The Potting Shed: Sunflower

I did not get to make more progress on my started Sunflower in August. Things got pretty hectic. I already added French knots to the center of one of the sunflowers, but didn't take pictures. I'm aiming to work on it here and there this month. September will be a busy month too. Most likely will have the Sunflower ready by October or in October. 

My younger daughter is about to start her first year of high school!!! What?!?! Time does fly. We wanted to have a couple of special outings with her. She chose 3 outdoor activities, only 1 left to fulfilled her list. We also had a nice group of friends over for lunch, we had a great time! The fact that we share the same faith makes our friendship even more special.

As we get older it is not easy to perform as we used to, especially living with chronic health issues. With all the hustle and bustle this past month of August, my needlework was put on the back burner. No regrets whatsoever! 

This month of September I'm looking forward to engaging in volunteer work a bit more than the usual... can't wait!

Non-affiliated:

The Potting Shed by Nicki Franklin from The Stitchery.

The Potting Shed / The Stitchery: Nicki Franklin

 The first few days in August were a physically exhausting roller coaster due to the flaring of chronic health issues I have briefly mentioned through out by blogging history.

It was such a nice treat from my older daughter and husband to get me an online class: The Potting Shed by Nicki Franklin from The Stitchery! With a bit of encouragement and help, went to Hobby Lobby with my younger daughter to purchase all the DMC threads required in the class. She helped me in finding the numbers and reaching out for them (something both of my daughters used to help me do when they were younger for the fun of competing with each other... LOL, who will find the called for DMC number first).  

After that I was ready to head back home, honestly, chronic health issues and aging are the bomb... in the literal way. I was a bit concern of driving back if I took longer out and about. Still, on our way home not far from where we live, we did a brief stop. I wanted her to grab some treats for being such a good sport in encouraging me to get my threads, accompanying me, helping me with the task while at the store, and saying how happy it made her to see me cheered up. 

So slowly but surely everything was gathered and came together nicely. An inexpensive 3 ring binder, some pocket folders, and trading card sleeves, from Amazon. The rest of the materials and supplies from my stash, all lying either on my bed or on the top of my stash cabinet. While I sat on a chair reaching out for this and that until everything was in its place. It took me a few days to get it ready because I was moving at a snail pace, but it got done and it felt good!

I have printed only 6 of the designs. Those 6 are my most favorites. As you can see, the Sunflower was my chosen one to start with. Why? Because it is almost Fall y'all ;-D! 

In fact I already started working on it, but will show you once I have made more progress. I hope those of you out there living with chronic health issues are finding ways to cope not only with the physical pain, but also with all the emotional fluctuations that can affect our mental health. Take it one hour at a time, and work on seeing your glass half full instead of half empty. 

I look forward to the day when the words in Isaiah 35:5,6 will be a reality! Stay strong and may you have inner peace and joy!

Until next time!

Non-affiliated link: Nicki Franklin's website.

Stash Enhancements: Printed Fabric and Embroidery/Sewing Pattern

 

  In the last couple of weeks these, in the picture above, made it to my stash!  

  The Spoonflower printed fabrics are by Kathy Schmitz. I have both of her booklets; Simply Sweets and Tiny Treasures. Now I will not have to spend time tracing all the cute little designs in the booklets. When I first got Tiny Treasures (blogged here), I was tracing by hand. However, life gets busy and I prefer to stitch rather than trace. Maybe will prewash the fabrics to reduce shrinking. In that way if I need to  wash the final product then the embroidery will not pucker. 

  The "Wildflower Eyeglass Case" pattern is designed by Alice Makabe sold by Zakka Workshop. It comes with one clasp, and the embroidery design already printed onto water soluble stabilizer ready to be applied on your choice of fabric. The embroidery design drawing is also provided in the pattern. I also ordered an extra clasp.

  Not sure when I'll get to these, but is nice to have them within reach!

Notes: Non-affiliated links. Kathy Schmitz's booklets on her Etsy shop, and her printed fabrics on her Spoonflower site.  Alice Makabe pattern on Zakka Workshop Store on Etsy.   

Flowers

Spring is in full swing around here, so I'm reposting about this Japanese embroidery book all about hand embroidered flowers.

Really like the look of this fabric scrap medley of all kinds of hand embroidered flowers. A very unique piece!

Simple coin purses embellished with delicate but simple hand embroidered flowers.

Working with needle and thread.... a lovely universal language!

Tiny Treasures: Embroidery Completed On Hexies no.4 and no.5

 

Sneaking in an update on these two completed embroidery designs from Kathy Schmitz's most recent book. I've completely forgotten that I had finished them. When opening the bag/organizer that holds the project this past Sunday... surprise! It is amazing when you get really busy with more weighty responsibilities some things get filed away in your brain. I have even started the design for hexie no.6. Of course, once seeing the project, my recollection of working on these immediately came back. 

Was able to complete this one on Sunday, but by the time I was done the natural lighting was not the best so no picture taken. Will post it on my next Tiny Treasures project update.

Tiny Treasures: Sheep

The stitching was completed on hexagon no.3, the sheep, few days ago. Lots of French Knots!

Notes:

Design from Tiny Treasures: Miniature Hand Embroidery Designs book by Kathy Schmitz.

Tiny Treasures: English Paper Piecing and Hand Embroidered Hexies

 

Started stitching the designs for the center of the 1" hexagons. Was able to complete 1 and 2, and working on 3.

A progress shot of the 1st while in the midst of it ;-), and below the 2nd hexie design completed. 

Above picture... currently half way of the 3rd hexagon design. Lots of French Knots! This weekend is a busy one, not sure yet if I'll have time to stitch a bit. Until next time!

Notes:

Project is Tiny Treasures design by Kathy Schmitz.

All Set To Begin Working On Tiny Treasures Project

The Valdani threads arrived! There are 12 called for colors. Ordered 9, had 2 in my stash, and substituted 1 for another Valdani color I had on hand. Still waiting for my triangular paper pieces.

Also that travel make up bag is super convenient, it is very sturdy and has adjustable compartment. It is suppose to be water repellent, but haven't test that yet. Already removed two of the dividers and adjusted the others to my needs. It accommodates everything perfectly for me! Found it on Amazon, just in case you want to check it out.

It was hard to choose, so many options plus prices vary between brand/sellers/listings. 

I'm excited to begin stitching these cute tiny embroidery designs that fit 1 inch hexagons. Must admit that I printed mine at 85% scale. My personal preference is having a bit more margin between the centered stitcheries and the edges of the 1" hexies. 

Would love to start today, but not sure if that will be possible. We are having pizza night so I do not have to worry about cooking or too much cleaning in the kitchen. However, I have a couple of grocery deliveries on the way that need to be cared for (you know what that entails during a pandemic). Also an upcoming Zoom meeting with an old family friend that we have not seen in a very long time, we are so looking forward to catching up!

Perhaps in the evening I could squeeze embroidering at least one of the designs, and basting my first hexie. We shall see!

"Tiny Treasures: miniature hand embroidery designs" by Kathy Schmitz

Have you seen Kathy's Schmitz latest book release? So much cuteness! She self-published this one, and right now (in my understanding) you are only able to find it on her website or Etsy shop (depending on which version you prefer). 

Already getting ready! I had in my stash the fabric, sewing and basting threads, the hexagon paper pieces, and some other basic notions. Decided to order Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage straw needles in sizes 9 and 10 from Amazon because was having a bit of difficulty with the size 11 that I had on hand. Also placed an order on Etsy for triangular paper pieces, didn't feel like doing them myself.

My husband treated me with the called for Valdani threads. Can't wait for them to arrive in a couple of days, and on my triangular paper pieces that are supposed to be here tomorrow! Kathy also gives DMC alternatives for the threads, and you could also draw and cut your own paper templates for the hexies and triangles. 

Sometimes February can be a difficult month for me, this year even more so. Hoping this new project, along with other work in progress projects will help keep me distracted on those rough days.

Non-affiliated link:

Kathy Schmitz' Tiny Treasures. Info on both formats given on her web-shop here.

Throwback Tuesday: Bluework Snowmen

A Bluework throwback. Stitched on January of 2019.

Originally posted here and here.

Vintage Embroidery Freebies for National Embroidery Month

Here are a few vintage embroidery designs that would look great on kitchen towels, quilt blocks, etc. Enjoy!

Throwback Tuesday: English Paper Piecing

Throwback to an English Paper Piecing session few years ago. Taken on January 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM. January is flying. Volunteer work time, almost complete. Homeschooling going well. Not much time for needlework with the exception of a printed cross stitch kit, so easy to do. Once I fulfilled the hours I committed to on my volunteer work it'll be time to give some TLC to the few embroidery projects that are on pause at the moment. Until next time!

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.

May Flew Over

I've been away from this blog for a little over a month. Time fly by when keeping busy. Here are a couple of overdue updates. In fact these projects' progress took place few months ago, but I forgot to post the update until now. Above is the vintage bluework bluebird, almost finished. The beginning of the bluework bird project is here.

"Summer Splendor" is almost finished as well. I'm using all DMC floss on this one, love the colors on this design so much! (Showed the materials/supplies towards the end of this post. The beginning here. And a progress update here.)

Finally decided to start a new cross stitch project on Lugana. My very first official project on even weave fabric. Switched some colors from the ones listed in the pattern, and now I don't like them. Plus I was dealing with a mild migraine that day and it got worst after completing a couple of the elements in the chart (should have known better, instead of stitching I needed to rest). 
So later, started it again on Aida in the called for DMC's, but now I feel disappointed in myself for switching to Aida because the whole purpose for doing this pattern was to practice stitching on even weave... sigh... a new cross stitcher's dilemma. When I finally decide which direction I want to go with it, then perhaps I'll write a post on it.

Let see if June proves to be more conducive to hand embroidering and cross stitching. Until next time! Stay safe and help others be safe!

Homey Stitchy Day and Freebie

So guess what?! Did get out the EPP and Daisychain projects, and today I plan to work a bit on them (inserting a happy dance here). 
The picture above it is not directly related to my projects, however it does portray cottages and needlework (homey and stitchy). 
It'll be an outcast/rainy kind of day, kids will be busy with their online school work, older kid will be making a family size salad for lunch. No major chores today... just a small laundry load of my husband's formal dress shirts to throw in the washer, and we have yesterday's leftovers for today's dinner. All is set. While stitching will most likely listen to spiritually enriching mp3s. 

Might even stay in my pj's,... love being home! Before leaving, here is a vintage embroidery pattern I've previously shared. 

Hoping you are all able to enjoy your day! Until next time!

Another TBT: Spring English Paper Piecing and Hand Embroidery Project

I think this might be the year of dusting unfinished projects and doing my best to complete them.

Here is another project that I've blogged about awhile back. I really like the process of English Paper Piecing, and love how it looks mixed with hand embroidery! This particular one is to become a lap quilt for one of my daughters. Designed by Mollie Johanson, but I modified it a bit by adding some other embroidery designs from other patterns by Mollie. The original pattern has 12 or 13 mini embroidery designs (can't recall exactly at the moment) and I needed more to complete 24 EPP hexagon flowers. May still add a few more mini embroideries from other sources to make the lap quilt larger.

It has been worked while traveling with my family through the East Coast. It has been worked while in various rooms/areas of our previous home. Since we moved it has been put away, waiting for me to pay attention to it once more.

Things are finally calming down in my household, my other half had his surgery couple of weeks ago and he's recuperating slowly but steadily... thankfully! While things are a bit less hectic, perhaps I should let this project see the light again ;-).

Slow Stitching is a thing. It provides calmness, meditation, peace, joy, patience. Maybe it should come out along with the Daisychain sampler from the previous blog post. 

Plus the colors are gentle and happy, very springy indeed! Yes, I've convinced myself! Once I post this will go find them and leave them out on my stitchy area in plain sight so I remember to pick them up every now and then through out the rest of the week. Whenever I can sneak a bit of stitching.

Until next time! Be well!

PS: EPP design is by Mollie Johanson, in her Wildolive Etsy 
store here.

Snowless Winter

Yes, a snowless winter this one seems to be. January is almost gone and February is projected to start with temperatures in the 50's. My kids are eagerly waiting for some winter fun in the snow, however I don't think it will happen this year. 
The pictures in this post I've blogged about previously (one of them here). Woodland creatures having a blast ice skating! From Vicki Haninger's embroidery book. Such a cute book! Now the patterns are also available individually in her Etsy shop. 

Until next time! Be well!

Non-affiliated links:
Vicki Haninger Etsy shop (link is to the pattern in first picture).

Hand Embroidery: Monogram Pillowcase

We've been so busy these past few weeks. Caring for a sick family member has taken much of my time and energy that I either do not have time to stitch, or I'm too tired to pick up a needle and do some embroidery. We are hoping for a good outcome. Things seem to be improving slowly, very slowly. 

The picture above is a tiny bit of progress made on an old pillowcase project that I picked up back again a couple of weeks ago. Do not remember if I previously posted the humble beginnings of this pillowcase. If I find the blog's posts then will update this one with the link(s).

May y'all have a great week ahead!

A Few Oldies...

...but goodies! ;-) Here I am, perusing through previous crafty photos and felt like reposting a few.

In both of these stitcheries I used Perle Cotton thread no.8. The doll and alphabet in the first picture are from a PDF design, and the second one is a printed sampler. Both designed by Charlotte Lyons. Couple more pictures below. Until next time!