Kimono Needlepoint Quilt Finished...

Kimono Needlepoint Quilt 

38" wide x 32" tall

Silk, wool, cotton, synthetic

This quilt won the Creative Fiber Award at 2015 La Conner Quilt & Fiber Art Festival.

It took me about four years to hand-stitch the center panel of this canvaswork needlepoint design using a variety of silk, wool, and synthetic fibers.  I love to stitch and enjoyed picking the different threads and stitches to add texture and depth to the design.  It is hand-appliqued with vintage kimono fabrics.  Quilting is free motion or hand.

 Center needlepoint canvas from The Collection UK.  I drafted the kimono based on traditional kimonos. Back: Bordered Diamonds Kaffe Fassett.

I like to quilt black with a dark grey thread.

Neon Rays for the flowers- my favorite thread!

I posted this in my facebook needlepoint group - posting the comments below so I don't lose them:

Elizabeth Hurd Spectacular!!! This should win every needlepoint prize ever given:)

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Cheryl Roler Timko Exquisite!

December 30, 2014 at 1:32pm • Like • 2

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Caroline Donovan WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Stunning! And I agree with Elizabeth Hurd!Summer Truswell - will this be exhibited locally at some point?

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Robin King Brilliant!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kelly Doyle Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kathy Williams Coxwell Gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 1:41pm • Like • 1

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Shari Bruckstein Agree with Elizabeth Hurd. This is spectacular!

December 30, 2014 at 1:47pm • Like • 1

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Jane Waldman Just gorgeous. Do you remember where you got it. I assume in the USA.

December 30, 2014 at 1:49pm • Like • 1

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Cindy Caprice Goldblatt You win. Amazing

December 30, 2014 at 1:50pm • Like • 1

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Izzi Carmen Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Kathryn Farrago what a fabulous piece! I agree with all that this would blow away any competition anywhere!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Robin Klein Herfield I want it! I want it! I want it!!! PLEASE!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like

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Alyson Taylor Unimaginably intricate and lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like • 1

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Linda Pawlusiow Mosch What an amazing accomplishment. Just gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 2:02pm • Like • 1

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Marcia Moir love your mix of disciplines...truly magnificent...!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:03pm • Like • 2

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Debra J. Wallerstein Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:04pm • Like • 1

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Patty Steger Absolutly beautiful!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:12pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer What are the dimensions ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer Absolutely beautiful. What an achievement

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Rosalie Pope Simply remarkable And another example of raising our craft to art. Beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:16pm • Like • 1

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Joanne Colandrea So beautiful, Summer 

December 30, 2014 at 2:17pm • Like • 1

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Lietzie Hawkinson Belford Beautiful, beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 2:18pm • Like • 1

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Melissa Armstrong She's beautiful! I have a canvas similar - Hope to finish one day!

December 30, 2014 at 2:25pm • Like • 1

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Kate Dickerson Amazing!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Mary Walker Exquisite work!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reed This is beautiful, Summer!

December 30, 2014 at 2:27pm • Like • 1

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Sherry Ellwood Feagans OK, this is beyond any adjective I could ever think of to describe this work of yours. What a tour de force!!!!!! You have accomplished a masterpiece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Sheila Coldiron I love this piece of work. It is so beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Laurel Wheeler So stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 2:29pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Breathtaking!!! You have indeed taken this far beyond needlepoint boundaries into a multimedia artwork heirloom. I am in awe!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Pat Miller Congratulations on a beautiful piece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Can you post some more up close photos ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:31pm • Like • 1

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Marlyn Dolgonos Blumenthal lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:42pm • Like • 1

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Anne Haney Remarkable talent

December 30, 2014 at 2:57pm • Like • 1

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Patricia Snyder That is beyond gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:08pm • Like

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Mary D Smith Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:12pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reedman Fabulous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:26pm • Like • 1

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Star Ringhillard Omg this is sooo beautiful wow.I did one in blues. Love them so much. Now gave one with blacks n reds. I LOVE THEM.

December 30, 2014 at 3:28pm • Like • 1

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Margaret Payne Gorgeous. I am with Elizabeth Hurd.

December 30, 2014 at 3:29pm • Like • 1

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Paula Delaney Very impressive work!

December 30, 2014 at 3:31pm • Like • 1

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Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes This is a stunning piece and so inspiring!

December 30, 2014 at 3:35pm • Like • 1

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Marianne Milazzo Teubner Wow!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:46pm • Like • 1

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Jayme Makowski Hey Summer. Absolutely stunning.

December 30, 2014 at 3:55pm • Unlike • 2

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Lynn Hayward Awesome!

December 30, 2014 at 4:03pm • Like • 1

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Jud Hemker Wow!! I love it.

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Kim Porrazzo Gorgeous

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Theresa Goon Waldo Beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 4:32pm • Like • 1

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Dawn Perry Bagnetto Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 4:48pm • Like

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Natalia Frank Gorgeous work!

December 30, 2014 at 4:53pm • Like

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Ann Whitaker-Sauls Gorgeous and impressive. Congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:57pm • Like

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Becky O'Keefe Amazing and creative work...congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:58pm • Like

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Donna Thode Fralick Gunter This is beyond beautiful. You should be so proud.

December 30, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Nancy Lloyd Lusk I love all things Asian. But you've truly created a masterpiece. I only wish I could see it in person.

December 30, 2014 at 6:01pm • Like • 1

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Laura Templer Zuk This is out-of-this world beautiful and unique! An imaginatively artistic creation - breathtaking in scope and execution! You are to be congratulated on your achievement!!!

December 30, 2014 at 6:02pm • Like • 3

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MaryAnn Misenhimer Yes, what everyone has already said!!

December 30, 2014 at 7:23pm • Like • 1

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Christine Hands Absolutely stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 7:40pm • Like

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Jane Makowka This belongs in a museum. You are an artistic genius.

December 30, 2014 at 8:43pm • Like • 1

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Christine Yost Mirabelli Summer- you should be very happy with yourself! You did an absolutely beautiful artistic piece of fiber work. On the gold section of the needlepoint to the right of the geisha- it looks like you first did needlepoint and then did quilting stitches over it - am I right? If so , did you use a sewing machine or hand stitch? I love how you've corporates quilting techniques onto the needlepoint section

December 30, 2014 at 9:57pm • Like • 1

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Summer Truswell Yes, the entire needlepoint is quilted as well. Pretty much the only unquilted area is her face but the head is outlined. All the quilting is on my sewing machine Christine. 

December 30, 2014 at 11:06pm • Like • 3

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Jen Funk Weber I love the marriage of techniques here. What a fun project!

December 31, 2014 at 12:20am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Melissa Miles This is a masterpiece.

December 31, 2014 at 2:34am • Like • 1

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Carlene Harwick Wow, is that beautiful. I could make a place on my wall for it???

December 31, 2014 at 2:58am • Like • 1

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Marcy Marley wow ... lovely work

December 31, 2014 at 3:50am • Like

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Carolyn Hedge Baird Magnificent!

December 31, 2014 at 4:13am • Like • 1

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Barbara Levy This is unbelievably beautiful. You must be so proud. What a masterpiece!

December 31, 2014 at 4:15am • Like

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Valerie Vivas Stunning! Congratulations!

December 31, 2014 at 4:19am • Like

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Carrie Ray Wow, so beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 4:36am • Like

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Dea Chesnutt Great idea for kimono sleeves. Stunning

December 31, 2014 at 4:45am • Like • 1

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Judy K. Russell Beautiful and very clever!

December 31, 2014 at 4:55am • Like

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Mary Powell Beautiful. .

December 31, 2014 at 6:02am • Like

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Mary Ann Saurino This is just extraordinary! You are very talented.

December 31, 2014 at 6:21am • Like

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Barbara Norris GORGEOUS!!!

December 31, 2014 at 6:23am • Like

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Derek Price Just beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 7:16am • Like

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Jane Wood As always, you did great. I love the mix of needlepoint and quilting!

December 31, 2014 at 8:29am • Like • 2

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Summer Truswell - if you do exhibit this in one or more places, will you please do a posting at that time to let us locals know? I truly look forward to seeing this in person!

December 31, 2014 at 1:02pm • Unlike • 1

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Mary K. LeBrun Campbell This is spectacular and very creative!

December 31, 2014 at 5:05pm • Like • 1

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Thais Carr Gorgeous!

December 31, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Myra Bradley Ernst Beautiful work of art!

December 31, 2014 at 9:08pm • Like

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Cathy Kirk It's wonderful!

December 31, 2014 at 9:28pm • Like

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Kate Cook Absolutely beautiful and extremely creative

January 1 at 7:59am • Like

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Vick Briggs It is lovely and I can sure imagine why it took 4 years....which isn't long on a few projects I have done/am doing!! The stitches, the threads, the colors....just lovely.

January 1 at 8:44am • Like

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Janet Gebow Fabulous!

January 1 at 4:30pm • Like

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Lynne Sloan That is just beautiful.

January 1 at 7:07pm

Amanda Lawford Needlepoint Pillow Finished...

Floral hand-painted canvas from Amanda Lawford.  Stitched and finished by Summer Truswell. November 2013-March 2014. 

I Love this graphic woven fabric.  

Silk, rayon, wool, & cotton fibers on cotton canvas.  Glass beads. 

Golf Christmas Ornament...

Just what every golfer wants, right?  A golf ornament for the tree!  This is a gift for my father-in-law.  He seems to like the things I stitch... This measures a little shy of 3" across.  I've had the canvas for a few years now.  I used silk & ivory and Impressions and did the whole thing in basketweave stitch.  The flag is a red silk.  It is finished with a flat back.  

Mary Engelbreit ornament finished...

This is an older needlepoint canvas - I started it some time ago but had a hard time with the lettering and outlining.  I think the canvas was quickly painted and it was very "interpretive" on my end to get it to be legible.  That said, I'm really pleased with how it turned out and I love the peppermint cording too!  For the back I used a red sculpted velvet with a hard back.  It is about 4" across.  Design by Mary Engelbreit.

Two Melissa Shirley Ornaments Completed...

"You bring the tree, I'll bring the wreath!"

I just love these ornaments.  They are hand-painted canvases from Melissa Shirley.  I used odds and ends from my thread stash for the different colors.  The tree Santa is stitched in red Very Velvet and the wreath Santa is stitched in Trio.  Love them!  They are about 3" across and I finished them with hard backs and blue velvet.  

Flower Needlepoint Pillow Stitched and Finished.

This is another pillow for me.  I purchased this canvas at a guild meeting years and years ago.  I have been slowly working my way through all my unfinished projects and am down to only a few. The tag says "From the Collection of the Women's Educational & Industrial Union.  Boston, Massachusetts, Est. 1877".  I believe they used to sell needlepoint yarn and canvases but am not sure if the design is from a reproduction in their collection (which is what I was told when I bought it) or if they used to sell other designer's canvases.  Either way, it's a lovely piece.  If you happen to know who the designer is please let me know!


I knew I wanted this for a pillow so I used basketweave throughout.  I stitched all the background in cream wool (Appleton, with one ply of the four pulled out so it wasn't too tight) and then all the flowers and ribbons are stitched in silk fibers from my stash.

I used a bronze ribbon, striped ribbon, and two trims around the edge.  I love these colors!  It's a pretty good size - maybe 22" across?  The backing is a heavy woven dot that I used on another pillow (the standing lion pillow).

Finished a needlepoint pillow - Amanda Lawford floral.

This was stitched in 2013.  It is a hand-painted canvas from Amanda Lawford.  I stitched it in silk threads, mostly Vineyard Silks with basketweave.  The purple flowers I worked in Au Ver a Soie with silk shading.  The gold is a Kreinik Vintage Braid.  

I picked up the backing fabric at Tina's in Madison Park.  It's a fun shop to visit with lots of really beautiful fabrics and trims.  I added three ribbons around the piece and more roses at each corner.  It has pinch-pleat corners as well. This photo is a little light to show detail - they are a solid black in life.  It's a stunner.  

More true to life on colors.

Now I'm working on a double wedding ring quilt.  It's never going to be done.  

Two needlepoint pillows finished...

I actually *finished* some needlepoint projects!

This handpainted canvas was stitched in 2013.  I used metallic-blend (or Kreinik) threads for all the ornaments and silk/wool blend (I think it was Impressions) for the ornament ribbons and background.  I really love how it turned out.  I don't know the canvas artist - let me know if you know who painted it!  It might be Needlepoint of Back Bay?

This canvas was painted by Michael Wilhoite of Needlepoint of Back Bay.  I stitched it all in silk fibers and basketweave.  

As it is a gift for Travis, I tried to make the finishing masculine but also youthful.  (He's 7.)

Pinch pleat edge on the corners with twisted cording edge. 

Christmas Cracker - Additional Formats Now Available

Now available in full color print on lulu, PDF on lulu, and still on Amazon for Kindle readers.  Thanks folks!

PDF on lulu - http://www.lulu.com/shop/summer-louise-truswell/christmas-cracker-design-finishing-instructions/ebook/product-20958315.html 

Paper booklet - http://www.lulu.com/shop/summer-louise-truswell/christmas-cracker-design-finishing-instructions/paperback/product-20958290.html

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BE6UJNM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BE6UJNM&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwneedlewo0e-20

Christmas Cracker Design & Finishing Instructions

Book includes instructions for the design and complete finishing instructions for crackers, including directions of how to adjust for different tube sizes, curling the ribbon, and doing a beaded edge.  Available on Amazon for Kindle apps and readers.  

Crackers are so much fun.  Designer Melissa Shirley has lots of cracker designs: Golden Crackers, Valentine Crackers, USA Patriotic Crackers, Easter Crackers, Thanksgiving Crackers, Halloween Crackers, Christmas Toys Crackers, Giant Christmas Crackers, and more traditional Christmas Crackers.  

"Christmas Candy" ornament by Jemini Designs

This ornament is from Just Cross-Stitch Ornament issue 2001.  It's designed by Jeanette Rees of Jemini Designs.  The original pattern called for floss blended with Kreinik Blending filament stitched on 14 count Aida.  I don't stitch on Aida (hate it) so I traced a circle onto 18 count mono canvas then used fabric markers to draw on the arcs and filled in the red and green.  I then used Kreinik 1/16" ribbon to stitch the colors and two strands of #4 braid for the white.  I am trying to use up stash and the two strands of #4 tangled terribly. Never again!  It does look good though.  

I finished the ornament with a flat back with silk dupioni and padded front.  Love it!

Amanda Lawford Nutcracker Santa Finished!

"Nutcracker Santa"

Hand-painted Canvas by Amanda Lawford

Stitched by Summer Truswell

I finished him as a stand-up.  He is about 16" tall.

Stitch guides are at http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2012/11/amanda-lawford-nutcracker-santa-1.html

and http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2013/01/amanda-lawford-nutcracker-santa-2.html.

I also stitched Amanda's Royal Santa, which you can see at http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2012/11/amanda-lawford-royal-santa-finished.html.

Melissa Shirley Sugar Plum Fairy and Grandfather finished...

I love them!  I am going to call them my Nutcracker Lollipops.

I originally stitched these over the summer of 2009.  I did the ornament finishing sometime in 2010, but I never got around to having Brad make the stands until this weekend.  I painted them blue and pink layered with gold and accented with ribbons.  There is a closer view on my Melissa Shirley stitching page.  

"Night Before Christmas" by Birds of a Feather

"Night Before Christmas"

by Nancy Davis and Connie O'Brien of Birds of a Feather

This design is from the 1998 Just Cross-Stitch ornament issue magazine.  I stitched it in cotton threads, both solid from DMC and overdyed threads from Weeks Dye Works.  It is stitched on 32 count natural linen from Zweigart.  I used my giant ball-o-blue-yarn for the twisted cording, along with a sparkly blue Kreinik metallic, which I accented with a clear glass bead as I attached it to the ornament.  I stitched this in 2010 and did the finishing in October 2012.  

Birds of a Feather, when I used to collect their patterns, was run by Nancy and Connie.  I stitched several of their pieces and they have really fun designs.  I see on their website now that they no longer have counted cross-stitch designs and do only painted canvases.  

"Tweet Gift" by Full Circle Designs Finished

"Tweet Gift" by Lynda Watkins of Full Circle Designs

This ornament was a lot of fun to stitch because I used up lots of little bits of overdyed threads I had in my stash.  It is stitched on 32 count linen.  For the finishing I used a textured red velvet for the back and made cording in colors to accent the design.  

I knew I wanted some kind of greenery at the corners.  My original vision was pinecone buttons but I think the holly berries are even more cute.  It has a flat back and flat padded front.  To attach buttons like this, wait until after the ornament is finished and then use a matching thread to couch them onto the ornament.  It is a little difficult as you can't stitch through the matboard but it is more frustrating if you sew them on first and then try and do the finishing because your thread will catch on them over and over.    

Full Circle Design's website is not working at this time but you can see other designs

 they have at ABC Stitch.  

Blue Dogwood Designs Postcards from Seattle

This is a fun little series of hand-painted canvases from Kay Fite of Blue Dogwood Designs.  Kay lives here in Washington and paints her own canvases.  I stitched them in basketweave using wool threads, overdyed cottons, Kreinik metallics and whatever other little bits of threads I had that I liked. I stitched and finished them in 2012. Finished with silk backs and custom cording.  

Beau Geste Ornaments finished.

A whole group here!

These ornaments were designed by Deborah Wilson for Beau Geste.  It was an ornament-of-the-month club from The Needlepointer shop.  There *were* twelve ornaments.  When I did my finishing frenzy I realized that I am missing two.  Hopefully I finished them last year (possible?) and they are packed away with my Christmas stuff.  Alternatively they are hiding somewhere and will hopefully turn up.

These are all finished with white silk dupioni on the back, with a flat hard back.  I padded the front of the ornaments.  I made cording to match each design using a metallic and a cotton fiber, or silk and metallic, etc. I love these!

http://summerlouise.com/albums/stitching/designers/deborahwilson.html has another set of ornaments I stitched from Beau Geste called "Shiny Brites".

" 'Tis Red" by La-D-Da 2010 Ornament Finished

'Tis Red

by Lori Markovic of La-D-Da Designs

This shade of red, DMC 814, is my absolute favorite color. Whenever I see a new type of specialty thread I pick up a skein in this dark red because I know that someday I'll use it.  I may also buy white, but that is not nearly as exciting to me as red.  The thread I used in this is an overdyed silk from Victoria Clayton that I saw and loved and I may have bought an entire hank of it.  (shhhhh)  The ornament is stitched on 36 count white linen from Zweigart.  

La-D-Da has one of my favorite designs that I've never finished.  I still need to mail it to my friend Suzanne because she said she'd finish it for me.  Super nice, yes!  I finished another ornament from Lori some years back as well.  

I embroidered the back with the year on my sewing machine, using a crisp white rayon that really shows up with the red silk dupioni.

The beaded edge of the ornament is created after the ornament is completed by alternating bead colors, in this case a dark clear rose and white, in the string and placing 8-10 beads on a single stitch.  The smaller stitch size forces the beads to curve in an arch away from the edge.  A simple embroidered ribbon bow finishes the top.  

"Amour" by The Collection

"Amour"

by Sallie Luedtke for The Collection

"Word Weights" are fairly simple hand-painted canvases.  They are quick to stitch and make great stash busters.  They have photos of several on their website.  I did the finishing on several of their other weights several years ago.  

I stitched this one for my daughter, Madeline, who likes all things girly and pink.  It is made in Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays for the background and Neon Rays + (sparkles!) for the word.  I finished it with a hot pink silk dupioni flat back, padded front, and custom cording to match the colors in the design.  I then bought sparkling glass hearts at Michael's Crafts and used some nice 4mm Japanese glass cube beads and seed beads I had in my stash for the bottom trim.  Beads and Beyond in Bellevue, Washington is a great bead store for those stash builders.

Larkin Jean Van Horn, a Seattle artist, had a nice little book for beadwork that explains how to do some of the fancier bead trim techniques.  It's nice to be able to refer back to it when my skills have gotten rusty. 

"Believe" by Madeline Lake Santa Ornament.

"Believe" by Madeline Lake

This little canvas was a screen printed canvas from the 2006 Needlepoint Wall Calendar.  This was such a clever idea - a little screen printed canvas with a laser-cut paper mat and a color photograph.  When the year was over, the canvases could be taken out and stitched.  I wish that they had kept making them.  

This design was a stash buster for me - I used bits of red and green thread, a blue paternayan wool for the background and worked the beard in stem stitch.  The cuff of the hat is turkey work and the scarf has little fringe on the end.  The snowflakes are plastic stickers or beaded stickers that I couched on - I picked them up from Michael's Crafts.  I finished the back in blue velveteen and it is finished flat.  

A fun tip - I bought a large skein of this blue knitting yard at Pacific Fabrics in Everett, Washington several years ago.  It is a smooth nylon blend - label long gone - with shiny and matte threads running through it.  It has been a great blender for all kinds of twisted cording and also is lovely on its own - knitting fiber aisle is a great place to check for twisted cording fiber.   Just stay away from pearl cotton in skein format as it knots terribly.