Wild Strawberry Finished

I finished another project from the Strawberries and Creme Sampler Guild of the Rockies June 2010 retreat. This one is called Wild Strawberry, designer unknown. It was stitched on a pale pink linen with DMC colors 151 (lightest pink); 3687 (pale pink); 150 (dark pink); 3053 (light green) and 3051 (dark green). I finished it with the provided fabric. We were given a green, which is sewed to the bottom of the stitching, and a red with black dots (which I used as the backing fabric and is shown underneath the pincushion in this photo.) The button and lace was included with the kit. The kit included three buttons to chose from and some beads. I was not sure what to do with the beads so I left them off. The example only showed a button, so that is what I went with! I stuffed it with 100% wool that I have on hand, I could have used crushed walnut shells, but opted for the wool.

Happy Stitching!!

Strawberry Alphabet Finished!

I finished another project from the June 2010 Sampler Guild of the Rockies Retreat. The theme was Strawberries and Creme. This design is called Strawberry Alphabet, designer unknown, but I can tell you it was done on a offwhite fabric with DMC colors 223 (dark pink); 224 (pale pink); 3053 (pale green); 3051 (dark green) and 310 (black). I do love the pink and greens in this one and I noticed in some of the other retreat designs they used the same colors.

The kit came in a cloth bag which was also the fabric used to make the flat fold which was in the kit. I took a picture of it on the cloth bag and also a side view of it as a flat fold. It was fun to do!

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Rotation Project - Fancy Wrap

I seem to be going along with my rotation system and WIP/UFO reduction quite well having finished quite a bit. This week I selected a Needlepoint project from around 2005. I am not 100 percent sure of the year, but I know it was from my Raleigh ANG Chapter so it would have to be sometime between early 2000 and May of 2007. I think it was a later project, so I am guessing 2005.

I may see about a second color besides the red to fill in the alternating spaces, but my "kit" is mainly red - canvas and threads with the gold metallic as the foundation rows. The thread is a red Soie Cristale.

Here are some details of the project.

Have a GREAT day!!!!

Romanian Point Lace Finished - YIPEE!!!

On a previous post I showed you my Romanian Point Lace project called Victorian Fan in progress. I was in the process of couching down the cording with sewing thread in a color that would stand out from the cording. I finished this cute design and possible Christmas Ornament last night and here it is.

Now for some background information on this technique. The three-dimensional cord is very special - notice the picots on the edges, these are called side loops - but I think of them as picots. These are important because you stitch the cording that touches together using the picots, and create the stitches within the spaces using the picots. You never go through the cord the picots are the main players. You can start and stop you thread in the CENTER of the cording by dong a kind of zig zag - but always in the middle of the cord so it will not be seen. This is kind of tricky when it is attached to the muslin, because you can't see that side of the design.

When I took the class Sylvia taught us how to crochet the cording using a perle cotton. The cording used in this design was supplied by Sylvia and was crocheted using Cebelia #20 or 30 - so smaller than perle cotton, but the perle cotton was easier for beginners.

I did the bottom cord. You can see I had a bit of trouble in the beginning, but got the hang of it after a while.

Here is the project with all of the Knotted Russian Stitches completed and two of the fan stitches.

It looked kind of ugly when I was done, but once I took it off the muslin it really came to life and I am very proud of the finish and think it is very pretty. I would like to do more, but need to get the hang of making that darn cord!! Although I see in her instructions she gave two possible suppliers of hand made cord - Provo Enterprise and Forget-Me-Not Arts. I have no idea if these places are in business, but will check them out if I feel the need for cord.

I hope my little post has provided you some useful information.



Romanian Point Lace Update

This week my I am working on a Romanian Point Lace project from a class I took at the Rocky Mountain Regional Seminar in the summer of 2010. When I pulled the project out of the bag, I see I finished the small class practice project, but had not done any work on the main project. The first step is to couch the cording on the design - as pictured here. The teacher, Sylvia Murariu was very good and you can check out her website if you want.

You used sewing thread to attach it in a color easily distinguished from the cording, so that when you have completed the lace you can remove it from the muslin.  I hope to have more progress to show you later in the week.

Happy Day Everyone!!!!

Glitzy Accessories Finally Finished!!

In the year 2000 I signed up for Carol Lake's Glitzy Accessories Cybercourse through ANG. I wanted to make something just for me and I liked her designs. I immediately finished the nametag, soon followed by the scissor fob. I then proceeded over time to stitch all the pieces and there they remained in a state of unfinishedness until this weekend. As part of my rotation system to reduce my WIPs/UFOs last week was "FINISHING" week. I was able to get the thread I needed and make all the twisted cord and tassels to complete the set.

Usually I work with a blunt tapestry needle for my cross stitch and needlepoint. This finishing stuff required a sharp sewing needle. I am seriously considering getting a tetanus shot!! No blood was spilled on the stitching.

Here is the nametag

Needlebook all tied shut

Scissor fob

Scissor case - laying tool case - frame weight.

Now on to the next rotation project with will be something from the specialty/beading category. I have selected a class from the Rocky Mountain Region 2010 Seminar called Victorian Fan -Romanian Point Lace and Beading. It has not been touched since class, so I hope I can remember what to do!

Have a nice day everyone!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Lois!!!

Today is my mother-in-law's sister's birthday. Also know as Aunt Lois around our house. She is my MILs older sister by 15 years and today she is 98!!!!!! Don't tell my MIL I just spilled her age (she does not have a computer, so I am fairly safe). We were blessed with the opportunity to visit with Lois last October and she looked and sounded great. Gets tired more easily, but who wouldn't at 98!

I decided to make her a special birthday card this year. Inside I wrote: "A special card for a special lady on her special day. I made this card especially for you!" Happy Birthday. Signed my hubby and me.

Here are some pictures of the card.

The flower is two colors of pink felt, yellow ultrasuede and a button all from my stash. I found the cute butterfly button at JoAnns. As an afterthought I thought tiny rick-rack for the stem would be cute, but I did not have green. Maybe another time.

I wish everyone a happy day in honor of Aunt Lois, a very dear lady!