I know this is going to sound odd… but I’m not absolutely certain if this is all of them.  My memory is distressingly sporadic at times, and I’ve learned over the years that it’s altogether possible to totally blank on things like this. (Not just on things like this, but we won’t go there right now.)

So, if any of you out there know of any other class-only designs, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

She’s far too cute for her own good.

First a little history.   I’ve had this idea for awhile now:

I’ve been trying to do a serious pen and ink rendering based on this sketch, but just can’t seem to find the right balance of reality/fantasy I’m looking for.  I can see what I want in my mind’s eye, but getting it onto paper is a whole different story.

The problem with the drawing is what to do with the top part of the image.  The pole just ends in mid-air, so compositionally, the drawing doesn’t make sense to me. It’s very bottom heavy.  Nor does it really tell a story, at least not enough of a story.  I want the image to have a “real” context, but yet, resolve into sheer fantasy.

To that end, I’ve been trying to do something that is evocative of a carousel canopy at the top that kinda fades out and allows the riders on the creature to become the focal point… hopefully, giving the drawing the balance it needs.   Riiiiiiiiight.   Like I said: it’s there in my imagination, but it’s just not ready to be born yet, I guess.

But, I like the *overall* idea so much, I’m not willing to allow it to just languish in the Unworkable Ideas Drawer until who-knows-when.  (Yes, I have one of those.)

(Sorry for the long back-story!)

Even if I can’t find what I’m looking for as far as a pen and ink drawing goes, I do see how I might successfully accomplish a similar effect in a needlework design: Do a border (of course!)!

This is the rough drawing on graph paper, to limit the size of the piece at the outset, and to design the border.  At this point, I prefer the old-fashioned pencil and paper method to a computer.

The arched border will have carousel-inspired and nautical/ocean motifs.  I can see the literal-ness of the border resolving into just a ‘containing’ edge around the bottom of the design.

At least, that’s the plan.  We’ll see how it goes.

Thank you all so much for your patience and encouragement.  It’s been a challenge to design and stitch with my new friend, Arth Ritis hanging around, but even slow stitching is better than none at all.

The design is available at PatternsOnLine.com only.  I hope you’ll enjoy it!

So, I’m working a bit faster these days on Summer Sampler:

A closer view:

Can I just say I’m really enjoying the ribbon embroidery?  It’s very forgiving… even when the stitches aren’t done “perfectly”, they still look good.

Design notes: One of the issues I’m having with this piece is manipulating the scale of the elements.  One of the ways to make something more believable is to make proportions correct.  For example:  the knot design in the center was designed as being viewed from above… so I’d really like to make all of the other elements within that area of the sampler proportionate to maintain a certain believe-ability.  Hope that makes sense.

Anyway.  Originally, I had planned to make ribbon flowers in the area around the central knot.  However, in order to maintain the desired sense of scale, I had to shrink things… hence the ribbon french knots instead.  For those of you dreading already making those knots: they really couldn’t be easier.  Trust me.

The border: it seems to have a life of its own right now, but I’m gradually tying it to the sampler by repeating the colors used in it, and by repeating motifs: specifically the quatrefoil shapes.  Border motifs will be picked up again in the over-one scene… think formal garden: masonry, pillars, urns, etc.

The area pictured still needs some tweaking, but I wanted to share the evolution of this piece (especially since it’s taking so long.)

Next, I’ll be working on the over-one scene…the top of its green border is visible at the bottom of the first picture.

Sorry the image is a bit wonky… and I neglected to move my stitching thread out of the way.  Drat.  I was in a hurry…sorry!

Is this for sure you ask?  At this point in my design process, you just never know.  I am a tad rusty, and I’ve ripped just everything out at least once.  But hold on.  I guess I always did that.  Sigh.  I had forgotten that part! LOL

A technical note: Because the sampler is so small, I’m using very dainty 2mm silk ribbon.

I’m determined to keep the “knot garden” motif, so I’m working around it.  Overall, I’m going for a formal garden kind of theme.  But no peacocks.  Maybe.

Thought I had better check in and give you some news… The injection has indeed helped, and I’ve been able to do a bit of stitching here and there.

You’ll perhaps be happy to know that the Miniature Summer Sampler (the final one in the series) is on the stretcher bars and progress is finally being made. The specialty technique that’s being incorporated into this piece is a bit of ribbon embroidery, (which I’m finding quite enjoyable). Don’t worry, those of you who don’t care for ribbon; alternate charting for traditional cross-stitching materials/stitches will be included for those areas.

Hope to post some images for you soon.

Thanks so much for your patience, and for your well-wishes and arthritis management advice! It’s good to be holding a needle again.

Thanks to all of you for your continued well-wishes; I hope to hold a needle again before too long.

Whilst awaiting diagnosis for the wrist and thumb pain that has continued to increase over the last weeks, I’m to behave and not cause undue stress to the affected areas.  I’m wearing wrist splints, taking anti-inflammatories, and trying not to overuse the hands.

Which means no stitching, unfortunately.  I can still draw a bit, but carefully…

I  have an appointment with a specialist in about 3 weeks.  Please keep a good thought.