07.31.09
Posted in Stitching Genres at 3:08 pm by deRomilly
Working my way through my box… also on the “decorate a bathroom in my house” concept, there are three of the Kats by Kelly designs all stitched. These are actually stitched with the KbK signature in the corner, rather than my initials, because I feel Kelly’s signature is very much a part of the design, and they ARE her artwork. 
I love these. In particular, Gone Fishin’ reminds me of my own baby Rhys, gone now for a bit over a year. I miss that cat. He used to “fish” just like that on our dinner plates in college when we didn’t have a table to eat at. And if you called him on it, he would get this look like “What? Oh dear. How DID that paw get THERE?!” As if we didn’t know.
Yeah. Rhys. I miss him.
Click to see the entire image in a larger format.
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Gone Fishin’
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Paperwork
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Purrnina
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07.21.09
Posted in Stitching Genres at 7:37 pm by deRomilly
I have a box full of “half-finished” needlework. What I mean by “half-finished” may not be what you expect.
You see, what I mean is that the embroidery is finished, but the product isn’t. So. Half-finished. You see, I hate prep work and “finishing” work with a passion. the prep work has to be done or I don’t get to stitch. but the finishing work — which entails either “real” sewing (and me terrified I’m going to ruin a piece I stitched and love) or more work similar to the prep work (for example, lacing to a board for framing), or paying someone else to do these things is something I often don’t get around to doing. So, I have a box of unfinished finished objects in my studio that is getting close to overflowing, and none of my own work on the walls or chairs in my house.
Anyway, I noticed last week that the box was getting overly full, and something had to be done. So instead of tackling the main problem – the finishing work — I took photos of the work to share here over the course of the next few weeks. Yup. I’m still procrastinating about finishing them.
The first one is a piece that I did to hang in our bathroom, which is supposed to, in the long run, gain a Gothic Castle theme. There’s a shower curtain that is most definitely a UFO and will probably stay that way as well… I’m still considering whether to admit that I bit off more than I can chew with that one. I may go ahead and start a different one in a technique that’s more likely to actually get finished! LOL Click on the images for details.
Remember that I’m a horrible masochist when it comes to needlework. This is done in mostly satin and stem stitch… on cotton muslin, and measures about six or seven inches wide. When you look at the details — all of that satin stitch is done with one strand of DMC floss. I told you I was crazy…
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Full Gothic piece
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Gargoyle detail
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Detail of base
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07.17.09
Posted in Artwork at 7:00 am by deRomilly
The younger the better (to a certain point — I think I’d want to be able to communicate at least a bit while doing it!)
Back when my godson was three, he was fascinated by my rubber stamps. Although precocious, he wasn’t always careful to follow my rules, so I bought a set of inexpensive texture stamps and a set of cheap stamps and washable ink and paint just for him.
Sit down with your chosen small one , lots of colors of paints, stamp pads, crayons, and markers, and LOTS of paper. (Cover the kitchen floor and do it there — it’s a LOT easier to clean up than the dining table! and much more space to spread out in, too.)
Follow the child’s lead — at 3-5 they are generally naturally experimental – often we’ve forgotten the simple joys of making a mess by the time we hit high school. Assume the art supplies will end up trashed and purchase accordingly. They should be good fora year or so of this kind of use — weekly. You might be surprised – 10 years later I’m still using those cheap kid’s texture stamps!
What I learned from the three year old:
- Using all the paint colors on a foam stamp does NOT necessarily equate to a yucky mess.
- Mixed media is fun – I’m relearning this this year on my own…
- Colors that “clash” can create wonderful art together.
- FUN is the most important part of the creative process. Yes, there is work involved in the professional side, but even when it’s difficult, if some part of the project doesn’t trigger your sense of fun you won’t produce your best work. And yes, I do find this is just as true when I’m working with dark subject matter!
Little kids, when given permission to make a mess, create masterpieces. Borrow a friend or relative’s toddler if you need to — let them have a day off while you and the child create — just remember to warn Mom and Dad that their child will be coming home completely covered in paint (and be prepared to be just as messy yourself). Then go forth and have fun!
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07.15.09
Posted in Stitching Genres at 7:00 am by deRomilly
Needlework is my calming technique, as well as my business — needlework is repetitive, slow, and therefore easily becomes a moving meditation.
This isn’t to say that it can’t be frustrating at times — when I miscount the same area of pattern 8 times — when I get 1/2 way through a sock only to realize my gauge is so off that it won’t fit my 12 year old godson, let alone the EO for whom it was intended!
If blogging can be considered a form of “talk therapy” (If I didn’t have y’all to babble at about my current projects I’d drive my non-shimmying-non-stitching friends and family absolutely batty! All right, I probably do that anyway (but it would be so much worse!), then needlework is a kind of meditation therapy, at least for me. I’m fond of the slow craft movement — I like the way it encourages us to slow down and enjoy the time we have. I feel the same way about the slow food movement — though I do tend to multi-task while I’m cooking!
I guess what I’m trying to say as I babble onto the keyboard here is — try taking some time while you are stitching or cooking, or walking the dog or shimmying or whatever you do, just to notice what and how you’re doing it — and to enjoy the process, not the finished product. You may find yourself a little awed at the little pieces of control that go into doing it — how your hand controls the needle and thread, how your body doesn’t fall over when the dog pulls on the leash because it instinctively balances the weight… Feel free to be in awe of yourself. We’re pretty amazing creatures, in the end.
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07.14.09
Posted in Giveaways at 7:00 am by deRomilly
Aux armes, citoyens !
Formez vos bataillons !
Marchons ! Marchons !
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !
Anyway… So I wrote all the names from the comments on little pieces of paper and had the Evil Overlord draw one this evening after yoga class…
And the winner is….
Cheri!
and since I know Cheri will be concerned about the fact that she’s my web designer and one of my dance students… and OK, for full disclosure, my college roommate and heart-sister, too, when the EO started laughing about the name he drew, I had him draw another one for a second present…
and that winner is…
Angie B!
Angie, if you could email me your address I’ll ship out your new secret stash ASAP! It’s only secret until you tell us about it! 
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