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Random Musings on Art and LIfe

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Beaded Embroidery Update

November 11, 2017
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For the past few weeks, I’ve been adding beads to my current Paint+Stitch+Bead project. This project has turned into a bit of a stitch sampler and a test for my beaded embroidery stitches. Here’s the current update along with links to some of my previous posts.   Beads fit nicely into Palestrina Knots, so long…

Beaded Palestrina Knots

July 20, 2017
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The more I play with PSB, the more I like it. (And in case I threw you for a loop, PSB is right here in the Shelly Dictionary. It stands for Paint, Stitch & Bead.) Today, I want to show you a little experiment adding beads to one of my favorite stitches. I call it…

Studio Essentials: Finding the Sweet Spot

May 25, 2017
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After three months in Chapala with  (very) limited supplies, I found my home studio more than a bit overwhelming. With several decades worth of art supplies on hand, it’s a miracle I get anything done! It’s time to remove the distractions and get down to a smaller set of Studio Essentials. Rather than just “thinking”…

Pekinese Stem Stitch

April 27, 2017
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When I add hand stitching to my painted fabric, I want the stitching to stand out. Today, I want to show you my latest stitch combination experiment. I call it Pekinese Stem Stitch. [Tweet “Bored with Stem Stitch? Dress it up with a Pekinese-style wrap!”]   In traditional embroidery, Pekinese Stitch begins with a Back…

Try A Beaded Background

February 2, 2017
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When I decided not to finish the entire Paint, Stitch, Bead project I was working on last summer, I had every intention of finishing up two sections and having them framed. That was only (ahem) five or six months ago, so it was time to add a beaded background and git ‘er done!   The…

My Urban Computer Satchel is Finally Done!

July 14, 2016

At long last, my Urban Computer Satchel is complete! This is one project that turned into a marathon, and I’m thrilled to cross the finish line. [Tweet “An off-road adventure with an Urban Computer Satchel is finally over.”]   I used Brenda Miller’s Urban Computer Satchel pattern and her hardware kit. (I love, love, love…

Millennium Embroidery Frame Review

June 23, 2016
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I have posted a few photos showing my current embroidery project in a frame, and many of you have asked about it. Now that I’ve had a chance to take a series of pictures, I’ll tell you about my Millennium Embroidery Frame. [Tweet “Beautiful AND functional makes for a great embroidery frame.”] The frame is…

Beaded Chain Stitch

June 16, 2016
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When it was time to dress up the orange chain stitch of my current project, I decided that a Beaded Chain Stitch would be just the ticket. [Tweet “Dress up a simple chain stitch with beautiful beads.”] But… which color of orange? Why is it so hard to choose when there are so many yummy…

Knotty Stop Beads

June 2, 2016

This Paint + Stitch + Bead thing is just too much fun! Even though I’m knee-deep in lessons for the next class, I try to sneak in a bit of stitching time every day. So… back at the embroidery frame… I debated several options for stitching the linear shapes in this section of the design,…

Add Texture And Sparkle With Beaded Backstitch

May 19, 2016
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Paint plus stitch is an amazing combination. To add yet more texture, I decided to play with beads. Let’s take a look at what I call Beaded Backstitch. [Tweet “Got small beads and heavy thread? See how you can make it work.”]   I don’t try to add beads while I’m stitching. The needles…

A Simple Stitch Separator

March 31, 2016

  While I was preparing a lesson for a recent class, I decided to paint up some panels for a new computer tote.   I wanted something with a lot of color, and I found this piece of hand dyed fabric in my closet and decided it had suffered in the purgatory called my stash…

Bailando en la Noche: An Art Quilt by Shelly Stokes

May 28, 2015

For the past 18 months, I have been working on a major art quilt project. Her name is Bailando en la Noche, or Dancing in the Night. I chose her name because the medallions evoke the swirling skirts of Mexican Folk Dancers under an exuberant night sky. [Tweet “Check out “Bailando en la Noche” –…