Excuse me....

While I pass out Halloween candy to all the little ones tonight! Happy Halloween!

I did it!

I actually finished area five (June)! LOL! I am waaaayyyyy behind on this Kimono! However, I did complete this section tonight. The Henderson Variant (top left, by the way) was worked using Neon Rays in N90 and then the tent stitches were done in Kreinik 002, size 12. I think it looks good and it is shinier in person. I am going to start the September stitch next on this piece. It is the area to the left of this one I just finished. As I have said before, working with this much silk and metallics I do prefer to work from the top down to keep from dragging my hand over the whole thing while stitching. I know I could turn the canvas and or cover the other areas, but it is just one of my quirks. Trust me, it is not the only one!

Knotting the Eye

Yes, Otto is back and I am doing French knots above his eye. I am using six strands of floss doing a double wrap knot. There are two shades of the DMC gray floss in the needle. I like his smirk as he gets more of an eye!

Back to the Borders

Remember this is one of Loretta Spears Mystery Projects called Ecrusheen. I finished the border using #4 Kreinik in 205C using an over 1-2-3-4, completing the inside diamond again. Remember also this is a diamond shape with the top left of this picture being the top of the diamond. Next, I started another border using a single strand of Marlitt and did 53 Gobelins around each side of the piece. Next week, I will photograph it on point again for you.

It has been a while!

I resumed the rotation and started back in on the Tooth Fairy Box. I had taken her hair and sleeves out as her hair was too light and the sleeve outline too dark. I replaced those few stitches and then resumed the basketweave to fill in the top of the box. I got quit a bit of worked and as a reminder this is Kreinik color 014. I am almost to the words!

This is the one

This is the Sharon G canvas I chose to start with in the Shining Needle Society class. Remember a while back I told you about signing up, and I think you still can. It is a Yahoo group that Sharon G is doing. Everything got rolling last week and there have been lots of emails about a lot of different canvas pieces already. I got mine on the frame as you can see and have added this to my stitching rotation.

Four Haunting rings

They are all done and are going in the mail to Judy. Hopefully she gets them in time for her celebration on Saturday. This morning I glued the cut out shapes to the felt and let it dry. I did the white one first and used Fabric Tac. It took forever to dry. Then I went back to the good ole Tacky Glue. Works everytime. Finally, I cut them away from the felt. I then took the matching thread and whip stitched up and back matching the ends together! Very quick, very easy, very cute!

They are stitched!

I finished all of the buttonhole stitching around all of the napkin rings! I cut them all out too!
Now, I am going to glue, yes....glue, them to off white felt and cut them out again. Last I will stitch the ends together and mail them to Judy on Monday.........she should have them in time for Halloween!!

I got it!

Yes, I went by and picked up more of the Navy Kreinik and also the white. I finished the sky on the cat and started buttonhole stitch around the outside as well. I did just under the cat and around to the right. Tomorrow, I will try and get the buttonhole stitch done around all four of them! We will see how that goes!

Last, I added eyes!

I finished all of the white background!! I added Mill Hill beads in 2010--the clear ones with the
silver lining to fill in the web, and then the green Magnificas for the spider eyes. I then started the buttonhole stitch around the bottom and up the right side and ran out of the white Kreinik--oh no! It is alright....I am going to the LNS tomorrow to get the navy for the cat so I will also get more white!

Making the hair stand out

I finished compensating the top through the web and then down the right side including through the legs. He is nice and fuzzy and stands out very nicely! The LNS has the navy blue in stock for the cat in the moon piece and I will get by as quick as I can to work on that one some more!

Midnight Sky....

First I worked on the left side and finish down through the bottom and started under the moon. I then moved up to the top on the right. This is where I realized I am going to run out of thread again! Crap! So, I set it down and finished the buttonhole stitch around the red skull and crossbones. This then is ready for the felt backing and the final sew it together!

Across the top

I went back to working the white compensation through the top of the spider napkin ring and down around the top of the first leg on the right side. I kept the laying tool handy to pick up the fuzzy stuff to keep it on the top of the piece.

And the sky turned to night

So tonight I put some of the sky in on the cat napkin ring. Again, I am doing the Diagonal Triple Parisian and on this one I am using two strands of #8 in Kreinik 018, Navy. It really makes the stars shine on!

Spinning a web

I started the spider's web. I used tent stitch and 001HL so it would be really shiny. I will be adding beads to the web but am waiting until I have the background filled in behind it first. Then I started the background with the Triple Parisian for the background. I started on the left and am working my way over and through the web as there is a great deal of compensating through the web. I started a second line to make it easier to compensate all the way across the web. Jane of Chilly Hollow wrote a great note about compensating on her blog and has some excellent ideas. I thought about just doing tent through the web, but I decided to go ahead and comp through it.

Are the stars out tonight?

Of course! I stitched them with Kreinik 001HL in a Double straight cross stitch. I moved on to the fence and decided it would look best in tent stitch and that it definitely needed to be the brown. I decided on my Kreinik Ombre in color 1700-Misty Gold. Notice how the thread is variegated. I think it has a great fall look to it.

The full moon!

I finished the Harvest moon! Again, I used Kreinik #8, color 210 and I used two strands to get the coverage. Jane noticed his eye is green and I will be filling that with a bead after all the stitching is done.

Part of the moon

I used Kreinik #8 in color 210 to fill in most of the moon tonight. I did not get it finished

but almost!

The wedding was beautiful! Here is bride Amanda in the receving line after the vows.

Have you signed up yet??

I have signed up for this through the Shining Needle Society Yahoo Group, and hope you do too!

I have three canvas out of the stash and am really excited about this! Sharon is in the process of getting the invoices out to everyone and you still have time to sign up for this class!! Hope to see you there!

From the Shining Needle:


Reminder -- Our new SharonG Network -- a class in canvas embellishment -- starts on October 21!Sign up for 3 months or a whole year of tips and tricks and stitch suggestions from SharonG! You will gain ideas for your own canvas as well as those of your classmates.Here are the details:New class for painted canvas lovers and fans of SharonG!Announcing...The SharonG Network Shining Needle Society is very pleased to announce our latest class offering which features SharonG. Sharon is the creative force behind a number of enterprises -- most notably, her very successful line of painted canvases. Sharon is somewhat of a rarity in the needlepoint world, however, in that she both designs AND stitches her canvases.The SharonG Network will allow you to tap into SharonG's extensive creative resources and get advice for stitching your SharonG canvas directly from the source -- SharonG herself!Think of the SharonG Network as a club you join and then you can interact with Sharon via email as you stitch your canvas. Sharon will offer stitch and thread suggestions to help you make your SharonG canvas project uniquely your own! You will also learn along the way as Sharon consults with your fellow classmates about their canvases -- what a great opportunity to get inside the mind of thedesigner!!! While we will be discussing ONLY SharonG canvases in this classroom, you don't actually have to own one to sign up for the class. Sharon's canvases are so appealing, however, that we bet you'll want one sometime during your membership and Sharon will happily direct you to a shop in your area where you can purchase your canvas. Online sources will also be listed, so anyone anywhere can participate.How does the new SharonG Network work? There will be quarterly signups for the classroom and it will be ongoing. The cost will be $35 a quarter (three months),and if you sign up for a year, we're offering a discount making it $120 total. So, for $10 a month, you can lurk and learn all sorts of embellishment tips and techniques with Sharon. You have the joy of working at your own pace, and Sharon will be there to assist as needed. She may even throw in a few general lessons or an occasional recipe. It's rumored that her baklava is to die for! :-)Many of you already know that Sharon has a welcoming style in her email communications. She has been a frequent and knowledgeable participant in the ANG email discussion list. For an example of her online work and the clarity of her charts, a ready reference is her own Website and her contribution to ANG's Stitch of the Month in 2005 (Dragon and Butterflies Kimono).For Sharon's website:http://www.sharong.com/For Dragon and Butterflies Kimono:http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2005/dec.phpThere are a few ground rules for this new class:This classroom is for SharonG's canvases only. Sharon has a wide range of canvases in her line, so we hope there is something that will appeal to anyone,but please know that Sharon will provide stitch and thread advice for her canvases ONLY. That said, you are more than welcome to join this class and listen and learn from a true expert in the painted canvas world.This is NOT a "get a complete stitch guide for your canvas" class. If you just want a stitch guide, Sharon has a number of stitch guides that can be purchased with her canvases. Your local shop can help you with that. However, if you want a chance to work with the designer to create a unique piece of needle art,then you're in the right place. The idea is that you may already have some goals for your canvas and how you want to stitch it -- or maybe Sharon will start you in an area. You complete that and then we take the next area. As each area builds on those already completed, your piece evolves into your own unique creation.

Shop owners -- this is great opportunity for your customers to get some specialized help with their SharonG canvases and we welcome you and your customers to participate.So, if you're ready to work directly with SharonG to make your canvases amazing,it's time to sign up for this new class!Class: "The SharonG Network" (TSGN)Teacher: Sharon Garmize Type of class: canvas enhancement/embellishment; canvas is student's choice,limited to SharonG canvas line Length of class: Three months (10/21/09 thru 1/31/10 -- and yes, you get a little more than three months of class time because we can't wait to start!!!)-- or sign up for a full year (10/21/09 - 10/31/10) at a discount)Kit contents: No kit.Student to supply: An open mind and a willingness to learn. If actively stitching a canvas, then student provides all stitching supplies. Canvas discussion is limited to SharonG painted canvases.Skill Level: All levels welcome. Some experience with painted canvas stitching and reading charts is helpful.Price(s): $35 per three month signup period, discounted to $120 for four quarters, paid in advance.Payments accepted: PayPal and checks.Registration begins: Sept. 29, 2009Registration for first quarter offering ends: Oct. 15, 2009 -- with late signups allowed through Nov. 15. Late signups are not pro-rated, but will have access to posts from beginning of class.Class begins: Oct. 21, 2009Class ends: Jan. 31, 2010 (end of first quarter, class will be ongoing)To sign up, send an email to Sharon Garmize at mailto:sharon%40sharong.com and include"SharonG Network" or "Network Class" in the subject line of your email.Please include the following information:

Your name Your address Your email address so we can enroll you in the online classroom Your method of payment -- check or PayPal.Your desired length of membership at this time: 3 months for $35, or 12 months for $120.Any questions, just email us!We hope you are as excited as we are about this innovative new concept in painted canvas embellishment.Kate Gaunt and Marie-Therese Baker SNS Founders

Upcoming wedding

It is a beautiful fall day in Connecticut! The sun is out and the leaves are just gorgeous. We went to the wedding rehearsal and dinner last night. The wedding is being held in an old mansion in Darien, CT. You drive up a winding drive to the front door and there are stone steps leading down to the front lawn. Walking inside the front door a graceful staircase leads upstairs to the bride's changing room with a huge mirror and comfortable seating for her and her six bridesmaids. Next door is a similar room for the guys. Going back downstairs through the foyer is the large room--used to be living room-for the actual reception. Off to the left of that is a huge dining room, and an also huge kitchen! Walk back to the living and out one set of the double doors and you are in the garden when the actual wedding will be held. It is complete with a fountain in the center of the rounded garden. Off to your left is another stone porch and the double doors that the wedding party will use as their entrance. The whole aura reminds me of a southern plantation. After everyone practiced walking the walk, etc., we all left and went to a wonderful yacht club on the Sound for a cocktail hour. It was pleasant enough that we were able to wander in and out and enjoy the setting sun and watch the yachts and tugs going up the river. Then a buffet style dinner with meats, pasta, veggies, salad and breads. All of this was followed by a yellow cake frosted with whipped cream with fresh strawberries in the center! Phew! Will our clothes still fit on Sunday??

The Purse Flap

My roses purse flap by Boots Bailey arrived in the mail a while back and I forgot to show you what it looks like! If you recall, I won the contest on Gone Stitching Blog Radio. Boots Bailey graciously donated the canvas and the finishing for it. I have threads on order to stitch this soon! Neon Rays for the flowers and that is all I am saying for now. Stay tuned!

A little black spider....

I had originally planned on using the black Alpaca on both the cat and the spider. Then after the backgrounds were stitched, I planned on brushing up the fur so they would both be fuzzy. Since I used up my black Alpaca on the cat (it wasn't a full card) I started through the stash to find a suitable replacement without having to go to the LNS. After rejecting quite a few fibers, I found my Fuzzy stuff! A single strand creates great spiders! Again, I won't brush it until I have finished the background around him!

Meow!

There has to be a black cat for Halloween! I worked him in basketweave using Alpaca black #64. I will be putting a green bead in for his eye after I finish the stitching. I used up the card of Alpaca I had, so I added a point today!

Two down....

I finished all the black Pavillion stitches tonight, so all the design area is now stitched on these two napkin rings! I will be doing the finishing on these when I have all four of them stitched.

So, here are the next two rings. These are by Judy Harper and are on her Freebies site which you can navigate to through her Possibilities blog down on the right.

Red & Black

Yes, I finished the red one! Stopped and got more of the Kreinik 003 red and finished the red one.
Then I resumed stitching on the black one and finished down to the bottom on the right side, filled in all the middle and am working from the bottom up on the left. I hope to finish this one on Saturday! I also picked up all the other Kreinik I needed to do the next two!

It is time

Yes, I need to get back to the Halloween Napkin Rings for Judy of Possibilities. Remember she has put these on her Freebies site, which you can link to through her blog listed on the right. I am doing the Pavilion stitch now to fill in the background on these two pieces. I ran out of red while working on this the last time, and since I have not had a chance to pick any up, I started out by doing the skull and cross bones again with the glow in the dark Kreinik. I then picked up the black and started the background on the right. Yes, they really do glow in the dark. I will pick up the red at the LNS this weekend!