Bead Embroidery - St. Natalia the Miracle-Worker Beaded Orthodox Icon

Today I picked up my framed beaded work from the Art Supply store. St. Natalia is completely finished. This is my gift to my daughter Nataly.

The Martyrs Adrian and Natalia were married in their youth for one year prior to their martyrdom, and lived in Nicomedia during the time of the emperor Maximian (305-311). The emperor promised a reward to whomever would inform on Christians to bring them to trial. Then the denunciations began, and twenty-three Christians were captured in a cave near Nicomedia.

They were tortured, urged to worship idols, and then brought before the Praetor, in order to record their names and responses. Adrian, the head of the praetorium, watched as these people suffered with such courage for their faith. Seeing how firmly and fearlessly they confessed Christ, asked: “What rewards do you expect from your God for your suffering?” The martyrs replied: “Such rewards as we are not able to describe, nor can your mind comprehend.” St Adrian told the scribes, “Write my name down also, for I am a Christian and I die gladly for Christ God.”

The scribes reported this to the emperor, who summoned St Adrian and asked: “Really, have you gone mad, that you want to die? Come, cross out your name from the lists and offer sacrifice to the gods, asking their forgiveness.”

St Adrian answered: “I have not lost my mind, but rather have I found it.” Maximian then ordered Adrian to be thrown into prison. His wife, St Natalia, knowing that her husband was to suffer for Christ, rejoiced, since she herself was secretly a Christian.

She hastened to the prison and encouraged her husband saying: “You are blessed, my lord, because you have believed in Christ. You have obtained a great treasure. Do not regret anything earthly, neither beauty, nor youth (Adrian was then 28 years of age), nor riches. Everything worldly is dust and ashes. Only faith and good deeds are pleasing to God.”

On the pledge of the other martyrs, they released St Adrian from prison to tell his wife about the day of his execution. At first St Natalia thought that he had renounced Christ and thus had been set free, and she did not want to let him into the house. The saint persuaded his wife that he had not fled from martyrdom, but rather had come to give her the news of the day of his execution.

They tortured St Adrian cruelly. The emperor advised the saint to have pity on himself and call on the gods, but the martyr answered: “Let your gods say what blessings they promise me, and then I shall worship them, but if they cannot do this, then why should I worship them?” St Natalia did not cease to encourage her husband. She asked him also to pray to God for her, that they would not force her into marriage with a pagan after his death.

The executioner ordered the hands and the legs of the saints to be broken on the anvil. St Natalia, fearing that her husband would hesitate on seeing the sufferings of the other martyrs, asked the executioner to begin with him, and permit her to put his hands and legs on the anvil herself.

They wanted to burn the bodies of the saints, but a storm arose and the fire went out. Many of the executioners even were struck by lightning. St Natalia took the hand of her husband and kept it at home. Soon an army commander asked the emperor’s approval to wed St Natalia, who was both young and rich. But she hid herself away in Byzantium. St Adrian appeared to her in a dream and said that she would soon be at rest in the Lord. The martyr, worn out by her former sufferings, in fact soon fell asleep in the Lord.

Bead Embroidery - St. Natalia the Miracle-Worker Beaded Orthodox Icon

Last weekend I finished recently started bead embroidery project - the icon of Saint Natalia.

This is a gift to my little daughter Nataly.

I left my work at the framing company, I wanted this icon to be framed professionally and under the glass.

I loved working on it very much. It was relaxing and in spite of the fact it was not a challenging project I put a lot of love and all my soul in it.

Next time you will see it framed.

Natalia

Dollhouse Miniature Needlepoint Rug BLOOMING CARNATIONS

This month of May, when everything around is in blossom, inspired me on creating a new dollhouse miniature needlepoint rug that I called BLOOMING CARNATIONS.

Blooming carnations fill up the medallion of the rug. Apple in blossom surrounds it bringing joy and happiness of Spring. The big colorful roses in the main border symbolises the garden of Eden that is protected by four dragons placed on the corners of the rug.

365 x 530 stitches

It measures:

if stitched on 40 count silk gauze - 9.13" x 13.25" or 23,18 x 33,66 cm

if stitched on 49 count silk gauze - 7.45" x 10.82" or 18,92 x 27,47 cm

Goldwork Bird Is Framed

I found a suitable frame and framed my Goldwork Bird. I hesitated to post the pictures. It didn't matter how I turned the picture or where I put it I was not satisfied with the result. No doubt I don't have any regrets about taking the class but still have mixed feelings about this project and feel like it was one of those experiences when I look at this work as an example how not to do Goldwork. First of all, this bluish-greyish background, I can't stand it, but it was not my choice unfortunately...

I'll keep it and may be find other use for it.

RSN Workshop - Goldwork Bird - San Francisco April 2015

My first workshop with RSN was held on 19-20th of April, 2015 in Burlingame, CA.

During the first day I was able to finish all padding. During the second day we started working with gold thread. Unfortunately I had to leave earlier, because it is a long way to drive to Washington state, and another wonderful class was waiting for me - Japanese Embroidery, but later about it...

Today I finished my Goldwork Bird. It is still stretched on the frame and this is how it looks like now. I haven't given a thought yet how to use the bird, may be I will just frame it.

Jacqui McDonald, who taught the class in goldwork, comes from a background in Conservation and Restoration, showed us 2 different types of padding that are used in Goldwork, a method of applying couched threads, and taught us how to apply Pearl Purl Outlines and Cutwork.

Natalia

St. Natalia the Miracle-Worker Beaded Orthodox Icon

They say that another activity is a great way to have a break. So, when I am tired with a project I am working on at the moment, to change an attitude I jump on another project, a small one, that will take my thought away and bring more energy and strength to finish the first project.

Today I start absolutely different way of relaxation, a little variety - St. Natalia the Miracle-Worker orthodox icon in beads.

It will make a nice gift for my daughter, Nataly.

EGA's Correspondence Course "Metal Thread Embroidery" by Kay Stanis - Part 1

I've signed up with EGA's (www.egausa.org) correspondence course "Metal Thread Embroidery" by Kay Stanis. I was happy to know this course was written by Kay Stanis, an internationally known Master Craftsman, Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. (EGA) and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery (www.the-gilded-edge.com/about). I was more than thrilled to know that Kay is planning to give classes at the end of April in Spokane and I will have a chance to meet her.

I commited to start my 6 months course on the 1st of April (no Fool's day for me) and today I received my first lesson

The most exciting part about the course is that there is no Supply List. I am allowed to use whatever I want, whatever I find. I've already collected a nice stash of gold and silver metal threads, cords and trims. What you can see on the picture is just a small part of my collection.

Now I am off to read my first lesson.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Natalia

Baker’s Dozen by Michele Roberts - Diamonds! Phodes Balloon Bargello

I finished second shape from the series Baker's Dozen by Michele Roberts. It is Rhodes Balloon Bargello - Diamonds!

The size of finished square is 4" x 4". I used 1,5 cards of Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays Needlepoint ribbon N15, 1 card of Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works metallic ribbon F5 and 3 different colors of 3 mm bicone aurora borealis crystals.

I am very excited to start working on another shape.

Natalia

Painting 2 - Sir Joshua Reynolds,

Sirr Joshua Reynolds, (born July 16, 1723, Plympton, Devon, England—died February 23, 1792, London), portrait painter and aesthetician who dominated English artistic life in the middle and late 18th century. Through his art and teaching, he attempted to lead British painting away from the indigenous anecdotal pictures of the early 18th century toward the formal rhetoric of the continental Grand Style. With the founding of the Royal Academy in 1768, Reynolds was elected its first president and knighted by King George III.

Reynolds was the leading English portraitist of the 18th century. Through study of ancient and Italian Renaissance art, and of the work of Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck, he brought great variety and dignity to British portraiture.

His paintings are not perfectly preserved due to faulty technique. The carmine reds have faded, leaving flesh-tones paler than intended, and the bitumen used in the blacks has tended to crack.

Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/500800/Sir-Joshua-Reynolds
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/sir-joshua-reynolds

Dollhouse Area Rug BALIKESIR - Petit Point Pattern

This week new design is a Dollhouse Miniature Petit Point pattern for an are rug BALIKESIR. This is a reproduction of an antique rug, 19th century., modified.

The rug displays a different stylization of the fight between the dragon and the phoenix. This is a symbolic representation of spring when the earth meets heaven and the God unite with mother goddess to produce fertile spring rains.

The pattern was recreated and modified from a survived piece of an actual rug, depicted on this image:

194 x 361 stitches, 8 colors

22 canvas - 8.82" x 16.41" (22,40 x 41,68 cm)

40 count silk gauze - 4.85" x 9.03" (12,32 x22,92 cm)

The pattern is charted for stitching with DMC. However, I would advise to stitch with Gloriana silk, or another over dyed silk of your choice to give a rug that antique worn look.

Baker’s Dozen by Michele Roberts - Hilton Amadeus Clustered Hearts

I finished one of the Baker's Dozen by Michele Roberts - Hilton Amadeus Clustered Hearts. I made it square shape.

I added white pearl beads 4mm and 6 mm as the instructions call.

I have an idea how I am going to use it, but later about it.

I can't wait to start working on the next one.

Natalia

Baker’s Dozen by Michele Roberts - Hilton Amadeus Clustered Hearts

The ribbon hasn't arrived yet, but I added a little character to my piece - Japanese beads, size 15.

Hopefully, I receive all supplies I need in a short time and start fully enjoining stitching.

For now these square looks like this

Natalia

Baker’s Dozen by Michele Roberts - Hilton Amadeus Clustered Hearts

I started Baker’s Dozen project with a design that is called Hilton Amadeus Clustered Hearts.

I used Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays ribbon NP120 for background and Trebizond silk goldish color for 8 Amadeus hearts.

I chose to stitch a 4" square instead of an oval shape. Loving texture a lot. This is probably the most important part that I was missing while doing petit point on silk gauze.

One card of ribbon was not enough for my square to fill up. So, while I am waiting for another to arrive, I decided to add some beads to the hearts that instruction doesn't call for. It won't take long time and I will update the process shortly.

Have a wonderfull weekend,
Natalia

Dollhouse Area Rug BATI ANADOLU - Petit Point Pattern

Today I would like to present you a new dollhouse miniature petit point pattern for an area rug - Bati Anadolu. This is a reproduction of an antique Turkish rug, 15th century.

This design can make a beautiful pillow in real size if stitched on 22 canvas.

The dragon motifs, that you can see in the field of the rug, were originated in the Far East. They represent a mythological creature believed to be the master of air and water. It is also the guard of the tree of life.

The pattern was recreated from a survived piece of an actual rug, depicted on this image:

321 x 297 stitches, 12 colors

22 canvas - 14.59" x 13.50" (37,06 x 34,29 cm)

40 count silk gauze - 8.03" x 7.42" (20,38 x 18,86 cm)

50 count silk gauze - 6.42" x 5.94" (16,31 x 15,09 cm)

There are also other patterns available based on that design:

Bati Runner:

Bati Staircase Runner

Bati Pillows:

The pattern is charted for stitching with DMC. However, I would advise to stitch with Gloriana silk, or another over dyed silk of your choice to give a rug that antique worn look.

Painting 1. Abraham Solomon "The Lion in Love"

Abraham Solomon (English, 1824-1862) "The Lion in Love", Oil.

Abraham Solomon was a successful Victorian painter specializing in contemporary social scenes and in other genre.

Born as the second son of Meyer Solomon, a Leghorn hat manufacturer, by his wife Catherine, in Sandys Street, Bishopsgate in east London. His father was one of the first Jews to be admitted to the freedom of the city of London. Two members of the family besides Abraham became artists. A younger brother, Simeon Solomon, acquired much acclaim as a Pre-Raphaelite painter. A sister, Rebecca Solomon, exhibited domestic subjects at the Royal Academy.

At the age of thirteen Abraham became a pupil in Sass's school of art in Bloomsbury, and in 1838 gained the Isis silver medal at the Society of Arts for a drawing from a statue. In 1839 he was admitted as a student of the Royal Academy, where he received in the same year a silver medal for drawing from the antique, and in 1843 another for drawing from the life.

Solomon died in Biarritz in France, of heart disease, on 19 December 1862. He married, on 10 May 1860, Ella, sister of Dr. Ernest Hart; she survived her husband.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Solomon

2015 Classes

This new year I've become a member of 3 needlework organizations: TNNA, ANG and EGA. The reason is simple: my widely growing interest in different types of Needlework Art.

I am taking a Correspondence 6 months course (ANG) Gated Secrets by Sandra Arthur that explores many techniques to add interest and challenge.

I also signed up for a Workshop by Mail through ANG, Baker’s Dozen designed by Michele Roberts, that looks like a lot of fun while studying 13 special specimen stitches and exploring the use of different threads, colors and texture, busting my stash.

I am starting a Japanese Embroidery course this year and will work on Phase 1, www.japaneseembroidery.com/

These courses along with other projects definitely will keep me busy during this new year and I am looking forward to it!

Happy New year!

Natalia