Happy Halloween!

Well, I have been having fun these past couple days stitching something for Halloween.

I found this cute little drawing and thought that was exactly what I needed at this time of the year. What is Halloween without some ghosts and spiders to spook us a little? Here the spiders are gone because our friendly ghost has been hard at work washing all those nasty cobwebs :-)

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Triangle Pincushion

This is another pincushion kit designed by Karen Kraus for Moonspun Designs.

If someone is interested in this one and/or others, you can see them on this site: http://www.flightsoffancyboutique.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=5734991.4974.s0&lastmenu=submenu-3400.html&product=Kits_N_Stuff


Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Hardanger floral sachet

Another little kit I had purchased, a hardanger floral sachet. I intend to put some Lavender in it.

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Hardanger Christmas ornaments

Here are a couple of little Hardanger Christmas ornaments I have made. Those were kits I had purchased. They were fun to make and very quick.

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Thread Painting

This is a little project called "Bingo Clear Purple Pansy", a thread painting technique and designed by Tanya Berlin.

This is a technique that requires lots of practice in order to do a good job and I am only beginning so there are plenty of room for improvement here:-)

I have a few other thread painting technique projects from her waiting for me to stitch.

Her designs can be seen on her website http://www.berlinembroidery.com/needlepainting.htm

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Christmas ornament

This was my first Brazilian project that I made and it was for an exchange. It was designed by Elsie and was stitched with Edmar threads purchased from JDR, the biggest online store for Brazilian embroidery. Link: http://www.jdr-be.com/

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Minuet & Rhapsody (Brazilian embroidery flowers)

An attempt at making some Brazilian embroidery flowers. The first one is called "Minuet" and the second one "Rhapsody".

They were both freebies from the Brazilian Embroidery Guild site: http://www.brazilian-dimensional-embroidery.org/

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Little Clown ATC

This little clown was made for an ATC (Artistic Trading Card). I saw this cute little clown drawing and wanted to use it to make an ATC. This is how it turned out.

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Dracula Spider Postcard

When I participated in a postcard exchange a couple years back, I wanted to have some fun and found this drawing and decided to make a postcard out of it. I had lots of fun making it - just too bad I could not keep it :-)

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Keepsakes: Bookmark

The Australian magazine called "Inspirations" is the one I actually love the best. I have managed to purchase every copy from the very beginning. I have since subscribed to the magazine to make sure I don't miss any upcoming issues.

I was thinking recently that it is one thing to have all this "inspiration" and quite another to start making some of those wonderful projects, so since I love to read, I decided to make this lovely bookmark. The project was in the issue #50 on pages 58 through 63. Here is a link to the magazine:
http://www.countrybumpkin.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=433667 and if you click on the magazine itself to make it bigger, you can actually see the little bookmark.

I used silk dupion in one of my favorite colors and found some lovely silk ribbons that matched nicely with the fabric. It was quite easy to make and did not take all that much time.

Pierrette =^..^=

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

The Dodecagon Series Ornaments

I have recently started stitching a series of ornaments designed by Jim Wurth and called the Dodecagon Series Ornaments. This is actually my first experience in participating in an ornament club. I first saw a bit of advertisement in the ANG Needle Pointers, July 2006 issue on page 17, showed it to my husband and asked him what he thought of them. He liked them very much and I made the decision to register for the series. There will be 12 of them and I will be receiving one every two months. They are all 12-sided designs, measure 5 inches in diameter and are all uniformly shaped according to the information I have received so far.

I have started stitching the first one which is called Coronation (ornament in the middle of the photo on the group site). I will put a photo of each ornament as I complete them. There is a photo of 3 of the ornaments on the group site.

There is a group that has been formed especially to discuss these ornaments and help each others. For those interested here is the group link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DodecagonSeriesOrnaments/

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Victorian Heart Pincushion

This Victorian heart pincushion was designed by Karen Kraus for Moonspun Designs. They were designed after some Victorian pincushions and use some vintage techniques according to the description on their website. They can either be used as a pincushion or even as ornaments for the holiday season, which would look smashing in a Christmas tree.

If someone is interested in this one and/or others, you can see them on this site: http://www.flightsoffancyboutique.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=5734991.4974.s0&lastmenu=submenu-3400.html&product=Kits_N_Stuff

They were much fun to make and did not take too much time either.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Cats

Cats is an ABS Designs and was hand painted by Anne Stradal. You can see the actual design on her web site http://absdesigns.tripod.com/

The first time I saw this design I immediately thought of my very good friend Terry because we have been joking around a lot about her using her broom and flying all the way to the USA from UK as the price of petrol as they call it overthere is very expensive. She also has two black cats, making the design perfect for us.

I wanted to surprise her and bring a smile on her face at a time when she was not feeling all that well and I stitched it for her. This was my first painted canvas that I actually stitched from start to finish. I have a few more that have been started but are still sitting in my pile of UFOs.

I finished it as a door hanger for her and she has actually suspended it on her stitching lamp so that she can see it all the time.

When Anne saw it completed she asked me if I wanted her to add it to her Guest Gallery and here it is: http://absdesigns.tripod.com/guest_gallery.htm

This is one project that I think I had a grin on my face from start to finish while trying to imagine Terry's face when she would actually receive it :-)

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Portuguese Needlework Pillow

Someone at my LNS thought me how to stitch that lovely Portuguese pillow.

The design came directly from the book called "Portuguese Needlework Rugs: the Time-Honored Art of Arraiolos Rugs Adapted for Modern Handcrafters" written by Patricia Stone. If you have the book, the photo of the pillow I have stitched is on page 104.

Stitching this Portuguese pillow was a wonderful experience.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Daydreams

Daydreams is a Sular Design for Rainbow Gallery (1991) and the finished size is 6" by 10".

It was stitched on 18 mesh mono canvas (I believe the color was Eggshell) and I used some Overture, Neon Rays, Pebbly Perle and Cresta d'Oro threads to stitch it.

There were several color suggestions offered like Fall/Earth Tone, Pink/Blue Pastel and Peach/Green Pastel and I went with the first one as I love the Earth tone colors.

When I brought the project to my finisher, she suggested that I had it put in a Sudberry Tea Tray, which I did. Here is the link where you can see the different trays: http://www.sudberry.com/catalog/teadresser.htm

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Christmas Remembered

First photo shows A Christmas Remembered framed and the second one shows a close-up view.

Christmas Remembered is a lovely design by Susan Johnson. On a visit to my LNS I saw this project all stitched on the counter of the shop and I immediately loved it and wanted to stitch it.

According to Susan Johnson, Christmas Remembered was inspired by the hand-made miniature packages grouped around the base of the tree.

The finished size of this project is approximately 8.5" by 11" and has been stitched on white deluxe mono canvas Zweigart #18. They were selling various little package kits to put under the tree and I chose this particular assortment of packages.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Crewel Embroidery

This was my first attempt at crewel embroidery.

This project was taken from a magazine called "Victoria", September 1993 issue and the designer's name is Joanna Reed.

There is a little anecdote that goes with this project. I had completed the stitching and was at my LNS (local needlepoint store) to have it framed and the owner was trying to find something suitable for it when all of a sudden, a client who was in the store decided that she was going to help me with this. She started going through the different mats and frames and came up with the frame and mat in the picture.

She seemed to me like a person who had excellent taste, certainly seemed to know what she was doing, wasn't shy of her opinion and all that was required of me was to nod my approval here and there. This has turned out to be the frame I love the most of all. I always think of that stranger in the store each time I stop and look at that framed project on my wall.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Needle Case: Horse

This is the first needle case I made for an exchange.

The person for whom I was making it (Pauline) loved horses and she had a horse that she loved best which was grey and her name was "Suzie" so I tried to stitch one just for her and this is how "Suzie" turned out to look like. Not sure how close the resemblance ended up to be, but she liked it.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Needle case: Lady with flowers

This is the second needle case I made.

I used a cigarette silk print, attached it to some fabric, put some lace that I dyed green and stitched some stems and flowers with silk ribbons and I also emphasized the outline of the lady's dress. I then finished it as a little needle case for my friend Terry.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Fabric vase with silk ribbon flowers

This is the project that really got me started doing silk ribbon embroidery.

It started out with a simple group project that I decided to modify to my liking and it ended up with this big vase full of flowers. One could say that I really got carried away with my little roses.

I had a bit of a problem at one point as my flowers seemed to be just sitting on my vase. I discussed this issue with a few of my friends and one of them (Elsie) came out with the solution of that long stem coming down on the left side of the vase and I also added some little ones in front here and there and this is the end result.

My friend Terry has been working at finishing it as a pillow for me after it has been sitting in my drawer for months and months. It should arrive home next week if all goes well and I will be able to enjoy it :-)

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Teddy Bear

After making the Blackwork "Lace Ribbons" project designed by Dakota Rogers, I decided to try a little project to see how much I had learned and I saw this charming little Teddy Bear in The New Anchor Book of Blackwork: Techniques and Designs (ISBN 0-7153-1929-9) on page 49 and who was I to resist such sweet little bear, so I gathered my material and started stitching.

The finished size is 4 1/4" by 3 3/8". I have made a little ornament with it. I thought it would look sweet in my Christmas tree :-)

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Under the Sea theme postcard

Here is my first attempt at making a postcard for an exchange. The theme was UNDER THE SEA and I use some coloring book drawings and created a little under the sea scene.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Lace Ribbons

I have been wanting to do some blackwork for some time and I was lucky enough to win as a door price this wonderful EGA (Embroiderers' Guild of America) GCC (Group correspondence class) designed by Dakota Rogers. It is called "Lace Ribbons" and is stitched on a white 28-ct Jobelan and is worked with Needle Necessities overdyed floss.

It was just like having Dakota Rogers with me as the instructions are so well done.

I have made a pillow out of this project.

Here is the link for the EGA Guild: http://www.egausa.org/ and the link for the EGA CyberStitchers: http://www.cyberstitchers.org/

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Emerald & Gold Mini Stocking

This "Emerald & Gold Mini Stocking" was a real delight to stitch and really put me in the Christmas spirit.

This is a Kaitlyn Marie design (1994). It was made with a 18-ct white mono canvas and the whole project was all green and gold with lots and lots of beads to stitch and gold threads. That was my first experience with beads so it was quite an experience :-)

The finisher also did a fantastic job. I was also lucky enough to be able to find the same gold ribbon that was on the designer's photo. I could not believe my luck.

I love to see it on my Christmas tree during the holidays.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Drawn Thread

This little project was my first attempt at drawn thread embroidery. It was designed by Sharon Cohen and was worked on 32-ct cream Belfast linen from Zweigart and has a lovely fleur-de-lis darn filling pattern.

It was finished as a little decorative pillow.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

The Iris

The Iris is a stylized interpretation designed by Susan Portra.

This is one of my first needlepoint project made, which I also enjoyed stitching it tremendously because of the different stitches used. It was just a lot of fun to see the Iris come to life under my eyes.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Morris Impressions

Morris Impressions framed (photo above) and before framing (below)

This is another project that when I saw it, I just had to stitch it. It is called "Morris Impressions" and has been designed by Ann Caswell. Apparently this design was inspired by a William Morris's Artichoke panel.

When I first saw "Morris Impressions" it was here at http://www.caron-net.com/aug99files/aug99mag.html and a bit later I also saw it in the Piecework magazine. The instructions are the same at both places.

This is a counted-thread embroidery stitched on an Ivory Zweigart Lugana 20-count and uses the Caron Collection Impressions threads, which I absolutely adore using. They have a luxurous feeling to them.

Instead of making a pillow like shown in the article, I had mine framed.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Bargello Symphony

Bargello Symphony is actually Mystery #8 of a series designed by Loretta Spears.

Both Terry and myself had purchased the pattern a couple years back and had just put it in our pile of UFOs.

This project was always in the back of my mind and I knew that one day I was going to stitch it. Ever since I had seen it on the ANG website at http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1999/BargelloSym.php it had been love at first sight :-)

Terry and I started chatting one day and we both decided that it was time for us to stitch it and what better way then stitch it together so we could encourage and help each other along the way. It turned out that we needed both during the time it took us to complete it.

There are 6 lessons in this Mystery project and if I recall right it took us about 5 to 6 weeks to complete, working exclusively on this project.

The background was especially long to stitch with all those "Victorian steps", but we were both determined to bring this project to a conclusion and we both did :-)

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

Gem Storm

Photo of Gem Storm framed above and a close-up below.

Gem Storm is a cyberclass that I took with Marianne Frost in March of the year 2004. This project was made on 18-count black mono canvas. I thought at first that it might be difficult to see the holes working with a black canvas, but it turned out that I did not experiment any problems at all. I just love the Florentine patterns and the different decorative stitches. Working with Marianne was also a delight. She was very helpful through the whole project.

The finish design size of this piece is 7½" by 5".

This cyberclass is still available at http://www.needleartworks.com/cc1/maf/MAFC1intro.htm and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of project.

Pierrette =^..^=
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

This is a little crewel project that I recently stitched. I saw that wonderful little kit on the Jenny June website and just had to have it. That site went out of business very recently.The design is called "Edwina Gorey" and it comes from The Sampler Needlework.It has a little notation to explain what the project is all about. It says about "Edwina Gorey": Our heroine reflects an earlier time when mourning samplers became the fashion. Her distress is still felt today but for a different reason. Her every fiber cries out .. "but you don't understand, I can't do anymore!" Her name owes a debt to Edward Gorey.The stitches used in this project are stem, chain, detached chain, satin and bullion and it came with Appleton crewel yarn.Pierrette =^..^=http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

I was looking for a small gift that I could make for one of my good friend as a thank you gift for all her kindnesses. She had told me at one point in time that she did not have any pincushions and I thought that she would probably enjoy getting something like that.

I remembered having seen that lovely pincushion in one of the Australian Inspirations magazine, more precisely the #50 issue, pages 74 to 79.
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I was also able to find a link where there was a wonderful steps-by-steps instructions explaining very clearly how to make this pumpkin shape, so if anyone else is interested in creating something similar to mine, that should make things easier for them. Here is the link for that tutorial .

I was also told by Margaret H. that there is also another free tutorial which is a lovely Periwinkle pincushion designed by Jan Kerton .

I have just received a message from my friend today letting me know that she had just received it and absolutely adores it :-)

Happy pincushion making, everybody!

Pierrette =^..^=

Webshot photo album

http://community.webshots.com/user/sunshineplus

My first blog

Today is Tuesday October 17, 2006 and is the beginning of my keeping a blog.

While I get myself organized, you may want to have a look at my Webshots photo album .
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Pierrette =^..^=