Beginning of the Sky

 

The beginning of the sky

Close up of sky stitch Blogger is acting strange again. Maybe someday we'll be back to before.

Ranch View Updates

Right Tree

Left tree

 

Well, finally.  I was able to work the work around on Blogger to get these pictures posted. 

 

If you are reading this and having similar problems when you click on the picture link above, just switch from Compose to HTML above and to the left.  Then you can browse for your pictures.  However, Blogger help says you should add your pictures first, then switch back to Compose and type your text as there are other problems if you switch back and forth several times.  Aargh!  I hate, hate, hate (did I say hate?) when a computer program is working just fine, then one day, you log in and suddenly it doesn't. 

 

Anyway, I've made more progress since these pictures were taken, so if this works, I'll take more pictures and try again to post them tomorrow. 

 

Sandy

 

P.S.  I can't preview, so I will press the publish button, sight unseen, and hope for the best.

Ranch View Progress

Overview


Right tree

I began with the two trees in the foreground.  The one on the right is stitched with 4 strands of Threadworx green overdyed floss 1048 for the leaves and 4 strands of Threadworx dark blue/purple 1024 for the trunk.  Diamond Ray (p. 324) was used for the leaves and Double stitch (p. 247) was used for the trunk, both from The Needlepoint Book. 

Left tree

The trunk on the tree on the left was stitched with 4 strands of TW 1024 in basketweave.  The leaves were stitched with 4 strands of Threadworx 1076 using Diagonal Mosaic (p. 213).

The brightest strip of green grass is stitched using 4 strands of Gloriana Leaf Green in Bullet stitch from Julia Snyder's Categories for Needlepoint Stitches.  The little bit of stripe under the green grass was stitched with Caron Waterlilies Redwood in tent.

Well, after I had typed up all this I went to add close up pictures of the right tree and the left tree.  I clicked the picture icon and another screen comes up and usually I can browse my computer to find the picture I want to add.  But for some unknown reason, the browse button is now gone.

HELP OTHER BLOGGER USERS.  Do you know what is wrong?  I've tried everything I can think of.  Will probably have to take my computer into a shop for some help.

Sandy

New Start

OK, I really have too many UFO's to start another canvas. 

But. . . ., I did receive this for Christmas from my husband so that seems like excuse enough.  After all, I don't want him to think I don't appreciate it!  BTW, he got a little hint from me, as he would be blissfully clueless as to what canvas I would want to stitch.

Ranch View by Dianne Bersea from Art Needlepoint.

Picked out some fabulous variegated threads at LNS Chaparral Needlepoint last week.  I have a couple of days left to stitch before going back to work next week.  And just finished a UFO yesterday, so why not give it a start?

Sandy

First finish of 2013

Happy New Year to all!

I signed up for a cyber class, Fleur-de-Lis, with Laura Perin last summer.

 

Here is the original.  However, I wanted a slightly different border and wanted to use more of the Watercolors thread, Lexi's Blues.  So here is my version.

I added a 4x4 mosaic in the outer background, but since I was ending up with 9 threads in the middle, I added a flower similar to one used in the design.  I also moved the outer background to the background of the center flower but used a green Impressions, Guacamole, not used in the rest of the design.  Here's a close-up.

I like it.  Now on to other UFO's.

Sandy

 



Picked up some finishing

I just picked up some finishing today.  These two pieces had been in my finished but not "finished" box for quite some time when I finally took them in for framing.  After spending so much just to complete a piece, it just kills me to spend hundreds on framing, but I really don't need any more pillows and these were two big pieces.  So I just bit the bullet and did it.

This was my ANG Chapter challenge piece last year.  I finished it to complete the challenge but then it languished in the box under my bed.

Here's a close-up of the frame.  Love the faux worm holes.  By the way, it's laying on my dining room table.  Notice the trend here?

 

Here's the next piece, not an expensive canvas, but I loved it.

 

 

A green frame this time.  Stitched entirely with perle cotton.  Not my favorite thread to stitch with, but this was a 13 or 14 count canvas and I wanted good coverage.  Also, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it into a pillow or frame it when I started it so wanted a thread that would hold up.  I have a companion piece to this in a blue watering can, if I'm not mistaken, so I better find it in my stash and get busy on it while I can still get this same frame.

Oh and I finally set up a Facebook account, just so I could join the needlepoint group.  You'd think I didn't know how to turn on a computer, but I primarily use Word and Excel at work, so social media is not in my experience level.  I'm trying to enter the 21st century.

Just 5 working days til school is out and I will be off work for two weeks.  Woo Hoo.  Stitching projects, I can't wait to see you again!

Sandy

Busy Beginning of School

Wow what a beginning of school.  I have found time to stitch but not so much time to blog.  DS is marching in the band this year, so many more practices, games, competitions.  And I have been helping hem and iron band uniform pants, as well as chaperoning away games.  But here is what I have been working on.

Blue Moon Santa is finished.

 

All of the background to my challenge piece is finished.

 

Here is a close-up of the cute little ears Ebbie taught me how to make.  Detached button hole stitch.

Next is a closeup of the center of the armadillo that I got to.

Next up is another Petei I am ready to start.  I also finished another Santa, a Kathy Schenkel, but can't show it yet as it is a present for some friends for Christmas.

DS after the band performed at Reliant Stadium.

DS, "Mom, don't be taking my picture!"  Got to love 'em.





Petei Blue Moon Santa

Started this canvas a little over a week ago. Here's where I'm at today. Stitch guide by Diana Bosworth at The French Knot.


I painted the background to hide the white from showing thru.
- Sandy

Blog Upgrades

Woo hoo!

I finally figured out how to show pictures of recent posts from blogs I follow on my blog on the side.  Much more useful for me and those of you who like to see what is new.

Hope you enjoy this new and improved version!

Jean Smith floral

Here's the overall piece with is 14" square.  Shown below are the individual sections.  Can't wait to start on this.

 

However, before I can start on this, I must finish my declared piece for our ANG guild which is the armadillo.  Since last you saw her, I painted out the background brown, since I didn't want any white specks showing through the background stitch.  I have been busy stitching the background, as I only bought 5 skeins of the Watercolors and I want to be sure that is enough, before I can't get the same dye lot.  Yesterday was our monthly Saturday stitch-in and I have almost finished the background now to the halfway point and I have 2 1/2 skeins left over and just a little over that.  So I think to be safe, I am returning to 3 Stitches Tuesday and buying 1 more skein of it.

 



Ebbie, of our guild, showed me yesterday at the stitch-in how to do a detached buttonhole stitch, and I have stitched around one of her ears and will do the other one today.  Ebbie just got back her Melissa Shirley small armadillo, which is just beautiful, and she used that stitch around the ears and it just makes the canvas come alive.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it.  Here is a close-up of the background, elongated cross stitch 4 x 1, with a straight stitch over the middle and the next stitch, drops down 2 threads.

 

Happy Stitching.

Melissa Shirley Trunk Show at Chaparral

I took yesterday off work and my friend, Barbara, and I drove down to Stitches in Time and Chaparral to shop.  We had a great time.  DS decided to come along when I told him we would be eating at the original Ninfa's on Navigation (just down from Minute Maid park).  He never turns down excellent Mexican food.

Frances at Stitches in Time had this Melissa Shirley canvas marked at a good price and I have been looking for a Nativity backdrop for some time, so I snatched it up.

 

I also bought some threads for a Jean Smith floral which I will show you tomorrow.  Then we went to Chaparral (800-572-7743-website doesn't show the trunk sale but I am sure they would be glad to ship to you) where a Melissa Shirley trunk show was in progress (15% off), and I got these two canvases, a quail and pelican (I think).

 

 

 

Afterwards we went to Ninfa's, had a fabulous lunch (I had grilled redfish tacos-Weight Watchers friendly), DS had pork tamales which were huge, and Barbara had a mixed plate.  Had to skip their fabulous margaritas since I was driving and it was about 30 minutes back north.  Then DS had band practice from 3:00-6:00.

 

All in all, a great way to spend a day off, before school starts.

 

Wishing you a great one too.

 



Cut Glass Dishes Finished

Finished this lovely Laura Perin piece several days ago. 

Love the way it turned out.  Think I'll look for a golden brown frame for this.

Hope you can see the little square beads I stitched into each of the four squares.  I was going to put them in the outer squares too, but in the end decided to use the Kreinik again in the corner golden and dark blue/green squares.

Scouts Back From Finisher

Here are my two scouts - really one DS at two different points of his life - immortalized in needlepoint. His hair is just about 1/2 inch long all over so he looked at the boy scout and said it looked like he had an Afro. He is so conservative!

Luv ya, little padawan!

- Sandy

Challenge Piece

Well, I decided on the wild and crazy armadillo for my challenge piece. After all, I am in Texas. But "she" is a girly girl with all her flowers and swirls so her body is stitched in Watercolors Sunglow, a soft pastel mix of yellow, peach, and green.

I started with her head this weekend. Here is a closeup of her face and eye. I've skipped over the swirls for now since I sill need to make a photocopy of her.



- Sandy

Progress on Cut Glass Dishes

Overall.



Close up on one corner. I have changed up the solid dark gold border to include a chevron stripe including a little bling.




I found this Kreinik 3250 in my stash and thought it would look perfect with my color scheme.
- Sandy

Another Laura Perin

I had started this design several months back and decided to return to it this last week.



It's built around Watercolors "Kelp". But I have used WC "Green Tea" along with DMC perle #5 420, 3045, 3046, 501, 502, 504 and a little bit of Crescent Colors perle "Queen Bee".
Here's where I am:



- Sandy

More progress at Stitch-in

This is from about 4 hours of stitching on Saturday.  Here's a close up.

Laura Perin's Fleur-de-Lis.

Stitch-In today

This is where I am starting today on Laura Perin's Fleur-de-Lis at our ANG guild stitch-in. We shall see how far I get.
- Sandy

Boy Scout finished

Finally finished the boy scout to go with the cub scout finished several months ago.

The needlepoint guild I'm a member of is challenging us to finish a bigger piece that has been languishing before September 2013.  I have identified four to choose from:

1. A Rishfeld painted canvas, Rose Paisley 2 (changing the colors up)

2. A Terry Dryden piece (totaling changing the fibers), have stitched the center stripe only

3.  A large painted canvas of an armadillo (haven't even begun)

4.  An Erhman piece, Tuscan Landscape (even though it is 10 ct, it is 22.5 x 16.5), have stitched maybe a third of it.

I'm going to have to decide what I'm going to declare soon.  Your input is most certainly welcomed.