Haunted House window preparation

I've completed stitching the window frames and the areas under the arches.  I took Amy's tip of using just one thread, (the Sampler thread), for the areas under the arches.  It will probably be covered by the wonderful arches we will build.  I am saving the arches for last.  I'm afraid I may get bogged down with them like I did with Frank's pants and not make good progress.

Each window is a little different.  You are preparing them for the stone arches, so you should complete the framing first.  The small window in the center of the house, (pictured below), is totally covered with a stone arch, so only stitch the ledge and center frame of the window.

Tomorrow I will complete the window panes and maybe the moon.

Third floor window with the ghoul in the striped coat

I asked Amy about this window as I was not sure how to stitch the top part of the bottom ledge. I want to share the information with you. You need to stitch over two threads covering the brown line. The raised stem ledge will fit under it.

Stitch a couple of rows of continental, (with three strands of the thread listed in the guide), under the arch with the same thread used for continental on the sides. The bottom of this arch is not specifically painted for the small leaf-shaped points at the bottom tips. Just leave enough room to do one on both sides.

On all of the windows, do one row of continental on the sides of each window, (three strands), and two or three rows of continental under the arches. Amy suggests doing an extra row under the arches so there is no chance of blank canvas showing under the arches we will build on the top of each window.

If you are working on the bricks, check out the comments/tips under Glitter Glue posted on May 5th.

Have a great weekend.

Glitter Glue

Boy what a nice pop to the moon.  The Glitter Glue is super easy to smear or brush on.  I did a practice run and then painted the moon.  I'm not sure if we are to put glitter over the whole moon or not.  I just did the inside of the darker circle line.  We can add to the border later.  Super easy.  Give me something else to glitter!

Bricks on the bottom of the Haunted House

It appears that some of our canvases of the Haunted House were painted differently than Amy's.  If you look at the pictures that came with this months kit, you will see that the bricks end with the sides of the house on Amy's canvas, (picture on left).  Your canvas may not match.  The bricks go all the way out to the end of the painted canvas on Nancy's canvas, as well as mine, (picture on right).  Amy has offered a couple of solutions for us.

"There are two choices that I see  - - stitch it as painted and not worry about it. The viewer won't notice, just like none of us noticed until she started to study the individual pieces of the painting. The other option is to stitch heavier bushes in that area to cover the painted porch. She could build up some bushes on the opposite end to match if she wants. I am not planning on a thick coverage for the bushes so she would need to work them as if they were separate bushes."

Amy

I think I will stitch it as painted.  The bricks are nice and I would rather do more bricks than more bushes.  I don't know why!  

I didn't get to the glitter glue tonight...maybe tomorrow.

Happy stitching!

p.s., I saw Robin's class piece in person today.  OMG.  It is perfectly stitched with beautiful stitches.  She really has a talent for choosing the best stitch for every area.

Haunted House window tips & Glitter Glue

The directions for the window frames are on page 3 of the guide.  It is best to stitch the window frames before the window glass so you have a place to bury threads.  These window frame directions are for the lower part of the windows only.  The upper window areas where you see my BLT pointing to is covered on page 7 under STONE ARCHES OVER DOOR & WINDOW.  There is some brown edging right under the white arches. Even though I read the guide twice, I almost covered those upper window areas with the window frame thread.  Go read the Stone Arches directions before you do the window frames so you understand how it all works together.

And here is the Glitter Glue for the moon.  I hope to spread that gold glitter on the moon tomorrow night.

Robin is teaching this canvas at Columbus TNNA Summer Market

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Well, I finished it. What's it? My wonderful class piece from Needle Deeva. I have nicknamed it the Columbus Heart, but officially it is #150G in the Needle Deeva line. This canvas will be released at the June 2010/Columbus TNNA Summer Market. Lucky you... here's a preview.

I will be teaching this canvas & stitch guide to 20 Shop Owners during the TNNA Summer Market on Saturday, June 12, 2010. So far, 11 people have signed up; 9 seats still available. If you are a shop owner, or, if your LNS is going to the TNNA Columbus Market, consider taking my class. Judee from Needle Deeva is a sweetheart, as well as a fabulous canvas designer. This canvas is one of a new series of Hearts. Love it! ♡

The canvas is on 18 mesh, and will have a finished size of 4⅜" W x 6⅞" H. Fits into the Stirling Bag Self-Finishing products. I'm going to use the Black Shoulder Bag. Won't that make those colors POP! This canvas will be available from Needle Deeva with my Stitch Guide through your LNS this June. That's next month!

I stretched my mind and came up with new techniques: challenging, but not too challenging. Beads, Ribbons, and the wonderful Kreinik Holographic Braid were used. Awesome threads from Rainbow Gallery, DMC, ThreadWorX, River Silks, and Mill Hill were used, too. Did I already mention I had fun stitching this canvas? The Stitch Guide has been written. The Thread donations have been submitted. This evening I took its official PHOTO.

What an exciting time I have had! Thanks for letting me share my new NEWS with you. Robin

Begin House Part Two

I can't believe it is May already.  I am going to put Frank on the shelf and get going on part two of the Haunted House.  I am using my new frame stand from K's Creations.  It clamps on both sides of the canvas.  The Evertite stretcher bars are quite heavy, so this set up is better than a clamp on one side only.

I have read through the guide a couple of times and have a game plan.  That includes not getting bogged down like I did with Frank's pants.  I plan to work everything I can before doing the raised stem areas, and there are a lot of them.  There are the windows and the bricks to do.  Amy has picked out some great new overdyed threads for us to use on the bricks, as well as an interesting stitch.  And there are the bats...lots of bats.

And this guide is FULL of tips.  Great tips.  I will share one that is universal so those of you who are not stitching Halloweenies with us can use it.

Amy says,

"When a straight stitch meets a slanted stitch on a needlepoint canvas, there is always a decision to be made. Do I work the straight stitch and cover part of the slanted stitch next to it or do I not work the straight stitch and leave a tiny bit of canvas showing?  The decision breaking question is, "Who owns the line?"  In other words, which object is in front of the other?  If the straight stitch is on the object to the front, then, yes, stitch it to slightly cover the slanted stitch.  If the straight stitch is on the object to the back, then, no, don't take that last stitch; leave a tiny bit of canvas showing."