FLOWER DIAMONDS COMPLETED

As promised Marlene (the pillow finisher), called yesterday for me to go back to her shop to sign off on the the fabrics she had selected for to complete Flower Diamonds.  She has chosen five silk fabrics to use for the sides and I can't wait to see it finished.  Maybe just a few more weeks before it is done! 

I also know that next April's pilot group is probably anxious to see what the project finally looks like.....so here it is!  As you can see, there are lots of options and lots of thread, bead and ribbon choices. 

On another note I have been enjoying the new online group for stitchers:  Stitchin Fingers. The site was started by Sharon Boggins and it has grown to over 500 members in just a few weeks.  There are lots of things I like about the site but most particularly are several groups which are interested in specific things....such as Blogs, Designing, and Hand Embroidery.  Also, there are members from all over the world, which is great!  The link is near the bottom of my navigation, if you are interested in visiting. 

Have a great week.....I probably won't be writing again until next week because there is Father's Day and DH's birthday is the next day! 

Hope everyone is enjoying nice weather.....it's actually warm here in San Francisco!

Beginning Needepoint Kit Design

I want to begin this post with an in-progress photo of Flower Diamonds, as it slowly moves along.  About a month has gone by where I only get to stitch 2 or 3 evenings a week for a couple of hours.  The "fun" parts are still left to be stitched:  five more flowers in the center diamonds and the medallions on either side of the center diamonds.  Soon.

I was teaching a class this past Saturday at Old World Designs in Menlo Park and Linda, the owner, and I got to talking about how to interest younger/new stitchers to the wonderful world of needlepoint.  I told her my daughter McCall and I have been working together on new designs, new colors, and new approaches towards that end.  As McCall is 29 years old, her ideas different in many ways from what my approach would be.  But that's good.....we want to attract stitchers her age.  Her two latest needlework book purchases have been Doodle Stitching  and The New Crewel.  Both of these books have That got me to thinking that maybe, just maybe, I too need to be thinking along new lines.  They both present the basic materials and give basic instructions....not too many rules.....and then, just jump right in.  The New Crewel  particularly keeps both design and finishing clean and simple.....few frills....contemporary.  

Our ideas, so far, include the following: 

• begin with 13-count canvas or 18-count linen,
• use threads that do not generally have to be stranded, are of the best quality, but are still a reasonable cost,
• are able to be finished into wearable or household items (18-count linen is great for this)
• or can be inserted into purchased boxes, totes, or appliquéd onto pillows, etc. 
• the kits should include everything the beginning stitcher needs to get started.
• include an item of embellishment such as a large decorative button, or bead as a focal point. 
• keep the kit to a reasonable cost  (under $50) before the finishing. 

We are both working on separate designs and hope to have them ready to show off by this fall.  I would love to hear from readers about what you think a "next generation stitcher" might be looking for.....something that might them veer towards needlepoint, instead of, say, knitting or quilting. 

On another note, I have been busy this week finishing up lots of miscellaneous things.  I've just added several items to the website.  A brand new STITCHING ACCESSORIES Section has just been added with items I love to use myself:  Tacky BOBs, Thread Straighteners, and Twitchetts.  Also, for stitchers interested in SEASONS I have added some partial thread kits for the Vikki Clayton hand-dyed fibers #8 Perle threads.  These are only available by special order in large dye skeins.  Of course, the piece is still stitchable by substituting her flosses for the perles.  But I have a few kits left, so when there gone, there gone. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Update on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 11:55AM by Terry Dryden

Thanks Cynthia and Jane for comments on pricing.  Definitely want to make a nice kit available someone in their first job could afford (even with student loans!).  I want to keep the design to 5X5 or 6X6 at the largest, so that should be  possible.  Do you think it would be best to include stretcher bars with the kit? Inexpensive embroidery scissors? Needle threader?  I would also like to include a 1"+ size button in the kit but can't find ones I like where I can purchase more than one.  Any suggestions?

A question on the size of Flower Diamonds:  it is 6" X 16" and it will be finished as a bolster pillow.  As I was working on it a stitch-in recently, someone suggested it would also work well framed land hung vertically.  I hadn't thought of that. 

FLOWER DIAMONDS, PART 2

Time just seems to fly.  It has been one month today that I posted the first picture of the Flower Diamonds color palette.  I was able to get back to stitching about a week ago and the threads have changed a little, but not as much as generally happens.  I have eliminated a few hand-dyed threads with multiple strong colors...too busy for this design... but have added two muted over-dyes.  Also eliminated are a few shiny metallics.   

There has been a little "unstitching"to get to this point.  No matter how much planning I do, the threads just have to be stitched to see exactly how they interact.  

I'll try to take a picture again in about a week to show progress.  As you might have guessed, I am working to complete the center element  and then extending to the element on either side with some variations of color on each.  This method of moving back and forth between the areas of the design generally works well for me.  

Just a note about what this design is going to be:  It can either be a long skinny pillow...such as a back/lumar pillow or as I have planned.....a neck roll pillow with added floral or striped fabric at the ends.