Puckering Pillowcases

I'm so upset I embroidered this set of pillowcases for a gift and when I finished and washed them they came out puckered!!! I thought I had pre-washed them, but I guess I hadn't! I wish I had washed them one more time before stitching just to be sure! The set took me 6 or more hours to complete, I outlined and filled in the letters with stem stitching! Here is a link to the pattern at the Vintage Transfer Finds blog.

I had the idea to try a fix. I wet the motif and ironed it real good face down on a terrycloth towel, then I ironed on a piece of interfacing.

The result isn't too bad, still some puckering, but I'm wondering if it will hold up in another washing so I just stuck them in the washer now. I'll see if they re-pucker and add that to the end of this post later on.

Still, I'm going to have to make another set, even though I'm sure the recipient would still enjoy them as a gift from the heart, I want them to have the best! So I may still include this set with the new one I'll make...IF they don't re-pucker!
Well here are the final results, puckered. Right now I'm not sure if I'll be sending them anyway with the new set too. What do you all think, would you love them anyway?

Finished Scarf

Here is the finished Persian Flower!

As you can see I choose a leaf in the similar style for the accent design on the other end of the scarf. I drew it onto solvy and just put it in the hoop with out basting, since it was smaller it didn't really need it.

I stitched it in using the same green variegated Perle cotton thread in chain stitch and stem stitch for the stem. Then I stem stitched the vein with the same size 10 yellow DMC Cebelia, and also put in the lazy daisy stitches. Then I filled in the center of the lazy daisy stitch with a straight stitch in 4mm ribbon that is a nice light coral-pink, in Silk Ribbon Embroidery when you fill in a lazy daisy with a straight stitch it's called the decorative lazy daisy.

Here is a funny tid-bit for you! After I finished the accent design, I realized that I stitched it on the wrong side of the fabric! So in order for both motifs to be seen you have to fold the scarf at the neck! LOL At least it's not so noticeable to ruin the scarf.
Also I fell in love with the scarf...I know I intended it as a gift but I love it so much that I'm going to keep this one. I bought another pink scarf set to embroider for the gift.

Persian Flower Scarf

At the Hand Embroidery Yahoo Group we are doing another Creativity Challenge. So I got on mine right away, I decided to embroider it on a scarf as a Christmas gift. The scarf came as a set with some gloves and a hat which I'll embroider on some sort of accent design. I'm also planning on doing an accent design on the opposite end of the scarf. Lillian gave the the idea to put leaves on the other end, which I thought would be perfect.

Getting the pattern to the design was the trickiest part of the whole process! I decided on Solvy so that I could dissolve away the pattern after I was finished. I traced the pattern onto the Solvy with a red sharpie because I figured if it stained then at least it will blend in with the fabric! LOL I had to baste the Solvy onto the scarf, then get it in the hoop, then I had to baste even more over the pattern because the loose knit would hang! Talk about frustrating! But the basting worked and I began embroidering. Next time I want to embroider on a loose knit I'm going to stick with free-form embroidery and not use a pattern like this, it was just too much work to get the pattern on the scarf!

I began embroidering in the design, I used a pink size 10 DMC Cebellia thread (normally for tatting), only because I didn't have any size 5 Perle thread and it's close to the size and the color was right. I worked it in the chain stitch to create a nice thick line. Then I saw some 4mm silk ribbon in my stash that was given to me, that I thought would work perfectly! It's variegated too! So I stitched in the center with silk ribbon in the satin stitch, then I thought the outer area of the center would look neat in stem stitch with the ribbon, I don't usually use silk ribbon in this way but I loved the result!

I went with alternating thick thread and silk ribbon stem stitch, adding a light green for the centers of the pink petals. I also used the green ribbon to satin stitch in the base of the flower and used a green Perle cotton for the stem. The outer petals I used a red size 5 Perle cotton thread in chain stitch again, since I really liked the look it gave.

Then I used yellow silk ribbon for the cup of the flower in stem and straight stitches and then colonial knots. I then used another size 10 DMC Cebellia thread in yellow to add in the details inside the petals. Those were done in stem stitch and lazy daisy stitches.
Then I pulled out all the basting, took it out of the hoop and cut away the excess Solvy. I've rinsed it this morning and am letting it dry.
I really focused on stitching it in last night and worked for hours on it. I didn't want to put it down, you know how it is...just a little more...plus I didn't want to have to take it out of the hoop and hassle with putting it back in to work on it more! LOL

Block and Scallop Edging

Well I've finally tried out block tatting and had a go at the Workbasket pattern "Block and Scallop Edging" using updated adjustments to the pattern. It's also the first time I've consistently used a picot gage from Georgia Seitz in the horizontal method since I usually just eyeball my picots. The picots are a little bigger than I like, but that's okay. I was using the second to the smallest picot gage in the set with size 20 DMC thread! The pattern is working up with a curve and I think I'll let it just become a circular motif, it would need some sort of adjustment to actually be a straight edging.

CQ purse for Christina

Well I pieced the front and back blocks for the purse this afternoon. Now I just need to embellish it up! These are 6 inch blocks. Most of the fabric is the reclaimed fabric I got at the thrift store. The only bit that's not is the piece of light green minky fabric in the center. That was a small remnant I had gotten, it's really soft and fuzzy. I love how it's coming so far when I look at it I smile because it looks so fun and that's totally Christina, bright and fun!
Side One
Side Two
Finished Purse

Fun Reclaiming Fabric!

I recently visited the Thrift Shop here on Post and I had the surprise of my life! Usually when I walk into thrift stores the clothing is so outrageously priced that I get way better deals shopping in the remnant bins at fabric stores, but I was thrilled when I found out that each piece of clothing was 25 cents!!! This stack of fabric is from 2 visits! AND I'm excited to say I probably spent way less than $5! I have had so much fun reclaiming this fabric! I tossed it all in the washer and dryer (or line dry) and then started cutting out all the seams.

I also like to reclaim the trims, straps and ties because I can use straps and ties as handles or for tie closures on purses.

Here are buttons I've reclaimed. I love the crystal looking ones even though they are either plastic or acrylic.

This is the reason I had initially gone to the thrift shop to look for fabric, I needed bright pinks and greens to make a crazy quilt purse for my friend Christina for Christmas, but my stash was sorely lacking in those colors. So here is all the fabrics and trims I've pulled out to use for creating the purse. It's going to be a small purse just enough for a cell phone and wallet since I know Christina has wanted something like that. I also decided to throw in a tad of orange to the mix so it will be shades of pink, green, and orange.

Sister's Sweater Finished

I couldn't resist adding some leaves so I tested out some tiny straight stitches using 6 strands DMC floss in a lighter green color. I liked what I saw so I went with it and this is the result! I think it adds a little more depth to the design. I now feel that it's finished and I can send it off to my baby sister!
Click Here to see the progress of the Sweater

Sister's Sweater

For all the buds I did the Oyster Stitch with 6 strands DMC floss. The Oyster Stitch was perfect because it was simple to stitch and has a nice shape like the lazy daisy yet filled in and a little puffy. I'm not sure if I'll be adding any leaves to the design since to me it looks beautiful just like this. Very simple and sweet.

Sweater for my Sister

I'm embroidering on a sweater as a gift for my sister's birthday. Here is a before photo.

I added feather stitching around the neckline in 3 strands DMC floss, since I love vines so much, and I enjoy doing the feather stitch. I'm going to add flowers too, I'm considering oyster stitch buds. I chose darker colors because that is her preference. I'm not using any interfacing or using a hoop but I did test to be sure the stitching wouldn't get pulled out and I'm extra careful with my tension as I stitch. I need to get this finished and sent off since her birthday is next Sunday! She will be sweet 16!

Dainty Purse

Yesterday I decided to make a purse with a dainty heart motif. I got the idea for the heart motif from Julia who has the most beautiful heart motifs on her blog using a feather stitch with beads as a base and then adding flowers.

I used light blue satin fabric with a coordinating cotton print for the lining. Satin ribbon for handles, and organza ribbon for a tie closure. I used 7mm ecru silk ribbon for the flowers, 4mm green for the leaves, and 1 strand floss for the feather stitching with tiny size 15 seed beads. I also added a small Czech glass bead to the center of the large flower.

The purse is 6 1/4 inches tall by 5 3/4 inches wide.

I think this purse will make a great Christmas gift for someone on my list!

Meeting Lillian!

From left to right is Rebekah, Wendy, Lillian, Melissa

Yesterday I finally got to meet Lillian! Sunday Lillian drove up and came to church with us, and we did lunch and went to Wendy's house! We had so much fun! Lillian and I met at the Hand Embroidery Yahoo Group a year ago and quickly became friends. We talk all the time (practically everyday LOL), so it was wonderful to finally talk in person! I brought pretty much all my embroidery and crazy quilt stuff I have, and have done, and got to share it with her. And she brought her very first crazy quilt, which she says isn't all that great but I say it's wonderful and very beautiful! Me and Wendy were drooling all over it! LOL It was the very first crazy quilt quilt I have seen in person! It inspires me to keep going with my bedspread! I wish I could have seen more of her work, but since her visit stateside was last minute because of sad circumstances, that wasn't possible. I also wish we could have had a few more days to visit, that would have been awesome!

Silk Ribbon Embroidered Jacket Finished

I have finally finished my Jacket!!!
Doesn't the beading add that special touch! I love it! I added pink Swarovski crystals to the vines, and larger green fire polished Czech glass beads in the center. I can't wait to wear it now!

Tatted Edging for a Sweater Finished

Motif #16 of the 25 Motif Challenge

Well I finally finished the cuffs for my sweater! I can't wait to wear it now, but lately we've had a bit of a warmer weather but that can change in a day! I bought this sweater about 3 years ago at Old Navy and I've worn it since, and now it's got a touch of new on it and when the sweater does wear out I can reuse the tatting!!! I love the fact that the tatting will outlast the sweater. I'll probably do this to more of my sweaters.

What I've been working on lately

Lately I've been toggling a few different projects so I thought I'd give a little update on them.

Here is the last block for the Windsong Jewels DYB RR. When I made the blocks it was my first RR and I was so excited that I didn't think about what I was going to do with them when I got them back! LOL So I didn't realize that the colors in the blocks don't really match my decor to make a wall hanging with them. I did make a purse out of 2 of them and I'm thrilled with it, but I can't make purses out of all of them! Then as I was visiting my friend Wendy I noticed that the colors in the blocks could have been taken straight from her couches! So I decided to gift them to her to use as art in her living room. I know she will treasure them! She says she is going to frame them and put them around a painting over her couch, it's going to look perfect! So I'm embroidering the last block with her in mind.

I used a fade away pen to draw words on the block. I put Love (stem stitch 1 strand floss) in the center because without love it's all meaningless. I put Family in a dainty green cursive (whipped backstitch in 1 strand YLI silk floss) because family is aways growing. Then I added Friendship in 6 strands YLI silk floss that is couched with 1 strand gold floss, so it feels kind of like a princess dress, because finding true friendship is a treasure. I also added Joy (stem stitch 1 strand floss) because that is usually the result of these things!

Then I've also sewn the finished blocks from the Summer Breeze DYB RR together end to end and tacked it up on the wall temporarily to see what it will look like. As you can see the colors go perfect with my decor! I'm trying to decide if I want to finish the last block and add it too. Then I'm going to sew on a 2 inch boarder I'm thinking in red Dupioni silk to finish the wall hanging.

And here is my nearly finished edging for the 2nd sleeve of my sweater! I only have to finish up that last repeat and sew it onto the sleeve!

Silk Ribbon Embroidered Jacket

I had been embroidering on my Jacket, but it became a UFO (Un-Finished Object) when it got too warm out to wear it anymore! So now that it's starting to get into cooler weather I got it out and started working on it. I added sweetheart roses in 7mm variegated silk ribbon.
I use a fade away quilters pen to draw on my ideas for placement, if I like it I stitch it in.
Both sides are similar but not exactly mirror, it took me a few days of looking at it to decide that I wanted to lapel that crosses over to have a longer motif.

Now I'm adding in beads, as soon as I get done beading the Jacket will be finished!

Odd Facts Meme

I've been tagged by Judy and by Jon to share 7 facts about myself!

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 3 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

1. What got me into gardening for the very first time was that as newlyweds we bought a couple of mini-roses at a supermarket, and when they started having trouble living indoors I went to the library to look up how to take care of houseplants and roses! I soon learned that mini-roses are only indoor plants temporarily and I needed to plant them outside! As soon as we got into our first housing we planted them and that began our gardening journey!
2. When we first moved to the desert we didn't like it, as is fairly normal for most, but as we lived here, gardened here, and discovered the special beauty of the desert we now love it and wish to retire here.
3. My favorite time of year in the desert is spring, because if rain during the winter has been just right, beautiful desert wildflowers bloom and we love to go wildflower hunting! The desert wildflowers are like finding jewels! Some have amazing beauty and others a wonderful scent!
4. I love watching older TV shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart, and I Dream of Jeannie
5. I also love Star Trek! Voyager being my #1 favorite and Deep Space Nine being #2
6. We have 2 dogs but have never gotten to name either of them! Both China and Madie came with names and we decided to keep them. Although Madie also used to be called Madison and we dropped that.
7. I can't wear high heel shoes, the highest I can go is 11/2 inch maybe 2 but that's pushing it. My feet scream at me in high heels. But I do wear kitten heel shoes, which is like tiny 1 inch heels. In any case I can still only wear them for a short amount of time.

I tag:
Sherry
Catherine
Wendy
If anyone else wants to be tagged just let me know and I'll add you to the list!

Tatted Edging for a Sweater

Motif #15 of the 25 Motif Challenge

I've been wanting to add more tatting to my clothing and thought the edge of the sleeves of this sweater would be perfect! So I tried the tatted edging that Marie Smith sent me. She calls it "My Favorite Edging" and she so graciously typed up a pattern for me to follow! She did a wonderful job since as you can see I tatted up 12 repeats for this edging and I'm working on the second cuff now. I also made myself a diagram to make it easier to follow but by now I have the pattern memorized! LOL I used the same thread I used for the last shirt edging I made. It's size 70 ecru DMC Cordonnet Special.

Summer Breeze DYB RR Complete

Here is a recap of the Summer Breeze DYB RR and photos of all the wonderful work the ladies did for me and links to what I did for them!
Here is a link to my blank blocks.
Here is a wall hanging I made from the blocks.

Bonnie's work for me. Here is my work for Bonnie

Jakkie's work for me. Here is my work for Jakkie.

Jo's work for me. Here is my work for Jo.

Leslie's work for me. Here is my work for Leslie.

Maire's work for me. Here is my work for Maire

Spiderweb Rose Tutorial

What you'll need:

1. Embroidery Hoop
2. Circular shape to trace like a dime or a button depending on what size you want your rose. (A dime makes a large rose)
   
3. A fine point to mark the circle, you could use a pencil, disappearing ink pen or water erasable pen you can get either in the quilter's supplies area.
4. Needles, for silk ribbon a size 22 chenille needle is commonly used.
5. 1 strand embroidery floss in a shade that matches your silk ribbon.
6. 4mm silk ribbon in a shade matching your floss.
7. Embroidery Scissors
   

Here is the finished rose! You can add a bead to the center for sparkle or you could add a knot with silk ribbon in the same shade or a shade darker or lighter.
You can also watch the video on YouTube

My Windsong Jewels Purse

I couldn't decide which photos looked the best so I decided to put both sets of with and without flash in.
Leslie's Embellishment for the Windsong Jewels DYB RRMaire's Embellishment for the Windsong Jewels DYB RR

I saw some instructions for a purse in a book that seemed really easy to me so I decided to go for it! I've been meaning to create something with my 6 inch Windsong Jewels DYB RR blocks that I received back and I love purses so I took 2 of the blocks and using the zipper foot(because of the beads, buttons and stitching near the seam line) sewed them together at the bottom with some bead trim. Then I sewed a piece of muslin(for lining) with some cotton lace(for handles) to each side. Then folded it in half right sides together sewed the edges, turned it right side out sewed the lining together and stuffed it in! Yeay!!! Now I have a CQ purse!!! It's the perfect size to hold my wallet and cell phone! I'm not much for technical sewing so this was perfect, very easy with basic simple straight line sewing! LOL Oh and I also added green organza ribbon for a closure.

Leslie's Embellishment for the Windsong Jewels DYB RR

Maire's Embellishment for the Windsong Jewels DYB RR

Thank You!!!

This Thank You goes to Pat Winter who is such a sweet and generous lady! What a wonderful gift of Crazy Quilt stash! There is beautiful fabrics, hand dyed lace, silkies, beads, sequins, ribbon, silk floss, hand dyed silk ribbon, and hand dyed cheese cloth!
I have been so blessed lately! I think that Crazy Quilters are some of the most sweetest, most sharing, and most generous ladies there are and I'm so happy to know so many!
Thank You Pat!

CQ Bedspread Block 5

I've pieced block #5! I've used several of the fabrics Jill gave to me and a piece of the lace that Tracy gave to me!

Then I'm going to sew on these pieces of lace as a motif. The three leaves are Venice lace for dying, and the crocheted rose was made and given to me by a very sweet lady in the Hand Embroidery Yahoo Group.
OH and I've finally caught on to a good way of piecing my blocks! I'm always getting twisted around and I'm not so good at direction that's not obvious! LOL Well I finally figured out that if I start piecing in the larger area right next to a smaller area when I get around the block it's easier to overlap the larger area...otherwise I'm left at an odd spot and still need to go around to put more pieces on the larger area. I feel like it's a little bit of a "duh" moment but I had been starting at the smaller area and having trouble!