Dragon Purse Finished! by LEE Needlepoint

Dragon

hand-painted canvas by LEE

stitched by Summer Truswell 2014-2015

Stitched in Impressions (a silk / wool blend), Trebizond (silk) and Kreinik metallic (synthetic) thread in basketweave.  The facial hairs? are wrapped backstitch.

I love this purse!  It's a good size - about 14" deep. It is made out of red leather.  Also from LEE.

Some comments from facebook:

Dana D. -  Love this!!!

Anne Marie C. - Gorgeous! Love it with the red purse!

Louise S. - He is gorgeous!!

Dianne M. - Oh wow

Cecilia R. - Dragons are a favorite theme of mine and it looks great on the purse.

Cindy H. - Fantastic!

Sally C. - Fab! and how!

Carolyn S. - I have the same purse and love it. Just don't fill it too full. Unfortunately I did and the lining split.

Sherry E. - Awesome!!

Cynthia B. - Great work

Mary Ellen P. - Fantabulous!!!

Kimono Needlepoint Quilt Finished...

Kimono Needlepoint Quilt 

38" wide x 32" tall

Silk, wool, cotton, synthetic

This quilt won the Creative Fiber Award at 2015 La Conner Quilt & Fiber Art Festival.

It took me about four years to hand-stitch the center panel of this canvaswork needlepoint design using a variety of silk, wool, and synthetic fibers.  I love to stitch and enjoyed picking the different threads and stitches to add texture and depth to the design.  It is hand-appliqued with vintage kimono fabrics.  Quilting is free motion or hand.

 Center needlepoint canvas from The Collection UK.  I drafted the kimono based on traditional kimonos. Back: Bordered Diamonds Kaffe Fassett.

I like to quilt black with a dark grey thread.

Neon Rays for the flowers- my favorite thread!

I posted this in my facebook needlepoint group - posting the comments below so I don't lose them:

Elizabeth Hurd Spectacular!!! This should win every needlepoint prize ever given:)

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Cheryl Roler Timko Exquisite!

December 30, 2014 at 1:32pm • Like • 2

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Caroline Donovan WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Stunning! And I agree with Elizabeth Hurd!Summer Truswell - will this be exhibited locally at some point?

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Robin King Brilliant!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kelly Doyle Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kathy Williams Coxwell Gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 1:41pm • Like • 1

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Shari Bruckstein Agree with Elizabeth Hurd. This is spectacular!

December 30, 2014 at 1:47pm • Like • 1

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Jane Waldman Just gorgeous. Do you remember where you got it. I assume in the USA.

December 30, 2014 at 1:49pm • Like • 1

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Cindy Caprice Goldblatt You win. Amazing

December 30, 2014 at 1:50pm • Like • 1

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Izzi Carmen Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Kathryn Farrago what a fabulous piece! I agree with all that this would blow away any competition anywhere!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Robin Klein Herfield I want it! I want it! I want it!!! PLEASE!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like

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Alyson Taylor Unimaginably intricate and lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like • 1

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Linda Pawlusiow Mosch What an amazing accomplishment. Just gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 2:02pm • Like • 1

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Marcia Moir love your mix of disciplines...truly magnificent...!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:03pm • Like • 2

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Debra J. Wallerstein Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:04pm • Like • 1

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Patty Steger Absolutly beautiful!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:12pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer What are the dimensions ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer Absolutely beautiful. What an achievement

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Rosalie Pope Simply remarkable And another example of raising our craft to art. Beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:16pm • Like • 1

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Joanne Colandrea So beautiful, Summer 

December 30, 2014 at 2:17pm • Like • 1

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Lietzie Hawkinson Belford Beautiful, beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 2:18pm • Like • 1

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Melissa Armstrong She's beautiful! I have a canvas similar - Hope to finish one day!

December 30, 2014 at 2:25pm • Like • 1

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Kate Dickerson Amazing!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Mary Walker Exquisite work!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reed This is beautiful, Summer!

December 30, 2014 at 2:27pm • Like • 1

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Sherry Ellwood Feagans OK, this is beyond any adjective I could ever think of to describe this work of yours. What a tour de force!!!!!! You have accomplished a masterpiece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Sheila Coldiron I love this piece of work. It is so beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Laurel Wheeler So stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 2:29pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Breathtaking!!! You have indeed taken this far beyond needlepoint boundaries into a multimedia artwork heirloom. I am in awe!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Pat Miller Congratulations on a beautiful piece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Can you post some more up close photos ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:31pm • Like • 1

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Marlyn Dolgonos Blumenthal lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:42pm • Like • 1

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Anne Haney Remarkable talent

December 30, 2014 at 2:57pm • Like • 1

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Patricia Snyder That is beyond gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:08pm • Like

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Mary D Smith Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:12pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reedman Fabulous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:26pm • Like • 1

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Star Ringhillard Omg this is sooo beautiful wow.I did one in blues. Love them so much. Now gave one with blacks n reds. I LOVE THEM.

December 30, 2014 at 3:28pm • Like • 1

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Margaret Payne Gorgeous. I am with Elizabeth Hurd.

December 30, 2014 at 3:29pm • Like • 1

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Paula Delaney Very impressive work!

December 30, 2014 at 3:31pm • Like • 1

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Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes This is a stunning piece and so inspiring!

December 30, 2014 at 3:35pm • Like • 1

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Marianne Milazzo Teubner Wow!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:46pm • Like • 1

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Jayme Makowski Hey Summer. Absolutely stunning.

December 30, 2014 at 3:55pm • Unlike • 2

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Lynn Hayward Awesome!

December 30, 2014 at 4:03pm • Like • 1

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Jud Hemker Wow!! I love it.

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Kim Porrazzo Gorgeous

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Theresa Goon Waldo Beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 4:32pm • Like • 1

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Dawn Perry Bagnetto Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 4:48pm • Like

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Natalia Frank Gorgeous work!

December 30, 2014 at 4:53pm • Like

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Ann Whitaker-Sauls Gorgeous and impressive. Congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:57pm • Like

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Becky O'Keefe Amazing and creative work...congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:58pm • Like

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Donna Thode Fralick Gunter This is beyond beautiful. You should be so proud.

December 30, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Nancy Lloyd Lusk I love all things Asian. But you've truly created a masterpiece. I only wish I could see it in person.

December 30, 2014 at 6:01pm • Like • 1

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Laura Templer Zuk This is out-of-this world beautiful and unique! An imaginatively artistic creation - breathtaking in scope and execution! You are to be congratulated on your achievement!!!

December 30, 2014 at 6:02pm • Like • 3

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MaryAnn Misenhimer Yes, what everyone has already said!!

December 30, 2014 at 7:23pm • Like • 1

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Christine Hands Absolutely stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 7:40pm • Like

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Jane Makowka This belongs in a museum. You are an artistic genius.

December 30, 2014 at 8:43pm • Like • 1

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Christine Yost Mirabelli Summer- you should be very happy with yourself! You did an absolutely beautiful artistic piece of fiber work. On the gold section of the needlepoint to the right of the geisha- it looks like you first did needlepoint and then did quilting stitches over it - am I right? If so , did you use a sewing machine or hand stitch? I love how you've corporates quilting techniques onto the needlepoint section

December 30, 2014 at 9:57pm • Like • 1

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Summer Truswell Yes, the entire needlepoint is quilted as well. Pretty much the only unquilted area is her face but the head is outlined. All the quilting is on my sewing machine Christine. 

December 30, 2014 at 11:06pm • Like • 3

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Jen Funk Weber I love the marriage of techniques here. What a fun project!

December 31, 2014 at 12:20am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Melissa Miles This is a masterpiece.

December 31, 2014 at 2:34am • Like • 1

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Carlene Harwick Wow, is that beautiful. I could make a place on my wall for it???

December 31, 2014 at 2:58am • Like • 1

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Marcy Marley wow ... lovely work

December 31, 2014 at 3:50am • Like

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Carolyn Hedge Baird Magnificent!

December 31, 2014 at 4:13am • Like • 1

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Barbara Levy This is unbelievably beautiful. You must be so proud. What a masterpiece!

December 31, 2014 at 4:15am • Like

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Valerie Vivas Stunning! Congratulations!

December 31, 2014 at 4:19am • Like

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Carrie Ray Wow, so beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 4:36am • Like

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Dea Chesnutt Great idea for kimono sleeves. Stunning

December 31, 2014 at 4:45am • Like • 1

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Judy K. Russell Beautiful and very clever!

December 31, 2014 at 4:55am • Like

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Mary Powell Beautiful. .

December 31, 2014 at 6:02am • Like

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Mary Ann Saurino This is just extraordinary! You are very talented.

December 31, 2014 at 6:21am • Like

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Barbara Norris GORGEOUS!!!

December 31, 2014 at 6:23am • Like

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Derek Price Just beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 7:16am • Like

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Jane Wood As always, you did great. I love the mix of needlepoint and quilting!

December 31, 2014 at 8:29am • Like • 2

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Summer Truswell - if you do exhibit this in one or more places, will you please do a posting at that time to let us locals know? I truly look forward to seeing this in person!

December 31, 2014 at 1:02pm • Unlike • 1

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Mary K. LeBrun Campbell This is spectacular and very creative!

December 31, 2014 at 5:05pm • Like • 1

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Thais Carr Gorgeous!

December 31, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Myra Bradley Ernst Beautiful work of art!

December 31, 2014 at 9:08pm • Like

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Cathy Kirk It's wonderful!

December 31, 2014 at 9:28pm • Like

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Kate Cook Absolutely beautiful and extremely creative

January 1 at 7:59am • Like

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Vick Briggs It is lovely and I can sure imagine why it took 4 years....which isn't long on a few projects I have done/am doing!! The stitches, the threads, the colors....just lovely.

January 1 at 8:44am • Like

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Janet Gebow Fabulous!

January 1 at 4:30pm • Like

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Lynne Sloan That is just beautiful.

January 1 at 7:07pm

Amanda Lawford Needlepoint Pillow Finished...

Floral hand-painted canvas from Amanda Lawford.  Stitched and finished by Summer Truswell. November 2013-March 2014. 

I Love this graphic woven fabric.  

Silk, rayon, wool, & cotton fibers on cotton canvas.  Glass beads. 

Golf Christmas Ornament...

Just what every golfer wants, right?  A golf ornament for the tree!  This is a gift for my father-in-law.  He seems to like the things I stitch... This measures a little shy of 3" across.  I've had the canvas for a few years now.  I used silk & ivory and Impressions and did the whole thing in basketweave stitch.  The flag is a red silk.  It is finished with a flat back.  

Mary Engelbreit ornament finished...

This is an older needlepoint canvas - I started it some time ago but had a hard time with the lettering and outlining.  I think the canvas was quickly painted and it was very "interpretive" on my end to get it to be legible.  That said, I'm really pleased with how it turned out and I love the peppermint cording too!  For the back I used a red sculpted velvet with a hard back.  It is about 4" across.  Design by Mary Engelbreit.

Two Melissa Shirley Ornaments Completed...

"You bring the tree, I'll bring the wreath!"

I just love these ornaments.  They are hand-painted canvases from Melissa Shirley.  I used odds and ends from my thread stash for the different colors.  The tree Santa is stitched in red Very Velvet and the wreath Santa is stitched in Trio.  Love them!  They are about 3" across and I finished them with hard backs and blue velvet.  

Santa Baby and the holidays...

Thought I'd share some of my holiday decorations up.  I love Christmas and decorating for it!  We wait until early December to decorate.

I just finished up this Quilt; it is called "Santa Baby" and is by Buggy Barn.  It is from the Positively Crazy book.

It measures 84" square.  I backed it with Minky in a chevron pattern.  I quilted in the ditch using a walking foot on my sewing machine.  No batting - I love the weight on this and it looks great in the living room!

This is our upstairs living room - the tree has about half of my stitched ornaments on it, red glass balls, and our Lenox collection (we buy one a year).  My two Amanda Lawford Santas are to the side.  Hanging is the Cricket Collection bellpull, and on the table are my Melissa Shirley Nutcracker Pops.  The couch has the sweater pillow.

Downstairs on the fireplace I have our family stockings hung.  On the mantel are some of the odds and ends I've stitched over the years.  

Happy Christmas!

Flower Needlepoint Pillow Stitched and Finished.

This is another pillow for me.  I purchased this canvas at a guild meeting years and years ago.  I have been slowly working my way through all my unfinished projects and am down to only a few. The tag says "From the Collection of the Women's Educational & Industrial Union.  Boston, Massachusetts, Est. 1877".  I believe they used to sell needlepoint yarn and canvases but am not sure if the design is from a reproduction in their collection (which is what I was told when I bought it) or if they used to sell other designer's canvases.  Either way, it's a lovely piece.  If you happen to know who the designer is please let me know!


I knew I wanted this for a pillow so I used basketweave throughout.  I stitched all the background in cream wool (Appleton, with one ply of the four pulled out so it wasn't too tight) and then all the flowers and ribbons are stitched in silk fibers from my stash.

I used a bronze ribbon, striped ribbon, and two trims around the edge.  I love these colors!  It's a pretty good size - maybe 22" across?  The backing is a heavy woven dot that I used on another pillow (the standing lion pillow).

Finished a needlepoint pillow - Amanda Lawford floral.

This was stitched in 2013.  It is a hand-painted canvas from Amanda Lawford.  I stitched it in silk threads, mostly Vineyard Silks with basketweave.  The purple flowers I worked in Au Ver a Soie with silk shading.  The gold is a Kreinik Vintage Braid.  

I picked up the backing fabric at Tina's in Madison Park.  It's a fun shop to visit with lots of really beautiful fabrics and trims.  I added three ribbons around the piece and more roses at each corner.  It has pinch-pleat corners as well. This photo is a little light to show detail - they are a solid black in life.  It's a stunner.  

More true to life on colors.

Now I'm working on a double wedding ring quilt.  It's never going to be done.  

Two needlepoint pillows finished...

I actually *finished* some needlepoint projects!

This handpainted canvas was stitched in 2013.  I used metallic-blend (or Kreinik) threads for all the ornaments and silk/wool blend (I think it was Impressions) for the ornament ribbons and background.  I really love how it turned out.  I don't know the canvas artist - let me know if you know who painted it!  It might be Needlepoint of Back Bay?

This canvas was painted by Michael Wilhoite of Needlepoint of Back Bay.  I stitched it all in silk fibers and basketweave.  

As it is a gift for Travis, I tried to make the finishing masculine but also youthful.  (He's 7.)

Pinch pleat edge on the corners with twisted cording edge. 

Amanda Lawford Nutcracker Santa Finished!

"Nutcracker Santa"

Hand-painted Canvas by Amanda Lawford

Stitched by Summer Truswell

I finished him as a stand-up.  He is about 16" tall.

Stitch guides are at http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2012/11/amanda-lawford-nutcracker-santa-1.html

and http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2013/01/amanda-lawford-nutcracker-santa-2.html.

I also stitched Amanda's Royal Santa, which you can see at http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2012/11/amanda-lawford-royal-santa-finished.html.

Amanda Lawford Nutcracker Santa #2

Sometimes you see a canvas that you just love.  You see it and the artwork just resonates with you; you know you have to stitch it.  That's how much I love this design!  Amanda did such a beautiful job with the design and I'm so grateful to Jane for sending this beauty my way.

Now, I'm not going to show the overall picture until I get him finished (on the docket for tomorrow) plus it is too dark inside my house to get a good picture.  However, I have time now to write up the threads I used so you get sneak peaks and the overall picture will come tomorrow or Sunday.  Patience!

Now, as I started to type this I got really tired of writing "The Nutcracker".  A quick search tells me he doesn't have an official name, so I'm going to call him George.

You will remember from my last post that I stitched the Mouse King's cloak in Appleton Wool with basketweave.  I used Brown Paper Packages Trio T55 Kiwi and Rainbow Gallery Flair in 538 and 531 Green to stitch the vest using diagonal stitches to look like it was woven.  Little black seed beads are the buttons.  His boots are Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays ND1 Black in horizontal satin stitch.  

The hem on the cloak is stitched in Rainbow Gallery Wisper in cream blended with one strand cream Medicis wool to stitch long and short stitch.  I then switched out the cream Wisper for Grey Wisper W60 and used that for the midtones.  Lastly I used black Wisper to stitch small stitches over the top of the creams.

The crown was worked in stem stitch with two shades of gold Kreinik thread to match the paint.  Seed beads were attached at the end.  The present in the background was worked in the same pinks as Clara's dress.  The candy canes were first padded with #8 Pearl cotton in long stitches.  Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays White N02 was stitched in satin stitches across the padding pearl cotton.  Lastly I used Neon Rays 020 Red to stitch the candy stripes over the white.  

The mice are stitched in Alpaca 18 AL54, Pepper Pot Silk Macaroon 68, Soie d Alger Au ver a Soie F14, 3345, and Kreinik Silk Mori 7128 with silk shading techniques.  Black Trebizond Silk was used for their eyes.   

The clock face was stitched in Rainbow Gallery Splendor in three shades of yellow: S933, S908, and S879. I used tent stitch with four strands.  I used Black Trebizond to tent stitch the numberals and then wrap the stitches to make them more upright.  I used gold Kreinik to work buttonhole stitch around two metal rings which I then appliqued on the canvas.  Other rings were worked in wrapped backstitch.  

The present bow was worked in laisy daisy stitches with Kreinik 1/26" Ribbon 014HL, after the background was completed.

The holly leaves on Santa's hat are the same greens used in Clara's sash: Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame Braid in two shades of green: SL63 and SL36.  I used diagonal gobelin stitches to fill the leaf areas.  

Santa's eyes are worked in tent stitch with Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame Braid SL57 Green with white Au Ver a Soie for the white.  Felicity's Garden in 008 Cast Iron Black was used for his eyelashes.  

George's sword is stitched in Rainbow Gallery Fyre Werks F3, a subtle gold and silver blend, using horizontal satin stitches. 

Clara's dress is stitched with Rainbow Gallery Petite Very Velvet V650 Pink for the darker stripes of the dress in tent stitch.  I used Neon Rays N14 (darker) and N11 (lighter) for the long vertical stripes of the dress and the tent stitch on the sleeve.  The lace on the sleeve was created with two strands of Au ver a Soie worked as a row of laisy daisy stitches over which long stitches of Rainbow Gallery Water N' Ice 1335 were stitched to add shimmer.  

Clara's sash is stitched in Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame Braid in two shades of green: SL63 and SL36.  I used basketweave then used the darker shade (SL63) and stitches laisy daisy stitches over top of the tent.  

Clara's hair was worked in basketweave with the Rainbow Gallery Petite Very Velvet 607 brown.  I then used one strand of Edmar Boucle thread to work long stitches as though it was hair.  

The hems, collars, and cuff of Santa's robe and hat were stitched using Rainbow Gallery Fluffy Fleece FE14 Cream.  I couched the fiber onto the surface of the canvas using one strand Caron Impressions in cream.  I would highly recommend you complete all but the last little details (hanging beads, etc) before working the couching as you don't want to have to manipulate it back when stitching other details.  

The Sugar Plum Fairy was stitched primarily in basketweave and tent stitch.  Her bodice is worked in Rainbow Gallery Sparkle Rays SR42.  I used Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays+ NP92 Silver for the under layer on the tutu.  I worked straight gobelin stitches following the edge of the design.  I then used Access Commodities Silver Smooth Passing Thread for the edge of the tutu.  Keeping the silver thread on the surface of the canvas, I couched it with the Neon Rays+ (pure laziness; any silver thread would work) in a serpentine pattern along the edge of the tutu.  This is actually my favorite thing on the entire canvas.  

The blue jar is stitched in horizontal rows of gobelin stitch over two threads.  I used Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays+ NP63 in the lightest blue for the center and blended towards the darker threads on the edge.  The midtone thread is Caron Collection Snow 03 Sky Blue and the dark tone is Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid TR280 Dark Blue.  

The red jar is worked in Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame Braid SL09 and Fyre Werks FT30 using vertical satin stitches.  I then worked diagonal straight stitches in gold Fyre Werks following the painted canvas design.  The yellow point of the jar was worked in vertical cross-stitches of Rainbow Gallery Flair 573 yellow.  

The yellow jar is stitched in the clock's Rainbow Gallery Splendor in three shades of yellow: S933, S908, and S879.  I worked upright satin stitches in a pattern of over three, over three, over one, over, one.  The darker yellow was used for the upright cross-stitches on the jar lid.  

The Silk Ribbon pansies were worked with YLI Silk Ribbon in two colors of purple and one of green.

I purchased a flat gold ribbon at Pacific Fabrics which I couched on the front edges of the robe.  Slanting rows of petite gold Japanese seed beads are stitched on top.  I purchased a tiny silver cord which I couched from the snowflakes to the top of the glove.


 

The treats in the bag are stitched mostly in tent stitch.  For the cupcake cup I used Rainbow Gallery Petite Very Velvet in 604 light brown and 607 Medium Brown.  Splendor S903 was used to tent stitch the cookie.  

The bag was worked in a woven composite stitch using one strand Brown Paper Packages Trio in four shades of green.  The top is worked in tent stitch.  I couched on Access Commodities Gilt Medium Grecian Twist with gold silk thread.  The tassels were created with Rainbow Gallery Fyre Werks in two different colors of gold thread.  This thread is already kinked on the card so I utilized those kinks as the top edge of the tassel.  I cut them about 2" long (with the bend/kink in the middle) and threaded 8-10 of the threads onto a length of thread which I attached to the canvas.  I tacked them into place with more Fyre Werks thread.  Lastly I used 6-7 red seed beads and stitched long stitches across the top of the tassel.   

The cake slice is shaded with more of the Rainbow Gallery Petite Very Velvet 604.  

The strawberry leaf is more Silk Lame SL63 in straight gobelin stitches.

The orange lollipop used stitched in Rainbow Gallery Flair 573 Yellow and J.L. Walsh Silk/Wool Blend in an unlabeled rust color.  I used stem stitch to follow the curve of the design.  

The brown chocolate was stitched in tent stitch with the brown Very Velvet threads.  I then worked long straight diagonal stitches over the top of the candy using Rainbow Gallery Fyre Werks Soft Sheen in FT2 brown.  

George's Hat was worked in Rainbow Gallery Very Velvet V201 Black.  I worked horizontal satin stitches over two canvas threads across the hat, compensating on the gold.  The goldwork was done with Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon in 002HL (high luster) with a combination of satin and gobelin stitches to best cover the area and give a mirror image in the design.  

The belt was stitched in vertical satin stitches across the entire belt using one strand of the Neon Rays+ in SP01.  I used a laying tool to make sure they were flat.  The buckle is a little tiny rectangle of gold kid leather that I appliqued with gold silk thread.  The same Neon Rays+ was used for his boots and all the black details on his coat.  The grey strap on the boots is stitched in pearl cotton and more of the tiny silver cording was couched onto the top of the boot.  

George's sword is stitched in the same Rainbow Gallery Fyre Werks F3.  I had a green crystal that I used on the hilt which I attached with a green seed bead.  George's pants were stitched in basketweave with blue Paternayan wool.  

George's eyes were stitched in Kreinik Medium #16 Braid in Blue with white silk Au Ver a Soie.  

I used Felicity's Garden in 008 Cast Iron Black for his mustache (worked in long and short stitch) and the eyebrows (worked in vertical cross-stitch).  For his beard and hair I used Rainbow Gallery Wisper in cream blended with one strand cream Medicis wool to stitch long and short stitch.  I then switched out the cream Wisper for Grey Wisper W60 and used that for the midtones.  Continuing with the grey Wisper I now switched out the Medicis wool for two strands of silk thread.  I happened to have a black and grey overdye from The Silk Gatherer which matched well.  I used that for the dark tones.  As a last step I had a long wispy white thread (unlabeled) that I used to stitch long stitches over the top of the previously worked beard which I then trimmed to the length I wanted.  

Georges mouth was done with tent stitch and a red Victoria Clayton silk.  His teeth are vertical satin stitches in Needle Necessities Spring II 300 White.  I then used a single strand of black 310 DMC floss to separate the teeth.  

I used little bits of silk thread or Kreinik metallics here and there through the design to match the paint, especially with the gold.  You can never have too many sparkles!  Extra Kreinik colors used: Fine #8 210, 001C,  Tapestry #12 002V, 002, 005HL, 1/16" Ribbon 002, 002HL.

The background was stitched in one strand Caron Impressions in cream using the Ming Stitch.

Whew!  I'm sure I missed something... will post and update when he is finished into a stand-up.

Melissa Shirley Sugar Plum Fairy and Grandfather finished...

I love them!  I am going to call them my Nutcracker Lollipops.

I originally stitched these over the summer of 2009.  I did the ornament finishing sometime in 2010, but I never got around to having Brad make the stands until this weekend.  I painted them blue and pink layered with gold and accented with ribbons.  There is a closer view on my Melissa Shirley stitching page.  

Blue Dogwood Designs Postcards from Seattle

This is a fun little series of hand-painted canvases from Kay Fite of Blue Dogwood Designs.  Kay lives here in Washington and paints her own canvases.  I stitched them in basketweave using wool threads, overdyed cottons, Kreinik metallics and whatever other little bits of threads I had that I liked. I stitched and finished them in 2012. Finished with silk backs and custom cording.  

Beau Geste Ornaments finished.

A whole group here!

These ornaments were designed by Deborah Wilson for Beau Geste.  It was an ornament-of-the-month club from The Needlepointer shop.  There *were* twelve ornaments.  When I did my finishing frenzy I realized that I am missing two.  Hopefully I finished them last year (possible?) and they are packed away with my Christmas stuff.  Alternatively they are hiding somewhere and will hopefully turn up.

These are all finished with white silk dupioni on the back, with a flat hard back.  I padded the front of the ornaments.  I made cording to match each design using a metallic and a cotton fiber, or silk and metallic, etc. I love these!

http://summerlouise.com/albums/stitching/designers/deborahwilson.html has another set of ornaments I stitched from Beau Geste called "Shiny Brites".