SOTM 2013 Updated 10/29/14

October 29, 2014--Love the framing.

Stitch of the Month 2013 Framed

December 1, 2013--There's nothing more to add for December, so I'm done!  Now to see what my framer can do.

November 8, 2013--The November lesson is done.  I like the chain pattern, but am not sure how I like the colors.  The two narrow edges are now lost.  Looking forward to the final lesson in December.

SOTM 2013 November

October 6, 2013--October stitching is now complete and I love how nicely the gold diagonal back stitches fill in the empty space.  Now I'm wondering how the canvas will be stitched between the two outside borders.

September 4, 2013--The lesson for this month is done.  It's looking very pretty.  Looking forward to what the next three months will bring.

August 16, 2013--I have been asked to list the colors used in this project.  Below are my DMC selections:

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Original Thread Type	Amount for Congress Cloth	Thread Selection and Color
Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon	1 spool	Vatican Gold #102
Keinik #4 Braid	2 spools	Vatican Gold #102
Need 3 color families
Main Color - 5 Values		Blues
Dark	3 skeins	DMC 311 Md Blue
Medium Dark	1 skein	DMC 312 V Dk Baby Blue
Medium	1 skein	DMC 322 Baby Blue
Medium Light	1 skein	DMC 334 Md Baby Blue
Light	1 skein	DMC 3755 Lt Baby Blue
Second Color - 4 Values		Pinks
Dark	1 skein	DMC 3721 Dk Shell Pink
Medium Dark	1 skein	DMC 3722 Md Shell Pink
Medium Light	1 skein	DMC 223 Lt Shell Pink
Light	2 skeins	DMC 224 V Lt Shell Pink
Accent Color - 3 Values		Beiges
Dark	2 skeins	DMC 840 Md Beige Brown
Medium Dark	2 skeins	DMC 841 Lt Beige Brown
Medium Dark	1 skein	DMC 842 V Lt Beige Brown

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August 3, 2013--Just finished stitching the August lesson--took very little time to do this month's assignment.  Am unable to figure out what direction the design is taking, but so far it's been interesting.  Looking forward to September.

July 5, 2013--Completed the July stitching.   It's a beautiful trellis pattern which fills in much of the space very quickly.  Nice.

June, 2013--The stitches inside the red area remind me of a fruit pod.  Pretty.

May, 2013--The additional blue section is adding nice dimension.

April, 2013--The four corners are called leaves by Debbie.  If I had known this at the beginning, I would have reversed the colors.  Oh well, I'll play it out through December and hope it won't matter.  

March, 2013--This month's lesson gave us dimension.  Pretty border.

February, 2013--What a great beginning.  Love the pattern.

January, 2013--Love starting a new ANG Stitch of the Month Mystery project.  This is my fourth SOTM and each year has been a real treat to stitch.  This year's project is taught by Debbie Stiehler using Bargello stitches.  January's lesson was to lay down basting stitches from corner to corner on the diagonal.  Onward to the fun.

Signature on Finished Needlepoint Ornaments

November 4, 2013--About 20 years ago, I purchased a Bernina 1530 sewing machine, updating an older model.  Back then I was an avid sewer of garments for myself and got a lot of use out of the machine.  However, I never used the few pre-programmed embroidery features which included the alphabet and numbers (in capital letters only).    Yesterday I spent the afternoon reading the user's manual on how to program the 1530 and finally came up with a very nice signature and date.  The accents had to be hand sewn onto the fabric, but only 3 stitches were involved, so not a problem.  Last year I signed my self-finished ornaments by needlepointing with wash-away canvas.  It worked OK but wasn't satisfactory (see:  http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2013/06/stash-star-ornaments-multi-and-green-red.html

I've got more playing to do with my signature--try to get it smaller, etc.  But if this is all I can do, I'm not unhappy.

BTW, the fabrics I'm using to back my ornaments come from old, out-of-date drapery fabric sample catalogues given to me by my sister.  She used to design and fabricate draperies, pillows, bedspreads, etc. and was about to throw out all of her old catalogues.  While visiting her a few years ago, I noticed the sizes of these samples were perfect for ornaments and had them shipped from her home in Texas to mine in Delaware. What a wonderful stash I've got now.  Thanks sis.

Signature in Blue Thread

Signature in Gold Thread

Fabric Heaven

I could spend a week in this store

Seminar 2014 Chicago

August 8, 2013--I'm so excited about the classes at the Chicago ANG Seminar in 2014.  The pictures have just been posted in the ANG Yahoo Group List Photo Album.

I can't wait to sign up.  There are so many wonderful choices.

Candy Bar Pillow

September 21, 2013--Had the candy bar canvas made into a pillow.  I love the chocolate brown and blue fringe--it'll look perfect in my DGD's TV room which is beautifully decorated by my DDIL in blues and browns.   Now to decide when to give it to her--at Thanksgiving when we'll next be visiting or in May, 2014, after the Rehoboth Beach Museum's Needlework Exhibit.

April, 2013--Ever since my first visit in 2009 to Waste Knot in Arlintgon, VA where this piece was on display, I've always wanted to stitch it.  Finally, in 2012, I ordered the kit (painted canvas from Point Of It All and wonderful DMC Perle 5 threads) from Lori Maza, the proprietor.  My intention is to have it made into a pillow and give it to my DGD for her play/TV room.  She was visiting this week and helped me finish stitching the canvas by filling in the last 4 little chocolate kisses.  Now to shop for backing fabric and some really cool fringe.

Commenting on Blogs

August 18, 2013--I love writing this blog, but most especially, I love reading the blogs of other needlepointers (as you can see from "My Blog List" on the black right side bar--place mouse on the right side for the bar to show up).

Reading blogs is a favorite morning activity, along with that first cup of java.  It's where other stitchers share their love of needlepoint  through writing, photographs, etc.  Sometimes you can even glimpse a hint of their personal lives.   And the fun part is being able to leave a comment on something that speaks to you personally--a blog give-and-take, so to speak.

Needle Nicely has written a very nice blog about writing comments and how to do so using Google. She says it so well that I'm taking you there through the below link.  Her description of getting through the decoding process is spot on.  She also has a very nice blog to read.  Enjoy.

ANG's 40th Anniversary Sampler Synchronicity Updated 3/20/14

March 20, 2014--Won 2nd Place Ribbon in the sampler category at the Rehoboth Beach Museum 4th Annual Needlework Exhibit.

August 13, 2013--The sampler is now framed.  It's big--33" long by 17.25" wide.  Love it.

August 1, 2013--The sampler is finished and off to be framed!  This was so much fun to complete and fellow chapter members who also worked on this project shared many helpful hints.  Will post a new picture of the sampler when it's back from the framer.

In prior posts (written below), I wrote about not wanting to do Band 7, called the Contemporary Drawn Thread Band, as instructed by Catherine Jordan, feeling that it was a little too "helter skelter" for my tastes.   Not knowing how to handle the three blocks in this band, I purchased a book titled BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO DRAWN THREAD EMBROIDERY by Patricia Bage, Search Press Ltd., 2011.    Perfect.  Her instructions and photographs are so clear and sample projects so beautiful, I now want to do more of this type of work.  Below are pictures of the band as I stitched it and another as designed by Catherine Jordan.

PS  When cutting out the horizontal threads, I held my breath to keep from shaking the scissors and clipping the wrong thread.  Success.

Band 7 Completed

Band 7 as Designed by Catherine Jordan

July 9, 2013--Added beads to Bands 1, 8 and 11.  Still thinking about what to do with Band 7.  Stay tuned.

Band 1 With Beads

Band 8 With Beads

Band 11 With Beads

July 3, 2013--Band 18 is now complete.  Almost done with this sampler---Band 7 needs my attention. The original design by Catherine Jordan is called Contemporary Drawn Thread, calling for threads to be cut and wrapped together in what I consider to be a helter-skelter manner.    Will be doing further research on what do to with this.

Band 18--Liberty ANG designed by Ro Pace

June 24, 2013--Band 17, designed by Mary K. Campbell, is done.  I used beads from my stash rather than what was suggested.   One more band to stitch on the bottom then I must concentrate on what I'll do with Band 7.

Band 17--Beaded Pins designed by Mary K. Campbell

June 19, 2013--Another band completed, this one designed by Pat Mazu.  Really like this project.  Each band is so different from the other that it's like starting a new project each time--boredom never sets in.

Band 16--Butterflies designed by Pat Mazu

June 17, 2013--So far I've completed 15 bands of ANG's 40th Anniversary Sampler Synchronicity.  In October, 2012, our local Seashore Chapter took this on  as a group project.   I chose colors in the burgundy, Williamsburg blue and tan families.  Plan on hanging it in my home office when done.  Below are pictures of the bands stitched to date.  Note:  I will not be stitching Band 7 as shown in the lessons, but instead will do some research on cut thread patterns and do something more traditional.  Some of the bands need beads which will be added last.  This has been lots of fun to do while being very educational at the same time.

Band 15--Goldwork designed by Michele Roberts

Band 14--Pulled and Drawn Thread designed by Pat Donaldson

Band 13--Bowties and Stars designed by Janet Zickler Casey

Band 12--Realistic Shading by Sandy Rogers

Band 11--Jean Hilton designed by Jim Wurth

Band 10--Composite Pattern designed by Margaret Bendig

Band 9--Nami Pattern designed by Margaret Kinsey

Band 8--Beaded Heart designed by Nancy Cucci

Band 7--Contemporary Drawn Thread designed by Catherine Jordan (to be completed at a later date)

Band 6--Blackwork designed by Carol Algie Higginbotham

Band 5--Red Ruby Roses designed by Sandra Arthur

Band 4--Geometric designed by Susan Reed

Band 3--Camellia designed by Cara Hayes

Band 2--Pattern Couching designed by Carlene Harwick

Band 1--Couching designed by Joni Stevenson

HanDBase Projects Database

August 5, 2013--Earlier I wrote about my Threads Inventory and Thread Brands databases in the HanDBase app I use.  Today I'll illustrate how I've set up my Projects database, shown in the screen capture below

There is a lot of information in this database covering:

• Project Name
• Status (Planned, In Process, Completed, Finished, On Hold)
• Finished As (framed picture, pillow, ornament, etc.)
• Canvas Type
• Finished Size
• Date Started
• Date Completed (when stitching is done)
• Date Finished (when made into something)
• Source
• Instructor
• Class Type
• Notes
• Cost
• Picture (directory location)
• Gifted To
• Date Given

I am able to see all of this information on both my PC and iPhone.  The pictures, stored on my iPhone, show up there, but not on my PC.  I believe DDH Software is working on this.   However, I have wonderful files on my PC where I keep pictures of my projects (synced with my phone), scanned instruction manuals, etc.

My favorite sort is by Status....I love seeing all the projects I have finished.  The "Completed" sort shows me what canvases need to be finished (sewn into ornaments, framed, etc.).  My "On Hold" sort is my own personal Hall of Shame.  These are items I've lost interest in or didn't like the instructions (too vague), etc., and will most likely not be completed.  But I am an optimist and may get some of them done one day.  It's also nice to have a record of when a project was given as a gift, to whom and on what date.

I often use the Notes field to track when I've registered and paid for an online course, when it will begin and end, etc.

Below is the form used to enter a new project into the database:

Many of the fields above have "pop up" lists from which to make choices.  For example, when I click on the arrow to the left of Status, the below list pops up:

This is so much easier than typing in the status of each project, especially when changing the status, e.g., from Planned to In Process, then to Completed, etc. 

Pop Up Lists are a real convenience, but they are limited (to 100 entries, I believe).  So if I have a field that will have a lot of possibilities, I must establish a new database and have the field "point" to it, then from that database, select the record I want. 

A perfect example of this is my Instructor field.  Right now I have the names of my favorite instructors in a "Pop Up List", but will soon have too many and will have to establish a separate database called "Instructors".  When that's done, I'll then have the ability to add information about each instructor, such as their email addresses, needlepoint shops with whom they are associated, etc.

That's all of it.  I hope this encourages you to track your needlepoint "assets", be it in an Access type database such as HanDBase, in Excel, on Google's Drive, or Apple's iWork, etc.   

When I start a new project, it's such a pleasure to get it listed in my database, then to add the threads to my inventory....it really is a form of "play".

Pumpkin 3D Designed by Ruth Chow

July, 2012--I purchased this Ruth Chow painted canvas from Waste Knot (Arlington, VA) in 2009. Lori Maza had the model available to view and I just had to have it.  Unfortunately, I was too new at doing needlepoint and found some of the stitches difficult to do, so I put it aside.  After 3 years of gathering needlepointing experience, I picked up the pumpkin again and was easily able to complete it.  It was a lot of fun.  This is what it looked like while on the scroll bars.

October, 2012--This is what it looked like when I got it back from the finisher.  It's so cute sitting next to the candy dish at Halloween.

HanDBase Threads Inventory Database

July 22, 2013--I mentioned in an earlier blog that my favorite app is HanDBase Database Manager.  It has enabled me to inventory all of my threads, books and projects (with pictures).  Data can be entered on my PC or on my iPhone, then the two can be synced.  I chose this software because I couldn't find anything in the "app" market that would allow for the storage of a high volume of data or give me the flexibility to add or subtract fields I wanted in each record.

Today I'll talk about my threads inventory.  Below is a screen capture of the Threads Inventory Database as it appears on my PC.  I am able to see this same information on my iPhone.  The inventory can be sorted by any field, such as thread name/type, color number, project, etc. (sorting can be done on my PC or on my iPhone).  The picture below shows the database sorted by Project, the first being Anasazi Dream.  You can see a list of threads used in this project, showing the thread name/type, color number, color name (if available), project in which it was used, color wheel number, HEX number, dye lot, notes, when purchased, from what source, and cost.  When I sort this database by Name/Type, I'm able to see what I have in my stash--useful when buying threads for a new project, or making substitution decisions.  It's also helpful to see what project a thread was used for--I can easily refer to the project to see how it covered the canvas, what stitches were used, etc.

The field labeled "Name/Type" in the above example only shows the brand name of the thread and whether or not it's a floss, perle, and its size.  For more information about the thread, such as its fiber content, ply/strands, washability, gauge, etc., I have another database for that called Thread Brands. The screen capture below shows the setup.   Most of the information is taken from the package or card around which the thread is wrapped.

Now, when I have a new thread to add to my Threads Inventory Database, I fill in the information on the entry form below:

However, instead of typing in the thread name/type, all I need do is hit the little arrow to the left of the field name (using Name/Type as an example) and up pops the Thread Brands database.  Then I scroll down to the thread I'm looking for.  If my new thread is a Kreinik Braid #4, I would scroll down to that thread brand and hit enter.  This is a huge convenience when you have a project that's using many colors of the same type of thread, such as DMC floss.  Of course, if I'm adding a new thread brand to my inventory that I've never used before, I must first add it to my Thread Brands Database.

The other fields which point to separate databases are Project, Color Wheel and Source.  I'll discuss the Project Database in another blog.  

The Color Wheel Database is a list of color ranges as used by Joen Wolfrom's Color Tool.  I find this very helpful when looking for threads I own in a particular color range, for example, blue-green (color card 06 in the Color Tool).

The Source Database shows how the thread was acquired--whether or not it was included in a kit, purchased from a store, part of my stash, etc.  This field doesn't have a separate database, but has something called a "pop up list" where you can pick from a number of items such as where the thread was purchased, if it was included in a kit, etc.


If you have read this far into the blog, kudos!  I know there's a lot of information here, but hopefully it will be helpful if you decide to set up your own inventory using a database type of app.  Please note that I am not a computer/software guru and had never used Access type software before.  This was all new to me.    However, DDH Software has some great tutorials and lots of examples of how their customers use HanDBase, and it was from there I began to formulate how I would set up my databases.

If you have any questions, please add them to the comment section and I will respond ASAP.

Victorian Ornament

October, 2012--Stitched this little ornament for Delaware's Seashore Chapter's December 2012 holiday ornament exchange.  The instructions, written by Teresa Kinberger, were found in the September, 2012 Needlepointers magazine.  I changed it from an oval to a diamond shape and filled in the background.  Also did the finishing myself.  Not yet perfect, but getting better at this.

Original ornament as designed.

Stitching In The Well and Framer's Tool to Push In Tacks

July 11, 2013--When I first began needlepointing 3+ years ago, I was given some wonderful advice on how to mount canvas onto stretcher bars.  This advice came from Liz, the owner of Needlewoman East in Falls Church, VA, and I hope you find it helpful as well.

She recommended attaching the canvas so that it appears to be on the "back" of the stretcher bars, as shown below, rather than on top.  This keeps your wrists and arms off the canvas, and your work cleaner.  By attaching tacks to the inside of the stretcher bars, magnets can be placed on the tacks as needle holders, etc.  When your work is put away in a bag, the needles and threads are protected by the sides of the stretcher bars and won't fall off.  I often place tacks on top of the bars, and use another magnet to hold graphs in front of me while stitching.   Another reason for "stitching in the well"....if the margins of your project are very narrow, you won't have trouble ending your threads on the back because there isn't anything in the way.  Bead holders placed inside the stretcher bars won't fall off the canvas either.  For some, using a laying tool in a tight corner is difficult unless the canvas is on top of the stretcher bars.  I use a "trolley" type of tool--it's a long, large needle welded to a ring that I wear on my index finger.  I can then curve my finger around a tight area....or just turn my canvas around for more maneuvering room.

Canvas right side.  Tacks are on the back of stretcher bars

Back or wrong side of the canvas.  I know there are a lot of tacks, but I find they keep the canvas from stretching

Magnet attached to tack used as needle minder

This is a "framer's tool" I use to push tacks against stretcher bars.  The handle is very comfortable to use.

Using the framer's tool to push tacks into the stretcher bars

Jane of Chilly Hollow found a website for this tool, called a picture framer's bradset, at Highland Woodworking.  Thanks Jane.

Folding Ort Box Number 2, Black and Red 3/18/15

March 18, 2015--Won 1st Place Ribbon in the Canvaswork-Multi category at Woodlawn's 52 Annual Needlework Exhibition in Alexandria, VA.

February, 2010.  Made this ort box for DH to keep in his office.  The black and silver was to match his electronics and furniture while the red was for impact.  It got noticed--by other women of course.   And what man doesn't love the attention of other women.  Now that he's retired full time, the ort box has been re-commissioned to travel with me when taking classes, etc.

Kreinik Pen

September, 2012--I bought two of these cool pens at ANG Seminar in Philadelphia...one for myself and one as a gift for my conference roommate, Vicki.   She really had a time of it at the hotel check in.  Our original plans were that she would arrive first,  check in and get the room.   Well, it was I who arrived first and was assigned "our room".  When Vicki checked in, she was not told I was already in the room, so was very concerned that our room had been assigned to someone else, not recognizing my luggage.  She had to get a last minute change of rooms, all to my surprise when I tried to return to the room I had been assigned and found myself locked out.   Too funny.  It ended well with a nicer room than originally assigned.   I have to find out if she ever stitched the pen.

(Kreinik Stock Photo)