Size: 3.5″ W x 3.75″ H (handle not extended)
Stitches: Running, Detached Chain, French Knot, Cross and Half Cross
Materials: cotton embroidery floss, linen
Status: Sold!

I did this little bag AGES ago for Take a Stitch Tuesday, but just remembered I hadn’t posted it. Actually it was my last TAST piece — I’ve really been slacking on the embroidery front lately. I started with the cross stitch/half cross borders, which I think were the TAST stitch of the week, when I did this piece. The yellow and blue reminded me of Pennsylvania Dutch art and so I decided to do something really simple and evocative of that style. I did the centerpiece free hand and I’m shocked that I managed to make it that balanced. The handled is a hand braided cord of the red, yellow, and blue from the main design. It’s slightly larger than the other bags I’ve done, but still very petite in size.

Since my focus was on simplicity and balance as I made the bag, I decided to turn it into a mini-ritual kit for just that purpose.

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, half cross, Pennsylvania dutch, ritual kit, simplicity, simplify, embroidery, fiber art

Size: 2×3″
Stitches: Algerian Eyelet, Detached Chain, French Knot, Running
Materials: verigated silk floss, linen, ribbon
Status: Sold!

This design was inspired by the TAST stitch of the week last week — the Algerian Eyelet. I started with the 1/2 eyelets in the corners and then the large on in the center. I did the accents in detached chain stitch, as it was a TAST stitch a couple of weeks ago that I missed. French knots are always good for a little fill accent. I loved playing with the subtle change in tone of the varigated floss with the flowing running stitch patterns, which I created organically as I went. The handle is a pretty piece of ribbon that had been on a gift I received.

I was feeling a bit sad when I worked on this, which is probably why I gravitated towards the watery colors.

Technorati Tags: recycled, ribbon, running stitch, algerian eyelet, french knot, detached chain, embroidery, fiber art, textile art, needlework

Size: 2.5 x3.0″
Stitches: Satin, Running, Chevron, Stem
Materials: Linen, Cotton Floss, Vintage Cotton Floss, Metallic Floss, Linen Floss
Status: Private Collection

The second in my on-going series of tiny bags. This design based on an Art Nouveau book plate. I really liked the overall shape of this bag, it has more depth to it than the Valentine’s Pouch. The cord is a braid of the metallic floss from the border and the vintage floss of the dress.

It’s perfect for herbs, crystals, cellphones, iPods, or other small objects — or all on its own. The image makes it look a little duller than it is.

I did the border in Chevron stitch,as it was the “Take a Stitch Tuesday” stitch of the week.

Technorati Tags: tast, chevron stitch, mojo bag, abundance, embroidery, fiber art, textile art, needlework

Size: 6″x4″ (unfinished)
Stitches: Cretan Stitch, Bead Stitch, Couching
Materials: Black Dupioni Silk, Varigated Over-dyed Silk Floss, Peacock Feather, Glass Beads, Frieze/Bullion Gold/Silver Combination Thread, Peacock Feathers
Status: Available

This is an experimental abstract portrait of the Queen of Sheba. Inspired by an astonishing midrash on her and King Solomon in The Nakedness of the Fathers: Biblical Visions and Revisions

It’s on Dupioni Silk with variegated over-dyed silk floss (cretan sitches), peacock feathers, gold/silver (real) couched cord, and glass beads. You can see the line at the top which is the top edge, the peacock feathers break that line a little — so it’s a touch bigger than 6×4. I wanted to capture her beauty, seductive power and mystery — which is why I went abstract. My intent is to evoke the sinewy lines of an hourglass figure with the mystery and beauty of peacocks, which I associate with Solomon’s temple and gardens. I almost started seeing a beautiful mysterious woman doing a fan dance with the peacock feathers.

An interesting turn came when I started pulling some of the individual feathers from the central “stalk.” The stalk came off in these gorgeous curls. When I started to play with how to use them, frankly it started to remind me of pubic hair. I’ve softened that effect in the final version, but you may notice that the curls are towards the bottom of the figure.

My husband actually thought the piece went this way:

He saw land, sea, and sky just by turning the image on it’s side. I’ll leave it to you to decide which is better! I am planning on doing a few more Sheba’s, once I get some more gold/silver thread. I’m really liking working with natural fibers, so I don’t want to use “metallic” floss on this if I can help it. This piece is also my unofficial entry to “Take a Stitch Tuesday” as this weeks is Cretan Stitch. I finished it last week, but something made me think to use Cretan Stitch!

This piece is unspoken for, so if you are interested let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll get in touch with you.

Technorati Tags: queen of sheba, sheba, nakedness of the fathers, fiber art, embroidery, peacock, goldwork, cretan stitch, take a stitch tuesday, silk, dupioni, beading