Bargello scissor case: Mary Hickmott, designer

Project: Bargello scissor case

(New Stitches, Issue 23)

Designer: Mary Hickmott

Type of needlework: Bargello

Photos: 3

Comments: On EGA National, there was a discussion about when the customer requests certain colors for finishing (they were actually chatting about framing, but finishing would certainly fit into that discussion) and the framer/finisher does not agree with the desires of his or her customer and do as he or she pleases.

I felt the question rather interesting as something a bit similar had happened to me before, a long time ago. 

The incident happened with a little scissor case that I had stitched bargello style using a Caron watercolour thread. That thread had orange and blue shades. Having practically no experience, I had not realized that on a small project like that one, the change of colors do not spread as well as when using the watercolor thread on a bigger project, so I ended up with a bit more orange color than I wished for.

Since I had not been stitching for long at the time and the store had a finisher that did all the finishing for them and she was rather good at that too, I decided to have it finished as had no idea how to do the finishing back then.

Anyway, to cut my story short, I asked for the inside of the scissor case to be finished using a fabric in one of the blue shade that was in the watercolor thread and also to put a blue button. I thought that this would help temper down all that fiery orange that I ended up having on my scissor case.

You should have seen my face when I got my scissor case back. The inside was as orange as can be with an orange button on top too. I had the feeling of holding a little inferno in my hands.

Apparently someone at the shop decided to do the finishing themselves instead of sending it to the finisher and they had also taken upon themselves to just ignore my wishes concerning the blue fabric and button. Perhaps this happened during the Halloween season or something and orange was the color of the day/week/month and easy to get from the fabric store, I don't know and I probably never will. I think I was just too much in shock to think about asking.

Since it was only a small needlecase and the investment had been minimal, I decided to just keep it as finished and not start a big discussion, so I paid for it and left the store talking to myself.

This was followed by other "not so good" customer service that I got from them (relatively sure that I was not the only recipient of such outstanding service) and after a while I decided that enough was enough and never set foot in that shop ever again.

(Photo showing the nice Halloween orange color fabric

and Halloween button to boot)

It would have been so nice to have seen some blue fabric and a blue button there instead.

Options in Hardanger: Dale Sokolow, designer

Project: Options in Hardanger

Designer: Dale Sokolow, designer

Type of needlework: Hardanger

Photos: 3

An EGA correspondence course: http://www.egausa.org/

Received through: EGA CyberStitchers: http://www.cyberstitchers.org/

Comments: When I saw this hardanger project, I just could not resist it. I thought it was just so beautiful.

This course came with 3 different layouts. I have only stitched one of them so far, but fully intend to do the other two in other colors at one point in time.

I stitched the layout #2 using Ash Rose Lugana fabric with Gobi Sand watercolours and pearl cottons threads. Those colors have turned so beautifully together. They were the colors that Dale used when stitching this layout. Since I loved them, I did not see any purpose in changing them just for the sake of changing them.

(photo showing everything stitched except the fillings)

(Project completed before cutting excess fabric around border)

Fabulous Finale: Jim Wurth, designer

Project: Fabulous Finale

(12th 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: This is the last one of the Dodecagon Series but not the least. It is absolutely beautiful.

As I have said before, I am not the kind of person who will sign up for series, any series, never had done so before Jim came up with this Dodecagon series ornaments, and mostly when I can't see them all beforehand as the question is for me, will I like them or not?

With this series I could see 3 out of the 12 in an advertisement that Jim had made in the magazine NeedlePoint Now. When I saw them, I stopped dead in my tracks as I felt the designs were just so special, but I did not do anything about it for a long while. It actually took me months before I finally made the decision, with my husband's input, to register for the whole series, as I felt it was a big investment in both time and money.

I am happy to say that I have  never  regretted that decision as it has been a wonderful stitching journey for me. I can now do Jessicas with my eyes closed (grinning). Does that mean that I will register for other series in the future? Not necessarily so, unless something this special comes along again.

Hollyhock House Window: A Frank Lloyd Wright adapted design

Project: Hollyhock House Window

Designer:  Inspired by a design of Frank Lloyd Wright, architect

(Heartland House Designs)

Type of needlework: Cross Stitch

Photo: 1

Comments: I have always been very interested in architecture and when in Chicago on a trip, we visited some of the houses that have been built by Frank Lloyd Wright. In the visitor center I saw a few charts, all cross stitch, and purchased a couple of them. So far I have only stitched this one and given it to my husband to put in his office.

According to the chart, this asymmetrical design of the window can be used either vertically or horizontally. I decided to hang it vertically.

Blue Bouquet, Rosalyn K. Watnemo, designer

Project: Blue Bouquet

Designer: Rosalyn K. Watnemo

(This is a Nordic Needle hardanger kit # K2106)

(1997)

Type of needlework: Hardanger

Photos: 3

Comments: I was looking for some hardanger project to practice on and found this one, which I thought was rather cute. It also came as a kit making my life simpler.

The finished size of the design is 6 1/4" square.

As I want to finish every projects that I stitch and do not always have a specific use for them, I often finish them as little ornamental pillows. I now have several decorative pillows of various sizes, all sitting pretty together.

(Close-up photo)

(Photo showing pillow but without the tassels)

Tropical Fantasy: Sue Lentz, designer

Project: Tropical Fantasy

(1994 Rainbow Gallery chart)

Designer: Sue Lentz

Type of needlework: Needlepoint

Photos: 3

Comments: This is a project that I did early on when I learned how to stitch. I had seen it already stitched in the store and it was absolutely dead gorgeous.

Unfortunately after having a bit of problems with this project, I had put it aside, but I had the good foresight to take it out again and finish it this time around.

Now, believe me when I say this, any photos that I have been able to take so far and even the one that came with the instructions, which I have just added below do not and I repeat, DO NOT do it justice to this stitched piece. It is absolutely dead gorgeous. This is one of the finished project that I love the most.

This project could actually be stitched in an another set of colors. I have slightly changed the colors of mine, but not by much so it is difficult to see the differences when we look at the picture that came with the instructions and mine.

The main stitches used here are Cross Stitches, Rhodes Stitches and Smyrna Crosses. Oh yes, there were some beads too (pearls).

(This is the photo that came with the instructions)

(Framed Tropical Fantasy)

Dracula Spider

Project: Dracula Spider

Type of needlework: Embroidery

Designer: A drawing that I use from http://cathycreatif.free.fr/index_galerie.php

Photo: 1

Tutorial about how to finish a postcard on "No Matter Where I go, I always meet myself there"

Comments: We were making a postcard exchange on the International Crazy Quilting group in what seems to be a lifetime ago and if I recall correctly, we could stitch whatever we wanted, so I decided to go with an Halloween theme. I started searching for some designs and found this silly little scene, which after stitching I finished as a postcard for the exchange.

Peace Tree: Jim Wurth, designer

Project: Peace Tree

(11th 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: We are getting close to the end of this dodecagon series. Only one more remains to be added to my blog. Yesterday was Easter and today it is starting to look like Christmas but only for one day. Perhaps tomorrow we can have Halloween (smiling).

In the Garden, Anne Stradal, designer

Project: In the garden

Designer: Anne Stradal

Type of needlework: Needlepoint and Silk Ribbon embroidery

(Painted canvas)

Photos: 2

Anne's website: http://www.absdesignsonline.com/

Anne's Website Guest Gallery: http://www.absdesignsonline.com/guest_gallery.htm

Anne's blog: http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/

Comments: I have actually stitched this project for an Easter egg exchange a few years back. I just love the colors chosen. To me they make me think of Spring. I have changed a few things in Anne's design. If you go to Anne's website and look at her eggs, you will see that hers is different than mine. I have changed the way I did the grass and also the flowers and have removed the little rabbit and added a bird instead.

I have done the cording using the two main colors, blue and green and it was then ready to go to its new home. That is one stitched project that I was really sorry to see it go. Oh well, I can always look at the photographs.

Beginner's Hardanger: Marion Scoular, designer

Project: Beginner's Hardanger

(1999)

Designer: Marion Scoular

Type of needlework: Hardanger

Photos: 3

An EGA correspondence course: http://www.egausa.org/

Taken with EGA CyberStitchers: http://www.cyberstitchers.org/

Comments: Before I took this group correspondence course with EGA CyberStitchers, a course written by Marion exclusively for The Embroiderers' Guild of America, I had only done a few tiny hardanger projects and I wanted to learn the proper way to do hardanger.

I am so happy that I took this course as I had been having a few problems understanding on my own some stitches and that even with the help of some hardanger books I had, but with the instructions in this course, everything became clear to me and had no problem doing what was required in this piece. Marion's instructions are just wonderful. As a beginner's hardanger course, I could not have asked for better.

The design size is approximately 8 3/4 inch square. I finished mine using a 14" by 14" pillow form.

For the fun of it, I took a photo showing what the design looks like depending which way I would finish it. I decided to go with the same orientation that Marion used as it just seemed to make more sense.