“Bargello Challenge #2” -- July 1, 2008

Janet designed the Bargello line for the challenge and after I received a copy of the line I had a lot of fun designing my stocking!

The first think I did was design a stocking shape. I usually do this by laying DMC #5 on the canvas. I then manipulate the thread till I get the shape that I want. I then stitch the outline of the shape. I’ve pasted a picture below of the outline of my stocking. I wasn’t thinking about taking pictures when I did this so the outline is in white but I think you can still see it in the picture.

I then stitched a border between the body of my stocking and the cuff of the stocking. I first stitched a Smryna Cross using Kreinik silver braid followed by two tent stitches one on top of the other using a Kreinik pearl braid.


Since I’m currently working on several Holiday pieces that are in red and green, I decided that I wanted to give my stocking a slightly different look. While visiting my LNS I decided to use Silk and Ivory in blue, cream and yellow as it fills in wonderfully with Bargello stitches on 18 count canvas. I also added a silver Kreinik ribbon to add some texture and visual interest. I selected an ecru canvas as I think it helps when stitching Bargello projects to pick a canvas color that disappears behind the colors of the thread. After completing the body of the stocking, I then stitched the cuff using the first four stitches of the Bargello line in Rainbow Gallery’s white Fuzzy Stuff using two strands.


Once I finished the stocking I added two rows of tent stitch around the stitched stocking in the same color of the canvas which in this case is ecru. This gives the finisher something to stitch on when they are finishing the project and helps keep the Bargello stitches from being pulled during the finishing. Of course, always check with your finisher to see what they would prefer! :-)


I think it’s very interesting that both Janet and I stitched a stocking using the same Bargello line and they turned out so different. We both selected blue for our projects, though we didn’t discuss our color selections before we stitched our stockings. Even though both stockings are stitched using blue threads, they both look so different and both turned out beautifully!

If you decide to use Janet’s line to create your own Bargello project such as another stocking, a star, or any other shape, please let Janet and I know where we can see your project. You can reach Janet at; napaneedlepoint@gmail.com

I had a lot of fun designing and stitching my stocking and I wanted to thank Janet for visiting my blog on her blog tour!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

"Bargello Challenge #1" -- July 1, 2008

Janet Perry has just published a new book, “Bargello Revisited”. She began a Bargello blog tour several weeks ago and has visited many different blogs which you can read about on her blog; http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/.

As part of her blog tour she asked if anyone would be willing to participate in a Bargello Challenge and I volunteered! I’m going to turn my blog over to Janet so she can talk about her project for the Bargello Challenge and then I’ll talk about mine. Enjoy!

Here’s Janet!!!

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Cyn and I did a Bargello Challenge this month. Because Bargello lines can be varied easily and because there aren't any set colors, a challenge is a fun way to do Bargello as a group.
The principle is very simple. Find (or make) a simple Bargello line. Give it to everyone who is participating in the challenge.

Each person chooses colors and, if wanted, varies the line. Then the fun begins. Each Bargello is stitched. While Cyn and I both did mini-socks, you don't have to all have the same shape.



I decided to make outlined shapes (the solid blue violet) by offsetting the lines. I had thought about doing something like this for quite awhile and I'm glad I did. While the picture doesn't show it and the metallic obscures it, the stitches aren't all the same length in the center. I'm thinking that I need to explore this idea more to see what characteristics the line needs to have to make pretty fills.

But back to the mini-sock itself. I found this charming color of Gloriana's Lorikeet. Lorikeet is one of my favorite threads for Bargello because it is a fine wool, Four strands fill up of 18 mesh canvas beautifully and the colors are so lush. This one is called Monet's Garden. To this I added the blue-violet (Silk & Ivory - another favorite) and Crescent Colours floss in a very subtle hand-dyed watery blue). The final touch was a metallic ribbon from Kreinik.

I really like the soft shading of the non-metallics against the more forward metallic. Because the metallic is not a solid color, it is less harsh and, I think, more interesting.

I loved doing the challenge and am looking forward to doing one again.

If you want some additional ideas about variations in Bargello, find the book Bargello Magic. There is a section in that where the same pattern is colored in many different ways. You need to get past the garish 70's colors and see the different and wonderful patterns which emerge from one basic diamond pattern.

Keep Stitching,
Janet M. Perry
napaneedlepoint@gmail.com
http://www.napaneedlepoint.com/
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/ - blog

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Thanks for visiting my blog Janet!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Secret Projects & Stash Enhancement” -- June 19, 2008

I have been stitching away at least 15 minutes each day since I began the Fifteen Minute Stitching Challenge. Wahoo!

How is everyone else doing?

I’m working on my Bargello Challenge project which I’ll be able to share with everyone next week. If you want to learn more about this project please visit Janet Perry’s “Nuts About Needlepoint” blog and read the June 4, 2008 entry.

Janet challenged me to stitch a project from a Bargello line that she provided. We are both stitching socks but that’s all of the information for now as I can’t share the project with you until June 25, 2008. :-)

I’ve also been stitching on a Christmas project for Dear Daughter as she has been away this week, but since I know she reads my blog I can’t share any pictures now. :-) I’m taking pictures of my progress and I’ll share with everyone next January.

In the meanwhile, I did visit my LNS for a little stash enhancement. These are purchases that I picked up over the last several weeks.

My daughter and I are both planning on stitching the set of Kimonos from “Needlepoint Now”. These were designed by Marget Bendig. They are just beautiful!



My daughter will be stitching the Spring Kimono with the colors listed in the design. The Spring Kimono is the Aqua Kimono on the cover. These are on the bottom right of the picture. I decided to mix things up a little bit and I’ll be stitching the Spring Kimono with the colors on the bottom left of the picture.

The fibers at the top left are for the Summer Kimono and are the ones listed in the instructions. The Summer Kimono is the one on the upper right of the magazine cover. I haven’t picked out yet what I’ll do for the Summer Kimono as I need to finish a project or two before I get too far ahead of myself!

I also picked up some Mill Hill kits to add to my stash. My LNS is going to have a sale this summer where if you buy 5 Mill Hill kits you get the sixth for free. Have I mentioned before that I like the Mill Hill kits? I have big plans for that sale! LOL!!!

The final stash picture is of a few other items that I picked up recently. The Raise the Roof design is “You Suit Me”. My husband plays cards and I think he’ll like this design. I’m planning on stitching this for next Valentine’s Day. The next project is by The Cricket Collection and is “Give Us a Kiss”. It’s all kinds of different pictures of Hershey Kisses. I’ve been having fun watching Kathryn stitch her sheep on her blog; “Threads of Desire”. When I was in my LNS in May, the free graph for the month is Bent Creek’s “The Little Sheep that Could”. Well, I just had to pick up the materials pack as the graph was free! :-) The other threads are odds and ends that I need for other projects.

I also thought I would share with you the door prizes and basket my daughter and I won at a recent basket bingo.

I’m so glad that you were able to stop by my blog and I hope to have more project pictures for soon! I’m loving the Fifteen Minute Stitching Challenge! :-)

Cynthia
Windy Meadow