May 19, 2013

Maps and Frames

It has been a busy week.  On Wednesday I picked up the newly framed Catharine McNeal from In Stitches.  It's gloomy, so a combination of chandelier light and perhaps flash has made this frame a little golder than it appears in real life:

Here's a close-up:



In the meantime, I've been stitching busily on Elizabeth Easdon, aka the T-Rex Sampler.  Here's where T-Rex stands now.  I'm hoping for a Memorial Day finish, but I've been a tad distracted.   Sorry for the wrinkles--I don't usually iron until the end.  You might notice that I stitch on a larger piece of linen than I need, generally.  I feel better with the extra fabric, and then at the end, I lop off the extra and use it for Christmas ornaments or smalls.  Nothing is wasted.  I am a New Englander, and even now, I can remember my father, a Vermonter, saying: "Waste not, want not" and "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."  That was always good for an eyeroll from me, but the idea planted itself.



Today I took a class based on the Potomac River Needlework Map with Catherine Jordan.  Catherine is a subperb teacher, and if you have an opportunity to take her class, you should.   You can order her map kits, but she will also generously share her techniques so that you can design your own map for a place that's meaningful to you.  I missed a vintage map of Cape Cod on ebay last week--it got a bit pricey, so I bowed out.  But there will be another!  With a vintage map in hand, I plan to stitch a map of the Cape and then embellish it with fabric paint as I learned in class. Hint 1:  it certainly is quicker to fill in a body of water with blue paint than it is to fill it in with stitches.  Hint 2: restraint is key.  (But then, isn't it always?) Here are some photos of the class project (which came with a fully kitted Potomac River Needlework Map) seen here:

The students had a choice of these practice pieces as well:


Peaches:  "You're never home any more...."  Oh, Peaches, not true!

Happy week ahead!

17 comments:

Deb said...

Your Catherine looks wonderful in her new frame! And you're going to be done with Elizabeth in no time. I have had the opportunity to take a class with Catherine and it was wonderful, although my project - map of the Great Lakes and a little book - are far from finished. In fact, I noticed that my paints have dried up - one color of them, so I'm glad that you posted her site so that I can order more. And maybe I'll pull the map to the top of my WIP pile soon!!

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Your Catherine is beautiful! Wise words from you father.

The map class sounds interesting.

Anna van Schurman said...

Great framing! Love that piece. Will be sorry not to see it every now and again...

Laurie in Iowa said...

Catherine Jordan's class must have been wonderful.
Catherine looks great in her frame.

Annette-California said...

What a beautiful frame for Catharine McNeal. Love the map needlebooks you made - Incredible. Love the painting too:) Yes it does look faster that stitching. love Annette

Giovanna said...

Lovely framing, and nice going on the T-rex sampler :-)
Those map projects look absolutely gorgeous = glad you had a good time at class.

Chris said...

Catherine looks beautiful in her frame. You are very close to that other finish too.
The class looks like it was amazing.
Have a great week!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

What gorgeous pieces to choose from, not to mention the absolutely stunning map!
I love Catherine and T-rex is looking mighty FAB!

Katrina said...

Love your Catharine framed and Ms. Easdon is wonderful. The map class looks like so much fun too!!!!!

Margaret said...

Your framed Catherine looks wonderful! Love Liz Easdon too. That Catherine Jordan class looks so wonderful!

Louise said...

Catherine McNeal is just gorgeous, as is all of your stitching, of course!

Melissa said...

Catherine looks gorgeous in her new frame! It looks like you will have another finish too with Elizabeth soon!

Debby said...

Your samplers are gorgeous - and I love the frame!

I took a class from Catherine a few years ago - she's wonderful. I took a class where we could make our own maps; now I really should get back to mine, but I was very ambitious and probably "bit off more than I could chew"! LOL

RG said...

Nice framing!

Not home? Bunnies will take charge!!!!

Jan Gartlan said...

What a lovely finished stitchery. Wow, what an amazing class.

Embroidery Digitising said...

Great job. Great use of art.

Lisa @Psychologist Doctorate said...

That chubby little buddy seems lost! Isn’t he adorable? Can I take you home? I really find your work pretty and neat! My, you really have talented and purely skilled hands in finishing that cross stitch. I simply adore it! Anyway, just passed by, have fun stitching! God Bless you!


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