TAST: Running Stitch

I had an enjoyable and relaxing time just allowing running stitches to meander around on an old paint rag backed with quilt batting…

Another Embroidered Doodle

This is my outlined embroidery for lesson two and was based on collaged images from a couple of printing trade magazines. Design inspiration comes from unexpected sources...

Moleskine Magnolias

I thought, for sure, the magnolia flowers would have been decimated by the heavy rains – but they’re still blooming! I sketched the flowers, and then transferred them to my moleskine for inking. (Drawing directly in the moleskine does not work for me because I erase too much and that ruins the paper’s finish.) I wanted to emphasize the negative spaces between the petals so I colored in the background with a Staedtler dual tipped marker. I was in an orangey mood…

It was a gorgeous day today, sunny with temperatures in the low 70s. Spring, at last!

TAST: First Attempt at Palestrina Stitch

This was a new stitch for me and I want to thank Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n Thread for the great video tutorial! I have been wanting to try reverse appliqué and thought the Palestrina stitch would be a good candidate to try as an outline. I used a scrap of Bali batik for the base and created the top fabric by embellishing coordinating bits of roving and teased out Kunin felt on top of a piece of lilac (Kunin) felt. I ironed the base to a piece of fusible Peltex before stitching and beading. This was just a small experiment (2 ½ x 3 ½ in.) but it might be worth some further exploration…

Embroidered Doodle

This is my lesson one embroidery from Susan Sorrell’s Doodling Designs class. I love this class – learning how to approach design in new, playful ways!

TAST: Oyster Stitch and a Confession

I freely admit I was dreading this stitch. I figured it was coming and I wasn’t looking forward to it at all. I actually groaned when I found out it was this week's TAST challenge. I had tried it before when Sharon featured it in the 100 details – but it took me forever to work it out (I’m not even sure if I did it correctly) – and I thought if I never made another oyster stitch it would be too soon! However, this time I tried it and fell in love with it. I had so much fun playing with this little (2 ½”x 3 ½”) sampler! I found clear, illustrated instructions for the stitch (on page 66) in Judith Baker Montano’s gorgeous book, Floral Stitches.

I am currently enrolled in Susan Sorrell’s Doodling Designs class (because I always learn so much from Susan!) and in Carol Murphy’s Easy Blitz of Glitz (because I wanted an excuse to play with twinkling H2Os!). So I need to get my rear in gear…

TAST: Bonnet Stitch ATC and Santa News!

The background is felted wool roving - with matching variegated rayon FME on top. I used the bonnet stitch to couch down coordinating novelty yarn. I very much enjoyed working with this stitch (a new stitch for me) and I’m sure it will find its way into future embroidered pieces.

On the Santa Claus front, I have two nearly finished for 2007– I’m lagging behind schedule a bit (the poor dears are sitting here in their birthday suits…) But I do have some exciting news to report! My Shanty Claus pattern will be featured in the upcoming "Christmas in July" issue of Australian Homespun magazine. I was contacted last July by the managing editor and had to have the completed project in Oz by February. That is such a lovely publication and I am just “over the moon” about being included in it!

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Easter

It's a Mod Mod Mod Mod World!

This (6x4 inch) piece was made on the embellisher using dyed silk from a scarf, black silk, organza, kunin felt, rayon blend (polka dotted fabric) and wool roving – on a kunin felt base. I overlaid it with sparkly tulle (you can’t see the sparkles in the scan) and placed it on a piece of Peltex before free-motion embroidering with matching variegated rayon thread. I was going to use this as a background for some hand embroidery but I may just leave it alone…not sure…