New Finishes

June 4, 2007

These are my two latest finishes. Ephillium #2 from The Silver Lining is a gift for a friend but she is neither a stitcher nor a blogger so I am not too worried that she will see this here. In the original pattern there is a wide border but I have opted not to include it. The piece is quite large and was challenging especially the flower part. Also the design is practically all anchor thread...now I have the beginnings of a great anchor stash!

The little bib is for our dentist's new daughter. Very sweet isn't it? When I was working I used to make a bib for staff memnbers when they or their wives had a new baby. They all seemed to appreciate it and it made for a personal sort of gift.

Kathy has an interesting finish on her blog. Check it out!

Another Silver Lining

May 9, 2007

Today's picture, since I seem to be on a Silver Lining theme, is a shot of Beth's "Most Wonderful Reds". She stitched it on 25 count opalescent evenweave over one. Isn't it magnificent?

I do have a thing for these Silver Lining flowers. This one actually looks like velvet.

Today is the weekly gathering of the Thursday stitchers. I have my camera out and hope to take some pictures of the various works in progress. We all have such different tastes but the results are all amazing.

Best Selller

May 9, 2007

Since I seem to be on a Silver Lining theme, I decided to add one of my all time favourites. I bought the pattern for this at CNSF in Toronto a long time ago. I bought it because a) it is gorgeous and b) I saw the model. Since then I have opened the shop Knowledge and Needles and I have to say that Dream Lover has probably been my best selling pattern of all time because a) it is gorgeous and b) I now have my own model hanging for all to see.

The framing job on this model is also excellent. We had planned a trip to the framer but for some now forgotten reason I could not join my friends there so they choose the mat and frame for me...did a good job didn't they?

And if I am talking about best sellers I have to mention an excellent book I just finished reading called The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Ask for it at the library.

A learning curve

May 8, 2007

I have not had to manipulate inside a computer programme for a long time and I am finding myself making lots of mistakes and re-doing the same thing many times in order to get this blog thing going. I am trusting that I will become more adept as I go along. I had some help from Wendy of Wendy ~ home at work with adding links to other blogs on the sidebar but I did such a good job that I got two of every link and did not know how to delete the extra one so I deleted them all and will try again later. My other challenge is to find out how to allow anonymous comments.

My picture today is a WIP of The Silver Lining's Epiphyllum #2 done over two on 32 ct linen.

I am doing only the flower, and not the border as seen in the original pattern. I am stitching it for a friend and she decided against the border. No problem for me as the border is large and all one colour. By the time I finish the flower itself I will be very happy to not do the border!

First Blog

May 7,2007

Welcome to Knowledge and Needles' first blog.

I got together with two different groups of stitching friends on the weekend and all the stitchers present encouraged me to create a blog so here I am.
Knowledge and Needles is a tiny cross stitch shop that I have built up after I retired from my "real" job as a Teacher/Librarian in the Ontario school system for 30 years.
It has allowed me to meet the most wonderful stitching friends and to attend fabulous markets like the Nashville Market over the past few years.
You will hear more about all these things over the coming posts.

I host a great group of women who meet regularly once a week, called the Thursday stitchers and I hope to feature some of their work when you get tired of seeing mine here too often.

I'll end my first post with a picture of a recently completed Silver Lining pattern, Rembrandt Tulips stitched over one on 25 count fabric.

The tulips seem like a good Spring like way to launch the blog.