Bargello Button Debut

I have spent part of the last two days getting the Bargello Button project ready for its debut. Everything is set, or on order, and the first kits will be ready to ship within 10 days. I hope to make this the first of several and will be very glad to hear what everyone thinks about it. You have certainly read enough about it I'm sure....and wondered when I would ever finish! So...........here it is with a link to its new page.

   

I've also been talking about making the instruction book 1/2 size and binding it with the Zutter Bind-it-All and above is the result. It fits just perfectly in the tote bag which comes with the kit and has a firm back to set in your lap while stitching (sports practice, dance classes, waiting for the plane???, etc).

Bargello and Retreat Updates

Thanksgiving at our house was all about the food or just relaxing in front of the television. Nothing fancy but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  It was just nice to have everyone together as we won't all be together for Christmas or New Years. 

With Thanksgiving being late this year Christmas really is just around the corner!  The first holiday luncheon is this Thursday and lots of holiday boutiques are scheduled for this weekend.....so it's time for me to get with it and bring out those holiday decorations. 

I have had several requests for the Bargello/Beginning Needlepoint Instruction Book and will finally begin writing the instructions this week and plan to have it completed by early next week.  In addition to making the directions half-size (5-1/2 X 8-1/2) instead of the normal page size, I am trying to decide on the final binding.  I want these instructions to be very portable and compact.....for an easy take-along project.  Anyway....look for it soon on the website. 

This weekend I worked on the sketch for the mini project for the Stitchers Retreat.  It will be only 3" X 6" and I plan to watercolor the canvas except for the bird and flower ground foliage, which will be the main stitched elements.  The bird is an Avocet wearing its breeding colors.  This is one of several shorebirds which are very familiar along the California coast from Monterey Bay to San Francisco. 

My other stitching over this past week has been on next year's In Stitches column in NeedlePointer.  As I have been doing so much research into tile and brick patterns for the Mediterranean Squares, I thought to begin an intermittent series on small tile patterns.  Right now I am focusing on the design elements of the Mediterranean rim....which are very extensive....but later hope to expand to other areas.  I am having a great time with these projects. 

Needless to say I didn't get to my painting of the knitting yarn but that must happen next week as I begin work on the overall design.   Nothing like an ironclad deadline to get one going.   

No matter how busy it gets this month, it good to fit in some personal time.  I've actually started an actual appointment of 2 hours personal time a week.  Have a great week.

Bargello/Needlepoint Project Update III

It's finished except for sewing on the button!  I did change the stitch at the top and like it much better.  I know, this is a beginning piece after all and I should include one of each of stitch family but the cross stitches just don't seem to work here.  So, cross, composite and loop(embroidery) and knot stitches will just have to wait their turn for another piece.  To my eye, Bargello just doesn't combine too well with what I call "fancy stitches". 

The choice of border color was also a challenge.  I first I thought of the green, but it didn't work at all and the red was too much color.  The color and blue would also work.   Of course, it all comes back to personal taste.  And then the border is really optional but since the Gobelin stitch is the perfect border stitch, I just had to add it.

I want to add at least one more colorway before writing the instruction book and making the kit available so they should be ready sometime in the Fall.   Here is the preliminary Purple colorway.  Some of the threads are wrong, but the colors are there.  The button was my inspiration for the colorway.  I have three, very strong, over-dyes in the photo above and will probably remove one of them for he final.  There are also two softer over-dyes, the yellow/cream and yellow/orange ones, which will probably stay.  Any comments? 

Now to decide on finishing.  As an introductory piece, I think it should be applied to an already completed piece, such as a pillow, tote, box or tray, with a cording edging it.  Any suggestions?

The sun just came out from behind the clouds here.  In August, San Francisco close to the ocean,  sees the sun from 3 in the afternoon until sunset.  The rest of the day is usually overcast, or foggy.  But at least it's not hot!  We're at 63 degrees.  So I am going to get outside for a little while.  It's really easy to stay cooped up all day working and forget to just enjoy!  My husband and I both work at home and it's easy to even forget what day it is. 

So here's wishing everyone a great week....take time to enjoy the little things.