Cherished Stitches By Louise

2011-03-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

This sketch is a simple rendition of the little slipper I saw in Godeys magazine.

And this is what I came up with. I dyed silk ribbon to match. Who ever knew there were so many shades of red? This is one of the pieces I will be teaching at Celebration. I am so excited about finally getting the little shoe as I envisioned it. I wanted it sparkly, since the Ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz were my inspiration for color. For a simpler design on the toe, I chose an adaptation from a 16th Century lace pattern book. I love going to these old copies, and working up a design to stitch.

No help from the elves

2011-03-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last 4 days working on the Ruby Slipper. Although I spent most of the night constructing the shoe in my head, when I got up this morning, I found that the elves had not come during the night to finish it for me. All I got was the old shoe last. Guess I better go sew the sole to the upper shoe.

Peaceful Day

2011-03-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

Hubby left early, early this morning for the North Carolina Professional Photographers Convention, so it has really been quite here. Just the kitties to talk with.

I worked on the templates for the Ruby Slipper this morning, and then worked on the design. I can't wait to get this piece finished. I have seen so many different slippers, but have not actually seen one quite like I am hoping this one will be when finished. It is based on a drawing from Godeys Ladies Book.

I love those books, and wish I had all of them. I enjoy reading all of the stories, the bad and dismal poetry, and looking at all of the needlework and sewing projects. The hand colored fashion plates are so pretty.

Must get back to stitching now.

A new teaching piece... finished!

2011-03-06T13:24:00.001-08:00

I have been extremely busy since Nashville, finishing the models for Celebration of Needlework. Last night at 10:00pm, the photo of Lucy's Pocket was posted on my website. After several re-starts, I finally finished it! Monday I start on the Ruby Slipper. I designed this pocket based on several antique pieces I have seen. When it came to naming it, I chose my nickname, Lucy. But, I also love the poem, Lucy Locket who lost her pocket. When researching the poem, I was very interested to discover some of the possbile interpretations of the poem. Here is the photo I posted:

My daughter is here trying to help me figure out how to set up my blog, and keep it more active. So far, we have lost the background. We are hoping hubby can help find it again, and that it does not wind up like Lucy's Pocket, with not a thing in it. I am going to try to be a little more consistent in my postings.Til next time.

TNNA Market - Nashville

2011-02-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

Ready for the shops to visit us at the Nashville TNNA Needlework Market! New products to show! Look forward to seeing many old and new friends!

2010-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

On-line show is over - working hard to get all orders filled! Also working on a couple of new designs for February release!

2010-05-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today I have stitched on the Seventeenth Century Mystery Sampler. It is coming along nicely. I cannot wait to finish it.
I received the threads from Gentle Arts today, so tomorrow, I want to start the piece for JCS. I cannot wait to get started.
I also cannot wait to get time to work on the new piece for this fall. Having 3 pieces going at once is a bit unusual for me. I have lots of unfinished projects, but to actually be alternating the pieces because I really want to finish them all is a of a change for me. I usually finish a design before I start a new one. But with the mystery sampler, I cannot get more than one lesson ahead of the group.
Enough, back to Harry Potter, and the mystery sampler.

2010-05-20T08:43:00.001-07:00

I am told I have to be a little more frequent in my postings. I have been busy at this and that. I finished teaching at Celebration, and drove straight home from Nashua, NH. Only 13-1/2 hours. I was so tired when I finally got home. I am not sure I have recuperated yet or not.

I have been busy since my return working on designs for this Fall and for our Mystery EGA Seventeen Band sampler. I have presented the 3rd band, and sent a photo of finished band. I began the 4th band, and it was included in the photo. I am now waiting on more threads from Access Commodities before I do anymore work on Band 4.

I have designed a piece for Just Cross Stitch or Sampler and Antique Quarterly. I am looking forward to this one, because I will be trying out the new wool threads from The Gentle Art.

I have also worked up a special piece that both my daughter and I are stitching. She is stitching on black linen with overdyed threads, and I am stitching on Flax linen with overdyed silk threads. This is a special piece, and I hope to release it this October.

Getting the Hang of Blogging

2010-03-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

I have not posted since Nashville. I left straight for Williamsburg, where I attended Jeanine's Gathering. I had a good time visiting with friends I see too infrequently.

I have also had to deal with a computer crash.

Since returning home, I have been busy working on a new release for the on-line show, and a 17th century style sampler for my EGA group. We are all so excited about this project. The hard part is only stitching 1 band at a time. I usually like to do the beginning of every band, then come back and fill it all in. I also have a hard time not doing the entire design at once, which I do admit, I almost have completed. I will pick most of the stitches as I go, however.

Today I met with a group from my EGA, and we worked on our basket for Stitching on the Ridge. Picking all of the fabrics, threads and designs for this project was an enjoyable way to spend the morning.

In the afternoon, I took my serger to have new needles put in, as one had broken. It worked fine at the shop, but alas, when I tried to use it at home, it was not the same. So, I have to make another trip to the sewing machine shop.

How was that Duke game? Good or what. I must say, Georgia Tech had me worried a bit. I love to watch, but boy do I get tense. The next coupla weeks will be interesting. Cannot believe Carolina got into the NIT game, and some of the other ACC teams who had better seasons did not. In case you cannot tell, I am a Duke or a Wake Forest Fan.

Louise

2010-02-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

My first blog. The Nashville Market is winding down and we are getting tired. Lots of August Boxes, Little Bobby's Sampler and The Blue Floral Ensemble have been sold. It is so exciting to talk with all of the shoppe owners I only see once a year. The excitment is over til next year.
When I leave tomorrow morning, I will be heading for Williamsburg. I am looking forward to seeing lots of friends I have not visited with in a while there also.

My New Blog

2010-01-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

I have just created this new blog - I will be posting news and new product information to this page in the near future!