DAHLIA Updated

Dahlia is now completed.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I wanted to create an Asian feel to the background and border with the choice of stitches.  The design is the same size(5 X 5) as the other three flowers in the series, but the border is a departure from the other three. This design stitched up faster than the other three, taking about 10-12 hours to stitch. 

I plan to write the instruction book next month and then make it available as a kit by June 1st.  These next 3 months are looking to be really busy (overly I might say).  But it seems this might be the norm for the spring months for awhile, what with pilots to prepare for, in addition to preparing for and traveling for workshops. 

But for the rest of today, it is very nice here, 59 degrees, little wind and sunny, I hope to enjoy the weather and just relax.  Start a new book? Catch up on the latest issues of Cloth Paper Scissors and NeedlePointers? 

RED DAHLIA

I've been away for 10 days, the longest since I began this blog.  But I kept thinking I would have something "of interest" to say other than talking about my days of order thread supplies, marking canvases, writing instruction books, etc.  Of course, these things are of interest to me, but probably not to most readers.  However, amongst all this I have finally begun the final design in the Silk Ribbon Flower Series.  I love to draw and stitch flowers, so I'm sure there will be another series later.  But these four are all the same size(all about 5 to 5-1/2 inches square), have similar borders and two pairs (of coordinating colors) make up the four. 

I have posted photos here which, hopefully, give you some idea of how I get started.  The first photo shows a small picture of the type of Dahlia I want to stitch because of the colors and because of the new style of ribbon stitch it requires:  a twisted ribbon stitch.  There is also a black and white enlargement which better shows how the petals are formed.  Finally there is a very rough sketch showing the layout. 

The second photo shows a small swatch of the twisted ribbon stitch.  The third shows the ribbons I have yet to stitch with to give you a better idea of how the colors will work together.  The dark reds are wonderful and I think they will look great against the relatively pale green background.  The final photo shows the background almost completed. 

I began stitching on Tuesday and have stitched about 3 to 4 hours.  You might wonder why I would work the background in this fashion?  Well, if the petals are stitched first the tips of some of the petals will invariably be damaged when I return to the background.  (This lesson was learned when I stitched Hibiscus).  Also, I wanted the outer row of petals to sit on top of the background and the center of the flower to be stitched directly on the canvas.  This will add a little more depth to the flower.  I know, it does look a little funny right now. 

I hope to be finished stitching it by Monday night so hopefully I will have completed photos posted by next Tuesday. 

Winner of Free Drawing Announced

First I would like to announce the winner of the Free Drawing:  Nicole chose the Gerbera Daisy instruction book and canvas kit.  Congratulations!  Thanks to all who posted a comment to enter. 

I was working away on the design for the stitching retreat and had planned to have it finished by now.  The best laid plans.  But when I started working with the wire I thought to add, it just didn't look right....to small of a gauge.  So I thought I could just run out to Beverly's (my closest craft store) and pick up the perfect color in the right gauge!  No such luck.  Almost every color out of stock.  Then, I drove on out to Joann's.  Again no luck.  Now it's rainy and windy and the next closest is Michael's, 15 miles further.  So I went home and found what I needed on-line.  Now to wait.  Thank goodness the company just sent a shipping notice so hopefully I will receive my package and can finally complete Funky Rose. 

I'm surely not the only person this happens to.  Best laid plans aside...sometimes you just have to try it out on the actual piece to see if something will work.  So, here is the "almost finished" piece.  You can see where I added the purple wire in two places along the bottom edge....plus a few transparent sequins and beads.  Now as I look back at the previous update photos I see a huge change from the last posted update!  Hopefully it will only be a few days before it's done.  In the meantime I am beginning the last flower in the silk ribbon series....a Red Dahlia.