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. 

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.  

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.

Amanda Lawford Nutcracker Santa #1

I've started a new Amanda Lawford Santa; the theme of this guy is The Nutcracker.  

He's a handsome fellow and his buddy the big nutcracker is really cute too.  I've been enjoying stitching this piece and it is going faster than I anticipated.He is 15" (38 cm) tall and is painted on 18 mesh mono canvas.  I mounted him on the mini stretcher bars because I like the lighter weight of these bars and it needs to be portable; otherwise it will take me years to stitch.  Most of my stitching is done poolside while watching my children at swim team practice or swim meets.  

I recently finished up the Royal Santa and had loads of threads left over from that.  I keep my threads stored in a seven bin covered container so I broke up the Royal Santa threads into those bins.  I then decided I have so many threads (too many) that I would try and stitch this Nutcracker Santa completely from stash.  Of course, once I started pulling threads I realized that I needed a few odds and ends so off to the Needlepointer. I went to buy some soft yellows and greens for the bag.  

I started stitching the undercoat first.  It is worked in Appleton wool, the leftover purple from Royal Santa's cloak, with one strand.  I took a photograph of the area first, because I know that I was going to bead the snowflakes over the understitching.  

Then I stitched the undercloak, stitching right over the white paint for the snowflakes.  

 After the undercoat I worked the Mouse King's cloak in the same wool, using basketweave and shading the cloak. 

I then moved on to the red coat.  While working on the coat I stitched two of the snowflakes.  I'm embarrassed at how much time I spent on these. My original plan was to stitch all the red, covering the white, then make the snowflakes separately and attach them. I spent four hours making two snowflakes but they just didn't look right. So I took a picture of the area with iPad (which I love to stitch off of, btw) and stitched the red, compensating the stitches around the white.  I then played around with the beading until I got the look I wanted. It is a combination of 8-10 beads on a strand which is then couched down, and individual beaded stitches. I anchored the thread a lot on the back so it is really secure. I'm most pleased with the lazy daisy bead loops. Small joys.

The red coat is stitched in Pavilion Stitch variation, alternating direction.  There are empty threads throughout that I am going to stitch a bead in when I get some at-home stitching time.  The threads are Trio in two shades of red.  I used au ver a soie for the highlights on the sleeves, which are stitched in Diagonal Beaty.  

Next up was the present in the top left corner. It is stitched in Milanese stitch in Vineyard Shimmer S-504 Lollypop for the side and basketweave Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid 284 for the top.  The ribbon on the side is long satin stitches of Kreinik 014 HL 1/16" ribbon couched with 094 #4 braid.  After the background is stitched I will do laisy daisy stitches at the top of the present.  

I then stitched the faces of the Santa, the Nutcracker, and Clara, as well as the toy Nutcracker.  I used four strands of Au Ver a Soie silk.  I blended colors together to get the shading I wanted.  The eyes were then done with a metallic for a bit of sparkle and the lashes were done with one strand Felicity's Garden in Cast Iron Black.

Best stitching spot so far - 69 Beach North of Kona, Hawaii on Thanksgiving 2012

Next up was Santa's beard.  I used two strands Soie d'Alger Au Ver a Soie silk blended with one strand Medicis Wool.  I started with the grey areas first, using one strand grey silk, one strand white, one strand grey Medicis.  Then I lightened it up by swapping out the grey Medicis for white (001) but keeping one strand grey silk and one strand white.  I then switched to two strands white silk and one strand white Medicis.  I used sort of random long and short stitches, following the curve of the painted grey lowlights, shading, trying not to stitch more than four canvas threads at a time.  After it was completed I went back over it with Rainbow Gallery Wisper in W88 white to cover any canvas-hole-meet-ups that looked odd and add a bit of fluff.  I must also note that rather than doing long and short I stitched basketweave around the Sugar Plum Fairy so she'll stand out a bit when I stitch her.  

Lighting was now dim on the plane so I started the large Nutcracker's hat.  More to come!

Amanda Lawford Royal Santa FINISHED

I can't believe I finished him yesterday - I am thrilled!

(Me thrilled!)

I started this piece in April 2008.  I did take lots of small breaks throughout, most especially when working on the yards and yards of cream background.  

I was working away on Bullion Knots all this last week.  These are worked in two strands of Trio, a silk and merino wool blend.  After I did the entire edge I went back over it an did French Knots for additional shading.  

The edging around the bag was next.  It is stitched in horizontal oblong cross-stitch with one strand Kreinik cord.  It's muted and I think it helps add sparkly without being over powering.

Now for all the fun embellishments!  I rolled the canvas down to the very bottom and started working my way up.  I couched down the gold trim on the cloak front (see overall picture, also shown a little bit in the above picture.  It was couched with silk thread and I plunged the ends into the canvas back with my laying tool.

The stars are stitched in Kreinik 1/16" braid, laid flat with each stitch.  The sterling silver chain was couched on the surface.  

Two more trims for the sleeve - both couched on the surface with the same gold silk I used in the crown.  Also I attached the oval gems.  I realized that the light blue on the sleeves was unstitched so I used a blue Kreinik and did basketweave to fill them in.  

The ribbons from the staff were couched on - the green ribbon, then the gold metallic ribbon, then the hand-dyed red silk ribbon.  

While watching Victoria swim last night I attached the Fleur-de-lis for the staff topper.  There is felt underneath for padding, then the gold, then I couched Gilt Medium Grecian Twist around the design.  

Very last was the jewel.  GeorgiaDee had already glued the shell to Stiff-Stuff.  I used petite gold seed beads and worked peyote stitch around the shell to create the frame.  The stiff stuff is then trimmed back and I couched it to the hat.  There was empty paint around the edging so I filled that in with purple, then added a looped beaded run around the shell at the base.  I love it!

Thanks for sharing this journey with me!  I am probably going to finish him as a stand-up then give him a designated storage box under my bed.  I thought about a wall hanging but Madeline (my 8 year old) pointed out we don't have a good spot to hang him on the wall where he would be displayed at Christmas.  

Royal Santa by Amanda Lawford #12

In which I learn I shouldn't always follow the stitch guide.

I must first note, I have loved this stitch guide.  So many fun stitches and threads and it is turning out beautifully.

The feathers are worked in basketweave with three strands of Anchor cotton floss.  I blended the colors a bit, being cognizant that they are going to get stitched over with a long fiber.  The stitch guide said to stitch the Bernat Boa in the last bit... a long fiber couched diagonally.  Well, when I needed to basketweave the edges of the feather I needed to pin back the Boa fiber.  Poor planning on my part, although it turned out well in the end.  The edges of the feather were then worked in wrapped stem stitch, which I find easier to curve than wrapped backstitch.

The white fiber is was then couched along the center of each feather vein.  Love it!

My thread minder.  

Plume on the cap was done the same as the green.

I'm now working on the purple cap.  I couldn't actually find *anything* about that in the stitch guide so I'm working it in the same nobuko variation as the sleeve caps on the robe.  Next up are the eyes and then the cap brim.

Royal Santa by Amanda Lawford #11

Today I finished up the "fur" on the robe cuff and color.  It is stitched by couching Bernat Boa knitting fiber (color 81013) onto the canvas in long diagonal rows using cotton floss.  I used about 35 yards of the Boa fiber.  I've given the rows a little brushing and after all of the canvas is stitched and finished I will probably trim it up a bit, particularly around the fleur-de-lis.  

I don't know why, but the canvas has a long vertical crease in it.  It's always been kept on long stretcher bars but perhaps it was folded before it came to me?  When it's completed I will try hitting it with some steam during the blocking and hope that makes it come out.  

He's certainly more fun to work on now that I'm not stitching all white background all the time.

Royal Santa by Amanda Lawford #10

This background took me a long, long, loooooooooooong time.  It is stitched in one strand of Caron Impressions in cream.  It got to the point where I would just make myself do one length of thread a day.

Doesn't it look fabulous though?

The tiger is stitched in Au Ver a Soie silk thread from Access Commodities.  It is done in long and short stitch, stem stitch, back stitch... basically a lot of little stitches.  Also, the nose is done in basketweave.

Amanda Lawford Birthday Ornament

This needlepoint design is finished into a square ornament with a padded front and hard back.  It is backed in purple silk dupioni and trimmed in custom pink and purple twisted cording that is looped at the corners.  The decorative tassel at the bottom matches the design.  Design by Amanda Lawford.

Royal Santa by Amanda Lawford #9

The crown is just about completed; there are two larger jewels that will be added later in the process. The gold outline is fill cross-stitch in Kreinik 1/16" ribbon. The gold silk is Trebizond. Beads are fire-polished jewels.

I've also started on the background. I'm using Woven Stitch and one strand of cream Impressions. Lots of background to stitch - I'm making myself switch back and forth with 45 minutes of background, then 45 of other stitching, then 45 minutes of background... It's a big background. :)

Royal Santa by Amanda Lawford #8

"Santa has a brand new bag..."



This is stitched in Medici wool, Caron Snow (in gold curls), Rainbow Gallery Fyre Werks (the mosaic variation in the center goldwork). The Scotch stitches on the stripe are done in two colors of Medici wool, then instead of tenting gold around them I worked long Satin Stitches with tacking stitches at each intersection. Think Trellis Stitch.

He also has a snow globe!



The silver underneath is tented in Kreinik 1/16" ribbon. Stitched over that is Rainbow Gallery Water 'N Ice. The flash makes it appear more translucent but in person it looks solid. Weird camera.