Tuesday 18 December 2012

Oval doily


Hi !
I am trying to complete as many UFO’s as possible before this year end...
Here is another crochet doily which is yet to be blocked as usual. 

                                     
A reader had asked me why I’m not blocking my doilies as soon as I finish it. The reason is I don’t have enough furniture to display all my doilies, so I block a doily only before I display it.

                                         
I enjoyed crocheting this simple pattern especially the trellis ….
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Saturday 8 December 2012

Stitch tutorial- Sinhalese chain stitch


 Here is another stitch tutorial for y’all.    

                                                                       Step 1: Draw 2 lines, cut 2 threads little longer than the lines (the extra length is to end the thread).Thread the needle with one thread,come up at ‘a’ and remove the needle.Thread the needle again with the second thread,come up at ‘b’ and remove the needle.

                                         





Step 2: Thread the needle with a second colour thread and come up to the right side of ‘a’ as shown.

                                          




Step 3: Pass the thread under both the threads (green) from left to right as shown.

                                        


Step 4: Go down at a point close to the left of ‘b’ and come up at ‘c’ which is inside the orange thread and right of the green thread.

                                        



Step 5: Pull the needle and pass it under both the green threads as shown .

                                           

Step 6: Go down at ‘d’ which is inside the first chain formed and to the left of the green thread and come up at a point little away from 'c' as shown.

                                         




Step 7: Continue working steps 5 and 6 until you reach the end.

                                         


Step 8: Go down at ‘x’ which is outside the chain, come up at the other side of the chain and go down again at ‘y’ which is also outside the chain to end this stitch.

                                         




Step 9: Pull both the green threads slightly,take them down and end.








This stitch seems like a complicated one when you read it but actually it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it,only pressure point is to get the space even.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Painting again


Hi!
I've started to paint again after a gap and I feel really good.
                  
                                                
Sorry, I can’t show you the whole painting because it’s for a gift. I tried to paint a row of trees with some light, shadow in this and am pleased with the result, so I thought I should share this with y’all. Feel free to leave your comments. I’d appreciate all your suggestions and it helps me to grow as an artist.
Thanks for visiting. Have a great day!
Anita

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Pineapple doily


Hi!
I was trying out different fabrics for the gold work project this week end, hopefully will fix one soon . I can’t wait to start the actual stitching.I hope y’all had a great weekend like me.
I've just finished a pineapple doily by Jo Ann Maxwell and am happy to share this picture with y’all.

                                   

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Monday 19 November 2012

A simple pattern...


Hi !
I've embroidered a simple pattern on a black cotton fabric, it’s for a blouse and I’m planning to sew it this week end hopefully.

                                        
I've used stranded cotton threads and a couple of glass beads.
Have a great day!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Small bag


Hi !
I was kind of busy with diwali celebrations for the past few days and now it’s over am back to stitching…
I’d like to show y’all a small bag which I’d made some time back for my mother.
                                    
                                       
The fabric is silk, the threads are stranded cotton, silk and metallic. Also I'd used mirrors, sequins and seed beads.
I’m busy with a goldwork project which I’ll be sharing with y’all soon, so watch this space. Some of the basic preparations are done but am afraid a couple of things might not work out, let’s see what happens when I reach there.
Happy stitching!
Anita

Monday 29 October 2012

Experimenting again....


Hi !
It’s been a while since I posted something here, isn't it? I was little busy with few other things, sick again, had guests at home....
But am back here to share a painting attempt/experiment with y’all .

                                      
I tried to paint a snowy/smoky mountain….It’s a mixed medium painting and also I've tried a combination of techniques with knife, brushes, sculpting tools. There are definitely some errors, will try to correct and get this close to perfection soon… What do you think, do I deserve to be happy with this attempt or not?
As I said earlier I do like to paint but unfortunately my bronchitis doesn't allow me to do that often. Also there is no wall space J and I didn't want any more rolled up canvas… Now that I've started selling my paintings I have space for new ones and earned some money too J. Hope my selling spree continues so that I could afford to buy more painting supplies....

Have a great day!
Anita.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Back to freestyle embroidery...


Hi !
I've got a simple centerpiece to show y’all…..

                                    
It didn't take much time to complete this one. I've used linen and stranded cotton threads
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Time just flies


Hi
I can’t believe that it’s blog anniversary today.THANK y’all for the support, without you I wouldn't have come this far. I’m happy that I've made some good friends thro’ this blog.
I’d like to show a WIP today, it’s a cutwork doily. I've finished almost all the small details, got to complete the flowers, outer border and then finally the cutting part.

                                  
A reader had asked me why I’m trying to do many forms of embroidery, painting … instead of sticking to only Indian embroidery, how do I manage to do all this etc
Actually this blog is about needle art and painting so I don’t post pictures or write about my other interests. I also sew clothes, bake, learn to read write and speak different languages  J .I’m single, no plans to get married in autumn/winter/summer/fall and I don’t do parties…So I guess either I like to try to do many things or it’s a way  to kill my time, what do you think ? When my friend called me yesterday she said our personality has changed over the years and she was trying to figure out why. We were bubbly, happy in our 20’s, now in 30’s we are crappy, twisty and we can’t believe how on earth we ended up with messed up people who are either single or going through divorce. It has affected us so much. It was easy to pick a side when we were not friends with the guy, but it was really difficult for me especially when I’m close to both of them, to watch the children go through all the drama is really affecting me and when I chose not to pick one I ended up hurting both of them, lost both my friendsL
Uff!!! I really feel much better after writing this because I can’t call my friend since we’ve made a deal to talk with each other only when we are happy. Anyways thanks for reading …..

Happy stitching!
Anita

Friday 14 September 2012

Acrylic flowers


Hi
I’ve been playing with acrylic colours and came up with these designs.





                                                                                                                                       
My plan was to use only one shade with white for the flowers and green with white or yellow for the leaves, am happy with the results J.Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions.
Have a great week end!
Anita.

Friday 31 August 2012

Bookmark


Hi!
I’ve finished a bookmark...

                                    
I’m happy to put this one in the box for sale. I’d shown y’all the ones which I make for myself and not the embroidery which I do either for commission or teaching projects  till now. May be I’ll show some of them in future, watch this space…
Have a great weekend!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Sunday 26 August 2012

Centerpiece


Hi !
I do crochet once or twice a week after dinner while watching TV and I’d like to show y’all a centerpiece which I’ve finished recently.

                                    

                                          
I loved crocheting this piece because it’s a combination of filet and pineapples and this pattern is from an Ondori book.I think I should stop crocheting doilies until I block all the pieces ...
Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Finished another project


Hi !
I’d like to share another project which was a slow WIP. It’s a long runner which was stitched by me and my mother. My mother had stitched the center part and I did the border around the central panel and the fringes.

                                  
To complete those fringes took a very long time than I’d anticipated because I’d had to count, remove threads and gather them to make a fringe. I’m very happy that I’ve finished it now J.
I guess to fall sick has some advantages too..I’m completing projects rather than starting or planning new ones ..
Have a happy weekend!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Doily


Hi !
How are y’all? It’s been quiet sometime since I posted something here… I wasn’t well again, had to undergo some tests and all that’s happening around me is driving me mad. To add to all this misery my laptop crashed L and still there are some problems with the display driver. Enough about my personal stuff, my stitching life was also not so great.
I managed to complete a doily which I had started long time back and totally forgot and crocheted an edging too with the leftover thread.

                                       

                                         
Both the patterns are from an Ondori book.the ruffles in the doily will go off once it's blocked. It feels good when something is completed which was lying there for a longtime, isn’t it? Do you always remember what you’d started,complete it on time or like me start something,forget about that,happily carry on with the other stuff  and feel guilty when  it’s found while cleaning?
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Embroidered box top


Hi
Hardanger embroidery is one of my favorite techniques. I’d like to have a hardanger WIP always. Indian embroidery is my comfort zone and to try different techniques like crewel, hardanger , whitework is a different experience which I enjoy .
Here is a small project which is no more a WIP, Yay!

                                          
I received this jewel box as a gift from my brother and the supplies from my motherJ.
It feels good when one WIP is crossed from the list even though it’s a small one, isn’t it?
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Friday 13 July 2012

Cross stitch pansies


Hi
A cross stitch floral band again.....

                                    
I've used aida fabric and stranded cotton threads,attached the band to a Turkish towel.
I will be gifting this to someone who loves embroidered towels along with a soap collection.
Have a happy weekend!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Grass


Hi!
A month back I was thinking about seasons and the grass ….Crazy brain of mine!!!!
I had so much of work to do then, but I kept thinking about this ....
To put an end to this I started painting grass in different seasons and time of a day. Here is what I came up with….







                                                                                                                   
I'm happy with the results.What do you think ?
Unfortunately I had to stop playing with paints because of the bronchitis.Will get back to this as soon as I recover fully …
Have a great day wherever you are!
Anita.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Floral band


Hi !
Bronchitis is bothering me a lot this season. In addition to the climatic conditions inhaling too much of paint/varnish since my neighbors have decided to pick this time of the year to renovate their flats has done its job L
Since I was not well for the past few days I ended up doing cross stitch after a long time which doesn’t require much thinking/planning …

                                      
I’ve used aida fabric and stranded cotton threads, attached the floral border to a Turkish towel.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Lock stitch


A new stitch tutorial which I’d promised some time back.
It’s lock stitch also known as lock band stitch. It can be used as a seam treatment in CQ with some beads, knots etc. 

                                  



Step 1: Work straight stitches (even number) as shown in the above image.

                                         


Step 2: Bring the needle and thread up at ‘a’, keeping the working thread below pass the needle under the first straight stitch.


Step 3: Pull the needle, keeping the working thread above pass the needle under the second stitch as shown in the image above and pull the thread slightly so that the first two straight stitches look like a cross.

                                         


Step 4: Keeping the working thread below pass the needle under the third straight stitch as shown in the image above.

                                        





Repeat steps 3 and 4 till end.

                                         




Step 5: Go back down at ‘b’.

                                         

Step 6: Rotate your frame, bring the needle and thread up at ‘c’, keeping the working thread below pass the needle under the first straight stitch.

                                         




Repeat steps 3 and 4 till end, go back down at ‘d’.








Happy stitching!
Anita.

Friday 15 June 2012

Swan doily


Hi !
It was a busy week for me, managed to finish a couple of commissions. I wish I have 30 hours or more per day.
Cutwork is one of my favorite techniques. I start a cutwork project when I’m stressed and I don’t know why I do that…may be I’m crazy J.

                                   
It’s a square doily and I’d stitched this doily with stranded cotton threads.
Which is your favorite embroidery technique /stitch and how often do you use that?

Have a happy weekend wherever you are!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Monday 11 June 2012

Bookmark


Hi !
This is one of my gifts for my mom’s b’day ,it’s next week.

                                              
She loves bookmarks, so I’ve crocheted one with Anchor crochet cotton.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Friday 8 June 2012

Dress


Hi !
I do crochet dresses for my nieces but this time one of my niece wanted a dress for her doll …

                                 
I take measurements for the dresses usually but this time I couldn’t because my niece didn’t bring her doll when she visited meL.I managed to crochet one for her, hope it fits her cute doll. Keeping my fingers crossed…

Have a great weekend!
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Sunday 3 June 2012

Stole


Hi !
This is one of my favorite stole …


It’s hairpin lace which I’d joined using crochet hook..

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

First attempts contd...


Hi !
When I’d posted images of my early attempts few months back I received some e-mails saying it was motivating and a couple of you had started embroidery again after reading that post. I felt so happy.Thank you all for your love, support,encouraging comments and e-mails.
I’d met an old friend for lunch this week end, she wanted to see my embroidery samplers which I did during my pre-teen and early-teens. My dear friend loves to see some of my flops I guess!!!!
I’d like to share those samplers with y’all too.

                                    
Satin stitch….This was my first attempt on a design with 2 strands.

                                         
Eyelets…… Did you notice that there are many different sizes and shapes? My mother’s transfer was perfect but I remember my tension was not good and I couldn’t control the size of the hole. My mom’ wanted me to remove it but I was adamant not to do that…Teen-age!!!!!

                                          
Mirrors…I was supposed to practice one method of fixing shisha, look what I did…all my free-hand swirls in chain stitch looks lovely, aren’t they?

                                         
Until this sampler I had used only my mom’s left over threads to learn embroidery. But when I saw these variegated threads (full skeins) in her box I fell in love with them and I ended up learning flat stitch with these lovely variegated threads. 
I’d stitched this design with the thread as it comes off the skein, but later on I’d learnt to control the colour. I’ll show y’all those samplers later….

Feel free to comment on my good attempt as well as my great flops….

Happy stitching
Anita.