Country Garden Stitchery

There was a fun little gift shop with handmade items for sale in a little town I used to live in. One crafter made aprons and other sewn crafts and I loved to go in each month to see what new aprons she had made. I collected several of them, but don't have my goal of twelve, one for each month or holiday. I love to hang them on my fridge for kitchen color. I bought Cindy Taylor Oates "More Retro Aprons" and made one for my daughter for Christmas - she loves to bake. Aprons are one of my favorite things.

I was browsing through a gardening catalog and saw beautiful gardens of daffodil flowers in full bloom was very inspired for sprin g . I decided to make a daffodil embroidery pattern and try to make a tutorial. Above is the pattern for you to print and trace using your favorite method. I like to use a light box and Pigma Micron pen that leaves a very nice light black mark that is covered easily with the threads. The pattern can be stitched using back stitch or stem stitch. I like the stem stitch because I like the pattern it makes and it covers the traced line completely. For the stem stitch work from left to right and position thread below the needle as you stitch. Pull the stitch snug before starting a new stitch. Bring your needle up along the line you are stitching. Insert your needle down along the line 1/8" or so from the previous stitch, come up in the middle of the previous stitch. Make sure the excess threads us below and to the left of the needle. Go down again 1/8...

I was inspired over the weekend to make a larkspur flower embroidery in a shabby chic style with some fabric pieces I have - I don't like to throw out fabric especially if it is beautiful expensive stuff. I have a pastel colored ice cream style cardboard container I put them all in and I used some of them on this embroidery. I added some old buttons my husband finds for me when he is out exploring the desert. Very fun project. Did you know the new site "The Stitcher's Village" is now open! www.stitchersvillage.com/ Very happy and excited to go browse around.

I've decided I MUST finish my Mirabilia cross stitch pattern early this spring so I have it out in plain view to inspire myself. Although it doesn't take much to get inspired - I love her patterns! I have two others I would like to start this year, one of her Pixie Couture Collection - Fern and one of her new letter series "C". Better get busy I guess. I am also working on some embroidery for tea cozies. Teacups with silk floss - Thread Gatherer silk floss, wonderful colors! I love silk and it takes colors so well. This is "Mermaid Shoes" - such great names too. Have you heard that white tea is supposed to be even better for you than green tea. I read that it is pure right off the plant and hasn't been processed at all therefore really good for you. Tazo has a great blend -white tea and apricot.

I've been out browsing the fabric shops and book shops the last couple of weekends and had a great time. Wonderful reprieve from being stuck in the house all the time. Not fun to get out when it is cold, windy and gray skies even if it is not raining or snowing. I went to a great used book store in Reno called Zephyr books and found two fun decorating books that I have been wanting; Shabby Chic and Vintage Vavoom from Romantic Homes magazine. Great pictures in both of them, especially Vintage Vavoom . Really like that one. I have been wanting to sew myself a new skirt for spring and love "Favorite Things" patterns. I found their "cute skirts" pattern and some rose red flowery fabric on a pretty blue background. Hopefully this pattern will work out for me. I tried making a corduroy jacket and almost finished it and the facing didn't fit! maddening and made me feel like a complete beginner again and not want to try hard sewing patterns - although that was s...