Oh so many years ago, I had an occasional blog Ruth's Needlework. I checked it out and realized I still wanted to document my work, but since my last post I've changed my tech around and decided that I'd just start over with my new address.
So I'll try to fill in some of the gap of the past several years first. These are just a few of the items I've done. This isn't even half of what I've done but ooh I found the pics!
I ended my first blog while I was stitching this beauty. Virtue Outshines the Stars by Darlene O'Steen/the Needle's Prayse.
Man, do I love her. Those Queen Stitches around the border were a great learning opportunity. And that palette is wonderful! Stitched on 32 count cream Belfast linen using 2 strands of the suggested DMC.
I entered her in the 2020 Shoreline Stitchers Showcase and won Best of Class for Counted Samplers.
Meet Hannah Campbell 1838 by Hands Across the Sea Samplers.
This lovely lady was a delight in red. She was kitted up for my by Needle in a Haystack in Alameda on 36 count Vintage Sand Dune from Lakeside Linen, and stitched by using the (surprisingly recommended) 2 strands of the suggested DMC.
I entered her in the 2024 Shoreline Stitchers Showcase and won Best of Class for Counted Samplers.
And here is Hannah Sanderson 1849 by Dutch Tread Designs.
She was stitched on 36 count Vintage Country Mocha Edinburgh linen using the recommended DMC threads. I started her at the Southern California Stitchers (a Facebook group) Retreat at Vina de Lestanac Retreat Center in Temecula California.
When Claudia Dutcher charted her, she set up a light fabric and a dark fabric palette. I went to the dark side.
This cutie in only 4" and fit right into an OTR frame. She is Piccolo Pumpkin be Sandie Cormaci-Boles. She taught it at the West Coast Stitching Retreat in Sacramento during May 2024.
This lovely box is Whirly Gig Treasure Box by Mary Alice Sinton. I believe this is japanese beading. This used the sharpest darned needle I've ever handled; I stabbed myself frequently just threading it up! She's small enough that, once I'd returned to her after my inevitable post-class hiatus, she only took a few days to finish up. She's small and in a glass dome from Ikea. Yeah, yeah, the pieces should be functional like this, but I couldn't bear the thought of dust getting into her beads. That's a pair of Gingher Embroidery Scissors for scale.
Angel of Autumn by Lavender & Lace, framed by the wondrous Jill Rensel Studios. My notes on this was that I started her back in the 00s, carefully mounting the fabric on scroll rods so that it would be perfection. 🙄🙄🙄 After sitting in my closet for at least 10 years, I pulled it off the scroll rods and finished stitching it using a 6 inch hoop. I've become much more confident in my stitching and my finishing prep. Stitched on 32 count Twilight Blue linen with the recommended DMC threads (which, thankfully, were kept with the piece so I didn't have dye lot issues after such a long break).
And I made a few more stockings. I thought that after nearly four decades of others having a stitched stocking, it was my turn! Christmas Angel Stocking from Dimensions as a needlepoint kit, finished in house by A Stitch in Time in San Marino, California. I chose plaid satin for the lining.
Dash Away All by Stoney Creek using suggested fabric and threads. I did have to add some backstitch to define Santa as this was designed in the "we HATE backstitch" era. Finished at ASIT also with plaid satin lining.
Cozy Christmas by Kooler Design Studio, SPECIFICALLY by Sandy Orton who is one of my favorite designers. Stitched on 18 count Aida with the suggested THREE strands of DMC. This thing is heavy! It also took me the majority of my stitching time for six months. Finished like the two above. This design doesn't look complicated but it used a lot of colors and had a lot of backstitching in three separate colors. If I did this again (nope but passing this along), I'd backstitch all the green with two strands.
I have a lot of photos but often not of the item I want to show off. Grr. Anyway, the one in the middle was for my grandson, shown here flanked by his parent's stockings. The Best of Christmas by Kooler Design Studio on 28 count antique white Lugana using suggested DMC threads. This took about three months of stitching time. Finished just as above. For info on the right stocking, see my old blog.
I've gone to some seminars. The EGA in NYC and then in Boston were AWESOME! Retreats are great too. I love the WCSR in Sacramento and the more local retreats in Temecula and Big Bear. I attended the first ever Pacific Stitching Retreat held by Live and Dye LA in Anaheim in February which was a blast.
And my list of WIPs doesn't seem to ever get smaller. I love big projects which means I don't have that many finishes, but I'm oh-so-proud of my lovelies. Enjoy your stitching, and until we meet again, Love from your Ruth.
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