Enid Collins Rooster Needlepoint

It has been a long time between posts. I have been working my "on call" job at Neiman Marcus but I have not been with out my projects.
I am still obsessing over needlepoint and this is my latest Enid Collins inspiration along with a tiny sampler I have been experimenting with.
...as I stitch I contemplate....lately there has been much contemplation about blogging and internet shopkeeping.
I am leaving tomorrow to go back to one of my favorite places for some R&R.Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Glen Arbor, MI


There will be lots more stitching and probably much more contemplation and maybe when I return, with a little help from Jupiter which turned retrograde yesterday, I will have found some new insight, inspiration and project ideas.

Enid Collins Inspired Needlepoint

My first needlepoint project is COMPLETED!

This was a great learning experience...and like all learning, came from mistakes.
This is what I learned....

10ct needlepoint canvas should be worked with 3 strands of tapestry wool (I used 2)
selvage should always be on the right or left not top and bottom
basket weave stitch will keep the canvas from distorting

With that being said...

Creativity is WELCOME!

I am off on a 2 two week hiatus visiting family and friends, reading good books and putting more stitches to canvas...
see you soon with more projects!

Cross Stitch Fruit Basket

Cesto di frutta punto croce

cross stitch fruit basket

Resolution #1, Project #1....Antique Embroidery Inspiration....tiny 2X4 inch fruit basket motif cross stitch..Mission Accomplished!

After many hours of frustration stitching tiny crosses through tiny holes, trips to Joann's for bigger needles and linen with bigger holes, Internet research on making the perfect cross stitch, I have finally found my embroidery groove...YIPPEE!
Through the power of perseverance, confusion turns to understanding and the rows begin to roll out one by one, designing as I go...25 red stitches become an apple, 58 yellow and you have a pear, the orange and grapes unfold before my eyes!
Looking back over my canvas I see mistakes I made, on the pear I decided to switch direction and in so doing the stitches picked up a different texture. This mistake taught me that you could create texture and that may give me the ability to mold my next image. I will always look back as this piece of cross stitch as my FIRST piece of cross stitch and in so doing will be able to see how far I have come. It all about the process.

Antique Embroidery Inspiration Project #1

I adore cucito.
I adore needlework

I love this little fragment of antique embroidery and have decide to make this my first counted cross stitch project...well...I guess I should say I will "attempt" this project. I have been practicing all week on a scrap to try and develop my rhythm.

Over the holidays I made my first attempt on a fine piece of Zweigart Swiss linen that I bought on Etsy with no idea how to even do counted cross stitch and nearly gave up. I made a trip to Joann Fabrics and found a sturdy piece of linen with holes that were much easier to see and also...the key...a magnifier..and now I am on a roll.

The needlework underneath is actually a tiny little antique footstool that I found on ebay the week that I was on vacation (am I the only person that peruses Ebay while on vacation?). My mind was full of needlework ideas once the bug hit. I will post more pictures of the stool tomorrow...it has a bit of a mystery behind it.