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! 

Welcome Along 2012

Ah, a New Year!

I am so ready! 

Looked outside at the seriously too warm for Winter weather and thought, "looks the same to me."

The calender flips and nothing has changed.

Good. 

I like sameness.

Not that I am an advocate for the status quo mind you. 

I actually like to think of myself as a one woman Crew of Anarchy. 

But, as I am also The Queen of Pro Crasty Nation, not much upheaval is achieved here in our cozy new home.

I want to change that in some ways. 

Not that I ever anticipate giving up my Crown but 

some changes would be good.

Thus I think I shall dub 2012 "The Year of Along."

Look over to the right there -------->

I have joined a couple of Stitch Alongs.

My pal Jodi of Pleasant Home is going to help me, and lots of us, use up all those scraps we can't bear to throw away with 

her 2012 Sew Scraps Along.

New to me blogger, Karen of Sew Much 2 Luv, is hostessing 

the 2012 After Christmas Sew Along.

Karen's giveaway includes weekly prizes! 

Both gal's blogs are chock full of tutorials and beautiful ideas and inspirations.

Jodi's Quick Pinwheel Table Runner 

inspired my Pinwheel quilt for GrandBaby A.

Karen makes the cutest stuff. 

I love combining stitching (Cross or embroidery) and sewing as she did in this little bag!

I want to sew more. 

I want to embroider more.

I want to knit more.

I want to read more.

For Fun.

For myself. 

Even for profit. 

For my sanity.

Join me in welcoming the New Year with a renewed love for whatever is your favorite craft or your passion.

What do you want to bring along to the New Year?

Finished It Friday!

 Happy Friday Folks!!!!

One of my friends (Dru) fussed at me this week to post what I have been working on. 

So here's some Finished It Friday Fun!

 This is now finished

and framed!

How do you like my Faux Bois matt? 

Brown paper bag and magic markers.

Kristy Kizzee Miss Zombie USA

Go see her etsy shop - Bombastitch

This beauty is on BillHubby's new shirt. 

Will get him to model it soon ( I hope)

 Sorry this pic is so dark. 

Finished one of a set of stamped pillowcases.

Kat Daughter wants me to make the other for her in pinks.

 I love, love, love the bee!

 Wedding gift

 is finished.

 TarHeel baby blanket

 His name shall be Henri! 

Pronounced "henree" not "on ree."

 Flannel cowboys on the back

 Happy Mommy to be. 

 

Don't forget

Just in time for Dad's Day, Graduations, Weddings and Summer Cook-out Fun. 

 I am offering free shipping in my etsy shop, 

Sew In Stitches, 

now through next Wednesday, June 15th. 

Just use coupon code SMS2011

or use 10OffSMS 2011 for 10% off your total purchase.

I am happy to discuss custom orders too!

Machine embroidered monograms or 

first names are available.

Just $5! 

That's cheaper than the famous catalogues and most stores!

 

BillHubby and I will be in Durham, NC participating in Duke Homestead's Herb, Garden and Craft Fair tomorrow, Saturday, June 11th, 10am - 4 pm.

Stop by and visit with us.

What Have You Been Doing?

I have days that I feel as if I have been so busy but that produce little in the way of "getting things done."
How about you?

I often find myself doing what I want to do rather than what I "need" to be doing.

Lately I have been re-inspired to embroider and cross-stitch.

It is so much more fun than doing the laundry or dusting.

 

I made this one up.

It's a fire in honor of our first ever Fire-Pit party back in December.

I'll show you when it's finished.

 

This is a Kristy Kizzee design. I won

Zombie Cross-Stitch kit by Erika Kern and Kristy Kizzee!

I'm stitching it with waste canvas on black fabric that will soon (hopefully) be a shirt for BillHubby.

I'm taking poetic license with the colors. I just started stitching again and didn't have all the absolute exact DMC flosses. And there's no way BillHubby is goin around 

with a blonde on his shirt!

Kristy's etsy shop - Bombastitch

The Fabulous mr x stitch's review of the kit I won!

The last couple of weeks have been stressful so I escaped into an old habit.

Backtracking a wee bit - in First Grade I determined that my crayons at school and those of my best friend should be arranged thusly - yellow, orange, blue, purple, red, green, brown and black.

I do not know why. 

I still arrange things in this order.

Since 1964!

Anyway, my doodles are most often a design surrounded by progressively bigger outlines of said doodle. If I use crayons or colored pencils or markers I always start with yellow and so on. (Oh please, someone analyze this for me!)

So this flower was born.

When I finished it the other day I felt so happy and cleansed of all 

that had been plaguing my brain.

I leave you with, as Jon Stewart says, 

"your moment of zen." 

Is there anything more peaceful than tired kittehs curled up for a nap?

Kitteh Kitteh Lovey and Stanley

P.S. Coming soon! Blogiversary and new etsy shop items!

P.P.S. Please go check out Jodi's Blog and her fab Giveaway!!!