An early present

My birthday is next week and look what I got in the mail!  I love early presents and I have already spent a great deal of time perusing this book.  Several years ago I took a "what do  I do with this canvas" class from Carole at Callaway Gardens.  I still have my note book from that class and this just makes me smile!  It is full of goodies from Carole Lake and Michael Boren.  If you ever get a chance to take a class, it is well worth it!  Not only does she have great ideas, but is also funny!!  Two of my favorite things!  The canvas I took to Callaway was Roses and Tassels and you can see the transformation by clicking on that title on the Right side.

Back from the Framer

I picked up Carole Lake's, White Gold in a Purple Passion from the framer. I love how it turned out and now have to decide where to hang it! I love this kind of problem to solve!

The final sections

I finished the final sections. First I added vertical rows of Anchor Pearl to tie down the pairs of horizontal threads. I used the white and then the ecru to create the pattern. Then, I added another row of Alternating V stitch and finally another row of the Braided Knitting Stitch.

This is the finished piece:

Thanks, again, to Carole Lake for this design and the permission to blog stitch this piece.

As before, you can see Carole's design at her site.

www.carolelake.com

A few more areas

I filled in above the Overlapping Cross Pattern with another row of the Alternating V stitch worked in the Treasure Braid. Above that is another row of Braided Knitting worked in the white Watercolours. Moving to the right, I started the last section. First I started the Laid Filling Plaid Pattern by laying in the pearl Kreinik in vertical rows. Two horizontal rows of Kreinik 210 were added next, alternating with two horizontal rows of the overdyed Pearl 8. Tomorrow night I will add more vertical rows that will add the plaid look.

Jane asked "How much does the canvas color you see under the open stitching add to the piece, Pat? Would a white and gold version on pink or lavender (or Victorian Red) canvas look a lot different?"
A lot of the canvas does show through increasing the white values in the piece. My opinion is that a white and gold version would look nice on pink, lavender, red, or navy blue. The design elements would work. I can also picture changing the colors of the fibers and doing pinks on pink, or, grays and silvers on black, etc. I think the possibilities would be endless. The original design was done in purples and then this white and gold combination. I also think many of the stitches utilized in this piece would be appropriate in a lot of other canvas designs, or, extracted into smaller designs for ornaments or box tops. Hope that helps!

Moving on up!

We are really moving up towards the top of this piece! First I have add Kreinik braid in the pearl color on top of the cross stitches in a pattern. It outlines the outside of the box, has an inner square and one oblong cross stitch in the center of each. It may show up if you enlarge the image. Next I added another row of double cross stitches and upright cross stitches on the right hand side.
Last, I did the Overlapping Cross Pattern above this. I used Anchor and Kreinik to create three rows of cross stitches. I added upright crosses at the top and bottom in Anchor pearl cotton. As a final touch I added a motif stitch in the center of the large cross stitches using the HiLights.
Whew! This was a busy night! LOL

Waffle Stitches & Cross Stitches

Using a single strand of the overdyed pearl, I stitched the Waffle Stitches amongst the Half Rhodes from last night. These are a lot of fun to work as you are working around the outside edge of the square and creating the pattern. Then, I used a single strand of the white Impressions and did cross stitches in the alternate squares. I still have a little more to do in these two squares tomorrow night. Even DH was impressed with this section!

Starting Section four

I changed the way I shot tonight's photo so you will only see the area I am working in. It is the last section to complete. I started out by doing Double Cross stitches in Kreinik 102 on the left hand side. I then cam back and did Upright Crosses using two strands of HiLights. Then I started the area that Carole calls the Nine Patch Pattern. Using the Watercolours I worked all of the Half Rhodes stitches. They sort of look like big fluffy snowflakes!

The left side

I finished the left side today. First I worked another row in Treasure outside of the Jacquard pattern. Then I worked another row of the Watercolours so both of these mirror the bottom of the design. You can now see the length and the width of the entire design.
Tomorrow I will start to fill in the open area, beginning with the left side.

The Kreinik is in

I added all the Kreinik pearl in the Byzantine Jacquard Cashmere panel, and it is very light. You will have to click on the photo to enlarge it and see it! Sorry about that! Maybe I should have put this on the black velvet so you could see it better. I will try and get a better photo tomorrow!

NN is all in

I put in all of the Needle Necessities Overdyed in the Byzantine Jacquard Cashmere Pattern in the column on the left. I decided to go ahead and finish out this step of the pattern all the way to the top, and then I will come back in and fill with the Kreinik. I also buried all the rest of the threads as well. These were all easy to bury, as Jane commented on yesterday's post, since they were not nylon/rayon threads! Those can be a great deal more difficult to hide/bury since they are so slippery!

A little of this & that

First, I went back and put the Upright Cross Stitches in with a strand of Grandeur in the Half Rhodes stitches I did last night. I returned the canvas to the upright position and have now started the next section. I started the Byzantine Cashmere Jacquard section. Using a single strand of Needle Necessities Overdyed Pearl, I worked a full strand in the Cashmere stitch. Then using the Kreinik pearl, I filled in all the tent stitches. Then I worked in some ofthe away waste knot threads that were out to the left--from doing the Florentine pattern. When working a pattern with these fine threads it is not a good idea to try to work the end into the back as it will effect the look of your design. I did the away waste knots to the left of the pattern on the left. This left me a nice long tail. By stitching over the threads first, I have anchored them even more before now anchoring them into the back of this section. If you click the picture to enlarge it, you will see I still have some left to bury. No one will know, so don't tell!

Another one done

Yes, I finished the last section in this area. This is done with a single strand of the white Watercolours in the Braided Knitting stitch. This in now the bottom line of the piece. On the left, you will see that I also added a row of Half Rhodes Stitches, also worked in the white Watercolours. I have not finished this area and will continue working on this one tomorrow. Both of these stitches worked up fairly quickly and add nice border patterns.

Florentine Finish

I finished the last two rows of the HiLights in the Florentine pattern. Under that I worked the Alternating V stitch in the Treasure Braid gold. This is working up very quickly and that is due to Carole's excellent guide. Each stitch and step are very clearly explained and there are lots of diagrams and wonderful charts. Thanks also to Sue Dulles for her share in this! Tomorrow I will finish the last pattern in this area.

Working the Florentine

Tonight I started the Florentine Laid Filling Pattern which is worked over the lines of Impression that I laid in before. I did not get this finished, but will tell you what is here so far. From the bottom up is the Overdyed Pearl, the Anchor #8, Kreinik #8 braid, Anchor #8 and the top row is HiLights. I will finish filling this pattern in tomorrow night.

Last night I shot the picture using a black background, and tonight I used white. Which one is easier for you to see????

Twisted Fan

I must apologize as I called this stitch Folding Fan, last night, when it is Twisted Fan! I finished the lower section to mirror the top row. I then added eleven rows of Impressions from side to side in preparation for stitching this area tomorrow night.

Folding Fan

I set the frame on a piece of black velvet to take the photo tonight, so you can hopefully see this a little better.
Tonite I did the Folding Fan stitch above the eyelets by first using Flair, and then Treasure Braid for the center most stitches. Each square is then filled with another eyelet done in the Kreinik 102. I will repeat this pattern below the eyelets tomorrow.

The Double Fan Doubled is not worked with a single strand, but many strands and each is started and ended with away waste knots.

Eyelets and more

Moving on, I first added elongated eyelets using white Impressions. Then, on top of those eyelets, I worked fan eyelets in pearl Kreinik, followed by a cross stitch in between the elongated eyelets. Next, I put in long stitches and cross stitches amongst those stitches. Last, I used the Coronet braid and made zig-zag rows above and below this pattern. All of the sparkle does not show up as well as I thought it would, but maybe I will do a little closer shot tomorrow night.

Double Fan Doubled

How cool is this design?! Carole says the stitch is a Jean Hilton stitch and it has a lot of variations in Jean's book, Stimulating Stitches. It may look difficult, but it is not, instead, it is a lot of fun to stitch! It is worked with a single ply of white Watercolours for all but the last strand. That is worked with the Treasure Braid. I really like it!

More Spring

Tonight, I added the bottom row of Spring stitches and then did the vertical row of the same stitch on the right, using the Grandeur fiber. I don't think it will show up, but I have also basted a line across the top and bottom of the vertical row of stitches. This is the overall height of the piece.
Kathy asked about the colors of Kreinik in the photo. The one on the left is 102. There is also 032 pearl, and the other gold is 210.
Yes, Jane, this is the white version of In A Purple Passion. The purple is just gorgeous but just doesn't fit in with the color scheme. Since this is for me, I had to have the white/ecru/gold! The design components would be wonderful in just about any colorway.

White Gold in a Purple Passion

This is the picture and threads that are included in my kit for In A Purple Passion by Carole H. Lake. (My photo does not do this justice!) I saw In A Purple Passion when Carole first started teaching it and fell in love with it! Then, she came out with it in Ecru and Golds.......my favorites!! I contacted her and she graciously sold me the kit and gave her permission for me to blog stitch this piece.
This has several beautiful fibers in it: Watercolours, Treasure Braid, Overdyed pearl cottons, Kreiniks, and many others.
You can see several variations in the Photo Album on Carole's website, along with her other teaching pieces, schedules, and a free pattern. Please do check it out at:
www.carolelake.com
and come back to watch this gorgeous piece evolve!