Stitched Blessings, Squares 1 and 2

The beginnings of my blessings…

Me and my hubby, John, are the best of buddies…and we love to snorkel. Living here in Hawaii , we are blessed with (just about) 365 days a year in which we CAN and are ABLE to snorkel. Go warm weather and sunshine!

Can you see the resemblance?

The bottom edging is a Stem Stitch-Portuguese Knot, the sides are Feather Stitch, the top is a Running Stitch with an interspersed Double Cross Stitch. I think of it as corals below, greens and seaweeds for the sides and sunning skies above.  All the edges are stitched with a multi-color dyed Caron Watercolor thread.

What’s snorkeling without some water and waves.  Here is some embroidery with a ‘twist’ for the wave action! Stitched with Blanket Stitch-Detached Twisted Bar and some good ‘ole DMC thread.

Did I mention that these are 1 inch squares?

Very tiny faces. Very tiny squares.

This has been a great start! I’ve already had some fun!

Your life needs fun. Go ahead, have some fun! –
smiles,
alicia in Hawaii

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White on White Squares

As I am setting up my 100 squares, I am tackling some stitching logistics.

Here is one of my solutions. Instead of a pencil line or washable ink line, I’m trying white on white, backstitch outline, to delineate the squares.

This is over 2 threads, 40ct. fabric.

A 1″x1″ square

It’s mostly visible and I think it will be easy enough to embroider/stitch over as I add outlines for the “boxes” as they get stitched.

Your life needs fun. Go ahead, have some fun! –
smiles,
alicia in Hawaii

Embroidery Project with Cross Stitch- Papillon 2009 SAL, Castles in the Air, Part 1

Delicate, Light, and rather Elegant!

I’ve never been one for samplers, but lately, the email groups that I’m part of have chatted about Papillon Creations’ 2009 Stitch Along Mystery Sampler, Castles in the Air.  You are supposed to use the 10 charted colors and choose 11 colors on your own to finish off the color chart. I took to the challenge and sought out  fabric, thread and beads that I had on hand and decided to join in.

This is my Mystery Sampler after completing Part 1. I purchased both the cross stitch version and the specialty version of the SAL. I decided to stitch the specialty version simply because I LOVE EMBROIDERY! Surface embroidery is still my all time favorite needle and thread creation, and this SAL has been surprisingly enjoyable.

The photos don’t show all the ‘bling’  and glitter that really is on this canvas. I used a ‘Vintage Gold’ metallic thread as my one specialty thread. It’s a black with a gold twist wound around it. All in all it gives this part, the Formal Garden, a look of wrought iron. I just love it!

I love this pinkish color. I think these flowers look like hibiscus.

I didn’t keep the original 10 colors assigned. Yes, I know… I cheated. I changed the blues to match the other colors that were free choice. My new ‘peacock blues’ match the hues of my other choices now.

This is the photo that I sent in to be uploaded on Papillon Creations website. Hopefully, my Part 1 will show up here soon.

Your life needs fun. Go ahead, have some fun!
smiles,
alicia in Hawaii
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Embroidery Project -Crewel Embroidery-Tree of Life-Part 2

Adding a few flowers…

After really thinking and perusing several stitching books, I managed to add one complete flower and start another. This piece really appeals to me and I can spend so much time just dreaming up different approaches to it. A lot of fun, creative time has been expended on just that part alone!

In the photo below:

The blue centered flower has a satin stitch-padded spot center. Although it appears to be a much simpler stitch, the red/pink surrounding that center is actually a knotted pearl stitch. The petals are done in chain stich to form a little raised ‘rainbow’ type affect for each one.

The beginning of the rose is done is with detached herringbone stitches. The darker outline is done with stem stitch. I was planning to fill the bud area in with buttonhole stitches.

The flower on the right has been completed too since that last posting. The center is lattice couching using two shades of pink. The petals are done with buttonhole stitches in a dark blue.

I’m not sure if the second rose will be done up the same as the first. I’m thinking that it need not be.

What do you think? Same or different?

Any suggestions for the leafy looking design there?

Your life needs fun. Go ahead, have some fun!

————-Helpful Information———-

Find Crewel Embroidery-Tree of Life, Part 1 (Click Here)

*this piece is embroidered in Medici wool

Email me: alicia in Hawaii (curiosities808@gmail.com)

Embroidery Project -Crewel Embroidery-Tree of Life-Part 1

While working fiendishly on this one bedroom remodel, I forced myself to give in to my “Crewel” side…

Jacobean style embroidery has been calling to me lately, and I have an affinity for the Tree of Life, so it is only natural for a creation that twines the two together!

I found this design via the web, printed it out in reverse and created my own iron on transfer with a Sulky pen. (See tutorial)

I just couldn’t see the tree on a plain solid background so the Tree is on this greenish mix twill like fabric. 😉

I’m using  the Medici wool that I found on close out. 😉 Those little wooly skeins have been singing to me since I found them in the store…

What do you think so far?

I still have the wristlets on the creation board too. For embroidery: the dragon is in waiting, a little rose-kid is done and awaiting a face, and two other small purses (not wristlets) are done and just waiting for their embroidered flaps.

Lots has been happening! Whoo hoo, this weeks blog posts should be full!

Your life needs fun. Go ahead, have some fun!

————-Helpful Information———-

Email me: alicia in Hawaii (curiosities808@gmail.com)