As I’ve been stitching the blooms, I’ve found that some of the colors are very close and it can be hard to tell what to stitch on a given intersection. To make it easier, I found I could mark the canvas with margins around each block of color. This close-up shows some of the margins.
Tulips – Color Margins, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, help her to find the little things that can make her work easier, without sacrificing the quality of her care.
Here’s the plant base, leaves, and some blooms so far…
Tulips – Plants, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, help me to minister to her needs. Help me to offer good advice when she needs it, and loving support always.
In this close-up you can see how I’ve used filler stitches of different sizes going different directions to give the impression of different parts of the green plant.
Notice how even areas using the same thread color and direction of stitching appear distinct because of the color variations and the way bands of filler stitches merge.
Tulips – Plant Details, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, help her to bring order and beauty into her life and the lives of those she cares for.
The base of the plant is a spray of leaves and stems. Judicious use of filler stitches going different directions can give texture to the piece and give this impression.
Tulips – Plant Details, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for her care, the love she brings to her tasks, the compassion You have given her which blesses us all.
Here’s a concept layout. I think this is the photo you liked, and the font for Faith is Harrington. The rest of the quote would be in plain block letters.
Hebrews-11-1-Come-v1, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
In 20 point, this would be 9″x6″, and is just at the limit of what I think will provide good detail on her face.
If you were willing to go finer, it could get smaller or more detailed. Going to a larger size would also allow more detail. Maybe standard letter size, in landscape? Or would you want to keep the book smaller?
Here’s a layout of the verse for Bella. It takes up about 175 pixels in width. So on 20 point canvas, it would be about 9 inches wide. I don’t know how this compares on cross-stitch fabric…
Hebrews-11-1, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, we lift Bella up to you. Please be with her, and help her to walk with you.
So here are a few leaves, blooms, and stems completely stitched!
Tulips – Leafs and Blooms, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I pray that her life comes together in beauty and peace under Your care.
Now that the tulip blooms are under control, it’s time to decide what the leaves and stems will look like.
Again, I have chosen to use variegated threads to give a more natural appearance. But instead of blending them, I’m going to use them as dyed to give gradual color changes. On the leaves and stems, I use just 2 different variegated threads to provide the colors, one dark and one bright green.
By using a variable filler stitch, the impression is of light on shiny leaves.
Tulips – Leaf Closeup, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, help her to grow and thrive in her life and faith and the execution of her caretaker work. Protect her and uphold her, I pray!
Openwork pieces present a special problem when framed. The areas which have not been stitched can be seen through. So the back of the frame and the area of canvas folded over will be visible. This doesn’t make for a very pretty finished piece…
Joy without Masking, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, help us to do our work well and attend to all details to make a fitting offering for Your glory and a fitting gift for the people we serve.
This canvas can be stitched in an afternoon. A few lovely hours of prayer and service, focussed on others rather than myself. What a blessing for me! I just hope it is equally blessing to the people I make the pieces for.
Leap for Joy Stitched, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, thank you that doing your work can bless others as well as blessing ourselves.
NeedlePrayer 