Creative Persuasion

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Heather

Thank you so very, very much for all the kind words about my Punto Antico finish the other day. Both pieces are just lovely, and I definitely need to get a nicer pair of scissor to go with the fob. (I am not a scissor collector like some of you are. I’ve only got a couple of pairs, and I have a hard time justifying buying more. Although, there are some very pretty pairs I’d love to have…)

Anyway, I’ve finished another lovely piece.

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

This is Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell. No, not the movie actress! The very talented Canadian designer. She taught this piece at the fall 2012 Creativ Festival, and I let it languish until about two weeks ago. How awful of me, given how pretty it is and how quick it ultimately worked up.

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell - closeup

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell – closeup

Creative Persuasion is canvaswork, which is a type of needlework done on canvas (a heavier fabric than the evenweave or linen that most other forms of needlework on done on). Canvaswork often makes use of many different counted embroidery stitches and all kinds of beautiful and interesting fibres. This piece uses Neon Rays, Perle Cotton (#5 and #8), Impressions, ThreadWorx floss, Pebbly Perle, Flair, and some Kreinik braid. A little bit of extra sparkle comes from silver beads and Swarovski crystals. Believe me, it is stunning in person.

This isn’t the first design of Carolyn’s that I’ve stitched. A few years ago I stitched up the Gourmandies Gems ornaments that were published in  A Needle Pulling Thread. I’ve also stitched another little holly ornament that was meant as a learning piece of a larger Christmas design also published in ANPT. (I plan to stitch that design shortly.)

Gourmandise Gems Collection, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

Gourmandise Gems Collection, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

My next canvaswork project is also a Carolyn Mitchell design. It is called Florentine Fancy, and is a class offered through the Embroidery Association of Canada. If you follow me on Instagram (@stitchinglotus), you may have seen the threads I picked out and read about my little mishap. I haven’t picked out the offending stitches yet, but I plan to do so this weekend.

So, tell me, do you do canvaswork? Who is your favourite designer, or what is your favourite piece? I’d love to know.

 

14 Comments | Posted in Canvaswork | Tagged , , ,

Punto Antico Scissor Fob

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Heather

I am so pleased to have finished my third piece using a technique called Punto Antico.

Lilies Scissor Fob, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs

Lilies Scissor Fob, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs

This is Lilies Scissor Fob, designed by Kathryn Drummond of Gingerbread Girl Designs. It is a companion piece to Lilies Biscornu, a piece which I stitched as part of a class at the fall 2015 Creativ Festival.

Lilies Punto Antico set, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs

Lilies Punto Antico set, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs

Punto Antico is an Italian technique, generally done as a form of whitework with signification sections of cutwork. The technique has been traced back to the 15th century, but it as evolved significantly since then. In fact, it seems to be undergoing a bit of a revival right now, partly lead by Kathryn Drummond here in Canada.

While appearing similar to Hardanger, Punto Antico is significantly different. For example, when cutting away sections for cutwork, instead of kolster blocks, an overcast stitch is used to secure the loose fabric threads.

Cutwork close-up (Precious Jewel, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs)

Cutwork close-up (Precious Jewel, designed by Gingerbread Girl Designs)

I’m not sure where I am going to go next with Punto Antico. Knowing me and how I love to gather techniques and knowledge like it is all going to disappear tomorrow, I will probably move on to something else and possible revisit Punto Antico many years down the road. In fact, this piece of Casalguidi embroidery is calling my name.

24 Comments | Posted in Punto Antico | Tagged ,

WIP Wednesday: Knock Knock

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Heather

Who’s there? A finished door!

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions (WIP)

All Hearts Come Home Stocking, designed by Dimensions (WIP)

I admit that I didn’t make quite as much progress as I was hoping, but I suppose some progress is better than none. Actually, I’ve been pretty engrossed in my canvaswork project… (Are you following me on Instagram? I’ve been posting lots of pictures there.)

My goal for next week is to finish the bows on both sides of the garland and then do the pieces of garland that come out from them. And, if I get really ambitious, I will start working on the pillars that the bows are attached to.

15 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , ,

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Heather

Happy Valentine’s Day, Stitchy Friends!

victorianvalentinecupid

Today I’m taking part in Jo’s Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop.

Heart collage

I’ve been sent this lovely heart-themed picture. Did you stitch it? If so, please let me know in the comments. Edit: My secret stitcher has revealed herself. Deborah of A Patchwork of Crafts stitched this wonderful design.

Secret Valentine. Who stitched this?

Secret Valentine. Who stitched this?

Why not head over to Jo’s blog, Serendipitous Stitching, and check out some of the other lovely Valentine’s Day projects. Take some time to check out some of the other participants, and maybe see if you can figure out which Valentine I sent.  Jo has also provided a fabulous list of Valentine-themed freebies.

20 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , ,

Shuttle Tatting Giveaway Winner

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Heather

Hello again, Stitchy Friends! Thank you for all the interest in my little shuttle tatting giveaway, I greatly appreciate all the advice that I received from experienced tatters, and the encouragement I received from everyone else. My goal is to have 12 little Christmas ball toppers finished by the first of December.  We shall see if that actually happens though…

Shuttle Tatting Giveaway

Shuttle Tatting Giveaway

Anyway, I’m sure what you’d really like to know is who won my little shuttle tatting giveaway. The random number generator selected:

Clara Eldridge of Alaska Wolf Pack

Congratulations, Clara! I hope you have much better luck with shuttle tatting than I did.

SmallsSAL2016

Smalls SAL Reminder

Don’t forget that February is a short month. The Smalls SAL check-in day will be here before you know it. The post will go live on my blog on Thursday, February 25th. You can sign up for an email reminder right here.

7 Comments | Posted in Giveaway | Tagged

WIPs Wednesday – All Hearts Home Home

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Heather

Good morning, Stitchy Friends! I’ve decided to jump on the WIPS Wednesday bandwagon and show you what I’m working on.

All Hearts Stocking, designed by Dimensions (WIP)

All Hearts Stocking, designed by Dimensions (WIP)

I am still stitching away on my dad’s Christmas stocking, slowly but surely. My goal is to have the door finished and to have made significant progress on the greenery swag above it by the end of the week.

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell

If you follow me on Instagram (@stitchinglotus) you have probably seen pictures of this piece. It is Creative Persuasion, designed by Carolyn Mitchell. It was taught as a class at the fall 2012 Creativ Festival, and, to be totally honest, had been sitting almost completely untouched since then. I’m so glad I got it out again because it is just lovely. The different textures of the fibres look wonderful together, and the colours are perfect. I can’t wait until it is finished and hanging on my wall.

That’s it for this week! I know you know I have so many other WIPs, but if I shared everything we would be here until next Wednesday! 😉

Happy stitching!

12 Comments | Posted in Canvaswork, Cross Stitch | Tagged , , , , ,

Tool Review – FriXion Highlighter

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Heather

How do you handle your chart when you stitch? Do you work off a digital chart on your tablet? Do you work from the original, or do you make a working copy? Do you mark your chart or just keep track of where you are mentally?

[poll id=”7″]

Generally speaking, I work from the original chart and don’t mark it. When the chart is complicated (or I’m having trouble concentrating), I will occasionally mark the chart with a pencil. I can’t stand the idea of leaving a permanent mark on a chart. Yikes! 😛

When it comes to my knitting patterns, pencil is really hard to follow, and I like to use a highlighter, but I’m worried about marking the wrong instructions and making the wrong size. (It has happened…)

FriXion Highlighter

FriXion Highlighter

This is my new favourite tool. It is a Pilot FriXion Light Erasable Highlighter. It works just like a regular highlighter. (The chart is Dragon Love, a freebie from Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams.)

Highlight your chart just like normal...

Highlight your chart just like normal…

Except you can erase it.

...and erase your mistakes.

…and erase your mistakes.

The end of the highlighter has a little soft plastic nib that works as the eraser. That’s because the secret to these highlighters is that the ink is ‘removed’ by friction. What is actually happening is that the colour disappears when you rub it with the nib. (There is still a clear residue on the paper, but you can’t see it.)

More highlighting, including over pen ink.

More highlighting, including over pen ink.

And you can write over that area again with no problems.

There are also FriXion pens, in a few different sizes and colours. They have quickly become my favourite writing tool, and helped to sooth a few of my perfectionist tendencies. I’ve been using them for around two years now, without any issues developing because of their erase-ablility. (I do, however, use a “regular” pen for writing cheques, filling in important forms, etc.)

So, what do you think? Will FriXion highlights find a place in your workbasket? Do you think they are a useful stitching tool? Or, do you use something even better to mark your charts? Let me know in the comments.

19 Comments | Posted in Reviews, Tool Reviews | Tagged ,