Sweet Stitches

Somehow, I don't think the exquisiteness of this canvas translates to these photos. It is so rich and varied, and the colors are most unusual. I have used only a few fancy stitches, as you can see with the pale lavender "diamonds" and the velvet for the petal edges.

The detail and the shading are taking me a very long time to work out, and at times I have to put it away for a number of days and work on something easy and quick. But it is a labor of love - because it seems to me to be as subtly beautiful as nature herself, or as a wonderfully seasoned relationship!

A Gem of a Canvas

This new canvas by Mindy uses color and texture so subtly, that it is a joy to stitch. I DO have one frustration, though. I had envisioned the iris petals in Petite Very Velvet, but the colors available at A Stitch in Time didn't suit my vision. Instead, I have several Silk and Ivory, which is always a joy to stitch with. I love the challenge of canvases by Mindy.

In my music piece, I did only basketweave or tent stitch, nothing at all fancy, but for this, I wanted to vary the texture in several areas. I love Mindy's color choices!

Santa Sings!

It's finished! Santa is singing and Roxy helped me finish him! I love all the stitches on this canvas. I learned several new ones. Check out his mustache - those are bullion knots. His beard is french knots with a tail. I did have to rip a bit, but it was worth the trouble.

What should I start on now?

Some of February's Finished Canvases and One WIP

Plumed Nutcracker DONE! The stitch on the
bottom stretched the canvas badly! (RIGHT)




Cat Stitch'n'Zip Glasses Case! (ABOVE)

Angel Ornament - DONE! (RIGHT)

Beanbag Bear - DONE! (BELOW)

Singing Santa - working on the background! The dark places at the top are shadows from the Florida sunshine!!!!

I HATE RIPPING OUT STITCHES!

What is the largest area you have had to rip out?

I completed a lot of the Singing Santa background Friday night and had to rip most it out last night. It used two colors of stranded floss blended together and I got 792 in the mix instead of 791. The colors were so close I didn't notice it on Friday, even under my natural light lamp. Most infuriating!!!

Back to Nearly Normal

I even had a voice this morning in church, in spite of sounding like a bass on Friday! The Organist said I sounded like "angels singing". I started on another Stitch and Zip glasses/cell phone case last night and took it to work on this morning. Very portable - the floss and my tiny scissors fit entirely in the pouch formed by the zipped up case.

Stitching Unaffected by Sickness

I've been stitching a LOT since I came down with this blasted cold. I'll take a picture of the singing Santa when the Captain comes home from Arkansas with the camera. I should have it done by then!

First Canvas

My friend Pam started me on needlepoint. I used to knit - though I have nothing to prove for it, as I gave all my project away, except a lovely unfinished cabled afghan. I sewed many clothes for my kids, including really cute Halloween costumes. I cross-stitched for an intense period, ending just after the Christmas when I made a counted cross stitch gift for each member of church choir I was directing at the time! I've made quilts: for my daughter, friends' babies, and one yet unfinished one for myself.

It was the summer my dad was ailing. He broke his hip. When they tried to get him up following the surgery to repair it, his heart stopped. Weak as he was, that was not much of a gift to him. His health declined over the next 6 months until his death in October.

When he "coded", I made a quick trip to Charleston, fearing he might not know me in this life again. While I was there, I had a stroke - could not speak properly, very little sensation and virtually no control of my right hand and arm, though fortunately, no paralysis.

During my recovery, Pam bought me this lovely piece, and some wonderful fibers to stitch it with - Silk and Ivory was my favorite. It was still a challenge for me to wield the needle, but since I was heavily involved with relearning motor skills such as tooth-brushing, hair combing, buttering toast, etc, it was one more motor task to master. I worked on it intermittently for much of the summer. It took me quite a long time, considering how small the canvas was! I was thrilled to finish it.

Stitching has become such a necessary part of my life now that I cannot imagine being without some project!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Luciluna Stitches

For what it's worth, these are my stitching projects. Stitching is one of my greatest joys. I love the way the textures and colors seem to magically grow on the canvas. I love to play with new stitches, and see the flat surface of the canvas leap to life. I love the way different fibers catch the light. If I could, I probably would alternate stitching, blogging, reading and playing with the cats all day long!

I usually have 3-4 projects going at once. That way, if I feel like progress is slow on one of them, I can get more immediate gratification by switching to another project. I really love working on small canvases - goes along with the love of miniatures, I guess.

In this space, I will post pictures of finished canvases and works in progress. This is probably more for my own joy than the interest of others. Even though I have canvases framed and displayed throughout my house, as well as those that live with my niece and her 4 children, with my mother, my daughter, my son and his wife, and my friends, it's satisfying to have an overview as well.

If you are still with me, thank you. Your presence and your comments are truly welcome!