Candles Bright - Updated 1/4/2021

January 4, 2021--It took me forever to stitch the pine boughs and cones unto the bottom of this beautiful project.   Anything that requires randomness in the stitching causes me to fuss and get nothing done.  Well I made a resolution to finish this thing before allowing myself to work on anything else, so finish I did.  Now that it's done, don't know why I dallied--it wasn't so bad after all.   Now I have to decide how to finish it into something that can be displayed at Christmastime.

Candles Bright Completed

June 10, 2020--Finished stitching Lesson 2.  This covered all 3 candles as well as the wicks, flames and  haloes.  The haloes were to be stitched "freeform".  Ha, ha--that's nearly impossible for me--I had to graph out the curves, and even then, I'm not totally satisfied.

The lesson did not mention anything about stitching the slanted portion of the smallest candle, but I went ahead and finished it, assuming what thread to use.

The next lesson will probably cover the pine bough and cones.  Definitely a quick stitch project.

Candles Bright through Lesson 2

May 8, 2020--I registered for this ANG CyberWorkshop designed by Mary Knapp in January of this year and the first lesson arrived on May 1.  There are 3 candles and a pine bough with cones in the project (see In Process Projects Page on the right), and the first lesson covered the center candle and its wick, flame and halo.  Since all three candles have the same type of flame, I'll save that stitching until all the candles are worked up.

So far this project is easy enough.  However, I'm having a problem keeping the pearle 8 thread straight in the vertical stitches--it sometimes sits to the right or left of the hole.  I suspect it has something to do with how tight the thread twist is and if something on the backside is affecting how it lays on the front.  But this isn't enough of a problem for me to rip everything out and start over.  So here we are until next month.

Note:  the indentation on the right side is for another candle to be stitched.

Candles Bright through Lesson 1

Janet Zickler Casey Santas Stitched to Date - Updated 1/3/2021

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

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

North Wind 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.

Candy Swirl Santa

Pine Cone Santa

Nutcracker Santa

Christmas Tree Santa

Silver Bell Santa

Christmas Light Santa

Candy Cane Santa

To see the santas yet to be stitched, please click on the 2 Pages on the right side of this blog called Planned Projects and In Process Projects.

2020 Year in Review

 January 2, 2021

It's been a very unusal year with COVID and all, but I still managed to complete the stitching on 13 needlepoint projects.  Here they are from most recent (December) to oldest (January).

Many have not yet been finished into ornaments, 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, 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 2020.

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.

Golden Gala Evening Purse

My Vintage Heart Completed

SOTM 2020 through the December Lesson

Firecrackers Finished as Standups

Mulberry (aka Blueberry) & Lime Framed

Christmas in the Heartland Framed

North Star Santa Completed

Santa in the Moon Completed

Stacked Rectangles Completed

Frame Weight Stitcher's Parking Lot Finished

Autumn Crackers Finished

Hooray for the Red, White & Blue - Lesson 3, Section 8

Hardanger Stitch a Card Kit

Ornament Holiday Gift Green Completed

Hardanger Crystal Daisy Doily Finished

Golden Gala Evening Purse - Updated 12/11/2020

December 11, 2020--Over the last two weeks I've been working on the finishing required to install the front and back panels into a clear acrylic purse.   After mounting the stitched canvas and lining fabric unto acid free cardboard, I then had to "sew" them together which proved to be very labor intensive.  I used a circular needle which is unwieldly and difficult to maneuver with my arthritic fingers.   After all that, I somehow measured incorrectly and the two panels are a smidge too big for the purse.  Oh well, I just jammed them into each side and am satisfied that they aren't going to slip out of place.  LOL.

This beautiful purse is proudly displayed on a shelf in my dressing closet and adds a touch of class to the casual clothes hanging within.

Golden Gala Evening Purse Front Panel

Golden Gala Evening Purse Back Panel

Interior of Golden Gala Evening Purse Showing Ribbons on the Back of one of the Panels (for use when pulling the panel out of the purse to avoid damage to stitching)

September 26, 2018--Stitching is completed on both the front and back panels.  Now to line each one in preparation of inserting them into the clear acrylic purse form.

Golden Gala Evening Purse Back

Golden Gala Evening Purse Back Slant View

Golden Gala Evening Purse Front and Back Panels

September 21, 2018--While at the ANG 2018 Seminar in Washington, DC last month, I took a class by Michele Roberts called Golden Gala Evening Purse.  It consists of 2 panels (a front and a back), backed with a beautiful fabric and exposed ribbons.  Both panels are inserted into a clear acrylic purse form that has golden hinges and a long detachable strap. 

I learned the ribbons are placed on the back of each panel so the they can easily be pulled out of the acrylic form.   Without the ribbon "handles", damage could be done to the needlepoint when pulling it out.  A very good idea!

Below is a picture of the stitched purse front.  As usual, the photograph doesn't show the vibrancy and beauty of the threads. 

Golden Gala Evening Purse Front

Stitch of the Month 2020 - Updated 12/5/2020

December 5, 2020--All twelve months of this ANG Stitch of the Month project designed by Kathy Rees are done.  This was lots of fun with plenty of challenges.  I want to make this into a pillow and am trying to determine what type of border to add to the star so it'll have a larger surface.   Stay tuned.

SOTM 2020 through the December Lesson

November 9, 2020--The November instructions called for filling in the upper right and lower left areas.  However, as suggested by Tina of NJNA Chapter of ANG, I used the Balloon Stitch instead of the Hungarian Stitch recommended by Kathy Rees, the project designer,   It's larger than the called for stitch and reflects more light.  The December stitch should counterbalance the larger designs done in this and prior months.

SOTM 2020 through the November Lesson

October 12. 2020--October's stitch covered the second portion of the four different background patterns.  Coming to the end soon.

SOTM 2020 through the October Lesson

September 6, 2020--Below is a photo showing September's stitch, the Diamond Pavilion in the upper left and lower right blocks.  We are definitely approaching the finishing line with 3 more months of different background stitches to be done.

SOTM 2020 through the September Lesson

SOTM 2020 through the September Lesson Closeup

August 10, 2020--The August lesson is now stitched.  This lesson covered the last leg of the 8 legged star and as with all the others, got done very quickly.  The next four lessons will cover the background stitches.  This should make for easy stitching while watching TV.

SOTM 2020 through the August Lesson

SOTM 2020 through the August Lesson Closeup

July 5, 2020--Here's a photo of the 7th star leg stitched as part of the 2020 ANG Stitch of the Month (SOTM) lesson for July.    Half way through this project with one more star leg to do.  After that it's background stitches with the possible addition of a border.   Have six months to think about what would look best.

SOTM 2020 July

June 5, 2020--June's lesson for the 2020 ANG Stitch of the Month (SOTM) is the sixth star leg consisting of waffle stitches.  My favorite is worked up in the 2 corners (left and right).  Two more legs to go in blue, then the background will be next.

SOTM 2020 June Closeup 

SOTM 2020 June

May 9, 2020--Last night I stitched up May's installment (number 5) of the ANG SOTM 2020 project.  This month featured the Milanese stitch which I love when using threads that must be laid such as multiple strands of silk floss, Neon Rays types of ribbon, etc.   However, using variegated Caron Watercolours for a number of this month's sections didn't show off the stitches as well as some other type of thread could have.   But that's why I love doing these ANG SOTM projects--I learn so much and develop confidence to try new things.  Now i have to wait until the next lesson is available on June 1st to continue working on this 8 legged star.

SOTM 2020 May Closeup

SOTM 2020 May

April 5, 2020--Here's the fourth installment of the ANG Stitch of the Month project (SOTM) for 2020.  The designer, Kathy Rees, skipped a star leg and continued on with the red colors using cashmere stitch variations.  Am now thinking about a border to close up the design.  Hmmm.

SOTM 2020 April Closeup

SOTM 2020 April

The pink lines on the canvas are basting threads.




March 19, 2020--Just finished stitching March's lesson.  This third leg of the star highlights Smyrna stitches with some interesting variations.   It's a fun project to stitch...just wish I were doing this under better circumstances (no COVID-19).

SOTM 2020 March Closeup

SOTM 2020 March

February 3, 2020--It didn't take long to stitch up February's lesson.  In fact, was able to get this done while watching the Super Bowl game last night (or mostly listening to the game).  However, I did look up at the television to watch all the commercials and half-time show.  Most of the ads were very entertaining and it was interesting to see the difference in energy levels of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

SOTM 2020 February Closeup

SOTM 2020 February

January 25, 2020--January's lesson is stitched.   Based upon the instructions, I can tell this is going to be a lot of fun to work on.

SOTM 2020 January Closeup

SOTM 2020 January

January 2, 2020--The ANG 2020 Stitch of the Month project looks to be fun while offering stitching challenges.  The star designed by Kathy Rees will be great as a "stand up", hanging ornament, etc.  I think I'll encase mine in clear plastic and make it into a front door ornament for use on Independence Day.

So far I've downloaded the two files for January (one is an introduction and the other is January's stitching).  I really like the blue and red colors used by Kathy,  and found some of those threads in my stash.  Then  ordered what I don't have.  I already had a 12" x 12" piece of 18 count mono canvas in white, so will change the background stitches to a very pale, almost white, color rather than the ecru color Kathy used which went with her suggested egg shell colored canvas.

Below is a photo of the basted star.  I started to do the outline in #4 pencil, but feared it might look too dirty where the white background stitching met the star.  Since the design graph is based upon 6 canvas threads equaling 1 thread in the graph, I basted using a count of over/under 6 threads.  Actually faster than counting out each length.

Everything looks a bit messy now because I like having my basting thread knots in front along with their tails to keep an eye on where everything is and easier to remove as each star arm is stitched.  You can see I stitch "in the well" and mount my canvas so it sits on the back of the stretcher bars.  The tacks on the inside of the stretcher bars are for small magnets which will hold needles.

ANG Stitch of the Month 2020 Basting

Below is a photo of the project as designed and stitched by Kathy Rees.