What's Next...

Brynwood Needleworks - Completed Embroidery

 February Already?

 

I completed the "turtle footstool" embroidery piece yesterday. I spent a lot of my needlework time contemplating how I might finish this piece. I think I may have made my decision.

I have a wonderful, sturdy, little wingback chair and ottoman that's seen better days. It needs to be recovered or slipcovered. As we have three resident hairbags, (lol) I think the slipcover route might be the more wise option. 

I have more than enough of this linen fabric to create such a slipcover for that sweet chair and ottoman. That being said, I think I'll make this piece into an oval cushion to place in the chair once the chair has the new cover.

I'll be making my own oval pillow insert to get the exact size I need, and will turn my embroidery into a pillow soon. I think it's a good time to recover that chair, so I'm planning to do that this week, as well. I'll take before and after photos for you, perhaps adding progress pics along the way.

Still Dancing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Embroidery Progress

When I'm not homekeeping, I'm spending blissful hours with needle and thread. I'm making progress on my turtle embroidery, but not as swiftly as I did on the first half. It's alright. After all, it's not a race, right?

I'll keep stitching, and I'll share this one again once I've completed the embroidery. Then, you can help me with ideas of how I might finish it. What are you doing today?

Gentle Pursuits...

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Embroidery Progress

 

I spent more time working on my turtle embroidery piece over the weekend. In fact, slow and steady is winning. I made quite a bit of progress. I'm working on the center medallion now, but I have half of the motifs finished.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Embroidery Detail 1

I have four of the outer motifs completed, with four more to go. They will be a mirror image of the first four.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Embroidery Detail Two

 

I've also completed two of the inner motifs shown, plus the next two. The next four will also be mirror image of the four I embroidered yesterday.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Embroidery Detail Three

These are the other motifs of the first four outer motifs section. They'll also appear on the opposite end of the turtle embroideries.

I used chain stitch on the outer motif boxes, stem stitch on the floral stems, satin stitch, and French knots on the same section. The outline of the inner boxes is a split stitch, with centers embroidered in bouillon  bars. and rosette stitch. I've also completed (not photographed) the other two inner motifs of blanket stitch wheel, and another padded stitch. I'll share photos of them later in the week.

I'm pretty happy with the way is progressing. I'm having fun just following my muse, and embroidering away to my heart's content. Isn't that what it's all about? 

Lifting blessings for a peaceful, joyful, and calm week, following your own gentle pursuits. Tag will be here tomorrow, and I'll see you again on Wednesday.

 

I Danced!...

Brynwood Needleworks - Original Turtle Stool and Embroidered Cover

 

When I was a woman in my twenties, I stitched a piece exactly like this one. Not this exact one, but one just like it. I gave it away years later, and lost track of it.

One day while we were still in Florida, I came across this one in a shop and immediately purchased it. You know how nostalgia grabs you once in a while? This piece fairly demanded I bring it home. But it was in awful shape. I took the embroidery off the little turtle stool, tossed the deteriorating foam, and cleaned up the embroidery to use as a pattern. I wanted to stitch a piece of my own again. I originally wrote a blog post about it HERE.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Preparing Cover For Tracing

 

I pulled it out of the closet yesterday and began by taping the embroidery to my light box (It pays to have a husband who is a retired photographer. He gave his awesome light table to me!). I then placed paper on top to trace the design for my pattern.

Brynwood Needleworks - Cover Secured To My Lightbox

This is my tracing in progress.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Tracing In Progress

 

I'll keep the original embroidery handy for reference, so I marked the embroidery and the templace with a "v" so I can keep the orientation correct.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Design Transferred To Linen

 

I used my wax marker to transfer the design onto the linen. This will just iron away and disappear if I have any marks showing after I'm finish stitching.

Brynwood Needleworks - Linen Mounted Onto Scroll Frames

 

I was getting ready to choose my colors, when I had the idea to embroider the design onto my linen fabric using only white thread instead. 

Brynwood Needleworks - Embroidery Has Begun

Of course, I had to start working on it right away, so before my day was finished, I was needle dancing...and smiling. I'm really looking forward to doing the embroideries on this piece. I'll be personalizing the designs with my own specialty stitches. 

I may not mount it back on the turtle stool...or I may paint the turtle stool first...or I may make it into a pillow...I just don't know. I do know I can wait to decide. For now, all I have to do is blissfully embroider and enjoy every moment.

The Turtle Footstool...

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Footstool

Last year, I was grazing around on Ebay when I came across this little footstool. The seller didn't know anything about it, but I did. You see, I purchased a kit just like this in the early 1970s and made one like it!

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Footstool

I well remember the time I spent stitching away to create the shell for this little stool. I enjoyed stitching the satin stitches, French knots, stem stitches and even the spider web blossoms. When I finished it, I gave it away and hadn't thought of it again until I saw this one for sale.

The seller offered a "Best Offer" option, so I sent a note to her with my offer, which she accepted. In no time, I had it in my hot, little hands.

Brynwood Needleworks - Turtle Footstool Embroideries

 

I admit, when it arrived it was in pretty rough shape. Yesterday, I pulled all the staples and removed the stitched piece from the wooden turtle base. The foam that was used to cushion the design practically disintegrated when I touched it. I scraped all the debris off the wood, so it's all cleaned off now.

Brynwood Needleworks - Naked Turtle Footstool

 

I'm going to use the old needlework piece as a model for a new piece. I'll use a lighter or natural linen and draw the design onto it. I think the new piece will be stitched all in neutral colors, rather than bright threads like the original. (I'm still contemplating that.) I know I won't use foam, but batting instead for longevity.

 

As for the turtle footstool base, I'm going to paint it white before I remount my newly stitched piece to it. This little turtle is going to get a complete, fresh makeover, and then she'll move to the farm. Of course, I'll share my progress with you. (Don't I always?)