Am thrilled to introduce Cleopatra’s Heart today. This beautiful project is featured in the January/February 2021 issue of Needlepoint Now. Make sure you pick up a copy.
Many of you already know about my local canvas group as most of the stitched samples I share on the blog are stitched by them. The group has been meeting for the last twenty-five years – yes 25! I am so fortunate to be a member all be it THE “newbie”.
Susan is one of the members of the group and a talented designer. Earlier last year Susan designed Cleopatra’s Heart. This is the first of a series of three hearts she designed so look forward to seeing two more in upcoming editions of Needlepoint Now – all are quite different and GORGEOUS!
So, let’s talk about the design.
Susan writes, “the design was inspired by Egypt and Cleopatra. The first band is an interpretation of the landscape of Egypt and the first row you stitch is meant to represent the Nile river which is truly the heart of Egypt, the rows on either side are for the land, the desert, and the third partial row, the vegetation. Below the diagonal mosaic band, is the row I called the Eyes of Ra, for the blue of the sky and the gold of the sun. Above the first band, is a series of Sprats Head triangles, or pyramids, representing the valley of the Kings. In the upper right is the motif representing Bastet, the cat headed goddess, and the daughter of Ra. All these are the main elements of the design, the rest are just for fun!”
AND, let me say it is not only a beautiful design but indeed a fun stitch.
This design uses two Colour Complements colours. I have created a kit of the threads and colours used in the design with a link below. Please note that additional threads were used in this design that will need to be purchased at your local needlework shop. All the threads are outlined in the Needlepoint Now article.
Thank you Susan for designing such a lovely heart. Hope all of you enjoy stitching Cleopatra’s Heart.
