Stitching Challenge

Amber skrev:

1. Oh but of couse also the Merc (made from a photo- NO pattern):

Maureen In Vancouver, B.C. skrev:

For me there are three:

1. Copenhagen (sizewise):
   formatting link
   King TUT (metallics):
   formatting link
   The Merc (from a photo- NO pattern), my own design
   formatting link

Hmm, that's a good queston. For me, I think the necklace piece I did for a Joyce Lukomski class about 7 years ago. It is the first thing I did on black, 24 ct congress cloth, and is 3 interlocked paisley shapes, that are done in metallics - in a very precise grid pattern. If you were off one thread on anything, it went crooked. Lots of interesting threads - first time using "lacquered jewels" .

Next - first Emie Bishop piece - still unfinished. Don't know that it was difficult - but the directions were all over the place.

I think that the Drawn Thread pieces which I bought recently will be challenging - there are a lot of unique stitches in them. Toccata #2 - which Lucille also has. And the Love and Wisdom - which I'm close to starting.

Honestly - I think some of my NP with goldwork projects are the most challenging - skillwise, precision wise. But, that's me. Almost all of them allow or force me to do the material choosing, and sometimes the stitche choices - so that's the more challenging part.

ellice

Ericka, were you listening as Donna and I were browsing during our outing? That seems to be the place we're all in. I can find some XS very nice, but rarely will it call enough for me to actually do it. I need to have some variety of stitching techniques in there. That said, I've recently added 2 all XS pieces into the queue. But, for the pumpkins one, I'm using many different threads - not just floss - but a mix including silks, rayon, metallic, and overdyes - so that will entertain me. And the Sweet Potato Vine - the detail called to me - so I'll deal.

With those, I used to do a bunch of Lessa Steele designs as well, including the hardanger or cutwork. Now, I'm more the Indigo Rose, Drawn Thread and less VS - though I have one more in the queue.

I find that doing planning of my sewing/quilting projects is a challenge - similar to planning your embellishments on the baby cloths.

ellice

ellice

Yeah, I heard some of your discussion on that. I also have this thing about feeling like I want needlework to be about the needlework, rather than trying to mimic another art form. So, while I agree that some of the very detailed cross stitch projects are beautiful, I don't have an interest in trying to do a cross stitch piece to look like a photograph. It won't ever be as detailed as the photograph! I'm more interested in the needlework

I think maybe someone did. Brain like a sieve, though, so I couldn't tell you for sure without googling it up ;-)

The VS ones I like are more the Heirloom Sampler series. I did the anniversary sampler for my parents (but changed the verse and did it in greens rather than mauves, since mauve is

I've been resisting getting bit by the sewing bug (my grandmother was a wonderful seamstress), so I just usually run down to Strasburg Children and pick something up to embellish ;-) Actually, must remember to drop in there soon. I bet I can find something on sale that I can embellish for Miss Priss for Valentine's.

Best wishes, Ericka

Would you please remind me every week or so that I should start to work on Toccata. It's ready to go but so far I haven't had the energy to actually put needle to fabric.

Thanks in advance for pestering me about this project.

Lucille

"Lucille" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

Me, that's just the job for me, I'll do it lol

And I'm quite sure you'll enjoy it too-------------------

I totally understand.

You don't look like a sieve. I just remembered looking at it when some others brought it up. Brain too full of trivia.

Nice. I like the VS. I've found that I've gone off the Lessa Steele as it is becoming so much more of the same. Thought I have a really nice piece all kitted up (Majesty) that has been waiting for some years.

LOL - the sewing thing - got me right into that Bernina. I just do it in spells. Kind of sucks you in to long periods of time. Do you go to the Strasbourg in Dulles Town Center (as opposed to the hell of traffic known as Tyson's Corner)? LMK when you're heading out - we can hook up for chat/tea/coffee.... I don't think I'll be going in to real work til the week after next (they're doing the building passes, all the administrivia stuff now).

ellice

- yes, Lucille - I will remind you. In turn - you must remind me to start Love & Wisdom. I spend one of my flu days - I think last Friday - sorting out all the fabrics, charts, etc. bound the fabrics to prevent ravelling, etc. But, I have promised not to start anything til the Summer Garden is done and I just haven't gotten back to it. So close!

I guess I'll get to the Tocata after one of the others gets done.

ellice

;-) I have my grandmother's Bernina. It does make the little sewing I do enjoyable!

Yep. There isn't one in Tyson's. There used to be one at Fair Oaks, but it's gone now. If you hit them at the right times, the sales are pretty good.

Fun, fun. Will do. This week I keep getting booked up having to go in to work and the dentist appointment I've been on the waiting list for since I had to cancel the last one due to the kids having chicken pox and all that. Next week looks like it will be better.

Best wishes, Ericka

When I did her Black Sheep Sampler, rather than doing her wording at the bottom, I put my name in a rather fancy lettering, and it's one of my favorites. Actually it's the first Elizabeth's Designs I bought, before I'd ever heard of her or seen any of her other designs. I got it at a Hobby Lobby sale.

It was amazing to me when I got mine - after my old Singer workhorse. My DA has an older Bernina (the non-computerized type) that she was going to give/sell to me, but then wouldn't part with it (she also has a top of the line type as well). I was lucky to get a really good deal on mine from G-Street - end of the summer - been used for one set of classes, completely cleaned up, (I think barely used), full warranty, and 40% off. Now they use a lower model. I really like it - though I think it wants to go to the shop for a cleaning, and I want to have 2 of the stitches changed on it - which on this one a tech has to do. Also have DH's mothers 1930ish Singer - cool machine - in a very art deco cabinet. Been trying to think of what to do with the cabinet - it's actually too small to use but would be a cool little desk/table thing (it looks like it's out of a Poirot set). I think the machine is older.

I always like seeing what's in their window.

OK - will hit you off line. I've got dentist tomorrow (hopefully the fixed crown is in). Next week will be a little busy - they're supposedly putting in the new floor in the LR & DR - if the border wood has come (my compromise for the wood being a different color than the original is putting a contrasting, transverse border of 3 strips - in this really nice maple-cinnamon finished wood that matches our kitchen cabinets pretty well).

I figure next week may be my last week to play. Tomorrow and weekend I'm finishing staining some cabinets and desk/hutch for guest room. (since they're currently in the LR that only has sub-floor).

ellice

Maureen's Singer sewing machine is the old-fashioned, treadle- or hand-operated type (model 66). I bought it in a junk shop about 30 years ago, complete with umpteen attachments; the handbook was still in the drawer, very dated with photographs of ladies in Marcel waves etc. The machine still works well. I clean & oil it at regular intervals and recently downloaded the maintenance manual from the web.

This one is similar. I honestly don't remember what the model number is, and it's not reachable right now. DH's mom had lots of attachments for it though I don't think they really used it.

ellice

I love everything Dimensions puts out in fact. Their charts often remind me of David Kinkaid paintings. So beautiful.

I just visited kustomkrafts.com and I must say I'm duely impressed. The only thing is that now it looks like I'm going to have to drop the stay-at-home mom routine and get a paying job because DH can't possibly afford to keep me in the charts I was meant to have. lol

Maureen