Embroidered Penny's Bird!

I had mentioned a few months back about something I was working on for a blog pal. I couldn't show it because I wanted it to be a sort of surprise. She gave me permission to embroider one of her birds that she had drawn. I fell absolutely in LOVE with this guy, and felt I HAD to embroider him.

You can see her original drawing HERE, at Penny's blog, called With My Boots and Sketchbook. To get her drawing onto my fabric, I held natural muslin up to my computer screen and copied the bird with pencil. It worked out fairly well, but there were areas that had to be changed up slightly due to the muslin having slipped one way or another as I was penciling it out....but it really added to the quirkiness of the whole thing. I also decided to give the bird red toenails, which, to me was the icing on the cake! I sewed the piece into a homemade envelope pillowcase, which was cut from a fat quarter, and I thought it looked like chicken feet had walked all over it to create the pattern! This project just started with the inspiration of her really amazing bird, and after embroidering it, I knew it had to be put into something (pillow)...and Penny likes it. It really was the journey that was the fun part of this. Thank you, Penny, for allowing me to embroider your cute bird, and for the picture of the finished project, as I had sent it off to her, not remembering to get a photo before it shipped all the way to Australia!!! That's how I roll !

More embroidered flowers using the Pekinese Stitch

I just love this stitch!  We have been having rain for two days already, due to the tropical storm over Cuba right now. It comes in rain bands, and it will be all or nothing. This morning we had one, so it was a good time to sew and drink coffee.

I had made the blue flower yesterday, but this morning I added the yellow french knots for the center.

Then I decided to do some holiday inspired flowers, so the 4th of July, Halloween, and Christmas colored ones were created.

This was so much fun!!! Hope you enjoy my cute flowers.

Xoxo- Julie

TAST, the Pekinese Stitch

I finally had a few minutes to sit down and try my hand at a practice Pekinese Stitch for the TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) group over at Sharon's Pin Tangle, where embroiderers around the world unite to take on different stitch challenges. Luckily, beginners like me can also participate. I love reading the comments section of the post to see everyone's contributions.
Here is a little practice stitch I did...kinda a loose one, but you can easily see the mechanics of the stitch.

Then I decided to use it to make petals around one of the flowers in my little current project. I used really small back stitches around the middle of the slower, to make smaller petals.

I like this stitch so much...it is a very versatile one, as you can make the looped part as big or as tight as you like, you can run it in a straight line, or go around curves! I dare say, you could do an entire embroidery project using this one stitch, no doubt about it...and I really feel like this is something I will do in the future.

If you want to participate in Sharon's Pin Tangle(this link will take you directly to the TAST challenge page), please do...it is so much fun!
xoxo- Julie

Summer girl and boy embroidery fun!

Today our whole house was home sick, except DIL, who is still healthy despite living with all of our germs!!! While she was at work, I engaged the grand kids in some embroidery fun! They both enjoyed it so much...it amazed me!

Below you can see some progress has been made on my butterfly, and Emily's completed project. She embroidered free-hand, the yellow marks! At almost 4 years old she was able to grasp understanding the process of going up and down through the fabric. She actually needed NO guidance from me to complete what she wished to do.

When she was done, I added a border to tack down the fabric to the back, and added her name, the date, and how many years old she is. I think it turned out beautifully, and it was a big surprise for her Mom when she got home from work, all finished and hanging on the wall.

I am thinking of having her do one a year to see how things progress.

And now for some young manbroidery! Donovan did the center design...adding a bit of gold sparkle thread which you can see better in the close up! I added the red x's to sew down the fabric to the backside, and add a border, then added his name and the date.


Here is a second one he started later this evening showing a firework going up and exploding. Can you see the moon in the sky? How sweet.

I had a very enjoyable "sick day" with the grands!
xoxo- Julie

Lazy embroidery, and organized craft storage area!!!

This beautiful vintage fabric (and about 10 others I brought home with me) were in my Moms craft/sewing room! I decided, I wanted to be lazy and just embroider on an already established pattern...so I am doing it. Just started tonight...and am loving it. So relaxing to have no cares...just start filling in. I plan to just make quick decisions, and add other details as they come to me. Very carefree, and perfect for summertime stitching. I don't know about you all, but trying to do much serious decision making in full dead of heat summer here, is impossible...I am just strapped inside in the a/c. So during my few down times, this is what I am whiling away the time doing!!! I will share it again later as I progress.

BTW, I love this one particular thread I had never used or seen before...I believe it is called a Brazilian thread called Lola...rayon. It has a sheen to it, and it is so easy to pull through the fabric. No strands to separate...just cut and go. I thought I might like to become their major saleswoman for this product, but then I found that it is sold out in some online sources! I guess they don't need my sales skills! :)

This larger shelf with all the new storage bins was a huge disaster area a few days ago. I asked daughter is she would get it cleaned up and organized for me, and she said YES!!! We measured the space, went to Target, bought 4 of these containers...each is three drawers that measure 13x13, so scrapbook papers are no problem...4 of these just fit perfectly! She did a great job, and even labelled each drawer. What a gal!!! Below that you will see the grandkids newly cleaned up and organized "home library", which they just love!

Stay cool in this summer heat, and if any of you want to start embroidering, let me know so I can come see!
Love Julie

Finally...some Whipped Wheels!

I started the day and got all my household chores done (mostly), and got a pot of chicken and dumplings going...then sat down to try a few embroidery stitches of the whipped wheel. It is so fun to do. Mine came out funny. You can see the one on the left I missed doing some of the wraps, and it came out a big mess, really. The second one on the right is done right, but for some reason one of the spokes is sticking out way farther than the others. Somehow the threads compacted down more toward the center on that one spoke. Funny. I tried to pull them out a little, but it didn't help much. This is one I will have to keep practicing!

I decided to hook the woven and the whipped wheels together as flowers, using a stem stitch (I think)...LOL!

Now I am chillin out at computer after finishing up my chick n dumplings, and oh...I got two small gardenia bushes planted in a big hole where a scrawny philodendron was removed. I had one bloom on them, (the first since I have had them in pots), so I am encouraged!!! I sure hope they will thrive in their new spot out by the driveway!

xoxo- Julie

Woven wheels and chipettes!

Goodday!!!

Continuing on with my embroidery practice stitches, here are three woven wheels I tried. Now these are fun to make!!! I want to make more...but I am glad I am just doing a silly practice cloth, because I would have no idea how to incorporate them into anything! I still need to think about that a while. But...ain't they cute!! The one is solid white, and then one is dark and light pink and the blue one actually has light green in it. This stitch inspiration was directed by Sharon over at Pin Tangle, with her TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday). Thanks Sharon, for your awesome blog! If anyone wants to follow along with weekly stitch challenges, feel free. I'm gonna try, as best I can.

Update a few minutes later: Looks like I did a sort of modified stitch from what Sharon was doing. She is doing a WHIPPED wheel...so now I have to try this other technique, which is very similar, but has a completely different look to it. I had gone to MY stitch book, and followed what it had in it, which wasn't the correct thing. I will be back.

My granddaughter likes Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes. I found a line drawing of them and I used my computer screen as a light box to hold the paper they were printed on behind the fabric and traced with a pencil. It works. So I am adding them in to the crazy scene! Next I will have to add something from Star Wars for my grandson, and add the date, for sure. I was thinking of having some tags made up with "Made By Julie" on them to sew on as well...and make a fabric sampler book. This will be my famous 1st page, of course!!! LOL.

Mr Bunny is getting ready for Easter amongst the marigolds!!!

xoxo- Julie

Stitches, Doozey and Nature Wednesday!

Doozey is thinking "I hate this woman...I am not gonna look, even though she he snapping, calling, clicking...get her away with that red thing...go away mama"!!!

Lookie! What is better than your own artful stitches as your phone background??? Yeah, baby!!!

Here are a few pics I took during a little hike through the woods in search of the illusive praying mantis (not found).









Happy Wednesday!
Julie

A new stitch, a spider's orb web, and a lonely cactus!

Out of order, I will show you what I've been up to today in my spare moments! First, I am attempting to embroider a card. It is trickier than you might think, and I have discovered a few tricks to make it easier. This method had me pre poke holes following a pattern, but I believe I will just freeform stitch and not go through the hassle of trying to figure out what is what with all those holes everywhere. I will show it later when I get it finished.

Look at this awesome stitch...it is a wrapped stitch where I embroidered my name in a backstitch, then came back in with a different colored thread and wrapped around and through each stitch...kinda looks like rope. I love it. Loads of fun. I drew out a little butterfly and am filling it in with satin stitch (not finished yet).

Here, I went ahead and added some black stitches into these fun green bits! It looks much more dramatic this way! Oh...and just above them, you can see I did the wrapping technique (with pink thread) to those black stitches too! Can you see it???

This morning, the family went for a little nature walk in a preserve and I found a perfect little orb spider web. Had to get a pic for my friend, and Buglady, Cindy!

And for all us cactus fans out here, a lonely little prickly pear out there. It had a few red tunas (one on, and one on ground) too. I want to stitch a cactus pad now (next project, coming up)!!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! Gorgeous weather here in south Florida, with an occasional shower here and there to cool things down midday and wash away high pollen counts!
xoxo- Julie

A few more stitches and realizations...

After adding a few more practice stitches today, I realize this thing is looking a bit collage-y already!!!

I added this poorly executed little square made with an underlying trellis stitch and top diagonal filling. It was fun to make, even if I did get it a bit off keel. The trellis was made with light purple, and the diagonal part with darker purple, but having the cross joints stitched down in the light purple. It looks so cool up close....not as good in the picture, sadly.

Now this little atomic looking baby is called a tailed french knot. I love it. I could see something using these scattered about...large and small. I found this other border stitch somewhere and cannot find it again to tell you it's name. I think, now that I am looking at it, it should have more little arms coming off each sort of half sun beam...I love how it runs along alternating back and forth along the line.

This is just a close up of a previous area...showing the eyelet stitch, chain stitch, and back-stitch.

And last...I did this pink row, which is called an interlaced running stitch. I used only 2 strands of floss, and I think I need to beef everything up more, so it is easier to see...will probably go up to 3-4 strands to see how it looks.

I realize today that there are many reasons why this is an attractive hobby for me, but the biggest is that I can practice one stitch for a few minutes, when I have that few minutes, and that chances are I will only make one of each thing that would be exactly the same (I have a problem in that I can never seem to make more than one of anything).

Well...hoping everyone has a great Thursday tomorrow! Thanks for your visit.
xoxo- Julie

A few realizations today...

All two of my realizations came within a few minutes of each other...

One was that I will need to continue to work in my same career path (I had hoped to make a midlife career change), but will just NOT be able to due to financial requirements.

The other is that as I worked some plain old x's on top of piece of gingham cloth and attached it to my embroidery collage, and came to realize that this is a very pleasing thing to my eye. I filled in with some pretty little french knots...and it is just old fashioned and more "me".

Here are a few shots of the kids and my daughter at the park today. We played golf (they had a put-put golf area there), and ran around like fools.

New stitch (easy). good book, and some mandala jewelry!!!

I found a great book at this library this morning...it has colored pictures of each stitch with a "how to" of each one. 260 embroidery stitches!!! Oh my God...that's an awful lot. I have to learn one at a time...yikes...

So yesterday I added to my little collage, a satin stitched heart filled with seeding stitches (are they not so cute)????? Looks like scattered seeds...

At the mall yesterday, in the window at Swarovsky, some jewelry I just had to have a pcture of for my blog friend, Marianne, over at Mandalas and More. Hope you enjoy! They are so gorgeous, and they were shining out beacons (literally) of light prisms. I need to find a ball to attend!!! LOL! :)

Hope everyone has a great upcoming weekend!
xoxo- Julie
P.S. I found out how to do a little trick with my cell phone camera to sharpen up the pic before I take it, and I am so excited...still learning with this thing...but so happy to know I can at least get clearer pictures for the blog. Yippee!!!