Horse Medallion

Marble Horse Medallion

 

Now I can show you the Horse Medallion. 

Some years ago, my sister-in-law & brother-in-law built their dream house and barn.  They had several horses.  SIL designed a horse medallion which their son executed in marble set into the floor of the barn!  Isn't it stunning? 

Somewhere along the way, DH and I thought it would be a cool gift for them if I were to render the medallion in needlepoint.  I finally did it this year!

Being the Bargello fanatic that I am, the piece is worked completely in Bargello, except for the outer border, which is worked in a large Brick stitch. I used Watercolours and Silk & Ivory throughout. The mane is in a zig zag Bargello in solid black Watercolours, but it doesn't show up in the photo. Horsey's nose disappeared because it was too light. I fixed it before it was framed.  I'm very pleased with the result & SIL loves her new picture.

(Blogger is not cooperating today, I cannot get the pictures to do anything but line up!)




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Bargello Horse Medallion, before border



Bargello Hourse Medallion, Finished



Black & Calico Cats FINISHED!

I finally picked up the two Dede Ogden kitties from the finisher!  Aren't they adorable!  they have easel backs and she did a great job!
Black kitty has a red& gold back and Calico kitty has a green & gold back. I love the gold fringy stuff around the edge.



Finished Ornaments

Well, I got four of these finished.  The 5th proved to be too difficult for me and will have to be sent out to be finished and saved for next year!

The top 2 and the lower left are Laura Perin designs from her Mystery Monday Series.  The lower right is Ro Pace's Starry Night.

The top two are prefinished banners, very easy to finish.  Just stick in the needlework and then I use little strips of fuseable web to insure the edges of the fabric stay down.  The bottom two are the same deal except they are little pillows.  Bless the people who make these prefinished items!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, OR WHATEVER, TO ALL OF YOU!!

Bookmarks finished

These are two of the prefinished, painted canvas bookmarks that I just completed.
The quail is all in floss, for a boy.
The red one is in Neon Rays with a #8 Kreinik background, for a girl.
These will accompany books to the birthday kids - on Christmas day!

Nature-Sea Update

The stitching is finished on "Earth - Sea".  Now I have to attempt to attach a shell and, the hard part, write up the directions!  I like the craziness of the Bargello!

I doubt that I'll get to the shell till after the holidays, but I'll let you know how it goes & post another photo whenever.

Christmas Caper Framed

This week I picked up two pieces at the framers.

I can only show you one of them as the other is a Christmas gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Here is Christmas Caper all framed.  I do love this piece!  It just makes me smile every time I look at it.  I've decided to get an easel to use to display it so I can put it right where I can see it from my stitching chair.

Nature - Sea

 

Many years ago I stitched the above trilogy.  It is called Earth, Sea and Sky.  It was a very unique Bargello back then and incorporated a "found" object on each section.  I think it is still unique today.

 

I have decided to rework these 3 designs, using today's materials and publishing them as 3 separate designs.  The threads I used on the original are no longer available and at that time canvas only came in brown or white.  This time I will be using Silk & Ivory, Watercolours and some metallics.  At least that is what I know right now!  The "found" objects will be purchased, not found (smile) and are available at most craft stores.

I have started the new version of "Sea".  It is about half finished.  So far it is all Silk & Ivory on Sandstone canvas.  I may use blue canvas for the other two.  I have purchased a box of shells and hope I can figure out how to write instructions for attaching one!  Each piece will be an 8" round and I am hoping (fingers crossed) they will fit in the new Sudberry House round Crown Plate frames.                            

I have changed the name to "Nature - Sea", "Nature - Sky", etc. What do you think?

Jane (Chilly Hollow) mentioned that I have new Bargellos in the works.  The other one is the one I posted about a week or so ago.  And she's right, I don't have a name for it yet.  I'm hoping to start the next variation of that one over the holidays.



Mini Mystery November

I think this is the last Christmas ornament for this year.  This is Laura Perin's Mini Mystery Monday for November. 
I love it!  It turned out so pretty!  The photo doesn't do it justice - it is very sparkly!
I changed the colors to all greens & whites for Christmas.  I used Watercolours #066 Jade, two #5 pearl cottons, white and dark green 890, FyreWerks #F45, and a little bit of #4 Kreinik #5982 (used double). On dark green canvas.

I love the way the FyreWerks picks up the colors around it.  When worked directly on the green canvas, it turns light green.  When worked on the white it is white!  Wonderful!  That is the same thread I used on the red one on white canvas and it looks very white.

I hope to have all the ornaments "finished" by the end of the week to show you next week.