Brenda's Needlepoint Studio

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Stocking Emerald and Gold - 04/20/2025

April 20, 2025--I purchased the instructions for this Emerald and Gold Stocking by Kaitlyn Marie Designs back in December of 2022 and after many months of trying to locate the gold disks required for this project, I finally found something close on Etsy. So, I've begun working it up and here's my progress to date. I'm going to save placing most of the embellishments to the end.

To see a photo of the project as designed, click on "In Process Projects" on the right under the Pages tab.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Santa Holly Berry - Updated 4/18/25

April 18, 2025--I continue to work on this cutie as time allows, but mostly at stitch-ins since much of what needs to be done doesn't require the threads be "laid". I've added the hat brim and mouth to his face. Next up--the beard and moustache.

Santa Holly Berry in Process through 2025-04-18

March 31, 2025--The face, eyes and eyebrows are stitched, and this project is now ready to "travel". For me that means the balance of the stitching won't require serious attention on my part since most of what's left to do consists of padding, Satin Stitches and Slanted Gobelin Stitches. It's now perfect for stitch-ins and serious movie watching. Easy-peasy.

Santa Holly Berry in Process through 2025-03-31

January 6, 2025--Here's the latest Janet Zickler Casey Santa from 2006 than I'm working on called Holly Berry Santa. His beard consists of very long stitches, so I'll do that last. The dark pink threads on his face are his "rosy, red cheeks". I had to order large red beads for the hat to use as berries. Once they come in, I'll resume stitching this cutie.

A project photo can be found on the right under the page titled "In Process Projects".

Holly Berry Santa Work in Progress

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Art Deco Tree - Updated 3/13/25

March 13, 2025--Ta da -- Done!!! I've been working on this beautiful tree on and off for the last 3 months and loved every minute. For more information about the source of this project, please scroll down to see prior blog postings. This post will be about the last lesson being given to my ANG chapter (Lesson 3) and the sections covered. As was done for the prior two lessons, I've worked up lots of graphs to make the stitching of this advance level project a bit easier.

The advice I would give to anyone endeavoring to work up this project is to count, count and recount every step of the way. Read EACH sentence carefully--there's a lot of information packed into each paragraph, and you don't want to miss a step. Ripping out sections because the stitch was done incorrectly, or you counted wrong, will be a common theme (was for me). Don't worry about it--just redo it and you'll be happier. This project is very addicting, and you'll want to keep stitching on it as you see each section develop (like a flower opening its petals).

OK, now that I've posted lots of closeup photos below--I can see how bad some of my stitching looks. Oh well--this is a very "busy" project and from a normal distance, my wonky stitches won't look bad at all.

Art Deco Tree Completed

Art Deco Tree Areas C4, M2 M1 Partial, T1, M4, M3, C5, T2 and Star Completed Lesson 3

Area T1, T2, M4, M3 Closeup

Area C4 Closeup

Area C5 Closeup

Star Closeup

February 18, 2025--Below is a photo of Areas B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, E1, E2, and M1 Partial stitched to date. This is a large project. The completed stitching will measure about 13" tall and 11" at the widest point (the tree bottom).

Art Deco Tree Completed Through Area M1 Partial

Areas B1, B2, B3, B4, C3 and M1 will be part of the second class given to my ANG chapter in May. I calculate I'm about 70% done with this beautiful project. It has a ton of shine and dimension. However, please don't look closely at the stitches and beading--some of it is a "hot mess" so to speak. Also, my Kreinik gold threads had a dye lot change and if you study the stitches closely, you may be able to see the difference. But the pattern is so busy, I don't believe the dye lot changes will jump out at anyone.

Here are photos of each section as stitched:

Art Deco Tree Area C3 Completed

The beading in area C3 was strung up in a line and couched down rather than attached to the canvas one at a time as instructed. Even though this looks a bit wonky (Mill Hill beads are not as nice as Miyuki or Toho beads, for example), it looks so much better than the other way. This is because the beads are larger than the canvas thread spacing, so you need to skip a canvas thread periodically. I did not like how that looked.

The photos, from this point forward, are of the right side of the tree only.

Art Deco Tree Area B1

Art Deco Tree Area B3

Art Deco Tree Area B2

Art Deco Tree Areas B4 and M1 Partial

January 7, 2025--This is a section of the Art Deco Tree project designed by Deborah Reichert published in ANG's Needle Pointers Nov 2024 Magazine. The stitching in this post covers Areas C1, C2, E1 and E2. Isn't it beautiful?

I have the privilege of leading this as a three-part class to Delaware's Seashore Chapter of ANG beginning in March. My class will include lots of additional notes, graphs and instructions to make stitching this piece a little easier and more enjoyable.

Art Deco Tree Completed through Section E2

Below are photos of each section as it was stitched.

Art Deco Tree Area C1 Completed (love how the shiny rayon floss makes this look like a pearl)

Art Deco Tree Area C2 Completed (the outer edges make me think of Mother of Pearl)

Art Deco Tree Area E1 Completed

Monday, January 20, 2025

Ornament Holiday Bell Aqua - Updated 1/20/25

January 20, 2025--I attended the EGA January 2025 Camp Wannastitch over the weekend and was able to complete the stitching on this Holiday Ornament Bell (and rang the "finished bell" while there--yay!). I can see that the beaded "swag" is a bit wonky but am not worried about it since it won't show when hanging on the tree.

January 8, 2025--I've begun stitching another of Susan Portra's Holiday Ornaments, this one being an aqua bell (looks more like turquoise to me). I had to purchase these instructions from Susan because Needlepoint Now Magazine discontinued publishing her Holiday Ornament collection.

I ran out of the beautiful rayon floss used for this project, so as soon as it comes in, I'll finish the stitching. Almost done with this collection--after this one, have three more to do.

Ornament Holiday Bell Aqua in Process

Friday, January 3, 2025

Janet Zickler Casey Santas Stitched to Date - 1/3/25

January 3, 2025--Happy New Year. Here are four more Santas stitched over 2023 and 2024. If you scroll down, you'll see the ones stitched in prior years. Now there are 20 stitched Santas in the collection.

Click on the photo caption to view more information about each Santa.

January 3, 2023--I had the opportunity to stitch a few more Janet Zickler Casey's Santas in 2022. Here are the new ones and if you scroll down, you'll see the ones stitched in prior years. Now there are 16 stitched santas in the collection.

To see the Santas yet to be stitched, please click on the 2 Pages on the right side of this blog called Planned Projects-Santas by Janet Zickler Casey and In Process Projects.

Santa Snow Cone

Santa Holly Jolly

January 1, 2022--In keeping with my goal of stitching one new and one old Janet Zickler Casey's Santas each year, I stitched the below Cashmere and North Wind Santas. This makes 14 Santas stitched to date.

Cashmere Santa Completed

North Wind Santa Completed

May 18, 2020--Here's the 12th santa ornament stitched so far--North Wind Santa

North Star Santa Completed

May 12, 2020--the 11th Janet Zickler Casey Santa stitched to date called Santa in the Moon.

Santa in the Moon Completed

January 5, 2020--The 10th JZC Santa, Heart Santa, is stitched.

Santa Heart

February 11, 2019--The 9th JZC santa is stitched.

Star Spangled Santa

January 9, 2019--Here's the eighth stitched so far to add to the list below.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Santa

November 16, 2018—Recently I counted up the number of santa ornaments designed by Janet Zickler Casey that I’ve stitched over the years. Below are 7 out of 23 total to date. As new ones are completed, I’ll add them to the list. My goal is to stitch two a year (one new, one old) until all are done. Click on the caption for more information about each santa pictured.

Christmas Light Santa

Beth in ILJanuary 7, 2021 at 5:09 PM
I did not stitch a Santa in 2020. I need to get one on the frame as they are so much fun to stitch!

Thursday, January 2, 2025

2024 Year in Review - 1/2/25

January 2, 2025--Happy New Year! In 2024, I managed to complete the stitching of 14 needlepointed projects and 11 beaded ones.

Below are pictures from most recently stitched (December) to oldest (January).

Many have not yet been finished into ornaments, framed, etc.--I'm waiting to stitch all the projects in the collections before working them up into ornaments (e.g., Janet Zickler Casey's Santa collection and Susan Portra's holiday ornament collection).

Also included in this list are the projects stitched in prior years that have been finished into pillows, ornaments, etc. in 2024.

Hope you enjoy looking at these pictures and walking down memory lane with me. Click on the photo's caption to see more information about each project.