Boo Kitty

I took this class from the marvelous June McKnight and here is my finished piece.

 

The spider on the back was an unexpected addition!

Santa Club From Raymond Crawford

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Here are the finished five Santa letters designed by Raymond Crawford. The set was beautifully stitched and the finishing just completes this beautiful set.What a
special holiday display!

Sugar Skull Needle Minders and more!

I am always on the lookout for new items for the shop. Embellishments Plus is
a new company that has everything and anything you need to embellish needlework. From indispensable basics, like seed beads, to rhinestones for glitz and glamor,  glass beads for depth and sparkle,  metal accents for
detail/texture and sequins for shine , they have it all. 
But there is more, here are their latest Needle Minders.
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Here are some of my favorites:

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The "Sugar" is available with a black background and ivory, pink, red or white

figure . Also , ivory on pink or black on white  in this design.

 The "Hummer" is available in blue, pink or black with ivory design.

The owl is also available in ivory on warm brown.

 

 These will arrive shortly so you can call and have your choice set aside or sent to you.  Prices range from $5.90 to $7.75 with different designs available in mini or large. The size chart shows the size comparison.

Future Class-Joyeux Noel

This is a great time to work on future shop class projects. This canvas was chosen by a group of ladies who wanted to do a holiday canvas that was different. The colors are unique- teal, silver  gold and white French letters on aqua canvas. Lots of glitz and textured stitches using silk and metallic threads.
The background will be very special and a perfect compliment to the lettering.
This class will be offered in Winter 2013 so watch the website or read the updates in the newsletter. 
I found a great antique white tray for the ladies to finish their project that will be a useful as well an elegant accessory.

                                                  18 mesh  Design size 7"x9"

Beading with Carolyn Sherman

I took another wonderful beading class from Carolyn Sherman last weekend.
I learned how to place a cabochon on fabric then place beads using back stitch and peyote beading to encase it.  There were lots of places to use stacked beads. Lines of beads were stitched on curved lines  in stacks, graduated stacks and ruffles. Tiny leaf fringes were made. It was so much fun and  all of these techniques can be used on future stitching projects. 

Carolyn provided us with a list of very used hints when using beads;
1. Do not crowd beads. 
        It is better to give them some "wiggle room" so they do not buckle.
2. Keep a medium tension.
3. If a line of beads does not look straight, weave through the entire line again . This will straighten the row.
4. Make a tiny tack stitch over the beading thread to pull a bead into place.
5. To make a sharp corner, sink the needle at the corner. Then , bring it up close to where the needle went down to stitch a right angle.

  In September , a beading class will start with a series of lessons on these
and many other techniques for canvas enhancement. Watch the website and newsletter for information. Beading is certainly addictive!

Creative Stitches -Laying Threads

I think it is good to revisit the basics of stitching techniques as it is easy to accumulate bad habits. Joni Stevenson is a ANG Master Teacher as well as an
ANG Certified Judge, who writes a very informative blog ,providing
good hints, tips and techniques . Her latest article was on "Laying Threads" . It is a concise overview for new stitchers to  familiarize themselves with this technique and a good refresher for other stitchers. Here is the link:
                     www.creative-stitch.blogspot.com
 

Collage of whimsical Christmas Stockings

The fall needlework market is just around the corner . All the vendors are getting ready to
 bring new itemsfor the shops to view and purchase.
Here is a collage of Christmas stockings by designer Nancy Coffelt that
I will take for my line, Quail Run Designs. These canvases are so colorful and whimsical.
 They just make you smile!

Inspiration for color

I was working on an article about color for the newsletter . One of the greatest sources of color inspiration is nature. While sitting and writing , my view echoed that. So here is the view for you to enjoy as well.

Where else do you find such brillant blues-my favorite color. Look for the article titled "It's All About Color" in the new version of our newsletter in September.

Update on Seashell Pail Class

We had an interesting class as three of the gals joined us on Skype. The HD webcam does produce wonderful laptop screen images. Our class was visited by spouses, children, grandchildren and a variety of pets making it lots of fun. 

We all worked on the pail today . Three colors of silk alone and in combination were worked  in a Double Hungarian stitch. We were all pleased with the result of these combinations . The handle and rim were done in wrapped back stitch using one of the silk colors of the pail for the back stitch , then wrapping with a fine metallic braid.  To make the ridges on the pail , a repousse' technique was used with  3 strands of perle' cotton as the core and a silk for the wrapping thread.  Then one strand of the silk was used to couch this in place.I find the key here is to anchor the core thread on the canvas then begin wrapping. I think 8 of these repousse' will  complete each of the two ridged areas. One was placed at the top just beneath the rim of the pail. Our last area in class was the starfish. Having worked hard on the repousse', we all enjoyed doing French knots for the starfish. Our last class we be on the stitches for the white and gold border, so look for those next week. See you all then!

August Newsletter

                         The August Newsletter is online.
                     Just click here then click on Newsletters.

Lots of finishing ideas, new classes to attend or do as home study and
interesting beading techniques on the Bring a Canvas to Life article.
Don't forget to email  your question to quailrun@quailrun-inc.com
and if your question is chosen , you win a pair of lovely Dovo scissors.
 

Coffee Cup Art

In editing the August newsletter, I could not resist including this link next to the coffee cup purse.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13895571@N04/sets/72157614580046629/    

A Malaysian-born, California-based artist, Cheeming Boey,  creates these incredibly detailed, circular line drawings on disposable coffee cups with a Sharpie. Boey, 34, has sold his fragile, disposable art for six years. Some are priced as high as $1,250. They're incredibly complicated—each picture forms a perfect, endless loop around the cup.He started the project as a bet after he left his job as a video game animator.

                          To read  more in the newsletter click here
 
                                  and then click on Newsletters.
                         
                                 
 

A Home in Needlepoint

A lovely customer emailed me the stitched and framed picture of her house. She had worked on it while here during the winter and is now at this beautiful home on a lake in northern Michigan. She did a fabulous job with colors and stitches. You, too, can stitch you home , your pet or a favorite spot. All we need is a picture and our artist can reproduce this for you. I have done several of our pets and now that they are no longer with us, it is a wonderful keepsake.

 

Finishing for you

I am frequently asked by customers when looking at a canvas-"what I am going to do with it when I am finished stitching?" One of the challenges is to find just the right fabric and trim to enhance the project. We just had a Christmas in July finishing sale so we are working on a variety of wonderful stitched canvases. One of our ladies asked us to create this wooden frame for the stitched backdrop as well as a cradle for her nativity set which will no doubt be enjoyed by her family for years to come. We are glad to take on these challenges to create your images for your projects.

Interview with June McKnight on Kreinik's blog

The great people at Kreinik have a interesting blog that I enjoy reading. The latest article is an interview with June McKnight . So here is the link for you to read about this fine lady.

http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-book-shows-you-how-to-make.html

10 questions with designer, teacher and writer June McKnight