Events ....

This coming week finds me winging my way back to

TEXAS!!

Wow ....

I truly can't believe it's been over six years since

I moved from Austin to Florida.

Friend Corliss kept putting the bug in my ear to

submit teaching pieces to 

Blue Bonnet Studios

I finally did and well, 

here I happily go!

Below are the two pieces being taught this year.

Yes, I've submitted for next year and two more pieces

were accepted.  When general sign up is open, I will

definitely post the choices here and on my Facebook pages.

"Yes, I'm Special"
hand painted needlepoint design and guide by
a Kimberly design

Soooo, special ....

Close up of needle weaving for those
glorious eyed feathers.

"Tree of Life"
hand painted needlepoint design and guide by
a Kimberly design

Cutest mushrooms ever!

Beading and ribbon work of all sorts.

.... there are almost always bullions ;-)

...sharing techniques

My technique for a beaded edge to finish off your beautiful needlepoint.

This is a technique I developed years ago when I did all

charted work and wearable art pins.

The edge of beads provides the perfect folding line.

Use size 11 beads with matching beading thread.

[tip...I always beeswax my beading thread and

I use a short John James ball point size 10 beading needle.]

Follow Step One and Step Two as charted.

Next, trim away excess canvas, leaving about

an inch plus all the away around as in first photo.

Now miter corners and fold in sides.

I lightly press with a warm iron. This does not

require you to mash with the iron, there is 

enough sizing in your canvas that lightly

pressing will hold it in place.

Insert a piece of felt under the folded edges.

This adds some extra depth to the piece and

it hides the folded edges from being seen

through any openness in your work.

 I mount all on covered acid free foam core, 

cut about 1/4" smaller than beaded edge piece.

The center picture above shows the felt

being attached.  I use white glue for this, let 

it dry completely.  The last step is to attach the 

stitched piece to the board. This is accomplished

with clear or white nylon thread. This enables

you to sew through the edges of your piece without

the stitches showing. Sew through piece and just the edge

of the foam covered board.  

Now you can hand this all to your framer to mount 

on a backing board [I use the same white glue for this.]

I came up with this so that there is no glue on my 

needlework! My pieces float beautifully in 

the shadow boxes I use for framing. 

Tada!

Kimberly!

My very first Christmas card arrived today!

... with a note.

"No posts since September ...!?!"

Oh my ... posting is truly hard for me when

I can not share what I'm painting and stitching 

with all of you.  

I do post often on Instagram, love the ease

of posting photos of the everyday happenings

in my life on that platform.

I've heard from a few of you that have 

wondered where I've been, here is a re-cap 

since September. 

Gorgeous late summer night here in Florida.

The perfect little model.
I truly wasn't positive I could
still sew like this!

The next little artist in the family,
chalk is his present
medium of choice.

Ginger plants that were just the color
I needed one day.
Yes ... they'll probably end up
in a design at some point.

A morning with my brother and sis in law.
Mimosas, Music by Munn Park Saints,
and ART!
Of course ...

I'm active in a group called
'4 Squared Makers'
ANYONE, can join in ... you purchase
'4' -  4" square wood blocks from our creative leader.
You'll be given a theme for the next pop up show,
then you get creating in any medium.
The above is colored pencil by me on smooth stock,
mounted on the wood block.
I offer optional framing to whomever buys my pieces.
For more information you can find us on
FaceBook or email
betsy@thebohrergallery.com

ART, lots of art.
I have Giclee reproductions available for many
of my original art. 
Then there are the play pieces I've
stitched up here and there that
were never intended for reproduction. 
These are all available for purchase.
You can contact me if any strike your fancy
via email at
aKimberlydesign@gmail.com

Gecko and Dragonfly art blocks.

Love a flower show ....

I can needlepoint anything!
I was gifted this super super fine mesh
copper last summer.
It looks like soft fabric until
you catch your finger on it!
But oh! the results!

This one was snatched up by
my long time friend and
fellow stitcher/designer Michael Boren.

'Colors of Autumn'

ArtCraft Festival in St Pete and
Palace Pizza in Lakeland.
Wonderful day of beautiful weather,
great friendship,
amazing art and pizza [gluten free] in
my favorite Lakeland spot.

My kind of selfie ...
the bird was an after thought.
Karen Hennessy of Zecca loves
to paint crazy birds and posts
many pictures of the real thing
 that speak to moi.
 I love to sketch them.  

  

'Ruth and Harley'
Hard to see as this is straight out of my
sketchbook.  There is a personal push to
draw every day .... no guarantee and no
beating myself up if I don't.
Ruth is my amazing friend and distributor
Ruth Schmuff Designs
@ BedeckedandBeadazzled.com

'Winter Collection'
15" x 30" original painting titled
'Magic and Grace'
Framed Gallery of Trees and
Hand decorated painted box
also with a Gallery of Trees variation.

I really love how this turned out.
 It is for sale but ...
I really love it so much ...
I actually put a nail in the
wall and hung it.

'Magic and Grace'
makes me smile
complete feel good piece.

Anyone who has known me
'since my beginnings'
in the needlework industry,
will remember the above tassel.
This is 'me' giving you a sneak peek
at what is happening
behind the scenes.
Wait for it ...

I spent about three hours standing
on a cement floor
selling art last Friday in a
crazy Whoville Hat. 
I just could not resist being silly and
getting myself into the
holiday spirit of the season.
 I'm often a Scrooge until about
Christmas eve. 
Shown here with great friend, Betsy Bohrer,
 who submitted to joining in on my madness
for a whimsical night of silliness.
We've been labeled
'Mischief and Mayhem'
and
may have fully earned those titles
once again.
What a great friend.
May the spirit of the season find you too!

What a summer...

...this has been !

From my turning 60 Birthday Bash in Baltimore

to my first Fine Art Show in Florida!

So maybe I should counter that this 

started last October in my hometown

with my first ever 'one woman show'

featuring my 

Rendered In Thread

free form needle ART!

.... or maybe all the way back to the mid 90's

when a friend said ...

'Kimberly, you should self publish your designs'

I'm living a charmed life, 

populated by an amazingly supportive family

and like minded friends,

that just seem to be there for me always.

This makes me feel very grateful and blessed.

This year isn't over

but ... for the next couple of weeks

I'll be here ...

I don't imagine I'll be sitting much as I'll
be entertained or entertaining my grandkids!
Yay!

Just finished painting this amazing creature.  
Between the patron and myself this has been titled
"Dragonfly Dreams"

This was a completely impulsive project.
I foolishly dreamed I'd finish this
in time to display in my booth for
Fine Art at the Magnolia.
Completed last night
it measures 3' x 6' and is winging
its way to its new home tomorrow.

These borders were an adventure
all by themselves ... funny how fabric
can bleed when you get it too wet!

Ready for flight ...

The process ...

many ask, 

"So what is it that you do, Kimberly?"

Original drawing of "Trio"©
21"square, marker rendering.
This was the beginning of my feature piece
for next weekends fine art show.
[info below]

Biggest piece of canvas this one has
ever painted.  I had to borrow an easel!
Which if you'd seen me trying to put this
together, you'd still be laughing.  

Finished hand painted canvas of
"Trio"©
From here, it was mounted to stretcher bars to 
allow me to go crazy with cotton and silk fibers,
silk wrapped gimp [love this stuff] from
Tentakulum Painters Threads


amazing Silk Ribbon from
River Silk,

 metallics, silk, and fine copper mesh from
  Kreinik Mfg.

Doug Kreinik found this awesome 
copper mesh for me after much 
fruitless searching on my part.
My dragonflies would be flat winged 
without his generous assistance.

Rendered in thread, one of a kind,
fiber art, mixed media canvas by
a Kimberly design©

As I rendered this piece .... my hands just seem to know what
to do, what a magical journey this piece has been for me.
The outlined flowers in the background, the hatchmarked
sparkle ... stems, leaves, many moons .... and oh!
Those WINGS!!!

The 'viney' things ...
that's the silk wrapped gimp.

Meet Betsy Bohrer!
She is the creator and curator of two different
art venues here in mid Florida.
Both of which she graciously asked this one
to be a part of.  She is helping me introduce
the world, one small step at a time, to my
world of needleart. 
I met Betsy about two years ago during a one
woman show of her beautiful works of art.
The friendship took off from there. She introduces
us as Mischief and Mayhem. You'll have
to guess at who is what ;-)
[although, I think we trade back and forth]

If you're in the area of Central Florida ...
Please join us next weekend for
Fine Art at the Magnolia
We are a collection of seventeen Fine Artists 
from all walks.
Ranging from pottery to paint to
sculptural basketry to
digital to photograpy
to sculpture
to jewelry to glass.
Something for everyone.
... and all in air conditioned comfort by 
beautiful Lake Mirror in the historical
Magnolia Building.

My proud Mom!
Love this picture of her!