Color Texture Stitch

Proposal Sketches

Terry Dryden — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:07:39 +0000

I shipped off proposal packages for two new designs I have been working on.....shown previously here. As these designs are only partially stitched I needed to "fill in the blanks" by adding pen ink and watercolor to illustrate the finished design.

Here is Summer Garden Collage................It is approximately 7" square.

And here is Tiebele Nights.........the final name given to the African design. It is approximately 5 " square without an outer border. This design might appear to be almost finished but I cut and pasted all the finished parts to collage the "finished project".

I will be finishing the stitching on both of these over the next several months and will post a few updates. It is always interesting to see how close the finished design compares to the sketch.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

PEAR DUET

Terry Dryden — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:38:34 +0000

I have been working on the drawing for Pear Duet for awhile. I did several sketches and tried out different combinations of water-soluble pencils to paint the design. There are about 5 or 6 layers of water-soluble colored pencil used for each area, then just a little water is needed to dissolve the pigment. I just finished the pears and copied the design to Transfer Artist Paper (by Leslie Riley) which I will then irone on to 18-count canvas in the same manner as Leaf Collage.

To create the background framework I will use a "string" pattern such as that used to a framework for a Zentangle (see my other blog: http://terrystangles.blogspot.com.

Tomorrow and Monday I plan to pull a palette of threads to "audition" from my stash. I will post again when I have most of the first pear stitched to show what I have in mind.

New African inspired design

Terry Dryden — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:57:25 +0000

Here is a scan of the second of three new designs I am working on.....

Hopefully you can see the 4-way/symmetrical design emerging. The X element at the center bottom of the design will be at the four points of the diamond. This element includes 8 rose/red bugle beads, 8 blue bugle beads and one 8mm flat square bead. I have also used Copic markers, again, this time to surround the center diamond composite pattern. Over the marker there is some light stitching to let the canvas show through. The overall design size without the narrow border (shown in pencil) is 5-1/2 inches square.

I am anxious to return to stitching it as all seven of the design areas are all set as far as thread colors and stitches, so all that remains is enjoyable stitching.......no more "un-stitching" to work out the design issues.

Only one problem remains......I still can't come up with a name for the design. If you have any suggestions, please drop me a line.

Now on to design #3!

Summer Garden Collage

Terry Dryden — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:59:34 +0000

It has been 2-1/2 months since I last posted an update...way too long. Time certainly seems to fly once Halloween arrives. I have gotten far enough along on Summer Garden Collage to post a photo. I still have to add beads in several places (particularly the flower center). There will be ribbon flowers in the two remaining areas and one more geometric pattern in the final empty one. I will stitch the two wide borders again on the remaining two sides. The ribbon flower is stitched with wide 13mm River Silks Ribbon and I love the pouf! The colors are perky, just as hoped for....but I did have to audition several threads to find the ones that wanted to work together! Did you notice the layered markers in the center areas?

I have already begun stitching on another new design....a 4-way African inspired geometric (no name as yet)....but had to set it aside while I waited for my square bead and bugle bead orders to arrive. They're here, so next week I hope to have something to post. It is a much different color palette....along the lines of Whirlygig.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Years!

Next step? combining Zentangle and stitching

Terry Dryden — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:13:36 +0000

I keep looking for ways to combine Zentangle and stitching. And several needlework groups have already asked for short, introductory workshops on Zentangle as many of the tangle patterns do make connections with needlework stitches and patterns. So, yesterday, while I was demonstrating how to add color to tangle patterns I thought it might be fun to share some of them with readers of this blog.

This Zentangle was colored with Inktense Watercolor pencils and water

This one was colored with blended Tombow markers.

And this one was drawn on muslin and then colored with Fabrico Markers. So, if you begin to see something similar to any of the above in some of my new designs, you will know why! And I am working on a new design and will have enough stitched to post next week.

Last but not least....ONLY ONE EACH of Whirlygig and Images of India complete kits (including threads) remain.

Terry

A Few Thread Kits Available

Terry Dryden — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:14:36 +0000

We picked up Sahara at the framers and immediately shipped it off for the ANG Seminar exhibit. But we took one photo before it left home again. It always amazes how much different a piece looks after it is finished.

Now that all the boxes of kits and exhibit pieces are gone I am finally getting to work on new designs. So shortly I will upload a few photos.

This summer I have been assembling a few thread kits for some "retired" teaching designs. These are projects stitchers have requested: Harlequin Hearts and Whirlygig are ready now and Images of India will be available around September 20th. The pages are updared for ordering Whirlygig and Harlequin Hearts.

It will soon be time to travel San Antonio so I have been following the weather there......hot, hot, hot.....and let us not forget....humid. I look forward to seeing lots of friends there nonetheless, but I think I will be staying inside, except for a few outings along the riverwalk. Hope to see you there!

Terry

SAHARA is finished

Terry Dryden — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:26:30 +0000

Finished size is approx. 8" X 8"

Sahara is finished and off to the framer today! With the length of time it has taken me to finish this design you might wonder if I didn't like it after all. Not true! It has really been fun to design and stitch, but home and family have certainly taken an upper hand these last few months.

Right after my last entry in early May my husband got sick and it took several doctor visits and multiple medications, but I am happy to say he now seems to be on the mend. But, during that time I was unable to travel to Ft. Worth for the Color Kaleidoscope Pilot. The group, let by Melinda Burr, decided to go ahead and have the workshop as scheduled! Melinda and the group did a fabulous job...... thank you to each of you, with a particular thank you to Melinda for all her time and effort!

We are still moving a little slower around here.....except for Wednesdays. Tomorrow is our first weekly Wednesday to take care of our new (3 months) grandson all day.....from 6:30am to 6:00 pm.

Look for a post next week about a few complete Harlequin Hearts kits (includes all threads) and a few remaining Whirlygig complete kits (with threads). For those of you who have Harlequin Hearts on order, they will ship this Friday....June 24th!

Happy stitching,

Terry

Sahara Update

Terry Dryden — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:12:54 +0000

I have actually made more progress toward Sahara than it might appear! The right and left outside panels are almost complete. You can see the underlying stitching and when they are complete the next step is some outlining....in both cases this means couching. Only four sections remain with no stitching. But the threads are mostly chosen and only the bead choices are left. I have found some more beads to choose from, so should be fun!

Sahara needs to be finished by around June 1st to go to the finisher so I will have another update shortly.

Grandbaby Gabriel is doing well and we are enjoying him........a lot!

Happy Mother's Day!

Terry

First Grandbaby has arrived

Terry Dryden — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:58:11 +0000

Gabriel Dryden Miller surprised us all, especially McCall and Justin (the happy parents) with his arrival three weeks early. He was born March 18th and was 5 lbs. 10-1/2 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. Even though he was early they were both able to go home in two days and everyone is doing well!

Gabriel and happy Grandma.

I have been traveling a lot this spring so was very happy to be around when he was born!!

Needless to say schedules have been a little erratic around here, but between trips I have been able to get a little bit of stitching done on Sahara. But with two more trips this month it will probably be around May 1st before I can post a stitching update!

Also, if anyone is waiting for more Zentangle information, I just posted a schedule of upcoming classes. Please see www.terrystangles.blogspot.com for date, time and more details.

Happy April,

Terry

Sahara Sketch

Terry Dryden — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:10:40 +0000

Well, finally here I am with the Sahara sketch I promised. It is difficult to create a sketch that has the "feel" of the finished design. I have sketches of stitches I plan to use and this is where I plan to place them. But sometimes it becomes necessary to move things around, not to mention threads and beads, etc.

If you are comparing what was previously shown and what has been filled in, you might notice the small squares at the bottom. The new squares are Tila beads, not stitches. And you can see there will be some solid areas of stitching as well as mixed areas. But the biggest difference is there is more color now, with more now.

I plan to get back to stitching it in early March and am looking forward to it. I received some threads in the mail today, in just the right colors, and am anxious to try them out!

Happy stitching...........