Snowlady With Birds

Here's another hand embroidery finish to add to the collection. It will eventually be a small quilted wall hanging. This time the carrot nose is orange, the holly berries are red and the snowflakes are silver. I'm calling it 'Red Work' with colour. If "Whitework with Colour' is accepted than so can this.

By they way, have you heard about Trish Burr's newest embroidery book, Whitework with Colour?
Mary Corbet has a fantastic review of this book on her blog. See it HERE.   PS: I broke down and pre-ordered it!

Enjoy!!

Red Work Done in Blue

I'm trying to do a little hand stitching everyday during 2017. So far, I've managed to do just that. My doodle cloth, which I started last year, is for experimenting with different threads and yarns using a variety of stitches. My one 'rule' on the doodle cloth - no taking out stitches. I will try to self correct as I continue stitching or do a 'restart' next to the fumbled work! Like my word? 

I have several other different pieces ready to stitch. These are my TV watching pieces as I really can't sit with idle hands. I don't know about you, but I need something fairly simple at times like that. Concentrating on a complicated pattern is for other times.
Here's my latest finish:

I don't know where I got this image - sorry! It was traced onto fabric a few years ago and put aside. This one will be quilted and probably made into a small wall hanging. I used a back stitch using Valdani Threads.

There are thousands of images out there to use for hand stitching. All those Adult Colouring books, for example, that are flooding the book stores, supermarkets etc, have excellent images to reproduce onto fabric. Maybe bits and pieces from several images can be combined to make a totally different piece. Experiment!

Here's a few links with images / patterns to use:

• Hand Embroidery Patterns on Pinterest HERE, HERE,  
• Red Work on Pinterest HERE,   
• Free patterns from Bird Brain Designs   
• Red Work Patterns 

Enjoy!  

In my 'spare' time, I've been stitching up a snowman mini. It is my take away piece when stitching with friends. I find that when we get together, it's hard to concentrate on a 'follow a pattern' piece.


I'm using an 8 inch hoop and # 8 Valdani Pearl Cotton. Note the tiny magnet holding my needle. It's easier to let the magnet catch the needle.

Stitching Patterns:

• Redwork Embroidery (note the alphabet series)
• Redwork and Embroidery on Pinterest  
• Quilt Inspiration Redwork Patterns    

If you are looking for something different, check out the 'adult colouring books' that seem to be all the rage these days.

Or maybe Zentangle Designs might be something different to stitch. Check Pinterest HERE  & HERE for some and this YouTube on How To Draw Zen-tangles, is a good one.    

Enjoy!!      

1st. UFO for 2016

I finished my first UFO for 2016 today. This small hand embroidery was started just before Christmas. The pattern is from Redwork, Winter Twitterings by Pearl Louise Krush. Valdani thread was used for the tree and birds with silver metallic for the tree trim and snowflakes. The blue border is a royal blue batik but shows up much darker in the photo.

Stitching Outside

It was a nice, warm afternoon. The light under the awing was perfect, so I decided to get in a bit of quality hand stitching.

Yes, I do sometimes stitch when on vacation! I attached my portable embroidery hoop holder to the picnic table and started on a piece of red work using blue thread. I posed in the sun for the photo and then got back under the awing. To bad I didn't look in the mirror before having my photo taken! When I took off my hat, a strand of hair was standing straight up.

I will post a photo of my work later.

Fabric

When I visited It's Sew Time, in Elemsdale, I forgot to show you the piece of fabric I purchased. Since I've been doing some red work (using blue floss), I thought this piece just might fit in with that.
What do you think? It's difficult to tell that the background is more white than it appears. I might do some hand stitching on some of the snowmen or use the fabric as is. I haven't quite decided what I will do with it, but I had to have it.

Hot Buns!

No, I'm not the bread maker but my brother is! He learned to make these delicious looking loves from our mother. I wish I was near him to have a loaf! I love the smell of fresh baked bread. On that note, here are a few projects that are bread related.

Vintage Crafts and More (remember these? - I do)
Rose Prairie Quilts (scroll down for Happiness is Homemade)
Stray Stitches Bread Basket (scroll down)
Red Work (scroll down for Spread the Love)
Bread Basket Liner

Photo courtesy of my brother

Enjoy!

Happy Winter!

Winter temperatures in St. John's have been up and down this year. One day the ground is bare and feels like spring is in the air, then we get a cold snap with lots of snow and freezing temperatures! That's life here in the mid North Atlantic. Whatever the weather, it's warm and cosy inside - just right for spending time working on quilting / sewing projects. This time, the focus is on snowmen.

Snowmen Quilt Patterns
Cutting Paper Snowflakes (think applique)
Cute Snowman
Red Work Snowman
Snowman Door Hanger
Starry Night
Snow (my post) and HERE
Enjoy!

Brrrrrr!!

Let's just say, until last night, we really didn't have any winter weather! Now we have piles of the white stuff. In fact, Environment Canada classified the weather as blizzard conditions. By the way, it's now raining outside - go figure. Here are a few ideas to keep you from getting too bored during those long winter evenings.
Enjoy!

Winter Pines Wall Hanging
Silly Snow Quake Pattern
Snowman Block
Snowflake Embroidery Pattern
Winter Colouring Pages (great for stitching)
Snowball Freebie
Crochet Snowman (scroll down for pattern)
Wintery Red Work
Snowmen Pins
Crochet Snowmen Hats
Snowmen Pincushions

Books

I had a couple of coupons for 50% off at Joanne's Fabrics. I cashed them in today on a few books.

• Christmas with Possibilities from C & T Publishing - this one caught my eye as the 16 quilted holiday projects were so brightly coloured and not complicated. I can see possibilities for alternating some of the patterns. I may do the Christmas Tree Advent Calendar.
• Redwork: Winter Twitterings from House of White Birches - the patterns are nice ones to do  
• Cloth Doll Workshop from Crafts at Quarry Books - I have several books on cloth doll making. You never know, it just might be a future project especially now that I have a granddaughter of my own!!
• Tilda's Summer Ideas from D & C Publishing - I like the simplicity of the Tilda patterns. I have one of these already.

These four books cost less than one at regular price. We don't have a Joanne's at home and Michael's Crafts will not give discounts on books, which is a bummer. Sometimes they do have a few good books.

Butterflies

Back in October, 2009, I wrote about The Butterfly Project that the St. John's Guild of Embroiderers' was involved with. Well, here is a picture of the butterflies collected to date. If you look back in the blog, you will see that we have added to the collection. Some of the round ones on the top row and two on the second row were embroidered by members of the youth guild.
Check out some free embroidery butterfly patterns:
butterfly
butterfly redwork
Coats and Clark pattern for a butterfly place mat, napkin and napkin ring
cross stitch butterfly pattern
black magic butterfly
butterfly and bluebells bookmark