XS taking over?
Linda Wright
who have the patience to XS, it's not for me.
I love to embroider, but have a tough time finding patterns/kits of
things to do. I would like to do more landscapes (but not on
preprinted, you fill in a few blanks kind of thing). I create a lot
of my own stuff with Impressionist art, tracing paper and a transfer
pencil. What do others do? Any good sources?
bshi...@worldnet.att.net
There are all kinds of stitchers here. My fave is counted of all
sorts, including hardanger, some counted canvas, and lately, Schwalm.
But I also do some Hungarian embroidery that is more closely related
to crewel than to cross stitch. And I like Brazilian, too.
I can't help you with patterns, but wonder if you've taken the EGA
course on crewel? I would think that would be a way to learn other
resources for patterns. And do you have Judy Jeroy's and Audrey
Francini's books? There is lots of inspiration in those books!
I hope you stick around here and talk to us more about your
needlework!
Beverly
On 24 Apr 2002 11:08:16 -0700, lew...@hotmail.com (Linda Wright)
wrote:
Janet Rice
crewel and free style things I used pattern books - Dover prints
several - one I like is "Designs and Patterns for Embroiders and
Craftsmen" - ISBN0 486-23030-9. It's mostly floral patterns, but
that's what I wanted. And www.berlinembroidery.com has some gorgeous
needlepainting patterns and kits (although I've never tried them).
But, jeez, if you can design your own - wow -I don't see how you could
do any better than that. One of reasons I do counted thread work is
that is so geometrical and I can work out my own designs without
having to be a good freehand artist.
Janet Rice
Karen C - California
lew...@hotmail.com (Linda Wright) writes:
>
>I love to embroider, but have a tough time finding patterns/kits of
>things to do.
That's why I switched to almost-exclusively XS. I couldn't find anything I
wanted to do in the crewel/embroidery section, and there were so many more
interesting things in the XS chart section. Then I discovered that XS was
infinitely more portable since I didn't have to mess with a hoop (anything up
to about 8x10 gets done in-hand) -- sticking a project in my purse was a
lifesaver with all the lines I stand in.
--
Finished 4/14/02 - Vivacious Violets (CS&N 8/97)
WIP: Angel of Autumn, Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe, Guide the Hands
Paralegal - Editor - Researcher
http://hometown.aol.com/kmc528/KMC.html
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
Talk to me!
I like embroidery too! But I think I look at it a whole different way
than many folks do. Not having learned from books, but rather from
trying to gain a look I was after, it was commented that my finished
pieces were considered embroidery and I just thought they were satin
stitches. On a machine you would call it a really wide zig-zag<G>.
Let me give an example of what I have done and you decide if this is
called embroidery or not. It can be both simple and complex at the
same time, depending upon how much detail you would like to give it.
Take a flower for example, like a daisy, including the stem and a
couple of leaves on the stem. One could stitch widthwise the
thickness of the stem in green. Or add more detail by outlining the
stem first in one shade of green using like a whip stitch forming a
bead-like outline of the stem, then perhaps fill in the stem with
thousands of stem width stitches, or perhaps even split the stem into
two widths using two colors of thread to give shading and the
appearance of roundness to the stem. In this fashion, lets say the
material is 8 squares wide on 20+ count material. Each vertical
square would have a thread starting at the border of the stem and
moving to the right to catch the 5th square, the next row would catch
the 4th square, the next the 5th, etc. The next color to the right
would catch the open square and move to the border, leaving a long
satin stitch between the starting point and ending point.
The petals of the flower for example would get a bead-like stitch as
an outline and perhaps another thinner beadlike stitch for the center
vein of the petal, then the petals would be filled from border to
border using a long satin stitch, from start point near the center to
the outermost edge of the leaf. All the stitches are parallel to each
other in each area of the image, but not necessarily parallel to the
whole image, if you know what I mean.
If a machine were making the stitches, it would be a zig-zag the width
of the image, with a feed of only 1/20th of an inch per zig-zag
stitch. Only when your doing it by hand, you don't get that slight
angled stitch like happens on machine embroidery.
The button of the flower may utilize different types of stitches that
would resemble a french knot to get a full yellow button.
I'm sorry I don't know the names of stitches, nor the specific names
applied to many needlework crafts, I do, rather than study
nomenclature. And sometimes I use many different types of stitches to
get just the look I'm after. You can use a certain series of stitches
such that the end appearance is that of a twisted rope laying on the
material, or even make a suitcoat actually have a harringbone weave to
it. Also make a basket appear to be weaved as well.
I think it is a lot of fun to do these types of projects, but whether
it is called embroidery or not, well, that's a whole other story.
It's been awhile since I have done this type of work, I get a little
frustrated when I see a once beautiful piece begin to pucker because I
waited to long to have it framed and something starts shrinking from
the humidity we have here.
As far as finding images, I have never had a problem at all finding
something to stitch. Getting it in a fashion that makes stitching
easier is where the work comes in. But a sheet of gridded plastic
helps make the pattern and another piece that is frosted helps in
selecting the floss colors, but it won't tell you how to come up with
the fancy stitches. For me that just takes a little trial and error,
even though I'm sure they are in some book somewhere, if I knew what
to look for.
TTUL
Gary
Linda Wright
I admire those of you who do it, but it's just not my thing. I'm an
embroiderer/freestyle embroiderer/crewel worker. However, there's not
a lot out there for me. What do others do for patterns and
inspirations? I can't draw, so I rely on my handy dandy tracing paper
and transfer pen. SOmetimes, though, it would be nice to find
something someone else has thought up that's not all x's or half x's
or satin stitch. . .
EGNeedler
>something someone else has thought up that's not all x's or half x's
>or satin stitch. . .
Why not try needlepoint with it's thousands of different stitches and
variations or use the Dover books for patterns for crewel and embroidery?
These books are inexpensive and have many beautiful designs.
Eleanor the Elder
Dianne Lewandowski
Yes, needlepoint (canvas embroidery) encompasses a ton of stitches.
But like cross stitch, it is counted work. Bring needle out of this
hole, put it into that hole. Often, these days, imitating finer
embroidery.
Don't scream. Nothing wrong at ALL with counted work. I do it. I
love it. Hardanger is counted, band samplers are often counted, cross
stitch is often counted. Schwalm encompasses both non-counted and
counted work.
I love embroidery that uses both drawn fabric and drawn thread.
Exquisite stuff.
I love Caslguidi (again a combination of counted and non-counted),
raised embroidery (stumpwork or Elizabethan) often with counted work,
crewel, wool embroidery, not too fond of Brazilian because of the
rayon, but DO love using the stitches with other threads.
Whitework can be simple or sublime, easy or extremely difficult. Some
of it, too, is counted. Cutwork is the same way, and is a great
introduction for those who are afraid to tackle something too hard.
It's just closed blanket stitch, folks.
Cross stitch is going to have to make way for other types of
needlework. It's slowly inching its way across the purple mountains
majesty <big grin>.
Now, where do you find patterns? Most of us have to trace with a blue
water soluble pencil. Lacis (http://www.lacis.com) has books
containing pattern transfers, or they might have a few loose ones.
Dover books. Scads of books on particular topics.
Inspiration"" magazine out of Australia has them every month. Slowly,
a few firms are pre-printing cloth. But at this time, the cloth is
not high quality for all the work entailed. Another is "Australian
Cross Stitch & Embroidery".
We just have to keep doing it, and industrial folks will bring us what
we need. In the meantime, you wing it! <big grin>
What type of stuff are you looking for?
Dianne
Linda Wright
Thank you Dianne - I think the same about needlepoint. I love to
stitch, but not to keep track (if that makes sense).
I am using the Dover books. Right now, I'm working on something I
found in their Renaissance book - Scene of an Italian town/waterfront.
It's going to take a while to do (not that I mind the challenge -
that's why I picked it!)However, I would like to do more landscapes -
trees in the woods, mountains, etc. My biggest problem is creating
some of the details, like shading. I guess I need a course, but out
here in the hinterlands of the Midwest, there's not a lot (and again,
it's XS or quilting). Also, I find a lot of intriguing stitches in
embroidery books, but not how to effectively use them. Example:
Sheaf stitch is listed as "a good filler". But when is it a good
filler? Can you give me an example (in a picture), so I can use it
too?
Speaking of good magazines, Classic Stitches (an English publication)
is also a good source for needleworkers. They also have a website
(www.classicstitches.com) where they have lots of free patterns and
charts on their site, plus a great "Have your say" bulletin board.
However, it's English and takes forever to get here. I haven't found
an American equivalent. Any help there?
Linda Wright
Sounds like embroidery to me, and the kind of stuff I do. I did an
adaptation of an impressionist painting with the ocean in it and did a
lot of your zigzag technique in there.
As to "What you are doing" what the stitches are called, etc., here
are several good books available at your local library about stithes.
749 in the Dewey Decimal system. Some of the old McCalls and Good
Housekeeping stuff is a good place to start (alhtough most of the
designs are dated. . .) I've got a great one at home, talks about
using mixed media (one project has paint, wrapped wire & stitching) -
have to check it out and post the name later.
I guess my problem isn't so much finding something to stitch - It's
that I need more help in the shading, etc., as that is not my strong
point. Guess I'll just keep working at it.
Cbsnoopy2001
>Brazilian embroidery
both so beautiful -- go for it. (a quilt shop here expanded into the brazilian
embridery, maybe call around? (cray quilts probably helped to bring that to
their attenction?)
Cath
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's
determination.
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
Thanks!
I'm one of those unfortunate cases, that if I studied until I was blue
in the face and learned the names of and how to make every stitch, by
the time I finish one of my year long projects and get ready to do a
new one. I would have forgotten MORE than I learned, hi hi.....
I received a telephone call from a cousin a few days ago, her mother
had just given her a framed piece that I did many moons ago. Since
she is heavilly into needlework I never thought she would be asking me
how on earth I made a certain stitch. What's worse is, although I can
duplicate the stitch myself, I don't think it even has a name. I used
it for the joints in the legs and back perimeter of a cane chair in an
image I was working, you know, where the lashing areas are on a cane
chair. It was just seven turns around the thread after it came up
through one hole and before it went down into the next hole, like
tying a fishing line. But the end result looked just like I wanted it
too.
It's things like that, that I enjoy most, over just cross-stitching
images with an X like I'm working on right now. But it is so time
consuming to take an image and then figure out just how you want to
handle each area, and how you want the stitches to appear on each
detail of it. And for me, it only works if there is a lot of white
space. Not full images like photo-charted images. More like simple
sketches that appeal to me that I can figure out a unique little
stitch to use for each detail.
Then sometimes I move from rediculous to bizarre and use other items
in my work. I did a very simple image of a pond with an old wooden
dock, working into the piece a section of chrome mylar for the surface
of the pond, splintered and aged popsickle sticks carved down to
emulate the planks and pillars of the dock, a few beads for certain
nailheads in the cross planking underneath and even some green
bristles from a paintbrush for a few focal areas of some pine trees.
It didn't exactly come out the way I had it envisioned, but it wasn't
bad either. It was nice enough that a friend asked if they could have
it for the den wall in their new house, where it still hangs today.
I think that's what stitching is all about anyhow, experiment, do the
things you like, enjoy yourself, and then try another angle on the
next project.
Just be careful that they don't put you away in a straight-jacket!<G>.
TTUL
Gary
Dawne Peterson
"Dianne Lewandowski" wrote
> Yes, needlepoint (canvas embroidery) encompasses a >ton of stitches. But
like cross stitch, it is counted work. >Bring needle out of this hole, put
it into that hole.
combination of counted stitches and free embroidery. One I recall used the
traditional counted tent/basketweave/half cross (your choice) as a
background stitch, but used a variety of stitches and yarns to great
textural effect to portray an owl sitting on a tree branch. These were not
counted, but worked free form, and encroached on the background. I think
back when Erica Wilson was publishing her books, she called this
"crewelpoint", suggesting that it was a hybrid of the two. Anyway, it was a
great deal of fun to do, and the wools used worked up quickly in the free
form parts. I supposed the lesson is that any form of stitchery is open to
creative change.
Dawne
Dianne Lewandowski
can't split the ground threads. Well, okay. On penlope you can go
between two. But even that is "counted". By counted, I don't mean 1,
2, 3, 4. I mean - the holes are there and it's easy to "see" where to
put needle thread. You can do stem stitch on canvas, but those
stitches will be absolutely perfect if you always go over 2 holes.
That's not freeform, I don't think? Freeform is more at: let's see.
180 threads to an inch (just kidding here). How do I satin stitch
this so that the thread doesn't overlap, but fills the space. How do
I go around a curve solidly. There is no "space between bars" to
guide you.
Not arguing with you. Trying to understand. I have several old
Wilson books. This term is not referenced, I don't think, but I'll
look them up later today if I get the chance.
Right now, I don't have a kitchen, and I'm beside myself. I'll live,
but the adjustment over the next few months is gonna be tough. I
don't change gears easily.
Dianne
Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog
embroidery, cross-stitch, woven tapestry, and needlepoint.
But only when time allows. *g*
--
Sarah. Blaenau Ffestiniog
www.geocities.com/craftschooluk/sas.html
www.picturetrail.com/blaenau
Skinner Linn
You are really an 18th century stitcher....Don't let anyone teach you names
of stitches. Just do it.
Linn
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <ClassicHa...@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote
in message news:3ccabd7a....@news.galilei.com...
Skinner Linn
"Linda Wright" <lew...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5cb0f958.02042...@posting.google.com...
> I am using the Dover books. Right now, I'm working on something I
> found in their Renaissance book - Scene of an Italian town/waterfront.
> It's going to take a while to do (not that I mind the challenge -
> that's why I picked it!)However, I would like to do more landscapes -
> trees in the woods, mountains, etc. My biggest problem is creating
> some of the details, like shading. I guess I need a course, but out
> here in the hinterlands of the Midwest, there's not a lot (and again,
> it's XS or quilting).
May I suggest an excellent book: Making Needlecraft Landscapes by Mary
Carroll ISBN 0 312 50734 8
Linn Skinner
Dawne Peterson
"Dianne Lewandowski" .
> Question, Dawne: How do you work free-form over >an open canvas? You
can't split the ground threads.
or basketweave, you form what is more or less a "fabric" or ground for
surface stitching. Once that is in place, you can move stitches away from
the counted grid of the canvas, because you can "split" or go down into the
wool ground fabric at places other than the holes. You can also work some
stitches more or less on the surface of the "fabric" without taking the
needle down under the canvas and up--say a stem stitch, for example--and
again evade the canvas grid and give the stitches freedom to move across a
surface.
Dawne
Dawne Peterson
"Sarah Blaenau wrote .
> I do tulle embroidery and net embroidery too. Canvas >work, surface
embroidery, cross-stitch, woven >tapestry, and needlepoint. But only when
time allows. *g*
net embroidery.
Dawne
Jmorris6b
I find a picture that I like and copy/trace it onto my cloth. I embroidered
the back of a denim shirt with a drawing from an EPA booklet for kids on solid
waste. It is a tilted garbage can with colorful garbage spilling out. Did
that one when I was working as a "garbage inspector" [environmental specialist
with a state agency]. I am almost finished with a ceremonial tablecloth with a
design which was actually designed for an 8-1/2 x 11 crewel picture which I
enlarged and used floss. It sat for several years after getting a carrot stain
but I finally figured out how to get it out thanks to RCTN.
Joyce
Oklahoma City
Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog
tulle, using wool or embroidery thread, making surface stitches like running
stitch, blanket stitch and a few other simple stitches. It's a great way of
making your own designed net curtains or lacy veils.
"Dawne Peterson" <valk...@sk.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ucnvolp...@corp.supernews.com...
Meredith Dill
Meredith
Dianne Lewandowski
ground. Gotcha. Thanks.
But still, I wonder why. If you're going to do this in this manner,
why not on cloth to begin with? Is it to combine a partial canvas
(typical stitches) with freeform? A build-up? I've seen some
so-called wall "tapestries" (covering many, many feet) that look like
a build-up of canvas. Abstract in design.
Another question: Why keep yourself confined to canvas. Actually, I
want to get some canvas and do some "things" on it. I have Ambuter's
book and there's some interesting designs and techniques in it. I've
done some of them on cloth. But there's some lace work in there that
might be fun to try on canvas.
Please understand. I'm not thumbing my nose at canvas embroidery. I
just wonder why so much of the U.S. seems to need the "holes". ANG is
doing a good job, I think, of getting away from it, but still on
canvas, as you described and I questioned. :-)
Dianne
Dawne Peterson
> But still, I wonder why. If you're going to do this in this >manner, why
not on cloth to begin with? Is it to >combine a partial canvas (typical
stitches) with >freeform? A build-up?
idea. The stitched canvas background forms a really solid support for the
free form stitching, also done in wools, especially when the free form part
is concentrated as a central design. I have stitched with crewel wools on
fabric, but this build up would have been too heavy for most fabric grounds.
Also, like you, I tend to work in hand, and like canvas for the weight and
substance it provides. Did you read Sarah's mention of tulle and net
embroidery though?? (to take things to the other end of the spectrum!!)
Dawne
Dawne Peterson
"Sarah wrote .
> Tulle embroidery is very simple, as is net embroidery. >You work on net or
tulle, using wool or embroidery >thread, making surface stitches like
running
> stitch, blanket stitch and a few other simple stitches. It's >a great way
of making your own designed net curtains >or lacy veils.
white on white, or have you worked in colours?
Dawne
Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog
like to do net curtains in colour, it's much more fun.
"Dawne Peterson" <valk...@sk.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ucokev6...@corp.supernews.com...
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
>Gary:
>
>You are really an 18th century stitcher....Don't let anyone teach you names
>of stitches. Just do it.
>
>Linn
Your probably not too far from wrong Linn!
Ya know your hooked WHEN:
You set up a loom and make your own Aida-like material to stitch on.
Every piece of thread, string, yarn & misc. is keyed to DMC numbers.
Linen scraps find their way into your stash box rather than the rag
bin under the sink.
The area around your easy chair looks more like the work station in a
sci-fi flick rather than an integral part of the den.
You start getting bulk discounts from your LNS.
TTUL
Gary
Linda Wright
Thanks - Any ideas on who carrie it?
Linda Wright
I do use Dover - when I can find it. I live in a medium sized
Midwestern town. We have Michaels, JoAnns and 2 Bernina Sewing
Centers. (Wal Mart too, but I hardly think that counts.) We recently
got a Barnes & Noble, so I am having more luck. Right now, one of my
WIP is a Renaissance picture from their book of the same name.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Linda Wright
LOVE the garbage can idea! I've done an aquarium on a denim shirt for
my sister, a cartoony (but not WB) roadrunner with school slogan for
my kids' school, denim jackets for my kids and husband. I can and do
regularly trace. I guess sometime I just want someone ELSE to tell me
how to do it!
Elizabeth
<< snip >>
> I just wonder why so much of the U.S. seems to need the "holes".
>
> Dianne
Dianne,
I just finished designing a piece that will be worked:
on 32-count linen stretched over muslin in a slate frame,
in silk-wool blend crewel yarn (Impressions and another brand whose
name I don't know),
Au Ver A Soie, Waterlilies, and Thread Gatherer silk flosses,
Silk Mori,
Boucle',
passing thread and #5 Japan thread (for the unfamiliar, these are both
a very thin strip of flat metallic wrapped around a thread core;
passing thread is finer), and silk sewing thread,
using stem stitch, satin stitch (possibly padded), couching (the Japan
thread using the sewing thread), detatched chain (aka lazy daisy,
passing thread), double running (aka Holbein, blackwork - hence the
evenweave linen), probably uneven buttonhole, long-and-short or split
(possibly over felt padding), and whatever else I may need to get the
look I want, and
lined in salvaged silk kimono lining fabric and mounted on a carved
wood framework.
So there are some of us out here doing other things, even if we may
throw in the odd counted technique for a specific effect. I guess my
motto would be 'Whatever Works'...
But counted stuff is easy to chart for sale (good for designers), and
doesn't require the embroiderer to transfer the design to the ground
(good for the embroiderers). Since I _won't_ use things like transfer
pencils, pounce, or ink/paint for work of this quality, I will have to
tediously baste the outlines through tissue before I can even start
the actually embroidery.
-- Emc^2 (Elizabeth)
Dianne Lewandowski
impatiently for the first pictures of this kimono. I remember your
discussions not long ago. I'm trying to find a box for my stumpwork.
They are so expensive!
I have wanted very much to try two types of linen, where one layer is
drawn in one fashion and another layer is left. I understand this is
hard and haven't found anything that recommends a type of material and
count.
Anyone know?
Dianne
On 29 Apr 2002 14:29:43 -0700, Elizabet...@UCLAlumni.net
Sheena
I was told about that technique for putting the design on to the fabric for goldwork, it was much better than
using pounce etc.
However, working from an Australian book, our Guild just finished a stumpwork design. In that, one traced the
design on to the backing fabric and then did a small running stitch so that the design appeared on the good
side. You had to reverse it of course unless you wanted a mirror image. This will now be my preferred
method, given one has a backing fabric which is most likely with fine fabrics. Relatively quick and easy.
Sheena
Sheena
Hope your kitchen is coming along ?!
Sheena
Di Messina
OMG It sounds like you are quite the artist (with thread and needle!!)
Do you ever enter any of your pieces in county or state fairs?? I think you
should, or an art show. I would love to see some of the pieces you've done.
Any chance of that?
Di
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <ClassicHa...@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote
in message news:3ccabd7a....@news.galilei.com...
Skinner Linn
several dealers have used and new copies for sale in several countries.
Do a search on the title
Linn Skinner
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
Unfortunately I have given away most of what I have made, primarily
because each one was made with a particular person in mind from the
beginning.
I have entered a couple of juried shows, but it really wasn't worth
the hassles. Many small items were donated to local Churches and they
hold like a little contest prior to a silent auction. I've never
taken first place because of some technicality, like animal hair found
caught on the piece, or early pieces the backs didn't look to hot,
whatever. But I have taken 2nd place once, 3rd place three times and
received two honorable mentions from one local church, the others
don't do have contests with awards, just contest/auctions, etc.
Getting away from stitching, my income producing crafts was wood
products, normally small items, but some of my larger designs were
picked up and featured in magazines. Better Homes & Gardens featured
my mailbox in one issue and later it appeared (greatly altered) in
their 100 ideas under 100 dollars annual issue. I boasted about that
for many years.
In needlework, I vacillate between many different things, so that I
don't burn out on any one particular phase of the hobby, and keep it
as a form of relaxation. In the 1980's I had made a small loom in my
woodcraft shop and used it to make the material for curtains for a
local business, primarily to make sure the loom worked as expected.
Well, nothing works first time exactly the way you want it to, but by
using it I made a few perfections and then made a dozen of them and
sold them and moved onto another project. And such is the way my life
has gone ever since, do this, do that, do something else, but always
associated with crafts and/or working with my hands.
One thing I am NOT and that is an artist, although I have learned to
draw, for me it's a very painstaking and long process to end up with
what I want. But once I have what I want on paper, then I will
usually apply it somehow in some form of stitched work.
It may sound wierd for a guy to like to sew, stitch & crochet, but I
do thoroughly enjoy it, so much so that I have always had a WIP.
Right now I'm working on a picture I took of "The Old Mill at Pigeon
Forge" that I doctored slightly and am currently stitching. I should
snap another picture of the WIP as I am now down to horizontal row 60
(already), so I'm moving right along on it. It's on my hidden
webpages at http://archimedes.galilei.com/raiar/needlework then look
for the two .html pages amid the row of .jpgs to bring up the WIP and
a finished project named Chelsea.
Once I finish the Old Mill, I will begin work on a scene with the
apparition of an angel. It has been in the planning stages now for
over 6 months, but I still have not reached the point in the design
where I can begin charting it. At this moment I'm still considering
simple cross-stitch but utilizing non-sewing material in place of some
of the flosses.
Now that I have a cheap digital camera, as I visit friends and
relatives whom I have given pieces too, I am hoping to take pictures
of them, since so many have requested seeing some of the things I have
done. Not everything has turned out the way I had it envisioned in my
head at the beginning, but that's life I guess. Also, many of my
pieces are overly simple and replications with no real time or unique
work found in them. For eg. I picked up some canvas day-runner covers
at a close-out, added two flaps inside and stitched a cross design on
the front and gave them as gifts as bible covers to the ladies at
church. Each one was slightly different as I was using up stash box
flosses and pieces to make them and was also thinking about what each
person liked and more or less made them to fit the person as best as I
could. One even used feathers as a fill-in for the cross, with a
little piece of soft plastic (from an old convertible rear window)
over the feathers, sewn in place then cross-stitched over the seam to
make an ornate cross border that hid the edge of the plastic
completely.
I also use ornate stitching when repairing items on occasion also,
like a belt that the leather was separating, I used a combination of a
cross-stitch design and a whip stitch of varigated floss so that the
edge of the belt was reinforced with like a sine-wave or scalloped
edge appearance. I also save old space saver spare tires and use them
to resole my boots, which is how I think I earned a copy of the
'Tightwad Gazette' as a Christmas gift one year.
I've made dresses, curtains, quilts, afghans, drawn thread pieces,
red-stitch, white on white, many needlepoint and cross-stitch pieces,
all from designs I put together. I figure, if I'm going to put 1,500
or more hours of stitching into a project, I don't want it to be an
off the shelf design that someone else came up with. And often, an
idea just comes from playing around with a piece of material and doing
things to it. Like pulling out threads, bunching and tying areas for
a fringe, etc. And right now, I'm really into photo-charting, which
requires a lot of thought and preliminary work, long before one runs a
chart to work from. Not to mention the learning curve associated with
same. Although I do like Chelsea and the Old Mill, they are really
nothing more than simple X-stitches. The Angel I have planned will be
much more elaborate in the types of stitches utilized and quite unique
in the threads I choose over and above embroidery floss to work into
the project. I'm already considering some monofilament and nylon and
perhaps even a few strands of a glow-in-the-dark form of monofilament
line embedded in with the floss in certain areas. I'm also
considering overlaying the Aida with other materials in certain areas.
One might consider that the two Chelsea images I have stitched were a
learning process of photo-charting, the Old Mill as learning to
maintain greatest detail, and when I get to the Angel, it will be the
coup de gras of combining artwork and design into photo-charting, that
will then be reworked utilizing many different forms of floss
materials and stitch types. Once I finish the Angel, I will probably
end up back at doing embroidery again for awhile, unless I really do
try making a cross-stitch image using a type of wood fibre in place of
floss, which is an idea I have been pondering also.
At my age, I think I have more ideas of things I would like to try,
than either time or money to do even a few things on my cranial list.
But it may happen some day, while I'm rocking away in the nursing
home.
TTUL
Gary
Linda Wright
Thanks!
Di Messina
Don't sell yourself short! You ARE an artist! Most of us here (not
insulting anyone - just stating a fact) work only from a design someone else
came up with and charted. I know I do! I can't imagine creating a stitched
piece from scratch. Maybe some day, but not yet.
I agree that your current WIP is simply cross stitch, but it still takes
a lot of work to take a picture and chart it even with charting software.
I can't wait to see what your angel will look like. It sounds like it
will be amazing. It is also the kind of thing I'm talking about when
calling you an artist. Creating a picture using your imagination and
different fibers and stitches. I hope someday to get to that point.
Di
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <ClassicHa...@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote
in message news:3cd007c6....@news.galilei.com...
emerald
> I have entered a couple of juried shows, but it really wasn't worth
> the hassles.
We only have the local fall fair in which to enter things in competition
but, on reading of other people's experiences, I'm not sure I would think it
worth the hassles, either!
Like you, most of my stuff so far has been stitched with particular
recipients in mind. And my to-do list consists of things that have 'spoken'
to me on my/DHs' behalf, or someone elses.
> One thing I am NOT and that is an artist, although I have learned to
> draw, for me it's a very painstaking and long process to end up with
> what I want.
I'd beg to differ! I'd have tried to learn to draw, taken classes etc but
never, ever, quite got it right so, in my mind, someone who *can* draw
qualifies as an artist (perhaps rather more than some of the modern
artists - but that's just a personal bias. LOL!)
> It may sound wierd for a guy to like to sew, stitch & crochet,
But, if one thinks about it, why should it seem odd? One doesn't think it
odd for a man to be a cabinet maker or a portrait artist or a potter or a
chef/cook. Why, then, is fibre-work considered different? That's always
puzzled me.
> At my age, I think I have more ideas of things I would like to try,
> than either time or money to do even a few things on my cranial list.
> But it may happen some day, while I'm rocking away in the nursing
> home.
What's that saying.......something about being put on earth to accomplish
certain things and being so far behind one is going to live forever?
Keep it up, Gary, even in the nursing home <vbg>
emerald
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
Don't worry, you will!
Haven't you ever seen something and said, now that would really look
great in cross stitch?
I saw a post earlier where someone had cross stitched game boards and
was looking for a chart for a Scrabble board. I thought it was a very
novel concept!
Making charts is not really as hard as it sounds, and it gives you
pretty much free reign as to how you would personally like the piece
to come out.
Many of my pieces are not completely original, I may see a footbridge
I like in someone elses work and borrow the design (it's OK up to
about 20% of an image) but I do change it considerably anyhow.
Combine that with a particular photo of a tree, perhaps add a section
of fence from something else. Almost like decopauge I think they call
it. Except you smooth and blend it all together. It may look like
heck as a drawing, but when you convert it to cross stitch it usually
looks awesome.
It IS a whole lot easier than it sounds!
TTUL
Gary
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
>I'd beg to differ! I'd have tried to learn to draw, taken classes etc but
>never, ever, quite got it right so, in my mind, someone who *can* draw
>qualifies as an artist (perhaps rather more than some of the modern
>artists - but that's just a personal bias. LOL!)
Get that book 'drawing on the right side of the brain', DON'T read
through it first, start with page one and do exactly what it tells you
to do, without looking ahead at all in the book, and don't skip
anything. Put everything in a file folder, signed and dated, just
like it says to do.
I think you will be quite surprised and discover that YOU TOO can draw
and produce near photographic quality images.
>But, if one thinks about it, why should it seem odd? One doesn't think it
>odd for a man to be a cabinet maker or a portrait artist or a potter or a
>chef/cook. Why, then, is fibre-work considered different? That's always
>puzzled me.
Only if the word TAILOR is appended to their name!<G>.
Although my late wife was very proud of a baby quilt I had made and
showed it off to almost everyone, the couple of times she mentioned
that I made it, they asked if I was gay or something.
>What's that saying.......something about being put on earth to accomplish
>certain things and being so far behind one is going to live forever?
>Keep it up, Gary, even in the nursing home <vbg>
With my luck, they won't allow sewing needles in the nursing home! I
would never be able to smuggle them in past SECURITY, hi hi....
TTUL
Gary
C Cordell
>With my luck, they won't allow sewing needles in the nursing home! I
would never be able to smuggle them in past SECURITY, hi hi....
TTUL
Gary
LOL Reminds me of a discussion I once had with my # DD. I told her one
of my fears is that I'll wind up in the corner in some nursing home,
drooling into my Cheerios. She said, "Don't worry, Mom, they won't let
you have Cheerios, you might choke on them." She's such a delight!!
<VBG>
chris c
emerald
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." wrote in message
news:3cd2be81...@news.galilei.com...
>
> With my luck, they won't allow sewing needles in the nursing home! I
> would never be able to smuggle them in past SECURITY, hi hi....
But they always have hypodermics there and a resourceful person could figure
out a way........
;-)))
emerald
Di Messina
The pictures that I've seen so far that I'm dying to turn into cross
stitch are space pictures, like the ones that come out of the Hubble
telescope. The Horsehead nebula, The Ring Nebula, star formation clusters,
you get the idea. Some day I want to chart some of those. Also, some of
the fractal designs that I've seen on the web site of the DH of an RCTN'er.
Those would be really cool!
At the moment I'm so buried in purchased charts I want to stitch that it
will be a while before those ideas are anything other than ideas. But
that's OK. I hope to have many, many more years of stitching in me and I
figure the ideas will get better for having been fermenting a few dozen
years. Actually, they already are. I have been doing a lot of counted
canvas work and have recently been thinking that maybe canvas would be the
way to go.
I'll have to take your word for it for now about it being easier than it
sounds, but some day I'll surprise everyone. At this point in my life my
ultimate job would be working in the needlework industry!
Di
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <ClassicHa...@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote
in message news:3cd2bcbe...@news.galilei.com...
emerald
"Di Messina" <dmessi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:abbfdk$gvhuo$1...@ID-135823.news.dfncis.de...
> Gary,
> The pictures that I've seen so far that I'm dying to turn into cross
> stitch are space pictures, like the ones that come out of the Hubble
> telescope. The Horsehead nebula, The Ring Nebula, star formation
clusters,
> you get the idea. Some day I want to chart some of those. Also, some of
> the fractal designs that I've seen on the web site of the DH of an
RCTN'er.
> Those would be really cool!
Di, there are some charts of the solar system on Cathie's Cupboard's
website - a spectacular supernova and the cat's eye nebula among others
http://www.cathiescupboard.com/
emerald (doing a little enabling!)
F.James Cripwell
> Gary,
> The pictures that I've seen so far that I'm dying to turn into cross
> stitch are space pictures, like the ones that come out of the Hubble
> telescope. The Horsehead nebula, The Ring Nebula, star formation clusters,
> you get the idea. Some day I want to chart some of those. Also, some of
> the fractal designs that I've seen on the web site of the DH of an RCTN'er.
> Those would be really cool!
> Di
I had the same idea of stitching space pictures from the Hubble. I
took a look at them; same old problem. To get any sort of reasonable
detail you need to have **GINORMOUS** patterns. I am not just talking
big; I am talking using more that the widest width of fabric that is
normally available, say 60 inches wide or so. HTH.
--
Jim Cripwell. And Oh! my darling, Oh! my pet,
Whatever else you may forget,
Gilbert & Sullivan In yonder isle, beyond the sea.
The Gondoliers Do not forget you married me.
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
DID I Hear someone say 60 Count OVER ONE? <G>
TTUL
Gary
Di Messina
Thanks for the link. I think I have some of hers already, but I'll look
to see if there's anything new and interesting!
Di
"emerald" <ejk...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uNcC8.2181$bK4....@news2.telusplanet.net...
Di Messina
they'd be neat.
Di
"F.James Cripwell" <bf...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:abboah$68t$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...
Di Messina
Di
"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <ClassicHa...@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote
in message news:3cd9d5d2...@news.galilei.com...
Seanette Blaylock
had some very interesting things to say about Re: XS taking over?:
>DID I Hear someone say 60 Count OVER ONE? <G>
I didn't know they made straitjackets in 60ct. ;-)
--
Seanette Blaylock
WIPs: knitted hat/scarf set
crocheted sampler afghan
"Pure Elegance" needlepoint stocking [Dimensions Gold]
"Shimmer Snowflakes" felt applique stocking [Bucilla]
"Magic in Motion" cross-stitch [aka Merlin, Laine Gordon/Dimensions]