Brandywine Chapter's Challenge Projects   Guild Events, by Kathy Adams/Denise Werkheiser PHOTOs by Kate Adams 08/01/2011 "This is an opportunity to exercise a creative approach to embroidery.  Anyone can join us!" Next year is the 35th anniversary of the Brandywine chapter of EGA. In celebration of that accomplishment, Kathy Adams proposed doing 3 challenge projects of original work. The 3 projects only require the purchase of a frame. Kathy wanted the frames to be the same so the display will highlight the embroidery work. They are simple, inexpensive frames that need to be purchased.  They are black (for bolder threads) or silver (for paler threads) and have a white beveled mat. The idea behind each challenge is each stitcher supplies their working materials from that overflowing stash and follow the rules for each challenge. The stitcher will make all material, color and stitching choices unless otherwise stated for that challenge.   Details/Rules of the first challenge:  THE FRENCH KNOT CHALLENGE The first challenge will fit into the approximately 2" by 3" mat opening of the 4" by 6" frame. The only rule is that your creation is made up entirely of French Knots.  You may cover the entire area or only part of the area. Kathy recommends you give some thought to your ground cloth as the area between French Knots might show, sometimes adding to your design but other times not so.  The cost of the frame is $5.  Please give your artwork a name or title to be listed during the display.  Challenge 1 was presented at the July 12th Quarterly Meeting. There are a couple more members who are currently working on their French Knot Challenges.  If you still would like to join this challenge, contact Kathy Adams. The Results of our First Challenge Photo Artist  & Description JEAN  SNYDER ‘ Brain Protein’ This project was inspired by a Spring issue of Chemical and Engineering News. I cut it out because I liked the colors and shapes. I copied the photo onto Inkjet paper and then embroidered the fabric using both regular and long armed French knots. JOANNE KERSCH ‘Rabbit Topiary’ I love gardening and being in a garden. I wanted to create an image from a garden and was inspired by the front of an Easter card. HANNAH WAYNE ‘Pathways’ I was thinking about direction and pathway to be chosen. I was inspired to create this design to represent different pathways. KATHY ADAMS ‘It’s Knot Easy’ My inspiration was this beautiful piece of fabric. I found this section and liked the aqua colored swirl in the top left corner. I gathered floss, perle cotton and wool and just started, varying number of strands and placing color. LINDA REINHARDT ‘Fly Away Home’ I saw a ladybug button in my sewing room and thought of the nursery rhyme :  Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home, Your house is on fire and your children all gone. All except one and that's little Ann, for she crept under the frying pan! MARILYN  SIERS ‘A Bee’s View of a Sunflower’ I was inspired by a previous work stitched as a necklace. It was the view looking down into a cyclamen. I knew I wanted to use this bee charm but the rectangular frame required a design change. So the sunflower became the inkjet background for my bee. DENISE WERKHEISER "West Smithfield Garden, London" I took a trip to London to visit my son during the end of June, and loved walking around exploring the area where he is staying. On the last day of my visit, I stumbled upon a beautiful public garden tucked right in the square where he lives.       In Photoshop Elements, I cropped the image down to the urn & bench; and softened the image. Next I printed the image on transfer artist paper (TAP); and ironed the image on to Strafhaven linen. I stitched French Knots in a variety of textured threads and silk ribbon to accent the flowers at the base and top of the urn. Photo coming soon NANCY GEORGE