TAST: French Knots

This is a quick stitch combination from Judith Montano’s book, Floral Stitches, using tied herringbone stitches, straight stitches, detached chains and French knots.

Binky's Garden (WIP)

Here is a little more embroidery on my (5 x7 inches) quiltlet, “Binky’s Garden.” I’m trying to decide whether to scatter beads throughout or just add beaded fringe to the bottom… I wonder if it needs buttons in each corner…decisions, decisions…

TAST: Wheatear Stitch

Oooh, another fun and useful stitch! Here, I used it to describe (well, sort of) the flower spikes on common plantain (Plantago major).

My All-Time Favorite Flowers!

These are planted in a wooden tub in the garden right outside my studio door. Big, colorful old-fashioned zinnias – they make me happy just to look at them!

TAST: Satin Stitch

This is a quick flower with satin stitched petals and fused, embroidered leaves on an embellished background (consisting of a painted paper towel, wool roving, a used dryer sheet and Kunin felt).

Ocean City Boardwalk

We went to the Ocean City boardwalk last night for pizza. Have I mentioned before that we don’t eat pizza anywhere else because nothing compares to Mack and Manco’s tangy sauce and crispy crust? And we spent a little time in the Atlantic bookstore where I bought an old library book to alter (someday!).

DH took this shot of the boardwalk (with my little point and shoot Sony) from inside the music pier… He didn’t have a tripod and needed a nice, flat surface on which to balance the camera - so he used the top of my head!

The Babies...

Here’s a quick update on the babies, Blake and Bridget. They are both growing so fast and are just “full of piss and vinegar!” We converted our old utility room into a nursery for them (new floor and paint). And we scored the cool play tower at Petsmart yesterday at nearly $100.00 off the regular price – YAY! We are introducing them slowly to the other cats. So far so good, except for Huckleberry who showed his utter disdain for the “interlopers” by peeing on DH’s monitor last night…

Nature Journal: Bracken Fern

TAST: Crossed Buttonhole Stitch

The background was created on the embellisher from one ply of a paper towel (used to clean up after a painting session) sandwiched between a used dryer sheet and a piece of Kunin felt. I used the embellisher to hold the novelty yarn in place before adding the crossed buttonhole stitches. The size is 4 x 6 inches and will be used as a background for further work. This was a joy to stitch!

Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acule)

These are gorgeous native plants in the orchid family. DH put the little frame around them when they sprouted so we wouldn’t inadvertently step on them.

TAST: Butterfly Chain

Here’s a really quick row of butterfly chain stitches using metallic beads and gold thread on black Aida.

Seven Things You Always Wanted to Know About Me and Are Probably Sorry You Asked…

Luci tagged me for the “seven things” thing so here goes:

1. I have been a vegetarian for thirty years. My last meaty meal was a pork roll sandwich on the Ocean City boardwalk. The very next day I read the book, The Vegetarian Alternative (out of print), from cover to cover and our lives were forever changed.

2. I am an anti-vivisectionist and try to purchase cruelty-free products whenever I can.

3. I believe, with all my heart, that all animals go to heaven when they die - and there will be ecstatic, rapturous reunions!

4. My very favorite poem in the entire world (and one that resonates within every fiber of my being) comes from a book of Jewish prayers first published in 1947 called The Language of Faith (out of print). I hope I don’t get in trouble for quoting it here:

With all my strength and spirit, I adore
You, Truth, aloud and in my secret core.
I hoard your name. And who can rob this spoil?
He is my love. What other could I crave?
He is my light. How could my lamp need oil?
How can I falter, leaned on such a stave?

They mock - and do not know that mockery,
Because I praise your name, is praise to me.
Source of my life, your praise shall sound as long
As I can breathe my fervor into song.

5. I am very interested in Mideast politics and am currently reading Joan Peter’s highly respected and well-documented book, From Time Immemorial. I would recommend that to anyone interested in countering the media’s anti-Israel bias.

6.Politically and culturally, I am a Libertarian and an iconoclast. And I find the current climate of political correctness very disturbing. I also don’t believe in sacrificing freedom for security.

And last and maybe least -
7.I started to collect fashion dolls last year. I have several Gene Marshall dolls based upon the film actresses of the thirties and forties. Because of those dolls and my interest in vintage clothing, DH and I have recently begun watching old films when we get a chance (lots of costume design inspiration!) and are really enjoying them. We especially love Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis. DH has such a crush on Rita - what an exquisitely beautiful lady she was! As I write this, I’m singing “Put the blame on Mame, boys…”

TAST: Basque Stitch

I love this stitch! Here, I tried it out as an outline for appliqué and as a little flower with a button center. Again, the background is the ubiquitous paint rag…

Doodling Designs - Lesson Four (WIP)

This is the start of my fabric collage for lesson four of the Doodling Designs course. I’ll be adding embroidery and beads. The cat figure was cut from one of my old paint rag scraps – I’m sure getting a lot of mileage out of those babies! Anyway, the working title is “Binky’s Garden” and it’s meant to be a tribute to the sweet cat who used to live next door. Speaking of sweet cats, I’ve been spending the past few glorious spring afternoons out in the screen house playing with little Blake and Bridget (see post below) who are both completely made of sugar…

Unbearable Cuteness...

The black male kitten was hiding in a plastic pipe next to the shed on Sunday afternoon. Later, after midnight, DH went out to the woodpile to get more wood for the fireplace (it was unseasonably cold) and thought he heard another kitten crying in the woods across the street. So we both bundled up and took a walk in the woods, meowing as we went. The female calico kitten came right to us. We took them both to the vet this morning (boy, were they ever a hit!) who said they were probably between five and six weeks old and seemingly very healthy. They are under quarantine in my studio, pending the results of their blood tests, after which they will be integrated into the rest of the household. And so it goes…

TAST: More Stitches

I had a chance to do a little more with the woven and whipped wheels. I found directions for the fun woven picots in Judith Montano’s book, Floral Stitches (page 77). This tiny sampler (2 ½ x 3 ½ inches) was stitched on a scrap of a paint rag fused to Peltex.

TAST: Woven Wheel

Here is a silk ribbon spider web rose (my very first) for this week’s TAST. The motif is from a book by Deanna West Hall, 101 Iron-on Transfers for Ribbon Embroidery.

The Same Dang Doodle…

Today, I used the same stamped image from yesterday’s post and manipulated it in Corel (when I should have been working!). I’m sort of intrigued with the endless possibilities, here… I will try printing these to fabric when I get a chance.

Doodling Designs - Lesson Three

I carved a stamp over the weekend for lesson three of the Doodling Designs class and just got around to printing it this evening. The first image is the inked proof on paper; the second image is a print using Jacquard Neo-Opaque paint on PFD cotton.

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…

TAST: Knotted Cretan Stitch

I had intended to use the previously posted background, but didn’t want to cut it down – so I made a smaller piece (2 ½ x 3 ½ inches) using the same technique. The little notches formed by the knots in this stitch were begging for blossoms and buds…

Another Felted Background…

This time I embellished a piece of decorator fabric onto the Peltex, then added pastel colored wool roving on top. I added the FME with coordinating rayon variegated thread. An advantage of working directly on the Peltex is that it acts as a stabilizer for the free motion embroidery.

Embellished Background on Peltex

Revved up the embellisher this afternoon and felted together some dyed silk from a scarf I never wore, commercially dyed silk ribbon, organza, novelty yarn and wool roving (from Joggles). I love how the silk crinkles under the needles – none of my scarves are safe, now…or DH’s ties…

TAST: Couching

The background is a piece of cotton from my stash to which I added some FME. I felted in circles of Kunin felt as well as some fibers teased from the felt, here and there. Variegated yarn was couched on with black embroidery floss. Too much fun…

American Woodcock

I was looking out my bedroom window this afternoon when I noticed one of the "dead leaves" on the ground bobbing up and down. It was a woodcock doing his version of the “funky chicken.” Woodcocks are rarely seen because they are very shy and pretty much camouflaged by their surroundings. Seeing him really made my day!

TAST: Up and Down Buttonhole Stitch Sampler

This was a new stitch for me and I really enjoyed messing around with it. The background was created on the embellisher using wool roving, novelty yarn and scraps from a painted dryer sheet – encased in fine tulle.

The weather has been Heavenly (in the 70s!) for the past couple of days but the weatherman is calling for snow tomorrow – argh!

TAST: Barred Chain Stitches on Embellished Background

For the background, I embellished scraps of linen, muslin, rayon/cotton blend, quilt batting, ribbons in silk and organza (and just a smidgen of Santa beard wool) on top of a piece of water soluble stabilizer. Then I added some free-motion stitching on top. This little exercise was inspired by Margo Duke’s instructions (although she uses beautiful pastel fabrics!) in the January/February issue of Quilting Arts magazine. For this week’s TAST, I added a few barred chain stitches. This will most likely be used as a foundation for further stitching…

TAST: Messing Around with Cross Stitches

Well, I had fun, anyway! I embellished an old multicolored checked rayon sash to a piece of wool felt. Then I added some wool roving “flowers.” To suggest a trellis, I made large cross stitches using the checks as a guide. Then I added a whole bunch of cross stitches in rayon, silk, perle cotton and stranded cotton. I sort of “borrowed” the trellis idea from a beautiful book I have by Jan Beaney, called THE ART OF THE NEEDLE.

TAST: Cross Stitch

I used a simple cross stitch pattern from Janet Haigh’s wonderful book, THE EMBROIDERER’S FLORAL, to sew these tender Dianthus blossoms.

TAST: WIP with Fly Stitches...

This is stitched on a yarn-embellished piece of painted and stamped Peltex. That’s my favorite stitching surface because it doesn’t need to be hooped. Also, I’ve discovered that running it under the embellisher softens it up a little, making it even easier to work with.

Field Trip...

I haven’t done any stitching for the past few days because I have a nasty sty on my eyelid (thanks to that darned Algerian eyestitch, no doubt!). Anyway, it doesn’t hurt anymore – just itches so I guess it’s beginning to heal.

Yesterday, for the first time, I accompanied DH to City Hall in Philly to help him set up a courtroom for an electronic presentation. I usually just assist him with the preparation work here, i.e. scanning photographs or synching videotaped depositions to written transcripts (time stamping). DH goes to court and sits next to the attorney he represents and pulls up whatever graphics are needed to display on the screen. (Behind the scenes, he spends hours with the attorneys as they prepare their cases.) Anyway, while court was in session yesterday, I sat in the back and observed how the jury reacted. It’s amazing how an image on the screen will really get their attention! And, after an absolutely brilliant and eloquent opening statement from our attorney, the plaintiff decided it would be in his best interest to settle. And the judge wholeheartedly agreed. There was general euphoria on our side! I got a real lesson in civics yesterday and found the whole legal process fascinating. No wonder DH loves his work!

One of the lawyers we represent

TAST: Feather Stitches

I decided to add some beaded feather stitches to my encrusted sampler (Lesson 6 - Personal Stitch Library course at Joggles). I think this is done, although I keep picking it up and adding more beads and stitches…

TAST (from the past): Buttonhole Stitch Sampler

I stitched this postcard on a painted and yarn-embellished Peltex background. I didn’t start with any kind of plan or design. What a joy it was to just let the threads sort of do their thing - and not worry about counting! I’m not quite sure if this is done, but I will put it aside and let it percolate awhile. Hmmmm, looking around the studio, there seems to be an awful lot of percolatin’ going on…

TAST: Algerian Eye Stitch Sampler

This is a fun and useful little stitch but I’m blurry-eyed from counting the linen threads…

Nature Journal: Dried Bracken Fern

It’s cold and the forecast is calling for snow mixed with rain. Here is a drawing of a dried bracken fern.

TAST: Chevron Stitches

I had to try a few beaded Chevron stitches…


And here is a little more work on my beaded Cretan stitch sampler, although the last row looks a bit herringbone-esque…not sure where I went wrong…

TAST: More Beaded Cretan Stitches

More Embellishing…

I played with my embellisher today. How I love that machine and the purr of its little motor! In the first experiment, I added some yarn (that I recently purchased at a hefty discount at Michael’s!) to two (4x6 inch) pieces of painted and stamped Peltex (got the idea for using Peltex from Kay Susan).


Next, I used the same yarn, in a different color way, and applied it to the background I created a couple of weeks ago using painted paper toweling on wool felt. I added a couple narrow scraps of painted lutradur here and there…