Country Garden Stitchery

I've been wanting to color tint an embroidery design and decided to try it today since it's too hot to be outside drawing or gardening... It is super easy.  I use a black Micron pen to outline the design so it won't rub off when coloring and ironing.  I used four different colors for the flowers with yellow and orange on the inside.  Two different greens for the leaves. After the coloring is finished I put the fabric in between two pieces of paper and ironed it to melt the wax into the fabric to keep it from waxing the floss or smearing the fabric where I don't want it to :)    I chose floss colors a little darker than my coloring for the outside of the flowers and leaves.  I chose an orange for the center.  I've used stem stitch on some of the leaves and back stitch on the rest so far.  I like the back stitch better as it outlines the flowers better for the effect I am looking for.  I finished my Farmer's Market tote th...

This week I finished my "Rise and Shine" embroidery pattern that has a very bright theme, some orange butterflies and a few wildflowers.  I'm making a set with "Sweet Dreams" to go with it.    After finishing the pillow i wanted to do the crochet border around the edge.  I found a great pattern for it on the You Go Girl blog.  I've seen it on so many pillowcases lately and it turns out really cute!  First I did a blanket stitch around the edge.   I hemmed the edge of the pillow fabric first and used a large needle with "Comfy" fingering yarn from Knit Picks  in Sea Foam.  It is a little heavier than crochet cotton and I liked the softness of it.    Single crochet in the blanket stitch around.  I made a change here from her directions.  I only put two single crochet stitches in each blanket stitch because it was starting to ruffle a bit and I didn't want that. Five double crochets in a sin...

I've been working on another collection of little bookmark designs and just finished this pink poppy flower with Gentle Art Sampler Flosses.  I wanted to use colors for an autumn theme set, but have been a bit stumped on other designs to go with it.  Feel like my idea well is dry so I've decided I need to do some other things for a bit to get inspired again.   This is what I've been working on to take a break from designing.  I joined Ravelry and found this great pattern for a cotton beach tote.  I started this one made of cotton yarn that I ordered from Knit Picks.  So far it is a really fun project, I only had to start over once, so I still like the project :)  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  I took a long break from knitting so my skills are a touch rusty, but it is great to be back at it.  I've always loved knitting, all kinds of needlework really.   Hope you have a good weekend....

I finished my little shaker house cross stitch pattern.  I decided to add to my collection and made a little pillow with hand dyed wool and a piece of vintage lace.   I've been in sewing mode and made a few p atchwork quilted potholders using some of my Spoonflower fabrics.  I wanted some bright and fresh colors so used whites and blues.      We spent a few days in the bay area and I found a neat little shop called "Nancy's Attic" and she had some vintage things.  I found some cotton lace wrapped around tags of old photos.  I also found a hand painted note card of the beach.    This is part of a new embroidery set I'm working on made with bright and cheery colors.  

I finished my free pattern for Wichelt Imports this week and it should be up on their site fairly soon under their free graph link.  Hope you'll stop by and get it!  I'm making a little progress on my tulip pattern.  I'm really enjoying the colors. I've been spending most of my time on this project.  I haven't stitched a little house in a while and they are one of my favorite things to stitch!  I plan on finishing this one into a little pillow with hand dyed wool to go with my little pillow collection.     

I put the fabric borders on my kitchen towels yesterday.  I loved working on the toweling yardage.  The quilt shop I bought it from had a few other towels with different patterns along the sides so I think I need to try those next and maybe with a crochet border on each end rather than fabric.      Poppies are one of my favorite flowers and are so easy for me to grow.  I thought the pattern would look good on a pillowcase too.  I might try that.     We have a lot of cattails growing along the canal banks where I live so I like to draw them.  Right now they are just fuzzy seedheads and I love to watch the soft seeds fly away.  Like dandelions, but a lot more seeds.  We have lots of birds around here too.  Jet blackbirds with bright yellow marks on their chests and some with orange-red marks.  Lots of robins, doves, and funny quail mates that try to run across the road at the w...

I finished my birdhouse embroidery pattern this week.  This is the last of the four patterns in this set so I plan on sewing the fabric borders next week.  All my fabric is put away right now because I needed to clean my studio corner of the house.  My son graduates tomorrow and we will be having family visit so had to tidy up a bit :)  I miss my little messy corner with fabric pieces and threads here and there.  It will be back to normal soon. I started my new tulip pattern.  This is the last one in a set of six tulip themed embroidery patterns.  I chose a very pink colorway and have some pink and lavender charm squares I plan on using to make something.  Not sure what yet.   I was out at the lake last weekend and thought the clouds were great.  I love big fluffy white clouds, cumulus ? I think, and it was very warm.  Nice day to be out.