Ann's needlerolls part 2

Needlework Tool Case - a Mary Long design written exclusively for the Correspondence School of The Embroiderers' Guild of America.

This project required using materials and stitches that were very much outside my comfort zone, however, it was such fun and a joy to complete.

I used 18 count mono canvas, overdyed ribbon, DMC and metallic and pearl cotton threads.

Prickly Pine Stitching Etui, the Essamplaire here.

 This design/kit is worked in Irish/Florentine stitch in a pattern known as Prickly Pine.  The etui is based on 18th century American pocket books which were worked in a wool yarn; however, this one is silk thread for stitching on 35 count linen and silk fabric for the lining. 

The inside has pockets for stitching tools, and a stitched needle book with wool felt pages.  A stitched scissor sheath is included, a thread winder, and a 4"ruler made by their woodworker. 

The top straight edge is personalized in cross stitch with my name and date.


















My "Practice Stitch" needlebook.  In 2012 our EGA Dayton Chapter did a program that included introducing a variety of stitches

 Each month at the meeting, different stitches were introduced and we could practice these stitches prior to incorporating into our needlework piece.  I decided that since I was going to be spending so much time "practicing" new stitches, I wanted a record and a permanent reminder. 

Since I LOVE wallets, I chose a blue ticking and included a line of each stitch and to the right I jotted down the name of the stitch on the ticking as I completed the line.  Prior to finishing the inside with partitions for my needlework tools, I cut off the list of stitches and keep it inside the needlebook for future reference of each stitch name.

**************  Next - wallets  ***************

Progression

I started stitching samplers decades ago, mostly kits containing 25 count linen.  As time moved on and a shop sprouted locally, 28 became my favorite.  Moving forward, 30.   Availability of linen colors prompted attempts at 32.  How could I ever go higher?  Viewing Glenna's and Margaret's blogs featuring work done on higher counts just amazed me.  But one day, wanting the finish to be smaller, I tried 35 with one thread.  The difference?  Stronger magnifiers. Stitching on the higher count is no different than the lower when you have the correct magnification to see the weave well enough.  Those glasses were never used before but now, I use them for all counts, my latest favorite being 35.  My monster floor base Dazor mag lamp is only used for deep splinters.  Or a tick in my neck.

 

 So now, we're at 40.  The years of avoidance and apprehension are over.  I have arrived. Kris's gift was so tiny and sweet I just had to stitch it myself, on 40, my second 40 counter. (Chums is sitting on Mary Spinney.)  Except for a few designs that I could not resist, I really feel the stitch is over.  Just when 40 becomes a reality.  I don't mind the smalls but I have enough finishes for display and many are even put away.  I so wanted to have big girls Mary Spence, Mary Elliot, and Sarah Harvey and one day I may. 

 

Yep, I am thinking about closing shop for a while.  Work on some sewing projects, box tops, items for selling?  I don't know.  The number of readers has fallen according to Blogger stats, maybe it's time.  We'll see.  It seems the menocurse is once again creating a what-the-hell-do-I-want mental state.  Mark is encouraging me to continue stitching but I think there is an ulterior motive.  He sees me intently looking around the rooms and that instills fear in most men.  Fear that ideas, changes, disruptions may be coming before the last group is even finished.   Little does he know that the look is because I am ...
a) searching for misplaced items
 b) looking for a reminder of what I was just doing
 c) trying to remember the day of the week
 d) figuring how many Dove are allowed in my carb count
 e) wondering what I came into the room for
 f) is that a mosquito?
g) wondering if there is a spider in those cobwebs.

 

A few more needlerolls from Ann Sunday morning.

Have a great weekend.

 

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Ann's needlerolls part 1

Ode to Mary Needleroll, Dames of the Needle, Finger Work here

A tribute to Mary Queen of Scots' life with symbols on the needleroll that play out Mary's short and catastrophic life.  I used 32 count Vintage Tundra by Lakeside Linen, DMC floss, and Elizabethan green ribbon by Gloriana for the faux ruching around the finished piece.

 

Sewing Roll, the Essamplaire  here.

Based on an antique sewing roll, the kit is complete.  It contains two small wooden spools and a thimble.  The thread for the spools comes out of two small holes and the thimble rests inside a large hole. 

It also has two needle leaves made from wool flannel  The entire roll is lined with silk and ties shut with an antique ribbon. 

Worked entirely in flame stitch on 35 count linen using silk floss, some satin stitches and buttonhole stitches to reinforce the holes.

 

My adapted sewing roll

 

I took the Essamplaire flamestitch design and using DMC floss and dyed linen and wool, stitched a small little roll, just for fun.  I love anything Bargello!

 

My vintage fabric needleroll.
I used some vintage scraps of fabric to hand stitch a needleroll.  Very simple and somewhat crude, a "just because" project - simply a fun stitch.

***********  Next, part 2 *************

 

 

Polly with a twist

A quick post between Ann's to show Polly finished.
Lori Rippey's Polly Cole on 32 count.

I love this gal, even though she is twisted.  But Vonna named herself Twisted and she's a fine lady so we're good.  The dryer, the iron, the steaming, the stretching, the blocking, the wetting, the shaking, had me twisted into a knot.  She's not bad now, hasn't been interfaced or lined yet, and I am afraid to do either.  I have never faced this problem to this extent before, and the linen did come out of the dryer fairly even.  But as soon as I started turning the edges back, I could see that it wasn't only the measurement that was a problem.  The weave doesn't appear to be running true or square.

The only noticeable change I made in thread color was the large house because in the printed photo, it looked to be a light blue/gray and I liked it. So I subbed DMC 317 for 3781 (in the house), and 3032 for 3782 in the body. 

I would like to put all the long fringed pieces together eventually, but have taken most of them down for now.  I'm hoping the twist may work itself out if I leave her hanging for a while.  But that's about as likely as me having a good hair day. The boning is sewn into the top hem as the others.

I never mixed the framed pieces with the fringed before, and I don't think it looks bad.  So Polly may be hanging with a formal friend for a while.  Wherever she goes, I'm grateful that this chart was offered before my slump's final bell.  I really do not want to stitch.  But I can't stop playing with the linen.  Does that even make sense?  What good are the splendid colors if they aren't used?

 

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Pinballs by Ann

Ann Madges does historical reproduction wallets, pinballs, pincushions, and needlerolls.  My first post of her wallets can be viewed here and her Ann Wade set can be viewed here.

Her work is amazing, she finishes the wallets herself using hand dyed tapes and beautiful clasps.  I thought you might be interested in seeing more of her work, this time, pinballs. 

 

From Ann ......
In the 1700s and 1800s, pinballs were used as personal pincushions by women and girls to store pins and needles for their sewing projects.  They were often personalized with initials, dates, and other information and decorated, reflecting the high value placed on pins themselves.  A stitcher sometimes attached her pinball to her belt or châtelaine, a decorative belt hook or clasp, by a ring and chain, or by a braided cord.

The first is the Colonial Pinball Counted Cross Stitch, designed by Ceil Humphreys for The Posy Collection here. This cross stitch design was inspired by a late 18th-century pinball in the Colonial Williamsburg collection. 

I worked the two circles (4" diameter) on linen using DMC floss and stuffed with fiberfill. 








The finished pinball is designed to fit the two inch pinball ring and chain reproduction available from Colonial Williamsburg here.  If you sign up for the newsletter, you will receive updates including times when they have significant discounts on their wares, like the pinball ring.

 

Tokens of Love, Quaker Pinballs by Erica Uten  - Amazon here
 
This book contains full color illustrations and patterns for 12 knitted or cross stitched Quaker pinballs.  Also included are step by step instructions for making up two varieties - round and spherical as well as images of antique pinballs.  I adapted one design using 32 count linen, DMC floss, and bound with linen tape.

 

Quaker Pinball by Joanne Harvey of the Examplarery
 This reproduction pinball is based on one from the collections of Colonial Williamburg.  It is worked entirely in cross stitch over one thread on 28 count linen using DMC floss.

 

 

1798 Quaker Pinball from Pieces of Olde here.

The original pinball was a fine gauge knitted piece that was adapted to cross stitch.  I stitched on 40 count linen using DMC floss and used a small pinball ring (have not been able to find these anywhere).

*********  Next post, needlerolls. **********

This Bud's for you

Our deck guard, with a variety of watchposts.

 

Thanks for the suggestions but our services here offer no options.  They don't take electronics and even if they did, 40# is the pickup limit.  We don't even have curbside recycling like surrounding communities, and need to take our items to a center, which we do. But not one of my seven "environmentalist" neighbors will get off their lazy asses to do so.  Once a year we have a recycling event (out of town) and they weigh the items.  Very few people show.  Her old 21" TV cost $97.50, this one is 36" old style and is well over 100# (lots of lead!) so it will cost several hundred dollars to dispose off.  Ridiculous.  Best Buy will pick it up for $100 charge.  If you purchase a 50" or larger TV and have it delivered, they will remove the old one for $15.  A good deal but the 50" is more than she can afford, but so is the disposal fee.  Delivery for a smaller size would be $70 + the $15 removal.  I guess the best deal.  It's always something.  Maybe because I have Roseanne Rosannadanna's hair.

 

Wasn't that a great tip - put the Thread Heaven ball in a twist up lipstick tube?  I believe the craft store has empty tubes for making your own lip balm.  But I can also clean out an old chap stick.  Perfect!  Will still cut a slit in it for the thread to slide through, easy on off cap, handy, don't have to handle the material.  Now all I have to do is want to stitch. Tsk tsk tsk.

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