Finished Egyptian Sun God

I finished the Egyptian Sun God, original design by Carol Leather (X-Calibre Designs). I embellished it with different beads and added a touch of color as well.


It took a total of about 2 months to finish.



It's stitched on 40count linen and I used a variety of different threads.



It's very large especially considering that it's on 40count!



I have posted a slideshow on The Camera Lenz if you would like to see more images.

In the mean time, I've started a little Brazilian Embroidery kit that I recently purchased at my favorite online needlework store The NordicNeedle. They had several different kits on sale that looked perfect for trying out new techniques. I wanted to try the techniques to see if I like them. I've started with the Brazilian. I also have kits for schwalm, crewel and stumpwork! I'm pretty excited about trying out new things. I'll post and let you know how things are going!

Progress on Egyptian Sun God

This is the progress I've made on the Egyptian Sun God this past month. I'm having a great time doing this! I've tweaked the pattern quite a bit as far as technique and color go.



The pattern actually had no color except for the gold and black. I added the purple (what other color would it be!?)



The gold thread is not so easy to work with but I like the effects.


I'm couching the wall design. I love couching and am happy to have the perfect opportunity to use it.


Of course, none of the outlining is complete and the crown piece isn't done either. It's definitely going to have beads! It's a fairly large piece, the design being something like 10-12 inches tall. Don't forget either, I'm doing it on 40 count linen! Click on any of the photos to get a closer look.

One other thing....no comments from the peanut gallery on his "elephant foot". I'm absolutely sure I can repair it!

Egyptian Sun God Blackwork

This is the piece I am working on now. It's called Egyptian Sun God, designed by Carol Leather. I am doing it on 40count lambswool linen. Call me crazy but I absolutely love this kind of stitching! I put a penny in the picture so you can see how fine the stitching is. I'll post detailed photos later.



I've experimented with lots of techniques but, for some reason, this seems to best fit me. I work on it just about every day for a couple/few hours. The above shows my progress after 2 weeks. Yes, it's slow going. Yes, that's quite alright with me!

Blackwork Butterfly

I recently finished this piece, a blackwork butterfly designed by Karen Buell. I don't even remember when or where I got it but, since I had it, I figured I might as well do it.

It was a pretty fun piece as far as the stitching goes but I have a real problem with the fact that it is not symetrical! I tried, I really did. I was very aware that the design and picture of the finished piece that came with the pattern were not symetrical either but....I just really wanted it to be even on both sides!

I like the way it turned out and I am accepting the fact that nature isn't necessarily symetrical. But I think I may be sticking to other kinds of designs from now on!

Gift for Sonya

This little piece I did out of love. Love for the desert, for cacti and most definitely love for my sister Sonya. I made it to say "thank you" to her...for years of support, help, and "taking care" of me. I've lived outside the States for over 20years but she's always made me feel like I'm still part and always close. Thanks Sonya!

Hardanger Spring Piece

Here's my latest finish. It's my own design. There are close-ups as well. Enjoy!

Cliff Dwellers

I finished this last month. Obviously it was inspired by our trip out west. It's a simple piece, just cross stitch with beading, that reflects the inspiration I felt in southwestern Indian art.





Below are some close ups of some of the details.







Each motive was placed in accordance with the cliff dwellers in the middle. Earth beings below and sky beings above. The hand prints represent earth, air, fire and water. In different Indian lore, it can also represent the four directions and the four colors.

Soap Project - or Things Not To Try

In August with my parents were here, my mother and I started my soap project. I was so sure that some way, I could melt down all the little slivers of left-over soap and mold it into new bars of soap. Although all my research pointed toward a disastrous end, I was so sure I could figure out a way. My mom and I worked and worked at trying to melt those stupid slivers. It just wasn't working. No matter what we did, the soap wasn't really melting and it was, as we thought it would be, pretty much a flop. And when we tried to let it cool down and solidify, it wasn't doing that either so I shoved the pan full of the half melted soap somewhere and forgot about it until January. When I dug the pan back out, I found that the half melted soap actually had solitified and I could cut it into pieces. I used a grater to shave off the rough edges and there actually ended up being a couple of pieces that stayed together well enough to use!

But, no, this wasn't good enough. I still had lots of slivers left over. So I thought if I used the grater and melted down the shavings, it would work even better! Here endeth the lesson...do NOT attempt this. It doesn't work and it is not worth the effort....or the smell in the house.

If you have to use the slivers, put them in an old knee-high or in a net or something and just use them that way.

I've been busy sewing (I think I'll stick to it from now on and not try any more weird experiments for awhile!) and I'll post my newly finished pieces soon.

Vacation Pictures

We just got back from vacation. What an AWESOME trip! 6200 miles (yes, that's just about 10,000 kilometers) through California and Arizona, dipping also a bit into Nevada and Utah. I'll be posting slideshows on The Camera Lenz if you'd like to take a look at them. I also got to go to an awesome handwork store in Tucson called The Busy Needle. I was in heaven. So, my creative juices are a flowing and I'm already stitching away...even before the laundry is all done!

Feature Article

I was featured in this issue of the NordicNeedle Newsletter. If you would like to see the article (it even has pictures!) please check it out here. Thanks Roz and everyone at NordicNeedle for featuring me!