Seashell Pail Class Progress

We all made good  progress on the Seashell Pail canvas . In class, we added stitches to the seahorse using Splendor to stitch encroaching gobelin

for the body and straight stitches for the spiny hairs.  The fan shell was completed using spider wrapping. Upright cross in Gloriana was used for the crab's shell and packed outline for the legs. The urchin was done in packed outline using one ply of wool. Star shaped eyelet stitch was used in the center of the sand dollar then split stitch on the outer area. Next class , the pail will be the focus using wrapped chain for the handles, a Hungarian variation for the body of the pail and a repousse' for the ridges. The background stitches will done in the final class.  Several in class are going to add shells they have collected to the stitched piece. See you all next class! Enjoy the Olympics.

Wonder Ribbon by The Collection

Due to the calls and emails asking about this new product , Wonder Ribbon, I want to share some information with you.

 This is a 6mm  woven metallic ribbon coated with lacquered enamel. It is water proof, heat resistant and nickel free.  You can pull it to 3 times its original size , twist it, braid it, use it as a tube  and just be creative with this ribbon. It comes in 20 colors. 
Here are a few examples of what you can do with this thread.

I have used it for the edge of a dress, a veil, a small bag for an object , a tube holding beads and a window screen. I am sure you will come up with many other creative uses for this new product offered by The Collection.

Color Confidence

In working on a piece I am designing, I use several colour books for inspiration. I have found that two important factors come into play when choosing colours- what the colour will be next to and how much of the colour will be used. For those gifted with artistic talent, colour is easy but for most of us it is a challenge. I wanted to share with you this great book by Trish Burr that a friend introduced me to when we were discussing colour.

" From colour selection and blending to choosing complimentary colours and creative contrasting and shading, it highlights a variety of techniques for surface and counted thread embroidery projects. More than 200 stitched examples with DMC thread keys, plus colour schemes and projects such as roses, fruits, and birds will inspire stitchers. " Trish Burr is well know for her expertise on needle painting ,writing several book and teaching to promote her love for embroidery. When asked where she finds the time in her busy live to stitch, she states "I don't find time, I make it."

What I like best in this book are the Harmonizing Schemes, combinations for each color group and the Design Schemes. Each scheme provides  DMC thread suggestions, that I then use to select a variety of different textured threads to enhance a design. 

Just a suggestion for an addition to your library of needlework books that is very useful.

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Coffee Purse

One of the best things at the shop is seeing a piece go from  the painted canvas to the stitched and  finished piece. This piece was stitched by a young gal who loves her coffee. We found just the righ rattan bag and trim to complement the colors in the canvas. She will get lots of compliments on her bag for sure!

Chuckwagon Coffee Class with Sherry Bray

Before I go off to class this morning, I just had to share the pictures with you of the class piece, Chuckwagon Coffee the talented Sherry Bray will be teaching at the shop in October. Sherry has used great fibers and many innovative technique on this  colorful canvas which is a Linda Carter Holman design from Melissa Shirley Designs. See the shop website for details on this class on October 20/21. Sherry will also be doing a special day of canvas enhancement on October 19,2012. Come join us !

Navajo Rug inspired design

I spent a wonderful day in a pilot class and had a great time. I will be able to share the pictures of the piece and the class with you once the class is taught later this summer. An additional treat was the viewing of beautiful framed pieces done by a talented stitcher, Jo Enright who has died. This one will be on display at the EGA seminar in Phoenix in 2014 and is entitled "Walk in Beauty" . It was a class at the 2001 EGA Seminar in Newport Beach based on Navajo rugs where the students developed their own design. DMC floss and wools were the threads used on congress cloth. It is beautifully stitched and even more stunning when seen in person. I share this with you in honor of the lovely lady and hope you find inspiration from her work.

iBead App for your phone and iPad

One of the lovely gals who works for me at the shop is an avid beader.
She told me about this little app for your phone or iPad called iBead.  It gives a bead size guide, a bead calculator , a wire guide  along with a little ruler and a seed bead guide.  You can preview it on iTunes and the cost is $.99. I have used the little ruler  as well as the size guides on numerous occasions when hunting for embellishments needs, so I thought other stitchers might find it useful as well.
Here is the link to the iTunes preview:
 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibead/id411523391?mt=8

Here is Boo Kitty , an adorable canvas created by Melissa Shirley

to highlight June McKnight's special stitches from her latest book
"Spooky Stitches" . This is a must stitch for those who like Halloween 

canvases. From the stump work pumpkin to the spider created from a black

sew on snap , these piece is full of creative stitches.  I just finished stitching this and have some great finishing ideas. Check back soon for the finished product. And, don't forget to add this book to your needlepoint library.

 

Seashell Pail Class

Here is our class progress on this wonderful canvas by Melissa Shirley Designs.

 The edges of the green shell were done in the buttonhole stitch with Kreinik braid and a step pattern in silk was used on the shell. For the rust shell, we stitch encroaching gobelin then placed the dark lines on the outside of the shell in outline stitch. A color copy of the canvas ( a must for all projects) was used for placement of these dark lines. Couched lines were used for the outside of the shell. The gold shell was stitched with an overdye in a staggered cross pattern. Another overdye was used to stitch the staggered mosaic pattern for the spotted shell. Bullions were the best stitch for the coral. 

Next class we will work on the other shells, seahorse , crab and urchin. it is fun to share these stitches but some of the gals had great ideas of their own , so each canvas will have their personal touch.  So lots of options were discussed  and tried on the edges of our canvases .

Rebecca Wood's Baby Cake Designs

 This is my version of finishing for these cute canvas designs as seen in the latest Needlepoint Now magazine. It was a quick stitch and a fun class I took at the recent needlework market. The small circle the cake sits on can be used on its own as a little stand when  another cake is on the plate for display!

I plan to do the Fourth of July and Halloween in this series  but it is hard to choose .

For all you dog lovers- My SharPeis

Welcome to Sonoran Desert Stitching

Welcome! This blog was created so I can share stitching ideas, new techniques I learn from classes and colleagues and to promote all things needlepoint. I look forward to sharing pictures and ideas.