Xanadu by Jim Wurth

 Hello again!  Happy New Year, almost!  We are still in Reno, but I have a little time today so wanted to begin catching up.

The ANG Chapter in Las Vegas is doing Jim Wurth's Xanadu as a group project and I have just started it.  This pattern appeared in NeedlePointers, July 2009 issue.

I chose my colors starting with Frosty Rays Y357 and #8 & #12 Kreinik Braid #4005.  I added Neon Rays N92, Neon Rays Plus NP92, FyreWerks FT33 and #12 & #8 DMC Perle Cotton #3033.  I should have had Petite Frosty Rays, but the color I wanted didn't come in Petite.  The Petite would have been easier to use on the 18-count canvas (Eggshell), but I like the way it looks as is.  DH said he'd never seen me work so hard to pull a thread through the canvas!

I have a good start and it is looking really pretty.  This pattern is fun to stitch & goes fairly quickly.  It is not too big, finished size is about 5" square.  I think it will make a really pretty box top.  It is waaaaay sparkly in person!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all my loyal followers and to you Blog Surfers out there who happen by!

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately!  We are in Reno for the holidays and I started out the "vacation" by being sick.  Now I am feeling better, but DH has the bug.  Some vacation!  The critters are fine & happy though, cats are beginning to tease dog and play chase.

We are making a quick trip to San Francisco tomorrow to see the Impressionist exhibit at the deYoung Museum.  That should be fun - we haven't been to SF in years.

I haven't done nearly as much stitching as I thought I would.  I had planned on this being kind of a Stitching Vacation, but it sure hasn't turned out that way!  I'll try to get a picture or 2 to show you next week.  But some of what I'm working on is "secret" and I can't show you.

I hope you are all having a wonderful stitchy Holiday!

Stitch of the Month 2010 FINISHED

Hurray!  2010's SOTM is finished!  I put the last bead on this week.  I didn't do all the beads because way back when I had erroneously put metallic where the beads were supposed to go, and I like it that way.

The beads I used are Mill HIll Magnifica Glass Beads, copper #10075 and 2 dye lots of #10089 - one of them is very silver and the other is more of a light gold.  These colors all worked perfectly with the Ombre I had used.

My finished size turned out to be 8-1/4" x 8-1/2".  I don't know yet what I'm going to do with this, but if I want it to be Square, I'll have to add some to 2 sides.

Anyway it is all done & I"m so happy!

Twister, Progress #3

I did not work on Twister for 2 weeks, but yesterday I completed 4 sections.  The "twist" in this quadrant is now more apparent.  I won't be able to work on this again until sometime in January due to travel & holiday festivities!  It is too big to pack!

Chilly Hollow Rebuilds

As I was unable to open the Chilly Hollow blog this morning, I emailed Jane.  It turns out that she was hacked & her blog was deleted!  Fortunately she had backups (I didn't know you could do that but will be looking into it).  She cannot use her old blog address.  The new one is:  http://chillyhollowneedlepoint.blogspot.com   It will take her a few days to get everything back to normal.  OMG, what a tragedy!  Good luck to Jane restoring her info.

Seasons, Progress #5

I finally finished another square of Seasons.  The 4 corners are supposed to be all the same.  I'm not sure I like the one I did.  I think it is too brown.  So, the next corner square I do will have a few color changes & I'll see which one I like the best!  Or, maybe all 4 corners will NOT be the same!!

My posts for the rest of this month will be sporadic at best.  With the holidays and some travelling, it will be difficult.  But please stick with me, I'll get something up now & then!

Stitch of the Month 2010, Colors

I have had several requests for the colors I'm using on the 2010 ANG Stitch of the Month by Sue Reed.
Here you go:

Canvas:  18-count Eggshell

Threads:
Family A
Waterlilies #130 & Splendor #S945
Splendor #S1147 & Kreinik Ombre #1200
KreinikOmbre #1200
Family B
Splendor #S945
Waterlilies #130 & Splendor #S1147
Silk Lame #SL33 & #4 Kreinik Braid #013
Kreinik Ombre #1200
Family C
Splendor #S961
Splendor #S961 & Kreinik Ombre #1200
Kreinik #8 Braid #101

Stitch of the Month 2010, November

Whew!  I just finished November's part of the ANG SOTM in the nick of time.  December's work is ready to begin, but I have to get some beads!  I had forgotten there were beads.  I'll get my stash out & see what I have!  November's lesson filled in the border diamonds with Satin Stitch & then filled in around the diamonds with more couching.  Lots & lots of couching!!  It seemed to take forever.  This is a very pretty, delicate design & I'm pleased with the way my color choices have turned out.

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #8

Mediterranean Tile is coming right along!  The "overlay" crescents & Jessicas are all done.  They "surround" the tan petals with metallic.  I still need to backstitch around the tan petals and I think I will use the lightest aqua Kreinik for that.  Next is several more rows of braid around the outside, and then there are a bunch of beads to put in.  I haven't chosen my beads yet, so will have to do that soon!  Jan of Thread Medley has a post of her progress too, so be sure to compare!  Jan is doing the overlay as an overlay so you won't see the whole thing yet.

Sarah

Here is a photo of Sarah. She is a very sweet, well behaved dog! She & the cats are beginning to get along. It won't be long before the cats start tormenting Sarah!

Twister, Progress #2

Here is my progress on Twister to date. At this rate it will take years to finish! Oh well, at least I'm working on it! I've started the reverse swirl, notice the little gray patch under the dark red square, so the next update should show more changes. This section that I'm working on will end up being a square and there are 4 squares to the whole piece!

New Dog

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a week! But last Thurs. we got a call from the Golden Retriever Rescue Society that they had a dog for us. She came to our house that afternoon. Things have not been the same since! I don't have a good picture to show you yet, but she is 4 years old, named Sarah. She is very sweet & well behaved but she has to learn about cats! Sarah is a big girl, about 20-30 lbs. overweight! So she will be getting lots of exercise & less food. She is still nervous and doesn't quite know what has happened to her. Poor little girl, it must be very confusing to suddenly be in a new home with new people & two cats! The cats are not exactly thrilled, but are coming around. They'll work it out in time. I haven't got much stitching done, but hopefully will have something to show you again in a few days, along with a picture of Sarah.

Twister, Progress #1

Twister by Patricia Spencer is a project I started about 4 years ago. I got a good start on the first quarter, but then never got back to it and it has been in my UFO pile ever since. Now that I have finished the Mystery Retreat Project, I have moved Twister up to WIP and made it my new Sunday Project. Sunday I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where I was and refreshing my memory (LOL) on the directions and overall process. I completed one section and basted 2 more for next week.
This project is on Congress Cloth with floss. I chose the gray & garnet colorway. The instructions are quite complicated and a little hard to keep track of! I imagine at least some of you have done this project as it was quite popular a few years ago.
When I first started it, I elected not to do the marking on the canvas that the instructions required. Rather I charted the outlines so I could be sure all the lines are straight. With slanted lines it is much easier, for me, to make sure they are straight by doing it on the computer! Being a bit on the picky side, I can't stand it when lines aren't straight! Anyway, I use the chart to baste the lines for each section, which then makes it easy to stitch the patterns and do the compensation.
I hope you will enjoy watching the slowwwww progress of this piece!

IT'S FINISHED!!!!

I can't believe it! The Mystery Retreat Project is finished! I put the last stitch into the bottom section yesterday. What an accomplishment. Started at the Mystery Retreat July 2009. Once I made this my "Sunday project", progress was consistent. The bottom section took quite awhile to do as it has so many isolated stitches. This is one of the most ambitious projects I have done in years. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself & doing a MAJOR Happy Dance!!!

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #8

I have now completed the inner braid of the not-an-overlay version of Ro Pace's Mediterranean Tile. I had to leave out one row of the small braid and reverse the colors, because I'm not doing it as an overlay. Jan's has the braids and colors arranged as intended.
Next up will be a lot of crescents filling in around the petals, as we did in the center.

Seasons, Progress #4

I completed the next two squares of Seasons (the top & bottom ones)! They are the same colors as the previous two, but the arrangement of colors is different and there are some different stitches. The next, and final, four squares will use some different colors and stitches. Since there are 4, it may be awhile before I finish!

All Framed Up

I picked these 2 pieces up from the frame shop today. The red Interactive Ribbons is for DHs office. I hadn't planned to frame it, but he wanted it, so here it is. It looks pretty good I think. The frame goes well with the piece and also goes well with his office furniture. The pattern for this piece is available on my website.

The other piece is Sierra, design from Needle Delights Originals. You may recall that I changed the colors. Big surprise! Anyway, I decided to frame it on end to go with another piece I have that is also a rectangle. They will eventually hang together.

New Designs on Website

You watched my progress as I stitched these 3 pieces, Interactive Ribbons and Crystal Caves--Topaz. Now the designs are available to purchase on my website. The aqua & red ones are in one pattern. These 2 patterns appear at the bottom of the Bargello page at http://www.lizartneedlepoint.com/ .
Please take a look!

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #7

I have completed the first step of my "Overlay that isn't an overlay"! Lots of pretty petals with a #4 Kreinik filler and a Kreinik ribbon laid through them all. The metallics really added a lot; before I put them in it was looking pretty bland.
Jan has completed her Overlay petals too and will be posting today, so be sure to compare!

Kangaroo, Progress #3

I have been working on the cross stitch Kangaroo once in awhile. You can't tell by the picture, but most of the green is rayon floss. I don't like working with the rayon floss, so I don't work on this very often! But I do keep plugging away at it. It has been quite a long time since I last posted about this (a year?) but I thought you might be interested to see that I occasionally do something besides Bargello LOL.

Seasons, Progress #3

The second block(s) of Seasons are complete. One on either side of the center block & they are identical. Now that they are finished, I quite like them! During the stitching I was afraid they were too light, but they came out OK. They are all in Watercolours plus the copper #12 Kreinik (color 027). The center is 034 Bouquet & 189 Gengersnap. Surrounding that are 241 Shenandoah, 169 Moss and 224 Tiramisu. The outer sections are 065 Emerald, 194 South Pacific, with the Gingersnap and Moss again in the corners. Next will be the two blocks above & below the center and they are also identical. They use the same colors as the second ones, but in a different arrangement and with some different stitches.

Queen Anne's Lace, Framed

Queen Anne's Lace, which I finished in June, has finally been framed and is hanging on my dining room wall. I am very pleased with our choices for the mat and frame - the colors match the piece very well and set it off without overwhelming it.

Vegas Nights

Thanks to all of you who commented on the orientation of Vegas Nights. The bottom picture won, but I still like the top one. I have decided to present both, as well as the 2 possible vertical positions, which is an idea I hadn't thought of! Your comments are all really interesting and I'm so glad I asked. Thank you all.

Vegas Nights, finished

Vegas Nights is finished. I quite like it! I think it "says" Vegas with it's sparklies & hard edges. Since it is already finished, I think I will be able to publish it with a couple of other things by the end of October.

Now, here's a question for you all: Which way is up? The top picture is the way I thought it should be, but now I'm not so sure. What do you think?

Stitch of the Month 2010, October

I finally finished the Stitch of the Month for October. I'm quite pleased with this piece. It looks very pretty & delicate. October's section is the outside diamond border. I used Waterlilies #130 and the Kreinik Ombre #1200. Now I'm wondering what November will bring!

I am also trying out my husband's "big" camera and wow! what a difference. I guess I'll be using that camera now for all my needlework pictures.

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #6

Mediterranean Tile is coming right along. The base canvas (explanation follows) is finished. Today I tried out my husband's camera & I can't decide about it. The color is definitely more true though. Be sure to check Jan's progress as well. Jan has done the beading, but I have decided to wait till the whole thing is done & do all the beading at once.

The rest of this piece, see pic below, is an overlay. This process is one of Ro Pace's techniques. The base canvas and the overlay are stitched on separate pieces of canvas. Then the overlay will be cut out and become a "mat" for the base piece.

I have elected not to do the overlay as an overlay though. I want to see if I can make it work just as an extension to the base canvas design. Jan will be doing the overlay, so it will be interesting to compare as we go along and then see how the finished pieces differ.

A New Freebie

Surprise! I have finally figured out, successfully, how to add another Free Design to my website. It is a Small Bargello Alphabet that is suitable for signing your Bargello stitcheries. Please go to my website & click on the design for a free .pdf download: http://www.lizartneedlepoint.com/
It is underneath the mouse design.

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #9

I worked on the Mystery Retreat Project yesterday, almost all day. I spent quite a lot of time trying to decide how I want to arrange the colors. The pattern has darker shades than I want, plus the green & lavendar are scattered all around the section. There are 9 distinct areas in this section and I have decided to concentrate the colors in each section. So that, some will be all green & ecru, some will be all Lavendar & ecru and only a couple will have all 3 colors. And I am mostly using the lightest or next to lightest shades.

Soooo, I have now totally finished the 2 lower left sections. The upper right section is almost finished, I'll probably do that one next week. I hope that this will go faster now that I have made some decisions about it!

Vegas Nights, Progress #3

I have been working on Vegas Nights again. I had a problem finding appropriate threads for awhile, it is really hard to find "light red" that is NOT pink! Anyhow.... I am nearly finished with the shiny parts! So far I have used Fyre Werks (black & silver), Neon Rays Plus (red), YLI Silk Ribbon (lightest shade, sort of a salmon) and all the rest of the reds are Neon Rays. There are just a few more rows of Neon Rays to go in and the rest will mostly be Silk & Ivory, as is the black border.

When I photographed it this morning, I was surprised at how much is done! Now I am inspired to finish it!

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #5

Mediterranean Tile is progressing nicely. Last week I completed the Crescents & Jessicas around the Petals. These stitches were done in Kreinik ribbon and #8 perle cotton. Next up is another row of braided stitch which will complete the center portion of the design.

Be sure to check out Jan's progress too!

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #8

The last 2 Sundays I have worked on the last section (the bottom section) of the Mystery Retreat Project. This section was designed by Linda Reinmiller. I am adjusting the colors slightly to make it more muted. To begin with, I had to rip out most of one of the "strings", which I had stitched at the class. I had made a counting error. I made lots of counting errors while stitching these 5 "strings"! I think the part of my brain that counts has been on vacation!! Anyway, yesterday I finally finished all the strings & they are correct, I think LOL. They are important to be correct as so much of the remaining motifs count from the strings. I got the first batch of multi-layered stars (8 of them)completed last night. The other motifs that are there were done in class. I'm hoping to finish this piece by Halloween!

Seasons Progress #2

I have been working on Seasons so far this week. It seems every other project I have in the works needs something. I will get to the LNS tomorrow and then I'll be able to get back to work on everything else LOL!

I have completed the center square of Seasons. I added a bit of Kreinik #12 braid & I'm pleased with the result. This piece is lovely to work on and I'm finding it soothing!

I have been asked to post my colors as I go along. So far I have used:
Watercolours:
001 Sandstone, the lightest section
241 Shandoah, aqua
194 South Pacific, the darker blue-green
189 Gingersnap, brown
137 Copper, reddish brown
Plus, #12 Kreinik Braid 027
As I post each step, I will post any new colors. I can't give you all the colors in advance as I don't know for sure what I will use. I am working from stash!

Seasons by Amybear Needlepoints

I confess. I have started a new project. I know, I have lots going on already, but I wanted something to work on occasionally that had no requirements or deadlines! So I went to my stash of patterns, which is really getting out of hand LOL, and settled on Amybear Needlepoints' "Seasons". It is not a small project (design area 12"x12") but it is interesting, without being too difficult.

When I looked at the supply list I was delighted to find that it uses nothing but Watercolours! My favorite thread! Well, that did it. I cut a piece of Sandstone canvas and got it on stretchers. Then I dove into my drawer of Watercolours. Of course, I am changing all the colors, it'll have an aqua/turquoise/tan/rust theme. I know, you're soooo surprised! But that is what I have a lot of in my stash. I will have to buy a few skeins, but not much. I may add a little bit of Kreinik metallic braid, just for fun. I got a good start on the center block and it's lookin' good!

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #4

OK, the next step consisted of 24 "petals" in 2 shades of pearl cotton connected by a laid Kreinik metallic ribbon, just like the center but more of it. This part went relatively quickly once I got the hang of it! Next up are a bunch of Crescents & Jessicas. Be sure to check Jan's blog for her progress report!

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #7

Yesterday I completed the Left Side section on the Mystery Retreat project. I decided to leave the star in and added the Bargello. I think it turned out OK. the pattern had called for a kind of darning pattern in just one #4 strand of gold metallic. I thought that it would be much too light weight and not balanced with the rest of the piece. Only one more section to go!

Stitch of the Month 2010, September

Now I am caught up again with ANGs SOTM. Sept. was not hard, but it took awhile as the piece gets bigger! I love the little border stitch with the laid metallic couched with the Tied Oblong Cross. Very nice technique & it looks so pretty.

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #3

Steps 5 & 6 are now complete on my Mediterranean Tile. This is such a fun piece to stitch, although the 4-way Tent got a little tedious, especially the inside ones that are done in DMC rayon floss LOL! The Crescents in #12 pearl cotton went very quickly. I think the next section will go a little slower, so don't look for another update for 2-3 weeks! Don't forget to look at Jan's version too!

Mystery Retreat Project Progress #6

Here I am again, back in Las Vegas, and reasonably functional. I still have some organizing to do, but I can usually find things! It is still pretty warm, but not as bad as it was last month. It is pretty much in the mid to high 90s now.

Yesterday I started back to work on my Sunday Project, the 2009 Mystery Retreat Project. I got quite a bit done on the Left Center Section. The picture on the left is the detail of the section I'm working on. The picture on the right is the whole project to date, in case you forgot!

This section is my least favorite. There is another motif to do kind of in the middle of the Irregular Eyelets. Then I will have to decide what I want to do about the rest of it. I don't care for the center star - it looks squashed to me. I am considering trying to rework it & make it less squashed. After that, there's only some backstitching in a pattern & I think it is too light for the rest of the piece. I'm thinking of putting in some Bargello in a zig zag pattern instead. Stay tuned!

Travelling again

I will probably not post again for a week or so. We are heading back to Las Vegas. It is still kinda hot there, but not AS hot and will begin cooling down soon. I am looking forward to getting settled again. Everything is packed & we will be driving down tomorrow. The kitties know something is going on, but haven't figured out what yet LOL!

Mediterranean Tile, Progress #2

The next step in the Mediterranean Tile is complete. I think it is really pretty! This piece is worked entirely in pearl cottons, several weights, and Kreinik braids and ribbons. I have quite a bag full of Kreinik waiting in the wings! I love the Kreinik, so it is just plain fun to stitch. I'm using both DMC and Finca Pearls. Jan has finished this section too, so be sure to compare!

Lighthouse is Framed

I had company all weekend and didn't get much stitching done. However, I did pick up the Lighthouse from the frame shop. I'm not totally thrilled with the mats, but it will have to do. I think the blue mat is wrong and something else would have been better. But it is finished and I will give it to my husband in a few days for our anniversary. I think he will be pleased that I actually finished it!

New Designs on Website

Just a quick note to let you all know that I have finally added two new designs for sale on my website, www.lizartneedlepoint.com.

12 Days of Christmas is a 4-way Bargello which uses an unusual pattern.
4-way Butterflies combines needlepoint and Bargello.
Please take a look. Both are listed at the bottom of the Bargello page.

Mediterranean Tile by Ro Pace

My next "just for fun" project is Mediterranean Tile by Ro Pace. I got a good start on it over the weekend. I have seen Ro Pace's original piece and it is gorgeous!

Of course I have changed the colors. Mine will be in, guess what? Shades of aqua & brown! (I know how surprised you are LOL.) I have all the threads except the rayon floss which I will pick up sometime this next week. The really fun part of this project will be that Jan Fitzpatrick of Thread Medley will be doing it at the same time. Watch us both and see these gorgeous pieces develop! Here is my progress so far: