Stem Stitch and Outline Stitch Redux

OK, I tore out everything I had done and started that green flower over completely. While I still have some issues with it, it is as good as it will get for now. I think it looks pretty good, but I wish I had been able to get the shading a little better, especially on the petal on the upper right.













Then I got on a roll - I stitched the chain stitch flower. I did take out the very beginning of the first petal, but otherwise it went very nicely:









I went on to what is currently my least favorite crewel stitch - the coral knot stitch. While the effect is interesting, I am not sure it is worth the effort. But I am pleased at the shading effect I got, using bluish green, blue and yellowish green:









Back to the Stem Stitch versus Outline Stitch comparison. Although I had found Mary Corbet's blog, Needle 'N Thread, I had not really gone through it. She has some great images, videos, and comments on Stem and Outline Stitches. Start at her page on Line Stitches then go to her Video Tutorials.

Stem Stitch and Outline Stitch are NOT the same Stitch!

This is the first part of the Embroiderer's Guild of America Group Correspondence Course, Shading Stitches by Judy Jeroy. The left side of the 'flower' is stitched in outline stitch, the right in stem stitch. The thread is DMC Medici, a lovely wool thread long since discontinued by DMC.

I had never believed that stem and outline stitch were really different stitches since the technique is the same, just reversed, but here is the proof. See how the outline stitch on the left makes distinctly separate 'cords'? The stem stitching on the right when stitched as a single line makes a rope looking line with each stitch showing but the overall effect is a twisted rope rather than a cord like the outline stitch appears. In my practice stitching, I had noticed the difference but did not realize how different the two effects would work when the stitches were used to fill an area.

I'm somewhat convinced that the difference in the two stitches is the direction of twist in the threads. Most threads sold in the US are "S" twist and seem to untwist slightly as you stitch stem stitch, and twist more as you stitch outline stitch. Maybe I will see if a local spinner would make me some
"Z" twist wool thread so I can test to see if that would stitch the other way with each stitch!
For more information and tips on stem and outline stitch, see Mary Corbett's Needle & Thread Blog, article "Tips on Stem Stitch & Another Embroidered Towel…."

So all of the stitching above has been removed. Not only was I not happy with the appearance of the two different stitches, I was also not happy with the limited range of shades I used for shading the petals. I found another set of greens with a wider and more subtle range of shades. I'm nearly a third of the way through stitching the 'flower' in stem stitch only and I am much happier with the result!

W-K9

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Our Equinox foal!

Thursday Morning Ralph woke me by saying, "We've got extra legs!" In horse terms that means a foal has arrived and it looks like the mare has an extra set of legs since the new baby is sticking so close to her. I went out and here is what I saw:











A few hour later, here is what the new baby looked like - a little more alert and already growing muscle! We're calling him "Hershey" since I think he will be a chocolate grulla.
















And since I had the camera out, here is a picture of the first 2008 foal, "Bob" - he sure has grown and filled out.

First Foal of 2008!

Ziggy (aka Milagro's Smoky Glitz) has had her foal for 2008! He is a red dun colt with a star and snip, socks on the back feet and left front pastern. Big and healthy, "Bob" is doing great!

The Great Thanksgiving Weekend Floor Flood

So the floors were finished and totally gorgeous, the trim work was going in and we were looking at being finished in another week or two. That was where we were the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Since we could not get away for Turkey Day, we spent the weekend puttering around the house, putting face plates on the electrical outlets and switches, and generally enjoying the house and the great weather. Until Sunday, that is.

I was moving slow and posting forum messages about how great the floor looked, so Ralph went over to the house first. He came back upset, "There is a leak and the bedroom floor is RUINED!"

I told him where to turn the water off to the house and ran over. Here's what I saw:

Left: The paper that had been protecting the new floor was wet and you could see that the floor was no longer flat.

Below: Water was flowing out of the exterior door to the bedroom!














Left: Here is the source of the problem - obviously there had been a leak at this location. The wood had buckled so much it had broken the baseboard.

Below: Mike, the contractor, checking out the source of the problem.











Below: Mike and Damon the Floor Guy checking out the damage. In these two photos you can see the extent of the damage to the floor. The entire room had been soaked with water.


















The source of the problem. The trim carpenter forgot that this was a "wet" wall and used long nails to tack up the baseboard. He managed to catch the pipe twice. The one still in the joint was not really the big problem. The one that pulled out when the floor buckled was the serious problem since it let the water leak turn major.




































And here was where we were by noon on Monday. Depressing, isn't it? For comparison, here is what the floor looked like before the weekend:

Kitchen is basically finished

Here's my mostly IKEA kitchen:


Lower open shelves are custom built from red oak. They match better than is shown in the pictures. They will stay open and have adjustable shelves in them.







I particularly love the backsplash. Most of it is Georgia white marble salvaged from the old Florida Capitol Building when it was restored to the 1905 version. But the part behind the cooktop is a photo montage of our farm with our favorite horses.




Cabinets: Ikea Tidaholm oak & custom built open shelves
Counters: Crossville Color Blox Two "I've Got the Blues"
Floor: Daltile French Quarter Cobblestone (18") & Bourbon Street (6")
Backsplash: salvaged Georgia (Alabama?) white marble & custom printed image on Italian tumbled marble
Sink: IKEA Domsjo sink
Faucet: Prestige Sonora in oil rubbed bronze
Fridge/Freezer: Kenmore Elite (Frigidaire Twins)
Cooktop: IKEA (Whirlpool)
Vent Hood: IKEA (Whirlpool)
Dishwasher: Frigidaire
Oven: Frigidaire side opening convection
Paint: SW Meditative

Progress on the house is slow

OK, so I haven't posted here in a long time. August and September, I was busy assembling IKEA cabinets for the kitchen and the bathrooms and other places. October I had jury duty which wore out my knees and I've simply been tired from the pain.

But the house has been progressing - slowly. Trim has been going in, replacement doors had to ordered then re-ordered (first ones were wrong, second ones were wrong, one was broken, etc.)

The pine floors turned out gorgeous! We went with Waterlox with Minwax Ipswich Pine stain and with a satin finish. Here's what they looked like along the way:




Unfinished floor in the living room















First coat of Waterlox Sealer/Finisher with stain mixed in.
















First coat in bedroom after the layer dried.














Floor in the bedroom with a couple of coats of Waterlox.
















Stairs with two coats, last coat still wet.













Finished floor in the bedroom.












Finished floor in living room with last coat still wet.




It all looks awesome, doesn't it? More to come.....