Halloween Crazy Quilt is Done!

Hooray!

Here she is in all her Glory:

I finished all of the embellishment stitching late Wednesday night...OK, 

it really was still Wednesday, not quite Midnight!  Perfect timing for 

a Halloween Piece.  

On my last post, I mentioned my 'Zen Place' for doing all of the 

Embellishment stitching.  It is a different state of mind from needlepoint

 stitching.  I was worried about getting there.  

You are looking at a 'finished' needlepoint canvas, 

and instead of being done, 

you look and have to think, 

"OK, now to ADD!  What can I do to jazz up each and every faux 'seam'?" 

On March 9th, when I did the post about having all the background 

work done, 

I really was worried.

It is hard to decide where to start and what to do for the embellishing. 

 It took me a few days of worrying to tackle it.  I'd pick it up, look,

become overwhelmed and put it down.  Well, maybe if I organized all

of the bits and bobs, the panic would subside.

I gathered up beads, and sparkly threads, Swarovski Crystals, funky trims, 

ribbons, charms and buttons. 

Then, I decided that worrying about doing 23 seam treatments was really

overwhelming me.  "Kelly, darn it just pick a place and start!",

 I goaded myself.

   In the center, is the alternating Wheat & Bead sequence that I have used on 

the other 2 CQ pieces.  I knew it would work...so I began.  

Hooray!  The ice was broken!

 Then I decided to do the Stepped Wheat sequence, 

alternating the black & chartreuse silk perle, seen in lower left.  

 From experience, I knew that the Fan needed super skinny

treatments with lots of beads and bling, so I got busy on those!

Isn't it lovely?  Such Harmony!

I was really on a roll!  Once all of the fan is done, plus the first two,

suddenly 12 seams are tackled and the rest is much less daunting!

The fan edge is done with a SUPER COOL new trim & thread

combination from Access Commodities:

Silk Wrapped Purl & Silk Couching Thread.

Amazing Stuff!

A close-up of the Memory Wire Bead Twist.

The upper right corner has some simple twists with unique trims and threads.

And along came a Spider!

The Mish-Mash Ribbon Seam Treatment looks splendid in Halloween Colors!

 

And the Beaded & Be-Ribboned Tassel Trim is quite festive!

And more close-ups of other fun bits:

 Just look at the Sunflower center full of  messy beads and sequins!

 Delightful Tiny Buttons and a Vintage Bakelite bead with 

a plastic Rhinestone center...the epitome of tacky! 

 I just Love it!

 The wonderful cluster of Buttons with a Vintage Rhinestone 

Shank Button...Adorable!

 I was thinking about dangling Halloween Charms the whole

length of the Ribbon seam, but decided to stop after the

Jack-O-Lantern...was worried it might overwhelm!

(But, I can always change my mind!!!  Hum?) 

Now that the piece is done, time to write the Stitch Guide!

ARGH!!! Talk about overwhelming!

Ah well, until next time.

Happy Stitching, All! 

Stumpwork Sampler FINISHED!!!!!

As I mentioned on Facebook this January, my operating rule for 2014 is that I have to complete a

WIP

(Work In Progress)

for every new canvas I start.  A Daunting task, 

but none-the-less, try I must!

Two weeks ago I realized that it is time for me to start stitching on 

a new Retailers Club that I plan to

 reveal in April/May...

so that meant I had to finish something!  Yikes!  What would it be?

Well I pulled out my Stumpwork Sampler to have a look.

It was close.  Only the outer borders and beading and trim

around the Nosegay left to stitch!  I could do it! 

Here are a few close-up pics:

The Sampler is composed of some of my favorite things.

Each and every item stitched has a special meaning for me.  I can't wait

to have it framed and place it where I can cherish it always!

And just a tiny sneak peek at my Upcoming Retailers Club:

Until next time,

Happy Stitching all!

Christmas Crazy Quilt is Finished!

All Seam Treatments Done &

Ready to go to Finisher!

Fan: 

in Upper Left Corner:

I LOVE how the 'Circle Seam' follows the irregular edge of the fan!

Partridge & Pear with a Crystal.

The seam treatment running vertically behind the Partridge I call

'Candy Cane Seam.'

The treatment between the sage and tobacco is called,

'Snowflakes on a Twist.' 

Close-up of The Pear and a Crystal or two!

Button Cluster: 

featuring Beads and Crystals.

 I love this so much that I want to add a few more 

buttons elsewhere on the piece!

Bottom right corner:

Featuring-

'Feather and Bead' Treatment falling on red and teal triangles.

'Scrunched Ribbon' falls between teal and black.

I LOVE the 'Spiced Teal Bead Twist' on the other side of the black.

At left, the 'Beaded Wheat Bands'.

and, of course I HAD to have the Silver Tea-cup!  

Close Ups:

Between the black & paisley is 'Ribbon Acanthus Leaf'':

Close up of 'Ribbon Acanthus':

 Basket of Paper Whites:

Close up of 'Beaded Tassel Trim':

Well this was a great Fun Project to work on!

It seemed to go much easier than the Springtime Crazy Quilt.

Probably because I had already worked a similar piece.

 Please have a Happy & Safe New Years Eve everyone &

Happy Stitching!

Kelly

The Koi and a Turkey Preview!

Here is the Profile Shot of this wonderful Koi:

Isn't the height and depth Fantastic?

AS promised, The directions follow:

Step 1:  Assemble Your Supplies.

 The supplies used are: 

1.) Orange sewing thread.(I use either, Molnlycke or Gutermann)

2.) Two shades of 4mm Orange Silk Ribbon.

(I used River Silks #101 & #12)

3.)  A small strip of Orange Felt...any shade will do.

4.) DMC Memory Thread...Orange

5.) Sparkle in Orange from Sundance Designs

6.) A size 24 Tapestry Needle, and a Sharp sewing needle.

Step 2: Cut pieces.

 Cut  3 " lengths of both Memory Thread and Sparkle 

Step 3, 4 & 5: Start the assembly process

Step 3: With the Memory thread, shape your outline for the Koi.

If using the painted canvas..., lay the thread on the painted image,

bending and molding to conform to the outermost shape of the Koi body.

Step 4: Pinch and twist one end of the sparkle thread and tie it firmly with

the sewing thread...leave a good 2 thread tails of 3 inches each.

Step 5: Roll and shape the felt to size of Koi body, then stuff the felt shape 

down the open end of the tube.

Step 6: Attach to canvas 

(In the photo below, I worked in the margin in order to take this shot...

and clearly show how the step looks) 

Lay the pinched end of the tube on painted image, pulling the thread tails 

through and tie down to canvas.  Now, lay the Memory thread shape over 

the top and start to tack down in place.  As you are tacking, catch in the 

sides and edges of the Sparkle stuffed tube.  

(Don't be afraid to really 

smash and mold this into the fish body shape you desire.) 

Cross the lengths of Memory thread over each other at base of fish body, 

smashing the tube flat against the canvas, tacking all in place.  

Curl the excess lengths of Memory thread around a laying tool 

into an elongated spiral.

To Finish:  Ribbon Stitch and Trim

Add Japanese Ribbon Stitches to create dorsal fins at top 

& pectoral fins at bottom. 

The Ribbon stitches for tail should fit around and 

behind the end of the tube.  Trim the Spirals to length of painted 

tail.  Trim the tube to same length.  

Add a black seed bead for fish eye.

To create the Koi 'whiskers', use sharp embroidery scissors. 

 Trim out all of the foil & metallic fibers of tube at 'mouth'.

Trim the remaining hard fibers of tube to desired length.

And that is our Koi!

And now for a few sneak peeks at our Handsome Tom Turkey:

On that Note,

I bid you adieu.

Happy Stitching, one and all!