Saturday, March 7, 2026

News!!!

I’m going to be giving a talk about how I create my recycle pieces during the recycle show. 

Here’s the information about it.

Spend a fascinating hour with Christine, last year’s 1st Place Recycled Show winner, as she demystifies turning plastic bags into art using her stitching skills.
Join us for light refreshments and a chance to ask questions or share your thoughts, surrounded by the works in this year’s exhibit.
Free and open to the public at the Art Alliance gallery at 818 Pike Street, Lemont, PA 16851. Free curbside and nearby parking.

Date: Sunday, April 12
Door opens: Noon
Program: 1:00-2:00 pm

Photo from last year’s show


So now I have to determine how to do my presentation. I’m looking forward to it and expect to have a lot of fun.

Thanks for reading.
Chris

Friday, March 6, 2026

Upon a Midnight Dreary is done

I’ve concluded that the recycle piece is done. I’ve decided not to stitch the raven’s head. 

So here’s the final photo.

“Upon a Midnight Dreary” made from plastic bags and thread

As always I’ve learned a lot while working on this piece. The main one is to get the plastics to behave better. Most of them in this piece are from shipments that I have received. They were pretty thick plastics with creases in them. It was hard to get them to lay flat. I suppose that just may be the nature of the beast. 

Next year the theme is Once Upon a Time. I have to start thinking about what to do for that. Any ideas? All I know is that it will be done in color instead of grayscale.

Linking to Nina Marie. https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

The end is near

 I did some hand stitching on the breast of the raven. I’m debating about whether to do the head. I’m leaning toward not doing any stitching on the head.  I used a really dark DMC embroidery floss for the hand stitching. It’s weird how it photographs. Some places you can’t see it at all and other places it looks lighter than it really is. It’s hard to photograph plastic due to reflections. I have not put the piece of glass in yet. That make it even harder to photograph. 

My daughter wants the title, “Upon a Midnight Dreary.” It’s 14 by 14 inches.

“Upon a Midnight Dreary”

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

I hope it’s dark enough now!

I ripped out and replaced the stitches on the tail and the wing directly above the tail. I used a light gray micron pen to darken the mid level wing threads. I have a dark gray micron pen, but wasn’t sure if I should go that dark. 


I think I will do some hand stitching on the head and breast as in the sketch below. I will use a darker thread than the light gray in the sketch. I want the thread to add texture and not be super obvious . I have to pick up the embroidery thread from Michael’s on Friday. 


So are the machine stitches dark enough now? I sure hope so!

Thanks for reading.

Chris