Honeeeyyy.... I'm Home! Sort of.

Wow, it's been awhile! Nice to be back! Where to begin updating this blog with the various needlework projects and hauls that had taken place for the past year? 

I'm going to try to organize myself in order to try to post things in a time-cohesive manner. It might mean that there will be a few back to back entries posted a bit more frequent than what is the custom. Please bear with me. Enjoy the sneak peek in the meantime! ;-)

Flowers; Works of Art

Hand embroidered flowers are so beautiful! Of course, nothing compares to the exquisite magnificence of living flowers, however, even a handmade representation makes my heart sing. 

(Notes: book author is マカベアリス  Alice Makabe a designer/artist from Japan. You may find her here: @alice_makabe)

Rainy Day Embroidery / Silent Embroidery Vlog no.2

Dedicating some time to continue to embroider my Garden Sampler project, by Kathy Schmitz. 

Worked on it outside on the porch. The day was rainy, in fact the rain was really pouring. I love rainy days. They make me slow down, and think about the most important things, with wholesome self-examination and meditation. 

Took along a few books to examine carefully, to oooohhh and aaaaahhhh 😍📚 about all the beautiful designs in them. Until next time!

Non-affiliated Links Notes:

The Garden Sampler by Kathy Schmitz may be found on her Etsy Shop.

Books are Japanese hand embroidery books from Amazon Japan. 

Plant Lady book English translation from Amazon USA.

Japanese Embroidery Books: Lovely Florals

Decided to gift myself a few stash additions to enhance my Japanese embroidery book library. 

These were the ones that made it to my personal library.

All these inside peeks are of just 3 of the 5 books.

So many cute floral designs!

They look simple to recreate. A completely hand embroidered page will look great displayed on a table frame on top of a chest near our front door.

A fun and cute one here, look at that gardener piggy!

Even though I wasn't able to stitch these past few days, I'm definitely day dreaming about it. Starting to get some of my embroidery projects ready in order to continue working on them. By mid March I should be good to go... or so I hope.

Until next time! Be well!

Cute Birdie from Sweet Stitches book by Aneela Hoey

As promised, here is a closer look at the cute birdie from the Sweet Stitches book (which I mentioned in more detail, fourth picture on this post). 
All embroidery threads are DMC skeins, color numbers I to use: 22, 326, 3781, 3881, 3895. Stitches used: Running Stitch (bird's body and legs), Back Stitch (birdie's chest / belly), Chain Stitch (cherries) Straight Stitch (beak and eye) , Stem Stitch (cherries' stems).
It is a very simple design and so cute!

Here is the picture that I posted before.
Perhaps, later on, I may want to stitch it again in a different color combo. That is, after making progress on some of my other projects... like the ones mentioned on previous post.
Until next time! 

New and Vintage Embroidery Transfer / Patterns Haul

Things didn't turn out as I was expecting these past few days... kids appointments were put on hold do to myself having to do an unexpected medical visit. A couple test pending. With all that anxiety, besides prayers, I did some retail therapy. One of my purchases was from Wings of the Morning on Etsy. Nothing better than super cute vintage embroidery transfers that evoke nostalgia and sweet memories of long ago. I had great customer service from Amy! Perhaps you may want to go check her shop out, there are still a few treasures to be found!

She even included this lovely gift! I tell you, around here it is so hard to find vintage embroidery transfers. So I'm grateful to have these on my stash now! My mom was the one who introduced me to embroidery (as I posted on a previous blog entry), vintage transfers remind me of her. Hand embroidery is therapeutic in so many ways for me!

So I will go thru the box little by little to distract myself while awaiting my upcoming tests, and of course take care of my kids appointments. Maybe I can find a few vintage designs I could share here. 

Kathy Schmitz released this pattern today! It is a PDF available in her Etsy shop, and her website. It'll be used for a stitch-along starting March 16th, not sure if I'm going to be able to wait to start mine, LOL. I'll be transferring it soon and have it ready... will try to wait.

Also added this book to my stash, a new book from Annela Hoey. Solely iron on transfers from designs on her previous books and a few new ones as well, there are a couple of design elements that are repeated a few times (for example a design of a small pair of embroidery scissors, the same pair of scissors appears in 3 designs). Not a biggie.
This cute birdie was a pattern Aneela use to sell in her shop (not sure now). I always liked it and wanted to stitch it, but I do not use PayPal... 3 times my info was compromised, very bitter experiences. Since canceling my account I've never gone back, not even use the feature of not needing an account to buy. Thereby, so glad to have found that this cutie was part of the patterns in this book purchased from Amazon. Didn't waste time and stitched it right away! Will post a close up later detailing the stitches used.

Here is a 'just for fun shot', organizing work-in-progress projects and getting ready to start new ones... like the cutie birdie that is now all done ;-). I'll expound a bit more on this on a future post.
So, tell me... do you sometimes do retail therapy? ;-)
Have a nice weekend! Until next time!

Dreaming of Spring

Cold rainy days are not good for autoinflammatory illnesses. Despite the achey stiff joints... so thankfully I managed to get laundry done, just a couple of loads that were pending. Dinner is done too; Savory Herb Chicken with carrots, potatoes (in the electric multi-cooker pot done in less than 20 minutes) also added broccoli and a side of  rice. 

 Cold rainy weather is perfect for stews, and hearty soups... but I'm so looking forward to warmer weather and all the pretty blooms in spring! In the meantime I leave you with some eye candy from one of my Japanese embroidery books in my collection. My apologies if already posted about it... can't remember.

 This book is by Kazuko Aoki. Her specialty is on the embroidery of plants you may find in a flower or vegetable garden. This particular book is all about flowers, embroidered using common stitches.

 Perhaps in the future I'll post other tiny peeks of some of the other books in my collection by Kazuko Aoki. In fact there have been some already translated to English, I got one from Amazon, if you do a search you'll be able to preview it. It is entitled The Embroidered Garden... on one of my old posts (here) there is a peek of it.

 As I've mentioned in the past, I love Japanese embroidery books! A basic knowledge of embroidery is all you need in order to understand the well illustrated diagrams/pictures. The art of needlework transcends multi-cultural, international barriers!

Well, I better get dinner on the table! Until next time!

Stash Enhancements: Japanese Embroidery Books

On our recent trip to New York City we stopped by Kinokuniya (Japanese bookstore), at my request ;-). We were just a few blocks away so we walked there.

My husband and kids were so patient. I browsed the entire hand embroidery section and a bit of the patchwork section as well. The kids requested to browse the Sanrio section... which I happily obliged.

Here are our spoils!

Three books for my ever growing Japanese embroidery book collection. Which I may never get to make something out of each one of them... but, hey, collections are mainly for looking at ;-). Right? Like teacup collections, spoon collections, thimble collections, you name it.

The kids also got a couple cute folders for their homework... ok, ok, that top one is mine... LOL. 

It was fun to visit NYC once more! Especially since we got to tour all the Bethel facilities and the Stanley Theater in NJ.

I'm still catching up on things around here, better go! 

Until next time!

Anniversary Gift / Simply Stitched Book Review

The english paper piecing project was put on hold in order to make part of an Anniversary gift for my husband. His work office has an elegant decor and I think this project will complement it. 

This was my very first time using tapestry wool, it was very nice and easy to work with. I used a regular pencil to trace my designs onto tracing paper, then on the back retraced the motifs with an iron on transfer pen (fine tip from Sublime Stitching), and ironed them onto my linen. Where it didn't transfer properly I used my Sewline pencil to go over those areas.

The embroidery goes fast with tapestry wool, but you do need to use more force to pull the needle in and out, which could make your fingers a bit sore if you are not use to embroidering with these materials. Could easily be compared to the feeling of stitching with ribbon and crewel yarn.

The 3 design motifs I chose are from the book Simply Stitched by Yumiko Higuchi . The Japanese version was already in my embroidery library, but Lindsey (from Zakka Workshop/ Worldbook Media) kindly provided me with the English translation to review. Miss Yumiko Higuchi is a master in the art of embroidery, love her work!
Simply Stitched  has very easy to follow directions, and easy to find materials (either online like I did or at your local needlework shop). Not only does the book provides embroidery motifs but also instructions to turn your completed stitcheries in to a variety of practical items. 
I already presented my husband with the finished piece and he was delighted and appreciative... we only need to find a custom frame for it ;-).

Not Enough Time

I'm so happy that my 3 priority projects are almost done!!! Then I can't wait to finish the quilts for my girls and the one for my mom (yes, I'm in the hall of shame), so thankful that my two sisters and older niece are helping me to embroider the blocks!!! 

However, I can't wait to start new projects... so tempted! So much to stitch, so little time. Must exercise self-control. I'm serious this time, unless some of my "on the back burner" projects get finished no new projects will be started. Perhaps that'll be my motivation to work my way up my pile of projects. How do you motivate yourself to work through your projects? 

Until then, sipping on chai while peeking into my books and dreaming with my future projects is totally allowed ;-). 

On another note.... isn't this winter weather a bit "crazy". Supposedly we will be having a couple of days in the 70's (with some rain) this week. Not complaining since I do better with warmer weather, just a bit astounded. 

We don't celebrate the holidays, so I'll be wishing you a beautiful end of December and may you all be in peace with yourselves, your loved ones, and your neighbors! Until January 2016!

Japanese Embroidery Books Collection

Some of us enjoy collecting things. Do you? One of my favorite things to collect are Japanese embroidery books, they are so cute! My other favorite collection is of Aunt Martha's embroidery patterns. Perhaps you already knew this about me ;-).

When it comes to Japanese embroider books, I collect them for inspiration, motivation, and just for pure embroidery eye candy! Don't mind at all if I never get to make something from each of my books, in reality that'll be kind of impossible. 

My collection was started the year I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness from which, thanks to God, I'm able to call myself a survivor. During that trial-some time, (besides trying to keep myself built up spiritually, and surrounding myself with family/friends, and lots of positive thoughts) starting this collection gave me something to do and look forward to, especially since I wasn't able to be out and about. So much cuteness and beauty in each page gave me something to dream of that was at reach.

Nowadays living with a chronic illness is challenging, but it's not life threatening... from which I'm so very thankful for! These books keep having the same effect on me, they help with cheering one up a bit when in pain, however I'm not attached. They are just things, and "things" don't give me life and/or love. When I'm not able to participate in volunteer work (which is the activity I truly enjoy the most) these books serve a purpose; a therapeutic distraction from pain, especially when I get to make something from them! 

That's actually what this embroidery hobby is for me.. a therapy! My collection is still growing here and there. I have plans to have some fun making a few projects from some of these books once I complete certain in-the-making projects for some very special friends. In the meantime they keep entertaining me on challenging days, and helping me dream of better times ahead - Isaiah 33:24 / Revelation 21:3,4.

Do you have a special collection(s)? How did it started? Do you see your collection being complete at some point in time? Please do share! ;-) Below are a couple of pictures of the craft section of a visit to a Japanese embroidery book store in NY city. That was in 2011, how I wished I had more time to stay and browse more than what I did that day! Maybe some other time!

Hope y'all have a great weekend! 

Stash Enhancements ;-)

Well, not much stitching these past few days. However, I do have -among other things- some recent additions to my Japanese embroidery book collection. Here they are!

They are all lovely, but I think that my favorite is the one with 12 brooches on a pink front cover. The patterns in it are small so they are very quick to stitch plus they are lovely!

These two above also have lots of small designs, again, great for creating something cute in a short amount of time and still feel accomplished. It's been quite sometime since my last purchase of Japanese embroidery books... guessing I had to make it up for the lost time and that I also figured out (which is really not difficult) how to purchase directly from Amazon Japan... :-), which saved me lots of $$. Must admit that having this kind of knowledge could be very dangerous, you have been forewarned!

Finally, another Japanese embroidery book and Trish Burr's latest embroidery book which I purchase with a nice coupon ;-) from Barnes & Nobles. One day I hope to be able to spend some time learning Trish Burr's technique on needle-painting! Love her work! Maybe next time I'll have some update(s) on my embroidery and/or english paper piecing projects. Until next time!

Throwback Tuesday: This Little Piggy Went To The Market

Miss Piggy was stitched few years ago, more precisely four years ago in 2010, shortly after I got the book. It was a very quick and simple embroidery project, the kind that makes you smile every time you look at it. 

I used the pattern provided in the "Embroidery Craft: Stitching through the Seasons" book by Vicki Haninger. This book is a lovely book with a warm vintage charm to it. It for sure is a pick-me-upper in days like this one filled with nostalgia. 

As you can see, I haven't done anything with her yet. Perhaps she could fit on a small quilt among the hand pieced blocks I'm slowly working on, so I may have to stitch a few other blocks -eventually- to even things out a bit ...hmmm, we'll see. 

What I should be focusing on is on my CQ block Task 5. I'm sure hopping to be back on track once I'm able to shake off the blues.

Non-affiliated links:
Embroidery Craft book on Amazon (nice preview).
Embroidery Craft book on Vicki's blog (nice introduction and previews here and here).

What's Next?

Despite the few embroidery projects
I already have going and on which
I should try to keep making
progress, there are other
lovely projects that are calling
on me :-).

Like this Nature Walk Banner!
I think it lends itself to some
fun mommy & kids nature walks
through out autumn,
collecting nature little treasures
as we walk. Then when winter
arrives with its very cold
temperatures and our time
is mostly spend inside,
we could take out our collected treasures and gradually
make the banner.
I sure think the kids will
enjoy that, especially my oldest!
I will too if there are no
dead bugs involved.

So,... what will be next?
Hmmm, perhaps lots of tea drinking, cookie/muffin baking (along with
some treadmill-ing), and making
progress on current embroidery
projects, while we gather
our nature treasures,...
IF I'm able to ignore the
other cute stitchery designs
calling my name.
Isn't this Crewel Family Tree
project gorgeous? ;-)

Note: Projects pictured are
from Aimee Ray's latest book;
"Doodle Stitching Embroidery & Beyond".