Poppy Pouch - Start

First class of the new year, Japanese bead embroidery! I've had my kit for months and have been eagerly waiting to start. This piece is called Poppy pouch and is the phase 3 design in the curriculum. In this phase we learn how to pad and "needle paint" with beads.

When you get the kit, it comes with all the beads (including pretty crystals) and the hardware to finish the pouch. I'll have to provide my own lining and interfacing later.

During our first class, we set out to put in an outline. This step is very important to ensure the overall shape is consistent. You can't trust the printed outline as it distorts when the fabric is stretched on the frame.

It's even more important in this project as we have two sides to stitch and we want the final size to be the same so they would fit with each other.

The second thing we did in class, is start the beaded outline. This is the same process we followed in Calm Flow. Cecilia did spend some time showing us different ways to string the beads if they came on a hank. However, since mine came in a bag this time around, I used the method she taught me in the previous phase.

In this piece, we have a few things to take into consideration that is different from the last design. Calm Flow had curved corners, but in this one we have sharp corners to take into account, as well as points. The points are what will allow us to finish the pouch with a curved bottom and will be cut. It's also not efficient to end the beads every time, so a method is used where the "empty" thread is carried around the point and couched down.

I had one more outline to put in, more like a guideline, to separate the flower area from the vertical lined area. Notice how the outline recreates the petals and leaves.

As I'm the type of person who dislikes stitching the same thing more than once, I decided I would tackle both sides at the same time. This ensures I don't end up with what amounts to the same piece to stitch a second time.

Homework! For next class, I need to have the following completed or started:

• Beaded outline - done for both sides
• Put in guideline - done for both sides
• Stitch center of flowers (bijoux)
• Start the vertical lines (to and fro technique), basically couching lines of beads

I have one more weekend before the next class so I have high hopes.

Blackwork Contrast Color Wheel - New Start

It's the first start of the year! Back in 2020, I stitched this Color Wheel by Jen Goodwin (you can see the posts here).

Since releasing this design, Jen worked on a second color wheel with contrasting colors but with a more complex shape pulling ideas from her studies in Islamic Geometry. It tool a long while for her to get the shape accurate on linen as she's working with straight lines versus the more forgiving curves. But it's finally here!

This design doesn't require any outlines to be transferred before starting. The kit comes with a graph chart showing exactly where each stitch should be placed. Just find the center of your fabric and start.  There are three different blackwork patterns to stitch, one for each family with the tones and shades sharing a pattern that is more layered.

The center starts with the tint color families and I'm just in love with these pastel colors. The blackwork pattern is stitched with a single strand of DMC thread. In the first circle, each color area is so small it only needs about a strand or two of threads to stitch. So I have plenty of threads left to stitch a second wheel.

Once the center is in, I can use it as a jumping point to the next color.

I'm trying to decide how I will work through this piece. The overall shape of the design is a hexagram and I could stitch one complete point at a time, or jump around the entire piece and put in the hues, tones and shades. Right now I'm in the process of stitching with the first hue color, so I still have time to make a decision.

2022 Goals

Looking at my objectives for 2021, I did pretty good. Especially considering I completed two Japanese embroidery pieces this year.

• TUSAL posts on the last day of the month --- DONE
• Finish the Colorwheel by Jen Goodwin (blackwork) --- DONE
• Finish Tracery Dragons by Teresa Wentzler --- DONE
• Stitch and hopefully finish phase 2-3 piece Hiogi Fan (Japanese embroidery) --- DONE
• Start phase 4 piece Karahana (Japanese embroidery, goldwork phase) --- DONE and completed
• Start phase 2 piece Flow Folio (Japanese bead embroidery) --- DONE and completed
• Start Goldwork Compass by Cynthia Jackson (goldwork) --- DONE and completed
• Stitch (and complete?) Blackwell Roundel by Jenny Adin-Christie (metal and silk work) --- Not even close
• Stitch on Dolcetti by Katherine Drummond --- Not even close
• Finish Elizabeth: A Sampler Doll Pincushion Maiden and Trunk by Giulia Punti Antichi --- DONE
• Learn a new technique - Korean traditional embroidery --- DONE, I just realised I never shared anything on this piece. I'll remedy that in the new year :)
• Older WIPS.
• Complete Hedebo Starburst by Jette Roy Finlay-Heath (Hedebo) --- Not even close
• Stitch the hemstitch border on Donna M. Olson's Fantasy Lace  --- Not even close
• Finish Katherine Drummond's Romantic Rosebuds  --- Not even close
• Finish Annie Penin's Fleur de Sakura  --- Not even close

This year's goals will be:

• Stitch (and complete?) Kurenai-kai special advanced class piece Peach Blossoms and small bird (Japanese embroidery)
• Start phase 3 piece Poppy Pouch (Japanese bead embroidery)
• Start phase 5 piece Himotaba (Japanese embroidery)
• Start phase 6 piece Eternal Grace (Japanese embroidery)
• Start Contrast Color wheel by Jen Goodwin (Blackwork)
• Kurenai-kai special advanced class piece Maple leaves and small bird (Japanese embroidery)
• Stitch (and complete?) Blackwell Roundel by Jenny Adin-Christie (metal and silk work)
• Stitch (and complete?) English Whitework Sampler by Darlene O'Steen (whitework)
• Stitch on Dolcetti by Katherine Drummond (Punto Antico)
• Older WIPS. Putting these back in, but I think a few of these will be here for the last time.
• Complete Hedebo Starburst by Jette Roy Finlay-Heath (Hedebo)
• Stitch the hemstitch border on Donna M. Olson's Fantasy Lace
• Finish Katherine Drummond's Romantic Rosebuds
• Finish Annie Penin's Fleur de Sakura

Since finishing Hiogi, I'm all fired up to get to the next one, so it looks like this year will be all about Japanese embroidery. I have one class starting in January, another in April and a third in June. I still need to figure out timing for the fourth piece, so to be determined later. Still plan on working on other types of projects as Japanese embroidery takes a lot effort and having easier projects will be good. I'll play those by ear.