Oak leaves and acorns: Goldwork

I did not especially feel like stitching today so that was a good day to do some finishing. A little while back I had ordered a box from Sudberry which I received a couple days after I placed my order. I was surprised by how quickly they shipped it. I had ordered something a long time ago and could not remember how good they were at customer service, so that was a nice surprise.

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I asked my husband if he could take two photos, one over the box and another one to show what the box looks like.





This is the second photo he took for me to show the lines of the box. Just one thing though, he took the photo from the back and not from the front. Not sure how he did it, but I did not have the heart to tell him about it and have him retake it again, so now you can all see the project from the front and from the back (big grin).


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Here is the link for the box.

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Now, what will I put in it .............. hum, I must have some treasures somewhere. I just love boxes and have not many, so this is a real treat for me. It is also less expensive than having the piece framed. Anyway, it is nice to have a bit of both.


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Pierrette =^..^=

Heirloom Purse Necklace

This is something that I don't ordinary do, "beading", but to my great surprise I had a ball and time flew by without me noticing it. This is one of the reason that I like to try different kind of stitching as I never know when I am going to find something that I really love to do and I have just found out that this is one of them that I will do more of in the coming months.

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This is an original design by Susan Clarke, part of her Heirloom Purse Collection. I had that kit for years, and I mean years, and yesterday I decided to have a go at it and what fun it was.

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There is a little silk ribbon stitching on the surface, a few beads and of course putting the little purse together and then it is mostly beading for the dangles, the swag and the straps.

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This is a little decorative purse necklace in which I could put a house key or a few dollar bills inside it, if for some reason I did not want to carry a purse with me.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Oak leaves and acorns: Goldwork

This is a photo of the finished project. I find it very hard to take a photo that would really show the sparkling properly.

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Janice Routley, the designer for this project, gave us the option to fill in the little caps in different ways. I chose to bead the purls using various lengths, placing them in random directions, made some loops and overlap others, to give the little caps some dimensions. Link for the Embroiderers' Association of Canada is http://www.eac.ca/

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I have ordered a Sudberry box and will use that to finish this project. Link for the site where they sell different boxes is http://www.sudberry.com/

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Pierrette =^..^=

Terra Rosa: An Elsa M. Parrish design

This is another project that I have been working on. It is an Elsa M. Parrish's design representing a series of native american potteries sitting on a shelf.

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Years ago I purchased that pattern as a kit, complete with line drawing on congress cloth with threads and ribbons. I have always been very interested by Indian pottery and have been able to purchase a few pieces while traveling in the U.S.A.

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At the beginning of the year I started thinking of all the projects that were just sitting there waiting for me to get to them and this one was always in my mind, so decided that this year was going to be the year for me to do it. I also have another one of Elsa's designs that I really want to stitch. It has Indians, horses and mountains and it is absolutely gorgeous.

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This year, I am experimenting with rotating my different projects and not work all the time on the same one. I find it a bit difficult to do as I have always been the kind of person to work only on one project at a time. Will see how things work out for me.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Oak leaves and acorns: Goldwork

One of the projects that I have been working on lately is a beginner's metal thread (goldwork) correspondence course designed by Janice Routley for the Embroiderers' Association of Canada, to which I belong to.

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I was surprised to see how much work there was to do before I could actually start couching the Japanese gold threads on the project. First, I needed to mount backing and ground material together using herringbone stitches making sure both fabric are well stretched, then I had to use the trace and tack method for transferring the pattern and only after that was done was I able to start couching the Japanese gold thread on my design, starting with the three oak leaves. Next step is to work the three acorns themselves and then the design will be completed.

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After that I will need to start looking for a lovely wooden box. I think that would look nice as an insert.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Czarina: Dodecagon Ornament series designed by Jim Wurth

I finished stitching this ornament yesterday Dec. 31st, 2007, but decided to start the new year 2008 with the posting of this 8th ornament called Czarina from the 12 Dodecagon Ornament Series designed by Jim Wurth. A nice way to start 2008 and put the Christmas season behind me.

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Still four more to go and the series will be complete.

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I am always amazed at the amount of work that goes into such a small ornament. My husband told me that this is the one he loves the best so far, but there are quite a few that are very close second.

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I have made myself a long long list of projects that I would like to stitch in 2008, a very unrealistic list, I am afraid, but hey it is fun to dream of all the things that I will be able to work on in 2008.

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It will be interesting to see at the end of 2008 which projects I will have completed, which ones I will have left undone and which other projects that are not on my list that will have somehow made their way in my stitching hands.

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The way I see things, a list is just a list to guide me as I have so many projects waiting in the wings that if I don't go through them once in a while I forget that I have them.

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Now, I need to decide which one will be my very first project for 2008 (big smile). Ok, I have just decided. I will actually be working on multiple projects but the project that I consider to be my first for this year is called "Terra Rosa" and is a Elsa M. Parrish design. I have purchased this many years ago and have always wanted to work on it, but for whatever reason have never done so. This year is the year. I have already mounted the design that Elsa has drawn on congress cloth on stretcher bars and will now be reading all the instructions while having a good cappucino and then it will be a start. I know I made the right decision as I feel all excited (big grin)

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Pierrette =^..^=

Rose Vine Ornament

This is a Wendie Young design that I have slightly changed to make a Christmas ornament out of it.

Pierrette =^..^=

Roses and Noel Ornament

This is a Victoria Sampler Christmas ornament that I have just completed the stitching and finishing, which is now all ready to go on a Christmas tree.

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I had been wanting to make it for quite some time but for some reason or other never got around to it. I am glad that I did this time around. It was lot of fun to stitch and a wonderful experience. I am always learning something new each time I work on a project, so learning curve going up (big smile).

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Roses and buds are bullions, fly stitches for the big leaves, lazy daisies for the smaller leaves and stem stitch for the stems. I have used DMC threads for this project. Was tempted to use Edmar threads, but changed my mind. If I make another one, I will probably do it Brazilian embroidery style.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Bookmark: Painted woman

These days I am deep in experimentation with different medium and wanted to make something special for Terry's adult son Matt, who has returned to the unversity to study art amongst other things.

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The idea came to me to make him a bookmark where I would attempt to paint a woman and only outline her silhouette and clothing in stitches. I wanted to give the feeling of oil painting by using watercolour.

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Here is the finished product, but he won't be able to see it before Christmas. I do hope he gets a kick out of it.

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Time to move on to another project for Christmas as tomorrow is already Thanksgiving. Can't believe how time flies when I am having fun.

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Pierrette =^..^=

Fabric Envelope

I have made this embroidered envelope for my very good friend Terry so that she can carry some of her little treasures with her. I know that she has been carrying her Halloween ID card and an embroidered angel with her in her purse, so now she will have an embroidered container to put them in. Hope she likes it.

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This is an adaptation of an Inspiration magazine design by Brenda Ryan (magazine #51)

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Pierrette =^..^=