Thursday, July 30

#TBT - Shroomhilde

Shroomhilde is a design by Terrence "Terry" Nolan of Dimples Designs fame.   While I adore his WeeBeasties (which I should probably get around to posting), he also had a few other small series.    This one was part of the Shrooms, of which I think there were four (Magic of Mother's Love, Mushroom Tabernacle Choir and The Bride and the Shroom).   I thought they were all adorable, but Shroomhilde was the only one that spoke to me enough to stitch.

And if I recall correctly, I really did enjoy stitching her.    There are a lot of silks involved, and more than a few beads, and it was just fun.

A lot of the time I was stitching her, I had Kill the Wabbit running through my head, keeping myself pretty entertained.


The border was stitched in Waterlilies, if I recall correctly, with kreinik back stitching, and was very pleasant to stitch on that 32ct Platinum Linen (not the kreiniks... never the kreiniks!).


The Valkyrie horns on her shoom cap kept cracking me up.  I loved the spear and the shield.  I love the gill ruffles around her neck.  Seriously, the detail on this is just too fun.


A close up of some of the silks and backstitched kreinik.  I do remember not being very enthused about all of that backstitching with metallics.   But it was too pretty to not incorporate.


Confession:  I did not realize that she was wearing armor/a breastplate at first.   To be honest, at first glance I thought her bosom was actually paws.   I had a few people laugh at me pretty well over that, but I still don't feel all that embarrassed about it.


The beads!  So cute. I liked how the beads accented this piece, but did not overwhelm it.  Sometimes they can do that, but this was just right - from the ridges in her stalk to the swirl in the background.   It does go very well with the piece overall.

Hrm.  I think I know what piece I'd like to have framed next now.

She was finished on June 21, 2002.  I know I picked her up at a stitching show, though I can't remember which one. I know I didn't stitch on her there, but in my favorite apartment where I lived in Houston.  She was pretty quick, lots of fun, and I still adore her.

20 comments:

  1. Terry Nolan! I spent 3 years tracking down one of his patterns and payed dearly for it. I never really payed attention to his mushroom series, but after seeing the details in yours I'll have to take a second look.

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    1. I have most of the patterns - at least, I have all (but one or two? of the later kits) for all of the ones I have not stitched yet. I'm so glad I go "into" his stuff when he was still active and attending CATS. That's where I managed to buy most of his stuff. I even have one of the patterns that the model stitcher used since we are/were internet-buddies!

      The shrooms are really cute, not as awesome as his bugs, but still pretty cute :)

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    2. Diane Bolles10:57

      CATS in Atlanta? I was there too!! 1999 and 2000 I believe. I have most of his stuff too and was thinking of starting the Bride and the Shroom. It’s a shame he disappeared. He was so talented!!

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  2. Very cute design and lovely finish. It does deserve a frame, and I saw paws or hands at first too, sort of holding her dress.

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    1. Thanks! And I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw little paws/hands :)

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  3. Lol she's so cute! Now I have that song in my head

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    1. LOL - I get that song in my head every time I see her.

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  4. Great piece. I think I have a couple of the shroom charts somewhere. Whether they'll ever get stitched is another story.

    Amanda

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    1. One of the few times in my life that I managed to restrain myself - I knew I wouldn't stitch any more of the 'shroom charts. They're cute, but this one was the only one that was my "style"

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  5. Wonderful finish!

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  6. A mushroom Valkyrie? That's a new one to me! I've just finished reading Maskerade by Terry Pratchett, I can imagine this lady having a part in the book!

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    1. LOL - very nice, I love me some Pratchett, but I haven't gotten to that book yet ;)

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  7. Too cute! I remember seeing the series when it first came out, but didn't buy any of the charts - I'm sorry I didn't now. I realized the other day, while listening to someone's list of 50 greatest classical music favorites that Warner Brothers/Bugs Bunny has made it almost impossible to listen to many of the classics without smiling (although I'm not sure that's all bad).

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    1. I remember when doing a writing assignment involving classical music that the entire class came to a halt with the Ride of the Valkyries... Not a single one of the students could think of something other than Kill the Wabbit. Haha.

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  8. I love this! I have Mushroom Tabernacle Choir in progress, and Bride and Shroom kitted up. I have enjoyed stitching his pieces, but prefer the shrooms to the wee beasties!

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    1. I hope to see pics of the other 'shrooms some day :)

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  9. Oh my, what a cute mushroom! I'm even a bit sad to learn about those patterns only now .

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    1. Thanks!
      I think I've learned my obsessive collecting because patterns can take up so little space and I'm so afraid they're going to be discontinued!

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