Inspired Stitches - Ramblings of a Blackworker

Just found this blog entry this evening, showing an idea for finishing your Needlework Building Blocks needlework stitch. Beautiful work and great idea!

Good afternoon everyone! I’m back again.

Stop in at our What’s New page to find the newest designs of Stitchin’spiration! A Blackwork Christmas returns, as well as more bookmarks and another Knotwork Medallion.

With these new additions, I’ve also gone back to the quilting room, and have added some quilted Needlework Building Blocks.

Wouldn’t these be beautiful additions to any quilt!!!!

Holiday weekends are just the best - aren’t they? I don’t know what it is, but that extra day away from work just really does make it perfect. Jim and I spent the day in complete laziness, taking a picnic to our favorite Virginia plantation - Brandon. Here’s what we saw for much of the afternoon -

- as we napped the afternoon away.

Brandon (the plantation) was the inspiration for my beginning the Garden Traditions series. The series isn’t meant to recreate gardens, but simply to catch the inspiration from these gardens. Take a look at the borders of my blackwork Brandon, and you’ll find an urn, a pineapple, and bushes surrounding the formal gardens.

Take a look around Brandon (the plantation), and you’ll find an urn…

… a pineapple (sorry, didn’t get that photo), and bushes…

surrounding wonderful garden rooms…

AAAAHHHHH!!!! Just writing this I can feel my blood pressure dropping, and I almost can feel the breeze from the amazing James River.

These pictures just don’t do the garden justice, but I wanted to give you a peak as to what awaits anyone who visits there. If you’re in the Richmond area, don’t miss stopping by Brandon, and taking a look at it’s wonderful gardens.

PS - For you history buffs, Brandon’s farms are believed to be America’s longest continually running agricultural enterprise. This year Virginia celebrates 400 years since the US was first settled at Jamestown, and Brandon’s farming began just a few years after…

The business of needlework keeps you working constantly on multiple levels - as does any business. Designers not only work on designs, but also must work on marketing, finances, models, and distribution. Of course, we’ve all gotten in to this business because of our love for “the design”.

Well, the most exciting part for me is when that elusive design which has been living unfinished in my head, all of a sudden falls together. Last night, I had one of those moments!

My Garden Traditions series - with Brandon and Albemarle - has always been my own favorite series.

Both designs have also consistently been good sellers, so that means you stitchers enjoy them as well. Well, what you don’t know, is that Brandon and Albemarle have 6 siblings in the wings, ready to be finalized and released. Those, in my opinion, are as beautiful. The actual garden designs are ready to roll. But… the borders need to be designed.

For many-many months, I’ve had a “design block” on a couple of them. I have the inspiration gardens chosen, photographs taken, and many attempts. None of those attempts, however, have ever made me happy.

Last night, the “block” evidently was broken, and now the finalized design is staring at me. Keep checking back!!!! It’s another beauty!!

Color and blackwork. I just love the combination, and love even more playing around with it. I’ve just gotten back my 4 models from my A-Maze-ments series, and am so excited about them. You see, the 2 designs which have already been released, I released showing them in 1 color.

Then, as I developed the models, I decided to play around with the DMC Linen Threads, and color. I took each of the 4 designs, used different combinations of the linen threads, changed the border schemes on each, sent the model kits out to my model stitchers, and crossed my fingers. Well, they came back, and they’re really beautiful. Each definitely has it’s own look, and I really love the combination of the 4 together.

Here’s your little sneak peak at how they came out.

I’ll be revising the current 2 charts to reflect the color options, and will be releasing the remaining 2 A-Maze-ments designs - Traveler and Wanderer - in July, 2007. Keep your eye out for them.

Until then, play around with color on other blackwork projects. What a great opportunity for you to pull out all those leftover partial skeins, and let the creativity soar.

Good morning!!

Stop in at our What’s New page to find the newest designs of Stitchin’spiration!

With these new additions, I’ve also gone back to the quilting room, and have added some quilted Needlework Building Blocks.

Wouldn’t these be beautiful additions to any quilt!!!!