Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Art Nouveau Card and Vintage Spool

Last year, I made my SIL a card with a woman dressed in Regency period, Jane Austen-style finery. I was trying to find something Downton Abbey-ish, and that was the best I could do.   Time marches on at Downton, and sooner or later they will be entering the Art Nouveau years, if they aren't there already.   I had seen these six Art Nouveau ladies by Lesley Teare some time ago, but I couldn't find a copy of the UK magazine in which they originally appeared.  On a whim, I checked Lesley's site and she had them for sale as PDF files.  I was delighted!  Perfect for this year's birthday card. 

I hadn't done back-stitching like this for a while.  I was really out of the habit.  I used to love doing it, but now, not so much, even though I still like the look.  I saw that I had no 32 ct white linen in my stash when I was ready to start.  So on a whim, I bought some of the MCG linen at Joann's so I wouldn't have to wait for a mail order.  I had not heard very good things about it, but turns out that I kind of like it.  Some people have said the number of threads per inch differ between the horizontal and vertical, but if so, it didn't matter on something of this size.  I couldn't detect any difference at all.  The fabric feels kind of like Annabelle, a discontinued Zweigart fabric, that was actually cotton, but had the thick and thin threads of linen.  It was a bit cheaper than linen and I always liked that.   This MCG linen was really cheap, so I was very happy with it.

In person, the card looks really good.  The ribbon shows it off so well.  And it doesn't look blurred or wonky like the photos.  I'm rarely so pleased with any of my finishes.



As a long time sewer and hoarder, I have some spools of thread that go back many years.  They say thread gets old and kind of dry rots, but I haven't found that to be true.  I use all the thread til I have an empty spool.  I recently finished all the thread on this real wooden spool.  I use it as a place to park a steel crochet hook.  It seemed like it could use a bit of ornamentation, so I completed "Sister Stitcher" by the Primitive Hare, a freebie you can get here.  I changed it a bit so the two stitching sisters were closer together to have them both show from the front.  They are done over-one on 28 count Cashel.  I just turned under the top and bottom edges and did a running stitch to finish.  They are only attached by tape on the back so I can change them up if I want to.



I didn't have the heart to cover the top and bottom.  Look at that fabulous 29 cent price.  Do they even still make Coats Super Sheen?


25 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

Gorgeous finish! I love the classic finish.

I'm not a fan of backstitching either but it can be effective.

Your spool is delightful! You are so creative. I never think of things like that.

Ranae said...

Very nice card, I love the ribbon on the card and that spool is super cool, I wouldn't cover the ends either
Take care

Jane said...

The card turned out really well, it's a lovely design. Just love what you've done with your cotton reel. I have quite a few older style like that

Brigitte said...

You were so very creative again decorating this wooden spool. And you chose a great design for it.

Your card is just awesome. And thank you so much for the link to Lesley Teare's site. I have always been on the lookout for ladies' dresses from that period as my DIL loves them. Such a card would make a nice little gift for her.

Preeti said...

Beautiful card!!:) I liked your creative idea of decorating a spool. Lovely!!

Hetti said...

Such a lovely and elegant card with the matching ribbon Annie.I also like to watch TV series from that time period.
The vintage spool is very nice, thanks for the little tutorial :-))Clever idea to tape only and not to sew the edges together!
Hugs XXX Hetti

Hetti said...

Such a lovely and elegant card with the matching ribbon Annie.I also like to watch TV series from that time period.
The vintage spool is very nice, thanks for the little tutorial :-))Clever idea to tape only and not to sew the edges together!
Hugs XXX Hetti

Mii Stitch said...

My favourite has to be the spool.... this is soooo cute!! I love it!
The card is lovely too, of course :)

Vickie said...

What a card! Gorgeous! Well done Annie.
I love decorating spools. And I use every last bit of my thread too. ;)

ArchangelDecker said...

As always, beautiful finishes. I have this series of 6 cards. They were in the Cross Stitch Card Shop Magazine, Issue 71. Now that the 3rd season of Miss Fischer's Murder Mysteries is now on Netflix, I may have to kit one of these beauties up! :)

And like you, I have gotten out of the 'habit' of doing any sort of backstitching as the projects that I have been doing do not call for it. I know I had a UFO in the closet that was a tiny Margaret Sherry cat in a teacup that really should not have taken as long as it did. That 'off set' backstitching like to have driven me mad!

PS: Apparently, Super Sheen is no longer cotton according the website: http://www.coatsindustrial.com/en/products-applications/embroidery/supersheen

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

You are just filled with creativity! i adore that card...stunning work there Annie! And that thread spool...well that just takes the cake :)

Nancy said...

Beautiful work Annie! Don't you just love vintage spools?

Mary Ann said...

Lovely finishes!!

stitchersanon said...

Oh wow, the spool is just so gorgeous! Love it!

Anonymous said...

Love this card with the "lady"...she is lovely! You are filled with creative ideas. Love the spool too. I stitched this one as a 'secret santa' gift for a friend as a pillow. It was a lovely free pattern...but your tiny one is delightful as always!

Annette said...

Love the lady on the card.
Real classic lady.

The spool looks great too.
I think its the yarn you need to look at.
I got a bag of pink cotton from someone at work. It looks great, but when you work with it you see its old, the thread isn't that beautifull anymore. bUt still very great to use. still have no dea what to make with it.

Annette-California said...

Your card is Beautiful!!! I do like backstitching when its called for on a design. It just gives it a pretty finish.
LOVE your sweet spool - Super darling! Perfect how you attached the linen to the spool. Thank you for sharing the link.
love Annette

Margaret said...

That card is fantastic! I really love how it came out. Gorgeous! Love the sister stitchers too! Love old wooden spools. Definitely don't cover the top and bottom!

Carol said...

I can see why you are so pleased with your newest card, Annie! It is both elegant and stylish--just like the vintage lady. (Somehow, I don't think I would have looked nearly as stylish in that outfit back in the Art Nouveau period :)

And that spool--oh, I just love it!! So tiny and sweet--what a great inspiration! Now, to see if I have any old spools in my grandma's sewing basket :)

Hope your September is going well...

StitchinByTheLake said...

Such nice pieces - love, love that spool! blessings, marlene

Sheryl said...

Lovely work Annie. I have this vintage lady design somewhere and it is so pretty made into a card. Also like the little decorative spool, very clever.

Anne said...

lol Annie! I have a few Coats Super Sheen threads! LOL Beautiful stitching!!

Anonymous said...

What lovely projects! That tiny spool is just adorable!

Gina E. said...

Hi Annie, it's been a while since I visited here, so I've enjoyed all the eye candy! Like you, I keep all my threads, but sadly the cotton reel sewing threads don't last for 40 years - ask how I know this!
You might want to pop over to my blog and see the cat on the piano that you weren't holding your breath to see - LOL!

Lumiruusu said...

The card with an elegant lady looks very delicate and the spool with stiched ladies is just awesome. Well done !