Stitchery from A to Z

Blackwork

2009-07-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

I have taken over the position as Program chair for my primary EGA chapter. My "reign of terror", oops, I mean I don't begin in the position until the beginning of the year, but that means I have to have programs ready by November for photographing for the new yearbook.

On the top is a free pattern by Laura J. Perin. Although it is Blackwork, Blackwork does not have to be done in black. So I chose a variegated size 12 perle coton that was dyed by Laura Wasilewski. I didn't pre-wash the thread. I was hoping that when I washed the piece after stitching that some of the dye would run and it did. It now has a wonderful mottling on the hardanger fabric. It is wonderful.

I finished it as a needle case.

The picture at the bottom is based on a Blackwork sampler that appeared in EGA's Needle Arts magazine. Instead of doing the sampler, I used four of the patterns to make this name tag. The thread is DMC white floss that I dyed in a variegated blue.

The edging is stitched using a hemstitch. It has a faint blue cast to it in places. I used another DMC floss that I dyed for the hem also. None of the thread bled when I washed it. I pre-washed and set the dyes before hand so I wasn't expecting anything to bleed.

Now I just have to finish making it into a name tag.

Waterlily SAL

2009-07-30T08:51:00.001-07:00

Here is the fabric and the colors of thread I will be using for the Waterlily cushion.

The size 8 is Anchor 307 perle coton and the size 12 is Anchor 306.

I have debated making the fabric darker, but I think I need the contrast that is shown here. If the fabric gets any darker I am afraid I will lose the stitches against the blue.

I painted the 28 count linen with Dyna Flow Cerulean Blue. First I wet the linen and then painted the fabric with a sponge brush.

You can't tell from this picture, but the color varies across the fabric from light to medium. I tried not to make it a perfectly even color.

Waterlily SAL

2009-07-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Whew! It seems like forever since my last entry. What a year and half it has been, but life has opened another opportunity for me to get back to my favorite time filler: stitching.

Lately, I have not had the brain function to do much designing of my own, but I have had the energy to do some stitching and for the coming year, I am the program chair for my primary F2F EGA chapter.

In developing the programs, I will be doing a lot of stitching to keep up with the teachers and I plan to share my progress here.

I have also come back to knitting and have learned about KAL's (knit alongs) and SAL's (Stitch alongs). So I have some projects going with those.

I also joined a virtual Quilting Bee which has got me back onto Flickr.

Not enough time in the day. But like I said a real time filler. Which allows me to be available to babysit my grandson who is turning 3 shortly. He really fills my time.

As to the Waterlily SAL, this is a pillow from Yvette Stanton's book, Elegant Hardanger Embroidery. I am hoping to get it done as a Christmas present. The SAL is being done as part of Yvette's Yahoo group on Hardanger. It's called Hardanger How To.

More Sun Symbols

2008-03-17T16:44:00.001-07:00

Slowly but surely it is coming together. I added the hanging straps last week and embellished them today.

I placed a twisted Ndbele bar through the loops and finished them with a RAW end cap at either end.

For the grand finale, I will string a variety of beads for the neckstrap and add a toggle clasp.

This necklace is due on Wednesday for the auction so time is of the essence.

Sun Symbols

2008-03-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

I have had a passion for gold and Swarovski Rivolis for the past few months. I've worked up several pieces that now appear on the class page of my website: http://www.dianestavola.com/classes.php I haven't put any of them up for sale because I love wearing them, especially with a black turtle neck or mock turtle. But I wouldn't mind teaching them to anyone.

I am frequently requested to donate items to worthy causes. Most of the groups take all the money, but some just want a percentage of a sale. Two groups that have asked for donations recently are the Allegheny Highlands Art and Craft Center in Clifton Forge, VA, and the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, VA.

The Allegheny Highlands theme is chocolate, so that piece will be brown this year - I think. For Jacksonville Center I am going to stick with my fascination with gold and Rivolis, but do something a bit different. Here are some pictures of the piece in process. I haven't even begun the chocolate one.

Most of the beads are 24 kt gold plated glass. The drops are Czech pressed glass and the brown seed beads are not gold.

I need to have it done for the auction in two weeks. The idea is that the artist sets a reserve price. If the reserve isn't met, the piece is returned to the artist. If only the reserve is met, the artist gets it all. If

RAW

2008-03-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

After meeting NanC Meinhart and touring her gallery and shop, I have developed a new respect for and interest in RAW or Right Angle Weave. My first love as far as off loom bead weaving is peyote stitch, but RAW is probably just as flexible a stitch and much more drapey. Peyote can be very drapey in free-form but RAW is drapey from the get go.

For beading, my favorite color is green. It works with everything. Just look outside and you will find it paired with every imaginable color. I almost have to force myself to use other colors as my primary color.

Being inspired by NanC, I began this necklace. The top picture is what it looks like at this point. It is a semi-circle that has been sewn together as a tube in part and folded over itself in other areas.

I worked the piece at first from small beads to large and then from large to small. I got a better curve working from large to small. I also used a variety of different shapes, as you can see from the close up at right.

It is still drapey and wonderful to the touch.

2007-07-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

It Ain't Easy Being Green-the Dysfunctional or Non-functional purse was made as part of a challenge for the Carolinas Region, EGA,Inc.

Being so into fiber, I belong to several different fiber related organizations, one of which is the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. as well as the Embroiderers' Guild of the U.K.

As an artist, I am always studying and learning as much as I can about my field. Through EGA, Inc. I am working toward a Mastercraftsman in Design. It is a rigorous program for learning and proving mastery of design.

2007-07-03T12:34:00.001-07:00

It Ain't Easy Being Green

Won three ribbons at EGA Carolinas Region Seminar

Photo by Ellen Martin

Lexington, VA

2007-07-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

Rhododendron

Photo by Ellen Martin, Lexington, VA