Last but not least....

I just had to try the letter H and do some background color.  First I over-dyed some ribbons, and after doing all my stitching, I added some color to the background fabric (prima cotton) to see how it would look.  What do you think?  too much?  I didn't want to show it with the class samples as I don't think we could do any dyeing with our limited class time.  It would be fun to make some samples.

I always love it when my students come in with their finished class pieces.  This one is Kendra's and I love how she did her own thing, and made it totally unique.  It's for her daughter and I am sure she is going to love it.  I know I would.  Her stitching is so tiny and precise!!  Thanks Kendra!!

Happy Stitching, Kathy

Wool in July???

Yes, what were we thinking???  After Kerry and I  finished our brain-storming, we came up with some good  great ideas for projects using Silk Ribbon and wool.  First of all, she found this darling Victorian fan Needlebook.  She has lots of vintage trims in the store (We, of the Needle) so I  picked a few items to incorporate.  I love how it came out.  Blue Wool with ribbons and tatting...plus a little gold trim.  Pink flannel inside (not shown).  Should be a really fun class.

 Next, came the Envelope Pincushion.  This used

a piece of handkerchief, brown / black wool, ribbon, and tatting.  I later changed the ribbon flowers.  You can see that they are just pinned on.  The making of the envelope was challenging, but the rest was easy as pie.  This will be another fun class, as any vintage piece can be added.

This next piece was the most fun and creative, as it only had two types of stitches, a star to make the eyelet, and  french knots.  The texture all came from the fibers used. They are silk ribbon, over-dyed pearl cotton floss, over-dyed silk thread, wool yarn, fancy yarn and beads.  It is made on a large count material, so easy to pull the eyelets.  This little beauty is only 3" square and makes a fun pincushion.  Called "Pulled Ribbon Pincushion", we will have various small frames for your selection prior to class.  This photo doesn't do the piece justice.

That's all for today, hope you are enjoying the summertime and stitching your heart away!  Kathy

Follow that dream

 Another heavy photo blog....as you can see I have been doing mostly Silk Ribbon Embroidery...I revised my blue and yellow "D"...I'm showing the first version, and then the revised one.  I love the embroidery stitching for the base of the initial.  It certainly flows nicer, and I love doing the stem stitch in brown.
The next one, J, is for a very special person in my life. Julie H. is a true friend.  Even tho our paths don't cross as much as I would like, I wanted to do this for her.  She picked out the colors which really helps.  They are fun and bright, fitting her to a T...well, to a J...ha ha.  I wanted her to see it first, before showing it off on my blog, but that didn't work out.  Hopefully, I will be able to give it to her soon!!!!

 Now, I just picked out some random initials that I thought would be fun to embroider, and this is what I came up with for the letter "R"......using some overdyed ribbon really makes the colors pop!  How do you like them?

 After seeing all my new initials, my friend Mary had to get busy with her daughter's "A"...we had fun picking out these "woodsy" overdyed ribbons to use.  She did a fantastic job on all the stitching.  Abby loves it!

 Now I went a little overboard on the purple/bluish "M"....I combined two over-dyed threads, and lots of Glorianna silk ribbon.... that's the joy of doing models.  Nothing is off limits.


Now you might wonder what in the world is this darling little puppy doing here...This is little Clementine, a toy mix, that recently came to live with my friend Kelli...she is just totally adorable!!!  I can hardly stay away from her....I think she is much cuter than Mr. Winkle (google him if you dare).  So I have suggested she start dressing her in cute clothes and snapping her photo.  I think she could be famous!!

I could keep on going about little Clementine, but I will save more for future posts.  My little chis' are very jealous of her, and DeeDee tried to bite her tail....So more post to come on class samples and new projects.  I did manage to get some buttons on my "Rabbit Alphabet" but that is about it.
Happy stitching, Kathy

Stitch in the name of Love

Do you ever find yourself dragging on a stitching piece simply because it's not what you want to be doing at the moment?  It may be something you've promised to do for a loved one, and it's not your colors or style?
I always think to myself, this will be easy, not keeping it is no problem.  So what happens?  It sits in the box waiting for my attention.  I may have made a mistake, changed a color, or just had to alter the pattern.  Then it stalls...sitting patiently.  It doesn't help when the loved one seems to have lost interest in it also.  So what do you do?  I desperately need some advice.
On to the photos...I have two special best friends that have birthdays back to back.  So I had to make them some extra special birthday cards.  The first one is for my dear friend Marjorie...I used Graphic 45 paper so it was a snap to make.  I have to be careful not to make one like last years.  She loved it!!!

 This one was extra special as I wanted to use my never before used "Stitching" stamps.  However, I loved this paper and tried to incorporate it all in one.  My friend Mary loves red, and roses, so this paper was a must.  So I stamped the inside part.  Just perfect for a fellow stitcher!!!

Here is my "Hare" sampler that I started back in March.  It seems impossible that it has been that long.  I worked on it flying to Tulsa and had no problems at all.  However, coming home with a sore throat knocked me back off track.  I finally got the large rabbit fixed last week, and then did the Q and R.  They are off a little, then I had to measure to make sure I had enough fabric for the rest of it.  Luckily, after counting twice, I figured I do.  It comes with white buttons to sew on, but I don't know if I want to use them.  They are rather plain and I have access to much nicer ones.  What would you do?  The name is "The Rabbit Alphabet" by JBW Designs.  Here is the original.

Above is the alphabet dogs and cats that I am stuck on.  It didn't matter that she mixed up the dogs and cats, nor that she wanted different colors and beads.   What do I do to get back to it???

Hope you are having a happy stitching day!  Kathy

See what all you can do!

These cuties are the little ones that my friend Mary stitched while recuperating.  I promised to help her finish them.  I didn't realize how many she had finished....lol..but I only have one left of hers to do and about five of mine.  Here they are in no particular order.  Some are parts of charts, so if you need more info, let me know, ok?

Happy stitching, Kathy

Another Just Nan project all finished!!

It is a little late for Valentine's, but I had to show off my latest finish as I slightly altered this design.  Now I need to find just the right charm for the open part of the heart, and perhaps something else.  Anyway, I am glad to have this out of the to-do box.  Here is a close up of some of the detail work.

 My next french knot project is four pumpkin buttons.  I will make them with pin backs so I can wear them with whatever I like.  They will be a tiny 3/4" wide when finished.  Just too adorable for words.

More tomorrow, this gal is bushed.......
Happy stitching, Kathy

Fun time in the Summer....

I'm happy to say that my injured back is nearly healed and I managed to finish up a few pieces.  I couldn't really stitch much on pain medication, but managed to fill my time sorting some ribbons.  I have also been doing some cleaning and sorting out items of my stamping stash.  Putting a few things on Ebay was also on my list, and last night did two listings.  So I have made much progress in the past two weeks.  Azzy's trip was delayed so I will miss seeing her this Sunday.  Now to the finished pieces.
My Patriotic Santa had to be my favorite piece of all.

Back fabric.

 My exchange fob which I finally found a charm I liked for the middle, a gold sparkle fabric for backing.

I finally finished my french Knotted rug with overdyed silk threads. It was so enjoyable I couldn't stop until I was finished.  I plan to have it framed with an oval mat.

 Close up of threads.

Now I finished my friend Mary's silk ribbon initial but I don't want to show it until she has seen it.   Next I am going to work on some old baby shoes that I purchased last year.  I have two pair and a lefty single.  Since I received my new stash of ribbon, I have plenty to work with for a long while.

Happy stitching, Kathy

Welcome May Flowers!

Today was the first class of the Silk Ribbon Initials, and as promised, I am posting the CD album where you can order the whole alphabet.  It is $20, and called Home Arts Victorian Monograms...Patti has a website called ezhomearts.com, and her email is patti@ezhomearts.com  Check it out and order it directly from her.

If you need any more info, please do not hesitate to contact me.  All my students were totally awesome today, and we had a great time learning all the easy basic stitches.  Thanks, We, of the Needle in Brea for asking me to teach this class!!!  We have another full class on this Saturday.

I started another french knot piece, this one is by Teresa Layman and called Skipper's Roses. 2008. Finished size will be 6" x 4 1/4"....I am using silk floss, two strands.

Then I will finish my Just Nan's "Queen of the Needle" Sampler.  I have worked on it off and on, but really need to "frog" a few places, and get it back on track.
So hope you are having a great week, and happy stitching, Kathy

Another project finished!!!!

Back in Jan. I attended the "Road to California" Quilt show and bought the lap hoop set made by Morgan Quality Products.  I just love it and found it is perfect for doing my embroidery with french knots.  I bought a pattern called The Pumpkin Hill, and cannot find the designers name.  I have problems with my computer, so have not been using it as much.  The pattern was originally for wool hooking and this is what it looked like finished.  I did my thing

with french knots and loved how it came out.  Used my own colors and had a great time.  It only took me two months which is a record at my house.

My update on the Needlework show last Sat. hosted by the Seaside Stitchers.  There were over 300 entries and many many beautiful items to enjoy.  We could get up close and see every detail.  It was just wonderful and such a beautiful day near the beach.  Wish we could have taken photographs but understand the rules.  We were amazed to see the Silk Ribbon workmanship done by a lady that is now 101 years young.  I just wish we could have met her and chatted awhile.  The "boutique" was set up like a garage sale, most items being gently used or recycled.  It was fun to go thru all the boxes looking at charts, kits, floss, hoops, frames, you name it, it might have been there.  We scored lots of great buys, most being around 25 and 10 cents!!!!  Yes, it was fun....Well worth the drive there, and entry fee.
Happy Stitching, Kathy

Just a little needle and thread....

While trying to find all my missing needles, I decided to finally empty the old ragged red pincushion I have had for over forty years.  I thought I would find a few needles....but not this!!!!  Needless to say, I now have plenty!!!

  Hope you have a happy stitching day!

Kathy

April Happiness

April is always filled with fun and joy as we celebrate three birthdays in the family.  I was thrilled to also have Azzy here for her spring break.  We had a wonderful time and even baked her mother a birthday cake.  I had picked up a box mix that had food coloring in it.  Azzy really liked mixing all the colors and the mix was extra tasty.  I even managed to  finish my Stitching Retreat projects, complete a few others including Just Nan, and Lizzie*Kate.  One day I decided to empty my old worn out pincushion, and found quite a few needles inside.  I also sold my hubby's 1996 Van, and shopped for a new car.  I stitched many projects from my stash, and only spent $24.00...Here are all the photos...

 I love how the frame sets off the tiny gold stitches in the eggs.

 My nearly finished Garden Maze with more purple used than the original pinks.  Love love it.

 Mary's version of Garden Maze according to the chart by Just Nan....Love it also.

 My tiny rose wreath in progress on 40 ct.  My new glasses are so great to use with this.  I'll find the designers name as I am using a colored copy for my pattern.  The original chart is quite small for my poor eyes.

 This is Just Nan's Tiny Garden Square from 2002....I changed the edging from ecru as it just didn't show up.

 This is another Just Nan (something with Violets?) that was a birthday gift from Mary.  Love love it.

 My finished projects from the retreat in Tulsa....I loved how each one of them turned out just right.  I loved doing the little fob extra small.  It has two sides.

 Mary fell in love with"Random Stitches" by Erika Michaels and did it on larger count with two over dyed threads.  She bought two other patterns, but will do them both on larger count.  I think it is just wonderful!

I'll write more tomorrow, and let you know how the Needlework show went.  It will be my first to attend.
Should be exciting, and then more vehicle hunting....Just deciding on what color has me stumped!!!
Happy Stitching, Kathy