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!

Sweet Pea Stumpwork Class

Today I taught a stumpwork class for the NW Sampler Guild. There were six very experienced stitchers and I had a great time. Hope they enjoyed the class and learned enough to complete the project.

The description of the class said you will learn a new way to use embroidery stitches in a stumpwork sweet pea design. Some of the techniques will be silk shading, wired petal, padded pea pod just to name a few fun things to learn to stitch. The kit will include the silk for the background fabric, fibers, wire etc.

I requested that the ladies send pictures of their completed projects to add to my blog . . . . . you may see more soon.

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.

The New and Old . . . .

I haven't been very good at updating my blog and won't promise that I will be good in the future. I have been stitching and knitting a lot, just haven't been sharing. . . . .

This is a picture that I made for my Dad for his 80th birthday in 1995. It has memories from his life, it is a great project for a parent, grandparent or a dear friend for a special birthday. Some of the memories included are baseball, pets, places he lived, the freight train he traveled in back in the 1930's. I started by making a list of the things I wanted to remember, then searched books to find the pattern or make one up if I couldn't find what I wanted. I did not plan the placement or chart the entire piece, I just started stitching . . .

I had fun stitching this, but the best part was giving it to my Dad. His birthday was on April 24th, "Happy Birthday Dad" I miss you!

This project is a picture of railroad tracks near Seelow, Germany. My Husband took the picture and I loved it. The white houses in the distance with the trees stood out and I just had to stitch it. It is done on 24 count canvas cloth with DMC and Anchor cotton floss, some overdyed floss and a little metallic, the size is about 3" x 5" and it is framed in a shadow box frame that is 5" x 7." It is for sale at the Chamber of Commerce in the "Treasures in Miniature" show.

This is a garden scene. I was waiting in the eye doctor's office looking at a magazine and saw this picture. Well, first I thought I could remember what it looked like, but then decided I wouldn't by the time I got around to stitching it. So, if you go to the eye doctor and there is a page missing out of the magazine you are reading I have it. This project is also stitched on 24 count canvas with DMC and Anchor floss with some overdyed threads too. The size is about 3" x 5" and framed in a shadow box frame that is 5" x 7". It is also, in the "Treasures in Miniature" show.

Both pictures have a million French knots and Colonial knots, fly stitches, basketweave, alternating cross stitch, chain stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch and a few more stitches.

This is the first time I have entered anything in a show for sale and it will be pretty exciting if one sells, but it is fine if they don't too.

I loved making them and I know someone in my family would like to have one.

Thank for coming back to see what I have been doing . . . . . There will be more someday.

I just completed a stumpwork piece to teach in June and I am getting ready to take another class with the Royal School of Needlework, so stay tuned.

MS Walk - Seattle, WA

It is time for the MS Walk again, April 3rd in Seattle, keep your fingers crossed that there won't be rain. Our daughter and I will be walking the four miles from the University of Washington to Gas Works Park and back again this year.

I would appreciate any donations, nothing is too small, my grandmother said if everyone donated a dollar that would be a lot of money.

If anyone would like to help by donating in my name please click on the link on the top right.

Thank you for your support.

Sewing & Stitchery Expo - Puyallup, WA

Just thought I would share some of the fun we had at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington last week-end. We started with two cousins and by Saturday night there were eight of us having dinner at Black Angus.

This is a picture of five of us with the hats that we planned to make at 2010 Sewing Expo. We all used the same knitting pattern, I knitting mine, one cousin knitted three and one, it would be best to see the next picture . . . . . we called her the UFO, we have all been there . . . . .

Since she didn't finish her hat we rolled the rest of the yarn into a ball and put her knitting needles into the ball. I was thinking that we need to put a poll on the back - finish or not finish. I don't think she will finish it for next year either, but she will have to buy more knitting needles, everyone loved the UFO.

We all decorated our own hats with things like, flowers, feathers, buttons, ribbons, etc. Our youngest cousin passed away in January, so we added a button in his memory and a shamrock for our Grandmother, her birthday was on March 17th. There will be more added for next year and who knows what else we will do next year.

The hats were a huge hit, many people just smiled as we walked past, but others stopped to ask questions or tell us how much they liked our hats. It was so easy to keep track of each other, all we had to do was ask someone if they had seen a pink hat and they would say yes and tell us which direction the hat went. Even people in cars waved at us.

Anyway we had a great week-end - lots of laughs, eating, talking, shopping and catching up.

If there is anyway you can make a trip to Puyallup next year for Sewing & Stitchery Expo the dates will be March 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2012. Just look for the pink hats!

Hope these pictures made you laugh!