Mrs. Kitty's Embroidery Basket

Everything has been changing... Wait, what!?! It's April?

2011-04-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

Where have you been! Naughty, naughty Mrs.Kitty! You are free to scold me for my lazy blogging and my lack of posts and I will take the slap on the blogging/stitching/crocheting hand. I've had so many changes in the past few months. Quit my job for another one, this was a good move and I went from being very unhappy every day to being much more calm and comfortable with my situation. Considering I shaved off 20 miles from my drive each way I'm practically doing handstands.

Meanwhile during all of this change I made myself a blanket. I've done a few scarves with crochet but nothing too major so I took the plunge when I saw the homespun yarn on sale. I bought 4 skeins and started to crochet, I got several rows in and decided that I wanted it wider so I pulled it all out and started again and little by little it began to get longer and longer. I bought another 3 colors to add in (good sale not going to pass up) I watched many, many TV shows (thank you Netflix) while I worked on my blanket or I suppose it may qualify as an afghan. I watched True Blood (new book is out in May!), Farscape, Hercules and my favorite of them all Legend of the Seeker (canceled, so unfortunate). I approximate that it took me in the neighborhood of 80 hours to hook this all together.
Since I've finished it I see that it has a tenancy to travel. I leave it on the couch, I find it on my bed when I get home, I put it on a chair and find it wrapped around either my husband or son (the boy is wrapped in it now). Not to mention my cat that was hell bent and determined to sit on it during the crochet process and now whenever I have it over me she must curl up and fall to sleep. It really was very cute and yet annoying when I would sit to work on it, get a row done, have to pick up the cat to flip my work and she would scoot right back on it till I was finished with the next row and the process would repeat.. times 80 hours or so. Silly kitty >^_^<

Of course you must want to see pictures of this monster that I've created, It's not perfect.. far from it but I'm proud of it and pleased that the men folk and the little furry friend in my house have received it well. The dog is not allowed to be on it only because her claws are not kind to blankets and I'm a little afraid that it may get damaged as to me it seems fragile. It's still so new to me.

First let's have a look at the colors, I chose just about every homespun yarn that tickled my fancy and mashed them all together. I did a single crochet for 11 rows then switched to double chain for 3 and in one spot I think I did 4 rows, then back to single crochet for the reminder of that color's skein.

This sucker is LONG too, I wanted it to be long enough to cover my hubby. We estimate (only because I can't locate my tape measure) it to be 8 ft long (hanging) and around 5 ft wide.

Okay, time to look at my yummy colors, in order:

My Lovely Creation..

I'm back to the wizard cross stitch and should have an update for it sooner rather than later. Hope all is well for everyone out there in their stitchy real worlds.
Keep on stitching!

Cross stitching update and a little rant.

2010-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

How time flies when most of what you have in life is work and the commute to and from. I'll let you in on a secret, I don't like to drive. I like to take trips, Oh yes... Packing and planning and all of the things that I don't need but remember to bring. But the daily grind, yuck! I have a 1 hour drive now and man oh man I do not look forward to it. Once I arrive at work I'm great, work is fun and I am enjoying the new people all around me. When it's time to go *sigh* my shoulders sag a little and back into the car I go for my 1 hour drive. Although it has given me a chance to listen to some older CD's from my collection of 90's rock but even then... the drive, the traffic, the monotony. Most unfortunately public transit is not on my side considering the hours that I work. 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM PST. (slight light at the end of the tunnel will be changing in the start of November to 10:30 AM to 7:00PM PST) Otherwise I would just sit back and stitch away riding the light rail.
Needless to say, perhaps my bit of whining was a little unnecessary. I have made some progress on my Cross stitch wizard.

Anywhoo.. I also wanted to share a project that I bring out each year. The story behind my creepy little house is that one year I dressed as the Wicked witch of the East... East right? You know the one, Dorothy's house landed on her. Well this was the house-hat I made for myself that year. Since then it is part of they little Halloween village that is slowly becoming more recognizable as a village. Honestly I have been quite pleased with my handy work on this little house that I thought that given the season I would share it with you all.

I spent a bunch of time explaining what I was supposed to be that year. Given that our theme was Wizard of OZ I thought it would be obvious... House on my head... Dressed as a witch... Guess not. Now it is part of my yearly tiny Halloween village, My son loves it (he's almost 8) and now he wants to make one too.

Well hope to post again before too long.

Till then... keep on stitching!

Kitchen towels for Mother and a cross stitch update

2010-09-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

How to break this down? I thought that I could do 1 post per day but I don't think that I am patient enough to wait all 7 days for them all... So I think that I will cover it all here in this post, huge as it will be.
My dear Mother never asks for any sort of stitchy items, she always remarks on what I show her and she is always interested in hearing about my most current projects. When I did the chickens for my neighbor I caught the strong vibe from her that she would like her own set of towels. After searching through my collection of patterns via my computer, I found what I felt to be the perfect set for her. Day of the week flowers, and I set about getting them all stitched up one by one.
I honestly do not know whom the maker of the patterns are, I had to enlarge them prior to printing them, after I printed I found that the lines were not very sharp at all due to my enlargement so I went over them in black fine felt tip to get a nice crisp pattern from them. I don't use a fabric pencil for my tracing, I rig up a sort of poor-woman's light box to trace them onto my fabric using a standard #2 pencil a glass coffee table and an old desk lamp that is bendy and that I can face upward towards the glass. I think that when I have a chance I will scan my patterns into the computer and post them here so that they can be shared, I would normally reference where I located them but honestly I can't remember what blog/web site I pulled them from.
Onto the stitchery... let the insanity begin.

Starting with Saturday as it is Saturday today... still.

I think that I'm in love with how Sunday turned out.

Monday looking lovely.

Tuesday is another of my favorites.

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday. I think it's the floss I chose for the writing but I just could not find a variegated floss color that looked right.

Thursday, I may do some bookmarks with this design I got quite a few compliments on the colors that I used for it.

Friday is so bright and cheery to finish out the week.

Here they all are ready to be given to my Mother.

She loved them, she even had tears in her eyes and told me that Grandma Lefa would be very pleased to see the hard work and would not know what to say. But that they reminded her more of what my Grandma Lois would have stitched up... it means so much to me to hear that, Grandma Lois taught me to embroider when I was around 7 or 8. I often think of her when I embroider and thought of her very much during the stitching of these towels. Here is the ugly truth though... My mother doesn't want to use them, afraid to ruin them! And to share another tid-bit... the chickens I made for my neighbor... she won't use her's either!
After all that work, I just feel a bit sad to think of them laying in a drawer for years not really being enjoyed. I'm proud to have made items for people that hold their gift in such high regard but I think that they are more honored in usage. I know that they are pretty and mom used the words keep-sake. But really, I made them to be enjoyed, touched and used.
I have a set of towels that I made for my kitchen and I use them all of the time... they make me smile and add a little personality to my kitchen.
They live here if you wish to see all 6 just view the embroidery set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrs_kitty/2915157399/in/set-72157607898983071/

*sigh*

How about a cross stitch update...?

Keep stitching my stitchy peeps! I know I will!

I'm sure I can learn a few more... Crafts

2010-09-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Long ago when I was more than a little young my Grandma had tried to teach me to Crochet, I'm not sure if I was just not patient enough or if I just didn't want to learn but I was never able to quite get the concept. Started a couple pot holders but never finished anything I started, and really never started much of anything.

Jump into the recent past... after my former department transferred to new management I met a lady that would turn out to be a wonderful friend.. well, more than one person turned into a friend but this lady knows how to crochet and did it in her spare time at work. We would sit in our cubicles her crocheting and I embroidering. Anyways we agreed that I needed to learn how to Crochet and so began my revived effort.

The very first try I ended up pulling all apart. It was wonky in every way, starting wide and getting narrow and then wide again then narrow (the second try did too... see below) but as I had intended it to be a snowman scarf I decided that I didn't care. The yarn was too rough to be used for anything very nice and the only stitch that I have learned so far is the double Crochet.

I used the entire Package of yarn on it, so it is long and wonky.

I chose a much prettier yarn for my scarf that I intend to wear and enjoy, I also used the entire package of yarn on it. My second try turned out nicer, much less wonky and very soft.

My sweet son has chosen rainbow yarn for his scarf, I'm poking along on his and I think it should be done by the time he needs it for fall. I'm going to make his much shorter as he is only almost 8. (Starts 2nd grade tomorrow!)

In Other News...

Sadly my Garden was a failure this year. Nothing wanted to grow and we just didn't try very hard to make it work. I did however get lovely rhubarb again, it was growing here when we moved into the house and I just love having it. Not everyone likes rhubarb but I find it tart and tasty. It always reminds me of my Grandma Lefa. I use her recipe to make mine every year. This year I'm making 2 more, one to bake and one to freeze for Chistmas. I'll take it out of the freezer and pop it into the oven... I will let you all know how that works out come December.

What would summer be without Shortcake?

And Finally....

I bet you thought I forgot all about my stitching... Nope not yet. I have finished my Mother's gift and just need to photograph and present to her, so watch for those posts. More recently I started a cross stitch, I don't cross stitch often but I find that the neat squares in their proper order is relaxing to me, soothing in a chaotic world. I purchased this kit a while back and had tucked it away in my crafting supplies earmarked ad "rainy day project" My son loves Harry Potter and we agreed that the Wizard reminds us of Prof. Dumbledore with Harry's owl flying along. It's not really but I don't think it matters. I'll stitch it up and frame it for his room.

Progress shot so far.

Happy stitching to one and all!

Flowers, garden... and weeds.

2010-06-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

If only life were as simple as it is in movies, spending my day whiling away my hours stitching, trimming my garden and waiting for a rich man to come and ask for my hand... Yes. I have been daydreaming about life in Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Needless to say my garden looks nothing like those in that fantasy world. I did however manage to grab a few pictures of some flowers in between rainstorms. It has rained 21 days straight and yesterday was our first dry day! I weeded will my arm was sunburned and my back ached, there is still a monster waiting for me but in a few short weeks I will have more time to spend making everything lovely.

My stitchy project is moving along quite nicely but I have to hold off on posting pictures as I don't want to spoil the surprise for my mother. :)

I actually managed to get to the garden center on their Fuschia sale and got this tiny variety. I think they are sweet.

With all the rain it is sort of amazing that these are going red, 5 years ago I has bunches of them at this time of the year. This year... not so much.

My garden has patches of forget-me-nots, I believe they are hitchhikers from my compost. I really don't mind them in the garden, I find that the bees love them too. :)

And the un-weeded zone. Aeahhhhh!! I must say clover has become the bane of my existence, creeping and twining in and out of the strawberry plants.
I will never again let me garden go for a year! Bad! Bad Mrs.Kitty!

Clamtis looking healthy this year.

I just adore Columbine I actually have a few other varieties but did not get pictures before they were all gone.

I just had to cut some of these and take them to the office, I wish that Ponies were not so temporary.

Just to add in... My neighbor loved these so much!

Keep stitching!
>^_^<

A Rooster and A Chicken and their Love

2010-05-22T07:59:00.001-07:00

I apologize to my friends and readers for being so elusive in the recent months. As mentioned before I have been overly enamored with games and books and stitching has been going ever so slowly. My brother in-law came to live with us and I found that my routine was tossed into the air and nothing has been getting done the way I'm used to . Although in all fairness it took me quite a long time getting my pictures even taken. This poor couple has been done for almost a month.

My neighbors are the coolest people, they are fun and I love spending time with them. She had (at that time) recently re-done her kitchen and while I was over she proudly showed me this large glass rooster, the kind that has oil and beans and chick peas layered inside. Her curtains were these great vintage inspired chicken and rooster print in red and golden yellow and I knew that I had some perfect patterns to use for her new kitchen set up. I stitched these to match her color scheme and I still have not yet given them to her... I hope she loves them. Admittedly I have not done the last 2 patterns in the set but I may go back to do them for a Christmas gift perhaps or something for the summer.

Mr.Rooster looks so sharp with his hat and cane. I tried a few different ideas with his tail feathers but I kept feeling that it was over complicated. Simplify. That was what I chose to do and I like how they are colored but not over stitched in comparison to the other elements in the design.
Mrs.Hen Looks to me to be just a little snooty, with her delicate beak up in the air. I chose a lighter color for her bottom feathers and I just love how they turned out... fluffy. ( I know I have some "fluff" too) Hehe
I did all of the flowers in the set to match using 2 colors for the petals, they are brighter this way I think and I just really like them this round.

I used a teeny but of satin stitch on the hearts popping out of their heads.

Swoon...
Fluffy bottom again, just makes me giggle a little.

I started to feel like I was never going to stitch anything but chickens again and is really why I chose to stop at 4 rather then do 5 and 6. The next scene is them walking home from the market with a basket of food and flowers, followed by pattern 6 and is of them and their baby chicks.
I've moved onto another project and have the 1st in the set all done and am 3/4 done with the 2nd, they are for my mom though. And on occasion she checks this blog... I'll have to wait on those till I have them ready to give before I can post them. (Sorry mom... love you). The waiting will drive her crazy, my mom can not keep a surprise secret where as I can. I suppose I could hand them over as I complete them but I think it would be more fun to hand over all at once.

And lastly on a note of other news, I recently found out that my company will be closing it's doors. I have mixed feelings about this turn of events. On one side this is my chance to go back to school to get my Associates in Horticulture. On the other side I'm worried about us getting by, as my Husband worked for the same company and we are both out of work soon. I still have 30 days left so hopefully I can acquire a part time job at a nursery or a greenhouse to help while I return to school, he has 60 days before his final day too. If anyone is knowledgeable about Horticulture please feel free to share any thoughts on my diving into this field, I love to garden though you can hardly tell by my yard. I spend so much time at work and driving to and from that there just is not enough hours to spend outside to make it as beautiful as I would prefer.

I'm not afraid of this change just apprehensive, I don't know what to expect. Here I am 31 and starting all over again.

Sigh* Just keep stitching. Stitching, stitching, stitching...

>^_^<

Bad, Bad kitty!

2010-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

It's has been entirely too long since I've posted anything on this poor neglected blog. The painting that I was working on came to a slow halt and now I am back to embroidery. I'm stitching up a set of kitchen towels for a neighbor, I hope she likes them. I'm on the 3rd of a set of 6 so will have pictures to post and share. It's nice to have a stitchy project to work on again.

Life has been a bit on the tough side and perhaps is the reason for my lethargy in wanting to post and blog. I've been horribly addicted to Facebook games and I'm trying to play a bit less.
*Play less stitch more.

That's hard when Farmville keeps adding new things to collect and participate in...

Oh, well. Off I go to put a movie on and finish my rooster.

Painting?!?

2009-10-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that lately embroidery has taken a back seat? First reading like mad now this. I know, what the?! I've been getting back to some other hobbies that I've been grown away from and I just don't want to forget that I like to do other things too. While I to love work with embroidery. I also love to paint. So I have a little piece to share of the painting that I am working on, Painting is a little more "in the zone" for me. While embroidery I sit and enjoy in the front room watching TV.
Work goes slow but it's been so long I don't really worry about it. I'm just painting it for myself so... onto the Wip-

I have a vision in my mind that I'm working towards.

These pictures are a little light I had to use the flash to get them to show up enough. I look forward to showing more of it as I come closer to being finished. I was thinking that I might just sew it up too.

>^_^<

Long and short stitch catch up

2009-09-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

Been stitching away but I just had not been able to really get any pictures of them until recently.
It has been a wonderful learning experience following along with this project. My mind is turning over how to finish it off as the lessons are almost complete. This is the lesson index with links sending you to each detailed lesson.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/08/long-and-short-stitch-lessons-index.html
Triangles
Circles

Ribbon

Flat leaf

Jagged leaf

Flower

Sampler almost finished

I have ideas on how to finish it out but nothing decided yet. I was thinking about a small and quick project to sink my teeth into. I really should get onto the holiday ornaments if I want any ready by the winter... so many things to work on.

>^_^<

Lookie what I made for work!

2009-09-12T10:18:00.001-07:00

This was so tasty I had to share, it was such a people pleaser and so easy to make. There was quite a bit of prep time and the time to arrange everything but easy all the same.

My Berry Trifle:
Angel food cake (cubed)
Vanilla pudding (2 boxes)
Cool whip
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Bananas
Kiwi
Grapes (halved)

Then it is just a matter of layering everything in alternate layers as you like.

And it gave me a reason to use this pretty serving bowl from Goodwill. Yay!

Lazy, Busy and Distracted...

2009-09-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

That about sums up my life lately, too lazy to turn on the computer, too busy to make the time to post anything and too distracted in reading a book series that I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I freaking love. Read those twice.

Onto the stitching!
I had been asked to create a name panel for a friend at work, for another friend from work that had recently had their first child. I think it turned out so very lovely. They changed their last name after I had stitched it up so they are going to cut off the bottom and make the top part into a pillow. I also think that is quite nice to make a keepsake from it. In total I spent 28 hours making it. Out of respect for their privacy I am only posting parts of it and will not show the entire name... you never know these days.

I have been making great progress on the Needle 'N Thread long and short stitch project but have not been able to get good pictures of it yet. I finally spent my Labor day stitching... All day long! I went from being 3 projects behind to being all caught up!

That was quite nice I must say since I had spent so much time buried in books.

I also have been painting again. That is a late in the evening activity for me after my child has been put to bed. After almost seven years it is nice to pick up a brush and create on canvas again. Needless to say there will be pictures as soon as I an confident enough to post them.

Happy stitching and painting and reading to you all!

Late and fallen behind..

2009-08-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

I've been so wrapped up stitching for this project that a co-worker asked me to do that I hadn't posted my Needle 'N Thread long and short stitch progress. So, I will have another post over the weekend to catch me up. I'm still behind having only just started the triangles and the lessons are one past that but, I think I'll be able to focus and get all caught up again. For any one that is not sure what even I speak of check it out:

http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/08/long-and-short-stitch-lessons-index.html

Anyways onto the picture. There is only the one but I like this technique and think that it has the potential to take my embroidery to a different range of possibilities.

More later~

Onto the stitching!

2009-08-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have certainly seen this done before but I jut had to make one for my cubicle at work. I just cranked out the border without much planning but I think it turned out alright for a quick project. The flowers remind me of Forget-me-nots a little bit.

I actually have a commission piece that I'm just beginning to work on! That is pretty exciting really and I want to do a good job on it! It is the first time anyone has specifically asked me to make something, I almost feel (dare I say) accomplished.

Also I am following along with the Needle'NThread long and short stitch lessons

http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/07/long-and-short-stitch-shading-lesson-1.html

I can't wait to expand my skills, the long and short stitch is something that I have seen in books and I think that it will be valuable to learn good technique.

I will also blog my progress on the lessons here just for fun!

Out and about

2009-08-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe the amazing response that I have received from my embroidery projects!! I am so thrilled that folks like the things that I make. So to all my new stitching friends I would like to say thank you! >^_^<

I haven’t been home very much over the last few weekends, we took a trip to the coast weekend before this last and last weekend went off to a local state park to play in the river.

The park was full a lovely images and lots of birds and butterflies.

The park has old Walnut and Filbert orchards many of them grown wild...

Our trip to the coast was relaxing and I think we came home way too soon in the day, we got back and it was still over 105 here!

This sign cracked me up, sadly this was the best shot that I was able to get of it.

She loved the beach.

And how can I count the weekend as over until I do a little thrifting? These were cool and I found them at Goodwill, still don't have any idea what to do with them but they spoke to me so I had to have them.

Now about the stitching...

Just for fun~

2009-07-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

After that monster curtain project I was sitting with bunches of floss that were not bad, but that I did not bother to wind back onto each bobbin. So I started doodling, and I found it very relaxing.

First the wip~

Then the finished product~

And now more close shots than were most likely needed~

I like the little pear that I tossed in there- this was my first time doing a whipped chain stitch and I think I love it.

This was the first time that I played with Bullion stitches, they were tricky at first but I found them to be a neat experience and I keep thinking that now I need to find a pattern and add cat tails to it.

I also love the chance to just play with the stitches and try things that normally I may not just because it does not fit into the pattern.

I have a new Wip that I'm making for my cubicle at work... I'll post shots later this weekend I think as long as time allows~ these images should allow clicking for larger sizes.

Have a great weekend!

>^_^<

Estate sale!! Shopping therapy~

2009-07-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

I have mixed feelings about Estate sales. On one hand I find them sad, most of the time someone has died or got very ill and are selling everything. On the other hand they are a wonderful place to find things you can hardly believe are on sale.
I went to one on my lunch break on Friday and this is what I bought.

This is a sort of crewelwork tapestry kit, it is started a little and is gigantic!

It measures 20" x 16" and only $3.00

I saw this other crewelwork Unicorn and had to have it $1.00. It is also started although I will pick out the work and begin again on that one. I also got some cross stitch fabric is Hardinger 22 and was only .10 each pack un-opened.

Felt! lots and lots of felt, plus some cute snowmen started and floss. 2.50 for the 2 bags of goodness.

This is completed and I just had to buy it. It's a pillow and only needs a light cleaning and stuffing. $2.00

I have these impulse buying issues, I'll just buy things on a whim sometimes... this is one of those times that it worked out beautifully.

This is a funny little bag that had a label "tatting $3.00" these little boots are all little pockets.

There is another little flap style pocket on the tiny boot on this side too.

behold the loot...

The lady that did the tatting was very talented. There is just lovely tatted lace in this bag that she made.

The items that I was most excited about- Workbasket issues ranging from 1957 to 1980! I spent my entire evening looking through them at all of the old projects and ads. I was thinking about scanning some of them into the blog using a friends scanner.

I ended up buying this pouch, it only had 2 of the handkerchiefs in it but I kept finding more in the sale for .25 or .50 for 2 or 3. So now I have quite the collection.

They are so pretty and I think I have a project forming in my mind.
They only had a few tea towels in the sale that makes me wonder what happened to the other days of the week?
Iron on Tuesday huh? I'll have to work on that!

Pillow cases too. I could not resist the lavender kitty cases. And the embroidered flowers with the crocheted edge look like they have never been used. They are so crisp and almost a little rough.

Silly dog watching her silly owner take pictures of strange smelling items that I brought home.

They don't smell that strange but her nose was working overtime!

Now the last bit about the curtians...

2009-07-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

These flowers ended up being one of my favorite parts of these curtains.

It's called Kamal kadai-Indian Embroidery and I saw it on Deepa's Blog: http://deepashome.blogspot.com/2008/06/kamal-kadai-indian-embroidery.html
She has all kinds of interesting techniques and styles to learn and pull from.

I just love this technique. It is so simple to set up and creates such a lovely effect for the flowers and just really adds a 3-D quality to the work.
For the stem I used basic chain stitch. And the leaves is Roumanian stitch in 2 colors of floss, 2 strands light green 1 strand the same color green as the stem.

Aside from pulling the flower technique this was my own design. YAY!

I bought the variegated pink-orange (I think Tropicana when I look at it) floss wondering what on earth I was going to do with it. Then it hit me that it would make lovely flowers.

And...

It's my silly dog. Why she would rather lay there than anywhere else? I may never know.

But this made me giggle so I grabbed my camara.

Last few bits about the curtain..

2009-07-14T17:55:00.001-07:00

I don't really know why I chose birds for the top inside of each curtain. I like to listen to them and watch them in the yard. I like how the roof turned out sort of shingled looking.

At least I don't call to the birds like our kitty tries to. She sort of chirps at them and calles to them in a very "I'm not going to hurt you just fly over here into my mouth so we can play" cat-like sort of way.

Random observation:
Don't you think an onion sort of looks like a closed up water lily when thinly sliced?

Maybe it's just me.

Something new...

2009-07-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

After finishing this project I still felt like I needed to be working on something.
Cross stitch? No. New epic project? No. Christmas ornements! No. There is a quilt project that has been eating at my brain? No. Doodling?

Hmm, Ok.

I'm just going to use up all the little floss leftovers that I have from the curtains and sew them into a random design rainbow.

I'm going to hang it on my wall. >^_^<

Next came Mrs. Gnome and her stump home

2009-07-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

I had decided while I was finishing Mr. Gnome that he needed a little wife. I didn't have any idea that she would turn out as she did. Her sketch was much more simple although all the main elements were there.

Once I stared to sew that was the end of it. I just could not stop adding detail.
So walk with me through her garden...

Mushroom detail~

I was especially happy with the tiny flower at the end of the root, little bits of moss and grass popping up here and there.

I would live to walk through her door and look inside

I love the way her braid turned out and the flower basket too.

I still smile about he little pointed door for her little pointed hat to go through.

After such a detailed journey I was ready for something less detailed and an "easy sew" if you like. I moved back to the birds.

Behold the almost 2 year curtain project!

2009-07-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

(I almost imagine a single ray of light shining down on them through the clouds as angels sing rejoicing them being finished)

Off I went to get the curtains all ready to hang in the window, and what did I see when I held them up together? The right panel was hanging at least an inch lower than the other side! Ok, so off I went to the sewing machine to fix them. Needless to say that the weekend of the 4th of July was very busy and my project was put off... again. Well now they are at least complete and they have been photographed. YAY!

The twisty stick is really the curtain rod so it will be staying.

Left Panel~

Right panel~

I wanted to echo the design on each side so I tried to choose patterns or create designs that would compliment each other.

The Gnome man came first after the hex designs and really I had no plan for the other side since he was mostly freehand, the mushrooms were inspired by the Aunt Martha's Merry Modern Mushrooms #3775. His little wife was more original and direct from my brain than he was.

I like how the flowers turned out and I really love the pink and orange flowers.

I used a technique that I saw on Deepa's blog: http://deepashome.blogspot.com/2008/06/kamal-kadai-indian-embroidery.html

I'm not really sure why I chose the bird patterns, I liked the couple in the nest and I looked for a pair or a bird that would go along with it. I ended up using this pattern but making changes to make the style of the flowers match better:

I think it turned out a little leggy on that side but I like it.

Still my window is bare and broken and waiting for me to get them up and hanging...

*Sigh*

I'll post more detailed images of some of the embroidery not already posted later. >^_^<

Oh so close...

2009-07-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I have officially finished stitching on the curtains, they have been washed and I am ironing tonight! I'm also going to fiddle around with the old blinds and new curtain rod (stick) to get them hanging finally! I should have them up in a day or maybe two depending on how fast I can get the rod up.
I have pictures of the last embroidery that was done on the first panel. These were fun little birds to stitch up.

In anticipation of the impending final picture post I think I'll fit in sections from the 2nd curtain also in this post.

I'm so glad this center shot came out this time. I tried to use all different stitches for the "Petals" of the center flower alternating in brown and black.

This next one is really one of my favorites that I did on either side it is bright and vibrant. I only have the one picture that was really clear and great. It was also pulled from the Hex stitchalong patterns and I just love how it turned out.

I like variegated floss so much that I have started to look for reasons to use it in patterns. I had several reasons with this one; I used the greens, reds and purple variegated floss. That was fun to play with more.
I had used the variegated floss once before on this pattern that I pulled from this wonderful web site:http://www.needlenthread.com/2007/05/free-embroidery-pattern-flower.html

I just love how it looks like pastel flowery eye candy...

Mmmmm. That is all for now, I have more to post and think I'll finish this project post up tomorrow if not the following day.

Corner of flowers.

2009-06-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

This section of the curtain took me much longer that I thought it should. It may be that I had just made the work so detailed and so monotonous. I chose 2 colors for the chain stem and the same 2 colors for the fishbone stitched leaves. The alternating of colors I think is really what took so long. I had not worked 2 colors simultaneously before.

I like how the flowers turned out on these.

The pattern is adapted from a set that I found that were again not wonderful to print but were ok to sketch onto the fabric from. I have such a habit of saving images that I love or that I want to draw from, the bad part of that is that I often forget where I found them at. Click to see larger images.

I drew the image from a pattern adapted from this set:

And then there was Gnome.

2009-06-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

After seeing so many images all over Craftster and Flickr I had decided to add a bit of whimsy to these curtains of mine. I stumbled across a copy of Aunt Martha's Merry Modern Mushrooms #3775. The patterns were not photographed great but enough so that I could draw from them as inspiration for my little gnome man in his garden.

The whole scene turned out cute and I decided that I would make him a little gnome bride too on the other side of the curtain. She is another story though as her side took on a life all of it's own. I keep going back to this trying to decide if it is finished or not. I think I may just go back and add 2 more fern fronds with leaves to add height and to balance his wife's side better.

Silly dog!

2009-06-25T20:26:00.001-07:00

I suppose to be honest it was yesterday when I drove home to find our dog running free. She has been a escape artist since day one. I came home and there she was looking so happy to see me but running towards me from the side of our house?!? How surprised was I? Very. We have a dog tight chain link fence, my dear sweet husband that had been helping me combat the over running weeds in my garden had brought the garden bin back into the backyard at my request had not re-latched the gate and to be fair, neither had I. Well so I was surprised to see her all running at me so happy that I was home. I truly wonder what she spent her day doing out and loose. What was she up to?

Needless to say... Willow (our cat) was not at all happy about the whole situation, she is an indoor cat untill we get her fixed and was very vocal about Sky being outside all day loose and her all locked inside the house on her plushy spot.

*Sigh*

Star light, Star bright...

2009-06-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

In my effort to re-post all of the finished embroidery from the curtains I've been working on I next come to another pattern that I pulled from the Craftster stitchalong (although I believe I was the only one to post anything for it) I just love how this pattern turned out, so vibrant and colorful.

I think I'll get a few more close up shots of these for eye-candy purposes.

You can also click on the pictures to make them large.

In the Beginning..

2009-06-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

I suppose to be fair I should begin with how this project came to be. A few years ago I happened upon one of the most fun web sites that I had found in forever, Craftster. I began to check out the posts and found the needlework category; it had been years since I had really stitched. In fact since High school and then I was not very good at it. A few years ago we purchased a house and I have been trying to update and make it my own. Replacing curtains has been on the list of things to do and I thought since my grandmother had given me her old sewing machine that I would put it to good use, I zipped out some basic curtains and decided to decorate them with embroidery. I found the stitchalong area and decided to participate in the make your own hex stitchalong: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=217497.0
I picked out a few designs that I liked and decided to give them a try. This was the first one that I stitched up:

Even after I went back and filled with the French knots I still feel unsatisfied with it. I decided to make a different one and I was really thrilled with how it turned out.

I tried to use different stitches that I had not tried before. There are 6 different stitches in this one.

That’s how the beginning of these crazy curtains was. The plan I had only stored in my mind has since really come along way from these humble beginnings. I'll post more images of the curtains in the coming days. And when all is posted and finished I will post the final pictures of them happily hanging in my kitchen window. The tail end is taking forever since I keep getting side tracked with other things. I already have a new massive project brewing in my mind...After I make some new Christmas ornaments for 2009 to break up the project run.

Going to take New pictures

2009-06-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm just a little excited to go take pictures of this project. It is, however, raining and cloudy. I think I'm prepared to battle that though.

But look what I saw at the Zoo...

To me it looked like a perfect place for a few faries and a frog with a top hat would sit to have a tea party. Laugh if you must but I thought it was such a pretty little spot to happen upon at the Zoo.

So I have these curtains

2009-06-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

I've been working on kitchen curtains and they have taken quite some time. I've posted finished parts in Crafster and also in Flickr, I am creating this blog to post the final project in detail and so that I can re-photograph all of the finished parts without re-posting in those forums completely.

In all these have taken around 2 years to come to a completion. Hours upon hours have gone into them and I have learned so many new stitches and techniques on my journey. As I near completion I still feel that they are not quite done and I have the desire to continue without a plan but I think that I will just wash them, hang them in the window and just live with them and enjoy them for a while.. Let them soak in if you will.
For me this is an epic project and really making a family heirloom that I hope will be kept if for no other reason than the work that was involved in the creation.

And now I have a small Work in progress shot to share on the final part of the curtain that needs stitching once finished with this section I'm going to wash them, iron them and photograph them (using a better borrowed camera) for posting.

They are already more simple than I originally planned but I love these pretty little flowers all the same.

The Beginning

2009-06-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

In this, web page I hope to share what I do with anyone that would care to enjoy or look and learn. I have only the needlework skills that I was taught when I was little by my Grandmother and what I have learned on the wide web. I am by trade an office worker, but I am truly an artist. I love embroidery and all that it offers as an art medium.
I once enjoyed painting but lost the time to create it, when I dabble into that I'll share those efforts here too. I consider myself an extremely armature gardener and will share my miss-adventures and triumphs in garden-land. Finally I also love antiques, second hand shops and old toys; on occasion I'll share great finds too. I hope that this will be fun and new type of adventure.
I am however not always spot-on with my thoughts and postings so we will see how blogging fits with me. I have a tendency to be a recluse and by all means I imagine that this will be no different.

Ahhhhh.