Here is a photo of my work so far.  I’ve been enjoying using different colors and stitches.  It makes me feel like a kid with a box of crayons.  I’m trying to let the design take shape as I go along.  I have a plan in mind, but I also want to be open to making changes.  Everyone’s photos are very inspiring and I love seeing all the diff…[Read more]

Thank you Marsha.  I tried very hard to balance everything and other than the outline “circle” I am very pleased with what I did.  I even liked the 5 colors of perle cotton by the end of my stitching.  It was good to have to work with so few colors, it made me think about where each color was placed.

I am thinking about another hoop em…[Read more]

Deborah – Your design is very balanced, and the limited color scheme brings a cohesiveness to it. The background work is just enough and not too much. The stitching is fabulous! Much to look at! Thank you for taking the course.

All done!  I have learned a lot doing this exercise.  I learned to stitch the outside circle first next time, I wound up with an oval on this one instead of a circle.  Oops.  I learned a bit more about satin stitching in a half round and also about making the design balanced in colors and in texture and in quantity.

Thank you Marsha for ano…[Read more]

Thank you Rona.  Yes, there are beads in my stitching and yes, the sun rays one is beaded.  Those are bugle beads, very easy to do and quite effective.  Try them, I think you will like the look.  More beads to come, I have almost finished lesson 2 and not much for lesson 3.

Yes, very different from John’s but still great! Looks like lots of beading, which is a little beyond me you. Are you also using beads for those sun rays? THAT I think I could try.

Wow, John! Yours is SO MUCH FUN! And I’m glad you don’t feel compelled to follow the rules — you inspire me to try some things I have been thinking about but was afraid to. A stitch question: how did you do that red-and-blue line right below the burgundy sun with gold rays? Are the blue stitches just running stitches inserted over the red or…[Read more]

So glad the posting are staying up until Dec 26. I am working on this slowly, will have lesson 2 ready to show soon, and look forward to working with you all for a while longer.

Penny – Your photo slipped by me, glad I found it! The complexity is wonderful. You’ve set up a nice rhythm in the design- the bands seem to be floating in space. Depth of color offers nice contrast.

Barbara – yes, there is – using straight stitches, work all stitches into one hole, and to space them at the wide end, mentally divide the space in half and work the stitch at the halfway point. Now you have two areas to fill. Mentally divide each one in half to work the stitch. Repeat until it’s as full as you want it. Hope this helps!

Barbara – It’s looking good! There’s plenty of time to catch up, the class is open until 26 December. Enjoy the stitching, and I’m glad you found a source for the pearl 8. An online source I use is http://www.123stitch.com .

Michelle – It looks great! Nice colors, and the idea IS to experiment. I don’t see anything to take out, really, I would just keep…[Read more]

John – Well, you’ve taken it out of the box! The color scheme is culturally rich and elegant. The stitching travels. Quite the journey! I hope everyone sees this, because this is a great example of freestyle. Take it and run with it!

Deborah- Like John’s, a richness of color! It’s really coming along!

Penny, I just found your photo and I really like what you have done.  I like the sharper curves and I especially like the ruffled look of one of your strips.  Plus pink and green is one of my most favorite color combinations.  The complexity of the bands is very interesting.  Can’t wait to see what you do with the circles.