Celtic Christmas Trees: More Christmas Gifts!

In 2017, I finished my Celtic Christmas tree. This is stitched on linen using white Sashiko thread. The pattern is from Indigo Niche Designs. I find this method of stitching very relaxing as I don't have to count stitches and pay close attention to the pattern.

This year, I stitched two more trees using red linen. One went to Tennessee and the other to Newfoundland. Both trees have seed beads randomly stitched over the tree and are stretched on to canvas panels.

• How to Sashiko Stitch from A Threaded Needle
• Sashiko Stitching for Beginners from KoeKoek
• Patterns and Tutorials from Radiant Home Studio  Free Patterns
  
• Step-by-Step Guide to Sashiko Stitching by Create Whimsy
• Sashiko Stitching by Machine from We All Sew
• Wikipedia   
• Check out my 2011 finish of Sashiko Tablecloth HERE 
  

Enjoy!

Linen Tester

New gadget in the studio!

This mini magnifier is a linen tester . By looking through the magnifier, you can count the number of threads per inch in the fabric. Note the ruler marks on the base. This is a must have, especially if you misplace the tag (like me) telling you the linen count or number of threads per inch in the fabric. 

Catherine Jordan

Today was the first day of a two day workshop with Catherine Jordan. I hope you take a minute or so to have a peek at her web site. Her work is amazing as is her teaching. She is very well prepared with a full kit of materials which includes a booklet of instructions, textile paints, linen, needles, ruler, embroidery floss, needle threader, paint brush, small water tray, and embroidery wool. All we had to provide was a hoop and sharp pointed embroidery scissors. Oh, yes, and lunch!

Today we set up the 'canvas' (hooped linen), pulled threads and wove the cut threads back into the linen to give a neat edge. Then we painted our fabric. I am looking forward to tomorrow as we are going to needle weave / wrap our trees and embroider the foreground.

Tomorrow I will follow up with a progression of my work.

Here's a few photos of Catherine's work samples:

Here's a peek at my morning's work! Doesn't look like much yet!!

Practice Makes Perfect?

I've started to do some experiments with different stitches. It's sort of a sampler of stitches using various weights of threads. My intention is not to have a 'pretty' piece when the cloth is all stitched but a practise piece that I can reference when needed. I have a length of fabric that I've hooped. When the hoop is filled, I'll just move it down to the next clear space. It's not pretty but it works for me!  Some stitchers have been recording on fabric sheets that they bind together into a book. Others do line samplers. Mine will just get rolled when this length is filled out!

I'm using the book by Judith Baker Montano, Free-Form Embroidery as a guide. This is Judith's third book in her stitch dictionary series. Sixty traditional stitches are featured along with her watercolour illustrations, which shows the reader how to distort the stitch into organic shapes. The final chapter covers “Thinking Like a Painter” and features some of her land/seascapes and underwater projects. 

Personally, I like this book.

For online reference I usually default to Mary Corbet's Needle'n Thread web site. Have you looked at her Stitch Fun Index. "Stitch Fun is a series of articles featuring step-by-step photo tutorials that explore various hand embroidery stitches and the fun things you can do with them."  However, Tips & Techniques is another section to explore.

This is the 'pretty' stitch sampler that I did for a hand embroidery program a number of years ago. There are over 50 different stitches in this piece. Wool was used on linen. I was a bit of a challenge but I'm pleased with the result!

Stitch-it Central

I've been back home a week and still trying to catch up on my blogging. I think this is the longest time between posts in quite awhile. This was partly due to not having the photos on my desk top machine or on the tablet.
Time sure does fly!!

On my way back from Chicago, I went on a stitch day with my textile artist friend. We met up with some of her EAC (Embroidery Association of Canada) friends in Ingersoll at Stitch-it Central. This is a one stop shop for needlework supplies and patterns. You will also find yarns and knitting / crochet supplies, books and patterns as well as a selection of quilting cottons and quilt books. Live far away? They do mail order. Just contact the shop. If they don't have something in stock, they will try their best to get it for you.

The owners are very friendly and accommodating. The day we were there, the coffee pot was on and a large room (open to the shop) was set up for anyone who wanted to stitch. We had a wonderful day! Did we spend money - you bet we did!
Enjoy!

Linen for Stitching

 

 

Experimenting . . .

While visiting Chicago, I paid a visit to Joanne's Fabrics to have a look around. Some of the fabrics '\ and books were 50% off. I purchased two yards of glittery fabric, a couple of batiks, black and red linen and a ball of yarn. The orange batik has gold designs on one side so is reversible.

The glittery fabric is like a mesh. It can also be ripped into smaller pieces. I always experiment to see if the fabric and yarns can be manipulated into something else. For example, with yarns, I pick the strands apart (especially if there are different weights twisted together) to see what I can do with them. The Angel Hair below, is an excellent example of this. As you can see, the two different yarns can be pulled them apart. The heavier strand can also be separated like wool roving. These fibres will probably find their way into felted pieces or as part of the fantasy fabrics I make.

More From The Christmas Craft Fair

It's taken me awhile to post more photos from the Christmas Craft Fair. Check these out.
Graham Blair Woodcuts are relatively new to the fair. I love the simplicity of his images. Last year, I added the Jay bird print to my collection. You can see it in the second row,

Donna Clouston works in water colour and makes limited editions of her work. Please check out her web site as you won't be disappointed!

Next, we have printing on linen from Renee Scott of Brindy Linens. She uses such nice, simple designs using such vivid colours. Enjoy!

Machine Felting

I spent the afternoon experimenting with my felting machine. The Fine Craft & Design Fair is in two weeks and I decided to create some Christmas Tree art cards. The first thing was to make a base fabric. I started with green craft felt and laid lots of decorative yarns across horizontally. These were then attached to the base by needle felting with the machine.


I made a triangle template to use as a guide to cut my trees from the needle felted fabric.

Tree trunks from a thick brown yarn was added last.

Linen with gold threads was used as a background for the finished tree. This was mounted on a blank card.