Completed Cross Stitch – Lanarte’s “Art Nouveau” by Mucha-primrose

 

Alfonse Mucha is probably one of the most recognized Art Nouveau artists out there and has yet to be surpassed. Originally from the Czech Republic he lived from 1860-1939 and left behind a legacy of organically-styled paintings made for commercial advertising. 

His neoclassical look takes on a slightly ethereal style using long-haired females with shapely figures, flowing hair, billowing fabric and sensual flowers. Mucha’s feminine elements make his work ever so softly enchanting and also seems to draw in the viewer’s eyes into a fantastical world that only appears to exist for only for the briefest moment you are looking at the picture. 

 His work is currently showcased in Prague at the Baroque Kaunický Palace. I have not been there and since I love Mucha’s work so much I hope to visit there one day soon. Are you an art gallery type of gal or guy? How many different places have you been to or are you overdue for a little culture and diversity?

As far as fine art, I’ve been to the AGO in Toronto, ON; MOMA in NYC, NY; the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA; the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg; FL, and have seen M.C. Esher’s work in Acton, OH during a tour. I’m sure I’m missing a few from this list.

As much as I love art and art galleries, and it would be awesome to visit them all I'd like to also make a personal pilgrimage to every planetarium out there. Planetariums seem to give more of an overall visual and audio experience than just a viewing experience (I mean, c’mon hey, there is only so much staring at paintings and sculptures one can do in a day right?) Visiting the Strasenburgh Planetarium was one of my best childhood memories growing up and I was very sad that Toronto closed the McLaughlin Planetarium many, many years ago. But I digress…..

Here is a little trivia for you: if you have watched or still watch the sitcom "Three’s Company" from the 80s, there are a total of 3 Mucha paintings in the apartment (but only 2 are visible in the majority of the episodes and the third is...well, guess you'll have to keep an eye out won't you?). Do you know the name of the British sitcom that "Three's Company" is based on? And....can you spot the Muchas? :o)

About the cross stitch: The fabric is 28-count white evenweave and the finished size is 9.45” x 23.62” and is part of Lanarte’s Classic Collection kit including all threads and one needle.

Completed Cross Stitch - Charley Harper's "Cool Cardinal"

 

 

 

The American Modernist nature artist, Charley Harper, has a minimalist style that has definitely stood the test of time.  He has worked with the Audubon Society, various zoos and even the Ford Motor Company and his active years appear to be about the 1950s to 1970s.

 

One of the reasons I point out that his work is timeless is that just for one example "Cool Cardinal" was originally released in 1974; the hand-drawn cross stitch pattern from KD Artistry, Inc. (for Puckerbrush) is from 1985 and finally, here it is again in 2013 in thread and fabric form.

Here is my list of random information bits about this latest completed work:

 

1. Finished size:  15.25" x 4.25"
2. Linen 28 or 32 count, possibly Monster Mash from Picture This Plus
3. DMC white used not DMC B5200; DMC white is more yellow and B5200 is more blue (brighter white) - I only had white on-hand at the time (maybe B5200 might have been too overpowering)
4. Used 3 strands instead of 2
5. Would not recommend linen for geometrical work
6. Kreinik Metallics #032 blending filament used with white (really adds a delicateness to the snow and keeps the overall work from looking too flat or heavy because of the bold colours and lines)
7. Would not recommend this pattern for beginners - too hard to understand some of the instructions
8. Discovered a new technique from this pattern:  the use of interchanging double and single lines of backstitching for effect (that was really cool...no pun LOL)
9. Snowflakes got a little tedious to work on at times
10. And lastly, one time I looked up from this work and saw a cardinal sitting outside my windowsill...awwww

 

I have added a picture of the Kreinik blending filament to show the iridescence because unfortunately it does not seem to show up through the photographs (sorry, I tried several times with natural and artificial light).

Completed Cross Stitch - Linda K. Powell's "Live Each Day with a Happy Heart"

 

 

This is a very old pattern that I found through eBay that was originally published in the '80s.

Do I mind admitting that I have the hugest crush on Linda K. Powell's artwork? No, not at all. But I am very sad that such a wonderful animal artist died at such a young age. Not fair!

I hope you enjoy this completed work and look up Linda's artwork (and yes, dyed this fabric myself too).

Please click on the picture for a close up.

Completed Cross Stitch - Bent Creek's "Brown Dog"

What can I say? I'm a dog person (but I like cats too but just do not own any right now).  So, anyway I definitely have to have a completed work of a cute, wee, little dog. I love mushrooms and especially the red and white I think is very cute. I hand-dyed this small piece of Aida cloth too. I had already dyed it long before I had the pattern and they seemed to match up perfectly with each other. I had a lot of fun dying this piece because I was trying to create a "ground/grass and sky look".

Completed Cross Stitch - Charles Craft's "Citrus, ivy and checkers"

Free pattern on the Internet! Woo hoo! I found this one on Charles Craft. The ivy really drew me into this design.

I believe this pattern is meant for the kitchen on at least a kitchen towel and although I didn't have the heart to put it on a towel and actually USE the towel, I put it in a small simple little black frame and it is sitting on a shelf over my stove instead.

I made this while I was studying for a final (insurance) exam.

Yes, I was literally stitching, then looking into my book memorizing and reviewing what I had to, then go back to stitching, then repeat.

And yes, I passed the exam!

Completed Cross Stitch - Stoney Creek's "Cat and Pumpkins"

 

A cute Halloween design from Stoney Creek I finished over about 1 1/2 evenings.

Also, I hand-dyed the fabric myself long before I decided on this pattern and I think it worked out well despite that I obviously didn't mix the RIT dye long enough..hahah