Back to Stitching

So now that all the planners/calendars are updated for 2018, the books I have ordered are in, the latest issues of Where Women Create and Where Women Create Business have been purchased, I can now get things going for February. I decided that outside of a dental appointment and a necessary eye exam (I broke my good glasses to smithereens so now I am using my old prescription glasses that are not very good anymore for seeing clearly-but I'm way overdue to get my eyes checked anyway) I have no plans to schedule any medical appointments this month, which I hope will allow me more planning and work time.

First of all, I have a wonderful stand for working with my Q-Snaps but it has been holding an unfinished project I started making for my husband some time ago. With Valentine's Day coming up, I am hoping to get it done so I can get it off the stand and put my next project on it. It is so much easier to work with beads on a stand and it keeps the work cleaner too. Here is a pix of the hubby project:

This is all done in glass seed and bugle beads. I really need to get busy on it since we are talking little more than two weeks, but I'm hoping if I can get it to the framers before then, at least it will be ready shortly after Valentine's if not before. I am undecided about the background. I was thinking of doing it in a palladium finish glass seed bead but I don't know now. The star in the middle of the heart holds a small Swarovski heart crystal, and the background there would remain the same. What do you think? I welcome all suggestions as long as I get them soon! LOL!

The next thing will be to get the stitch sampler started. I am going to begin with the basics and then work my way through more difficult stitches. I did get two out of print books on advanced cross stitch techniques. These books are wonderful as far as showing how versatile cross stitch can be with different fibers and stitches. I will get into those more when we do another book look. I think the first stitch I will work will be the straight stitch and then the French knot. I am going to mix it up by varying the strands, spacing, and then trying different fibers too. Of course I will be painting the fabric for effect also! LOL!

I am very excited too about a short class I am taking with a friend in mixed media. It will only be three nights over a three week period starting mid-February, but it will be fun to experiment. I'll give you updates on that as well when it happens.

 So I am going to attempt to work on Ladybug Lake with my old spectacles but if I feel I can't do a good job with them I will have to table it until I can get my glasses repaired or get a new pair. I'm hoping with my magnifying light it will work out.

So next week I will have a stitch sampler started and will have my fabric washed, pressed and ready to go for paint on Eastern Expressions. I will also talk about "The Three Sentinels" project I have been mulling around and sort of, kind of, planning in my head. It will be busy!

So until next week here is another thought nugget:

 "If I create from the heart, nearly everything works: if from the head, almost nothing."
~Marc Chagall

Keep It Simple, 2

So I had the question asked what dish would be comparable if you lived in a warm climate, or for warmer summer months, to the stew/soup. In this you have two options. Either a nice juicy hamburger or a big scrumptious salad. The salad can be a green or fruit salad. As before, all distractions are off and care and attention is given solely to the prep of the item. Don't be discouraged if you get distracted during the process, it takes a little practice but after a few attempts it will become natural to concentrate on what you are doing, and not what you think you should be doing. Before long you will begin to apply this to other activities you enjoy and can do quietly. I know a lady that does this when she is dusting her house. She says it is no longer a chore she rushes through because she hates it, but is now a meditative time when she looks to how well she is a caretaker of her furniture and home, something she lost sight of right after she bought them.

This is not the same as doing stitching or sitting at a sewing machine, because that takes way too much concentration and a certain skill set. It is in the mundane tasks we do that we reap the reward of soothing the soul and mind, of taking note of the importance in small things that need our attention. When we do this, it is easier for us to discern what big things we should give our valuable time and energy to, whether it be our family or a charitable cause that is close to our hearts, or even a political stand. Learning how much time we truly have for these others frees us to make the important decisions based on ourselves and not on what we feel we have to do based on other factors and people. Free the mind from the chaos and it will repay you in quieting the onslaught of daily confusion and nebulous waste. When overwhelmed remember to always keep it simple.

Keep it Simple

Today I want to discuss something a little different. I was watching a program about Hollywood stars and how for all the money they earned, they ended up broke. It reminds me of the lottery winners that do the same thing too. I thought this was kind of sad but at the same time, spoke to how human these people are also. It seems that now that we have access to so many of todays modern devices and luxuries, it is easy to lose sight of what is important and truly valuable. We get caught up in the dramas of not only our little microcosm of life, but that of the world stage too, and the stresses of that along with our own expectations and those of others, makes life very complicated. I will tell you a secret that I learned long ago to calm those jangled nerves. Turn off the electronics so there is silence, and if it is winter, make a big pot of stew. Then enjoy that experience to its fullest. Make it as simply as possible, cut up vegetables you prefer and stew meat of your liking. Don't overthink it. Concentrate on your prep. Think about how you are cutting the vegetables up, are they slanted, or are they straight, even or uneven? Do you leave the ends on the celery or cut them off? Do you like big fat pieces of sliced onion or delicately thin sliced cuts? Then put them in the pot, and pay attention to the order you are putting them in. What spices if any will you add? Will it be at the beginning or the end? While it is cooking, pay attention to the aroma. What ingredients do you smell? Can you distinguish the onion, or the garlic? Can you imagine how good it will taste? When it is finished and you have filled your bowl and have a nice piece of crusty bread, or some other lovely addition, and a big glass of water or cup of hot tea, watch the steam rise from the stew and take note of how wonderful it looks and smells. How the colors look together. How thick the liquid is. And remember how much you enjoyed it, in the quiet of the hour, without distraction or worries in that fullness of time in doing this. Take note of how satisfying it feels in your stomach.

It is the simple things in life that add life. A simple bowl of homemade stew when the weather outside is cold is food for more than the body. It is food for the soul when care and thought is given to it and nothing else. Now it doesn't have to be stew. It can be a big bowl of homemade soup. Whatever is warm and comforting and not too complicated to make. Do what your dietary needs demand certainly. You see we could be thinking about how much we would like to have this and that, and worry over what we have and how to keep it, but there is no long term joy in it. It will not assuage the soul or calm the mind. Even the Hope diamond cannot do that. But a nice hot bowl of homemade stew or soup, now that we will think fondly of and remember, and know how a simple joy like that can soothe the ruffled feathers of life. Remember to keep it simple.

Did Someone Say Sparkle? Vineyard Silk Shimmer

 

 

So we are going to talk about fibers for a bit. How do I love fibers? Let me count the ways.....too many to count! LOL! I love the variety of colors and textures that fibers come in now and they are so easily accessible via brick and mortar in most locations or the internet for everywhere. So we have a lot of different ways to go to begin but let's take them by a simple category of what they are made of first. Now please keep in mind that I use 14 count Aida, so that is what these demos will be used on too. Some will not work on finer thread counts because they are too thick or delicate and need larger holes to work successfully. Sparkle is first up because it is just too fun! I know there are a lot of people that can appreciate the drama and beauty of a bit of sparkle here and there and now and then. It can not only be whimsical but add mystery and beautiful highlights as well.

The first I'll mention in our sparkle line-up is Vineyard Silk Shimmer. These are simply gorgeous! Now they are on the thick side, and require a bit more work in the stitching because of it, but they are so very worth it.

Now I stitched a fun fiber sampler that I designed myself so I could see what they looked like in an actual piece of work. It was a hoot and I am more than happy to provide the pattern to anyone that would like to download it and stitch it themselves. The "P" is stitched with the Vineyard Silk Shimmer and the photo does not do it justice. Something to keep in mind is that this is a bulkier fiber and so I have to use a larger needle in order to make the hole bigger before the thread goes through. This causes less friction and thus less wear and tear. It really does lay nicely and gives a wonderful elevation to the work too. It is made from luxurious silk with a metallic intertwined to give it that subtle shine, so even though it is a little bit pricier, it certainly will add value to anything it is stitched in. Here is the link for more information.
http://vineyardsilk.com/

Here is a picture of the finished sampler.

Some of the sparkle comes through quite nicely in the photo and it was a blast to stitch! It is also a reminder to play and have fun while working on my art. Bright and cheerful and a great pick-me-up on these cold grey days or any time I need a smile.

Hope you are all staying cozy warm!

Thought Nugget:
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
~Thomas Alva Edison

Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Right?

So 2018 has been here for two weeks and it seems as though I have accomplished nothing so far. Ugh! I am hoping to finish up some household stuff I have neglected and make a fresh start next week. I am almost done with Ladybug Lake and need to get really, really busy on that, since I want to get it out of the hoop and then move onto Eastern Expressions. I have so many ideas for upcoming projects it is overwhelming sometimes, but I am so grateful for the inspiration.

One of the things I want to tackle this year is to expand my knowledge of counted thread techniques. There truly are a wide variety of stitches that can be used to give my work depth and texture and I'm excited to start a sampler of stitches to learn them. Having embroidered in the past, especially with crewel, I am already familiar with many of the stitches such as satin, lazy daisy, French knot, etc., etc., etc.. However, I never used them on evenweave or Aida fabric before and am very excited about the prospect of incorporating these new ways of expression into my art. It's going to be a very exciting year, even if it is off to a slow start.

I have to admit I spent part of the New Year searching for a 2018 planner for my purse. You see I get one from Barnes and Noble every year, same kind, same price, for quite sometime now. They work perfectly for me and I look forward to getting them in November when the new calendars start coming out. Well this year they decided not to carry them. I tried substituting another but it just wasn't the same and I could tell early on it wasn't going to work out well. It was too big and not made sturdy enough for the abuse I put it through during the year. Trouble with finding one is that Barnes and Noble actually were the ones that produced the brand as well as sold it. I looked for something in the same small, but not too small, size. I spent hours upon hours on the internet looking with no luck. Finally, I ran across something extremely similar as far as the cover went. Next I had to figure out what would work inside it, since it came with nothing and those I bought in the past came fully furnished. So I only had to buy tabs and a calendar refill, since my other contents could be moved from my old planner to the new one. Then once I got everything I needed, I then had to enter all my information into it, again another time consuming task. I also have a Tools4Wisdom desk planner that I basically do the same thing with, but fortunately I could still purchase it where I normally do. So more time on getting ready for the New Year with it. Then there was the taking down of Christmas decorations and putting those away which is now a two day task at my age.

So all in all, the unexpected took a lot of "unexpected" time at the beginning of the year but it seems now all is on track (I am still updating the desk planner though which entails a lot of planning, like goal setting and how to get there). I'll have to get caught up on my magazine reading as well as going through the books I ordered, which I have already begun to do, so I won't get behind even more in February. It has been so cold here I should have gotten a lot done indoors since going outdoors is near impossible but for some reason winter is probably my least productive time of year art wise. It's always been that way as far back as I can remember and I've never been able to figure out why. So with my new 2018 catch phrase "Focus on the Work", I'm hoping to break that routine and get a lot done while the temps are freezing or close to it.

Always keep hope alive!

On the Bookshelf Series, 2018, #1

I guess the stars recently aligned correctly because I happily ran across a lot of great books on needlework, fiber art, mixed media, etc., and I am very excited about bringing information about them to you. Some I have purchased, some I intend to purchase, and others I would love to purchase. Over the years I have collected a lot of books on various subjects and ended up donating them to the local library or giving them away, but what I have always stubbornly hung onto are my needlework and mixed media books and now I have quite a reference library of my own on them. They are helpful with not only giving valuable information when needed but are also just a joy to look through when a bit of inspiration is needed. I am always wowed by the work of artists past and present and seeing what they accomplished. I especially love the older books, some of which are now impossible, or nearly so, to obtain, but chocked full of wonderful info that is priceless to know, especially the early designers making breakthrough art in fiber and with needle and thread.

Speaking of such, the first book I want to discuss is called, "Ayrshire Needlework" by Agnes F. Bryson (120 pages in total) and published by Batsford. What an amazing find this was and I am so glad I have it! For a used book this was in amazing condition and even had the original pattern sheet still attached to the inside back of the book. That is akin to being miraculous for a book that was published in 1989! Something else to consider is that there is not a lot of information out there about this particular needle art, so information of any sort is to be treasured. This is a shame because it truly is a beautiful, remarkable embroidery/needlepoint. Yes, it combines the best of both worlds, which makes it even more exceptional.

Let's break it down shall we? First of all the author gives us a very intimate history of its Scottish origins. How it came about as a cottage industry in the early 19th century is interesting, but then there are other tidbits she throws in the mix that are pretty astounding, like how they actually did the wash back then, which to me was back breaking and so time consuming that I was tempted to hug my washer and dryer in appreciation of their modernity. Ditto for the lighting and magnifiers I can now use to work by when back then it was by the light of a fire or a candle. They actually used whiskey for eye drops thinking it helped their sight, which the author copied and after the stinging subsided noticed no remarkable improvement in her vision. LOL! It is full of wonderful black and white photographs of both the antique versions and the authors newest take on them. The work in both instances is just stunning, but I can't help but remember the harsh conditions the "flowerers", as they were called then, had to stitch these beautiful pieces in and realize the true intrinsic value embedded in them. These were not only made for family and friends as heirlooms for special occasions, but the women doing this work on a production type scale were supplementing their impoverished family's income, and in some cases, actually being the sole provider when their husbands were not working. This work was a matter of survival for many.

Next up are directions for the stitching. While I haven't tried any yet, they look detailed and easy to follow with patterns in the book and a sheet for a christening gown motif attached to the back of the book. The materials seem to be pretty basic, although the material calls for cotton lawn which I am unfamiliar with, but also includes a stiletto and cotton sewing thread of a particular weight and not mercerized. The scissors have to be of a certain point and sharpness because of the small cutouts to be made in the needlepoint stitches.

I highly recommend this book for any needleworker's reference library. It can be purchased from used book sellers at reasonable prices if you shop carefully and check often. The history and insight into the actual stitchers of this remarkable embroidery art form makes this a great read as well. Thank you Agnes for providing this information so we can continue to treasure, and hopefully make, Ayrshire Needlework.

In the Beginning...A Fiber Sampler

So, before we even begin to talk about fibers, let's first talk about the need for a place to put examples of them. If you want to keep track of what various stitched fibers will look like in your work, then you have to have a fiber sampler, plain and simple. Now the format of doing it is very much left up to each individual. It can be big or small, left on a ring or placed in a notebook of sorts, contain information that is detailed or broad, it is strictly up to the stitcher as to how they want it to look.

As an example, I just use the cheapest 14 count Aida cloth I can buy at the local craft store (because 14 count Aida is what I primarily use) and put it in this oval hoop. When I have filled the piece up, I remove it, trim it up with pinking shears and then attach it with eyelets to a sketch book page. For me it is very random as far as placement, although I do try now to keep the number of stitches the same, as well as keep the information I provide consistent. I always put down the manufacturer, name of fiber, color number if available, and number of strands used. I use a fine tip fabric marker to write this information on it. You could also write on a separate paper page where you purchased it with their contact info as well as the price you paid. If you like a more organized and designed look, then certainly go with what works for you. This is your reference so customize it according to how you want it to look and above all, have fun with it! I will give information at the end of this blog as to what materials I used for my sampler if you are interested. Happily they can all be purchased just about everywhere.

So get your material in the hoop and whatever way you will store it ready and be prepared to have a blast finding out about all the wild, wonderful fibers you can fall in love with out there.

* 4.5"x9" inch oval embroidery hoop
* Canson XL 7"x10" inch (17.7cm x 25.4cm) Mix Media Sprial Sketchbook
*Eyelets made and attached with We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Punch Kit

Absenteeism

I'm so sorry about not updating the blog since November but have had a few personal issues to take care of that took more time than expected. All is back to the old routine again, thankfully! LOL! To let you know, if I ever permanently leave this blog, I will definitely give my readers notice of it. One thing I absolutely detest is finding a great blog only to discover it was abandoned years ago....UGH!

So we are off and running again and now starting a new year! Love it! I never make New Year's resolutions because they are never kept and therefore utterly useless for me to make in the first place. If I am going to lose weight, read more, travel, eat healthy, etc., etc., etc., then I need to do that on a serious daily basis, if that is truly what I want to DO and not just WISH. Instead, now being older, and hopefully wiser, I pick a catch phrase with a single purpose. This year it is "Focus on the Work". It is much easier for me to remind myself of one thing and set goals for accomplishing it, rather than a plethora of tasks that require micromanaging and gets boring fast.

So what does "Focus on the Work" entail? It requires a certain amount of planning and forethought and I break it into small portions that are more easily accomplished. First of all I will guard my morning stitching time more jealously. That means no distractions with emails, messages or phone calls from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (unless an emergency), Monday through Friday. I get two days off a month for shopping, reading, visiting a museum, or laying around in my pajamas all day watching television, whatever strikes my fancy, but absolutely no cooking or cleaning! LOL! Once a week in the afternoon I will work on things like bookkeeping and inventory. Once a week in the afternoon for the blog and to scout out the internet for fun new stuff in the fiber/needlework world. I want to take one course online, if I can find one I want, and one to attend in person either locally or out of town. I also want to try one new needlework technique of some kind and work on becoming proficient at it over the next year, however, this one I can scrub if time necessitates. At the end of each month I will go over what was and was not accomplished that month and set new goals for the next month. I will do this on the last Wednesday afternoon of each month. The rest of the time is for real life and not the creative life.

And that's it! What's important to me is that this requires discipline while realizing that I have to be flexible and allow changes when something isn't working. That means it is changed and not dropped off the map and abandoned.

So to all of you out there in blog land, here is to a wonderful, rewarding and successful 2018 to you all, and may all your resolutions (or catch phrases!) come true!

Until next week, here is a thought nugget for you:

"Creativity takes courage."
~Henri Matisse