A New Design - prepping the canvas

Well, the ANG Seminar in Milwaukee was great.  All my classes went well and all the volunteers did a really wonderful job of making everything run smoothly.  But, of course, as much I look forward to it, I am always glad to get back home!

It seems to take about a week to get caught up and ready to move forward.  So here I am, just now finishing up the Leaf Collage canvas....with big plans to take my first stitches this evening. 

In a recent blog entry I showed a picture of the original proposal and a postcard showing the direction I want to go with color.  The next step was to redo the original leaf drawings and change the colors a little to work better with the planned changes.  Then, I experimented with transferring these drawings to the eggshell 18 count canvas. 

TRANSFERING THE LEAF DESIGNS

I tried both Tee-shirt transfer paper and the new Transfer Artist Paper by Leslie Riley.  Both worked but for my needs the Transfer Artist Paper (TAP) gave just the look I was hoping for....and it's really easy to use!!

****Just a note about the pictures.....these are a combination of scans and photos so the canvas color is not consistent - all the canvas is eggshell 18 count mono canvas.

The scan at right is of the right half of the design showing two more leaf designs.  You can see a partial image of a leaf shown above (helpful for scale). 

For this design I had to plan the general layout in greater detail than I usually do because the leaf transfers needed to be added before any stitching is done.   Even though I had work through several of the transfer sheets with my experiments, the combination of the heat of the iron and the length of time  I ironed the design caused the surrounding canvas to darken a little....at the beginning, but that is not a problem with this design. And, by the time I reached the 5th and final leaf, I had gotten the timing down pretty well.....15 to 20 seconds is all that is needed for these small leaf patterns.    By the way, I scanned in my original painted drawings and arranged them all on one 8-1/2" by 11" sheet so they would print on one sheet of transfer paper. Then I cut them to size and ironed. 

NOTE: If you are trying this technique:  BE SURE TO CREATE MIRROR IMAGES OF THE DESIGN BEING USED, so it will print properly.  Also, Ised the settings of"other specialty paper: and "Best" (printing quality).

NOW TO STITCHING!

I sorted through threads again last night.  I had about 10 new ones to add (purchased at M's Canvashouse boutique at Seminar) and then removed about 10 to 15 from the previous selection. 

I will post follow-ups as stitching progresses.

Have a great week!

TROPICAL JAZZ Tote

It's been awhile since I last posted.   On the one hand you might think I have not been doing anything because I haven't posted photos of anything I'm working on, but on the other hand, lots going on, just nothing very exciting to take photos of...........

There are thread supplies everywhere as  there are 5 workshops to get ready for between now and the end of August.  Finally yesterday, I just sat down and started filling over a hundred of my little drawstring bags with threads..........just so I could walk through the studio.  Whew...I feel a lot better.  Also, one instruction book is edited and printed with only two more to edit and print.  A friend is coming over for the day tomorrow to help me make up Harlequin Hearts kits.....now there is a good friend! 

But I do have a photo to post after all.  Tropical Jazz is back from the finisher.  Now I have to decide if I want to add more of the smallest beads around the top edge.  Maybe you can see them on the left side, threaded in with the large tubular resin beads.  There are flat square beads in blue and green and some Miyuki cube beads.  I'll probably need to live with it for a few days before I decide. 

The best way to describe the fabric is very like a very fine corduroy.  I think it is a cotton blend and the cording is cotton also.  The finisher add the quilting (it doesn't come that way). The inside lining is similar in color to the inside (soft pale blue) of the four large diamonds on the left side.....also cotton.  Of course, this bag, with all the embellishments, can't be washed but hopefully it will hold up to a little spot cleaning.  (I really do hope to use it after it has officially retired from teaching.

Now I'm taking off for the evening but will return sooner, rather than later this time, with bead update.

Have a great week!

Mediterranean Squares Framed

Well I returned home four days ago, but it certainly took me longer this trip to catch up on everything.  Maybe because the weather was so much hotter than I'm used to......I was in Houston the last few days of my trip and it was 103 when I left and about 68 when I got off the plane in San Francisco.  Now there is a big temperature difference! 

But, even though it was hot I still had a wonderful teaching in Nashville and visiting my dad in Houston.  Of course, it is always glad to return home to hubby, and all the animals (dog, bunny, and turtle).

 While I was gone I received a call from the framer saying Mediterranean Squares was ready early so I was able to pick it up on Thursday and am very happy with the way it turned out.  I certainly can't take credit for the framing choices as he came up with the gold mat and blond frame.  They really show off the stitching.  There is definitely an art and skill in framing. 

Now that I'm home for the next two months and it's time to start to start assembling kits for the next few workshops.  But I will also be working on the next new design so hope to post some palette photos soon.

Wishing everyone a great July 4th weekend, if I'm not back here sooner.