background trees of dede's cat topiary garden, I immediately started stitching the next set of trees--the two big spruces on either side of the canvas.  Take a look at the photo above.  This background is all done and I've got  two-thirds of the big spruce on the left stitched.  What's wrong with this picture?

The background stitch is larger than the tiny stitch I choose for the spruce tree.  So the background is coming forward while the tree recedes.  Oops!

Any canvas that has a really light area in the back and a dark area in the front runs into this problem.  Light colors tend to come forward towards the viewer while dark colors recede.  Because the scale of Woven Diamonds in the background is larger than the tiny Double Stitch I am using for the spruce tree, the light area in the back has become even more prominent.  So what do I do?  Well, first of all I ripped out all the spruce tree stitches.   Secondly, I went shopping!

Once you finish stitching the background, grab the spare change from the couch cushions and head to the fabric store, and take your canvas with you.  We need tulle.  We are going to completely cover the needlepoint canvas with a piece of tulle.

For those of you who aren't familiar with bridal gowns, prom dresses, or ballet costumes, tulle is netting with smaller holes.  Occasionally tulle is called illusion, and shortly we'll see why.

Tulle can be used for mosquito nets draped around beds or it can make beautiful bridal veils.  (The one hundred percent nylon type is probably fire resistant but other kinds are pretty flammable. I'm just mentioning this because you don't want to use tulle on a project for a child or that will end up in a kitchen or near a fireplace.)
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/tullebybolt.html

I took my canvas to Joann's Fabrics to browse their selection.  At Joann's tulle comes in three varieties--a matte finish, a shiny finish and a matte finish with sparkles in it.  I loved the sparkles but they come off so I confined my browsing to the matte and shiny finishes.
http://www.giftsintl.com/tullefabric.php

I laid a piece of shiny green tulle over the canvas, covering it completely, and looked at my stitched area.  The green was too lime but it did make the background stitches softer and less prominent.  I tried all the shades of blue, the pinks, the purples, even the brown and the gray. Actually, I would encourage you to put all the colors availaable over your needlepoint canvas and see which you like best.  I found aqua, black, gray and brown to look the best--not exactly the colors I would have expected!  (My local Joann's didn't have emerald green for me to try but that might work, too. )  Pink didn't look bad either but I bought aqua since I have black tulle at home in my stash already.  Here's my aqua tulle laying on top of my canvas.

Since cat topiary garden is on 13x15 stretcher bars and the design itself is roughly 13 1/2 inches tall by 11 1/4 inches wide, you need to buy a piece of tulle smaller than the outside dimensions (15x13) but an inch or so larger than the design itself (13 1/2 x 11 1/4). So we need a piece of tulle that is 14 1/2 x 12 1/4, roughly.  However, tulle is sold by the yard or fraction of the yard.  Usually you have to buy half a yard to get what you need off bolts of tulle that are 45 inches wide so there will be lots left over.  But that's ok. I spent 64 cents on my tulle with a coupon and tax.  It's around $1.50-$2 a yard depending on where you buy it and what finish the tulle has.  The shiny stuff with sparkles costs more.

I am sure you are scratching your head at this point, but now that you've picked the tulle that you like seeing your needlepoint canvas through best, I'll explain what the tulle is for.  Remember I said tulle is sometimes called illusion?  Look at this photo and compare it to the one at the top of the page.

Black versus Aqua

What you see in the photograph is a layer of black tulle laid over the left half of the canvas and a layer of aqua tulle laid over the right half.  See the stitches I've done in the top margin using the Splendor I used for the background stitches?  The left square is covered in black tulle, the middle square is uncovered, and the right square is covered in aqua tulle.  The layer of black tulle darkens the background on the left while the layer of aqua tulle softens the background stitches on the right and makes the trees I've stitched look misty, like there is fog.  The tulle adds an illusion to the needlepoint canvas, either of shadow or fog.  I went for the foggy look and will use the aqua tulle.  What you choose is up to you.  You can even omit adding tulle to your canvas altogether and pretend your background stitches are not trying to take over the design.  Or you can rip out all that background (which is not an option for me--I prefer experimenting to see if I can mute the effect) and find another smaller stitch.  Your canvas--your decision.

I hope you go the mad scientist route with me, however.  Overcoming problems in your needlepoint is how you get to be a better stitcher and experiments are fun!

My plan is to rip out the stitches on the spruce tree, put a single layer of aqua tulle on top of my canvas, then stitch the rest of the design right through the tulle.  

This is getting a little long so why don't we break for now?   I'll explain how the tulle is attached tomorrow.

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