I Want to be an Art Student

Yesterday afternoon we attended the University’s graduating art students’ exhibit of their senior work.  We thought the star of the show was our friend Miwako and her beautiful shibori kimono. You may remember when I first met Miwako here.

This is Ted

 Other favorites of mine were this stitched calendar project,

 

 

 

and this elephant painting.

 

There were so many amazing creative pieces.

 I want to be an art student, too.

It's Warmer When It Snows

I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. This was the temperature at 6:37 am after not snowing the night before last. I think I’d rather have it snow (as long as it’s not our day to shovel, that is.)

 

I’m still working on the Moon Dragon’s wing and probably will be for at least a few more days.

The Moon Dragon Returns

I posted about the last time I worked on the Moon Dragon here.  He has been patiently waiting for me to pick him up again, which I now have.

I finished the back spines and started on the wing.

 

To Build a Dragonfly

As I told you yesterday, the last step was the dragonfly.

First thing was to stitch the antenna and legs – straight stitch with one strand of gold.

Next was the beaded tail. The beads were strung, then couched to keep the curve.

The center eyelet was made to hold the wings, but later covered.

The wings were made by stitching two layers of sheer ribbon to gold florist wire, then cutting away the edges. The wires are poked through the eyelet and tacked to the back.

The thorax was satin stitched with kreinik braid, covering the eyelet.

Finally, three beads created the head and eyes, and the dragonfly is finished.

 

I have really enjoyed working on this piece.  I think this would be nice in the top of a box. Until I find one, the Dragonfly Lace Sampler will be another unfinished finished project.

Snow Days and a Little Bit of Color

When I was a kid, we’d get up early and listen to the local radio station when it snowed to hear if school was closed for the day.  We called those days when school was closed, Snow Days.  We get a lot of snow here, but “Snow Days” are rare. People are used to driving in the snow and things go on as usual.

Dragonfly Lace was looking like a snowy day – all white.  Step six was to stitch the waterlilies in cross stitch, backstitch, and lazy daisy stitch with silk thread.

Step seven was to add the beads between the kloster blocks.

There’s just one more step, but it has several parts. All that’s left is the dragonfly.

Dragonfly Lace Progress

You might say I’m bad about this.  I don’t usually read the directions; I generally work from the pictures and diagrams.  I rarely work on the steps in order, let alone finish each step before moving on to the next.  What do you know, but that is just what I am doing with this project. The written directions are simple and easy to read and the project is small, so it doesn’t take too long to complete each step.  I really like this one.  I don’t know why I didn’t work on it sooner.

Step three was hemstitching.

 

Step four was the hardanger corner with dove’s eyes.

 

Step five – Greek Cross Ribbons.

 

I can hardly wait to get started on the next step. I won’t tell you what comes next, but I’ll give you a hint. It involves these things.