DebBee's Designs

Happy New Year! I’ve already started my traditional New Year’s Resolutions, back in September when I started my diet and exercise program – 16 pounds lighter so far! But, like so many of you, the prospect of a new year turns my thoughts to goals and projects for the coming year. The blank canvas beckons, waiting for needle and thread to create something of beauty and value, stitching bits of spirit and soul along with the pattern. So what lies ahead?

Change It Up

In the immediate future, just days away now, I have the Winter Show in Phoenix. As usual, I’m still working on new designs. But here’s something I completed last year, that I hope will find a warm welcome, a Change It Up Alphabet. Each letter is comprised of 4 x 4 blocks, a different stitch for each letter. Since each stitch is the same size, the stitcher can choose to make the letters as I’ve done them, using a single stitch, or combine different stitches for the letters, or use stitches for letters other than the ones I chose, or any number of possibilities. The booklet has upper and lower case letters, 26 stitches and diagrams, plus a 27th stitch to use for a border; suggestions for layering stitches; suggestions for a border; how to figure a layout, and even a tent stitch alphabet to create a birth sampler, wedding or anniversary commemorative. I chose to stitch a model using my granddaughter’s name, in the colors of her nursery, which is painted pink and green stripes.

Right after the Winter Show in Phoenix I’ll prepare for the Nashville Needlearts Market, with new designs for that show as well. I’ll be showing sneak peeks here first, and if all goes as planned, using some trims from Crescent Colours for a series of Easter egg ornaments. Fingers crossed that the visions in my head translate to fabric and thread!

Further along, though, I’ve already started planning the end to the Diamond Delight series. Diamond Delight 10 is haunting my dreams, and will be quite an ambitious undertaking. I hope I’m up to the task; it feels quite daunting! But it’s part of my general goal this year to take my designing in a more artistic direction, to grow as a needle artist, and experiment with my chosen medium of canvas and thread.

I hope you’ll take the journey with me, and may 2012 be an exciting year of growth for you as well!

Gilded Splendor

Earlier I designed a project for a round finish into a kissing ball, and it turned into a prototype. Normally I hate stitching something more than once, but this time it was a useful exercise. I learned stitches that would work, and stitches that wouldn’t, like Rhodes stitches. Also, because of the steps used in the finish, I don’t think overdyed or non-colorfast threads would be appropriate either.

But, the prototype served its purpose and I’m ready to move forward with the actual project. Gilded Splendor is one of four new ornaments that I’ll release in a single booklet, hopefully at the Winter Show in Phoenix in late January.

Since the Rhodes stitches were too prominent in the design, I made the border stitch around the center band a rice over trellis stitch. It also allowed me to incorporate more gold into that part of the design. I decided I liked a heavier gold braid for the trame’ in the victorian step section in the center, so that was another change. The upper and lower parts of the design were mostly unchanged, but I did use fewer strands for the satin stitches. For the finish this time I made my own bow instead of buying a bow; the available bows would have overwhelmed the smaller size of the ball. I also added a gold trim to the white gimp braid around the pleated fabric to dress it up a bit more.

For the next design in the series I’m going to scale down a bit, and try a 4″ ball to see if I like that size. My vision for the final set of four is to include two 6″ designs and two 4″ designs, all in white and gold. I have some yummy ivory and gold dupioni satin for the finishes, and plan to make the bows for the other three on my holiday trip. My mother-in-law taught me to make wreath bows several years ago, and I need a refresher when I’m at her house, so I’ll arrive with all the supplies and can hopefully come home with the bows I need!

If I don’t get to write another entry before the holidays, I hope all of you have the happiest of holidays!

A Bump In The Rhodes

I finished my first release for next year – A Bump In The Rhodes! This one will be released at the Phoenix TNNA show at the end of January, and is all Rhodes stitches, perfect for beginning counted canvas stitchers. I stitched it with Sullivans #5 pearl cottons and flosses on 18 ct. Rose Blush canvas, but like all of my designs the colors and threads can easily be changed.

I think I may have broken a few “rules” with this one. Of course, we all know there are only two needlework rules – the thread goes in the needle and the needle goes in the canvas! But generally, for Rhodes stitches, the final stitch for all of the Rhodes stitches within in a piece should have the same orientation. If the final stitch is the vertical stitch, all of the final stitches should be vertical, or all of them should be horizontal, or all of them should be diagonal. I did not hold to that with this design!

I’ve wanted to see what would happen to the look of a piece if the Rhodes stitches didn’t follow the rules, so I played with the final orientation for several of the stitches. So some of them are vertical, some of them are horizontal, and some of them are diagonal – gasp! But I think it works for this piece, and remains true to the intent of the design.

For Rhodes stitch lovers, this design incorporates squares, rectangles, rounds, diamonds, hearts and butterflies. I had fun playing with the many shapes and sizes of Rhodes stitches, and creating textures with floss and #5 pearl cotton. I didn’t have purple people in mind when I was picking colors, but was thinking more in line with Valentine’s Day and late winter.

I’ve got a few more single-stitch designs in mind. This one joins Rice Pudding, my homage to rice stitches. Next up is a study in Smyrna stitches. It’s designed and waiting for color inspiration, so if you have a particular color in mind, give me a shout!

My prototype Kissing Ball

The retreat weekend is over, and I learned several things in addition to getting lots of stitching done!

First, I took a class in peyote beading. I enjoyed the class, but I won’t be adding any peyote beading patterns to my designing efforts, or taking up beading in my spare time. I do hope to finish the bracelet we were working on, and when (if?) I get it finished I’ll post a picture here. I love jewelry, especially bracelets, since they don’t seem to be as fussy as necklaces.

I stitched several more models for the free charts I’ll be giving to the shop owners who stop by my booth at the January and February TNNA trade shows. One of the models is a color cross stitch version, similar to the mono-chromatic versions I posted previously. Another version is specialty stitches on linen, and the final one is specialty stitches on canvas. When I finish the models I’ll post pictures.

I worked on a deadline that was looming, a cross stitch alphabet for publication by Cross Stitch and Needlecraft for their 2013 Keepsake Calendar. I can’t show pictures here, but it turned out super cute and colorful! That project is now finished on its way to them.

Then I took another class, on finishing an ornament into a kissing ball. I was very enthused about this class for a number of reasons. I love being able to do my own finishing, especially for ornaments, and a round finish was something I haven’t been able to do. I wanted to see how adaptable the finish would be, hopefully to use for ovoid shapes next year (think Easter eggs!). I saw some potential for this finish, to release a set of four ornaments with an accompanying Christmas stocking next year, then possibly another set in other patterns and colors in subsequent years.

As it turns out, my design is a prototype. I discovered that the Rhodes stitches raise the stitching too much off the ball, so I won’t be using Rhodes stitches. My design was too large, so I need to reduce the scale a bit. I had to leave class, run to Wal-Mart and get a larger ball to fit my too-large stitching! I didn’t have the right kinds of trims, but a friend was kind to give me some of hers. All useful lessons, and now I know what I need to do to make better designs for a round finish. My “prototype” will be used for our ANG chapter ornament exchange, so I hope the recipient has a very large tree!

Springtime Serenade Cross Stitch Version

This week I’m looking forward to a stitching retreat. And like the rest of stitchers, the first thing I consider is which stitching projects I’ll be taking with me! Here’s a peek at what’s in my stitching bag:

First, I’m working on an alphabet project for Cross Stitch and Needlework’s Keepsake Calendar for 2013. This fun and funky cross stitch design features a different style for each letter, bright colors, and a couple of specialty stitches. I’m hoping it stitches up fast.

When I want to switch things up, I have a couple of free designs I’m prepping for next year’s trade shows. I’ve already stitched two cross stitch versions, finished into an ornament. One I stitched in a single color, and the other in a single color Assissi-style. For the retreat I plan to stitch a full color version in cross stitch and another with specialty stitches. And because I just couldn’t stop myself, I plan to stitch another version on canvas. All of these designs will be available at the Phoenix and Nashville shows in January and February next year, and then as downloads on the website.

Springtime Serenade Assissi version

I’ve been in a Hardanger mood as well, so I’ve slipped a new Hardanger design into the project bag. This one is on 28 ct. hand-dyed Lavender Sunset Jobelan, with purple and green silk, metallic and cotton threads. I may throw some beads on it as well before I’m finished.

At the retreat I’m taking a couple of classes. I’ll be learning to finish a kissing ball, a round ornament finish. Of course I designed my own counted canvas design, white and gold with silks, metallics and beads. That led to another one, and I think I’ll probably take the second chart and supplies with me as well to maybe start stitching on that one. I promise a picture of the finished project next week! The other class is a beaded bracelet – but I’m not going to start designing beading. It just seemed like a fun thing to do, my friends are taking the class, and another friend is teaching it.

Retreats are a great time to recharge, get lots of stitching done, and maybe some inspiration for new projects. I hope a retreat is in your future!