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! 

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! 

Kelly's New Sampler, Stumpwork, naturally!

Have you seen my new Sampler?

Below is the painted canvas.

Canvas KCA 021-18

Just wait 'til you see the Dimensional stitching!

 I have published a 20 page Stumpwork Work-book for the Sampler.   

It is designed so you can see and learn the various

dimensional techniques.  No, not a Traditional Stitch Guide.

It shows the steps to create the dimensional elements, and it also has

some thread suggestions.  Also, there are 4 pages of Ribbon-work 
techniques and diagrams.  
As far as background stitches...choose what suits.  
Copy my stitches, or pick your own. Have Fun! PLAY! 

This guy gives new meaning to the term a Snail's Pace!

And Don't you just Love the Koi?  He is Fun and magnificent!

Here are the same images stitched on my Gigantic Stumpwork Sampler:

This picture reminds me that I need to add the little Seed beads to Blue Snails feelers!

Some Lucsious Fruit!  At right is the Strawberry on the large Sampler.

A Fabulous Basket!  

Now comes the fun task of filling my Basket with goodies!

I think this may have to be a little Red Riding Hood Basket filled for Grandma?

Hum?  Decisions, decisions!

On a previous canvas I created a similar Basket and filled it with Stitching tools:

This Stitching Basket is from my Classic Stitching Santa.

(KCN S 100 F, available with Stitch Guide)

Don't you just love the Silver Stork Scissors?

More Berries and some Sweet Peas in a Pod!

This Berry/Peapod is actually taken from a different Sampler I did.

This Bees Skep is also taken from the same Sampler.

For the new Sampler, I am thinking of a different twist...'The Bees will be stitched the same,

but I am thinking of Needleweaving the Bees Skep, naturally.

I'll post a pic when that is done!!!!

In case some of you are curious about the Big Sampler,

Here is a Picture:

There is no painted canvas here.  

I just started stitching, and this is what Grew!

I will leave you with one Fantastic Close-up shot:

I just LOVE this Berry Vine!

And on that Note,

HAPPY STITCHING, all!

Kelly 

A Tisket, A Tasket, How to Stitch a Basket!

An Elegant Basket of Bounty!

This was stitched way back in the fall, but I somehow misplaced 

the photos!  Yesterday, I was looking through my archived stitching 

photos for something else entirely, and 

ran across the Basket Step-by-step pics!

Even if you aren't stitching with us on the Elegant Thanksgiving, 

the pics are quite helpful for any needle-weaving project! 

STEP 1

Memory wire was used to create the shape for the Basket.  

Also, as the top row of the Basket, Memory wire provides a wonderful 

stability during weaving.

After securing the memory wire, the first color of the Warp threads 

are set in place.  The golden thread loops the wire and goes back down.

STEP 2

The Warp has a second color, brown this time.

STEP 2

 More of the brown is in!

STEP 3

Now that all of the Warp threads are set in place, it is time

for the weft weaving.  This basket uses an 

'Over-2, Under-2' weave sequence...

Notice how the needle lays 

Over the brown threads and Under the golden threads!

STEP 3 Complete

All of the Needle-weaving is done!

STEP 4

Using the brown, a row of Buttonhole Wrap Stitches is 

done across the top.

This step gives a finished look to the rim of the Basket!

FINAL

And here is our lovely Basket brimming with Bountiful Harvest for THANKSGIVING!

Never fear, The Brave is coming along.  We took the kids to the Beach at North Padre for Spring Break last week and I stitched on him like a fiend!  Yesterday I worked on Brave from 1:30 in the afternoon until after midnight!  My goal is to finish him by the end of the week!  I wish I could finish him today, but I don't want to set up for failure, 

in case I don't make it!

A Few Pics from Brave Stitching:

Another Eggplant!

Catch of the Day...still stitching!

 Lovely Woven Grass Column!