Progress, Stitch by Stitch

I have been busy working on Fruit Bellpull and more recently Sarah Braizear 1829.

So much is going on in the world, and my heart is sad from so many things.  Stitching is a wonderfully creative solace in times of strife and discord. 

We continue our sheltering at home, and being safe as possible in light of this pandemic. 

Sharing photos of my progress:

Fruit Bellpull:

Sarah Braizear- 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Fruit Bellpull by Teresa Wentzler ~ A Bit of Work Done

Fruit Bellpull Progress
Designer: Teresa Wentzler

Lately I've had more time to stitch, and it sure has been great to see some progress. First, I worked a bit on Paula Vaughan's Wedding Ring Bouquet.  I'm stitching this on 22 count hardanger fabric, and I started it back in 2002 or so on a whim.  Here are a few photos of it. The first one shows how it looked awhile ago, and the second one shows how it looked when I tucked it away to 'rest' a week ago. At this point I have a lot of backstitching to do, as well as stitching the white curtain that's in the background.  I hope to FINALLY  finish this piece this year.

I worked some on my Fruit Bellpull. I also started this one back in 2002 or so.  Can you believe it? I am not even 1/3 done with this.  It has so many colors and blends, as do all of Teresa Wentzler's beautiful patterns.  I love working on it, but progress is slow due to the amazing color changes and shading of them.  Here are some photos, and they show progress going back in time and not just my most recent progress.


Here are the colors for this project:

This is how I store the blends for the project. I created this little box back in 2002 or so when I started this one. I bet that folks do it in a much cuter manner now, or perhaps in a more efficient way. This works fine for me. 

These are the peaches that I finished years ago. The peaches are in the top square of the design, and there are six fruits total in the design. Each depicted fruit is surrounded by a border of satin stitched flowers on vines. The leaves' colors are blended threads in the border, too.  The blends are gorgeous, but for me it makes the whole process much slower.   

If you have tips on how to make it go faster with the blends, please do leave a comment and explain it to me. :)  I would really appreciate it!

Here's a photo of the grapes that I took long ago. There are so many blends and colors that I found this bunch of grapes to be very challenging. 

Here you'll see a bit of progress in the grapes and leaves.

Last but not least, here is the project's appearance when I tucked it away for a well-deserved rest. I just can't work on this one exclusively.   I have finished all the backstitching of the grapes and its leaves, but I next need to work on that border that surrounds the grapes. Then I will move on to the apples. 

Here's a photo of the finished project. Instead of finishing mine as a bellpull, I plan on having it framed. I've seen a few framed online, and they look fantastic.  At this time due to its complexity of design I am toying with the idea of just doing three squares instead of six squares. I wonder how that would look? Well, knowing me I will do all six squares. Each square is so lovely, and I hate to skip three of them.  Here is the design, finished as a bellpull:

New Project News

I have never just had two projects going, so I had to start a new one.  Besides the low number of WIPs I had, they were both started so long, long ago. I haven't had a new start since 2012, so I figured it was time, right? We all need to look at some fresh work. 

I could have used a pattern I already owned, but instead I went out and purchased a leaflet by Blackbird Designs.  I have just started that project, and will share that with you next time.  I am finding it to be a joy to stitch. Instead of using DMC threads, I am stitching with the called for overdyed threads. That has been fun, too. 

Thanks for stopping by today.   

Fruit Bellpull Progress

Summer is flying by so quickly.  My break from my job is almost over, in fact. I can't believe it.

With that being said, after a very long break of perhaps seven years, I stitched some on Teresa Wentzler's Fruit Bellpull.  I had seen this stitched in person at a local stitch group, and it was awe inspiring, to say the very least. The colors are exceptional-- so many blends and gradations of color.  At the time I saw it, the pattern was out of print and difficult to locate.  I finally found one on the Teresa Wentzler Bulletin Board and I happily purchased it.  It actually was shipped to me from another country, so it is thus one of my most treasured patterns.  Teresa Wentzler's work is amazing.

 I pulled out my threadbox for this piece, and also my box of envelopes where I have some blends in small envelopes.

 Here is a photo of the color key, just to give an idea of the amount of colors in this piece.

When I started on the piece it was very difficult to find my place. On top of that, I had highlighted my working copy as to where I'd stitched, but I didn't highlight it accurately way back when. It was rather challenging in every way possible to know where to go. I have heard people say the grapes are the hardest part, and that is of course where I left off seven years ago.  These photos show a bit of the piece, and a bit of progress:

A few more views, and a view of the peaches which include the backstitching:

Some of my stitching doesn't look up to par to me, but it will do!

I have moved on to my next WIP which is Oberlin Samplers Minnesota Sampler . After a short while on that one, I will go back to this beautiful pattern.

Thanks for stopping by today.