Author: Quail Run Needlework

Southwestern Style Decorating

                       

                                                          Desert   12 x 10′ on  13ct.

As with other areas of decorating, the bold, bright colors used in southwestern style are derived from the land. Some of the favorite colors are:

• The intense blues, cobalt and turquoise are found in the skies above.

• The beautiful reds come from the colorful soil filled with iron oxide and the fiery red chili peppers that grow in the area.          

                                                                   

                                                        Canyon  11×9″  18 ct.
                                            

• The bright yellows and oranges are found in the colorful spring desert plants along with the gorgeous sunsets that take your breath away.

• These along with the neutrals of the desert, browns, beiges and grays and the desert sage greens make up the color scheme of the authentic southwestern style home

                                 

                                                     SW Design 15 x10″ 13 ct.

• The most popular color used in a southwest decorating scheme is Taos blue. This is a mixture of sky blue and a dab of violet. This color was introduced by the Spaniards who believed it would ward off evil spirits. 10×3” 18 ct 

                                          

                                                              10 x3″ 18 ct.

 All crafts and items associated with Native Americans have come to represent the southwest style of decorating. Some of the most popular are:
• Indian carvings , baskets, pottery, blanket weaving, rug making,
• Indian jewelry, drums, sculpture, dream catchers.
• Kachina dolls, skulls,  and long horns bleached by the desert sun hang in many southwestern homes.

So if you are looking to add a touch of Southwest design to your home,  Quail Run Designs has many choices we can tailor to fit your needs. See you soon.

If you like geometrics, Mindy’s Needlepoint designs will provide you with unlimited options to stitch.
You can take this canvas (9×9″ on 18 ct.), use wonderful threads

 

and create this
 

 The four season canvases, 9×9″ on 18Ct. are among my favorites of the new designs.

The purse designs are wonderful and so beautiful it is hard to choose just one to stitch!

 

More new designs include this unique Folk Art Christmas canvas(7×7″ 18ct.),

       

Birdy with nest (8×8″ 18ct) , 

and the Cat Clock with unique art deco cat buttons (9×9″ 18 Ct). 

So stop in soon to see these designs and more!  
Call if we can help you with your selection. 
 

In the afternoon session , Terry showed the class how to apply color with different pencils, marker and waterpens as we worked on fabric. Here is one great result. Working on fabric gave us a different application for this artform. We discussed transferring designs to fabric and canvas. The designs lend themselves to the use of many types of beads (tila, bugle, seed ) as well a memory wire or hotwire to create these abstract projects.

             

One good reference is Pattern Play. There is one copy in the store and more ordered so call if we can hold one or send one to you.

One of the students is going to design her own holiday cards like the one below .

Another student was working on designs to apply to tshirts  and yet another student chose to work on book front. Both are gifts so no pictures to keep the designs a surprise.

We all found this very relaxing , fun,  a great way to de-stress, and increase our creative confidence. We learned a repetoire of tangles(patterns) as a starting point for our own creative spark. Then, enjoyed practicing and refining our new found skills. 

The morning flew by in our Zentangle 101 class with Terry Dryden. So much fun I forgot to take pictures of the group but here is the wonderful progress they made on their first tiles

Terry has more fun planned for this afternoon after the lunch break at Grassroots , our favorite

lunch place in the complex.  Here is what she plans for the afternoon-a little color!

The most common questions I get asked in the shop is “What are you stitching?”  . While many of you have been so busy finishing holiday items,  I have been hard at work on models for the January  national needework market. There are many new designs that have been added to the Quail Run Designs line of wholesale canvases for  this market and I have chosen several to stitch, One of my favorite things at the art markets has always been the chili wreaths so this is the design I just finished stitching last night. I think I will finish it as padded hanging sign that I can either hang or sit on a easel for display. 

Chili Wreath  8.25″x8.5″ on 18 mesh $98

For the chilis, I used the Twisted Chain stitch, elongated cross and basketweave in various overdyes to give lots of texture and color.For the leaves, I used Threadworx overdyed perle#5  Evergreen . The background is stitched in one ply of Glorianna so the painted shading shows  .   I am just typing up the stitch guide, so the kit will be available shortly . Call if we can send you the canvas or the kit to enjoy stitching.

  This colorful southwest lady is my next one to complete.  The design is8x11″ on 18 mesh  and a perfect piece for canvas enhancement as there are so many options for threads and stitches.

The group arrived ready to stitch and bead again this morning. We are having dinner together tonight to celebrate another successful and productive class. Here are some more pictures of the detailed work by the students.

                                                    The group is hard at work!

                           Another beaded box lid in progress. Such a colorful and fun design

                    

                                   Goldwork on the Hiogi fan is progressing beautifully.

                     

                                         Exquisite gold and white crane in progress.

                       

                                                    The iris leaves in progress.

                   A phase IV design , the butterflies, was originally stitched as an obi, a sash for traditional Japanese dress, keikogi worn for Japanese martial arts,and part of kimono outfits.
This level is a all metal work so challenging and time-consuming.

   Beautiful flowers from Brenda and delicious treats 

                for our last stitching day.

 

      

Great progress is being made in this busy class.

Here is the progress of the beading piece and the model the student is work from.

“Japanese Bead Embroidery is the integration of beads into Japanese embroidery design and techniques. Japanese beadwork traces its origins to the Meiji period in Japan (1868-1912). The influence of Western tastes and fashions on Meiji society brought about an application of Japanese beadwork to traditional Western accoutrements, producing such highly popular accessories as the beaded handbag. The 20th century witnessed a global embracing of the craft, with top Western fashion houses selling the finest silk, lace, velvet and rich brocades enhanced by Japanese bead workers.”

Another busy class day. Everyone was hard at work on their projects. The highlight of the day was this beautiful fan design that Richard completed . This is a Phase III piece so a fine accomplishment. Kudos to Richard !

                                

             Our class hard at work!                                          Phase III fan project completed

A closer look at the beautiful work done by Richard on his completed fan.

Today is Day 1 of our five day Japanese Embroidery and Beading Class with teacher Mary Alice Sinton.

We have nine students from beginners to master stitchers in the group as well as a new beading student. Here are some pictures of what the group is working on in this class.

Beginning of beading top

Fan Design

Sensu , a beautiful design with goldwork around butterflies

Delicate  leaves of Iris design on beautiful silk fabric

Striped purse just started. 

Phase IV goldwork piece

The class had a lovely lunch at Grassroots and enjoyed our lovely fall weather . Our student, Richard told me it was 45 degrees F and raining when he left Seattle so he was thrilled with our 82 degree “fall “weather.

Please stop in for a visit and see these beautiful works in progress.

Susan