DAHLIA....AND MORE!

We have been having cool weather here in San Francisco for the last several days.  Cool enough I have had the heater on up until about 2 in the afternoon.  When I say cool it gets down to about 50 at night and up to about 65 during the day.  Now, last week it was up to almost 90.  For us that is really hot and of course, and most homes here have no air conditioning....just offices and the bigger stores and restaurants.  It's definitely what you get used to.....I went to school in Houston and that's hot. 

Just a note I have finally completed the instruction book for Dahlia and the kit is now available.  It's the fourth (and final) design of the Silk Ribbon Flower Series.....in this size.  Hopefully next year I can begin a new series as these were so much fun to design and stitch. 

I am always so happy to receive feedback from stitchers in my workshops with pictures of finished questions and/or comments about the design.  Lyn Y. of Canada just received her Winter Frost purse back from the finisher and plans to carry it a  wedding this summer.  Thank you Lyn for sending a photo which will find a permanent home in the Stitchers Gallery (coming soon).  Just beautiful stitchng!! 

 

Lately I have been staying up a little later than usual.  This seems to be the time for instruction books, both new ones and revisions for the new classes to be taught at seminar in September.  All the pilots have ended and feedback is coming in....about thread quantities, graph comments (for all sorts of issues), comments on the written portions, etc.  Now don't get me wrong....I really look forward to receiving the feedback.  Good instructions...more enjoyable classes for everyone!

  But anyway, I was checking my email one last time....about midnight....and McCall (our daughter and zoo keeper) sent pictures of the Scissors Fob and Needle Threader Set she had promised for the website.  Actually she sent two, but here is a picture of my favorite.  Just a soon as I have them actually in hand I'll be adding them.  Aren't they pretty?! 

Now I must go.  I've just started a new book.  Normally I just read in bed at night but today I must sneak in a little extra reading....Hit and Run by Lawrence Block. 

Finished Projects

I received the picture of this lovely finished Hibiscus project a few days ago from Joyce DeMattei.  This design is part of the Silk Ribbon Flower Series.  This method of finishing as a banner is unique and the deep red background really sets it off.  Thanks Joyce for sharing.  It is really fun to see photos of student's work and I plan to start posting more of these photos here over the next few months. 

The last few days has seen me colorwashing canvases for an upcoming pilot.  At the same time I have been trying out different methods to find one that will be the easiest for students to reproduce on their own.  One of the classes at the ANG Seminar this fall, POPPIES, has students colorwashing their own in class and I would like them to also be able to easily use the technique at home.  It's great to add a wash of color to a canvas if you want to have a little canvas peak through for added depth and perspective. 

I must get back to skeining threads for another upcoming class.  

DAHLIA Updated

Dahlia is now completed.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I wanted to create an Asian feel to the background and border with the choice of stitches.  The design is the same size(5 X 5) as the other three flowers in the series, but the border is a departure from the other three. This design stitched up faster than the other three, taking about 10-12 hours to stitch. 

I plan to write the instruction book next month and then make it available as a kit by June 1st.  These next 3 months are looking to be really busy (overly I might say).  But it seems this might be the norm for the spring months for awhile, what with pilots to prepare for, in addition to preparing for and traveling for workshops. 

But for the rest of today, it is very nice here, 59 degrees, little wind and sunny, I hope to enjoy the weather and just relax.  Start a new book? Catch up on the latest issues of Cloth Paper Scissors and NeedlePointers?