Designs

From time to time, I get inquiries about do I teach classes and/or sell my designs.

I have done both in the past, but at this point I am not doing any teaching and the only place you will find any of my designs is the ones that have been published in Needlepoint Now and old issues of Needlepoint News. Plus there is an out-of-print Dover book called "Classic Posters for Needlepoint" which was published in a previuos life under a previous name, M. Elizabeth Irvine. I don't know if it is available anywhere.

I have "plans" to begin offering charted designs and maybe on-line classes (probably in bargello techniques) later this year or maybe next year. I have to figure out the best way to go about it! I suspect there may be a fairly steep learning curve, especially if I have to set up a web site.

I will definitely keep you all posted! Thanks for your interest!

Whisper

Yesterday I started on Jean Hilton's Whisper. Mine will look very different! I am using turquoise canvas with Wildflowers 034, #12 Perle 842 and #4 Kreinik 041. I got just enough start so it is ready to go cruising.

The cruise is just a 4 day-er from L.A. to Catalina and Ensenada and with a full day at sea. We leave Monday and return Friday. It was set up by the owner of the LNS in Reno. We are a small group, but have lots of stitching time arranged on board the Carnival Paradise. I'm also taking a good mystery & Debbie Macomber's "Back on Blossom Street"!!! It'll be a fun little vacation! I'll report next week.

Solar Flare, FINISHED

Yesterday I finished my Solar Flare! It turned out really well. I added in a few sparkly beads in the center area, but they don't show up in the photo. Now to figure out how I want to frame it!

Next I will be concentrating on my Boink, and the Kangaroo, and at least one new project. I am going on a stitching cruise next week, 4 days, so will need plenty to work on! Like I'm going to finish anything in 4 days!! But, I will take a new project and the Kangaroo for sure. We'll see what else! The cruise is with some of the stitching ladies from Reno and is sure to be a blast.

Valentine

Today I finished a cross stitch valentine, "French Country - Love" by JBW designs. So I'm at least a couple of weeks up on Valentine's Day! It was very quick to stitch, and my first Finish for 2009.

IMPERIAL TOPAZ

I just read on Stitchlady's blog that she is getting ready to do Susan Reed's Imperial Topaz. I stitched this a year or so ago in my usual aqua/copper color scheme. Here is a pic of the finished piece. I loved doing it and really like the result. It is a fun piece to stitch.

Log Cabin Sampler

I finished Ro Pace's Log Cabin Sampler (ANG Cyber Workshop) awhile ago, but now I have started working on the overlay canvas which will make a raised frame. I am using Krenik #8 Braid, copper 013, for the metallic and Waterlilies 034 Bouquet for the Scotch stiches. I think this will go well with the main piece. The frame will take some time, but it is ideal for stitching on while watching TV, now that I have all the counting done!

Solar Flare, #5 Progress Report

I've been working a lot on Solar Flare. I might even get it finished this week. Wow, that would be so awesome. But then I think I might add some beads before I get it framed.

BOINK Little Squares

I finally got Square 3 of the Boink ripped out and put in the first 3 of the littlest squares. Now I have to do the rest of the border so I know where the squares are! I think that after I get the border done, I will do the bottom 2 corner squares and the rest of the little ones. Only then will I decide what to do with the rest of it!

Needlepoint Now

I just had a very pleasant surprise! Although I have been in frequent contact with Needlepoint Now for many years, I have not really looked at their website for ages & ages. This morning I did! I am very impressed with the information available there. The Online Classroom, Free Projects and Free Tips sections are excellent. Click on everything! There are surprises everywhere! This is particularly great for those of you who are or know someone who is relatively new to needlepoint. Lots of help here!

Happy Birthday to me!

I have not been getting much stitching done this past week or so. Among other things, I had a fabulous birthday! Among my birthday treasures are 3 patterns given to me by my husband. Jean Hilton's
"Whisper", and two DebBee's Designs: "Hot Stuff!" and "BlackMagic".

I am trying to get some things kitted up so they are ready to go when the mood strikes. I have several all packaged up, including "Whisper", "Atrium" which is a Rainbow Gallery design by Joan Lohr, the outer border for Ro Pace's Log Cabin Sampler, and a new bargello project which hopefully will become a class model. These in addition to WIPs already nagging at me! Sometimes I question my sanity!

Kangaroo update

I worked on my sweet Kangaroo over the holidays. I finished himself (except for the backstitches) and started on the greenery. I am using rayon floss for the grasses. It is a pain to work with, but does look super, brings the grass out so Mr. K doesn't overwhelm, and has a lovely sheen.

BACK TO BOINK

A few weeks back, someone asked me for the colors I am using for my Boink. I haven't started stitching on it again yet, but here is my palette so far:
DMC floss 3371, 839, 841
Needle Necessities overdyed floss 139 & 177
Threadworx overdyed floss 10341 in two dye lots, making one darker than the other!
FyreWerks FT43

I found that I don't use the same color for the same symbol in every square. I have to decide for each square. So I have set up an excel spreadsheet for myself to keep track!!!

VASES

Finally, the secret is out! As some of you know, for the last several months I worked mainly on a "secret" needlepoint that was intended as a gift for a friend. Well, now the gift has been received and loved, so I can post the progress pictures and notes. First, is the inspiration painting, Vases Blues I by Isabelle Borchgrave. Next is Progress Photo #1.

First I charted the outlines and chose my colors (based on my friend's newly redecorated bedroom). I picked my stitches as I went along. The wallpaper patterns are all from an old book I have called "Patterned Backgrounds for Needlepoint", but I used overdyes which gives them a very different look. The columns in the background are an encroaching gobelin. I used straight stitches & textured stitches for the vases to bring them forward. The tabletop in navy I used Alternating Scotch so that it would work up quickly and not overwhelm the vases. I used all floss and metallics and the canvas is a soft sage green.

I think it turned out pretty good! And I got it done in time for xmas! Following is Progress Photo #2, #3, and the finished piece.

Slide Show update

So sorry! I've changed the Picasa album to "public" so you should be able to click on the pictures now and get the whole banana!

Slide Show

I was able to get all the pictures in the Slide Show captioned. In order to see the captions, click on the picture. You will then be able to view all the captions, see all the pix at once, look at them one at a time (you can read the comments then too) or do a bigger slide show. I hope you will enjoy these pictures!

Happy New Year!

I'm only a few days late to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Yesterday I finally figured out how to get a slide show on this blog. These pictures represent most of the bargello I've every done! There are over 100 pictures! Eventually I'll get them captioned.

This evening we will be returning to our Las Vegas home after two wonderful weeks in Reno. Next week I'll get some pictures posted of the "secret" project I was working on before Christmas, the Bargello piece I just finished, and my progress on the kangaroo cross stitch. And I will get back to work on Boink!