Saturday, May 31, 2014

Solomon Northup in redwork

I've known the story of Solomon Northup for a number of years. He & his wife Anne lived in Kingsbury/Sandy Hill (Washington County, NY my home county) where they had a farm, before moving to Saratoga Springs. He had ties to the Old Fort House in Fort Edward, NY across the street from my best friend's childhood home. A colleague of mine (Cliff Oliver) is a Solomon Northup re-enactor. I've read 12 Years a Slave more than once. The language is beautiful, & the experience visceral. I highly recommend it.

I was very pleased when the movie adaptation of 12 Years a Slave won Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year & Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lupita Nyong'o). However, I was most excited when it won for Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley). To me, this was the biggest win, for it was like Solomon himself won an award for his writing. I cried.


Pattern of Solomon Northup
 Since there are no known images of Solomon, I used a still from the film, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, as a basis for my redwork pattern.

 I was working on this embroidered portrait the night of the Academy Awards.




The final redwork portrait of Somolon Northup by aprilsongstress

I really like how the embroidered portrait came out. Just need to finish up the framing.


Saratoga Springs, NY has declared the 3rd Saturday in July to be Solomon Northup Day.

Happy Stitching!



Monday, May 26, 2014

My kid is a teenager!

Yesterday was my daughter Fiona's 13th birthday. We had such a great day, coffee & pastries at Starbucks in Saratoga Springs, NY, then on to X-Men: Days of Future Past at Criterion Cinemas (awesome, by the way & definitely NOT a #MovieToStitchTo). Next we went to Barnes & Noble for a paperback copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green which she has been dying to read (which is saying something, as she is not a big reader, unlike me.) Then had dinner at Denny's (I was very good & had a salad- no mozzarella sticks for me). Wilton Mall & Target filled out the day out. At home , after my run/walk, we watched Mean Girls. You can tell our gift cards were burning holes in our pockets!

To commemorate this momentous occasion on teenager-hood, I give you my latest embroidered portrait of my spunky, fabulous daughter.

Embroidered portrait of Fiona in Batman beanie

This portrait has Fiona's stamp of approval because she likes how she looks in this selfie she took.

Happy Stitching,










Thursday, May 22, 2014

40th Birthday Redwork Selfie (but not a selfie)

Wow! It's been nearly a month since I posted. WTF!

Well, I haven't been idle. I've actually completed a few portraits in that time, 4 to be exact. Plus I started working on a historical music program I have had in my cranium for quite sometime. & then there is work, family & friends... Life can get hectic, but 40 is shaping up to be GREAT thus far. Oh, & I've started running. (shhhh! It's a secret. LOL)

Me (Tisha) at my 40th birthday party

Apparently, I suck at taking selfies (per my daughter, & she's nearly 13 so she knows everything). So, Fiona took this pic of me while we were waiting for everyone to simmer down so I could blow out my candle on my awesome cake (see pic at the end).

Redwork version of being 40

Using my usual technique, I made this redwork version of me at 40 sticking my tongue out at my daughter. I'm so very grown-up!

My 40th birthday cake

My bestie, Sandy of Quigley's Cakes, made this amazing cake for my 40th. She was able to incorporate my love of toile, redwork, books, & women's history all in one Tisha cake! Thank you to Sandy & all my friends & family who celebrated with me!


Happy Stitching!









Saturday, April 26, 2014

Happy 40th Birthday to me!

Thursday was my 40th birthday! Today is my birthday party. When searching for a theme, my mom & I were trying to find something "me" & cheap. Enter my fabric stash!

Red toile canvas by Waverly

Using my plethora of red toile fabric & a bit of plastic sheeting, we covered all of the tables. 

Basic red toile cotton & Twizzlers

Two redwork portraits of me

Next, we used some of my redwork portraits & pinned them to the Irish lace curtains in the dining room.

Redwork portraits of Gavin DeGraw & Richard Marx
 Then we put out the scrapbook & my senior yearbook. The bulletin board is for book quotes the guests were asked to bring. My best friend is making the cake. I will post that later. Can't wait to see it.
Vintage redwork & portrait of Solomon Northup

Happy Stitching!


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Doodle Stitch-along: Part 1

Hugs Are Fun is hosting a Doodle Stitch-along. I'm joining in because I haven't stitched much these last 2 weeks after I finished my last project.

I grabbed a bit of fabric from my stash & doodled a beginning design. Now to start embroidering. I've decided on 2 blue variegated flosses, DMC 121 & DMC 93. We'll see how it turns out!

Traced out a doodle on a fat quarter I've had for years
If you'd like to join me, the link to the Doodle Stitch-along is HERE!







Happy Stitching!


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Ruby's Marketplace Grand Opening

After about 6 months in business, the artisan co-op I belong to is finally ready for their Grand Opening! If you are out & about in northeastern NY, southern VT, & western MA this weekend, stop on by. There are other great shops & a few local restaurants too.


A shortened version will appear in Manchester newspapers tomorrow. Here is the long press release:



FOR MORE INFORMATION:                                          FOR RELEASE:
Terry Mumby                                                                          IMMEDIATE
rnthimble@verizon.net                                                        March 28, 2014

TITLE: GRAND OPENING OF RUBY’S MARKETPLACE

GREENWICH, N.Y. (March 28, 2014)- Walking down Main Street in Greenwich, one can see a resurgence. New businesses are popping up in the vacant storefronts, like flowers poking through the winter snow. One such business is Ruby’s Marketplace, a co-op of local vendors.

Ruby’s Marketplace initially opened in October 2013 with a handful of artisans, and now boasts eight local vendors under one roof. The Grand Opening of Ruby’s Marketplace is a two-day event: Friday, April 11 from 10:00 to 5:00 pm, and Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 to 4:00 pm. Craft demonstrations, refreshments, and eight unique door prizes are all part of the festivities as you shop.

Greenwich resident, Annette Arnold, started YARN to supply yarn and patterns while teaching knitting and crocheting classes. She soon added pottery, and painted glassware to her list of skills under the name Brushes & Mud.

Aprilsongstress Designs features hand embroidery by Greenwich native Tisha Dolton. Ms. Dolton began embroidering in 1998 while working at Saratoga National Historical Park. She has since switched to redwork, a simple embroidery that is excellent for her embroidered portraits.

Her mother, Tamaris Dolton, also of Greenwich, started Just-A-Duck in 1988. Mrs. Dolton’s business has evolved over the last 26 years, and she now focuses on one-of-a-kind, whimsical, wonky quilts.

Another mother-daughter team, Beadle Hill Bags is the enterprise of Judy Stevens and Annabelle Bink. The two enjoy sewing and other creative crafts.  Together, they make purses, wallets, and tote bags that are at the same time useful, beautiful and affordable.

Paper Creations is a collection of colorful hand stamped cards, and stationary by another Greenwich resident, Beth Vallone.

Mina Zaffarano makes lovely, hand crafted necklaces, bracelets, and earrings at very reasonable prices from her home in Hoosick Falls. Mrs. Zaffarano also assists Ms. Dolton with the store’s Facebook page.

“Thoughtfulness in a busy world” is the tag line for Sincere Sentiments. Saratoga Springs resident Carol Ann Maguire makes party favors, decorated candles, and seasonal floral wreaths for the home.

Sue’s Shirt Shop, run by Jim and Sue Adams of Argyle, is the newest addition to the marketplace. They hope to have printed mugs, shirts, and gifts available in the shop this April.

Ruby’s Marketplace is located at 81 Main Street in the village of Greenwich, NY, next to Ruby’s Nimble Thimble. Visit our joint Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RubysNimbleThimble

Ruby's Nimble Thimble & Ruby's Marketplace- 81 Main S. Greenwich, NY 12834

Unfortunately, I have to work Friday & Saturday & will not be there. My mom (Just-A-Duck) will be there with her quilts for a little while. Her ankle is recovering well from the fall she took in February. She has been riding the stationary bike at physical therapy. Plus, today she was able to get a regular shoe on!

I will have a display of how I do my embroidered portraits. Hopefully that will pique some more interest. & for those of you who requested a tutorial, I haven't forgot. I'm plugging away at it.

Happy Stitching!











Vendors on Facebook 
Aprilsongstress
Just-A-Duck
Beadle Hill Bags
Vine & Branches Gallery
Brushes & Mud
YARN
Sue's Shirt Shop


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Procrastination Station: Doctor Who, Part Trois

For previous posts about my version of this project see: Part One & Part Deux


The Doctor Who Stitch along was a collaborative project between Jennifer OfensteinAalia ZamanKim KKristel CarnahanJordan FAngelica RodriquezSoma Acharya May 15 - July 31, 2013. For more information & to view the original patterns, click HERE.

  
I have completed the final Doctor Who block! Now to put them all together in a bed runner!

The 11th Doctor as played by Matt Smith is represented here in a design by Soma Acharya. I think she did a great job with his hair, bow tie, & pant cuffs.

 
11th Doctor embroidered by aprilsongstress














 When I first started the stitch along the 12th Doctor had not debuted so I searched around online & found this image by onegemini on deviantART. I flipped it so it is a mirror image of Peter Capaldi.
 
onegemini's 12th Doctor turned to an embroidery pattern

The completed embroidery of the 12th Doctor

War Doctor (John Hurt) was created by Kerry Dustin for Fandom in Stitches after the initial stitch along was over.

War Doctor finished embroidery


13 Doctors ready to be made into a bed runner

I'll post the finished product when complete. Who knows? Maybe this will be my first completed quilt!