Memories...

another page turned yesterday....

Buttermilk Falls
Falls, Pennsylvania

Generations of my family enjoyed these falls.  As kids I remember climbing up them, under them, and around them.  My Mom and her sibs did the same before us...what great memories.  Mom took the photo above with her little Brownie camera.  I love the deckled edges of these old photos.  

A few months ago I had the privilege of finally meeting the oldest living member of my family.  George Nichols, aka 'Cousin George'.  He being the taker of many beautiful black and white photos through the years.  We never seemed to live in the same place, so for over fifty years he was just stories and pictures to me.  Then I met him, this silver haired [of course, this is my family I'm talking about] happy go lucky man and his wonderful friend Roberta.  They'd driven all the way to Florida from Illinois to go birding.  Impressive binoculars and camera at the ready.  His silver head was a mass of curls and his eyes sparkled as he regaled us with a story of his enlistment into the service.    

As is typical of photographers, I can not find a picture of himself.
Although, he did take the above.
From the left, his Dad, Basil Nichols,
Uncle Cliff Nichols, Aunts Hilda Nichols & Wanda Nichols Peak.
The bows of the Weeping Willow behind them
hold many other memories.  

So today, I am feeling sad as we have lost this amazing person, though ever so grateful for having known him and of having the privilege to have met him as well.  

  

Perseverance pays off.
Living close to family has many benefits.
I.e. boxes of photos to dig through.
George Nichols fondly known around here as
Cousin George.
He will be missed.

Glimpses ....

Over the next few weeks, this one will be working quietly & diligently on secrets....

To keep you intrigued...
there are a few Swans that may recognize this
....remember mumms the word!

Shhhh!

Mothers' Rocker Biscornu!

Pretty happy with these results!
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu©2013
a Kimberly design

Fun corners!
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu©2013
a Kimberly design

View from the top....found the perfect leaf cup bead,
topped with a small aqua flower bead.
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu©2013
a Kimberly design   

My favorite gold paint, Golden Iridescent Light Gold [fine]. 

When I reach the gold step in any piece I'm painting,
it just makes me smile.  It's like my piece is saying,
thank you.

 

perfect...

...time to turn this into another little gem.  

Feels great to exhale deeply
when the fabric comes back as expected. 

waiting...

short post as I twiddle my thumbs....

This design was probably the hardest to design the fabric for.
I had many many trials before the colors came up correctly.
What shows on your monitor is not always what prints!

Final...sort of.
I actually submitted two different designs,
this one being my favorite.
The lines are finer and may not show when printed on fabric...so there is also a less detailed design being swatched out.
I just hope the colors are correct.  

Of course, you know I'm not twiddling my thumbs...I'm painting.  

Locally...

Day tripping...finding a little bit of magic 

here and there...

Entering wonderland aka Bok Towers in Lake Wales, Florida.

Very cool screen of 'air plants'
which I've plans to recreate a smaller version of....

This totally takes me to wonderland for some reason.
  Jabberwocky
BY LEWIS CARROLL

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

      The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

      The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

      Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

      And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

      The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

      And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

      The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

      He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

      Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

      He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe. 

Tricks...this was not even as tall as moi!  It's top looked similar to a bunch of celery.  Crazy plants in this place.

And of course, in this magical place,
there is a grotto....full of frogs!
Not a big fan of frogs/toads...
but these guys were so comical.
You can't see half of them!

a process...

Once a design is stitched, it's time to turn to the computer.  I sometimes drag my feet at this point, but once I've started, it quickly becomes obsessive for me.  Now is when the reminder to get up and move around goes out of my common sense mind and gets lost.  

Not the most exciting blog photo but you get the idea.  

My dogged assistant 'Sir Chancelot'.  Somehow he manages to squeeze in next to me.  Add a loud rumble of thunder and he's like a glue stick.  Thankfully, that's all he needs, no hysterics, panting, or pacing.  Just needs to be close.

Yes, he has a custom designed stitched collar by moi.  Vineyard Merino, beautiful to stitch with and wears like iron.

No thunder, time to see if that cat will play with me yet.
Even my down dog doesn't get to her!

fabric next....

another glimpse of progress...

stitching completed, charting begun, and fabric to design.  

All stitching completed, Yay!
Looks like a flying carpet in this picture.
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu
akimberlydesign©2013

Wonder what my love of stitching corners says about me.
Another mystery, to ponder or...
 see me just shrugging my shoulders.
c'est la vie
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu
a Kimberly design©2013

this weeks update...

...another glimpse 

Tons of texture and movement!  
Mothers' Rocker Biscornu©2013
a Kimberly design©

It was tongue in cheek confession time on FB this week.  There was a huge discussion on how much decorative stitching one needs to put into each piece of painted canvas.  OR...do you need to do any, 'What's wrong with just Tent stitching an entire piece??'  I enjoyed reading the comments, then decided for myself that life was just getting too serious and had to [in my humble way] interject some humor.  

I see nothing wrong with Tent stitching an entire piece as I love it myself.  It's very meditative for me, plus, there is the aspect of being able to hold an ongoing conversation or watch a show.  Wish I could figure out how to read...I know, books on tape Kim...but I'm not a fan.  I like holding a real book.  

Anyway, all kidding aside, I've spoken up before about Basketweave/Continental aka Tent stitch.  You know I love it.  I just can't teach a full day & a half class on it to a room full of stitchers that want to learn something new to them.  Hence, this latest design is chock full of texture, different threads and yes, there will be beads. 

So, lookout all of you wonderful members of the Huntsville Big Spring Chapter ANG, I'm back!  And this is all just for you!  

retired, reinvented....

I am fortunate to have made a lasting impression with a wonderful group of stitching friends.  All over the country!

In the spring of 1994 we moved from the Boston area to Huntsville, Alabama.  Another Yankee moving south, many thought I'd be lost.

Ha!  NOT!  I was directed to join a guild there and as soon as the boxes were unpacked, that was exactly what I did.  

I met the most lovely group of women and to this day and two big moves later, we are still in touch.  Of course, the internet has played a part in keeping us connected.  During a recent 'convo' on FB, I mentioned a desire to be back out there teaching.  Freudian slip or not, the conversation grew and in October of this year I'll be back at my old stomping ground teaching a specially designed Biscornu just for them.  

While I lived there they urged me to design a teaching piece for a guild seminar being held in town.  The piece was 'Mothers' Rocker'. 

"Mothers' Rocker"
a Kimberly design©

Sadly, this piece, frame and all was stolen.  I've not had the heart to re-stitch it.  I did pull a different color way thinking I would in the near future try to accomplish this feat but so far, no.  Just not happening.  

Never fear, the story continues.  I have, however, taken many elements from the piece to design Mothers' Rocker Biscornu.  The colors are similar but more vibrant and the fibers...mostly silks with a shiny Japan Gold to make all sparkle.  Below is just the beginnings.  Can't wait to design the fabric backing.  

Mothers' Rocker Biscornu
a Kimberly design©
especially designed for
the lovely ladies in Huntsville, Alabama!

Just a glimpse!

UFO's....

Whoa!  It was a cute toadstool yesterday morning, 

today, looks like an alien landing!  

Which reminded me of stitching I need to address. 

So the neighbors are thinking....
this woman is a tad quirky....
why is she lying in the yard taking a picture of ??

When you dig, not shrooms, in drawers,
you find cool pieces...
that you need to work on!
Clouds & Sky mini sock
a Kimberly design©

Can't wait to show you what I come up with for this!
Guess that sort of commits me...
Clouds & Sky mini sock
a Kimberly design©

Stumbled on...

treasures.  Found a bowl of these at a flea market.  Wishing I'd brought them all home with me.  

Buttonhole twist silk, nothing holds color like this!

Displayed for now in a pottery bowl I painted forever ago.
Called 'Percy's Bowl' as my big silver Persian named 'Percival' would sleep in it at night.
Crazy cats.

Thursday...

My head is so full of images I want to paint on canvas, I'm overwhelmed.  Just a little....and loving it. There are odd flowers, peacocks, dragonflies, swirls, dots, to list just a few of them.  So no post of new needlework this week.  Just picture me happily at my desk with brush in hand and paint flowing onto the canvas.  

'Movement'
a Kimberly design©

Moving forward...

my small treat piece is finished.  Time to get to work on projects that have been waiting in the wings.

Very soon there will be new pieces to post! 

Sir Chancelot all in paisley.
collaboration of a Kimberly design© & Karen Grant

aka 'Paisley Pup'
a Kimberly design© & Karen Grant

If you saw the earlier post of the beginnings...he had a white canvas background.  After completing the stitching I realized the white was too stark.  So I went the other way and painted it in with the magenta, then worked a simple open stitch to fill.  He still pops and the background is fun...may grow up to be a pillow soon.