Sunflower and Berries (ND 309) - part two

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

March Madness is right upon us. No, I am not taking about the NCAA Basketball Tournament... I am talking about my needlepoint projects and their looming deadlines.

With tonight's immanent time change ... before we spring forward, I thought we could step back in time (together) to see how I came to this wonderful conclusion.

Sunflower & Berries
NeedleDeeva • ND 309
Stitch Guide by Robin King

The canvas is from NeedleDeeva and it is called Sunflower & Berries (ND 309). I will be teaching it at Nashville Needleworks on April 21, 2012 as well as at In Stitches Atlanta on April 27 & 28, 2012. I am so excited/honored to visit both shops; I have never been to either. Give Lisa Rusche or Bam Coleman a call and join me in the fun. Can't make it in person? I am sure they can pack the kit up in a wonderful to-go box... plus, the canvas comes with my stitch guide.

When I first saw Sunflower & Berries hanging on the NeedleDeeva wall in her TNNA booth, I thought the Strawberries would make awesome features in Stumpwork. My opinion is still true, and we can check that box as being a done deal.  I also wanted to do ribbon work to the Sunflower... as inspired by Wendy Harwood from Aristeia. OK, let's check off another box. The last thing I knew was a "must-do": use the new Sequins from The Collection for the small Orange Dots. Check that box, too. ☑ ☑ ☑

My next plan of discovery was to work on the background. Judee/NeedleDeeva told me the white background doesn't have to be white... she was just keeping it white so others could add their own color. (I went with a pale lilac thread.) Any of you who saw me work on this canvas at TNNA Phoenix in January knew I was all over the place looking for inspiration. I had an idea in my mind, and that's where it stayed. I did a lot of stitch/take it out/stitch again/take it out/stitch/take it out/ponder/stitch/take it out/pondered again... until I could get back in front of my computer.

My first thought was to look for or design a Trellis pattern. After all, a Strawberry or a Sunflower might be attached to a Trellis, right? Here are some previews I worked on with the help from Photoshop:

ZigZag Diamonds

I liked it but wasn't in love with it. Guess it felt too rigid.

I tried Crazy Rain, too. After all, both Strawberries and Sunflowers need a good rain to grow, right?

Crazy Rain

I was getting close... but I wasn't playing Horse Shoes. I still had a ways to go.

It was the curling vines which continued to call my name.

Remember the Mirrored Confetti Ribbons stitch I did for the wallpaper behind the Cake (Associated Talents/DMC)? Inspired by Julia Snyder's book, Darn Fillings, I began with her original Confetti Ribbons.

Confetti Ribbons

But, placing them side by side was too regimented.

eureka... the background stitch for Sunflower & Berries

So, I shifted them, and voilà... I found my background stitch; it did remind me of the curling vines. My quest was over. I was at peace. (I love it when a background stitch relates to the theme of the canvas.)

I am very comfortable with the concept of "open" canvas for the background stitch. I used Kreinik Braid size 8 057F... it was a nice pale lilac color... easy to use, too.  It gave a texture, and didn't get in the way. Bonus: it glows in the dark... who knew? Certainly made this "Halloween" kid happy.

I need a fun name for my background stitch. Add your suggestions in the comment box.

Next time, I will share with you more details of the Sunflower & Berries. Its design size is 8x8 on 18 mesh canvas. You will really have a fun time with this one!

Until then... happy stitching.  Robin