Creativity unleashed

For my birthday, DH always gets me books. Tonight I am sharing one of the them with you. This one is by Helan Pearce called Beaded Dimensional Embrodiery. This is her second book with the first one being Dimensional Embroidery. There are many projects with excellent photos and instructions. A couple of the projects are shown below.

This lacy design is created with the leaves, flowers, berries, acorn, and then settled around the butterfly. It is worked in a variety of threads but all in one colour tone. This and the one below involve a great deal of stumpwork.

This project is called Twisted Vine which has vines, tendrils, leaves and flowers worked and set on a pink silk satin. Each of the shapes are worked and then arranged on the background, and the tendrils are added after.

I have enjoyed cruising this book and have lots of ideas from the ideas presented. I give this one a five (out of five)!

Down the right side

Tonight I worked the double running cross stitch down the right side. I am using two strands of Threadworx 1068 which matches all the colors in the flower and leaves. I am making sure that I don't pull the two threads from the same strand each time. This then is causing the variations in the shading values in the border. I like it. Yes, I am going to finish this one before returning to the rotations. I have some new ones to add in to the rotation that are going to be fun to do, so I want to be able to get them both in and I hope by the weekend!

The Border

I finished the outside border with the upright Gobelin and the Medici that was left here at home while we traveled. I also finished the south and east fleur-de-lis. Since today was my birthday, we spent some time celebrating and therefore not too much time for stitching. Since this is so close to being done, I think I might just go ahead and finish this one! I have two more waiting in the wings to get into the rotation and they are starting to make a lot of noise!

Back to the Iris

I worked on the top border and finished it in both directions with the Threadworx. I also started the first pass on the right border. I moved to the center and started filling in the background stitch on the left hand side.
In response to some inquiries: The soon to be newly weds loved the needlepoint pieces and on the previous post there is a very nice note from them.
Amanda gave her cake site and blog and also listed Duncan's photography blog so you can see some of their wonderful work as well!

The Shower!

The shower was a wonderful party and wonderful weather! There were lots of friends there, great buffet, unbelievable desserts, and tons of presents! This is a shot of Duncan and Amanda who were very pleased with their personal pieces! I now also have their blogs to check out as they are going to read this one to see their works in progress! Enjoy and we will see you in October for the wedding.
P.S. We are back at home!

Hither and yon

I have added the north Fleur-de-lis, after I worked more of the outside border. The east to south one is completely finished and I also started the north to west one, but ran out of the Medici. I left the other hank of it at home on the stitching stand. So, I started filling in the outside border at the top with the Needle Necessities overdyed. This is done with a running stitch, first in one direction and then coming back and crossing it with a second thread in the other direction. So I am stitching here and there because I did not double check the project bag, but at least I did get quite a bit more of this worked--just not in the order the stitch guide suggested.

One down

The inner border is now completely stitched! I have started the outside border. First I counted out 19 threads north of the first one. Then I put in a diagonal line to the east point, and worked my way around the entire outside. Then I laid down three strands of the Medici, and have been working the Upright Gobelins over that. I also put in the Fleur-de-Lis on the East inside border.

The camera is framed!

I picked this up from the framer today! They were very kind and rushed this for me. There is a piece of silver lame behind the canvas. The mat is black and the frame is silver with brushed sides. I think it looks great! Now, I can wrap it up and put it in the car for the trip to Connecticut!

Oh m eye

Yes, I started by working on Otto's eye. I did the black tent stitch around his eye using six strands of black DMC floss. I then moved down and filled in the mouth and outlined his nose.
Then, because I thought it was such a great stitch, I started to do the six strand DMC floss french knots just above his nose. I had to see how they were going to look!! I think it is color 414 if I remember right.
I did repost the photo in the post about Otto, a couple of days ago, so you can see the entire canvas instead of my closeup above. Again, for those you of you who forgot....This piece was on the cover of Needlepoint Plus, July August 1991 and was stitched by Susan Portra. It is a painted canvas by Doris Gustafson and the original art was done by Beth Van Hoesen. You all know Susan Portra as the author and designer of Bring Your Backgrounds to Life. I have followed the article instructions so far. . Thanks to Susan Portra, again, for her permission to follow this guide. This is going to be a great addition to the rotation!

Back to Ecrusheen

I am going to have to try and shoot this piece some other way, as the sheen and glisten is coming through.....and I will. Today, I finished the row of three flat based Sprat's in the floche and then did a row of two in the #4 Kreinik all around. This is well on its' way to returning to the diamond shape again, and we are still on Lesson 2!

Introducing.....Photo added!

Since the camera is finished it is time to add another piece into the rotation stitching. I have a niece that loves sheep. When I saw this piece I knew she would love it. This piece was on the cover of Needlepoint Plus, July August 1991 and is called Otto. Otto was stitched by Susan Portra. It is a painted canvas by Doris Gustafson and the original art was done by Beth Van Hoesen. You all know Susan Portra as the author and designer of Bring Your Backgrounds to Life. The article in the magazine gives information and details about stitching backgrounds for the hand painted canvas we all love to do. She also included her stitching instructions the completed piece that is featured on the front cover of this issue. I will be following the stitch guide (for the most part, :), you know me--I may change something ) that is written in the article. As always, I will tell you what the fibers are (or if I changed something) along with the stitches. I have him on the frame and the threads are ready to go. If you have the magazine, please feel free to follow along. Thanks to Susan Portra for her permission to follow this guide.



Thanks to Jane in Chilly Hollow for also telling me that he is also called Suffolk Sheep and he was painted in 1982. He had the number 84 on the ear, and you can see the art here:
http://www.nancydoddsgallery.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=26&Itemid=30&limitstart=40

Back to the Kimono

I made it to the collar on the front with the Kreinik gold and three strands of silk! I did lay in a couple of threads to show where the collar will start. There is also a little piece that goes clear down at the bottom, but I am going to finish a lot of other stitches before I worry about that. I am so happy to have this worked all the way up the front and hope that the next rotation will fill in the collar!

Resuming the rotation

The framer has the camera and says it should be ready by next Tuesday! I took the silver lame with me to back the canvas with as I want the silver in canvas to be accented.
So, it is time to get back to the stitching rotation. I picked up with the Diamond Iris piece by Dorothy Lesher. During the Cyberstitchers Meeting, Juli gave us the tips file she created for finishing the piece.

The first thing we have to do is create the actual Diamond of the Diamond Iris. This was done by counting ten diagonal threads as you can see by the top left unstitched line of perle cotton. Then using three strands of White Medici Wool we pad from one corner to the next. I started at the east corner and went back to the north hole and then stitched back over the three strands. I left a little undone at the bottom so you could see that too. The north and south corners are straight stitched, but the east west corners are extended a little to make it all match. I like this!

I finished it!

I completed the dark gray crescent on the bottom and then moved to the right and put in the second gray value for the top crescent, which is a little lighter. I added the last logo in the bottom right--the yellow spot with the letter L on it. Then, using Water N Ice, I laid in long stitches diagonally to create the lens reflection. I had thought about using the Water N Ice and then Jane in Chilly Hollow asked if that was what I was using, and that confirmed it for me. If you haven't looked, check her blog for the Water N Ice glasses she has in the Poker and Dogs piece she is working on. I cut a piece of silver lame and have it ready to take with me to the frame shop. I can't wait to see what we choose!

Starting the Lens

Kinda looks like abstract art as a lens, doesn't it? I worked the reflection in the lens. I used four strands of DMC Rayon and Marlitt in the blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, and silver colors. I moved to the bottom of the lens and resumed using the darkest Splendor to fill in the crescent. I will continue and finish this tomorrow night or not get much sleep! LOL

Details

Since the deadline is quickly approaching on this one, I spent time first completing the ring around the lens. I backstitched the lens rim in one strand of the third value and then backstitched both of the focus rings. Next, I put a name on the camera, lens, and then all the words at the bottom of the lens, all using two strands of the lightest value of the gray Splendor. I started filling in the bottom of the lens with the third gray value. I may not make my self imposed Wednesday deadline, but I am going as fast as I can! LOL

Almost around

I almost made it all the way around the outer rim of the lens! I used a single strand of the third value to mark the right side of the outer band of the lens so far. My goal is to have this piece finished by Wednesday so I have time to get it framed before we leave next week for the party! If you remember the bride is the cake decorator--hence the cupcake--and he is the photographer. She is also getting Martha Stewart's Cupcake cookbook!

Details....details

Tonight I added the focus ring details in two places. I also added gray highlights for the band in between. It is some kind of adjustment marking on the camera. I then started the lens circle, and have a little highlight on both the left and right sides. Remember I am still using the Splendor in four strands for all of the tent stitches. The focus ring lines are done in the darkest shade for the back one, and the second darker shade for the front one, all using a single strand of the Splendor. The white highlight is done with four strands of the light gray and the adjustment marks are done with three strands.

So close!

I almost have the lens rings all done in the basketweave stitch! Tomorrow I will finish the lens ring background and then I will put the focus markings on it. I also anticipate being able to start on the face of the lens!

Slow but sure

I started by removing the white band line for the back ring and replaced it with black. It looks better to me. I added more white markings for the next ring and then filled in more of the lens working towards the front. I hope to get the rest of the straight part of the lens filled in tomorrow night and then I can start adding more detail to the rest of the rings. I am anxious to start on the center rings!

Lens rings

I guess that is what I will call these bands. The furthermost back one is complete and the second one is filled in, in thread only. I added the back ring white setting details and then back stitched the line to set it off. Which I don't like. I will taking be it out tomorrow night and putting it back in with a darker color. The second band has the start of some button on the top right and all the shading down on the bottom right. Don't cha just love my techie photography terms? LOL

Starting the Lens

I finished the left front face of the camera before starting to fill in the lens area. I will be working the lens from the back to the front. I also have to add the name in the top left on the front, and another logo in the bottom right.

The Front

To work down the left front, I filled in from the center top over to the left using the second darkest value of the Splendor. I added the left side camera strap hook and then moved down the left front creating the lighter grey value. There is one small section to finish on the actual face of the camera, which will be done in darker to create the shelf illusion of the last grey area stitched. Then.....on to the lens!

Topping it off

Hmmm....kinda looks like a gun! LOL The top of the camera is finished as I worked from right to left. I completed the distance dial and the light focus under it. I also started working on the top of the lens, starting to define the lens itself.

Happy 4th!

We have been busy celebrating all day! We went to a vintage car show and arts & crafts display in a town near by! It was about 78 and a great breeze was blowing so everyone was comfortable. We are leaving to grill out with the same gang after coming home to pickup the salad and dessert. After dinner, we will do fireworks!

I hope you all have a great day and remember that we are celebrating Independence in the best place to live on the planet!

Developing

I think it is starting to look like a camera. I finished down the right side first. I moved up to the top right and created the flash attachment and the light grey line to offset the top from the face of the camera. I plan to work across the top before starting on the lens.

An unusual scary mask?

LOL! I can see offset eyes and a long skinny nose--no wait, this is still the camera! So, first I put the shine line in to separate the side from the front by using two strands of each of the two lighter shades. I also filled in the grey button on the front with the second lightest value. I started filling in down the side of the camera using the second darkest value.

Abstract Art?

Does kind of look more like abstract art than a camera at this point! I added to the right front face of the camera filling in with more of the Splendor 888. At the bottom I have left the button and logo square to fill in later. On the side I filled in the camera strap attachment with Splendor 890. I used a single strand of 890 to outline the view finder in the top right corner as well. Maybe tomorrow it will look more like a camera!