Now how does that nursery rhyme go? Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well for this Needle Deeva Easter Egg House it is with lots of wonderful colors of silk ribbon! Believe it or not, I had all of these colors in my ribbon box here at the house.

They are even more silk ribbons that you don’t see in the picture here as there was not much left to show. Silk ‘N Colors Sprite Grass which was used for the light greens in the flower box and Gloriana Narcissus, which is such a wonderful yellow. I will just have to remember that next time I am thread shopping that I will need to replace these colors in my stash. I am thrilled to learn that all 3 of these fantastic thread companies will be the January TNNA Market in just a few short weeks!

I was surprised at the amount of hours that I spent growing the garden. When I finally decided on the technique that I would use, I convinced myself it’s a relatively small area and I can finish this in no time! Who was I trying to kid? About 25 hours later, threads beads and ribbons strewn all about me, all that was left to do is finish the basket and mail it off to the studios for the photo shoot for the March/April issue of Needlepoint Now. I was so excited about finishing and sending it on its way, that I forgot to take that final picture!

I need to thank Wendy Harwood of Arsitea fame for inspiring and empowering me for trying my hand at all this ribbon work. You know Wendy, who has the most amazing and cutting edge ideas in her stitch selections and thread choices, stitches and writes stitch guides for many of Melissa Shirley’s canvases…that Wendy.

I would like to introduce you to Sir Oliver Cromwell, an amzing piece of needlepoint that lives in my sister’s home. I have always loved this picture and have admired it for years, but this last visit, I really studied it.

It is beautifully stitched and in pristine condition. I am not sure the age of the piece and I should have asked. I meant to ask too, who is the woman shown here? Studying the stitches it was worked in wools and the style of stitching looked like it was a row of Continental and then a row of Victorian Cross Stitch. The shading makes this so lifelike that it seems to come to life. I marvel when I think that this was stitched all in wool, probably with no frame and the light was probably not what we have to work with today. Maybe I can ask that this be willed to me someday? Hmmm I wonder…

I have been keeping my nose to the grindstone since I have been back, stitching for Sample It Night at TNNA Market, writing stitch guides and working on the March/April Issue for Needlepoint Now. Market is just 2 weeks away and I can’t wait!

AlleyCat is sleeping in her garden. and until next time…keep on stitching