The Key's done!

I had a hard time making up my mind if I should blend the gold with the variegated silk or not, as the variation within the silk was not that visible. But not wanting to ignore my own instructions I stitched it as directed on the pattern (posted in my June 3rd blog).  And then it dawned on me, the key chain is clear, so rather than seeing the back of my stitching I decided to stitch it again using two strands of silk and omitting the gold.  The handle is unchanged, but I flipped the teeth to the other side of the key shaft, and the initials I stitched in 1 strand of the gold on the other side.  Now with both completed,  I still can’t make up my mind which I like more.

Lay the key chain opening over the stitched piece to mark the cut line, by pulling out those linen threads.   

Then run a bead of Fray Check along the track created by pulling out the linen thread.  As a warning - be careful Fray Check does not dry clear.   I cut off  too much of the bottle tip, and too much liquid flowed out at once.

 

The Fray Check soaked into the linen beyond my cut line.  So I dabbed Fray Check over the entire fabric. Fray Check, once dry stiffens the fabric so before it dries pull on the linen to straighten it.

 

Once dry, you can cut along the track that was created when you pulled out the linen thread, without the fabric fraying.  

 

When all cut out, lay the two pieces back to back, insert into the key chain, and push cover into place.

And here it is all done.

P.S. At Stitch night this evening (Wednesday, June 8, 2011) we came up with a few suggestions regarding the key chain, and I wanted to share these with you : 

1) Instead of Fray Check, white glue could be applied with a tooth pick.  The white glue will dry clear. 

2) I had thought about using perforated paper, as it can be cut to size without fraying.  However, I had needed a 20 stitch count/ inch.  Depending on the stitch count of your design it may fit into the key chain on 14ct Perforated paper

3)  There are 4 different key chain shapes available at Gitta's.  These can be viewed on Gitta's website and are $2.95 each.

A weekend of Stitching

Heading up north for the weekend.
Of course the first thing I have to pack is my stitching bag.
This is our first Cottage weekend this year, so it will be a working weekend as well.  All the garden furniture, and gazebo have to be set up.  I'm hopeful that between all the Cottage chores I'll get some stitching done -  I know I won't run out of projects to stitch.


I needlepoint in the car, and with my Coffee pillow finished I needed a new needlepoint project ( not that I don't have any at home).  One of the shipments that arrived this week were silk screned double weave canvases from Europe.  I loved them all, but the colours in this one will look great in my sitting area off of the kitchen.  Another shipment that has recently arrived in the shop is of needleart tools and keychains.  I searched through the shop for some cute little house or car design that would fit into one of the key chain openings.  Then it hit me, the perfect motif would be a key.  So why not design one quickly to take with me?  Click here for this origianl key design.
Of course the Garden Fair sampler has to be taken, and my final project I am taking is my little surprise for all of you on Canada Day.  I had been working on this over the past week, but then the key chains arrived.
Other projects that I have been working on lately are the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace website for April 14-15, 2012, the new Designer Collaboration Sampler for the Market, my exclusive workshop for Gitta's Getaway 2012, and the mate for my Coffee design, Tea.  But I decided to take this weekend off from all of that and stitch! How fun is that!  Have a great weekend.

I'll post the photo of my key chain next week, with the finishing instructions.

Coffee anyone?

Having received our Caron Collection order in the shop this past week, one of the Watercolors, Sable #196 was perfect for the coffee swirl in my coffee design.  I released this design, Coffee,  last year, having stitched it in petit point and finishing it as a fridge magnet.  For the petit point model Dinky Dyes' #152 Kat's Cat perfectly created a creamy swirl in the coffee.  On the 10 count canvas I felt the silk would not be thick enough over the canvas, but wanting to maintain a similar effect, I needed an over-dyed wool or a Caron Collection Watercolor.
I had started stitching it in needlepoint on the drive to exhibit at the Stitching Jubilee (my husband and I travel to various stitching shows in the US to display and sell our designs) last October and finished it shortly after our return.  It then sat unfinished, until I could find THE hand-dyed fibre.   Satisfied with this "Sable" colour I could finally finish my pillow.  Last night I filled in the area stitching in a circular motion; always around the perimeter working my way into the center.  Thus the changing tones in the hand-dyed fiber create the creamy swirl in the coffee.  And today I sewed the pillow together.  I love it !!!

It's about time that I post something.  It's not that I had nothing to post;  much has happened during the past month.  I just can't believe that it's been a month -  where does the time go.  In the shop new patterns and kits have been arriving steadily and one in particular I could not resist - "Garden Fair" by Courtney Collection.

On the chart pack the designer's model is cross stitched in black and red.  Although I was completely smitten with the design I decided to substitute the red with a softly variegated blue, "Under Tow" by Hand-dyed Fibers.   Also, due to it's size, I decided to petit point it in the tent/continental stitch with 2 strands on a 32ct silk gauze.  I'm hooked, I've been stitching on it every possible moment at home.

During this past month Christopher's School held their annual Arts Menagerie.  It's an evening that shines the spot light on all the drama, dance and art students.  Christopher's drama class was the Master of Ceremonies, posing as their teachers.  Christopher played a math teacher equipped with flow-chart.  The flow chart was to show how over a students life his pant waist falls and rises.   It was a wonderful evening and the kids all did a wonderful job.


Sarah has also kept me busy these past few weeks. This weekend she is making her annual trek to the Anime North Convention at the Toronto Congress Center with her friends.  They go in costume;  dressed as their favourite animation characters.  This year,  

Sarah wanted to go as the Cheshire Cat to pair up with the "White Rabbit" that one of her friends is going as.   So over the past few weeks the two of us have hunted through charity shops for a top hat, vest and suit.  We weren't successful regarding the vest and tie, so I had to sew these for her.










The vest has a velvet lapel, with matching velvet tie.  The mask and ears she made herself.  All this was coordinated to the purple tail we found on eBay.

 This evening, we had to wave good-bye to my dad, as he is traveling to Germany to meet up with my mom.  The two of them will spend the next two weeks visiting family and relaxing by my aunt's pool.  The kids have missed their Oma, and Sarah drew a picture for my Dad to take and give her.  It is a picture of my mom surrounded by all 4 of her grandchildren.  Sarah has captured each of them perfectly, especially Alexander, my sister's son, with his smirk.

All done !!

I stitched my fingers to the bones this week, but I'm all done.  I attached my last beads this evening.  My over-dyed fibre was a 5 yard skein by Threadworx, 01070 Rocky Mountain.  By being extremely frugal with the 5 yard skein I managed to finish my sampler, but only just.  My tails were miniscule, there was no playing with colour placement, no attaching beads with the overdyed thread, no changing my mind and repositioning any squares. I was a little careless at the beginning, but as the thought of possibly not having enough thread hit me, I started stitching on the diagonal to shorten my paths and altered my backstitching to minimize the travelling tread on the back.  All I need to say is - I made!!   I had 3 little strands remaining, two are about 2" long and the third is about 3" long.  And even these I don't want to throw out until I know for sure that I won't need them any longer - maybe once it's framed I'll add them to my ort box.
For the backstitches within the design and the heart in the final square  I used 3740 DMC, and the beads are 02080.  For the square outlines and the year in the final square I used Rainbow Gallery's Spendor S940.
Click here for the final square.
Thank you all for joining me on this journey.  I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as I did.

Happy Easter

Every year for Easter I love to pull out my stitched Easter ornaments, painted Easter eggs, and bunnies to decorate the house. We get together with family to celebrate Jesus, enjoy each others company and the joys of spring.  My mom is in Germany this year and it's at these times I miss her the most.  On Sunday we will get together with my Dad and my sister's family.

Here is a little Easter gift for all of you.  It should look wonderful stitched in a variegated thread of fresh spring colours. 

 Wishing you all peace, joy, and love for Easter

Happy Easter !!

18 Square Sampler Part 17

I didn't manage to stitch much this past week, but I did manage to finish sewing 4 pillows.  In the shop we finally managed to get all the models, we had displayed at the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace, back up on the walls, and place some much overdue orders.   The shop was also very busy with many first time visitors to Gitta's.  Some had  already ordered through our website, and while visiting Toronto for Easter decided to make Gitta's one of their stops.  We are always working on the Gitta's website, so stitchers unable to just drop in can see all that Gitta's has to offer, but nothing beats seeing all the hand dyed fibres and fabric first hand.
One of this week's visitors, Rose, even brought her finished 15-sided Biscornu in to show us.  I was glad to have been in the shop to see it.  Stitched on Aida and in my opinion, in a Bavarian colour scheme, was absolutely adorable.  Rose was also thrilled to discover that we have stitched the little squares into a sampler.  So click here  for the 17th motif.  I love the way this one looks when stitched.  Enjoy.