Teddy Bear

Project: Teddy Bear

Designer: Unknown

Type of needlework: Blackwork

Photos: 2

Design coming from a book: "The New Anchor Book of Blackwork: Techniques & Designs"

Comments: I have always thought that blackwork was so pretty and I wanted to try it with some project that would not be too difficult. I purchased the book shown below and saw that little bear. It hit a note with me and I decided that this was going to be my first blackwork project and I must say that I had lots of fun stitching it and wanted to do more blackwork projects after this.

Anasazi Song: Carole Lake, designer

Project: Anasazi Song

Designer: Carole Lake

Type of needlework: Needlepoint

Photos: 6

Carole's website: http://www.carolelake.com/

Comments: The colors are the first thing that drew me to this project and then the design. I loved the combination and decided that I wanted to stitch it. This is a quick stitch. The section that took the longest, and everything is relative here, is the outer border as I needed to use a laying tool. It is at the framer as I am writing this. As soon as I get it back I will take some photos and add them on this very post as I want to keep everything together.

UPDATE March 10, 2010: Just heard back from my framer and Anasazi Song was ready for pick-up. Have included two photos, one was taken in a very lighted aread with lights on and the other one without any lights, just telling you so that you take it into consideration when viewing the two photos and see some light color differences.

Photo above taken with lots of lighting

Photo taken without any special lighting

Fabric vase with silk ribbon flowers

Project: Fabric vase with silk ribbon flowers

Designer: Vase shape was from a group project - the flower arrangement is my own

and is completely different from the original project

Type of needlework: Appliqué and Silk ribbon embroidery

Photos: 2

Comments: This project was done when I was co-owner of Crazy Quilt International, a yahoo group, at the request of a very good friend of mine, as I had never done any in my life. Had some idea as to what it was, but  no more.

This project has nothing to do with crazy quilting, but was just something that some of us decided to do together. Someone came up with a few shapes for the vase and I selected the one above and then she added a few flowers inside the vase. I thought that it needed more flowers than that and I kept adding and adding to end up with the above very full vase.

 It was a bit like eating chocolate, hard to stop once we get going. This has been finished as a pillow. I need to do more silk ribbon embroidery as this is great fun and I know of some very well designed projects that I can purchase and do. Need to put that on my list of things to do.

My best friend finished this as a pillow for me.

Update: March 9, 2010: Just found a photograph showing the finishing.

Emerald & Gold Mini Stocking: Kaitlyn Marie Designs

Project: Emerald & Gold Mini Stocking

(Fancy That, 1994)

Designer: Kaitlyn Marie Designs

Type of needlework: Needlepoint & Beading

Photo: 1

Comments: When I saw this little stocking, I just fell in love with it, but wondered if I could actually stitch this as I was just beginning learning needlepoint and it looked challenging and all those beads. Had never done any beading before, but with some help, I got it done and had it finished for me.

I just adore it and it goes on my Christmas tree each year.

Monrovia: Jim Wurth, designer

Project: Monrovia

(4th of the series)

Designer: Jim Wurth

Series: Dodecagon ornaments

Type of needlework: Needlepoint

Photo: 1

Jim's Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DodecagonSeriesOrnaments/

Comments: There are only two ornaments in this series that have a similar feel to them. This one called "Monrovia" and the other one is called "Arcadia". The colors used are mainly metallic gold and silver with some white.

The outline of all these ornaments is exactly the same and uses exactly the same stitches but different colors and threads.

They are called "Dodecagon" as each ornament has 12 sides and all are 5 inches in diameter.

Windows into my Heart: Ruthmarie Hofmann, designer

Project: Windows into my heart

(2004 ANG CyberWorkshop)

Designer: Ruthmarie Hofmann

Type of needlework: Needlepoint

Photos: 3

Comments: I am so glad that I have finally completed the stitching on this project as there was so many roadblocks for me.

 First the two choice of colors offered to us as kit were not the colors that the original was stitched with and I had fallen in love with the original colors as they were a big part of my decision making for deciding to do this project, so that was a big disappointment from the start. Apparently some of the colors were just not available anymore and the designer had to select other colors. Then I had a problem with the canvas. The design was originally stitched in a certain canvas count and mine was different and I had not realized it so I ended up short and had to make compromises that I really did not care to make.

I was so disappointed at one point that I just put it aside and it took me years before I took it out again. The thing is that I really love this design and something in me wanted it done  no matter what. Once I took it out, I just went ahead and did the best I could with what I had in hand. To me this will never be as pretty as the original colors, but I am happy that I got it done.

Update: March 9, 2010:    This is the photo that I had seen about the project and I just felt in love with it. The thread colors are much lighter, softer and the box is covered with a fabric that looks a bit like white or off-white. I just loved the elegance of it. The fabric that came with the kit was of some red/purple color and I did not feel comfortable using it and ended up framing mine.

I never usually stitch the same project twice as I feel that there are so many great designs out there that there is really no need to do so, but if I could somehow manage to find everything needed to replicate it, I would in an instant. I remember the beads were also a problem as they had been discontinued.

Morris Impressions: Ann Caswell, designer

Project: Morris Impressions

Designer: Ann Caswell

Type of needlework: Bargello

Photos: 2

Pattern found in Piecework magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, pp 18 - 20

Free pattern at the Caron Collection HERE

Comments: I first saw this design in the magazine and loved it. Later on, I saw the exact same thing online and have included the link above. The issue of this magazine is probably not available anymore anyway and there is absolutely no differences in the instructions between the two, exact same thing.

The colors and the threads used for this project are just so yummy, at least to me. I truly enjoyed stitching it, though I needed to be very careful with the counting and I think if I remember correctly that there were some little errors between the stitched photo and the diagrams. It has been a while so I can't remember exactly what they were, but I was very careful to check both before stitching any portions of the design, which is good advice for any projects.

This project was finished as a little decorative pillow, something I could have done, but selected instead to have it framed. If I were to redo it again, I think that I would go for the pillow.

The Drawn-thread Needlebook: Sharon Cohen, designer

Project: The Drawn-Thread Needlebook

(1995)

Designer: Sharon Cohen

(The Nostalgic Needle)

Type of needlework: Drawn thread

Photos: 2

Sharon's website: http://www.nostalgicneedledesigns.com/

Comments: My very first attempt to drawn thread and I must say that I just loved it. This is great fun to do. Of course the Fleurs de Lys is a symbol special to the "french" part in me, being French Canadian.

This is not a difficult project though when it is your first time, you need to be vigilant as not to make any mistakes. It was suggested to me that I finish it as little decorative pillow instead of the needlebook originally finished below. I think that both finishes looks great.

(Photo of the needlebook included with the instructions)

Bargello Symphony: Loretta Spears, designer

Project: Bargello Symphony

(Mystery #8)

Designer: Loretta Spears

Type of Needlework: Bargello

Photos: 2

This design can also be seen on ANG website

Comments: Loretta Spears! I love her designs. I am normally the kind of person who do NOT want to do any mystery projects as I like to see what it will look like when done. I would hate to put time, efforts and money into something that I will end up wondering why in the world I have stitched that. I had seen this project on the ANG website (link above) and I just loved it. Having this photograph was a big help guiding me with my first mystery.

This was a big project and it took me quite a bit of time stitching exclusively on it but the end result is just so incredibly beautiful. I bet you can tell that I just love it.

There was quite a bit of counting and I had to pay great attention to what I was doing but overall it was a pleasure to stitch it. I had been fortunate enough to be able to find the kit so my threads are the original ones.

Update: March 09/2010: Just found a photograph of Bargello Symphony before any framing had been done.

Poirot: Jim Wurth, designer

Project: Poirot

(3rd of the series)

Designer: Jim Wurth

Series: Dodecagon ornaments

Type of needlework: Needlepoint

Photo: 1

Jim's Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DodecagonSeriesOrnaments/