A Stitching Journey

I'm happy to announce another new quilt design for this summer: SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY. I've called it that because I wanted to revisit two of my most favorite quilting motifs and combine them in a larger, more complex design. Here are some of the flying geese triangles

and here's one of the lone star blocks...

It's a larger quilt design (12.5" x 12.5") on 18 ct. mono canvas that I decided to work on the bright aquamarine canvas (even though you don't see much of it after you've finished all the stitching). I've stitched this all in #5 pearl cottons, but it could certainly be done in stranded floss or silk, if you prefer.

And I've listed three different colorways for this design. The Blue Version (which is the model shown above and is built around 2 skeins of Watercolours 192, "Elderberry Wine") plus a Pink Version that is built around 2 skeins of Watercolours 048, "Far Horizons"

and a Red Version that is built around 2 skeins of Watercolours 008, "Nefertiti."

So many times, when I stitch something up I "see" it in other color combinations, which is why I've included the pink and red colorways as well. As much as I loved working in the cool palette of Amish-type colors, I would also love to see it stitched in warm pastels of pinks, golds and greens... not to mention the traditional primary palette of red, blue, green and gold.

If you'd like to take this SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY yourself, please visit my website for more information about ordering this pattern.
P.S.: I've started rebuilding my website with a new host, so it has a fresh new look. It's a long and tedious process, but I've started by putting on the most recent patterns and information, and of course I will continue adding stuff in the coming weeks. There are bound to be a few unforeseen glitches along the way, so I appreciate your patience while my new website is "under construction."

Inspiration Strikes!

Last week, I was wearing a a pair of pants I made many years ago out of a serene batik cotton print. All day long, while I was wearing them I kept looking down at the patterns on the fabric and thought they would make a very cool stitchery design.

See what I mean?

Finally I couldn't stand it any more. I stopped what I was supposed to be doing and sat down and drafted a composition that incorporated a few of the simple fabric patterns, plus a few other motifs that would create the look and feel of a tropical Hawaiian piece.

I scanned the drawing into my Adobe Illustrator program and started working out the graph lines and project dimensions. Once satisfied with the rough layout, I pulled out a handful of blue, aqua and teal threads and started stitching.

I spent all day yesterday sitting on my covered patio stitching, while Katie snoozed on the lawn. And here's what I got done:

I intended to just get the main areas established (so I could take this project to a friend's stitch-in this coming weekend), but I had so much fun stitching each of the areas, I couldn't stop working on it and sheesh, I might have it almost finished by the time the weekend comes around! All that remains to be designed is the Hawaiian-type floral motif in the lower diamond... but no worries! I'm confident that I can create just the right flower motif to finish this piece.

(Psst: Although the photo makes it look like I'm stitching on sage green canvas, I'm really working on the brighter aquamarine canvas, so I have an aqua background on the unstitched areas...)

Anyway, I'm hoping I'll be able to complete the graph and text instructions just as quickly as I can, so I can release this design while the summer is hot and cool projects are a stitcher's necessity! Until then: "Aloha, Stitchers -- and stay cool and serene wherever you are..."

Summertime Stitching

I was thinking about what stitching in the summertime means to me. Do you ever think about things like that when you are sitting quietly and stitching on your latest project?

I think about how nice it is to sit outside and stitch and listen to the birds and the outside traffic.... sipping a favorite cool drink and feel the soft summer breezes on your face while you focus on your stitching.

(Now I'm not going to mention all those pesky bugs or triple-digit heat or the phone that rings just as you get comfortable or the barking dog next door that won't shut up.... well, you know those summer irritations well enough, don't you? This is a nostalgic look at how summertime stitching is SUPPOSED to be.)

And I think about certain colors that seem "summery" to me. Now that it's "high summer" I think of bright yellows - and what could be better than pairing yellow with sky blue? Just like my SUMMER DAYS quilt design, shown above.

Or how about sunflowers? Aren't they the perfect summer flower? Tall and sturdy, big, bright and cheerful, faces always optimistically turned towards the sun... Here's another yellow quilt design of mine called SUNFLOWER STAR, which is could be a stylized version of a field of sunflowers, don't you think?

When I look at this design I imagine a group of midwest quilters working around a large quilt that depicts the farmland all around them. Maybe they're making it for a friend who's getting married soon or as a raffle quilt for the county fair.... and speaking of county fairs, what about this golden design called STATE FAIR that has lots of red/blue/gold ribbon motifs woven throughout the pattern:

(I don't know about you, but thinking about fairs makes me think about corn dogs and cotton candy and ice cold lemonade...)

But my all-time favorite summertime design is AMBER WAVES, with the rippling patterns throughout the piece in rich golds and greens and a hint of rose as well. I have this piece hanging in my hallway and when I look at it as I walk by, I remember how much I enjoyed stitching each of the patterns in this piece:

I hope when you're stitching this summer, you give some thought to what your favorite summer pieces are. Do you have them hanging in your house? Did you stitch them for friends? And what colors do YOU associate with summer? Do you crave certain colors when you pick your projects for summer? Anyway, I hope you are able to get outside and do some summertime stitching real soon!

Oh, My -- It's Christmas In July!

I'm celebrating the finish of a new Christmas Tree design that I've completed far in advance of the actual holiday (which is something I'm not usually very good at) and I thought I'd share it with you early -- hence my CHRISTMAS IN JULY celebration... Woo Hoo!!
And here it is, my new CHRISTMAS TREE 2011:


I got the inspiration for the colors on this tree from a photo in a christmas magazine that had a tree with red and gold and PURPLE ornaments. And I thought, "Wow, that's different... Wouldn't that be a fun color combination to try on a stitched tree?" So I played around with some fun, big, composite patterns and just went to town. I enjoyed each of the "patchwork" patterns in this tree. Here's a few up-close:


The big ol' Rhodes Stars are all stitched with soft metallic Ribbon Floss threads (although I also list Kreinik 1/16th Ribbons). And the variegated green thread that makes up the tree body is a lovely evergreen ThreadworX Overdyed #5 Pearl (51048). It's a nice BIG tree too (finished size is 11" x 12"). With BIG hanging ornaments, like those shown at the top of the post. And at the bottom of the tree is a row of "patchwork" packages to complete the scene:


I stitched my tree on a 16" x 16" piece of 18 ct. canvas in sandstone, but you could surely stitch it on any color canvas that tickles your holiday fancy!

So.... if you're in the mood to get some holiday stitching done early, please visit my website for more information on my CHRISTMAS TREE 2011.

A New Abstract

It's time to reveal my latest abstract design in the IMPRESSIONIST COLLECTION - I call it "FLUORITE FANTASY":


I was inspired to create this diamond-studded design because of a handful of favorite crystals called "fluorites" I got many years ago. They are naturally formed octahedrons in cool colors like teal and purple, and they look like this:



And when I was stitching on FLUORITE FANTASY I tried to use diamond-shaped patterns as much as possible, to reinforce the crystal's shape and form:


I've also added lots of crystal beads (which you can't really see in this photo, and in addition, I've added a few small purple jewels in the smaller diamonds - which I didn't show in this particular photo...)

And of course, in this piece I also use one of my favorite techniques: stitching the same patterns in different thread weights (thick and thin) to create the illusion of space and distance within the design:


So, if you love stitching in purples and teals, and want to create an asymetrical counted canvaswork piece, this might be a nice challenge for you! Please visit my website for more information on FLUORITE FANTASY...

Friday Flowers: Hello, Summer!

I hope you're all enjoying the start of summer -- I certainly am. And I thought I'd gather a bouquet of sun-drenched flowers to share with you this Friday:











HAPPY FRIDAY!

Red, White & Blue - I Am For You!

Gosh, time flies when you have your head down over scroll bars and are crazily stitching on one piece after the other! That's what I've been doing these past few weeks, so please forgive my blogging absence. I've been so focused on developing lots of new ideas, plus finishing up a few projects that I just couldn't stop to chat. Instead I've been flitting from project to project in sort of a stitching frenzy (can you relate?!?)....

Anyway, it's time to reveal my first finished summer project to you. TA DA! it's a RED, WHITE & BLUE PANEL.


I can't believe I didn't think of doing this earlier, but when I was leafing thru my notebooks for more long panel ideas, it suddenly occured to me that a red, white and blue one would be so fun to stitch up that I had to drop everything, cut a piece of canvas, pull some threads, and start stitching.

I chose three big, easy patterns that stitched up really quick and also were fun to work. (I got this piece finished inside of a week). My thinking was to get the pattern all done and released before the Fourth of July, so I'm pleased to say I've met my self-imposed deadline with time to spare!

Here's the red section up-close:


The zig zag foundation is done with a variegated red - Watercolours 219,"Cardinal" - with Rhodes Ovals done in a soft metallic Ribbon Floss and Eyelet Ovals done with a red DMc #5 pearl cotton.

Here's the white section up-close:


I chose a simple bargello wave that uses three different soft metallic Ribbon Floss colors that alternate with plain white DMC #5 pearl cotton.

And here's the blue section up-close:


There's a variegated blue star foundation that uses a new Watercolours thread - 281, "Hudson Bay" (from which I cut out about an inch of the brightest blue of the thread, to stitch with the beautiful flag blues in the rest of the threads.)

I wish you could see the actual piece, because it just sparkles all over, what with all the red, white, blue, and gold metallics used in the piece.

And what I like about having it hanging on my office wall is that it really looks good from a distance; even though there isn't any real focal point in the piece, it's interesting to realize that those red, white & blue colors ARE the focal point, and they are so emotional and evocative in and of themselves that it becomes a simple but very powerful piece to display. (Although it has occured to me that this piece would also provide a great background to embellish with American charms - maybe some large gold stars, perhaps? Another stitching friend of mine suggested to would make a great banner project as well...)

So.... if you're in the mood to do a little flag waving this Fourth of July, this RED, WHITE & BLUE PANEL might be a fun project to get you in the right spirit.... Check out my website for full pattern and ordering details.