I made up a second sheet of fabric in bright whites. The piece with the flowers embroidered on it was sent to me in a fabric swap organized by the first group I took a class with.
If Lexxie visits my site... which I don't think she does ...she may remember this piece... look Lexxie! I'm using it. It is shiny and she loves shiny ... well, actually ...who doesn't? ..hahhaha... I think Magpie is the middle name of most women.
I did the same thing I did when I was making the pin cushions. Seeing as I just can't visualize things finished without a frame to view it in....I viewed it with my newly made egg template. Perfect. Now, I can work away on it ...inside stitched lines...but, always with my viewer nearby. Grab. Place. View.
Love it....
I decided to make several ... in the same style as my cushions.
Here is the first one so far.
Showing posts with label handwork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handwork. Show all posts
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
A page..
I cut up my fabric that I've been playing with ....and decided to make an opening on my page to display a portion of it. It will serve to remind me of what I did with this particular piece... how I stitched it ... how I manipulated the bits of lace and silk... the actual stitches I used...
In this particular case..it will also serve as a reminder never to stitch a piece directly onto my page!! Wow! What a tricky thing to try. Why didn't I just use double sided tape like everybody else? Oh, no..not moi.... I figured it might be just as easy to stitch it onto the paper. Wrong! the down stitches were just fine, but the ones coming back up again? from beneath paper and several layers of fabric? ... arrrgghhh! I couldn't see the holes even when I held the page up to a bright light... and ended up having to poke a needle through each hole from the topside... guide my sewing needle to the exact spot and withdraw the top needle and carefully poke up with the stitching needle. As you can guess ... the air was particularly blue at several points during my ordeal. And, yes, it was a bit of an ordeal. Next time...play with paper stitching and just enjoy it ... .. tack on fabric later...
Oh, and... I also did the unthinkable. Stabbed my finger a good one and bled on the paper before I even realized it. Luckily, I also licked the bloody area immediately... and then had to lick again because it just smeared... ... and then, luckily ... I was able to blot it off easily with paper towel. Whew.
Saved the page after I had worked so diligently with my stitching...
I was having some fun with FME also... onto a gauzy square with a few little embroidered flowers on it. I'm not sure what it is ...perhaps a table protector of some sort... too big for a hanky ... not really a doily... too small for a scarf...... Maggi found it for me...
I love how the FME looks on it...I'll try a bit more and try for better photos of it... I cut a bit of it and added it to this smaller piece of the fabric...
In this particular case..it will also serve as a reminder never to stitch a piece directly onto my page!! Wow! What a tricky thing to try. Why didn't I just use double sided tape like everybody else? Oh, no..not moi.... I figured it might be just as easy to stitch it onto the paper. Wrong! the down stitches were just fine, but the ones coming back up again? from beneath paper and several layers of fabric? ... arrrgghhh! I couldn't see the holes even when I held the page up to a bright light... and ended up having to poke a needle through each hole from the topside... guide my sewing needle to the exact spot and withdraw the top needle and carefully poke up with the stitching needle. As you can guess ... the air was particularly blue at several points during my ordeal. And, yes, it was a bit of an ordeal. Next time...play with paper stitching and just enjoy it ... .. tack on fabric later...
Oh, and... I also did the unthinkable. Stabbed my finger a good one and bled on the paper before I even realized it. Luckily, I also licked the bloody area immediately... and then had to lick again because it just smeared... ... and then, luckily ... I was able to blot it off easily with paper towel. Whew.
Saved the page after I had worked so diligently with my stitching...
I was having some fun with FME also... onto a gauzy square with a few little embroidered flowers on it. I'm not sure what it is ...perhaps a table protector of some sort... too big for a hanky ... not really a doily... too small for a scarf...... Maggi found it for me...
I love how the FME looks on it...I'll try a bit more and try for better photos of it... I cut a bit of it and added it to this smaller piece of the fabric...
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Thinking about it.....
Karen stopped in to see if any stitching was happening in between snow shovelling...and, well, ...it wasn't, of course.
It's already been almost two weeks since somebunny decided we had to tear the drywall ceiling down in the finished tv room and replace it with a suspended ceiling. Mostly because of some wiring .. ... and, well, .. you know how it goes.... it does take time, effort, and lots of work, to get things back together again. Now that he is back at work after the Christmas break... he only has such a few hours each day to work on it...
So, the room still looks like this...plastic protecting the other half of the room... drop cloths covering the carpet, tools all over the place and lots happening overhead..
Moving some pot lights and re-arranging wiring, etc...
However, my stitching buddy came for tea on Monday ... and, although we didn't actually do any crafting or stitching...we did discuss what we are going to make in 2014 and that got me thinking 'bout stitching..and that lead to looking at stitching stuff later in the day, and that ... you get the drift............................
I've decided to make a pouch with the completed blocks from the first stitching class I took with Karen. It was going to be a wrapping cloth...but, since doing the little pin cushions and loving them...I decided to turn these into a smaller project that I know I can and will finish. I do like the joy and satisfaction of completing a little project and being able to look at it and say..." I made that". Maybe it sounds almost arrogant, but to me it's more just a bit of slightly smug satisfaction in knowing that I worked diligently and carefully on something; actually finished it off, and am happy with my project. I like that feeling.
Here is the placement of my blocks...it could be a smallish wrapping cloth, I suppose ... or I could make a few more blocks and make it somewhat larger....but, no...I've decided a decent sized pouch that I can use for bits of lace, or pieces of fabric, or something like that, will be better. Useful and still pretty ... just what we were striving for actually, if we were going back in time in our minds and hearts while stitching away on our treasured little bits of fabric and trim........
For some reason, even though I didn't measure any block....they all turned out to be exactly the same size across. How strange is that? They are not the same length. I may add a bit of lace or some trim here and there to change the centre as it might look like a seam down it. That may look just fine. I won't really know 'til I have it stitched down. But, if it looks strange, or I don't like it ...I can fix that .... we have ways. I'll decide later. Probably much later.......
If you come to the blog sort of regularly, you may remember seeing some of the embroidery and embellishment, but if not..here are few shots of the areas. I tried to incorporate most of the techniques that Karen was showing us in the class.
Today I'm still trying to get somebody to buy my sofa and loveseat... because, Monday some new ones are arriving ... who wants a really nice sofa or a loveseat, traditional style...exceptional shape...for next to nothing? ... Anybody in Calgary reading my blog? .....
It's already been almost two weeks since somebunny decided we had to tear the drywall ceiling down in the finished tv room and replace it with a suspended ceiling. Mostly because of some wiring .. ... and, well, .. you know how it goes.... it does take time, effort, and lots of work, to get things back together again. Now that he is back at work after the Christmas break... he only has such a few hours each day to work on it...
So, the room still looks like this...plastic protecting the other half of the room... drop cloths covering the carpet, tools all over the place and lots happening overhead..
Moving some pot lights and re-arranging wiring, etc...
However, my stitching buddy came for tea on Monday ... and, although we didn't actually do any crafting or stitching...we did discuss what we are going to make in 2014 and that got me thinking 'bout stitching..and that lead to looking at stitching stuff later in the day, and that ... you get the drift............................
I've decided to make a pouch with the completed blocks from the first stitching class I took with Karen. It was going to be a wrapping cloth...but, since doing the little pin cushions and loving them...I decided to turn these into a smaller project that I know I can and will finish. I do like the joy and satisfaction of completing a little project and being able to look at it and say..." I made that". Maybe it sounds almost arrogant, but to me it's more just a bit of slightly smug satisfaction in knowing that I worked diligently and carefully on something; actually finished it off, and am happy with my project. I like that feeling.
Here is the placement of my blocks...it could be a smallish wrapping cloth, I suppose ... or I could make a few more blocks and make it somewhat larger....but, no...I've decided a decent sized pouch that I can use for bits of lace, or pieces of fabric, or something like that, will be better. Useful and still pretty ... just what we were striving for actually, if we were going back in time in our minds and hearts while stitching away on our treasured little bits of fabric and trim........
For some reason, even though I didn't measure any block....they all turned out to be exactly the same size across. How strange is that? They are not the same length. I may add a bit of lace or some trim here and there to change the centre as it might look like a seam down it. That may look just fine. I won't really know 'til I have it stitched down. But, if it looks strange, or I don't like it ...I can fix that .... we have ways. I'll decide later. Probably much later.......
If you come to the blog sort of regularly, you may remember seeing some of the embroidery and embellishment, but if not..here are few shots of the areas. I tried to incorporate most of the techniques that Karen was showing us in the class.
Today I'm still trying to get somebody to buy my sofa and loveseat... because, Monday some new ones are arriving ... who wants a really nice sofa or a loveseat, traditional style...exceptional shape...for next to nothing? ... Anybody in Calgary reading my blog? .....
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
It's Christmas all over again at my house!!!
woohoooo....!! I did a trade with one of the ladies in my stitching group... and both of us were getting pretty down in the mouth, because her pincushion to me went astray. It's been in transit since early December and ...well, ... should've been here long before now, so we figured somebody else got a nice present .... but, it's arrived today!! and...it is beeeyoootiful!
Soft creams and ecru colours with bits of greens and some pearlized seed beads. Such beautiful attention to every little detail. Click on the photos to biggify and see things better.
I don't recognize the stitch along this corner of the edge.... but, now confirmed... it is crochet.....
So many little corners to look at over and over again...tiny stitching and details to check out ... I'm back and forth between windows with it to look at every aspect of it in really good light.
I loved it in photos I had seen of it before I got it....and it is even more beautiful "in person" .... oh, what a fun day today is!!
And, now...into my curio cabinet with it.... so no grubby hands will touch it. Yes, you can look at it..but, from behind glass.......... so it will be a treasure well protected ....
Soft creams and ecru colours with bits of greens and some pearlized seed beads. Such beautiful attention to every little detail. Click on the photos to biggify and see things better.
I don't recognize the stitch along this corner of the edge.... but, now confirmed... it is crochet.....
So many little corners to look at over and over again...tiny stitching and details to check out ... I'm back and forth between windows with it to look at every aspect of it in really good light.
I loved it in photos I had seen of it before I got it....and it is even more beautiful "in person" .... oh, what a fun day today is!!
And, now...into my curio cabinet with it.... so no grubby hands will touch it. Yes, you can look at it..but, from behind glass.......... so it will be a treasure well protected ....
Monday, October 28, 2013
Beginnings...
... of my next pincushion... my fourth now... wow!.... not that I'm speeding along or anything.
A few little French knot flowers. Look like Forget-Me-Nots..
It's so much easier and pretty quick too when I already have the 'master sheet' of fabric ready to go whenever the spirit moves me. Remember the master sheet of pretty fabrics? So much easier than putting each one together separately.
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Pick a nice area, figure out exactly the size and shape the cushion will be and begin embroidering..
Decide on some trims... embroider a bit more and soon, it begins to take shape... I love putting them together. They are so tiny and dainty and I love working with tiny things.
A few little French knot flowers. Look like Forget-Me-Nots..
It's so much easier and pretty quick too when I already have the 'master sheet' of fabric ready to go whenever the spirit moves me. Remember the master sheet of pretty fabrics? So much easier than putting each one together separately.

Pick a nice area, figure out exactly the size and shape the cushion will be and begin embroidering..
Decide on some trims... embroider a bit more and soon, it begins to take shape... I love putting them together. They are so tiny and dainty and I love working with tiny things.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Not the Easter chicken..
"Listen Missus ..... this is all well and good...but, where's me legs"? ... "Where, eh"?
.... Poor little goosie....
She's been checking out the shiny shell buttons I've added to my embroidery piece... and the thread wrapping for a button loop ...
That is not an elastic piece even though it may look like one.... not.... ...instead, it is many wrappings of embroidery thread around two other strands of thread. French knots at the base.... there will be more in the vicinity...eventually...and... I have a further idea for those buttons... and now...a second loop is also on the fabric... for the other button... what fun!
.... Poor little goosie....
She's been checking out the shiny shell buttons I've added to my embroidery piece... and the thread wrapping for a button loop ...
That is not an elastic piece even though it may look like one.... not.... ...instead, it is many wrappings of embroidery thread around two other strands of thread. French knots at the base.... there will be more in the vicinity...eventually...and... I have a further idea for those buttons... and now...a second loop is also on the fabric... for the other button... what fun!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Practising my embroidery stitches ...
Learning some new stuff too....
About me actually......... hahahhahh... almost as much as I am learning about embroidery and embellishment.
For instance ... I'm totally anal.
This block...our first.... took me about 3 hours and 7 minutes of agonizing over before I got it pieced together... and was happy with the look of it.
Dare I tell you how long it only takes for Karen to put together an amazing looking block? 7 minutes! Flat! .... PLEASE go to see her beautiful work... it's worth it just to gawk at some of her postings. The photos are enough to blow you away....
I'm consoling myself with a few things..... first, she has a lot more 'stuff' to choose from than I do at the moment ..... and......she has been doing it for several years now..... plus....as she says herself...it is not a race. It is to make a lovely cloth for ourselves, that honours the traditions of women through the ages that have made, or pieced, or stitched, on any fabric or scrap of fabric they managed to find, buy or somehow secure ....
I'm going to start begging for scraps and, (all of a sudden, while typing), I just remembered a lady up the block makes quilts........so, now, I do know three people who sew ...maybe they have some useable pieces hanging around....and my sister says she has found a pretty doily with some cutwork ... so maybe I will find or make a pretty box or container for all my lovely white stuff which I hope to eventually accumulate. I've always loved white on white...just never got around to doing anything like this... but, now.......it will probably become an obsession.....
The first stitches I wanted to do were some my Mom taught me ... she used to do bits here and there .... little cloths and some pillow cases and one table cloth are all I really remember her doing... but, she did know how to embroider and so daintily. She always worked so tiny and I find I do the same with a lot of things... how we become our parents in so many ways.... without even realizing it.
The first embroidery stitches I ever learned.... Chain Stitch and French Knot.......how did I do Mom? Personally I realize quite a bit of practice is needed...it's been awhile since I embroidered..... but, I know she would have said how wonderful they are .... she was always our biggest cheerleader in all our endeavours.
My cloth is underway.
About me actually......... hahahhahh... almost as much as I am learning about embroidery and embellishment.
For instance ... I'm totally anal.
This block...our first.... took me about 3 hours and 7 minutes of agonizing over before I got it pieced together... and was happy with the look of it.
Dare I tell you how long it only takes for Karen to put together an amazing looking block? 7 minutes! Flat! .... PLEASE go to see her beautiful work... it's worth it just to gawk at some of her postings. The photos are enough to blow you away....
I'm consoling myself with a few things..... first, she has a lot more 'stuff' to choose from than I do at the moment ..... and......she has been doing it for several years now..... plus....as she says herself...it is not a race. It is to make a lovely cloth for ourselves, that honours the traditions of women through the ages that have made, or pieced, or stitched, on any fabric or scrap of fabric they managed to find, buy or somehow secure ....
I'm going to start begging for scraps and, (all of a sudden, while typing), I just remembered a lady up the block makes quilts........so, now, I do know three people who sew ...maybe they have some useable pieces hanging around....and my sister says she has found a pretty doily with some cutwork ... so maybe I will find or make a pretty box or container for all my lovely white stuff which I hope to eventually accumulate. I've always loved white on white...just never got around to doing anything like this... but, now.......it will probably become an obsession.....
The first stitches I wanted to do were some my Mom taught me ... she used to do bits here and there .... little cloths and some pillow cases and one table cloth are all I really remember her doing... but, she did know how to embroider and so daintily. She always worked so tiny and I find I do the same with a lot of things... how we become our parents in so many ways.... without even realizing it.
The first embroidery stitches I ever learned.... Chain Stitch and French Knot.......how did I do Mom? Personally I realize quite a bit of practice is needed...it's been awhile since I embroidered..... but, I know she would have said how wonderful they are .... she was always our biggest cheerleader in all our endeavours.
My cloth is underway.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Couching
But, with a bit of a difference ... I tried a bit of gauzy chiffon type fabric..on a little piece of silk I found hanging around ..
That was fun.
Then I made some Prairie Points.... apparently it's just folding little squares to look like mountains...well, that's what they remind me of anyway...
Maybe when I piece my fabrics and trims...this piece of lace that is also pointy will add some interest....
Onward..... Rouleau Loops next ...
That was fun.
Then I made some Prairie Points.... apparently it's just folding little squares to look like mountains...well, that's what they remind me of anyway...
Maybe when I piece my fabrics and trims...this piece of lace that is also pointy will add some interest....
Onward..... Rouleau Loops next ...
Labels:
cotton,
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embroidery,
hand made,
handwork,
hobbies,
Karen Ruane,
lace,
silk
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Practice
My first attempts at Karen's web... and some French knots, which of course I used to do, but my fingers don't really seem to remember them too well...yet. What a disaster with several. But....one thing I do have... perseverance ... yep....I've got that. 'Stick-to-it-iveness' as some folks used to call it.

I'll get it. See the difference in the last web? Pretty good compared to the first little white one and much better than the first yellow one. My own experience after only trying two showed me something...I was pulling the wrapping thread a bit too taut around each of the legs ..... so, when I loosened my vice like grip on the thread... look... nice webby effect. Plus...I must remember to work a bit larger for the first few til I get an handle on it. I tend to work too small with everything it seems...
I love this stitch. It's beautiful.

I'll get it. See the difference in the last web? Pretty good compared to the first little white one and much better than the first yellow one. My own experience after only trying two showed me something...I was pulling the wrapping thread a bit too taut around each of the legs ..... so, when I loosened my vice like grip on the thread... look... nice webby effect. Plus...I must remember to work a bit larger for the first few til I get an handle on it. I tend to work too small with everything it seems...
I love this stitch. It's beautiful.
Labels:
crafts,
embroidery,
handmade,
handwork,
hobbies,
Karen Ruane
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