Tuesday, August 2, 2011

For the Birds...

I wanted to share Mary Jane's latest finish. She didn't think anyone would be interested. So please --- comment on this post and let her know how much you liked her finish!

Bluebird of Happiness
Check out her added musical notes. This birdy is NOT singing the blues!

I just finished this little number a few minutes ago. Here it is hot off the needle --

A Crow Above
Designs by Lisa
On 32ct Antique Copper
Recommended floss
A question - I had to use a hoop to get the pine needles in correctly. When I ironed the fabric I got hoop shadows still showing. It looks like the hoop rubbed out some of the color in the fabric. Is this possible? And how do I make the shadows disappear?

Not sure what my next project will be. Maybe that other long legged bird or a couple of other small ones that are out and about.

Heading out soon -
Denise

23 comments:

Teresa S. said...

Three very cute birds-beautiful stitching on both!

Nancy said...

Love your bird finishes!

Lesleyanne said...

Both finishes are lovely.

Teresa said...

Love the little blue bird. Your newest set of crows is delightful. Have no idea about the linen changing color. Good Luck.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

oh silly Calamity Jr. that' just for the birds,,, everyone loves to see your work and just imagine if you had your own blog!!!
Thanks for being the inbetweener Denise... lol
Be always in stitches.

Ranae said...

Mary jane did beautiful stitching on the Bluebird, it's so pretty
I love your crows, the way the feathers are stitched to show detail.
Two awesome finishes
As for the hoop marks, I iron with a little spritz of water
Good Luck

mdgtjulie said...

Lovely birds to both of you. I like that the bluebird is singing!! As for the hoop marks, IDK. I've never heard of anything like that happening. If you didn't use any overdyed threads, you could try washing it. Fill a medium sized bowl with warm water and a couple of drops of Dawn. Submerge project and gently agitate. Gently squeeze out excess water (DO NOT WRING). Lay flat on a towel, roll them up together, with the piece on the inside, and squeeze gently to get it as dry as possible before hanging to dry the rest of the way. Re-iron, and see if that takes the mark out. Again, I would NOT wash if you used overdyed threads, as they sometimes bleed.

Cindy's Stitching said...

both are really nice. I really like the bluebirds. I might have to do that pattern.

rosek1870 said...

Love, love, love Mary Jane's bluebird. It has been on my wish list for awhile. As for your hoop marks - I have never heard of the color rubbing off. When I iron my projects I put a folded terry cloth towel down for lots of padding and iron it face down with lots of steam. Never had a mark not come out - you could try that if its not how you did it. I have everything for Northwind I just have to hit my fabric stash to see the fabric I'll use!

Blu Stitcher said...

I love both. Bluebirds are so wonderful, I have to look up and grab both patterns. Stitching birds is really a challenge for me but I am in love with them.

Linda

paula said...

Have you washed it . . or are you one who doesn't wash them? I couldn't see the hoop marks . . but I didn't enlarge it either . . .try some Shout spray, or just put some laundry liquid on it and rub it in . . should take out what youu see.

paula said...

DUh, I forgot . . . LOVE the bluebird. . . looks like it should be on a postage stamp for spring.

And, I enlarged your crows and didn't see your hoop marks :0}

Angela Michaud-Mourer said...

Hi Denise--Love all the birds! The color combinations in both pieces are very eye catching.

As for the hoop shadows, been there, had that. Have always ended up having to wash the piece, I'm sure you've done that before. I wash by hand in a bucket of cold water and a little woolite, roll it in a dry towel and go squish to get extra H20 out, and then press it no steam with a pressing cloth. I don't know why some pieces get shadows and others not. Perhaps more humid weather?

Shari said...

both finishes are wonderful...you tell Mary Jane I love her blue bird.....one of my favorite birds...along with Orioles, Hummingbirds.........
I don't know what to tell you about your hoop issue.....other than grrrrrrrrrr...........

Lana said...

Mary Jane!!! Love your piece!!! It is beautiful!!! Of course we're interested!! We are all lovers of the handmade needlework here! The more the better. I don't know about other stitching bloggers but I get excited when I see pictures of other peoples work. It's inspiring!! Denise! Your piece is beautiful. Are your threads colorfast? maybe if you wash it? but if you do that you may loose all the color in the fabric....hmmm...weird, good luck!! I personally couldn't see any hoop marks, but sometimes it's hard to see such things on a computer screen!

Cross Stitch Crazy Mum said...

They are both stunning. The musical notes are the perfect finish to the bluebird and I never knew old crows would make such a great stitch. Great work both of you :)

Karen said...

Cute finishes for both you and Mary Jane. Hope you can find the solution for the hoop marks... hate that for you.

Mouse said...

love that blue bird Mary Jane it is beautiful and the music notes are really good there :) Denise can't help you with the marks as never heard of them taking a colour out before unless some of the oils have come out of the wood of the hoop with it being so warm ????? hope you find an answer to the problem .. love mouse xxxx

CalamityJr said...

Thanks, everyone! I love my LHN Singing the Blues myself, but all the approval I'm reading makes ME sing, too, and not the blues!

Denise, like everyone else is saying, there's not much you can do if you used overdyed threads. If the marks that I can't even see aren't near the stitching, you could put a damp pressing cloth over the area, but do so very carefully. I spent hours trying to get floss dye out of a gift, and it's not fun!

Catherine said...

Great pieces - love both of them!

Poppypatchwork said...

I stopped using hoops a while back and now use Q Snap's the are nicer to hold and they do not leave marks, Love both set of birds, it's great when you have a stitching buddy.

Anne said...

Love the bluebird! Such a cute design with lovely colors!! Love your crows as usual :D

Hugs Anne

Pumpkin said...

Oh, I love that pattern! Mary Jane did an adorable job by adding the musical notes :o)

Another great finish Denise!