Showing posts with label Anne Stradal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anne Stradal. Show all posts

Thursday, October 01, 2009

The Morning After: Finishing done

Two photos showing the front and back of my stand-up frame.

Will do the same exact kind of finishing for The Night Before :-)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Morning After: Beginning of finishing


Well, you can see the front part ready to be attached to the back part, which is a kind of velvet that is very soft and changes colors depending on the lighting - it looks dark here but really is not that dark at all. I still need to work on putting fabric on the stand piece and then attach all together with a little ribbon to control the amount of length the stand will open up while standing and of course cording all around, so a bit more work to do.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

She Stoops to Conquer: Anne Stradal, designer



I have just completed another finishing with She Stoops to Conquer designed by Anne Stradal of ABS Designs. In the past I used to either finish any completed stitched project right away myself or send it to my framer for finishing depending on the kind of finishing I wanted, but lately I seemed to have been too busy stitching and neglected the finishing aspect of my projects. Yesterday I finished 4 of them and I have already posted two of them and kept this one for today and the fourth one for a bit later. I might say that I had a productive day :-)
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If you want to have a look at the different ABS Designs' projects that I have stitched so far, just click here.
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This is the second time that I have done such finishing, the first one being Tara. A different view of Tara here.
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I decided not to add any cordings at all on this one as it seemed to me that less was more with this project. A cording around the stitched project would have been too much because of the double border and around the fabric it would have been more distracting than anything else.
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All I have to do now is to find her a special place on one of my walls and enjoy :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Saturday, April 11, 2009

HAPPY EASTER! Easter egg designed and stitched by Anne Stradal

(Designed and stitched by Anne Stradal)
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I always like to put something special for all our main holidays, so I was thinking about what I had stitched for Easter in the past and the answer to that question is not much, not much at all.
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I participated in an Easter egg exchange some years back and had to make a decision as to which egg design to select and stitch as part of my exchange. They have a very bad habit in these exchanges to insist that you give one in order to get one (grinning), so I went on ABS Designs and checked out what kind of eggs Anne had designed at the time. I was happy to see that I had plenty of designs to choose from and selected to stitch this one . I have always enjoyed nature scenes so that one was just perfect for me.
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Since Anne has selected my only stitched Easter anything project done so far a few days ago as an example on canvas interpretation for her blog, I could not very well used it now, could I, so today I found myself with a tiny problem with what photo to put on my blog, that is until I thought of this little darling egg that I was lucky enough to receive in that exchange. This was Anne's design and she stitched it herself for that exchange. The only thing that she did not do is the finishing. Apparently she is "allergic" to finishing (just kidding). Her original was stitched in pink and was called "In the Pink", so I guess the one I got should be called "In the Blue" (makes sense to me).
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I have been thinking of stitching another one as this one is feeling pretty lonely all by itself. I do like the one called "Crocus" so maybe that should be my next one and will keep it this time around as I am still missing "In the garden". The only consolation I have is that "I think" it went to a good home, but still, I do miss it (boohoo).
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Lots of blabla here just to explain my Easter egg selection in order to wish you all a very "Happy Easter". Have fun eating all that wonderful chocolate. Don't overdo it though. If you have too much of it, you could always send some to me as I LOVE chocolate :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

The Night Before


It has been a while since I have done any work on Anne Stradal's design called "The Night Before", but if I want to have it for Christmas I better get moving :-)
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What I have done today is completing her dress and bonnet and make her nice and pretty by giving her a nice pearl necklace.
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I have a little more work to do on this project before I can start thinking about the finishing, but at least I am slowly getting there :-)
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By the way for those of you who have not yet seen it, Anne has just started a blog called "The Cape Stitcher".
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Will probably be back sometimes tomorrow afternoon with another progress photo, if all goes according to plans (grinning).
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Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Night Before: A little more done


Well, since the last post about The Night Before, a design by Anne Stradal of ABS Designs, I have frogged her dress and stitched it in a lighter color, decided to stitch her apron using a metallic white thread with a little bit of silver in it. I thought that she might have decided to wear her prettiest apron since we are on the eve of Christmas. I also stitched some little shoe/slipper using a metallic pink to keep her in style :-)
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I have done the lamp base using a gold metallic thread, finished the wallpaper behind her.
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I still have to finish the top of her dress as well as the base of her sleeves (cuffs), finish the pine branches on the wall with a red bow, do the lamp shade stumpwork style, do the scarf knitting also stumpwork style, do the basket, the yarn balls and add the knitting needles, and oh yes also need to stitch her hat. I think that is about it.
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I was thinking of adding a pearl necklace around her neck. Would that be too much? I have made her dress rather plain so I feel that I need something to make it stand out a little bit. Of course the scarf will cover a part of her apron and dress. I was wondering if I were to add some thread over the dress and create some kind of design. Any ideas, anyone?
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Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Night Before, an Anne Stradal design

It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything on my blog, the reason being that I have not been feeling that well and have been taking things rather easy, which have given me the opportunity to do a lot of reading, something I love and usually am not able to find enough time for it.
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I have been able to do a little bit of stitching though and have been working on The Night Before which is the accompanying piece to The Day After that I have stitched not long ago.
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The photo below has been stitched by Anne Stradal herself and has been included with her permission.

[Designed and stitched by Anne Stradal of ABS Designs]
Below is a picture showing what I have done up to now.
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So far I have done a bit of the wallpaper, which I intend to do exactly as Anne did. I have done the flooring and the rug using the same color thread for the carpet (Rainbow Tweed RT55) and a DMC #5 perle for the flooring (mine is a shade lighter than Anne). The chair has been done in two shades of Velour Very Petite. I have stitched the table where the lamp is and the legs of the chair using the same DMC Perle #5 brown color.
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Now we are where things are getting a bit more complicated, at least for me :-) I wanted to change Mrs. Claus' dress, using the same color though as Anne did hers. At this point I am not sure if I like it or not. That is the reason I have not stitched yet her slippers as if I have to frog the dress, then I don't want to spoil the slippers. I was thinking of adding a little lace to the colar and bottom of her sleeves. Now, do I go for white or some pink color? I am still wondering what stitch I will be using for the apron and what color? Since she is not a maid, I don't have to leave it white if I don't want to. Oh! you may have noticed that I have stitched over the scarf that she is knitting and will also do the same thing over her apron because I want to add the stitched scarf over (like stumpwork). Still thinking about her needles as to how to make them. Also still debating about her hat, not sure what I will do..
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I have been wondering if I want to cover the shade of the lamp with some fabric instead of thread. Also have not decided how to do the lamp base, stem and finial. I will do the basket the same way as Anne did hers, but will wait for the balls of yarns as I may change some colors. As for the pine branches and bow, I may decide to do exactly as Anne did, unless I make the bow Brazilian embroidery style.

[My photo is a bit dark compared to Anne's but have used the same colors]
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So, lots of decisions still to make before this piece is completed. I will probably start working on the wallpaper while I am thinking about all this. If you have some ideas for any part of it, I would love to hear from you all and also tell me if I should change her dress or leave it as is. I don't mind doing a bit of frogging in order to make her look nicer :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Santa has his sweater and socks on

Well, the suspense is over, for better or for worse, Anne Stradal's design called "The Morning After" is all stitched.
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After struggling with my decision as to what to stitch for Santa's sweater/shirt/underwear, I decided to use some Kreinik Tapestry #12 braid #032 (pearl color) doing a simple basketweave stitch. It solved my problem with the "white thread" issue to some extent. I also wanted a lighter sweater under his coat. Sure hope Santa did not catch a bad cold because of it :-(
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After that came the suspenders in braided knitting using a dark green thread, followed closely by his socks using green for the toes and heels and white for the soles. I decided to keep his socks rather simple since I had given him a more sophisticated sweater by using that metallic thread.
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I had forgotten to add some gold metallic thread around the number 25, so corrected that little oversight.
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I also stitched the rug in horizontal diagonal cashmere and then completed the floor in front of the carpet.




In future projects, I will need to give a lot more consideration to the fact that if I want to change some color(s) like I did with the pure white for winter white, it will have some impact along the way, mostly as in this case, I wanted to make sure that Santa did not look like he had a dirty beard by using some pure white next to it, so I need to take this into consideration from the get go, which I did not really do and boxed myself in because of it. My initial goal was to put some color in his sweater which would have taken care of that little detail, but could not see very well how I could do that taking into consideration Santa's surrounding. The metallic thread I used was the best compromise I could think of. It is hard to tell by looking at the photo but when you look at the finished project in person, you can see more what I mean.
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I now feel like taking a little break from all the needlepoint I have been doing recently and do a little embroidery and then will return to it with Santa's wife. Hopefully I will have learned something with Santa and not box myself in again, but sometimes the learning curve is slow, so will see :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The Morning After: Wallpapering all done


Since my last post, I have completed all the different sections of the wallpaper behind Santa's big chair. A big calendar has been stitched with the background in gold using Kreinik with DEC stitched in red using DMC floss the same colour as used in the wallpaper. The number 25 has been stitched using some black DMC floss.
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Now all that remains to do is the carpet under Santa's chair and then completing the flooring in front of the carpet, which will not take long. After that Santa's socks, his shirts or top underwear or sweater as I am still debating this and then his suspenders and it will be all done. I got some really good advice from Jane, Pat, Terry and Cyn for Santa's shirt (see comments on previous post) so will see what looks the best once the carpet has been stitched. I should hopefully receive this afternoon some new threads that may make my decisions easier.
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I am hoping to be able to post the next and final photo of this project in a couple days and then I will be moving to Mrs Santa :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Morning After & another Brillante Award


I have managed to do a little more stitching on "The Morning After" since my first post . I have to say that I have not been stitching all that much recently. I guess we all have times like that when things are just not quite right, just not feeling all that hot, but that always goes away, eventually.
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Since my last post, I have done a few sections of the wallpaper, enough I think to make it possible for you to see the two different motifs. The red and green vertical lines are slanted gobelin stitches using simply DMC floss threads. Between those vertical lines, you have a red design on a white background, using DMC threads again and stitched with continental and/or basketweave. In the section of the wallpaper that is all white, a Nobuko stitch has been used. In that section, I still have to stitch the calendar and of course the rest of the wallpaper. Oh, almost forgot, done the baseboard in slanted gobelin, using again the same winter white floss. Anne had used a DMC Perle #5 instead on hers. You can see it on Anne's website. I had two reasons for doing so. Since I changed my white for a winter white, then I would have needed some winter white DMC perle #5, which I did not have and did not want to bother ordering some as I order everything online and I also just prefer the look that the floss gives me over the Perle #5 for something like a baseboard, so why bother ordering any? Stitching is really all about our own preferences, isn't it?
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I stitched the legs of the chair using slanted gobelin with a brown DMC Perle #5. I then proceeded to work on the footstool, using 3 different colors, winter white, red and green, using the continental for the stripes and a mosaic stitch for the white areas.
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I then worked the boots, using a black Petite Very Velvet doing a simple continental stitch and to separate the two boots there is a line of continental stitches using a dark grey DMC floss.
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Some of you might be wondering why I have not done Santa's socks nor his sweater so far and also let's not forget his suspenders. Two reasons for that. I am waiting for the threads for the socks. For Santa's sweater I just did not know if I wanted to use a different color or not, but I am finding it very difficult to do so as I have that green chair on which he is sitting, so a green sweater is kind of out of the question and then I have his red pants, which would make it difficult to distinguish between the top and the bottom if I were to use red. I also do not want to use white white as it would make his beard appear kind of dirty (and that is the last thing I want, a dirty looking Santa) because I used some winter white instead of the white that Anne used on hers. I more or less trapped myself into that one, haven't I? Any ideas, anyone?
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Oh yes, I have done the flooring, most of it anyway using a light tan DMC Perle #5 with a slanted Gobelin stripe. I am waiting for some threads to stitch the carpet. Have a few options here that I am now contemplating so when the threads come in, will see which one looks the best and will proceed. I will then finish the flooring that still remains to be stitched in front of the carpet.
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Sometimes when you make just a minor change in color or design, you find that you have to make lots of little adjustments along the way.


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I had the honor to receive a third Brillante Weblog award from Pat at the end of July, the two previous ones from Rengin and Laura and to my great shame I have not yet given it back to anyone, but will remedy this situation right away :-)
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As everyone who has ever received some Awards, it is extremely difficult to choose a few out of many wonderful blogs that are out there and we all know that we tend to gravitate around blocks that means the most to us, whether it is because the bloggers are talking about similar projects to our own, or techniques that we are really interested in or are simply giving us lots of wonderful information. Having said that here goes my list of seven. Before I do so, please refer to Pat's wonderful blog for the rules of this Award .
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My first two selections out of seven have to go to two blogs that I follow very closely because they give me such wonderful information about our needlepoint world:
Janet's blog called Nuts about Needlepoint and Jane's blog called Chilly Holly Needlepoint Adventure. I checked them both out on a regular basis in order to find out what is happening and also what they are both up to.
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Then it really gets difficult and I am sorry for those that I can't add to my list here as I visit many many blogs as many times each week as I possibly can. Here it goes without any consideration to order they are listed:
Pat's blog called Needleartnut, Laura's blog called Two-Handed Stitcher, Carol's blog called Threads across the web, Judy's blog called Possibilities, etc. and the final one Cyn's blog called Cyn Stitches. I could easily have gone on as I also enjoy reading so many other blogs.
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Again, a big thank you to everyone who has given me an Award as it makes anyone's day a little more special, doesn't it?
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Better go back to my stitching now. See you all soon :-)
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Pierrette =^..^=

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

The Morning After: Let's meet Santa



I wanted to stitch a little more before adding my first photo, but decided to post now because so many of you wanted to get a progress report, so here it is (grinning).
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Ok, what have I done so far?
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The first thing was to work on Santa's face as it is always important to have a feel for what he looks like. On this section, I have pretty much done as Anne did on hers, meaning stitching a bunch of French knots for the bear using in my case Trio T02 which is white in color, but not the white white, but rather more a winter white. It is a bit less traditional than what we always see, but I find that I rather enjoy that winter white, just feels warmer to me. I did some slanted gobelin for the sideburns and changed the eyebrows, which Anne did in French knots, for an outline look, always using the same thread.
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I am afraid I got ahead of myself here as I worked Santa's face before doing the hair and beard, using different shades of flesh colors in simple DMC floss using the continental stitch. I gave Santa a pinker nose and cheeks using a scotch stitch, just like Anne did with hers. It has been an especially cold night delivering all the wonderful gifts to children around the world, so his cheeks and nose are quite rosy by the time he settles down in his chair for a well deserved rest.
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After that, I rushed to stitch Santa's pants as I could not let you see him without them as Mrs Santa Claus would have been quite upset with me if I had done so. Remember, she is sitting knitting in the other room (will stitch her after I finish with Santa). I stitched the pants in staggered cross, a stitch I had never used before, and I really love the effect. Again, I used Trio of two different shades of red. I had never used Trio either before and I just love that thread. It has a velour kind of feel to it. Absolutely lovely.
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Next, I did his hat, using one of the shade of red from Trio, using a diagonal mosaic. I changed the trim by doing only straight vertical stitches and made only one French knot instead of the four that Anne made, but used the complete 6 threads of Trio to make a big French knots.
I also stitched his hands with a simple DMC floss thread.
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After that, I got busy working on the chair, using two different shades of Petite Very Velvet Green and doing the basketweave. So many stitchers have said that doing basketweave is quite relaxing and I truly agree with this. Using that thread also makes the chair looks so comfy.
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I have also started working on the wallpaper, using regular DMC floss, one in green and one in red. Still have more to do there.
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Still lots more to stitch, so will be back with another post when I have a bit more done.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Thursday, July 31, 2008

The Morning After, an Anne Stradal design & the Brillante Weblog Award

Now that I have completed Gay Ann's Mystery in a Corner, which was so much fun to stitch, I will start working on a pair of Christmas designs from ABS Designs. Why Christmas designs, again in July? Simply because the temperature is close to 100°F outside and I need something to cool me down in addition to the air conditioning which on some days just can't keep up with the demand.
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I love the Christmas season, but I have found lately that I don't always have the time and/or energy to get all my Christmas decorations from the attic down two floors below and spend approximately two days, on and off, putting them all up and then of course taking another two days to take them off after the holidays and bringing them back up to the attic, but I still want to have Christmas decorations in my house, otherwise it just does not feel like Christmas, does it?
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My solution to this little problem is that I now want to stitch more and more Christmas projects that I can either frame myself like with the flat-fold method or a stand-up, or ...... and just get them out during the Christmas season whenever I don't feel like spending days decorating, spread them all around my house and voilà, the Christmas ambiance without having to spend all that time decorating. With these two designs in particular, I am thinking about framing them like if they were some family portraits that you display on any surface in your home. Well, Santa is a dear old friend, isn't he? He sure has spoiled me during all these past Christmasses :-)
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I selected these two designs, The Morning After and The Night Before, because I have always wondered what these two did on Christmas day and now I know, thanks to Anne (grinning). Santa is having a well deserved rest and his dear wife is knitting. Why is she not embroidering, I wonder..................... Might be a cold weather thing, Santa must need a good warm scarf, probably more than one, actually, but I disgress.
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This photo below has been stitched by Anne Stradal and was borrowed to put on my blog today with her permission as I have not yet started working on mine, but will slowly start today. I have got most of my threads, enough anyway to get started.


[The Morning After: Photo stitched by Anne Stradal]

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On another note, I had the honor of receiving the Brillante Award, twice actually in the last few days. The first time was from Rengin who lives in Turkey, for which I have already thanked her and this morning from Laura for which I am very grateful.



I will need a few days to get my ducks in a row and come up with my own list of blogs I enjoy visiting.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

She Stoops to Conquer: All stitched


Just put the last stitch on "She Stoops to Conquer", an Anne Stradal design. I had started this little project many months ago, then got distracted by something else and just came back to it. Originally I was thinking of putting it on one of my bathroom wall, but changed my mind and will instead finish it as a flat-fold finish and keep in my stitching room so that I can keep a vigilant eye on her.
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My friends were kidding me when they saw the towel I made for her, quite thick and fluffy :-)
There is one positive thing about that towel in addition of drying her perfectly, it is the fact that when she drops it, she will probably loose an instant 5 lbs, which should be a big booster in her fight to loose a few extra pounds (grinning).
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I really like Judy Odell's little finishing instruction booklet called The Flat-Fold as it makes a really neat finish and is not expensive either to do. The instructions are well made with good photos and is easy enough for anyone to use. I have used it once before when I finished my little Halloween Friendly Ghost All you need is some decorative fabric, batting, cardboard or mat board and threads. It has been a long time since I made the first one so will have to reread it before starting, but I remember it going very well.
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This is a photo of little cabochons with rim sets that I have been looking for to use on a Susan Portra ornament. These two came with another project so can't use them for Susan's ornament. They are the perfect size, about 10mm or a little less than 1/2 inch (approximately 7/16"). I am looking for 5 red cabochons with golden rim sets. If someone knows where to find some online, please contact me at LovetoStitch99@comcast.net I think that I will buy a whole truck load of them, if I ever find some (grinning).
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Terry and Pat have been helping me to look for some, but we have not been able to find some exactly the same style as the ones on the photos. There are probably other stitchers that would also love to know where to find some and if I find the same exact thing, I will post the information on my blog.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Saturday, June 07, 2008

She Stoops to Conquer: An Anne Stradal design


This is another project that I have been working on and a fun one at that. It is called "She Stoops to Conquer" designed by Anne Stradal from ABS Designs.
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This is a little painted canvas size 4 inches by 6 inches (stitched area). So far, I have stitched the upper wallpaper, the upper part of our little lady (grinning) and the interior border. Oh yes, almost forgot the "She Stoops to Conquer" all stitched in black.
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I have a couple of ideas about how I want to stitch the towel that is covering her, but will need to try a few things and see how it looks.
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I think that I will do her hair curly just like Anne did on hers, as I love to do French knots.
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I am picking the colors as I go along. I rarely decide the exact colors before I start working on something like this, as most often than not, I have to change them anyway as they don't work like I had hoped they would.
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I now need to start working on Mystery in a Corner.
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Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Bruges, Belgium "Doorways to the Past" Series: Painted canvas by Anne Stradal


I am quite happy today as I just got back my Bruges door all beautifully framed. I just love what "Romancing the Frame" have done for me :-)

If you want to have a better view of how the frame with my stitching really looks like, just click on the photo itself and it will make it much bigger for you to see details.

Pierrette =^..^=

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Bruges, Belgium "Doorways to the Past" Series: Painted canvas by Anne Stradal


I must start this entry by saying that my husband was born in Belgium, not far from Bruges and I wanted to stitch this door called "Bruges, Belgium" which is part of Anne Stradal's "Doorways to the Past" Series. If someone wants to pay a little visit to Anne's website, it is http://www.absdesignsonline.com/ .

Like all good new owner, the first thing I did is repaint and change the greenery as I wanted flowers. I love flowers even more when I don't have to care for them. I am saying that mostly because we are having a severe drought here where I live and everything in our garden seems to be quickly fading away, so this is fantasy time for me. I will never have to water and feed these flowers. Isn't marvelous? I don't have that magic green thumb either so that is not helping any :-(

I stitched the two little shrubs in silk ribbons (leaves and roses) and then I wanted some wisterias like I have in my garden. They are so pretty and smell so wonderful. Watch out for the bees though when the flowers are in season as they become very proprietory and will go in pursuit of anyone coming too close. Ask me why I know this?

At the front, there is a sidewalk and my husband wanted some cobblestones. He is European, remember? I started looking in those wonderful books called Stitches for Effects, More Stitches for Effects and Even More Stitches for Effects by Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson and found what I was looking for. The stitch I chose can be seen on page 39 of volume 3 of the series. It is called "Continuous 2-4 Woven Scotch". It is not the kind of stitch that you can just breeze through it, but when you got the rhythm of it, it was rather fun to do. A good laying tool is a must with this stitch as I was using regular DMC cotton floss threads (two different colors).

I got another idea from their books. They suggested beads to use for door knob. It was a great idea and I was able to find in my stash a bugle bead just the right size and color, so that was quick to attach and before I knew it, I had completed the project.

Not sure how I will finish this now. Need to have a serious think about it :-)

Moving on to the next project. What will it be??????????????????

Thursday August 2/2007: Just heard from Anne telling me that she added my door to her guest galery:-) Here is link: http://www.absdesignsonline.com/guest_gallery.htm

Pierrette =^..^=

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

"In the Blue" - Easter Exchange egg received from Anne Stradal



During the last Easter Exchange that I participated in, I had the pleasure to receive an Easter egg designed and stitched by Anne. On her website it is called "In the Pink" ( http://www.absdesignsonline.com/eggs_for_all_seasons.htm ) but this one of course needs to be called "In the Blue" <>


Since this was my very first Easter egg exchange, this beautiful egg is starting my new collection very nicely. One is not enough though, so will have to slowly start stitching some more. I would like to make some that would be needlepoint and others freestyle or whatever strike my fancy at the time :-)
One of the thing I love to do is check other stitchers' blogs whenever I find the time and I saw on Jane's blog the picture of another of Anne's design that I absolutely have to stitch. You know when you see something and you just have to have it, well this one is one of those must have. It is called "She Stoops to Conquer". Isn't she just adorable? Here is the link to Jane's blog http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow


Pierrette =^..^=


Friday, March 16, 2007

Easter Egg Ornament "In the Garden": Photo of finished ornament


Photo of my finished Easter Egg Ornament for a group exchange. I have used the same color thread to make the cording all around and tassel.
A funny thing happened without my noticing it at the time we took the photo. Instead of my little bird flying downward, it is now flying upward :-)
I guess he came to have a look at those lovely three houses and went back in a hurry to tell his mate to come have a look before somebody else takes ownership (lol)
Pierrette =^..^=

Friday, March 02, 2007

Easter Egg Ornament "In the Garden"


This is a little Easter egg that I have just finished stitching for a group exchange. It is a painted canvas designed by Anne Stradal of ABS Designs: http://www.absdesignsonline.com/eggs_for_all_seasons.htm
I have not done many painted canvas for the simple reason that I never seem to know how to tackle them. This time around, I gave myself permission to mess with it, so I changed lots of details to make it different and fun, so I experimented with it. It turned out to be more fun than I anticipated once I got my creative juice flowing, which took a little while, I am sorry to say :-(
I have added a little bird to fill in the sky as those little bird houses were just too cute not to entice at least one bird and make it want to fly around for a closer inspection. It is free lodging after all.
I also added a little bee as they could not resist the perfume coming from all those flowers :-)
Now, I need to get my finishing books out as I have not done any finishing for some time now and finish that little bugger (lol)
Pierrette =^..^=

Friday, October 20, 2006

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