Erica's Stitches

Recent events have been distracting.  My brain turned off and I didn't touch any of my projects for days. As the feeling faded I picked up a new project.  Actually, from the date stamped on the linen, an old project.  The copyright is 1975. No thought is required because it is all charted out. I'm finding the process enjoyable.  Especially once I started adding in the second shade of green. I can't wait to get to the bright pinks. Now my mind is beginning to turn.  Could I sketch out my own design on linen and satin stitch in the colors.  Hmmm.  I have a small selection of needlepoint wool.  That would be a great way to use it up.  Maybe a mountain scene.  I think I have the right colors. In the meantime I'll get this one finished up.  There's a form where I can send away for a matching frame for about $4.00.  Do you think they still have any available?

I've been finishing these wool ornaments. I started them back in July and then put them aside.  They are overdue to be finished  All that is left is to add a hanger, a backing and perhaps an edge trim. Let me back up a little so you can see all of the ornaments. It is fun to not have a pattern.  I just mix up stitches and colors however I feel at the moment.  Then I add beads. I was experimenting with a burlap like fabric for the backing.  It worked very well except that it kept slipping out of the Q-snap frame I was using.  A wooden frame may have worked better.  For the final finishing it was very nice.  I was able to fold it back easily, unlike canvas, and have no trace of it showing at the edge. A little more work and these will be ready to hang.

I recently posted pictures of my Striped Heart and Purple Mountain Majesties. Both are made with strips of wool appliqued down with embroidery.  It seemed like a good idea, but I didn't know how it would turn out. I made the heart first and used some painted aida cloth and multi-colored floss.  Then I added beads to fill in the gaps.  The whole stitching process went smoothly. When I went to finish it the aida was difficult to work with - hearts are a difficult shape with both inward and outward points and aida doesn't ease well.  I had liked the idea of the paint showing through but when I finished you could barely see it. So, I tried something different the next time around. I used needlepoint canvas.  I managed to completely cover it so none of the canvas was visible.  I liked working on the stiffer fabric.  But, sometimes I wanted to split the thread and other times I didn't so I was constantly switching between a tapestry needle...

America the Beautiful: The Fiber of our Heart This show is running at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts in Palmer Lake, Colorado through July 29. The highlight of the show is the America the Beautiful tapestry done by the Embroiderers' Guild of America . There is also a show of local Needle and Fiber Art.  I have 2 pieces dispalyed.  One is Postcards from Colorado that I did several years ago.  The second piece was done for this show.  I had just finished the Striped Heart  and wanted to play more with the technique.  Instead of a shape I wanted to do a bigger picture. Here is the picture I selected.  It was taken during an April day in the Garden of the Gods.  It is not Pikes Peak, but the peak is nearby. The picture has the sky, mountains, plains and grains (sort of) to fit the America the Beautiful lyrics. I recreated the picture using the same stripes of wool as the heart (in different colors) and lots of different flos...

It's back. I made this heart during the springtime and sent it in to the Piecework Heart Ornament Contest. Needless to say, it was not selected. At the time I was imagining intricate embroidered hearts with lots of fancy stitches.  I had wool out for other projects and the colors were perfect for hearts. The thread was from a sampler pack of remnants from a yarn shop.  It was a 3 ply cotton yarn that stitched beautifully on the wool.  I have since looked for and been unable to find a whole skein.  I found something very similar but the colors change about every yard instead of every inch. And beads!  Had to add beads. I picked up the latest Piecework with the contest results yesterday.  All the winning hearts are fabulous.  I am so jealous of the bleeding hearts.  I wish I had the patience to stitch something like that. Oh well, Piecework will have another contest announced in the fall.  I'm going to try something more ambitious and...