CASBAH REVISITED

The original Casbah was designed back in 2005. (Shown at right) It was stitched with dark, rich colors and was 5-1/2" square. Immediately below right is the original. I taught it at ANG Tucson 2006, as a one-day class, but that is all. Generally groups do not select a one-day class, choosing to do a two or three-day workshop.  I felt like this design has something to offer and, that combined with the fact I am now working with different colors, I decided to revisit the deisg.  In addition to changing the colors, I enlarged the design to 7" square, added another interesting wide band around the outside and made a few other small changes.

And, here is the new rendition of Casbah Revisited. The pilot will be taught in January in San Bernardino and I will be proposing it for future seminars.  

I would love to hear stitcher comments.

Terry

New Design: Autumn Arrows

A few months ago I posted about a new Geometric Series stitched primarily with Treenway Natural Dye Threads.  The first one is now stitched....Autumn Arrows.

This design is 5" X 5" and is stitched using Treenway Harmony and Zen Shin threads in four natural-dyed colors, one Stef Francis Silk Perle and one Kreinik Tapestry Braid.  I am working on the instruction book now and hope to have the first kits ready to ship by March 1st.

Now I am off to Callaway Gardens to teach but will begin the second in the series upon my return.  

As I write this most of the country is struggling with extremely cold weather,  so I hope each of you is staying warm!  Even though it has been colder here at night than anyone remembers, we are much warmer than most of you.  Our worry is how many plants we might end up losing due to the prolonged cold.  It looks like this spring we will be looking at choosing different plants to re-plant.  We are also working at keeping the seed feed and hummingbird feeders filled and we are having a lot more visitors!

Just one more note.......9 Mediterranean Squares complete thread kits remain.  

New Geometric Series

This past month I have begun stitching on a series of three small, 5" X 5", geometric designs.  Many stitchers have requested some small designs and I agree, it is nice to have something small at the ready as a take-along project.  These will be stitched primarily with the new Treenway Silks Natural-Dyes.  I am using Harmony (6-strand silk floss) and Zen Shin (Perle #8 silk)....plus one metallic and one multi-color thread.  Here is the sample card: 

The colors I'm using for this first design are Lemongrass, Fern, Thistle, Tropical Bloom, Tuscan Gold, and probably Red Saffron.  

#1 is inspired by Native American patterns.  Each one will be stitched on 18-count eggshell canvas, but each will be in a different geometric style.....#2 could be based on a Log Cabin pattern and #3 could be waves....but definitely each will have a different "feel.

As you can see above, I am in the process of changing the "arrows" from Red Saffron to Thistle, but some of the Red Saffron still remains....I think the Thistle is much better. Can you see the two smaller squares in the lower right quadrant?  They will be surrounded by the same Milanese variation stitche in the upper left quadrant.  

It's fun to stitch a small piece!  

Check back around Thanksgiving to see the finished project.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Terry