Wonderful Wools

When you say wool fiber most people think "crewel embroidery" or "tapestry/needlepoint" work. The fact is, wool is a wonderful fiber to use on Aida cloth too. And yes, the 14 count variety. On my quest for the just right wool fiber (or fibers if I found more than one, which I did), I ran across DMC's Medici wool fiber during my search and was disappointed that the company had discontinued the line. That didn't mean that there wasn't supplies left with vendors, but I didn't want to get started on something that I wouldn't be able to order more of in the future, when supplies dwindled to nothing. Now here's the thing, the fiber is still being produced by the mill that originally produced it for DMC, but I guess it is going by a different name.....who knows at this point. but a site called Threadneedle Street, https://www.threadneedlestreet.com/Medicis.html claims to carry this. If you are reordering a color, then this would be a viable option, but if you are ordering for the first time and do not have a clue what the color looks like in relation to the number for it, you are out of luck because they do not supply a color chart for it. You could go to the internet and try to find a picture of a color chart I guess but this seems to be a lot of work for the customer that the vendor should be doing. So I chucked the idea of using Medici and this is what I found instead.

A great wool fiber that you can use on anything (I sew on buttons with it too) is Madeira Lana #12 Wool Embroidery Thread. Now this is 50% wool and 50% acrylic finely spun embroidery thread, that comes on a regular spool, so you can use it to machine stitch as well. It comes in a large variety of colors and stitches on Aida beautifully. Since it is 50% acrylic, maybe the moths won't be too anxious to use it for a buffet.

I purchased mine at Sewing Machines Plus https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/madeira-wool.php#/?Category0=Thread&Category1=Brands&Category2=Madeira&Category3=Wool+No.+12&Category4=220yds&search_return=all&page=2

Beautiful Madeira Lana Thread in some of their beautiful colors!

Here you can see the coverage of this beautiful fiber with
just one strand. Also, you can see the fuzziness on the left
after it was brushed with a Lana brush.

The Lana brushes came two to a package when
I purchased them. One is a little coarser than the
other for I guess when you really want to fuzz something up!

This is such a versatile fiber which is one of the reasons I love it. You can also brush it, with the Madeira Lana Brush, so you can get a wonderful fuzzy effect. I am also using it to stitch up a Christmas stocking kit that requires a ton of applique. It is a fine enough thread to work well on it too. I haven't used it in my machine, but from what I've seen it should probably work well in that too. Since it is on a spool, you get a lot of thread for the money, since you only need one strand of it in the Aida cloth. This would work in regular embroidery too. Versatility Plus!

Eye Surgery Update
Yesterday was my appointment to see the eye surgeon and I spent all afternoon there getting tested. The surgery is scheduled for next Monday (so quick because they had a cancellation on that day). Then the next day I have to go to the optometrist. The second eye will be done around the middle of July. Since I had all the testing done, including an ultrasound of my eyes (they can really do that?!) they are even worse today for the wear and tear. I am so glad to be getting this over with next week, so fair warning to all my wonderful creatives out there, I may have to skip that week's blog, but maybe not. If you do not see one you will know the reason why.

Book After Thought
I finished reading the book "Blessed Are the Weird" by Jacob Nordby, and all in all I have to say it was a satisfying read. You may not nod your head in agreement with all of it, but that's okay, I certainly didn't, but there was a lot of good information that was provided too. I worked in offices my whole life (when I wasn't working temp jobs at giving out sausage samples at a supermarket and selling Kodak Instamatic Cameras when they came out) and it was extremely unsatisfactory to my spirit. No matter what it was, I always wished I was somewhere else doing something else. The problem is I just didn't know what that was. I took courses and searched and just when I thought I had the answer, it scurried away in the midst of a lot of tedium that resulted in boredom and unfounded expectations. Now that I FINALLY have a handle on what I know to be my true vocation, I am all in and there is no more doubt. Even though it took me my whole life, I am still satisfied that I ultimately found it despite all the detours along the way. So I am here to tell you, DO NOT get discouraged by any of your own detours during your journey. They are there for a reason, so don't resent them. Just know that if you are uncertain of what your soul needs, the answer will be provided. Sometimes you have to finally be ready for it before it is revealed.

Stitch Sampler
I will try to get in more stitching on the sample I am working on and have an entry by the end of the week, so stay tuned!

Thought Nugget:
"Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it."
~Salvador Dali

Creativity 101-A Quick Book Review

 

I am currently reading a book called "Blessed Are the Weird, A Manifesto for Creatives" by Jacob Nordby. First the title and then the cover art caught my attention and then I downloaded a sample to test it out. I was intrigued after reading the sample so I purchased the book. I am about 70% through it at this point and I have to say it is an interesting read and I thought I would share it with you.

Nordby strikes some familiar cords from my bohemian youth. Growing up in the 60's and 70's, the younger generation was all about busting out of the mold and pursuing our dreams, whether they be creative, political, or humanitarian. The future lay at our feet, not organized and tied up with a nice bow but instead with a multitude of paths that wound their way past the horizon. It was exciting and overwhelming all at once. I can see the bits and pieces of Nordby's antiestablishment feelings in this book but it is relevant to his theme. He believes we are now in a Renaissance and creatives of every ilk are needed to help the world get its bearings. I do agree with him that technology is now outpacing what is practically needed for us in this time and place and we are constantly working to keep up with it either by learning it, purchasing it, usually both at the same time. The role of the creative is to give alternate choices for people to look, read and listen at a slower speed, allowing them to catch their breath from all the hubbub. We in essence have to un-numb our souls and remember what we love and appreciate and pursue it, whether it be writing the epic novel or growing a healthy, happy family.

The Weird part is the tribe of those that never slipped easily into any homogenous slot. They consist of those that watch others march to the beat of the collective drum while they stand on the sidelines, with creative yearnings tugging at their shirttails. Yes, it is good to be weird.

His approach is different and though I certainly don't agree with all the book's contents, there is enough to be gleaned that offers great food for thought and conversation. I like that concept.

A link to the cover artist's website:
http://alenkopera.com/index.html

Link to the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Are-Weird-Manifesto-Creatives/dp/0996898905/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529417724&sr=8-2&keywords=Blessed+are+the+Weird

Updated Renaissance Threads, Stitch Sampler, and Needles

Here is the post with pictures this time. Remember, you can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

First of all my apologies. I tried to download pictures off my phone as usual, but the computer wouldn't let me do that. So I thought I would just use my old digital camera, but guess what? The batteries are dead. And guess what else? I only have one battery in the size needed, and the camera takes two. That means there will not be any pictures with this entry. However, I will not be deterred! As soon as I can get my hands on new batteries, I will get the pictures downloaded and repost this entry.

Let's talk for a minute about Renaissance Threads. Again, these were purchased a while back and experimented with. Even though these were more or less designed for needlepoint, I wanted to try them because they just look so gorgeous (and interesting). When I went to their website today, I noticed that their "What's New" page hadn't been updated since 2014. I can't tell you what that means in terms of their products, but in the past I have purchased their products from ABC Stitch Therapy in their needlepoint section.

These really are beautiful fibers and quite different from the others I've mentioned. The sparkle is out of this world on those that sparkle. That being said, there are some fibers that are made for needlepoint and should only be used for that purpose and I think these qualify for that use. Even though it has been a while since I used them, as I recall, I shelved them because they were either too difficult to work with or I already had fibers that would provide the same effect for a lower cost. I certainly am not going to discourage anyone from trying these fibers because everyone is different, and as they say, "One man's meat is another man's poison.". Give it a whirl and see what happens if you are interested. You just never know until you try.


The four different threads I used.

This is the Black Shimmer. You can see the great sparkle it has and also the
thicker fiber that it is as well.

Here is the Black Sprinkles, another amazing sparkler. The Shimmer and Sprinkles
are not divisible due to the way the sparkle filament is entwined into it. This is
when having a 12 count Aida would be handy, as it would handle these thicker
fibers better. Oh well!

 

So here they are stitched up. The two without the sparkles in them I tried to
brush with a Lana Brush but the results weren't stellar. (More about the Lana
brush when we begin to discuss wool fibers.)

 

 IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT NEEDLES

Now I have mentioned fibers of various sorts, but something that accompanies that are the importance of the needles used. For heavier fibers or those that are thick/fibrous, use a larger needle. That means a larger eye which makes it easier to thread too. The size is totally up to you. I have even used large plastic needles used for sewing on knitted items, so get a few of the really large sized needles in your collection so you can work with these fibers. The bigger the hole you will make, the easier the fiber will pass through, saving wear and tear on it. This is strictly trial and error for each person but definitely one that has to be explored if various kinds of fibers are going to be used in the work. I have found the large Pebbles needles work very well for me and come in nice storage "eggs".

Typically I use 26 or 28 tapestry needles and my favorites are the Colonial needles, however, they are sometimes hard to locate in this part of the country, so I usually end up using the John James needles which are nice, but don't seem to last very long for me (the eye of the needle likes to break off). I know many people though who will not use anything but that brand, so again, individual preference is the key.

Here are some of the giant needles that can be used for the thicker and or fuzzy
looking fibers. These make the hole bigger so you can get the fiber through the
fabric without too much wear and tear. The size of the hole the needle makes will
be filled in by the fiber so no one will ever see it. Find the right needle to accommodate
the fiber for the best results. Sometimes it just takes a try or two to get the combination right.

Here you can really see the difference in the larger needle versus a size 28 tapestry.
 

Here it is in my hand so you can get a better idea of how big it is. Remember,
the smaller the number the larger the needle. DMC makes these wonderful large
tapestry needles as well as John James in the Pebbles line. The larger tapestries
are good to have on hand, just in case.

 

THE STITCH SAMPLER

I began the first stitch in the Sampler which is Version 1 of the Reversible Cross Stitch and here are my thoughts so far. It is definitely fun to try something different. Surprisingly, this goes one time diagonally, and then it goes twice through on the other diagonal stitch, making one thicker than the other. However, you cannot see a difference in them. I'm not sure how that works technically, but visually it is almost like an optical illusion. The purpose of this stitch is to keep the back neat and reversible. So it does have more of a stitched look on the backside but I wouldn't go so far as to say it makes the work reversible. For one thing, there is a distinct difference between the front and the back, plus you still have to anchor the threads on the backside which definitely makes it not reversible. I have no clue as to why this would be called reversible. Maybe more research is needed on this subject.

I had a hard time getting the second row to look like the first on the back (the first row looked just like the book). After numerous attempts I finally tried putting the fabric upside down and then stitching it as I did the first row and that worked, it looked exactly like the first row. So the fabric has to be stitched upside down and right side up in order to get the consistent look on the back. Again, I am questioning the need for this in my stitching since I have no future plans to make the backside of my work visible to the general public. Weight has to be given as to whether the look of the back is equal to the extra work it entails. Again, individual preference has to win the day.

I am using three strands of floss and working over two on the 14 count. I am doing this so I can see the detail of the stitch. I will also do it over one just to see how it looks. I am really enjoying doing this!



Here is the front of the Reversible Cross Stitch over two on 14 count Aida.
Looks like regular cross stitch.

Here is the backside. You can see the difference. Plus you have the floss tails
that you have to secure on the back as well.  I'll be adding more about this stitch
in the next post.

  

Until next week here is another Thought Nugget:

"Looking back upon my work today, I think the best I have done grew out of things deeply felt, the worst from a pride in mere talent."

~Diego Rivera



The Stitch Sampler

So I have begun working on getting my stitch sampler organized and started. I had the book, I had the material, the next thing was how to set the stitching up in the book. Some of this is going to be figuring it out as I go, but having the initial set-up ready to go is most of the battle. It has taken a while to figure out the logistics but now that I have a handle on it, it will be just a matter of sorting out the smaller details.

How I plan to do this is to have two swatches per page and they are both divided up into fourths. Each stitch sample will have the name of the stitch and the page number of the book it came from on the actual fabric. That way if something happens to the book, the records will still be on the fabric permanently and can be reassigned to another book. Of course I'm not planning on having to do that, but better safe than sorry.

What I decided to do is to keep the fabric as I purchased and let the sizing remain in it. It will be easier to stitch on this way since it is too small to put in a Q-Snap. I decided against painting the fabric for this reason too. Instead I am going to use different colors of DMC cotton floss. I am starting with bright colors, and then will switch over to color families. It will make it more fun and interesting and I LOVE color!

The amount of stitching I will do for each stitch will depend on when I am comfortable with it. Once I establish how many rows it takes to reach that comfort level, I will make it standard for the other stitches as well to keep it consistent and easier to manage.

So here is what I have done so far:

The easiest way I know of figuring out where
to cut is to fold the fabric and then cut along
the fold lines. I use a rotary cutter because it
gives a straighter cut.

The first cut and we are on our way.

Here are all the pieces. The original piece was
15"x18" (38.1x45.7cm).

Here is a label from the fabric as well as the
initial floss colors I will be using. So bright
and cheerful!

The book that I will be attaching the fabric to
and I will be starting on about the third page to
ensure there are a couple of pages to buffer the
cover from the work.

Two pieces fit very nicely on a page.

There will be four sections to each piece of fabric
where different stitches will be made.

So now the real work begins! The first stitches will be Reversible Cross Stitch (Version 1) on page 13 of "The Proper Stitch". Be aware that this set-up could be subject to change at any time depending on what is working and what is not. This is strictly a personal reference so it will be subject to errors, do overs, and whatever else happens. I'm okay with that since I have learned that something doesn't have to be pristine perfect to be valuable. Most important is that I am able to see what the stitch looks like and that it is accurate both front and back. I'm leaving the artsy, fun stuff to my Pear Blossom Journal, my samplers are strictly for the business of stitching.

So if you are interested at all in doing one of these, set it up the way it suits you best. There is no wrong or right way, just start, because you can always make modifications along the way.

I will have the first set of stitches done for the next post, so stay tuned. As this took so much more time than I expected, the difficult fibers will have to wait until next time too.

Thought nugget until then:
"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint.', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."
~Vincent van Gogh

Miscellaneous Stuff

Working in the studio this week I thought I would go over a few things with my readers. First, I am not someone that does a lot of regular drawing unless it is just to play with some of the materials I have like markers and pencils. While I was scouring the inner recesses of the studio, I ran across these things I worked on back in 2014. Just for fun here are some pics:

I wanted to use this color combination and the
heart design was perfect. All done freehanded.

I just started doodling around and this is what
happened!

I had an idea back in 2014 to illustrate a binder
I had and not use it as a planner but just as a
journal. I put a favorite poem for winter on the
opposite page.

February was fun too! The poem for this month
 is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

I moved onto other things so March was the last
one I illustrated, however, I may finish the project
sometime in the future.

I couldn't resist dressing up the cover with markers
and stickers.

THE PETRIFIED PAINT PROJECT
I mentioned in my last entry a project wherein the paint broke so many needles I had to table it. The story behind the project began when a friend of mine was struggling with advanced cancer. I wanted to make something for her that would show elements of her life that I knew about. The pattern was made, fabric purchased, floss selected, and I was purchasing various charms to put on it. I put the fabric paint on it which was just beautiful, the sparkle was truly awesome. While stitching the border, I realized using the fabric would be impossible because my needles were breaking like crazy from the stiff fabric. While I was trying to find another comparable, but softer, fabric paint, my dear friend passed away. I learned then that the prep work is every bit as important as the actual work on the project. Since researching different media, I can now look at the fabric and paint and think that maybe it wasn't all the paint's fault. There may be mitigating factors such as this particular fabric had metallic thread woven in it and I did not wash the sizing out of it before painting, and these certainly could have affected the outcome. What would be interesting in the future would be to use this same type of material (prewashed of course) and use a regular, non-sparkling medium on it to see if the metallic in the fabric will be enough to give it sparkle with the medium.

Here are the project pictures:

Here is the fabric. It has a divot in the middle
where things were stacked on it, otherwise it
hasn't changed.

 

I custom mixed glass beads in the colors I was
going to use.

 

Here are the other beads, floss and charms. I was
still getting more charms when the project halted.

So since I have all the materials, I think I could make this piece into a tribute for my friend. She was a truly exceptional lady and friend, and this would be fitting for her.

I also ran across this project tray in the process, which truthfully I just forgot about. LOL! I ran across this darling, rustic little birdhouse brooch and these little bone bird beads. It was almost like Christmas discovering these treasures again!:o)

Looking at this entry it looks like a stroll down memory lane. It's surprising how much my approach has changed yet stayed the same, and that is what creativity is all about, evolving and exploring. What stays the same always is that it remains interesting and rewarding.

Coming up later this week are the fibers I couldn't use and the stitch sampler so stay tuned!

Until then: KEEP CREATING!

Super Silk Fiber!

The blue stitching above was done with the Rainbow Gallery
Splendor Silk mixed with strands of Glissen Gloss.

Here are the fabulous fibers themselves!

This is one of my very favorite fibers. It is silk AND is hand washable. You get a lot for your money, it comes in soooo many beautiful colors and stitches up like a dream. It is Rainbow Gallery's Splendor.

Splendor is 100% silk and comes in 360 colors in 8 yard cards. It is a 12 ply silk that has three 4 ply bundles twisted together. I can't stress enough how gorgeous the colors are and how sweet this fiber is to work with. I want to use this fiber as much as possible because it is so GREAT! This is the fiber that I am using as the water on "Ladybug Lake" and it was an ideal choice to do it. The color is spot on for what I needed. Rainbow Gallery also makes a lot of other great fibers too, I have used their Wisper to great effect. Check them all out here:
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/

Keep I mind that they suggest you test your fiber for colorfastness before using just to be on the safe side.

I was going to test the Jacquard Lumier's and Shiva Paintsticks for color fastness but instead was busy clearing my work table of all the items I had out testing the Twinkling H2O's, Derwent Inktense Color Pencils and the Gelatos. The test results were wonderful as far as finding out what works well and what doesn't. The Derwent and Gelatos truly had it all going on perfectly in the color fastness test and maintained a very soft hand. As much as I love the effects of the Twinkling H2O's, they definitely didn't perform well on the fabric. The fabric was hard as nails and the colors ran whenever water was applied, no matter the prep work. Two things to remember: always wash the fabric to make sure any sizing or any other additive is removed and heat set with an iron. If the colors are unstable at all, heat press again. You can't just quickly go over it too, really make sure you have set it well.

I started working on my stitch sampler and should have the first example of that next week. YEAH! I'm so anxious to get started on that! Not every super cool fiber works on the 14 count Aida and I am going to show some of them next week. Remember I mentioned the project that failed because of the paint? I will show that to you as well next week. So get ready for more fun then!

Thought Nugget:
"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."
~Leonardo da Vinci