Speaking of projects....

WOW!!

This is absolutely wonderful! I am absolutely in love with the beautiful details - it's just so intricate! Lovely and simple colour choice. I think my favourite patch is the one for China, it really attracts me for some reason!

I think what I'm most floored by is how professional the overall finish is! You are one fantastically talented lady Twolf, and Taolady you're so lucky to get such a beautiful and thoughtful gift!

That is gorgeous!

I used to do counted cross stitch and I know how much work must have went into that pillow. It's truly a work of art.

What an amazing pieces of art and work(wo)manship.
I hope the artist comes and takes a bow.

MIND-BLOWING!

It's almost like looking into Twolf's beautiful mind.

Absolutely stunning.
I am in awe, Twolfie!

Wow! Twolf is amazing!

Glad you guys like it and appreciate the effort. And now I have nothing to hide from the whole world: call me old-fashioned, boring, grandmotherly, etc. My designing of this piece was merely limited to "Nah, it has to include bigger motives", "The border seems not tricky enough", "Arabic culture does not use stylized hearts in any form", "This diagonal looks out of place", "The corner is to overdone" remarks. Pretty much like in perfumes: I can "feel" them and tell what's wrong with them, although I would never ever make a good fragrance myself. I do not think.

While doing "Peonies for Tao" I first wanted to make them light pink (isn't it the variety producing the most intoxicating smell anyhow? ) with green leaves, realistically looking in the manner of botanical book "studies", but then I changed my mind. Sampler style is the one that appealed most, just like with perfumes: how many of them do we have to sniff before we find the elusive one and only? There is also a catch: if you look at the whole pillow as standing on the "Middle East" corner (a diamond? with Chinese top, european heart and Oriental bottom?) you will see the concept of the fragrance for Taolady, the way I think she would it enjoy it!

Very often, more often than I want to, people accept gifts like that with the words "That's nice!" to only shove it somewhere in the darkest corner of their closets and later on sell it at the garage sale for 2 dollars, if they are lucky. One lady at work after seeing this same pillowcase said "Why do not you make the whole bunch of them and sell them for $10 a pop?" I guess that's what she thought the fair price for the 18x18 piece silk on evenweave is.

Which inevitably brings me to another point to ponder: kids (or, is it kids of the people I visit only?) are utterly bored nowadays, yet no one would think of tackling any time consuming craft involving patience or persistence. Please prove me wrong if you can!

I will send you some fragrances if I like you. I will stitch you something nice if I really love you.

In my experience the bored, seen it all expression that most teenagers carry around these days is a mask put on so they look like the rest of their peers. When I get to interact with them in high school science fairs and career days and the like I watch them. They want to look like there is nothing in the world that matters to them. Once I get one of them in the lab and start talking to them I am amazed at the real interest they show and the lack of attitude I see. The funny thing is as soon as they all sit down to lunch together the mask is back on and they're just too bored with what they are doing.
Why the kids do it I don't have an answer for. But I have had summer students who have shown tremendous patience and persistence to get the work done that I have laid out for them to get done in 10 weeks. I have come to believe a lot in this generation of kids growing up now as I think this generation has the potential to do great things I just wish they did it with a little more evident joy. Somewhere, somehow they became convinced that cracking a smile shows weakness.

Twolf, that's beautiful. You have my utmost respect. I'm not even capable of sewing the big gaping holes in my work pants. I have no idea how a needle and thread works. I even bought a mini sewing machine and almost stitched my hand to my trousers.

Nice work!

I already knew Twolf is an amazing artist who uses a needle to paint the most beautiful works of art you can ever imagine. She has given me not only a beautiful tablecloth with delicate flowers on it, but also a pillow in cross stich technique...

I will ask for her permission to post pictures of these here, so that you can enjoy more of her wonderful art!!


(And, Twolf - maybe you are right about kids being bored today, but my experience is that that goes for many grownups, too, at least many I know. I have lived in two of the countries with the highest living standars in the world, but it seems to me sometimes that the less people have to worry about, the more they complain)


Your pillow is just wonderful, Taolady. Thanks for posting!

Thank you for your very kind words! Blushing!

SMM, I suppose there is truth in what you are saying, it all makes sense. Indie, you got me laughing! (I still believe that this fall when we visit Mr.T folks in South IL we need to meet and have a round of drinks or something!).

Musse, of course, you go right ahead, darling! I also did another pillow for Miss Tao (last year), a card for Marlen (senteur7, or Perfume Critic or whoever he is now), a bread cover for LadyLoneStar, a little trinket bag for Tinker, and a bookmark for Quarry. I like all sorts of techniques, especially involving unusual fibers, beads, metallics, etc. And of course, I do not treat it as art, it is just a craft, an ability to follow instructions and doing so accurately.

First of all ... ROTFLMAO (and I rarely use this expression):

I don't remember if I've shared this with you, Twolf, but for over 25 years I've been producing the instruction kits (more than 300 of 'em) and books for The Scarlet Letter. So, although my stitching knowledge is certainly greater than Indie Guy's (I'm still giggling), my admiration for you is just as profound. I treasure my bookmark (with the secret compartment for mouillettes).

Dear Twolfette-

You excel at an art I can't even aspire to-
Can't sew, can't type, can't drive.

I love the artisanry exhibited here.
It takes a great deal of patience, along with manual dexterity, and a beautiful soul.

Thanks for sharing your gifts with us !

Ah, Wolfie, seeing the beauty of your work, I can only say: for me it is art.

Of course it is looked upon by most as a 'craft', but it is a bit like saying that Van Gogh was a good craftsman.
When so much skill and love for the subject is poured into the work, it will become art.

Excellent pictures, Tao, of Twolf's Treasures and you are a very lucky Lady indeed to receive something that will speak forever of the love from the one who made this for you.

Twolf, you are a gem

There are three stitched gifts I cherish--

One is a personalized antique reproduction sampler from my friend Marsha, which includes all manner of traditional "thou" and "hath" kinds of verbiage and then closes with: "In other words, life's a bitch. Thank goodness for friends." I love it, but I keep it covered with a pillowcase in a dark room to protect it from light. The second is a bonnet, a birthday gift from DH. He had it made by one of the last teachers who taught at our schoolhouse-home when she was in her 90s. Needless to say, I treasure it, but never touch it.


And then there's wise Twolf's oh-so-practical, one-of-a-kind artistry, which I do look at and and I do touch and I do use as a bookmark and as a pouch for special mouillettes. Being overly pragmatic, this sends me over the top! I wish I could have captured the glint from the gold threads. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Every generation is capable of great things, but if they don't get over caring so much about what other people think and putting on a false persona, while avoiding doing their own due diligence and work, they will never accomplish them, and no, that is not necessarily normal. All young people aren't like that, either, it really does depend a lot on the adults they interact with and I'm so glad they have someone like you to bring them out and encourage them! Yay!!

Love your needlework, Twolf, I have done many cross stitch samplers for friends and family members. Crocheted afghans, too.

Your needlework is exquisite, Twolf. I recognize your trademark precision and dedication.

Thank you for sharing these photos, Tao & Quarry!

These are my very treasured gifts from dear Twolf. Sorry the picture doesn´t make them justice, but it´s the best I can do...
The dark green background on the pillow is all cross stiches. Twolf chose this motive because of my signature and my nick "musse", which is Swedish slang for "mouse". As some of you know, I am very fond of rats and mice. I have this pillow on a chair right next to my bed, and it´s the first thing I look at in the morning.
The tablecloth has a backside that looks almost just like the frontside!!

I knit and crochet and absolutely understand that most people have no clue how much time and skill goes into a handmade gift, or what a fair price for it would be.

And I absolutely believe that what you made is art, Twolf.

As for bored kids... I have vowed to teach my kids, whenever I get around to having them, to knit and crochet as soon as they are able so that when we take road trips they will have something to occupy them. I'm sure they'll just end up stabbing each other with their knitting needles, though.

Great Art comes in many guises and cannot be hidden forever. Twolf, you are now officially in the spotlight!

Show us some more...please??

Oh goodness Twolfie, how absolutely gorgeous! Many moons ago I used to crochet, so I know what it takes to produce work like this.

Not just a work of art, a labor of love. Bravissima!

I think wolves may not like to be in the spotlight, but I just had to share.
From a one-line text comment that my dinnerware (and dining room) had accents of rust-red and gold,
Twolf matched my colors perfectly in a beautifully-stitched bread cover. Look at that stitching and fringe detail!
I am overwhelmed. What a treasure (the bread cover AND the Basenoter).

Oh my, the patterns and balance in that decoration are soooo satisfying to gaze upon. But it hurts to think about the labor that goes into that edging. Thank you for posting these pix, Tang. And, Twolf, your ego need not fear over-inflation. It isn't just esteem we feel when viewing your work, there are heaps of fondness and a sense of friendly intimacy in seeing how your brain (and fingers) operate.

WOW Twolf! You possess an amazing sense of aesthetic beauty, combined with the talent of creation ~ STUNNING!

Twolf that pillow is absolutely beautiful! Taolady, you are lucky, that is such an heirloom. )

Oh, tang, they do match! Yippee!

Miss Tao is getting another pillow soon. Working title is "Dare to Be Different", also silk on evenweave in light aqua green with seed beads! I asked her if she wanted something else rather than a pillow and she said "No, make me another pillow". Oh well, a pillow it is!

Last week it was Brielle with her Easter bunny, and this week it will be Tinker with Monkeys (perhaps this will make her post again, I miss you Tinks424).

Wow! How did I miss this post the first time around?

You are very talented Twolf! And generous! I've done handiwork, ie. knitting, crocheting, stained glass in my day and let me tell you, it's very time-consuming, detailed and precise. I tend to put my heart and soul into them, and often I have trouble giving away my projects.

I am so impressed. What a lovely surprise to go out to the mail and find someone has sent you such a gift. Talk about random acts of kindness! Twolf you are a true gem!