Last One

This is the third and final piece that Summer Truswell finished for me. If you remember, this is the piece I was working on in the back of my husbands truck as he drove us to and from the January TNNA show. I finished it up after we got home. I added the border and the saying:

Sisters Are Blossoms In The Garden Of Life. Of course, all of this work was done long before my sister ever mentioned that she was getting two new kittens. They are adorable Ragdoll kittys, but I'm told that they grow to be rather huge, like 20 pounds each. My poor Elvis weighs in at a puny 10.5 pounds. Anyway I hope she will be careful....maybe I should keep it and just leave it to her in my will ! I planned on giving her the pillow for her Christmas present. That puts me way ahead of the Christmas curve to say the least.

Christmas Wreath

This is the second piece that was just recently finished by Summer Truswell. This is #163, Winter Wreath. It's finished so that it can be hung on the wall, the back is flat and there is a cord that is hidden. This could also be used as a centerpiece with a candle and greenery set in the center. Of course, I'd put that candle inside a large hurricane glass. I wouldn't want wax dripping on my needlepoint. I have two other wreaths in my line, one for spring #121 and #122 is the summer one. I'm still working on the spring wreath, it has bunnies and daylillies around it. The summer wreath features hibiscus and hummingbirds.

Mermaid Eyeglass Case

In case you don't remember this is a piece I stitched on the way to the January TNNA show. I just got the finished piece back this weekend from Summer Truswell of Truswell Needlework Design & Finishing. Summer is a new finisher (to me) who came highly recommended by another blogger. I sent three pieces up to Summer and they all look stunning. She is wonderful to work with and did a super job on all three pieces. I'll share pictures of the other two in the next few days. The one you are looking at above is #84, Neptune's Daughter. This is one design in a group of nine door tassels. I've had stitchers finish these out as hanging ornaments and even as a piece to slip a wedding bouquet inside (bouquet holder I guess). I'm always misplacing my glasses and decided I needed something pretty to place them in. I may have to stitch several cases because as my eyes have aged (you notice it's only my eyes and not me) I find I need to leave a pair of glasses in numerous places around the house where they are within easy reach.

I'll try to get a picture of the Christmas Wreath and the Bunny Pillow up tomorrow.

St. Francis of Assisi

I just wanted to share a picture of my new piece. It's a companion design for the St. Claire I just finished stitching today. They are both about the same size. I really like the cat and dog at his feet and my daughter thought he should have a dove in his hand. Hope you like it.

St. Claire - Close Up

I do believe that the hot, humid weather has finally arrived on the Texas gulf coast. This is it until around Halloween. Of course the heat drives us inside making this prime stitching time. I'm nearing completion on my St. Claire and wanted to share one last picture before I finish and then send her off. I plan on making her into a small stand up that I can keep by my work table.

All I have left to do is finishing up on the background. I decided to use a 3 Way Cross Stitch, filled in with Tent Stitches. The thread is one of Kreiniks Milkpaint Colors, #0534. On the right hand side of the canvas you can see that I've only done the tent stitches. This leaves a checkerboard effect until you go back and add in the 3 Way Cross. The halo is stitched with Petite Sparkle Rays, #PS27. I first made five "spokes" fanning out around her head. These are done in Buillion Knots. Then I filled in the rest of the area with tent stitches.

I've just finished adding a companion piece: #213, St. Francis of Assisi. He is a well loved saint and is the Patron saint of animals and the enviroment. Many gardens, mine included, feature a statue of St. Francis. Stay tuned and I'll post a picture of him soon.

Garden Pictures

I wanted to share something silly that I'm trying out this year. It's the new Topsy-Turvy Planter. I have a cherry tomato plant growing in mine but the instructions said you could try several types of vegetables. You stick the bedding plant inside the planter from the bottom, then fill the green container with potting soil. A white foam collar keeps the plant in place and the dirt from washing out. There is a lid on the top with a funnel type opening in the center to help with watering. The supposed advantage is that it hangs down to about face level which should make pruning and harvesting easier. We shall see. It's a little hard to see my tomato plant because the picture was taken in front of my green bean vines....green in front of green. Maybe if you enlarge the picture.The second picture is of my cat, Elvis. I potted up some cat nip for him and he seems to thoughly enjoy it.

St. claire: Patron Saint of Needleworkers Update

I haven't done nearly as much as I promised, blame the lovely spring weather. But I will share what I have completed so far. I finished her monstrance by adding the "light" in the center. The area is square in shape so I choose to work it in a Woven Cross stitch. I used one strand of Tiara, #T117. The Tiara is a soft twisted metallic thread and gives a nice shine to the stitch. If you've never worked this stitch before a good example is shown in one of my favorite books,The Needlepoint Book, by Jo Ippolito Christensen. (page 285) It looks more complicated than it really is so give it a try. The rest of my work has been on her gown. I'm using two shades of Splendor, #S826 (lighter) and #S827 (darker). Since I have some shading in her gown I work with two needles at the same time, one with each thread. The gown is stitched in your basic Mosaic stitch.