New things going on

New things are going on with my design work. But posting about it has been at a stand still. I have been so busy with finishing off some projects that it has been hard to carve out the time for my favorite blog. My blog about TSTC (see link for SharonB's weekly introductions) has been going strong just out of the necessity of the challenge. I am learning so much not only from SharonB's weekly introductions but from all the wonderful, skilled stitchers involved. It is well worth taking a look and seeing what is going on.

This is the headway I've made on the first larger piece I've tried in TSTC. For me, my primary focus in doing TSTC is exploring the stitch itself and any design concepts are incidental. But when I work on something this size I have to give attention to the design itself. Nearly half of the stitching is finished. The rough yellow circles are just to the right of the halfway mark and I've got to begin pulling the eye to the center of the piece.

The cut paper project mentioned in my last post is under way. I found the perfect purple thread after several trials and errors. My most recent search for the perfect thread is due to the fact DMC does not make Perle 12 in the colors I need. I'm checking about for three substitute threads on my History Examined piece now. And this is all the more pressing since I've already stitched most of it with Perle 8 not realizing I'd need some matching finer threads in a few areas.

I'm beginning work on my dragon. I've established borders and I'm sketching out all sorts of ways to finish him inside since the outside lines are set. I haven't decided on his color yet. I've been thinking he might be delightful finished off in pulled thread work--ecru. Then again I can see him in straight stitches of purple and green! I'm also working on the background stitches and the border. I want a slightly textured neutral background, but I want a border that works with the dragon and sets a tone for considering him.

Color study again

Color is part of lesson 6 in my design class. I've been reading and re-reading the chapter and then starting back at the beginning of the text and looking at every picture just to see color principles in action. It has been enjoyable and enlightening, too, since many principles are fresh in my mind now.

It's almost 24 hours since I touched my needle and thread! A very unusual circumstance. Instead I've been doing preliminary designs that I will have to bring to the point of stitch-ready. In the past most planning has flown out the window while doing the stitching. We shall see how I fare this time. Since one of these designs has to be traced unto the fabric, perhaps I will succeed in sticking with it.

More images

This is just a design of play with a number of different ideas running around in my mind--a little bit of a number of techniques.


Below are some results of my recent interest in using more than one color thread in a stitch. I like the way that a thread matching the ground adds texture, can almost disappear or blots out part of a stitch of color on the ground. But then two colors contrasting with the ground in a stitch produce interesting results. They soften transition from one color area to another or may create almost a shadow affect. I am very much a beginner in exploring here.

Improvement on images

Improvement gained and still needed. Hopefully a class on photographing needlework will be underway shortly. Otherwise my other fond option of a scanner will be in place!