Glitz & Glamour Carnelian

Happy Dance!  I finished Glitz & Glamour Carnelian before the end of the year.

Of course, mine is quite different.  Surprise, I changed all the colors to aqua with a touch of brown. 

This piece is where I learned to use Water N Ice over an overdye to create amazing effects!  Thank you, DebBee's Designs!!

Here's my version:

I think it turned our really pretty!

Christmas Littles

I have no excuses!  I just keep forgetting to post.  I have been stitching ornaments and they are almost finished.  I did some of the "finishing" today and hope to have them all done in the next day or so to photograph the next time there is a sunny day!

These designs plus a few others will become a collection of designs called Christmas Littles that will be available after the first of the year.  They are all little!  Some as small as 1.5" square.  The biggest is not quite 5"x7".  Great stash busters.

Stay tuned for publishing announcement next month!

Waterskier

Finally, something she stitched recently!

My husband is an avid waterskier.  We live on a waterski lake.  One of the residents has friends who are professional waterskiers and one of those has given my husband and his buddies free lessons.  Since the pro refused payment, they wanted a special gift for him.  Hubby volunteered my services!  The photo to the right is the result.  I've been working on this off & on since about the first of Sept.  I had hoped to have it done by the end of Oct., but, oh well, life got in the way.  

It will go into a tray.

Many years ago I stitched a waterskier for DH.  So I had a sort of pattern.  This time I wanted it to be even more abstract.  Below is the original I did about 15 years ago. 

I like them both!

More Framing

More framing!
I had these two framed alike and they hang together as you see them.
The top one is Tony Minieri's Stars for a New Miullenium.
The bottom one is Pamela Gardner's From Molehill to Mountain.
I used my own color scheme for both of them.

Mystery Retreat FRAMED

I finished the project from the 2012 Mystery Retreat (Portland) this year.  Come on, it's only been 4 years!  Anyway, I finally got it framed.

I'm Baaack

Did you think I would never post again?
Well, the remodel is mostly done. A few oddball items are hanging out there, but everything is fully functional and beautiful.
My hand is still stiff and I can't stitch as much as I used to, but I am stitching again.
I can't show you what I'm stitching on quite yet, but in the meantime...

I've had a few things framed.
This piece is a really old one, stitched in the 80s, that I recently had reframed. It sure did rejuvenate it!  I love it all over again!

UPDATES

I have nothing to show you, but thought I should explain why I haven't posted for so long.

The kitchen & bathrooms remodel is coming along nicely.  We mostly have full function in the kitchen again, except for the stove.  That was supposed to have been hooked up on Friday, along with a bunch of other electrical stuff.  However, there is a HUGE fire south of us.  It is far enough away that it is not a concern, but on Friday it caused a lot of road closures and the workers couldn't get here!  So, everything got moved forward to Monday and after.  Sigh. 

As for the fire, it is between Carson City and Reno and as of last night was 20% contained.  More rain today so that should help and the high winds have died down too.  Hopefully they will get a good handle on it today.

To complicate things, I had a procedure done on my RIGHT (dominant) hand and have been unable to stitch for weeks.  I had/have Dupuytren's Contracture and decided to get it fixed before it got any worse.  Well, it was already pretty "worse" and the healing time is much longer than I expected.  I can stitch a little now, but get tired and achey quickly.  I'm not real keen on working on anything "important"!!  I am getting therapy now, 2X/week, so maybe things will move along a little faster.

Anyway, I'll be back soon I hope.  Thanks for sticking with me!  And if any of you have experience with Dupuytren's, please let me know about it!!

Gardener's Alphabet G Final

The G is in its tray.  I'm quite pleased with the way it looks!

I may not post again for a week or two (three?) because we are remodeling the kitchen and 2 bathrooms.  (Don't worry we have a third that we will use!)  Demolition begins tomorrow and we will be without a functioning kitchen for 3-4 weeks.  We are setting up a temporary "kitchen" in the Master Bathroom!  I just keep reminding myself how beautiful it will be when it's finished!

Gardener's Alphabet G Finished

The commissioned letter G is finished.  I hope to get it in its tray in the next few days.
The border worked out well, although I had a scary moment when I thought it didn't fit right.  Turned out fine!
I left the center of the G with open canvas as I thought the compensation of the Reverse Scotch would just make it look messy.
I'm very happy with the way it turned out!

Window Seat Cushion 1

Some of you will have already seen this on Facebook, but for the rest:

Some months ago I decided the windowseat in our loft needed a cushion. Well, in my house that means a needlepoint cushion. First measure: Holy cow, it needs to be 18" by 60"! That's five feet!! I managed to find 9 pieces of stitched needlepoint that I had never "finished" and that sort of coordinated. I also had fabric that could be used for the sashing and backing. It took awhile, several tries, to find a layout that works and for which I have enough of the rust fabric (for sashing). Some needlepoints will be sewed directly to each other, but some need filler (sashing). Here is the fabric and (sort of) final layout.
The backing fabric is an upholstery weight velveteen, I think.

 

Jewelry Box Bargello

Yes, I know I have been remiss about posting.  But I do have something to show you now!  
A month or so ago I decided I needed another jewelry box and I had one (Sudberry House Long Jewelry Box) in the cupboard that just needed stitching.  
So I did it!  I have a larger Sudberry jewelry box so I used the same colors and threads, more or less, and quickly worked up the outlines of the design.  I finished it last weekend and popped it in.  It now sits on my dresser with it's mate.  Now I just need time to fill it up, which involves rearranging a lot of costume jewelry!

I love Sudberry products!  Such easy finishing :-)
(No affiliation, just a happy customer.)

More Finishing

I've been getting more things finished, but this time I did them myself!  Yay me!  They may not be as perfect as a professional would do, but it sure cost less!

First up, Gardener's Alphabet "T" put into an acrylic trivet.  The back has a piece of cork on it.  This is the easiest finish there is, just trim and stick it in there!  I did have some trouble getting it straight though and it would have been better if the stitching hadn't come right to the very edge.  Sorry about the flash reflection!

Next is a tote bag.  I've had this zippered tote for several years, my husband brought it home from a convention.  I use it all the time as a project bag and one day the light went on!  Cover the logo with a piece of needlepoint.  Duh!!  I had this Mad Miters in my portfolio and it fit just right over the logo.  I purchased the brown edging and sewed it all on.  Fortunately, my sewing machine has a free arm, or I wouldn't have been able to do it!  

And then there's the Bargello Christmas Stocking.  I debated about having this finished into a "real" stocking, or just finished flat.  I purchased some ready-made dark green welting.  I had a fat quarter of christmas fabric.  Ok, I'll give it a try.  What do you know!  It actually turned out pretty well, as a real stocking.  A little wobbly around the heel & toe, but still - not bad for an amateur.  Maybe I'll use it for cards this year.

Gardener's Alphabet "G"

This is a commission piece.  My friend wants this letter G in a  tray, so I have to come up with border & background to fill it out.  The letter is too small by itself for the tray.  I have started a border in the upper right corner.  The thread is a Threadworx overdyed floss and matches the canvas almost perfectly!  I haven't yet decided for sure about background.  Will wait to see how it looks once the border is finished.
If you love the letter G, or any other letter, the patterns are available on my website!

Glitz & Glamour Carnelian

 I've started a new piece!  I know, too many WIPs already, but I just can't help myself.  LOL!
This is Debbie Rowley's Glitz & Glamour Carnelian.  Naturally I changed all the colors!  Aqua - are you shocked? Ha.
I also started in the center.  The instructions want you to start on the outside edge, but I just don't want to do that much counting!  So I'm working from the center out.  It was a bit of a challenge to figure out where to do that, but I finally "got it".

Bargello Christmas Stocking Published

The pattern for Bargello Christmas Stocking is available for sale on my website www.lizartneedlepoint.com on the Bargello Page 2 page.
I hope you'll take a look.  There is plenty of time to stitch one up before Christmas!

Bag Ladies, Progress #2

Quite a bit has been done on Bag Ladies since I last posted about it.  There are still several cats to do, and a floor.  It is fun to work on, but figuring out the threads for each cat is time consuming!  
You can see some funny pale yellow "stuff" above the dark brown kitty on the far left.  It is supposed to be tissue paper, but it looks funny to me.  I used Flair in a random stitch, but it isn't right.  There's also supposed to be tissue by the kitty that is just below the white tail.  Any ideas?  I may just fill those areas in with the bag color & stitch.

More Framing

Two more pieces back from the framer.  
Walking the Water's Edge has been finished for about a year, but now it is framed and will be hung in our loft where there are other "beachy" things.  The frame is actually about the color in the pic at the lower left.  Very simple. but I like it.

Vegas Nights is one of the patterns that is available on my website.  It's been finished for years, but we have a red & black wall in our current house, so I pulled it out to be framed.  The silver really sets it off.

Seven Fractal, Progress #4

Finally!  I'm all the way across the top of this huge, demanding project!  With the bit more on the left side, that puts it almost 1/3 done.  I had hoped to do this in one year, but I don't think that's going to happen!
Of course, it's not my only project LOL!

Gardener's Alphabet "T"

A friend commissioned me to stitch a couple of the Gardener's Alphabet letters.  The first one, T, is complete.  Now, here's a story:
The top picture to the left is what it looked like finished.  I had used the colors specified in the pattern for the foliage.  The light gray-green stems just looked too light to me, AFTER everything else was stitched.  Ripping that out was going to be a nightmare!  

So I experimented.  I stitched some of that thread on a scrap of the same canvas and tried PAINTING it, with pens.  OMG it worked!  I tried an Ultra Fine Point Sharpie and a Copic marker. Both worked, but the Sharpie seemed to give more even coverage.  Neither bled onto the stitch next to it!

So, I went ahead and painted the offending stitches. Voila! 
The 2nd pic shows the result.  I'm so jazzed!

Now, I'm quite sure it isn't color fast, but I don't care.  This piece doesn't need to be blocked and it will be encased in a plastic trivet.

The pic to the right is just a sharper photo.  And the color is a little more accurate.  It is on aquamarina canvas.

Back from the Finishers!

 Finally!  I shipped these off to be finished and they have been returned.  It's like Christmas!!
The little clutch turned out really nice.  This was a Stitch & Zip and so the zipper went all the way around.  Now it is finished so it only opens on one side, and lined nicely as well.  
The brown/purple piece is a magnet!  What a great idea, which I would never have though of. The 2 little ornaments are just so cute and the pumpkin one has a little spider charm that doesn't show in photo.  Then there's the bookmark which is really nice.  
But the Star of this Show is the stand up.  It is 2 sided, with a piece of needlepoint on each side!  How cool is that?!  Below is the other side:

Horse with Hat FINISHED

Horse with Hat is finished.  At least my part.  The recipient will get it today and eventually it will go on a purse.  We decided the oval would work the best and I'm pleased with the Criss Cross Hungarian background.  Used an overdyed floss and Kreinik #4 silver.

Christmas Stocking, Finished

I changed the design several times as I went along, but it is finished!  Actually a pretty quick stitch if you aren't designing as you go. I started this May 14 and didn't even work on it every day, in fact I went over a week without working on it at all!
I am finally pleased with the design and still hope to have it up on my website early July.
This model is stitched in Silk & Ivory, and the gold FyreWerks.  The finished size is approx. 7-1/2"w x 12-1/4h.

Christmas Stocking

A Bargello Christmas Stocking has been in my plans for a long time.  I did design one many years ago, but was never happy with it.  I've been working on the design for this one for months, but just recently began to actually stitch it.  The  cuff came out nice, but once I started in the body of the stocking, I realized some drastic changes needed to be made.  So, I went ahead and stitched the heel & toe as I was pretty sure they'd be OK.  I'm still working on the chart for the rest of this, but I like it so far!  Tentative plan is to have it published by July.
(Stitch faster Liz!)

Finally Framed

 Finally got a couple of things framed.

My little blue bargello with the pin in the center has been framed with an easel back so it can sit on a table or shelf.  It turned out really pretty, however, lesson learned:  If planning a piece to be framed this way - make it a standard size.  This piece is an odd size and the custom framing was ridiculously expensive!

Linda, designed by Orna Willis, colors and threads changed by me.  The framing makes it look great!

Horse with hat

 I found this painted canvas (with stitch guide) nearly two years ago and intended to stitch it for a friend of mine who rides horses and makes her own hats!  Well, 2 years later, I'm actually working on it.
Horsie is actually finished (see photo on the right), and my friend has it now deciding on the fabric to finish it so that it will go on a purse.  Once she picks the fabric, we will decide on a background and I will stitch the background.

This is a Pajamas & Chocolate design.  The pic below is of the cover of the stitch guide.  I did not use the stitch guide at all!  I changed the horse to look like my friend's horse and adjusted the shape some, changed the bridle, moved the eye, changed the nose& mouth area, and changed the colors of the hat to be my friend's colors.  

We have now whited out the "feathers" and the reins.  The reins were in the wrong place for the new bridle and real feathers won't work on a purse!  I tried stitching the feather shapes and didn't like it.  Stay tuned!

18th Century Sampler, Progress

This past weekend, I worked on the 18th Century Sampler again.  It's been awhile!
Sorry for the poor quality of the photo!  I just cant seem to get a decent pic of this thing.  It is all aqua and teal on aquamarina canvas.
I did not want to do a row of hemstitching, so instead I created a border using bugle beads.  It turned out pretty good.  
Next was the acorn border.  It was supposed to be done in aqua #3 pearl cotton, but I find that hard to use on 18 and I just didn't want to do so much of it!  So I used Silk & Ivory, in 2 shades.  It came out nice and was easy to stitch, although I wish I'd had a lighter "dark" shade!
There are supposed to be 2 more rows of boxes, 6 boxes to a row.  I have decided that I don't want to do that much more on this piece.  I was in love with it when I started, but now? Not so much!  So I will stitch a couple of borders top & bottom and call it good. 

Bag Ladies progress

Bag Ladies is coming right along!  This is mostly what I worked on while I was sick.  (Yes, I'm finally better and back to full time stitching.)  All of the bags are finished and one cat is done.  The bags are all Watercolours with a touch of Neon Rays here & there.  That one little kitty face is a combination of Silk & Ivory and Alpaca 18.  Eyes are Neon Rays.
I still have some non-stitching work to do on this--I have to work out how to do the 2 that will try to look like my two!

Red, White & Blue

Announcing a new design - Red, White & Blue.  

The pattern for this counted needlepoint design is now available on my website, on the Counted Needlepoint page, right after the Gardener's Alphabet.  I hope you'll check it out!

This is an Advanced Beginner design as it does use some decorative stitches.  However, the background can be left unstitched!  The model was stitched with pearl cotton on pale blue canvas.

Nothing to report.

Sorry to say I have nothing to report. I've been down with the flu and haven't even been able to do much stitching. Please bear with me till I am functioning properly again!

Blue Bargello with Pin

This small bargello had been kitted up for years.  I bought the pin at least 6 years ago!  This is one of the "easy" pieces I started to have ready after cataract surgery.  Well, as it turned out that really wasn't necessary.
Anyway, last week I finished it.  The canvas is called Vintage French Blue, I think, and makes a fine background. Unfortunately, it turned out to be about 5-1/2" square - NOT a standard size.  
I'd like to frame it in a somewhat ornate pewter-ish frame.  I doubt if I can find a ready made one to fit, so it'll go in the bag for the new framer I'm going to try.  Actually, he is a framer I used to use when he worked for a chain and who has gone into business for himself.  Good luck there!

5-4-3-2-1, Progress #5

I haven't worked on this for a really, really long time!  Last weekend I got it out and stitched on it and realized I had accomplished quite a bit since the last time I showed it here.
This was intended to be a silk gauze project, but I am doing it on black 18-count canvas.  I changed all the threads, but tried to keep the colors as close as possible.  It is tedious to work on, but I think it will be really exceptional when finished.

By the way, my cataract surgery went very well.  Much better than last time.  In only a week, I am able to work on this project!

This is what it is supposed to look like:

18th Century Sampler, Progress #3

The last time I worked on this, I completed the row of circular motifs. Many had pulled eyelets, but I didn't pull them very much or very consistently.  I filled in the holes with beads!  Looks much better.  Next up will be a row of cut work, but I will be changing that as I don't want to do cut work.  Stay tuned!

Bag Ladies is started!  First I basted in the outlines of all of the bags.  The bags will be stitched with overdyes and some metallic and/or shiny threads for accent.  I have 2 bags done already.  They go pretty fast once the basting is done.

I am having cataract surgery next week and I'm hoping to work on this "easy" project while my eye adjusts!

Seven Fractal, Progress #3

I made quite a bit of progress on the fractal last month.  Not as much as I'd hoped, but acceptable.  I had hoped to complete another page, but didn't quite make it.  This project is very tedious to stitch, especially the blue parts.  There are 4 shades of blue!

Seasonal Geometrics

This design was an ANG Archives Project--Seasonal Geometrics, Autumn Palette Geometric by Debbie Stiehler. I've had this print-out for a long time and don't remember why or where!  Of course.

Anyway, it is the next to the last of the smalls that I'm doing.
I have changed this quite a bit.  It was supposed to be a 5" square and I only wanted a 4" square, so I left off most of the borders and added just a small Scotch stitch border to get it right at 4".  I also changed the colors completely and added Kreinik.  This uses the same colors as one of my other smalls and I will have them finished as a standup with one on each side.  

Sending smalls off to the finisher next week.  The next small I do will be one of my Bargellos and will be framed.

Bag Ladies

Here is my next project.  I bought this Sunset Dimensions kit years & years ago.  I always intended to do it in needlepoint, not cross stitch.  At one point, I pulled a bunch of thread from stash and bought what else I thought I would use.  A few months ago, I cut a piece of gray canvas and found stretcher bars.  Now I'm about ready to begin! 

It will not look like the picture!  First, I will outline all the bags with a single strand of floss as guidelines.  The bags will all be done with Watercolours in decorative stitches.  I plan to stitch the bags first.  

For the kitties, I have a huge bag of thread!  Mostly Petite Very Velvet, Alpaca 18 and some Mohair.  I also have plenty of Impressions and Silk & Ivory in the cat colors.

This is going to be fun and challenging to stitch.  I hope to have something to show you in the next couple of weeks.

Norwich Delight

For my next small project, I chose Norwich Delight by Beth Robertson.  This was ANG's Stitch of the Month project for Dec 1998.  It is very small, about 2.75" square.  Used overdyed pearl (called for Impressions), floss (called for silk), and Kreinik.  I only changed it a little bit!  This was super fast, I only worked on it 2 evenings.

Color Delights-Aqua Finished

Color Delights-Aqua by Kathy Rees is finished.  This was a quick & easy stitch, only 4" square.  I will probably have it made up with an easel back eventually.

Now to find my next "tiny project"!