Nicki's Mermaid Block

Isn't this a pretty block! Well, it is not mine...although I did help stitch on it. The block belongs to NickiLee (lucky gal!) and was worked on by several pals over on the HGTV Message Board group. It's been in the works for many, many months...but is finally back home and looking gorgeous. Want to see some closeups? Of course you do!  

You might recognize the two beaded mermaids (left and right sides of the block)...  

  as those are my own contribution to the block...and you've seen them before.  Did you notice the beaded cabochon? Really, it's a beaded...chandelier crystal. The silkies have been painted by Carolyn, she did the center one too.  

I don't know why these photos are flipping sideways...very annoying. Here are some more closeups of the block for you to enjoy.

Pretty huh? Yep, I agree!

Mermaid by Cris

Cris kindly sent me a photo of her applique mermaid, which she created based on the embroidery design I posted earlier. It is a great blessing to know my work is being used! And, that the results are so gorgeous! I love the interpretation...the sequin fabric for the tail is just right...but I think the mermaid's hair and "bra" are my favorite parts! Thanks so much Cris for sharing with me...and allowing me to share with other followers too!

 If you want to share a creation based on one of the designs or charts posted here on the blog...just send me a photo; I'd love to see your version and so would others! We all need inspiration!!

Mermaid Sisters -- Elena

Here is a younger sister, but perhaps not the youngest of the sisters...assuming that I'll create more of course! Elena does have a more youthful appearance than Lavenia however...I think it's the hair style that does it.

If you enjoy the mermaids, let me know...and I'll work on some others for you to embroidery.

Blue Box Progress--Finished

There are two previous posts about the blue box...so check those out to get the progress as I've moved along.
For today, let me walk you through the stitching on the mermaid herself. First a reminder of how she looked when I started....

Since she is already a redhead...and I like that...here are the colors of silk thread I shall use for her.

These particular threads came from Thailand, off of Ebay. Gorgeous colors, but I have to tell you to beware because when they arrived (about 50 spools) I thought I'd have to throw them away...they smelled so badly. I could not determine if it was from being stored too long...mildewy...or from something else. I loaded them into a plastic container...sprayed (soaked!) them in Febreze...and closed the lid. After about 3 months...they smelled better. So, I sprayed them again...and 3 months later...all is well. The colors did not bleed either..and I was glad and fortunate for that!

Okay, here is the beginning of the hair. I stitched usually in a simple split stitch...and back stitch sometimes to fill in space. I use a divide and conquer method...by stitching along the direction the hair would be flowing...and use the image to guide me in that.

Then I continue this process until all the areas are divided up, and I can clearly see the direction the hair would be flowing...that is the direction of my stitching.

Truly...this is not a difficult thing to do. Just use really thin thread...and do lots of "rows". If you don't have any silk thread...use any type of rayon embroidery thread. It will give you a good sheen and is fairly thin. Combine three colors (as I did here)...or even 3 threads of the same color. The stitching actually goes pretty fast. Here is the final hair...it took about 2 hours to stitch it all.

Next, I debated several ideas for the "fins". They are very fluid with all the dips and valleys and creases in the artwork...and I didn't want to loose that. In the end...I decided to let the art speak and only accent it by stitching along the outside edges of the fins.

And, here is a closeup of the jewelry she is wearing...now she is ready to swim back home to Eileen! She'll be arriving soon gal!

Mermaid's Seashell Collection

After completing the Mermaid's Jewels this past weekend, I just could not stop! Originally, I had conceived the idea of a charm necklace because of all the seashells I owned.

But, after making lot's of dangles...lot's and lot's and lot's....you get the idea! I had too many! And the crystals and perles didn't go as well with the shells as I had first envisioned.

So, I created a second necklace! I love it too...but not as much as the first one! It is stunning just the same, in more of a bohemian sort of way. Seeing it on the black bust display makes me think it would really pop on a sleath dress...maybe with a little turtle neck. Or on a solid little silk dress? So many ideas (and not the wardrobe or body to pull this look off any more...ah, to be 35 again!).

 Here's a close up of the shells. I'm loading this one on the Studio jewelry page for sure!


What are your thoughts?

A New Beginning

A friend from Arkansas asked if I'd cover the top of a beautiful cobalt blue box for her. Of course, I was honored that she would ask. And after discussing a little of the style that might be fitting a blue box; we settled on an underwater scene.

We searched the internet for an image of a mermaid. We selected a fairy mermaid with lovely shades of green and purple. She will be surrounded (eventually) by various plant life and underwater sea creatures. Here is what I have completed today. The brown and beige "lumps" will be rocks or boulders. The green and blue "things" will be plant life. The netting style trim will also be plant life.

And, I thought you might enjoy seeing the very beginning of the fabric placements. Here is the silkie placed on top of some green cotton broadcloth for stability. The broadcloth is about 3 inches larger on each side of the finished project size, to allow me to put it in a hoop to work on. I usually always work from my Q-snap hoops when the finished project will completely fit in the center. No hoop marks! No removing until I am done!

This entire project also has a thin piece of batting on the back of the 8 x 11 size rectangle (size of the top of the box). This extra stability is critical (IMHO) because the finished project will have so much beading it will become very heavy as all of it is stitched layer on top of layer.

 The "sand" floor center was added first, then I started layering the middle blues of the water. Next I added more blues upwards and browns towards the bottom.

 All of the pieces are hand stitched down. Then I machine stitched around the entire rectangle to keep all those edges down.

Most fabric pieces are triangle shaped scraps. I use the long side which is on the bias, as the edge I usually stitch down. The other sides are covered with the next pieces to be placed down most of the time.

The progress of this piece will be blogged as I work through the various plants, animals, and other objects.

If you have not tried an underwater project, I encourage you to do so. They are very liberating! No real seams or motifs are needed. Just embroidery work to create the underwater world you can imagine. Let yourself go and just create!