"Smokey Mountain Morn"

Click on the image to see the enlargement.
Design size 14½" x 10" on 18 count canvas.
This piece is done entirely in cotton embroidery floss, using tent stitch and gobelin.

Click here to see this detail.
Click here to see this second detail.

Victoria writes:

"Smokey Mountain Morn was my second original piece. Getting the photo on which this piece is based took a big commitment from me ie getting up around 4:30 AM (on vacation, no less) and driving up the mountain from Gatlinburg, to the pass at the top near Clingman's Dome. It was worth the effort.

"Zion"

Design size 14" X 12"
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This piece is stitched entirely using DMC floss on 18 count mono canvas.

Click here to see this detail
Click here to see this second detail

"I took the original photo from which I designed Zion, while on a horseback trip in Zion National Park in the early 80s. The project took about 6 months to stitch, and was turned into a kit. I no longer put up the kits but have the design available for purchase. It's graphed on a huge piece of paper. Do please contact me if you would like to know more.

"Cattails"

Design size 8" X 10"
Click on the image to see the enlargement.
This piece is stitched on 18 count canvas in Neon Rays, Pebbly Perle, perle cotton, and Kreinik braid.

I designed Cattails as an exercise in using different stitches including outline couching. The background is unstitched and I have a shiny gold matt underneath.

As time goes by my repertoire of stitches increases, but I haven't done a lot of designing in the last few years . . . I've been too busy learning new things from the masters!

My entire life has been an ongoing search for the perfect medium for me personally. So far needlepoint has filled that need more than all the other media I've tried. I haven't stopped looking though!"

Victoria Nessel - June 2005

Updated - January 2006

At the ANG Seminar 2005, Victoria's piece won a red ribbon for Professional Category, Class Project:

see this detail

It's called Very Berry and was designed and taught by Susan Kerndt. Read more about this piece as Tony Minieri and Judy Souliotis walk through the the Seminar Exhibit. www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2005/conversation.php#6005p

Updated - July 2006

Ocean Waves

Click on image to see the enlargement

I completed this piece fairly recently. It was designed by Judy Souliotis in 2000.

The design measures about 7" x 9", and is worked on white congress cloth. I used metallics (both Kreinik braid and Japan gold & silver) , silk and Kreinik cord. There are also off white pearls as accents. The 4 design areas are blackwork type stitches. The center motif is couched metallics.

I took this class from Judy at Callaway Gardens, I think in January 2001. After finishing all the blackwork and some of the border, I "misplaced" the piece.

In 2005 while cleaning, I found a bag containing the piece and instructions in a place where I wouldn't ordinarily put any stitching. This past January at Callaway, after a 6 day stitching frenzy, I finished it!

Now there are only about 10-12 started pieces left to finish. It'll probably never happen. If I ever finish everything and have nothing to start, it'll be time to pull the dirt in over me and expire!

Victoria - July 2006