Strawberries . . . .

After my whitework course at the Royal School of Needlework I was thinking about another pulled thread project to do and came up with strawberries.  

I found the box at Williams Sonoma I was ready to make strawberries to fill it.  I used red 32 count linen, red pearl cotton and green pearl cotton.

 I used a different pulled thread pattern for each strawberry.

 I used red buttonhole thread to sew each one together and filled them with ground walnut shells.

I think they look great together in the box, but one would make a nice scissor fob or a pin cushion.  

The Mercer Island Visual Arts "Treasures in Miniature" show is coming in April, my strawberries will be there.  

Hope no one tries to eat them.

RSN Whitework Diploma Course

I am a little slow updating my blog.  Last July I finished my diploma courses at the Royal School of Needlework in England.  

Our tutor was Jenny Adin-Christie,  (click here to see her website) she is a wonderful tutor.   I came home with a couple of her kits too.

This course was a real adventure!  My friend rented the Fish Court Apartment in Hampton Court Palace.  There were four ladies staying in the apartment and my husband.  The class was taught just across the palace from the apartment.  Loved the commute, in the past I rode the big red bus to class each day sometimes carrying my project bag and slate frame.

We set up our trestles in the dining room, no room to walk around the room or eat in there.  We had more fun than anyone can imagine in this room.

The night before we had to turn in our projects, my friend said we are going to wash your whitework.  I wasn't sure about it.   We left it in the slate frame, put it in the bathtub, warm water and eucalyptus wash, rinsed, stood it up in the slate frame to dry.  By morning it was dry.  I am so glad she didn't pay any attention to me and went ahead and washed it while I watched and took pictures. It turned out great.

After 8 days of class and many hours working on our own I finished my whitework, turned it in for grading.  Picked up my project  and sadly said good bye to Hampton Court Palace and the Royal School of Needlework for now.  

 The above picture is my drawn and pulled thread.  My Grandmother was Irish and her birthday was on St Patrick's Day, love the shamrock.

We also, had to do hemstitching . . . 

 Front

Back

I hope to go back to England to take a couple more techniques in a couple years.  It was sad to leave, but planning to return made it easier.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures at the Royal School of Needlework.  It took me about five years to complete the four Certificate Courses and  six Diploma Courses.  

I loved all of the courses!  I have made so many new friends around the world, it was a wonderful experience.

Needlepoint Stitching Chair

My ANG chapter has decided to make chairs, everyone is designing their own, I couldn't wait to make mine.  

The stitching is all done on congress cloth with size 8 DMC perle cotton and floss #800.  I crocheted the doily for the back and the rug is a Hardanger piece I made several years ago, but I am thinking about a new rug now.

This was a fun project, the base is 2 X 3 from Sudberry House.  The accessories are from Idee Creation, I purchased these at L'alguille en fete in Paris a couple years ago.  Not knowing what I was going to do with them until I finished my chair.

I have to say the Royal School of Needlework box making Diploma course was very helpful in figuring this out.  Things I learned - measure twice and measure a couple more times, take my time to do the finishing and think outside the box.

American Needlepoint Guild - Royal School of Needlework

My friend has written another article for the American Needlepoint Guild magazine, "Needle Pointers."  This time she included six students from the Royal School of Needlework.  The article is wonderful.  She ask each of us questions about our projects, what was your challenge, what we learned, why we choose the picture.  

My challenge was to make a round waterwheel on square needlepoint canvas.  My tutor suggested queen stitch, my favorite stitch, so it was easy to remove parts of the stitch to make the curves.  I learned two things that I could make a circle on canvas and make a reflection in the water.  I choose the picture because it is the perfect picture to stitch for a memory of one of our favorite places.

 Mine is the canvaswork project I did for my Certificate course at the Royal School of Needlework in Hampton Court Palace.  The others were done in England and/or San Francisco, California.  The courses are offered in San Francisco in the spring and the fall. 

The waterwheel is located in Bayeux France near the Bayeux Tapestry.  We visited France in the summer of 2008 when I was taking classes.

There are four Certificate courses Jacobean Crewel, Canvaswork or Blackwork, Silk Shading and Goldwork.  Each course is 8 days of instruction and 3 days working our your own.  The tutors are all trained at the Royal School of Needlework in England.  When your project is completed the tutors do an assessment so you know how well you have done.

I am not an employee of the Royal School of Needlework and do not benefit from the school, but I do love taking the courses and learning.

RSN - Box Making

The diploma courses at the Royal School of Needlework require either stumpwork or box making.  I decided to do box making instead of stumpwork, I didn't want to make a face and hands which are required for the stumpwork course.  

Back in the 1970's my Grandmother would ask me what I wanted for my birthday and/or Christmas, I would say a letter, she would say that is silly.  We lived in the same town, she wrote letters to all my cousins, but not me.  I gave her a diary for Christmas and the following year she wrote in it everyday, if she didn't have enough to fill a page she drew a picture.  When she passed I received the diary, 40+ years later my diary needs a safe place to be stored and I needed a box to make.

My Grandparents lived in a converted chicken house, it had low ceilings, it was long and narrow.  My box is similar to their house.

 The requirements were to have a moving part and a lid.  The roof opens and the shutters on the back of the house move.

 All of the flowers are the flowers my Grandmother had at their house, this end has sunflowers.  The front of the house has a clematis and lily of the valley.

 Hollyhocks and iris on this end.  The iris and clematis were her favorites.  I almost didn't plant these, but I heard my Grandmother saying they were her favorites.

 She had roses on the back of the house and alysumm were planted in several places around the house.

 Before I left home I stitched the family tree for the back wall and the ceiling.  The tree is stitched on two pieces of 36 count linen.  There are only three generations, not enough room for more.  I will add the rest of the family in a booklet to put in the box later.

 Here is the diary with the house, I tried to match the floor and wallpaper (fabric) with the diary.  I didn't want to use a striped fabric, but when I saw this fabric nothing else would work.

 Grandma's handwriting was so pretty, we all love it!

This is a picture of the inside or the window with the diary inside.  I will add pictures and other treasures as I come across them.   

Thank you Jacqui McDonald for all your help and encouragement.

I hope you enjoy reading about my latest project.  Questions and comments are always welcome.

Royal School of Needlework

 

Hampton Court Palace, home of the Royal School of Needlework

This morning on CBS "Sunday Morning" was another report on the Royal School of Needlework located at Hampton Court Palace in England.  Always fun to see the people, what they are working on and the school/studio. 

The RSN will be teaching courses in San Francisco again in September.  Check out the  courses.  All of the tutors are trained at the RSN in England.  We always have a good time, learn a lot and work very hard.  They will be teaching Certificate and Diploma courses.  There will be day classes too, check the website for the day classes they will be offering.

Seattle Skyline in blackwork

Seattle Skyline in blackwork!  

This is the course that I recently completed at the Royal School of Needlework in San Francisco, California.  Lucy Barter was my tutor this time, she is a wonderful tutor.  

This project was a little big for the 12 days I had to complete it, I worked about 110 hours with very little sleep some nights.  The actual size is 15 1/2" X 11" stitched on light blue 32 count linen with different weights of black thread.

The buildings are left to right - 

Space Needle

Bank of America (AKA the box the Space Needle came in)

4th and Blanchard building

Washington Mutual building (AKA art deco refrigerator)

Westin Hotel

Pacific Science Center and the Coliseum at the Seattle Center

Smith Tower

You will notice that the buildings have moved.  I had to include the Smith Tower even though it would be behind the other buildings when looking from the north to the south.  I wanted to include the Westin Hotel because it is round, an interesting challenge. 

Thank you to Dale Baskin Photography for permission to use his photograph.  I had to remove a few buildings, move a couple and moved Mt Rainier a little too.  Thanks Dale!

Royal School of Needlework and American Needlepoint Guild

In my last posting I shared the information about the story that my friend wrote for the Needle Pointer magazine published by the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG).  You can now read the entire article via the Royal School of Needlework website.  


Just click here for the RSN website:  Royal School of Needlework  There is the link to the article in the second paragraph.  "Find out what it's like studying the RSN Certificate in Technical Hand embroidery - read Linda Kilgore's article here"


You can locate information about the classes offered at the RSN on their website and contact information.  The classes will be taught again in the spring and the fall of 2012 in San Francisco, California. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Freddy Fox is Published

If you are a member of the American Needlepoint Guild you may have seen "Freddy Fox" (click here to see a picture) AKA Red Fox in the latest issue of the Needle Pointers magazine.   

Thank you Linda for writing this wonderful article about the Royal School of  Needlework and inviting Freddy to be included.  We work hard and have so much fun in our classes.  Last month we completed another class together, looking forward to spring.

Advanced Applique' Class

Just returned home after completing my third Diploma class at the Royal School of Needlework in San Francisco, California. The above picture is the view from the hotel . . . the weather was beautiful, not that we had time to enjoy it.

This class was Applique, I have never done applique, so it was all new to me. I loved the class and my tutor was wonderful. There were six ladies in my class, one doing advanced silk shading, one doing advanced tapestry shading with goldwork and three doing stumpwork. We had a great class and everyone completed their projects. Now we wait for our assessments.

The design is my own funny creation!

If you are a member of the American Needlepoint Guild, check out the article beginning on page 16 about the Royal School of Needlework.

Next class will be blackwork in the spring.

Adventures in Needlework

I recently purchased the book "Adventures in Needlework" by Jessica Aldred and Emily Peacock. I was looking for a book with hand applique instructions. The diagrams, pictures and instructions are excellent. I am looking forward to trying a small applique project before my next class.

The other techniques covered in the book are canvaswork (needlepoint), silk shading and goldwork. The instructions are well written, a great reference from how to frame up a slate frame to how to finish each project. The mounting instructions are easy to follow and your framer will love you for finishing your projects this way and you will save money too.

A must have book for every embroiderer's library.

Thank you Jessica and Emily!

Silk Shading Diploma Class

I returned home recently from taking another diploma class with the Royal School of Needlework. It was pretty exciting as we gathered to meet everyone on April 29th, there was a lot of talk about the wedding. The two tutors who came to the States from England worked on Kate's dress.

Saturday we got to started framing up our slate frames, working on our design and transferring it onto the silk fabric. I stitched a red fox, Freddy, on white silk with Anchor and DMC cotton floss. The CBS Sunday Morning program had a story about the Royal School of Needlework on their show a few weeks ago.

I have to say this project was done with blood, sweat and tears. I can't say how many times I poked my fingers and the last time was my thumb on the second to the last day. I was working on the rocks in the snow, I pulled the thread up and there it was a big spot of blood, well it was actually about 1/8 - 1/4" but it looked huge. I said a bad word and started to cry. Within seconds there were three of my fellow students around me, one took charge the other two rubbed my back, prayed and gave me a drink of water. She said suck on this, a piece of buttonhole thread. She threaded a needle and started taking the needle down through the blood. It wasn't too long until she had most of it removed. Then she said I have something in my room that will take out the rest. She returned with eucalyptus wool wash, cotton swabs and water. She mixed a little of the eucalyptus wool wash with water and very carefully blotted the spot and patted with a paper towel. You can look at the picture below, where is the blood?

Now we all need to add to our sewing tools the following items:

Buttonhole thread and needle
Eucalyptus wool wash
Cotton swabs
Paper towels (maybe just a couple in a Ziploc bag)

The good news is it was a wonderful class with the Royal School of Needlework in San Francisco, California, Lucy does an excellent job of organizing the three classes for about 20 students and day classes too. This is the second time I have had Sarah for my tutor and learned many new tips from her. I am sure she told us some of the same things last time, but it was my first class and I was to scared to remember.

Next class is in the fall, applique . . . . need to get my design ready to be approved and gather supplies.

Royal School of Needlework on "Sunday Morning"

Last week on CBS on "Sunday Morning" they had a story about Hampton Court Palace and the (click here to see the video) Royal School of Needlework. It is worth taking a few minutes and watch this. Get a cup of tea and enjoy the video.

It made me want to go back to England to take another class. We have the same tutors and the same instruction in San Francisco that we have in England, but it is not the same as being at Hampton Court Palace seeing Henry VIII walking around.

Classes are being offered in May and October in 2011 in San Francisco with the (click here to see the classes being offered) RSN.

Gold Work - Diploma Class at the RSN

I just returned home from San Francisco, California where I took my first Diploma Class as the Royal School of Needlework. My tutor was Elizabeth Elvin, you can read about her here http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/Elizabeth_Elvin.html She is an excellent tutor and we had a wonderful group of ladies. Our class had four students, two taking the gold work Certificate Class and two taking the Diploma Class. The projects were all very different and all were lovely!


I usually post a picture of my finished projects, thought I would do something a little different this time.

This a is picture after a couple days of work, framing up on my slate frame, painting the design on the silk fabric and the beginning of the padding before adding the gold.

Have you ever seen the back of a gold work project? This is a mess, but I think it is interesting to see the mess and appreciate the front. All of the ends of the gold have to be plunged with a large needle, this can take hours.

The basket is padded with carpet felt, craft felt and string and then the gold is couched down on top. The edge of the basket is padded with soft string and satin stitch, cut work on top. The pea pod is kid leather. The pumpkin is Or Nue, Japanese gold couched down with different colors of floss, this took a day and half to complete. The leaf in the middle is stumpwork, silk fabric with a wire around the edge. The corn is beads with plate for the husk.

And finally the finished project all framed. I am very happy with my project. The tutors assessed it before I flew home so I could bring it home with me and not have to have it shipped, I haven't got my score yet!

If you are interested in taking classes at the Royal School of Needlework, check out their website for classes and dates: http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/

RSN and Henry VIII

Henry VIII is celebrating his 500th anniversary of his reign and was walking all around Hampton Court Palace. He was telling stories around the palace, we had the opportunity to visit with him and his servants one day and take pictures.

We told them that we were taking a class at the Royal School of Needlework. They showed us the blackwork that someone had done for the sleeves of their shirts. They were proud that one of the ladies had taken the time to do the stitching for them.

And now for the reason I was at the Royal School of Needlework. I took the last of the four certificate classes.

The pumpkin was drawn by our daughter for my birthday with the idea that I would use the design for my gold work project. I loved the design and am happy with the way it turned out. I haven't had a lot of experience with Gold Work, took a one day class and that is all before taking the two week intensive certificate class.

I am happy with my overall score for the four classes and can now look forward to the diploma classes beginning next year.

Hope you have all enjoyed following my journey to complete these classes . . . . . more when I take the next class or complete something exciting.

Now for a little advertising - The Royal School of Needlework is offering classes in San Francisco in the spring and the fall.

You can check here for more information about the dates and class offerings: http://www.royal-needlework.co.uk/

Thanks for checking back.

RSN

Nothing new to show today, I have been knitting. I have finished one sock for my husband and almost done with the second one.

I need to start packing to go to England to take the last class, Gold Work, to finish the certificate classes at the Royal School of Needlework. I have to say I am getting excited about returning to England to take the class and see friends again. There will be a Get Together with the Sampler Guild too. Lots of fun things to look forward too and a lot of work to complete my project in the two weeks.

Pictures when I return.

Happy Summer! Hope your weather is a little cooler than ours, it has been way too hot here.

Silk Shading at RSN

Just returned from San Francisco, I was there for two weeks taking the silk shading certificate class from the Royal School of Needlework. The above picture is the first day getting ready to stitch. I love the sweet pea!

Lucy, a graduate of the school, lives in San Francisco and is the USA Education Coordinator. They will be offering the Certificate classes in April/May and September/October each year. They offered day classes this time too and will offer day classes next spring and maybe this fall, check the website for the RSN http://www.royal-needlework.co.uk/or contact jessica.aldred@royal-needlework.org.uk for more information on the classes and the new Foundation Degree beginning this fall in England.

There were 11 students from all over the country in two class rooms doing silk shading, gold work, Jacobean crewel for the certificate class and two working on advanced classes in gold work and stumpwork. It was fun to watch all the projects and learn more about each technique. Everyone worked very hard to complete their projects in two weeks.

Here is a picture of my project, I am looking forward to it arriving in the mail after the assessment, hope I pass the class. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Royal School of Needlework - San Francisco, California

Here is the link to see the classes the Royal School of Needlework are offering in San Francisco, California in April and May, 2009.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e85d7377c1&view=att&th=11fb716d950309b3&attid=0.1&disp=vah&zw

I will be taking the Silk Shading Certificate Class. Two of the tutors are coming from England and the third one is from England and now living in California. I have taken classes from both Owen Davies and Helen McCook, I am looking forward to seeing them again.

The classes will be wonderful even though they aren't at Hampton Court Palace, I love the palace and the gardens around it.

If you are interested in taking classes you can visit the RNS website for the person to contact.

http://www.royal-needlework.co.uk/

I am looking forward to my class!!

Silk Shading Birthday Gift and Pulled Thread Challenge

I have been waiting to post this picture, it seems like forever, until my friend in Lyon opened her Birthday gifts. Yesterday was her birthday, so now it is safe to post it since she has seen it. This is a silk shading practice project to get ready for the certificate class at the Royal School of Needlework in San Francisco next April. I still need lots of practice, but everyone has to start someplace.

The next picture is the pulled thread challenge project that I am working on with The Sampler Guild in England. Each month beginning last July we receive a block to stitch. Mine is a crazy quilt design because many of the members are also quilters, not me. I am using blue, green and yellow (yellow because my friend said it had to have yellow, and she was right) with metallic for the chain stitches between the blocks. This only four of the sections, there will be twelve, well if I get one design done and sent to England for March. I am thinking it needs to be green and circles, kind of like a shamrock. Not sure what I will do with it when it is done, could be a book or box cover? Suggestions welcome!

Haven't done a lot of stitching lately, just a little knitting!

Framed Pictures

Today is a very sad day, my favorite neighbor and knitting buddy is moving :( out of state, actually clear across the country.

The good news is we can visit them next year.

This is the embroidery that our daughter painted the fabric from a photo that I took at Hampton Court Palace and then I did the embroidery in a class at the White House Community Centre in Hampton England. This is the first time I have done a project like this and really enjoyed doing it and will do another one soon.

The castle is a two day class at the Royal School of Needlework. This was a fun class and project!

This is another two day class I took at the RSN. Silk Shading it is stitched with two ply of DMC and Anchor floss, actually cotton floss. The pitcher was my
Grandmother's, she was from Kansas and the sunflower is the Kansas state flower. My Dad and my Husband were both born in Kansas too. I just like the yellow.



This is the Jacobean Crewel project from the first Certificate Class (two weeks) I took at the RSN. It looks totally different now that it is framed and hanging on the wall. I have attached all the paperwork from the assessment to the back for future generations.

The second Certificate Class (two weeks) I took was canvaswork. In all of the certificate classes we are suppose to stitch original designs, for the canvaswork class I used a picture I took in France. The original picture, the drawing and stitches with the assessment are attached to the back of this picture too.


I hope everyone is enjoying nice fall weather, it is beautiful here with all the leaves changing, love all the fall colors makes me want to stitch a tree!