Friday, February 25, 2011

All that sparkles

I've attached gold beads and highlighted with gold Kreinik blending filament (002HL) using variations on a Rhodes stitch. http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/rhodes-stitch.html

There's plenty of sparkle, for sure!  

Using metallic thread can be a challenge in the beginning, but it's well worth the effort for many needlework patterns and designs.  Here's a tutorial that will help you get the most enjoyment from metallic thread:




Thursday, February 24, 2011

Inspiration

I'm a Googler.  I love entering a word or phrase into Google Search and let the 'net come to me.  A recent search for "stained glass windows" revealed far more than the standard church, cathedral, and mosque windows one would expect.  This panel, offered for sale at Design Toscano (link below), caught my eye:



Thus inspired, I designed my own interpretation:


Now it's time to go through my thread boxes and select some color...




Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Resource Guide

There are lots of places to learn about needlework all over the 'net, and sometimes it's all a bit overwhelming.  Enter Eglantine Stitchery's Resource page:   http://eglantinestitchery.blogspot.com/p/cross-stitching-resources.html

Aurelia Eglantine has compiled some great tutorials and pamphlets that answer the tough questions, like how to change colors and skin tones; how to stitch fractionals, and the life expectancy of heirloom cross stitch gifts. There's a link to a stitch calculator, even a questionnaire that can help you decide if the cross stitch hobby is right for you.  You'll find links to lots of other blogs there, too.

Stop by and say "hi" and become a follower of this wonderfully helpful blog.

Happy Stitiching!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

New Friends, New Blogs

I'm so excited to have so many great new followers.  Thank you all for taking the time to join.  If you have not yet heard from me, send me an e-mail at jeannedansby@gmail.com.  I'll give you the link to the site where you can choose your free blackwork pattern.

Several of our new friends here have their own blogs.  Deborah at Cranberry Samplings is having a raffle to celebrate her 300th follower.  Sign up at http://cranberrysamplings.blogspot.com/ before Feb 14 to enter.

Flossy Bobbin http://flossybobbin.blogspot.com/ has been having fun with felt, and Kathy at Musings of a stitching witch http://katydidde.blogspot.com/ is seeing the first signs of spring.

So many great blogs!  I hope to get to all of them soon.  In the meantime, I'm working to get the Wyrdbyrd Designs website set up and running.  I will be adding Paypal soon.

May your Valentine's Day be full of love, laughter, and hope.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Sometimes I just can't stop

"Monarch" has been a fun pattern.  But as I looked at it, I felt something was missing.  So I took it back to the drawing board.


Yes, I will send the extra detail to those of you who have chosen this pattern.  Happy Stitching!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Followers! Are you getting my message?

Thanks to all those who have clicked to follow my blog.  I see you have signed up, and I am sending you a personal message, yet no one has responded.  Are you getting them?  Please, if you have signed up to follow my blog and have NOT received a message from me, please leave a comment here, or e-mail me at jeannedansby@gmail.com.  

Thanks!


Monday, February 7, 2011

Let's share the LOVE!

Valentine's Day is coming and I want to share the love!  From now until February 14th, if you become a follower of my blog, I will give you a free Wyrdbyrd Designs blackwork pattern.  Choose from four unique, never-before offered designs before they go on sale.

So click and follow today!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Add color to your blackwork

I have long pondered how to get color into my blackwork designs.  I like changing line color, and many patterns lend themselves well to this method.  But sometimes I want my blackwork design to look like a stained glass window, filled with color, rich colors like you'd see in the greatest cathedrals and churches throughout the world.  I'd tried cross stitching to fill, and satin stitch as well, but both overpowered the delicacy of the design and made the pattern look clunky and heavy.

Then I remembered needlepoint.  Last summer I enjoyed a little project I gave myself in which I practiced needlepoint stitches I found at the amazing American Needlepoint Guild, Inc. website: http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

There I learned how to make a Smyrna Cross, an Algerian Eye, and an Upright Cross, along with dozens of other stitches.  These lovely specialty stitches are ideal for coloring blackwork.  Worked with two threads, I was able to use variations to fill areas and give color to the design.  I worked it on even weave.  I don't think you could get the same effect with aida cloth.  Too many half and one and-a-half stitches, but it's always worth a try.   Check out the ANG website.  It's a wonderful resource for any stitcher.