Fabulous Friday! Computers suck.

I have been writing, saving and thinking up new blog entries.

My computer hates me though. 

It's long overdue for a tune - up.

Fingers crossed that my daughter's super smart boyfriend can attend to this on Sunday.

I'm having trouble loading pictures amongst other aggravating factors.

Tomorrow I am headed to Greensboro where I will scoop up my pal, Becky. 

We're headed to the Queen City - Charlotte, NC.

I've dubbed it the "Becky's Take IKEA Trip."

No boys allowed. 

We plan to shop IKEA and hit a few Thrift Shops in the surrounding area.

 Becky and I always find the best stuff. 

I know you are all jealous of our couture style.

We plan to shop and shop and talk and shop and shop. 

Might eat some foods too.     

Have a super weekend folks!

And if you see us headed your way - 

LOOK OUT!

We are women on a mission!

 See our game faces?

It's on!

  

 

What's On your Needles? Super Secret Stitching

 I love surprising folks with gifts. 

Especially gifts that I make.

It can be nerve racking though.

Will they like it?

Did I do a good job?

I belong to a world-wide embroidery group.

Several of us are participating in a grand swap.

We started with an embroidery on our own towel, table runner or apron.

Some stitchers picked designs that represented where they live - like New Zealand!!

Others choose one design for everyone and then customized it for the recipient.

That's what I did.

I used this pattern that 

I found this on doe-c-doe's blog long ago.

 

Then each of us mailed our towel off to the next on the list.

We embroidered on each piece as it came to us.

Here's how I started my towel.

Looks just like me, yes?

It was supposed to take a couple of months but as you know, crafty folks have stuff to do.

I am one of the guilty ones that held up the round robin of excellent stitchery!

Almost a year later, folks are getting their original works back.

This is the one I did for Pam aka KittyKill.

We share a love of wacky, supposed to be 

scary movies 

and all things Tiki and Psych!

  

This is what I crafted for my pal Lisa who LOVES tea!

This is her towel with others' stitcheries. 

The Bigfoot was customized on everyone's towel by Tara. 

I'm only giving you a glimpse of this one. 

This towel is for our group's founder.

I'm mailing it to her tomorrow.

It's finished.

I haven't looked at any pictures of my towels 

as they have been posted.

I love a surprise! 

Please check out my friends' blogs that I stealthily linked here. 

They write good stuff!

Fabulous Friday: Learn How to Embroider

(I set blogger to post this yesterday at 8am. Wonder why it did not?) 

Embroidery is like painting with thread. Don't know where I heard or read that, but it is true. 

It can delight, frustrate, calm, relax, and allow one to express themselves in an age old medium. Ancient civilizations used embroidery on garments.

There are almost as many styles of embroidery as there are brands of threads and fabrics from which to choose.

There is basic embroidery that can be utilized to create simple 

 or elaborate works.

(Sorry, that's sideways)

 These are some I've stitched.

There is redwork, blackwork, and chicken scratch.

There's the whole 'nother category of Cross-stitch which can be counted or not.

Yeppers, stitched this one too.

And there's crewel embroidery that usually means using wool or wool-like yarn for your stitching.

Whew!

It is always wonderful if you have someone to teach you - as my [Grand]Mama taught me. But, if not, there's a plethora of resources available!

Books are good - like any of the books written by Erica Wilson - THE Queen of Crewel Embroidery

Or by Jenny Hart - THE Queen of Embroidery's current revival!

I also like online tutorials.

My pal Wendi Gratz is on a mission to teach everyone how to sew but takes time to add embroidery to the fun!

http://www.dmc-usa.com/Education/Technique/Embroidery.aspx

http://www.sublimestitching.com/

http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/p/embroidery-lessons.html

Stop in next Fabulous Friday, February (already!?) 1st 

for some more resources, tips and 

some vintage patterns!!!

Have a Fabulous Friday and Weekend! 

Happy Friday!

What's up? 

Happy Friday! 

Long time no type! I mean, see! 

Lots goin on 'round here. 

Not exactly exciting in the grand scheme of things but some new stuff happenin and whirling in my head.

Please permit me a moment of whining and 

then I'll move on.

I have decided to give up Craft Shows. 

(Did I tell y'all this already?) Anyways, the last one was last 4th of July. I sold NOTHING. Zero, zip, zilch. 

On top of the disappointment it poured rain several times that day - along with thunder and lightening. 

We only had the shelter of our pop-top canvas roof. 

 I was scared to pieces. North Carolina is #2 in the nation behind Florida in deaths by lightening.

All my merch was soaked - good thing it's all 100% cotton, right?

BillHubby and I broke down early cause all was wet - no way to sell that - and took turns toking stuff 2 1/2 city blocks to our truck. arrgghh.

My inventory was gifted, sold to neighbors and some of it is in a cute shop in Wake Forest, NC -  

Nereidas Nifty Threads  

Nereida is gathering all sorts of cool craft creations for her shop, which is adorable!

Then came the Fall and my brilliant idea to teach folks how to sew.

Ha! 

I put out flyers all over the place. 

No one called. 

So I'm taking a new approach. 

I've been sewing, stitching and knitting for my family and myself. I'm gonna be selfish for a while.

I'm planning some bloggie fun too. 

 Try It Tuesdays with recipes I tried over the weekend.

What's On Your Needles Wednesdays? to share 

(show off) what I'm knitting or stitching.

Thrifty Thursdays for recent Thrifting finds.

Fabulous Friday featuring free vintage embroidery patterns and other fabulous stuff.

Folks - keep me honest on this. If I miss a week of blogging please holler at me!

Stay tuned.   

Stay tuned. 

 

 

 

There's No Business Like Show Business!

Cue Ethel Merman!!!

Cue Roy Scheider!

Spring time + Summer time = Show time folks!

Sew in Stitches has been on the road.

I've been sewing my fingers to the bone.

Embroidering as fast as I can. 

Trying to keep stock in my etsy shop.

Ethel has been working hard showing off aprons.

But most of all -

Having fun!

I love meeting other crafters and vendors.

I love meeting the customers.

Here's a happy Customer at this years BathFest.

She's wearing her brand new Gathering Apron!

FUN!

Look to the right to see where Sew In Stitches will be setting up next.

Hope to see you there!

Thrifty Thursday

I haz the upset tummies but I wanted to gloat, um I mean, show you some of my recent Thrift Shopping scores.

  Picked up for $6 in Raleigh when out thrifting with the multi-talented Amanda Irvin. She is a graphic artist and jewelry maker and fiber artist - Her etsy shop is Sprockets and Lockets.

 This is now hanging in our kitchen where Bill Hubby gets many kisses for being the cook! Found this for less than $1 when out with Becky Wagner. She has been stitching up a storm! Go see!

 Out and about in Pittsboro with Drucilla Pettibone, who has one etsy shop brimming with glorious hand spun yarny goodness and another full of vintage yumminess, we hit upon a couple of Habitat Re-Store bargains. The teeny little planter is now home to a teeny little cedar. I have visions of Bonsai.

 And at the PTA Thrift Shop I found a complete out fit for less than $10. 

Shorts are L.L. Bean! Nice comfy linen too. 

Bill always gets a prize when I go out - framed Ben Franklin "Beer" quote. 

That queen size sheet keeps arguing with itself. It says sundress, then it says, no, I'm an apron or three. Breaking up a fight with a queen size sheet is tiresome. I tucked her away til she makes up my her mind.

 And at the other Habitat Re-Store (yes, we have 2! One for home goods and one for Building your home goods!) I found these stitcheries stuffs. I'm keeping the bird, pattern, and cross-stitch border. The ducks, elephant, and tiny stitched items are up for grabs. Free. Anyone?

 First I was all dumb about this one with "Is this an arrow head? Why?" 

D'oh! It's a Christmas Tree!

I adore this Carolina Wren perched on the Yellow Jasmine. South Carolina's state bird right? Is jasmine the SC state flower?

It's dirty but I just bought a pound of this stuff - Retro Clean. The package says "Safely Brings Age-Stained Textiles Back to Life."

Has anyone else tried it? I'll give it a whirl and let ya know how it works.

Back to my sewing machine. 

Tomorrow my friend Anne and I are off to my home town* of Wilkesboro, NC to set up a booth at the 3rd Friday Farmers Market!

(*Okay, I am from North Wilkesboro, but we are talking twin towns separated by a mere few yards known as the Yadkin River!)