Scarlet Sails Miniatures

Stitchery-Witchery Project

2012-02-18T00:00:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday I got my late Christmas gift from one of the members of our local dollhouse club. This is a shelf with some witchery stuff for my Stitchery-Witchery project.

In my opinion, it looks great, isn't it? There are 3 shelves. On the top a little mouse is sitting. I tried to make a close-up pictures of the mouse but it didn't work for me at all.

Anyway, for my Stitchery-Witchery project I will add more details later and I want to add a little bit of aging to the shelf itself.

I also finished braiding a rug today for the same project. The most annoying and boring part of making a braided rug for me is braiding itself and fun part is to make the rug. The colors that I picked up were bright and variegated,

but mixed together they gave me exactly that look that I've been looking for this project

The furniture has been done by me. The cupboard was put together from the McQueenie's kit and crackled. If you noticed there is a little gap between the back and the right side of the self. It has been done in purpose. You will see later why.

I cut the pieces of the rocking chair on scroll saw and aged it after putting it together.

I am still collecting the accessories for my Stitchery-Witchery project. I need to make a witch, Vanessa, but I am not good at making dolls. Anyway, I will try.

Embroidered Dolls

2012-02-16T23:32:00.000-08:00

This week Nataly (my daughter) and I visited local bookstore. One of our findings was a book "Embroidered Dolls Collection" by Joan Watters. This is her new book on embroidered half doll pincushions.

There are 13 projects in the book with detailed instructions and patterns.
Just look at the pictures from this book. Don't you want to make one for yourself?

Miss Daisy Blue

Miss Tiffany

Miss hazel Violet

Lady Ainsley

Lady Darna

I do! That's why I started searching the Internet where I could possibly buy these half dolls.
I found this unique on-line store "Little People in Porcelain" that is owned by Robin and Fred Reed and located in Australia and their website is

www.littlepeopleinporcelain.com

They sent me the Catalog of the half dolls they have and I must tell you they have a pretty nice variety of dolls any sizes for affordable prices. I haven't ordered them yet, still trying to make my decision (tooooo much variety!)

More than that, even though I like the book a lot, I would like to use it only as inspiration and come up with my own dress for a doll. It will be a fun and challenging project!

New on My Etsy Store

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've been asked if I sell the firescreens or needlepoint frames, or the kits to make them. I do. I listed McQueenie Dollhouse Miniature kits in 1/12th scale to make firescreens, pole screens, needlepoint frames, button footstools, cabriole and turned leg footstools on my Etsy store. You can use this link to see them,

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarletSails?section_id=11132032

or you can click my Etsy store on the right hand side bar on my blog.

I hope it helps for those who looks for something different.

Have a great start for a new week!

Pole Screen? Seat Cover? Pillows?

2012-02-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today it was a rainy day - all day long! - very slow day. Anyway, the atmosphere let me finished 2 little projects.

First I planned to make 2 twin pillows, then I decided - too boring. may be I will finish one piece as a screen for a round Pole screen and the other piece - as a seat cover for a chair.

...or pillows?...

What do you think?

Jacobean Embroidery in Real Size and in Miniature

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

To redeem the monotony of plain surfaces has always been the aim of all arts, including Needle Art that is the oldest expression of decorative intentions.
This is particularly the case in embroideries of the type of what is commonly known as Jacobean, where the ground fabric is extensively visible.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18971/18971-h/18971-h.htm

“Jacobean refers to the elegant, artful embroidery that originated within the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The style continued to be a prominent art form for the following 100 years, through the Stuart successors from King James I to Queen Anne. Though the term “Jacobean” was not used until many years after the death of King James, the name derives from his formal title, “Jacobus Britanniae Rex”. This is the king of the King James version of the Bible; this is the period od Shakespeare; it is also the time of the early migration of settlers from England to the American colonies. When the settlers came to New England, they brought some of their treasures with them. Designs were adapted to the new culture and the times, and Jacobean embroidery became known in America as “crewel work”. Exquisite needlework designs of rolling hillocks, sweeping branches, graceful leaves, swirling vines, and exotic flowers were embroidered on linen with soft, slackly twisted, two-ply worsted yarn of brilliant colors. Such items as bed coverlets, table covers, chair seats, cushions, swags, dresses became family heirlooms handed down from generation to generation.” (“Jacobean Rhapsodies”)

More information about Jacobean Embroidery you can find here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_embroidery

If you remember, in my previous post I mentioned Cookie Ziemba. Cookie doesn't need to be advertised, she is a well-known and established miniaturist who gives a lot of attention to the historic details of the period she is working on whatever it comes to the setting the period atmosphere or needlework. Cookie is a Needlework artist and, as I know, she is only one in the Miniature Needle Art world who is doing Jacobean embroidery. Recently she put together some of the Jacobean designs in kits for the fireplaces, cushions, etc... for all of us. You have to go to her website to check them up:

http://cookiez123.blogspot.com/2012/01/newest-miniature-crewel-embroideries.html

http://cookiez123.blogspot.com/

I also would recommend you to check out her oil painting in miniature:

http://cookiez123.blogspot.com/2008/04/watercolor-on-vellum.html

I hope you enjoied this little tour to the history of Jacobean Embroidery.

Talking about Embroidery in Real size, I started today a new project - a little gift for my little daughter - Royal Treasure Box based on the kit designed by Irene Junkuhn. Here is how it looks now

I will post more progress tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!

Natalia

Book Review - "The Encyclopedia of Dollhouse - Decorating Techniques"

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last year I bought a book "The Encyclopedia of Dollhouse - Decorating Techniques", a comprehensive A-Z directory, with an inspirational gallery of finished works by William Davis, trying to find new ideas and techniques.

The book covers everything possible when it comes to the decorating a dollhouse:

how to work with the exterior walls, flooring;

how to apply wallpaper borders, paneling;

how to do mar belling, slate roofs, decoupage, etc...,

but I've already heard, seen, read about it somewhere else, on the blogs, in other books... This book is good for just a beginner.

Anyway, I decided to keep it, because unlike the other books this one has a chapter at the end with a beautiful Gallery of inspirational finished projects that make this book valuable.

For example, The Chateau De Fontainebleu with The Napoleon Library and The Louis XIII Salon that "contain furniture and light fixtures made by some of the finest contemporary craft workers in the field".

or Hampton Court Palace

The biggest surprise for me was to see the collection of doll houses and room boxes built by Cookie Ziemba. I know that she is a talented artist but I've never had the opportunity to see her masterpieces. For instance, An Artist's Home. "The structure of the house together with its internal and external finishes are the work of Peter Mattison, the interiors were furnished by Cookie."

The exteriors of Cookie's Vssall-Craigie House is "copied from a house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cookie matched the paint color for her model from a chip found on the ground outside when she was visiting the real house."

"The music room has the great advantage of side windows through which light can enter and bathe th beautifully decorated room. You can see the 48-mesh needlepoint work on the fire screen that is by Cookie as well"

"This 16th century-style dining hall was created by Cookie. The wood paneling, fireplace, paintings, and furniture are all accurately detailed to represent those of the era."

and many many more...

New Purchase - Books - Ideas for Miniature Bobbin Lace

2012-02-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

One of my new resolutions for the 2012 year is to learn making Bobbin lace in Miniature (and in general). Last week I purchased 2 books by Roz Snowden "Miniature Bobbin Lace" and "New Ideas for Miniature Bobbin Lace". Today in the morning they arrived and I just can't not to share with you my excitement.

Both books are packed with projects, endless possibilities and detailed instructions. Here is only a few pictures of what you possibly can use the Bobbin lace for.
Bride's Dress

Firescreen, Pole screen, tea cozy, table cloth, pillows, curtains, etc...

... and many, many more other beautiful and delicate minis...

I will be busy for a while learning Bobbin Lace techniques (it still looks complicated for me), so don't expect to see the finished projects yet, :)))

Dollhouse Miniature Button Footstool in 1/12th scale

2012-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I started and finished this little button footstool in 1/12th scale.
The footstool was made from the kit by the Mcquinee, the stitching was done on 49 count, Gutermann silk, the background was left blank (I like it more and more, saves a lot of time!, the cording was handmade.

Now it is available on my Etsy store

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92364535/dollhouse-miniature-petit-point

WORK IN PROGRESS: Aubusson Rug

2012-02-06T00:13:00.000-08:00

A little bit here, a little bit there, the progress of a rug is developing very slowly.

I WISH ALL OF YOU A GOOD START FOR A NEW WEEK!

Natalia

Jacobean Embroidery Designs - A Little Treat For Myself

2012-02-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Last month I decided to treat myself and purchased 4 patterns and 2 kits for embroidery needlework and Goldwork in real size, let's say a little rest from mini petit pointing.

I started with a pattern that is called "Minuet" designed by a talented embroidery artists Colleen Goy. "Prelude" is one of a series of miniature Jacobean designs. They are called "miniature" because they measure only 11 cm x 9 cm.

I was very excited to start this design and finished it in 3 days.

The picture doesn't give a justice and the quality of it leaves much to be desired, so I decided to give you a step-by-step description of a process itself. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoined stitching it.
This is how it looked like before I started

The 2 top Petals were worked with Cretan stitch and outlined with Chain stitch. Edges were worked out with a Buttonhole stitch on side of each Chain stitch but not through the background.

The 2 Large Gold-edged Petals have been done with alternating Long stitches of Light Brown, Light Blue and Gold Metallic thread. The edges are done with Buttonhole stitch using the Gold Metallic thread.

The small, heart-shaped Petals in Light Brown are covered with diagonal Satin stitch after padding. Then I did 3 horizontal Straight stitches evenly spaced across the Satin stitch and added 6 Fly stitches of Dark Turquoise over the horizontal stitches.

The tip of the centre section is sewn in padded Satin stitch.

The scalloped centre is sewn in padded Buttonhole stitch using Medium Blue, Dark Blue and Dark Turquoise.

The lower part of the centre of the Flower is filled in with rows of Chain stitch.

The 2 Trellised Petals are done in Straight stitch using Dark Blue and Gold Metallic thread. The shape was outlined with Double Knot stitch.

The Lower Petals are sewn with Buttonhole stitch over diagonally padding stitches and are finished with Back stitches around.

The Calyx is sewn in Whipped Spider's Web stitch and the stem is sewn with Stem stitch in the Dark Green

The Spray of Round Buds are done in Blue with satin stitch and back stitch around.
The Stems are sewn in Stem stitch of Medium Green.
The Vine with Leaves at the top right of the Flower are done in Stem stitch and the Leaves in Satin stitch.

The Large Brown Leaf is outlined in Chain stitch with Dark Brown and the Stem of the Leaf is outlined in Stem stitch in Light brown

The pointed flower on the left-hand side.
Each Petal is sewn in satin stitch fanning out from the centre with Light Brown, the a few stitches of dark Brown are sewn fanning out from the centre on the top. In the centre I used Gold Metallic thread in Chain stitch, filled in a bead in the centre. The small leaf shapes are sewn using Lazy Daisy stitch. The Vine is sewn in Stem stitch and the Stem is sewn in Stem stitch in Dark Green.

The tips have a glass bead sewn, the Stamens are sewn in Stem stitch with Medium Blue.

The Ground is done in Herringbone stitches across the middle section in Light Brwon and Light Green threaded together in the needle at the same time. The top line is sewn in Twisted Chain stitch with Dark Brown and the Lower line is sewn in Twisted Chain stitch as well but with Light Brown.
I put my name and the year under the ground: Natalia 2012.

I really had a lot of fun working out this design and wish I will be able to implement some of those incredibly beautiful stitches in miniature! Unfortunately, I am little bit disappointed with myself choosing the DMC floss for work. With all my respect to the DMC company, I don't like to work with this brand and didn't get the effect "WOW' after finishing the project.

Three designs more to go and certainly I will go with silk on those:

Thank you for looking and your patience!

Have a great weekend,

Natalia

Dollhouse Miniature Fretwork Corner Shelves in 1/12th scale

2012-02-01T00:10:00.000-08:00

I finished more 2 different kind of shelves today

and another one

Then I played with all 3 kind of corner shelves putting 2 of one kind together and I liked a new view of my shelves. Do you?

I guess back to the scroll saw. Now I want to cut more of them and finish a little bit different.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Aubusson Rug, 1/12th scale

2012-01-31T00:06:00.000-08:00

Not much to show today. Medallion hasn't been completed, just barely started, bad me, :((((

Two Framed Needlepoint Pictures in 1/12th scale

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

As you have noticed from the previous post I haven't finished the background, I decided not to stitch it and leave it blank and framed it the way it is.

For backing I used a white piece of fabric. First I laid down a stitched piece on fabric to get the feeling

I got it, :))) I liked it

I used Wonder-Under paper to attach the stitched pieces to fabric. I cut a needed size of Under-Wonder paper, laid it down on my piece of fabric with paper up and ironed it.

Then I carefully took the paper off

After that I laid the stitched pieces down on the piece of fabric faces up

Covered with another piece of fabric and ironed it again.
Now, when my stitched pieces are attached to the piece of fabric I tried the frame centering the design

I cut out the desired size, attached the stitched pieces to the backing and then to the frame and here is the finished pieces:

Another Project Has Been Completed

2012-01-28T23:44:00.000-08:00

During last week I've been working on stitching 2 projects - flowers in the baskets. It is not my design, the pieces were stitched on 49 count silk gauze with Gutermann silk. Tomorrow I will frame them.

New Footstool in 1/12th scale

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Do you remember my post about a finished piece and I didn't know actually what to do with it? After a while I put this footstool together. Now I am torturing myself deciding to put a cording around or not. I am thinking too much, true? Just need to do it.

Available on my Etsy Store

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Check out my new listing on Etsy Store:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91191207/dollhouse-miniature-settee-with

This beautiful piece of Dollhouse Furniture in 1/12th scale made by JB Miniatures was upholstered with my needlepointed piece. The seat cover was stitched on 40 count silk gauze with Gutermann silk.

Enjoy it!

WORK IN PROGRESS: AUBUSSON RUG IN 1/12TH SCALE

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry for that mess you can see on the image, I still need all those threads around. Anyway, it is a work in progress, isn't it? and sometimes it is not always should be pretty, :)))

What I tried to do last week it is to reach the center of the rug and start working on medallion.
I guess it will be my priority next week - to complete a medallion. As you can notice I still tried to stitch evenly on the left and right sides of the rug to get "a view".

I must say that this rug is a challenge to stitch, there are around 30 different colors and shadows to give an authentic look to the rug, but I still enjoy working on it!

THE WINNER OF 300 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY IS.....

2012-01-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Today is the day when I announce the winner of my 300 Followers Giveaway!

... and it is JUDITH from Cherry Croft

http://cherrycroft.blogspot.com/

Congratulations, Judith! and thank you everyone for participating!

300 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I looked at my followers' gadget and noticed that I've reached 300 followers. WOOHOO!

As my BIG THANK to all of my followers I offer today a 300 FOLLOWERS' GIVEAWAY, and no questions, no assignments to do! just leave a comment if you would like to participate.

The 300 FOLLOWERS' GIVEAWAY will be ended on the 21st of January and on the 22nd of January I will announce a winner.

As a gift I offer this new book "Miniature Needlepoint Carpets" by Janet Granger. The book has never been used and it contains a lot of information and patterns that were designed to be stitched on 18 count canvas with wool, but I am sure you can modified if needed.

Thank you very much for following me, leaving your comments and inspiring me with your own work!

Navajo Table Rug/Carpet/Cover

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another project. I finished it in 2 days. It takes me 6-8 hours (yes, a whole working day...) to complete a 1" - 1 1/4" pillow on 40 count silk gauze. The design like you see today takes a little bit longer. Only 3 months left till Chicago International show and I have to push myself to work harder. Luckily for me, I enjoy stitching and love to see how a new project is opening. What I don't like to do it is to put the finished item together. Hopefully, it won't take me too long to put all these pillows together and show them to you as a package with the Navajo rug. I think about duplicating some of the Navajo pillows I've done already, so it might take a little bit longer to display the completed idea.

I decided to make something different and stitched a table rug in Navajo style. I used 40 count silk gauze, The Silk Mill, but inside area of the medallion was stitched with the Gloriana over dyed silk.

I still have some room left on the canvas.

Hmmm, what possibly else can I stitch here?

What do you think?

WORK IN PROGRESS: AUBUSSON RUG IN 1/12TH SCALE

2012-01-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

I try to manage stitching my Aubusson rug in 1/12th scale while working on Navajo pillows at the same time. I know I missed 2 Sundays for the updates, but I really went back to the Aubusson only a couple of days ago. Here is how it looks now:

More than that I pulled out my another rug and add a little bit of stitches to it each day as well. It is difficult to see the changes on this one, because I work on the white background. I can tell you that during last week I finished stitching the background in the right upper corner.

Both rugs are on 49 count silk gauze and it makes it harder, but I MUST finish them before April starts, I MUST, at least one, :(((

Navajo Pillow # 3

2012-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

New Navajo Pillow has been finished. This pillow measures 1 1/4" x 1", was stitched on 40 count silk gauze with The Silk Mill thread.

So far I love my new silk thread, especially the colors.

Navajo Pillow # 2

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another Navajo pillow, still framed.

It was stitched on the 40 count silk gauze with The Silk Mill thread as well.

It is my favorite for now.

New Shelves for a Display

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

I finished 2 fretwork corner shelves, done on scroll saw. The wood I used is Mahogany.

Navajo Pillow # 1

2012-01-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

A new Navajo pillow has been finished today. It is still on the frame since I have plenty of room to stitch.

The pillow measures 1" square, was stitched on 40 count silk gauze with The Silk Mill thread.