Surrounded by Linen

Aurora Borealis Revisited is also back from the framers.  The mat on this one is an off white linen to match the background and a deep mahogany frame that pops the panel colors.

Aurora Borealis, Finished!

 Here is the overall shot of the finished piece!  I am real pleased with how this finished.

The top two patterns on the last row went fast.  The hearts were stitched with two strands of silk and then the center crossed cross stitches were done in the Madiera. Candlelight was laid in between the rows and then a sheaf stitch holds it done and the sheaves are tacked down with more Madiera.  The same silk is sued to create the fade out design with double wrapped French knots in the centers!
I was putting everything back together, in order, and realize I have lost my instruction sheet for the far right column!  Argh!  Not happy but if you have a copy of the July/August 2001 Needlepoint Now magazine, would you send me an email!  Thanks!

One down, two to go

Pattern 32 is done.  I added the Madeira, Accentuate for the upright and horizontal stitches and then seed beads.  There is not much more to go!

Long Tall Sallies

 Pattern #30, Long Tall Sallie is finished.  Using Madiera to offset the Waterlilies, each column is completed and notice the movement.

I started 31 in Column H, the final one, by using two strands of silk and started doing the diagonals part of this combination stitch.  Next will be placing Madeira.

Oval Chain Variation

Pattern 29 is called Oval Chain variation #2 and is worked with silk and then Accentuate ties down the blue rocaille or bugle beads....might be a good water stitch?.......and I then move on to strart pattern 29 which is called Long Tall Sallies.  I have not finished that pattern yet but will tomorrow.

Pattern #28

Humming right along on Aurora Borealis....I started pattern 28 which is a flat pattern.  After miscounting, I ripped my stitching out and started over but thankfully had not gotten too far!  I was using Soie Perleee to create the grid when I realized I was off by one, so a little ripit, and back to business.  then   two strands of Soie d Alger create the straight stitches and Madiera is the top turquoise crosses.  I looked ahead as I realize I am getting close on this one and there are only five more patterns to go!

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 27

Column G is done in blues.  Pattern 27 is worked across 36 threads and started with laying Silk Serica horizontally and vertically.  Next overdyed floss created the heart patterns.  Last I used Madeira to create the boxed squares to finish this pattern.

Pattern #26, Aurora Borealis

Pattern 26 is the top of the creme row.  I finished up the pattern of upright stitches using the 2 strands of silk and then fragmented those out to two and one single stitch clear to the top....Madeira was stitched in between the rows and large crosses placed over them to tack down the long stitches.  Column G tomorrow!

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 25

So, time to get back to Aurora Borealis!  Pattern 25 is a Bargello pattern that uses Waterlilies in two strands to create the pattern that almost looks like another butterfly.  Silver Madiera or Accentuate highlights the pattern.  Then I have started Pattern 26.  It is a flat pattern and so far I have been laying in the two stands of Soie d" Alger silk.

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 24

Pattern 24 in the creme row is Reversed Fans and flowers with beads.  A single strand of silk created the fanned flower shapes which are like half eyelets.  Then straight stitches and detached chain leaves are worked for stems.  Diagonal tent stiches are by the clear pink lined beads that become the flowers.

Aurora Borealis, Pattern 23

I have moved to the left side of the design.  There are only three columns left to complete!  The variety of patterns and fibers has kept this piece very motivating.  Pattern 23 is another composite pattern.  The horizontal straight stitch pattern is done first using silk and that creates the main triangle pattern over 5 4 3 2.  Then the upright stitches are done using a grey beige silk with one strand and it covers 8 7 6 5.  Then the fans are stitched using the silver accentuate.  Last a single strand of perle cotton is tacked down with more of the silver.

Aurora Borealis, 21 and 22!

These last two patterns went fairly quickly!  Pattern 21 starts out by laying Trebizond in the dark purple, then adding metallic braid in the diamonds and lastly tacking down the Trebizond.  Pattern 22 is a zig zag stitch worked randomly using Madiera in two different purples......
Moving over to the left side!!

Aurora Borealis, Column E

 Column E is pattern 20 which is a composite pattern.  First using silk, I laid in the 4 5 6 7 6 5 4 pattern on the diagonal.  Next, raised square stitches are placed using Madeira aka Supertwist, aka Accentuate, then the zig zag row of diagon tent stitches are done using a strand of silk as are the over 3 diagonal stitches between those.  Then I decided it was time for an updated photo of the overall.  As you can see, this is the last column on the right.

Column D is done!

I am glad I stopped where I did yesterday and from today's photo, you can hardly see the design!  I hope to reshoot it when the sun is shining and we will see if it is better.  I filled in the rest of Pattern 18, Windows by working the Wheat Sheaves in Soie Perlee and then using gold Madiera, I did cross stitches in the corners of the non sheaf rows.  The top fade out patter is worked with silk in a gold.

17 and part of 18

First I finished the rest of 17, Butterflies are three by using the 1 strand of Madeira to basketweave the background.  Pattern 18, Windows is started by using 2 strands of silk to create the circular patterns.

And by the way.....a new blog in town:

http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com

Joni Stevenson's!  Check it out!

Column D, Green column

I started Column D, the Green column.  This one is 21 threads across.  The pattern is called oval chain variation at the bottom and is worked with two strands of Waterlilies.  Then Candleight is laid across the pattern and Madiera is used to create the pattern which ties the Madiera down to complete pattern 16.  Pattern 17 is started by working the Butterflies are 3 pattern in silk and I am working on the background using one strand of Madiera in basketweave.

Horchow Squares

Pattern 14 is called Horchow Squares and it is now complete!  The top section is the square revisited by working with one strand of silk to create the box that was in the center of the pattern below.  Madiera is used to cross the center stitches.  Then working to the top only sections of the square are repeated and then washed out to the edge.  This completes column C.

Connecting the boxes

The boxes had to be connected...Diagonals done with single strands of silk were the first connection.  Then Backstitched single strands of silk created the inner boxes.  Single strands of silk did the cross in the center of each of the corner squares and the upright cross in the middle of the inner design.  Last, a single strand of Madiera threaded to two strands creates the cross in the center and the basketweave between the squares.
Pattern 14 is complete.

Yellow boxes

I started Pattern 14 in column 3.....all continental stitches to create little yellow boxes!  This is all worked in Soie D Alger.

Pattern 13

Pattern 13 is now completed.  I finished all eight of the diagonal satin stitches in Tobacco and then
laid peach Kreinik in between the rows and tacked those down with large cross stitches in a single strand of silk.  These colors are very different from the colored picture that came with the pattern and fiber as those appear to be a lot more yellow than what I am doing.  I hope some of you do stitch this if you have the pattern and fibers as I would love to know how much difference there would be.