Thursday, February 2, 2017

American Beauty Rose - Updated 2/2/17

February 2, 2017--Made this beautiful rose into a piped knife-edge pillow.  I like the way it looks more like a rose now that the padding rounds out the center.   And the fabric color adds a nice "frame".  All in all, very happy with the results.  My Bernina sewing machine has programming for simple numbers and letters, so I added the following to the back since it's a gift for my mother.

Happy 90th Birthday Mom

Marie-Rose Irene Cote

With Love From

Yours Truly

February 15, 2017

I added her name so the staff at the nursing home where she resides will know it's hers if it happens to "walk".


American Beauty Rose Finished Front

American Beauty Rose Finished Bac

January 8, 2017--Done, and in plenty of time to make this rose into a pillow to give my mother on her 90th birthday next month.  It's an unusual piece--you need to stand far back to actually see a rose.  Once it is piped with a dark purple fabric, the rose should be easier to view.

American Beauty Rose Competed on Stretcher Bars

American Beauty Rose Completed
December 15, 2016--Wow, it's been over 2 years since I last worked on this project.  And work on it I must now do!  This is going to be a gift for my mother's 90th birthday in February and I have a lot yet to stitch.  I have a small suspicion that it won't get done in time.  If that happens, I'll show her the project and explain it'll be a beautiful pillow when done--and promise she'll get it ASAP.   In the meantime, however, I'll stitch on it furiously and see if I can make the finish happen in time.

American Beauty Rose as of 12/14/16
November 30, 2014--Status to date.  Thought I would do as Liz Morrow has done with her rose (she's stitching hers in neutral tones) and complete a full quadrant.  Still am unable to see the rose yet.  Will now go back to working on one color/stitch at a time.


American Beauty Rose Upper Left Quadrant
American Beauty Rose Upper Left Quadrant Completed
10/13/14--This project has 8 different stitches done in 8 different colors.  The picture below shows the first color and stitch done, and a little of the 2nd one started (the canvas color is Lavendula/Lilac).

Not doing a lot of stitching these days--have been traveling and more trips are planned.

Stitch and Color One
8/11/14--While at the 2012 ANG Seminar in San Antonio, TX, I purchased instructions for DebBee's Designs American Beauty Rose with the intent of stitching this project for my mother's 90th birthday, using her favorite colors in the violet/lilac range.  Well, she'll be 90 in a little over 2 years and I figure I better get this started sooner, rather than later.

Since I'm not really good at making color substitutions--in this case from reds (listed in the directions) to violets, I wrote Debbie Rowley of DebBee's Designs for help.  Wow, she really was very helpful.  Debbie went to her LNS, The Stitcher's Garden in Conway, AR and worked with Lynda Bass Gaiser, first gathering the red colorway, then finding the perfect violet/lilac threads.  Debbie sent me the first picture below and asked if the colors they chose would work.  I immediately responded with YES! and ordered her suggestions from Lynda.  The second picture is a closeup of the violet threads that came in the mail yesterday.   Cannot wait to begin stitching.  Soon.......
Thread Comparisons--Reds to Violets

Violet Colorway


DebBee's Designs American Beauty Project Photo

14 comments:

  1. Hi Brenda, Very pretty piece & colors. Are those all scotch or are some reversed as well? It looks like it measures 12"x12"-am I right? That's a lot of laying threads to do! Good luck & looking forward to seeing your progress. Melita

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  2. Hi Melita, Sorry I haven't responded sooner-have been traveling (to Las Vegas-you may have seen all my postings on FB). The finished size of this piece is 12" x 12". There are a wide variety of stitches, all done over 4 threads. And yes, there will be lots of laying--all the stitches use 3 strands of floss. Hope to start this in 2014.

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  3. Very pretty! I'm doing this rose too, except mine is a white rose, mostly tan. Too much fun!
    lizartblog.blogspot.com

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  4. Hi Liz, Saw your blog posting and commented on how much I like the colors and the fact you've completed a full quadrant. Hope you keep posting your progress. Thanks.

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  5. Love your colors too! You're making good progress. I haven't worked on mine much lately.

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  6. Looking good! At this rate, you'll be done well in advance of your mother's 90th birthday.

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  7. It is coming on January which is the only time I work on my version which is the original reds. Love your colors!

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  8. It is coming on January which is the only time I work on my version which is the original reds. Love your colors!

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  9. You can do it! Persevere!! It's looking good.

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  10. Congratulations! I know how good it feels to finish this.

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  11. How wonderful that you got it done in time for her birthday! I can see the rose and I'm sure it will be even more stunning when finished as the pillow.

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