Wednesday Whimsies - July 30, 2013 - Milanese Wheel

Milanese Wheel stitch is what I sometimes classify as a motif stitch.  It isn't something you just take off with and say I'm gonna fill this area with the Milanese Wheel.  That's not to say it can't be used that way, I just don't think it is often thought of in those terms.

Upon examination you will see that this stitch is made up of a Milanese stitch that is executed in different directions. 

The sample was stitched with a perle cotton.  When using a stranded thread, be sure to use a laying tool and lay the threads to pick up the wonderful reflections that are created by all the different directions this stitch creates.  Your thread will steal the show!  If having difficulty determining where to stitch, turn the canvas and diagram accordingly and see if that makes it easier for you to determine the stitch placement.

Have fun playing with this stitch until the next time we chat.  Right now, I need to get back to work on preparing kits for the ANG national seminar in Anaheim, CA, next month.  (Next month is only 2 days away ----acccckkkkkk -- can you believe it?)

Stitch with a smile!

Sandy

Wednesday Whimsies - Staggered Fly - July 24, 2013

Summer is slipping away and I can't seem to stitch as fast as I do in my head.  Oh well, such is life.

The Staggered Fly stitch is a fun stitch to do.

Okay now, get ready for this!  Are you ready?  It literally flies along with the needle.  (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.)  The stitch makes great decorative stems along a spindly type flower.  It can be extended to the point where you can add leaves on the ends if desired.

As shown in the stitched sample above, it can also be adjusted to extend sections of the groups of stitches.

If working a geometric or sampler type project it is great for filling in bands.

Get out the needle and thread, your canvas pieces, and start stitching your sample for your notebook.

Have a great week and remember to Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

Designer's Desk is a Hostess with the Mostest Group!

Wow what a great four days I have just been treated to.  Pat Delp at Designer's Desk and her staff pull all stops to make the teacher queen!  What fantastic hospitality. What a great shop!  Three floors of heaven.  And, the basement is a 50% off area!

Angie rose to the top just like the perfect cream.  (She may not realize it since she can't understand my southern, but that was a compliment.)  Angie was a part-time student but she never removed her DD employee service cap.  Anyone needing anything from downstairs and she was on it.

Angie was also our official photographer so don't pick your nose or she might take a picture.  But what a great help the photos are that she takes of the techniques and results.  I appreciate that she said she would share because it is difficult to take pictures while stitching!

We had so much fun with so many interesting things.  I don't know what the favorite technique was.

Needle Felting on canvas - David's buffalo hump -

Nancy's beginning leaf on a Leigh Spookin' -

Kathryn's felted kitty -

Kathryn's reverse felted kitty

My felted squirrel for the shop with both techniques -

Then there were Sparkles applications - the miracle from Sundance -

Here's some of Kathryn's koi

Pat's waves

Beading with an attitude -

Missy's (queen of beading at Designer's Desk!) beaded brick pumpkin

Jeanne's dome self made

Tonya's Pony Mane -

Jeanne's sunflower center

Woven ribbon  elegance -

Nancy's pumpkin stem

Ruching -

Angie's hummingbird wings

Needleweaving -

Jeanne's flower petals

Stretching Flair -

Jeanne's Trillium petals

 

And lots more.  We did ribbon embroidery and needle painting.  We attached facets.  But more importantly we had fun as we stitched.  And, I hope we learned as we went.

We don't have pictures of the days that Angie was not there and I am sorry we don't.  Other cool things happened then too.

The biggest drawback seemed to be  that there was a hinderance of communication.  Seems that there was an issue with my Southern accent!  I don't have a Southern accent!  There must have been something in the air seeping over from Chicago because I understood me fine.  What's the problem with the word 'collar' with reference to a cat?  It goes around the neck - right?

Boring four days it was not.  Such a wide range of canvases.  We had a man with a manly canvas.  We did needle felting on a Southwest theme canvas that was the cool buffalo shown above. We had folksy and elegant.  We had whimsey and serious.  Little bit of everything.

Unfortunately, four days were gone before I knew it and there was so much more fun we could have had  Well as Scarlett might have said 'that's for another day.

Enjoy and stitch with a smile.

Sandy

Wednesday Whimsies - July 17, 2013 - Diane's Lace

Can you believe it is the middle of July?  Time just flies and flies and I'm just having fun and fun!

My computer is on a hunger strike or something this week so I'm working from not such great resources but we will get 'er done.

Today I want to share Diane's Lace with you.  (Normally this stitch is not to be capitalized when referencing it but since this posting is about stitches I thought it would be nice to give it a little respect,)

I like this stitch for backgrounds particularly.  I think it has a great line to it.  I have used it for overall backgrounds or just sections such as sky and water.  I don't know why, but I always think of this stitch in blues first.  I know I suggest shrubs, etc., which, of course, would not normally be blue, but I'm talking about how I generally see this stitch.  (I say normally because I just left teaching four days at Designer's Desk in Geneva, IL and we had cats that were purple, pink, blue, green, etc.; green horse; purple fish; white pumpkin; orange hummingbird - no wonder I'm confused.)

So, since I think blue, I decided to do the sample in purple - ha ha!  See what a pretty pattern it makes.  Great clothing, draperies, upholstery, etc.

Okay, I have a date with my computer.  It is laying (or is it lying) on the floor with all kinds of plugs disconnected and now I need to figure out how to connect them all again.  I must get it fixed because I want to share some of my fun I had at Designer's Desk this past long weekend.

Have fun and remember to stitch with a smile!

Sandy

Wednesday Whimsies - July 10, 2013

Today I am going to take a different route.  I also have a section in my Notebook for tidbits of information such as the one I share today.  This post is about needles.

This is a quick little go to when you need help in deciding what needle to use in certain situations.  Of course, there are lots more needles but these are the basic ones I use frequently.

Tomorrow I am heading to Designer's Desk in historic Geneva, IL.  We always have fun there.  I am doing embellishment classes.  You never know what it going to hit you with these types of classes but one thing for sure - they are always fun!  If you are in the area, stop by and see us.

Gotta go pack.  Until next time ,

Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

California Dreamin'

California Dreamin'

Wow!  What a whirlwind trip I just had and loved every minute of it!

Of course, I always seem to have some travel excitement.  Left Lexington at 6 am - or so I thought.  Got to the airport and they then decided to delay us for 3 hours and hubby had already left.  Good thing I had my stitching and love doing it.  Then we get on the plane and the captain decided that engine 1 was low on oil.  Had to call Dallas, get them to contact local contractor, then had to wait for him.  Finally after another hour on the plane we finally got air borne.

Get to Dallas, and of course, missed connection.  Reconnected and gate change.  That flight was delayed an hour but we got on a plane.  We taxi out and the captain informs us the power is gone so we have to taxi back to a different gate.  They try to fix it but decide that we will get a new plane.  Off we go.  Finally get new gate assignment.  Now we have to wait for a flight crew.  Finally get to Ontario, CA.

Needless to say, no time to go to hotel, freshen up, get class material together, etc. before evening workshop.  Poor chapter!  Point to Point at Huntington Beach, CA was so gracious and understanding.  Lynn Wilkinson and Nancy Cucci were there and it was helpful to see familiar faces.  The chapter had elected to create an Ribbon Angel Tassel.  Several managed to get them finished to take home.  It was fun but I was so disappointed that I could not have been more prepared prior to jumping right in.  On the bright side - I won the door prize.  Now, you know that I never win anything!

I was hosted in a 'guest house' and it was wonderful.  It was almost like being in a mini-gallery with all the needlepoint on display.

Got rested and ready to hit the road on Thursday.  Had a wonderful driver - Laurie McLellan (hope I spelled it right Laurie).  She was a wonderful tour guide.  We went everywhere.  I saw things that I can't even remember right now.  Some that did stick were Dodger Stadium so I took a pic for husband, and we drove the route of the Rose Parade.  How's that for fun stuff!  I think Laurie said I was on 5 freeways - yikes!Thank you Laurie for giving the great tour.

We met the gals from the Southern California Chapter EGA.  Had a great meal and then off to our meeting workshop.  This chapter chose to do a beginning Temari ball.  It was great fun!  Such a wonderful group of ladies to put up with me!  There was a gentleman but he left - smart man.

Carole became my designated driver to get me back to my hotel. Thank you Carole.  I get rested up for the 3-day class of the Witch.

We had a large class (mostly ghosts) but the f-2-f group was a fantastic bunch.  We sure were able to get a lot of stitching done.  Pat Correz managed to line up wonderful lunch spots.  And, we always managed to get dessert as well.  At dinner we managed to have a dessert to take back to the hotel - LOL.

We discovered a Hobby Lobby and Sharon Q. took us to a fantastic bead shop after class  

Pat picked me up my last day and took me to the Mission Inn for lunch.  What a treat!  The place is unbelievable.  The food, the clock, the little ins and outs, the macaws, the art work, the carpet with the California Missions, and on an on.  She got me a brochure to bring home and I have delighted in reading it and learning even more about what I saw while it was still fresh in my mind.

That night I had dinner with the San Bernardino Chapter and presented their program.  Arrived at the meeting room to learn that the room had overbooked so Pat works her wonderous miracles and we had our workshop in the hotel lobby!  The program was on Beading for Needlework which is a lecture introduction to the class I am teaching at ANG Chicago Seminar in 2014.  This was a large group and a bunch of fun. I had to have the hotel clerk make extra copies of the handouts - what a great problem to have. They were good about asking questions and interjecting comments.  We even had some hotel guests try to join in the fun.  And guess what?  I again won a door prize!  This time I had them redraw because I happened to have the book and I had no room in the suitcase.

I cannot thank Pat enough for her smooth handling of some challenging situations!  I think we were a good pair!  Thank you Pat!

Next morning off to the airport.  Leave Ontario on time and without any delays.  Can't say the same of Dallas.  Three gate changes and delays get me home eventually, safe and sound.  Can't say the same for my luggage.  It arrived the next day!

In spite of all the gliches, I met some very lovely ladies and had a great time.  You know me, I always have a great time and hope my students do as well.

Have a great 4th and until next time,

Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

Wednesday Whimsies - July 3, 2013 - Nobuko

Wednesday Whimsies - July 3, 2013  -  Nobuko

Just returned from a whirlwind visit to California interacting with several chapters.  More about that in another post.

Today I am sharing one of my favorite background stitches - the Nobuko.  I am, in fact, using it right now on a piece that I am writing a stitch guide for Brenda Stofft.  Can't wait to get it finished.

The Nobuko is a diagonal stitch.  It is easily stitched in different directions.  For instance, if you have a jacket, the left side facing the stitcher can be stitched as above.  The right side facing the stitcher can be stitched slanting in the opposite direction by merely turning the canvas a quarter turn.

Enjoy the stitch and add another section to your Notebook!

Have a great 4th of July everyone and be safe and remember our Military Personnel!

Sandy