WIP: Rose's Pyramid (by Marsha Papay-Gomola)

Today's featured WIP is Rose's Pyramid, designed by Marsha Papay-Gomola.

Technique/Materials: Stumpwork on silk dupioni, using a variety of threads, including DMC and Anchor flosses, Silk 'N Colors from the Thread Gatherer, and Gentle Art Sampler Threads.

Background: I started Rose's Pyramid in November 2004 (or was it 2003?) during a class with Marsha hosted by my local EGA chapter. This class was my first attempt at stumpwork, and, to be honest, I was a bit intimidated, being a counted-thread girl at heart. Then I reminded myself: It's just string! Once I relaxed a bit, I found my stitching coming much easier.

Marsha was a great teacher. The majority of the two-day class was spent learning the stumpwork techniques, with an hour or so reserved for the finishing instructions. I don't remember exactly how to put it together, but the written instructions seem to be fairly complete, especially with the addition of my notes.

Why it's not done:  I'm not really sure. It may have been my master's degree program, or a bit of frustration with the amount of stitching needed to do long-and-short stitch with one strand of floss, or a flare-up of a pinched nerve. Or a combination of all of these!

What's left to do:  I think the sides of the pyramid with the wisteria and the fuchsia are done, but I still have to finish the sides with the grapes and the lilacs. For the center block, I still need to stitch tendrils and the ladybug and attach beads. I have 5 detached petals and 2 detached leaves to stitch, and then need to attach all of the detached elements to the center block, also.

Of course, then I need to assemble the pyramid!