Gold Threads & MR Fleur: Wire Check vs. Bright Check

My sweet SIL came by the other day and asked about Fleur.  I've kept him hidden so that I can focus on other projects with deadlines looming but… Fleur has a way of making an ENTRANCE and staying the center of attention.  So! So I just had to do a little bit of stitching on him.

Above is the most current picture.  I pulled out that gorgeous Wire Check Purl and worked the right side of the central petal.  Have begun to work the right petal, too.  That is what the thread work on the right is showing.  

Thought you would enjoy seeing the difference between Bright Check Purl and Wire Check Purl: 

Michele talked a bunch in class about the how to use the combination of these two beautiful gold threads to make a nice contrast between them:

The sparkle gold thread produces just can't be duplicated: 

Christa,Lilystitch www.lilystitch.com

M.R. Fluer Update

Yes, I'm a Magpie.

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

Falling off.. getting back on!

Well, I didn't really fall off of anything.  I just MOVED which means that my world had turned upside down and I'm just now getting it righted again.  Although I'm whining a bit, I did still manage to take a few days of vacation in the middle of it all so you were able to see the resulting posting on Sake Boxes.

Nothing new to report on Sake since vacation but I have been able to do a bit of work on Michele Robert's Fleur.  Two nights ago I put in two whole pieces of check pearl.

Last night I took them back out because I didn't like the slant then stitched in the rest and managed to do the section on top of the bottom right petal.  Both of these sections are worked in Bright Check which is a really thin and delicate gold wire that is wrapped into a small coil.  Basically, one measures the length needed of the Check.  Snips the Check in your gold work tray.  Run your needle through the center of the coil with waxed thread and then gently lay in the thread… not to tight, not too loose. Just right.

I'm just thrilled!  Progress!

I also pulled out MaggieB (my computer) and did a bit of designing.  Working on a quick to stitch project of a Tree of Life.  Excited that there is a three day weekend around the corner to focus on existing projects and new. Have a great week!

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

MR Fleur/ Day 2 Vacation

Just a quick update on MR Fleur…. be back tomorrow.

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

Relocating and MR Fleur Update

You know that you have arrived in the BIG Peach (ATL) when you walk into Tuesday Morning and its the size of a small Walmart.  Really, it was so HUGE that was almost overwhelmed.  Almost but not completely as I walked out of there with a new down simulated pillow and tea pot.  I highly recommend the down simulated as it stayed nice and fluffy all night.  Why a pillow? Well, see… it was mistakenly packed into storage. But I digress!

Although the needle and thread have just been found last evening so there hasn't been any pulling going on (get it? needle pulling thread…tehe!) as I try to find just the perfect new short term spot for the LilyPad, I did happen across a MR Fleur picture that I failed to update you on during this whole tornado of a life transition….

The central line went in sometime a week or so ago.  That pearl purle outline is not very straight but hopefully when I put in the filling check one wont see it.  This project is lots of fun and best yet, it made its way onto my stand for some stitching here and there while I house search.

Have a great weekend and hopefully I will emerge triumphant Monday with a new pad to go to.

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

M. R. Fleur Update: Top Leaf Pearl Purl

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

M. R Fleur Update: Pearl Purl

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

M. R. Fleur Update: Padding

Padding In.  :)

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com

Michele Roberts Class

Oh WOW!  I mean… OH WOW!  Just when I think that this journey can't get any better, it does.  Michele Roberts taught locally her Florentine Fleur de Lys recently and I had the luxury of taking that class.  Sorry the picture is not better (camera found legs and fled that weekend).  Meet the sublime Michele R posing with her piece in front of a board with some of her wonderful instruction.

Michele is amazing.  She absolutely oozes knowledge and is a walking history lesson.  She is well traveled.  AND she is very generous with imparting her knowledge to her students.  Michele has to be one of the most accessible instructors I have had the privilege to study under.  If you ever have the chance, take a class from her no matter what the piece is.

Here's a link a doc with the picture of the project (page 3).  Below is Michele holding up her class piece for SAS 2012 in Tennessee.  This is really cool as she's added crystals to it and a whole day is spent on destroying the various kinds of metal threads before work begins.


Yes, I did write destroy.   If you are afraid of Gold Work then Michele will help you get over that.  One of the coolest thing she does in class is go through all the ways you can mess it up and encourages you to do so on a practice piece before taking the first stitch.  Her practical approach in teaching will make the most concerned pupil be at ease.

Ok, I'm done blabbing about how great it was now.  Here is how much of my piece is completed:

One of the joys of Gold Work is that it does tend to work up quickly.  The only problem is that life is hectic right now (thus the slow posts) so I've not had a lot of time to stitch (are there violins playing in the background?).  Good news is that we may be moving to a less demanding situation in the next two weeks (keep your fingers crossed!) and I'll be able to get back to my normal routines.

Nessie is begging for some attention and I've been good and worked on Sake Boxes so I have both to write and update you all.  I promise, SOON!

Christa,Lilystitch
 www.lilystitch.blogspot.com and www.lilystitch.com