A Monday-Tuesday... kind of post

This post is mostly brought to you by the letters O, M, and G...

As in OMG, I've known for *how* long that I'm teaching this weekend and I'm still this far behind?

So, part blog post, part brain dump.

German Brick Stitch teaser photos

It all started with a lonely diamond of stitches, centered in the top half of the working area.

Soon, he was joined by several more, and the central flower.

Then, the first lattice was begun.  In order to keep it easy -- most counting is of stitches of four threads, and placement is as much about location relationship as about extensive counting, for a design with a lattice I like to lay down that lattice first.

Once that first layer of lattice is down, the second one is easy, since it runs right along it.  Placement of the little blue diamonds and the filling of the individual motifs is also easy.

All the flowers.  Time to fill in.

And, finally, all the backgrounds done.  The class project will be smaller.









But, of course, that is only one side.

The second pattern is one that requires a little more careful counting -- since it is is made up of stitches of varying lengths.

So, first, the lattice

 Then, the inside "hatches" and the blue insides.

 Well, that's as far as I have photos for.  Once I've taught the class, I plan to make up versions of the handouts for both this project and the scissor/key fob project that can be downloaded.

So, "watch this space."

And now, back to kit assembly.

Another week, another Thursday

Once again, it is Thursday.  Amazing how it keeps coming up. So, here's my "keep Elizabet honest" post:

Current project list/status (SCA/Historic):

• Applique piece for C&L -- A challenge has inspired me.  I discussed my early research and design planning on Monday.  I'm very happy with my plan.  This will be an entry for the heraldry display at Mudthaw. 
• Couched cord piece for C&L -- I have looked at a few design inspiration ideas for something to do on my husband's tunic for this element.
• Class for February and March.  I've done a bit more of the sample stitching for this class on German Brick Stitch.   Here is more info about the March event for those who might be interested -- at that event it will be an intensive class.  Kit registration has ended and I will have three students.  Hope I can fill 3 hours! :) If anyone attends the event and wants to sit in there will be materials for the scissor fob project available as well.  
• Marshall Hanging -- No, nothing new.    
• Hem stitched square -- This is officially my current "work on at events" project.  At the same event last weekend I learned some more open work, and am now deciding whether to make this square an overall open work piece or do that on something different.
• That silk tunic I did for my husband -- still need to pull that out and get the seam finishing done, and maybe plan some more embroidery for it. 

• Other garb waiting in the wings... Also in planning are a couple more coifs -- and shifts and shirts.  

Current project list/status (Modern)

• Bay of Fundy Scarf.  Got a fair amount done on my trip last weekend, and it is now my companion for work again.  I usually get in early and can put in a couple rows then, and again at lunch if not embroidering. 
• Clothing for work.  This may have to be moved up a bit, as one of my favorite skirts just gave its last.  Now I really need to find pink fabric I like because I cannot imagine not having something in that dark rich pink in my wardrobe.  Of course, I *could* get around to doing the hem on the black and white, that would help.  
• Zipper class.  In March I'm going to be taking a class just on zippers!  Once that's done I have some patterns I want to check out.  
• Studio project. A number of things have migrated back to the studio (where, admittedly, they belong), and a few things in the studio need to come out.  I need to determine a day each month for specifically concentrating on getting everything back to where it belongs, which should help keep this room organized. This has not happened in January, though I may be able to carve some time out this weekend.

Blog notes:

• Still working on a three day a week pattern -- Monday for SCA/Medieval/Renaissance related; Tuesday for post 1600 to modern related and Thursdays for status updates.
• I'm also considering a couple other pages -- one for links to museums and other excellent web resources, and one for a bibliography (with appropriate links).  Any requests? 

So, that's it for my plans for the coming weeks.  

Dover Clip Art....

I can not draw.  Ok, I can draw, but not so that anyone can tell what it is that I have drawn.  Therefore, I use other sources for my embroidery designs.  I get a lot from on line, of course -- type a search in Google Images and I'm off.  I've gotten pretty good at finding the outlines in a drawing for tracing.

I also use Dover Electronic Clip Art.  There are lots available (quick search on Amazon had over 1,000 hits) -- and many of them make excellent designs for embroidery, both historically based and modern.

One huge advantage, of course, is the ease of scaling the designs.

005 Asparagus

One of my favorite is Medieval Herb, Plant and Flour Illustrations.  The book has images of each of the designs, numbered.  The CD has a separate folder for each of six different formats -- PMP, EPS, GIF, JPEG, PICT, and TIFF.  Simply leaf through the pages, select the design you like and find it on the CD in the format you prefer.

So, go to Amazon, or directly to Dover Publications and browse the Clip Art with CDs.

Happy designing!