Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Pilgrim Gent & Indian Brave

Well Hello Stitchers!  I had every intention of blogging last night.  In fact I even told Colleen,
"I'm fixin' to blog here in a little bit!"  (Can y'all hear the Texas?  What has become of this Ohio Girl?)  Anyway, somehow I got completely distracted and didn't.  Now, for the life of me, I can't figure out why, or what happened?  Could it have been my three swimmers all having time trials at different times all evening from 4:30 'til after 7?  Could it have been hubby calling at eleventh hour to say he was working late?  Could it have been my 6th grader coming to me in tears and saying I had forgotten to turn in her paperwork for next school-years volleyball team, and she didn't get her uniform yesterday like all of her friends?
(Never mind that she didn'texactly give me the paperwork, and it's her job to turn in the paper-work...I am not a middle-schooler!!)  ARGH!!!!  Nah, couldn't have been any of that!
I am so thrilled with how well he is turning out.  He is the perfect counter to our Elegant Rebekkah!  Although he is not fancy, by any means, there is a simple Classic Elegance to his costume.  The jacket actually looks like a gorgeous brocade cloth, which would have been woven in Belgium and purchased in London.  His bride would have hand embroidered the silk leaf treatment around the hem of his coat.  The rifle looks so Cool!  It was an item that had me stumped for a while and yes, I did rip it out twice before arriving at the perfect thread and stitch combination!
Adding the final button-hole wrap stitch to hat-brim.
Hat Finished, with buckle and scrunched silk hat-band.  Gorgeous!
Some of you may be wondering why you don't see any garland or background stitching?  Well, I am trying
something a little different than my normal stitching method.  In order to stay on the established Lesson schedule, it occurred to me that I would just focus on 'new stitching' for the next 2 characters.  In other
words, stitch the characters, their costume & accoutrement, then go back and stitch the backgrounds!
To finish up this post, I thought I would show a few close-ups from Indian Brave

Beaded and wrapped moccassins.
Corn silks added to beaded field corn.
Look at all of his beading!


So Elegant Thanksgiving Fans, until next time,
Happy Stitching!
Kelly













Saturday, May 12, 2012

Indian Brave is STITCHED!

HOORAY!
After a grueling 32 hour Marathon stitching & writing session,
(which began in earnest Friday evening after Olivia's Brownie Meeting)
I just now put the final stitch in!!!!


This was my Eveready Bunny piece...it just kept going and going!
I am so HAPPY he is done!  
He is rather Handsome and well adorned!
Lesson 6 will be e-mailed to the Elegant Thanksgiving Stitch Clubbers tomorrow!!!
Details to follow....
I am now going to get some much needed sleep!
Happy Mothers Day everyone!!!!!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Christmas Crazy Quilt Under Way!

The Christmas Crazies have begun!
No not shopping...
Stitching!
The minute these canvases arrived in the Studio, I wanted to grab
stretcher bars, staple gun, tape, threads and get started.  The feeling was quite
palpable!  However, I was good and held off for a couple of weeks!
This is so Cool!
I got started while I was out in Tucson for Dad's Funeral.
My good friend, Colleen Church, gave me some sage advice before that trip.
She said, "Don't take any work projects that have a deadline or are part of a Class
or Club.  You don't want to feel any pressure, or have that piece trigger any added
anxiety."   I thought about it and agreed.  This Christmas Crazy was the only piece I took
with me on that trip.  That in itself is rare.  I usually take a minimum of four projects on every
trip!  And it is often about 6 or 8!  You know how we Stitchers are...what if we run out of
things to work on?  What if I need to buy a thread for one of these pieces, and there is a great
shop to visit where I am going?  What if I decide to go to an Open Stitch group and I can't
decide which piece to work on?...better take several just to be sure!
I figured, "If I am in the mood to stitch, I can, but if I'm not, then no
big problem.  I will be writing a guide for this one, but there is no looming time-frame, at all!


I am having so much FUN picking threads and stitches! 
My goal with the selections is always to create an interesting patch with a minimum of 2 different
thread elements for each section.  I also love 'Repeating Themes'. 
Checkerboards, for instance!  Love 'em, have to have 'em! 

I have already started to think about what seam treatments I will use and colors for
silk ribbon...it definitely needs Chartreuse...that's a given!

But now I must put fabulous Christmas Crazy down for awhile and get back to work 
on my 'real' projects!

Posting Very Soon 
will be 
The Finished Thanksgiving Scout!
Until next time,
Happy Stitching!

PS. The way cool & Blingy Needle Magnet is from Accoutrement Designs!
Isn't it perfect for this piece?