New Design - 'Carolina'

Carolina

I try to have the next project ready to go as soon as the current model is completed, but due to time constraints on getting Beauvais done I wasn't able to do that this time and was going through withdrawal having no fabric on my frame and next design ready to stitch.  Thankfully, I'm now happily stitching the next pattern, a companion piece to Beauvais, and second in the Vintage Textiles collection - 'Carolina'.

The inspiration for Carolina are the coverlets that were made in Colonial America by the descendants of Huguenots who settled in the Carolinas, primarily in the area of Charleston.  Historic Huguenot Street has some wonderful photos of their work.  Some of my ancestors were Huguenots and I've always been interested in learning about their abilities as artisans, particularly as weavers.

This piece is the same size as Beauvais - though both of the patterns could easily be reduced if you wanted something smaller, just take an even amount of rows and columns away from each side.    My colors for it are in two shades of mauve, using Rainbow Gallery's Splenor silk floss again, the model will be stitched with their shades of rose #S14 & 813 on 18 count antique white aida.

I really am stressed if there isn't a needle in my hand and a pattern next to me to stitch, hopefully I'll plan ahead better next time.

Beauvais Completed & Taking Photos of your Work

Beauvais

 

The Beauvais model is completed and framed and off to Just Cross Stitch magazine for their February 2014 edition.  Stitching mainly evenings while watching something streaming or on dvd, it took eleven weeks to complete and was an enjoyable project.  I hope others will also find it a fun stitch.

The magazine will make the pattern available after publication and I'll be able to sell it from the website and blog, as well as through Creative Poppy and ICG beginning June, 2014. 

I have another design in the Vintage Textile collection ready and will introduce it next week.

And now, I'd like to share a few tips for taking photos of your work.  Frankly it has been the hardest part of designing!  I've tried many techniques and finally found one that works and that is using a light box and a grey card. 

Based on instructions from this site I purchased foam boards at walmart and some clip on lamps.  I found I didn't need the light from the top, just one on each side of the box worked great.  However, without the grey card the photos were way too dark, even with all that light.  Below are photos of the light box and a brief video that shows how to use the grey card. 

Homemade Light Box

 

 

 

 

How to use a Gray Card

Stitchin' N Streamin'

Summer has arrived on Gracewood and while I love the roses in bloom and the delicious fruits it brings, on the whole I just don't 'do' heat well.  I'm like a reverse bear I hibernate but not in the winter. 

And while our little part of the world is humming with tourists come to camp and hike and partake of this weekend's Down River Days celebration, I'm only putting a foot out of air conditioning to enjoy the sublime mountain breezes in the early mornings and evenings. 

So, while many do less stitching this time of year due to being out enjoying themselves in the sun, I get a lot of stitching done as I hibernate inside waiting for that first nip in the air that says fall has come.  This year this has been a good thing since I'm working hard on finishing stitching Beauvais' model to get it framed and sent off to Just Cross Stitch magazine by the end of August.

These days I'm finding that nothing facilitates intense stitching like streaming some epic films.  And while I am still obsessed with South Korean sageuks I have also been enjoying watching some BBC productions streaming on Acorn TV. 

This week I enjoyed the newest production of one of my favorite novels, Tolstoy's War & Peace.  Though I admit that this one is War & Peace Lite and while I hate how much it leaves out if there is no other way you'd ever know something of the story and you like lavishly produced period dramas then by all means watch and enjoy this one.

However, watching this one left me wanting the 'real thing' and so I dug through our dvds and found our copy of what has to be the best, as in most complete, filming of this masterpiece, the 1972 version the BBC made starring a very young Anthony Hopkins as Pierre.

I am so very glad that I read this novel when I was younger, no film can do it justice.  They can't portray all of the inner thoughts of the characters that fill this story to the brim, but at least this version made the attempt and it is what helps to make this one truer than any other.  Please don't be satisfied with the laughably brief movie Hollywood attempted with Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn, it isn't even the Cliff Notes of this epic novel.

So if you too are a summer hibernator and are seeking something to accompany some serious stitching, give this one a try - I'm happy to find that the complete production is available on You Tube.

Now, off to refill the iced tea glass and get back to stitchin'

Beauvais, an Enthusiasm, & a Bit of News

Beauvais is progressing and thankfully, it has enough variation to keep my interest and with each stitch I am 'seeing' the design I wanted to create that has the feel of a vintage textile.

Beauvais
 

I have some news that affects the sale of Beauvais.  Just Cross Stitch magazine has asked to feature Gracewood Stitches in its February 2014 issue and in accepting their request I needed to provide an unpublished pattern that could be presented with the feature.  So, I'm sorry you'll have to wait for this design but if you subscribe to the magazine or can pick up the February issue you'll have the pattern included.

I won't be able to sell it through my website or publishers until the end of May 2014, but it will be nice to have the exposure the magazine will bring.

I'll hopefully have some similar designs in the Vintage Textile Collection out and available this fall.

AN ENTHUSIASM

As the photos show, this is definitely the time to share this enthusiasm, Heirloom Roses!  What is an heirloom rose?  It is generally used to refer to roses that existed prior to 1867 prior to the introduction of the tea rose.  Also called 'Antique or Old Garden' roses their habit - more of a shrub or climber - their fragrance and shapes - centifolia, cabbage or cupped - are quite different from 'modern' tea roses.

Heirloom varieties fall into several categories; Albas, Centifolias, Damasks, Gallicas and Moss roses.

There are some famous rose breeders such as David Austin whose roses are bred by crossing old garden roses with more modern roses to achieve the superb fragrance, delicacy and charm of the old-style blooms combined with the repeat flowering characteristics and wide color range of modern roses.

These types of roses are easy to grow and many are much hardier than modern roses.   They have to survive below zero temperatures and heavy snow here on Gracewood.

This gorgeous climber is the first rose David Austin developed, Constance Spry.  It only blooms once but as you can see it gives you lots of beautiful roses.  The fragrance is a soft myrrh which wafts far and wide and the bees love it!  Wish I could find that honey.

Constance Spry



Constance Spry
 

The next rose is one of the oldest Antique roses, Great Maiden's Blush is a classic with nothing short of magnificent fragrance.  An alba with soft pink/white flowers that are semi-double, it is also a once bloomer, and has a vigorous arched shape that is truly elegant.



Great Maiden's Blush

Another of David Austin's wonderful roses, this is Teasing Georgia and a complete joy to grow and behold.  This one blooms continuously and has a lovely cupped centifolia form with a beautiful citrusy peach fragrance.





Teasing Georgia

Thanks for letting me share another enthusiasm, wish I could transport you here to enjoy a cup of tea among them :)

 



Beauvais and a Bear

I knew that Beauvais was an ambitious project, but I'm pleasantly surprised that it is stitching as easily as it is.  I hope to complete the top row of what is essentially a nine patch pattern by this weekend.

Vintage Textiles ~ Beauvais



 

I've decided this will be the first in a collection that will be entitled 'Vintage Textiles'.  I have so many more in mind that it is an impetus to finish Beauvais so I can introduce the next one.

It has been a blessedly wet and cool spring into summer here on Gracewood.  The fawns are being born and I hope to post some photos of all the roses in bloom soon.  Another sign of late spring showed up this week and I was able to grab the camera and get a brief video of a visitor to our deer feeder.  A block of deer feed was leftover from winter and he made himself welcome to it - I mean who is going to argue with him? lol

Celebrating Creative Stitchers!

I love it when a stitcher takes one of my designs and makes something 'more' out of it!  A great example is what Ursel from the Sticklounge group created using my Tulip's Praise pattern.


 

Not only did she make a lovely pillow, she also translated the pattern into her own adaptation and made this gorgeous table runner.  Thank you for sharing it, Ursel! 

Vintage Textiles~Beauvais begins and it has been a surprisingly easy stitch.  I have soooo many more ideas for similar vintage textile patterns, I'd better try and step up the pace!

 

 

I'm using Splendor silk floss on this one, my first time trying it and I'm really delighted with how it stitches, feels and looks. 

Iris Celadon Model Complete

Iris Celadon

 

Iris Celadon was a fun stitch.

I found it was one of those patterns that I could get into an easy rhythm with and could readily stitch as I watched something on tv.  I'm pleased with the effect that alternating threads of darker and lighter shades in the background achieved.  As I sit looking at it on the wall it really did give it dimension that makes it look like a piece of porcelain.  Though I'm sure that using just one shade would also work well.

The pdf charts for Iris Celadon are now for sale on the Gracewood Stitches website for $8.

Do you find that you associate a piece with the programs you watched while you stitched it?  I surely do and for Iris Celadon I'll always think of two wonderful series I stitched it to called The Victorian Kitchen Garden and the Victorian Flower Garden.  They are available on Dailymotion and some are on you tube - here is a taste!