Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – 8 – Blackwork Needle Case

Blackwork has always intrigued me and I’m in awe of people who manage to end up with the same design on the back as well as the front of their work.

I myself have worked several designs in this stitch over the years but have still never managed to achieve this, but I am getting better. 

Practice makes perfect, so they say!

The needle case of the Etui has two different panels, one with flowers and acorns and another with what looks like carnations.

With only the two thread winders and the scissor fob left to stitch I’m nearing the part I’m dreading most…..the construction, so keep everything crossed for me that I can master it.

Project stitching time to date – 58 hours 20 mins.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

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Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

My First Cross Stitch of the Year

June 2016

It’s been a while since I’ve done any cross stitch, as I’ve been concentrating on my Christmas Tree Skirt and Knitting and Crocheting for the Facebook group   Helping Hands

It was when a lady from the group was looking for someone that could make use of some embroidery threads and several pieces for Aida fabric and canvas, my name was suggested and this lovely parcel of goodies arrived on my doorstep.

 I immediately set about stitching and made four squares using a combination of cross stitch and Blackwork.

 

They were eventually sent to Nicki , my friend in Switzerland and she made they into this wonderful lap quilt that will be sent to Silverdale Residential Home as part of a project to make 22 quilts and 15  Fiddle Mitts/Muffs.

 

Happy Stitching
Sue
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Framing

I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that the finishing of a project is almost as important as stitching itself.   Pick the wrong frame and it can completely ruin the look, but I’m very lucky in that I have a framers in our High Road,  Frames of London.   

They have been looking after my finished pieces for many  years now and I can honestly say that I’ve never been disappointed with the finished results. 

When I’m about to take something in to be framed I usually have the discussion with myself about the pros and cons of non-reflective glass, but I’m not a fan of the mat finish it has and always go with standard glass.

Alas, it’s not good if you’re trying to photograph your work though, as you will see in my pictures.

So, here are the latest two projects they have framed for me.

Celtic Autumn.

I already knew the frame I wanted for this one.  It’s the same as the one I have on Celtic Spring but in the Gold option as opposed to the Silver.  

 The photo doesn’t really do it justice because it looks so opulent and I love it!

The second one is the Wedding Sampler, United in Love.

Now, when I took this in I had in my mind that I wanted a White ornate frame but when I was laying them against the project it really wasn’t working.
 
 With the help of staff in the shop we finally settle for a Greyish/Pink plain frame, which picks up the colour of the fabric perfectly.

 I just hope that Lee and Manna like it as much as I do! 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wedding Sampler

Just five days into August and I have my first finish of the month stitched but not framed.  

OK I own up, I didn’t stitch it in just five days. 

I started stitching on the 19^th June  and finished adding the beads on Friday 1st August, so it still only took me fourteen days to complete, which wasn’t bad going.

 This beautiful Blackwork Wedding Sampler is Called ‘United in Love’,  and is from a company called X-Calibre Designs.

 

 

I’ve used a bit of artistic licence and added a few more Blackwork motifs and extra beading to mine.

 
Now all I have to do is get it framed and then next up I'm going to stitch some panels for a charity group I stitch for.    

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Just spotted a deliberate mistake.
Last motif next to the date has no feet.....how did I manage that.
At least I noticed before it was framed!

Celtic Winter

Last month I finally finished my fifth Celtic Lady, Celtic winter.

Right from the very start I had misgivings about the colours used in this project, but wanted to stay true to Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum’s original design and stuck with it. In fact, I stayed true to all five designs, with one exception and that was the addition of the falling leaves on Celtic Autumn.  

My first pet hate on this design was the use of Gold thread. 

I know that Gold threads were used in all five pieces, so they all tie in together but the Gold really wasn’t shouting Winter to me.

 

 

This was  closely followed by the colour of the fabric which was Smokey Pearl Linen and the fact that the Grey shading on the dress was too dark in my opinion, but despite all that I still enjoyed stitching her.

 As soon as I finished her, I started work on a piece of Blackwork and strange as it may seem, my piece of Blackwork is actually White! 

It’s going to be a Wedding Sampler for my Nephew and his new Wife, who got married in Greece back in June.

Here’s a few sneak peeks.

And I have another project all lined up (well sort of)  for when the Sampler if finished.

With all five Celtic ladies under my belt,  I plan to stitch Celtic Winter again, but this time using Thalie’s  conversion with the cloak and hood. 

I’ve not settled on the colours yet but it will definitely have Silver in this one and I was thinking along the lines of  a deep rich Purple or Blue for the cloak and White dress with shading of pale lavender or Blue.   I’ve not decided yet but am leaning more towards the Mauve shades because all the other designs have those colours in too.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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This month’s Cushions

July 2009

With all the birthday presents I’ve been stitching recently I’ve only managed a couple of squares for the  Kid’s Company Project   this month.

Both have been worked from Children’s colouring pages again and I’ve stitched the outlines and added some Blackwork and filling stitches.

Panel #21

Panel #22

 

A Change is as good as a Rest - Kid’s Company Project

June  2009


Well, I’ve been busily stitching away while recovering from my knee op a month or so ago and I thought I’d have a bit of a try at some free hand embroidery for a change instead of the old cross stitch.

I must admit, I was quite pleased with the way they turned out and they were a lot quicker to stitch but I still love my cross stitch so I’m not sure if I’ll do any more of these.

Here’s the latest set of finished squares that I sent over to Nicki in Switzerland for the Kid’s Company Project   and the finished cushions after Nicki had worked her magic.

All of the designs were children’s colouring pages that I found on the web.  I traced them onto some cotton fabric and stitched over the top.

Panel #12

Panel #13

Panel #14

Panel #15

Panel #16

Next up is a panel that was for a little girl who specifically asked for Cinderella on her cushion.

Again, I found a colouring page and traced it onto White Aida as I had intended to cross stitch this one but then I changed my mind and decided to do some Blackwork to fill in some of the design.

Panel #17

Then a footballer, also in Blackwork

And finally back to the old cross stitch  for the last panel this month.

Panel #19

Panel #20

Panel #18

Blackwork

June   2005

Blackwork,  also sometimes known as Spanish work,  is known to have been stitched as far back as Tudor times.
It’s believed that Catherine of Aragon  brought garments with the delicate stitching on them with her when she came to England to marry King Henry VIII  and there is also evidence in paintings of Anne Boyne  and Jane Seymour having Blackwork on their clothes.

The technique is a counted thread embroidery made up of simple  lines of stitching that form complex and intricate

designs using a combination of backstitch, stem stitch and double running or Holbein stitch. 

As the name suggests, the embroidery was traditionally stitched with Black silk but nowadays it can be seen stitched in many different colours giving it a very modern feel.  Also the designs have changed from the traditional geometric or small floral patterns that were popular to much larger designs of flowers, fruit and even ladies in period costumes as well as chessboards and maps.




My first attempt  is a lot more modest I have to say.

I went for a small kit a hot air balloon  I found in my local needlecraft shop which is stitched in the traditional Black but with highlights of Gold threat to add a bit of interest .

I’m not quite sure what happened to the finished piece. 
I either made it into a card to give to someone or I sent it to my friend Nicki to make into one of the cushions for Kids Company but I really can’t remember.