Before the Rain....

We are expecting rain showers this afternoon...and for the next five days! Now dreary will that be. So, this morning I enjoyed the flowers in the yard...which will most likely be drowned this week!

 

Oh goody, goody!

Look who has popped their heads out! Oh, goody, goody! Spring has to be right around the corner! Glorious spring....woot! woot! Bring it on!  

Silkies

  These images are in public domain and might be good for printing silkies...if you like the style. An inkjet printer, some freezer paper, and some tightly woven cotton, linen, or silk and you're all set. Right click to save and re-size as you need. These are also all images of Claude Monet paintings....so, if you think you have seen them "somewhere"...you might have! Been to any museums lately?

Peaceful Dreams

Just took Buddy out for a walk, before we start thinking about all the "evening tasks" that have to be completed before putting Aidan to bed later on.

Our last moment of Peace and Quiet before she arrives...and look at the lovely flowers. These are in Mothers measly little front flower bed; but they are glorious in their beauty...even sparingly. 

I took the photos with my trusty cellphone, with flash turned on as it was already dusk. Ten minutes later...and no light at all! These are not as great as my friend Tom's Magical Camera could take...but, it will just have to do. Thought y'all might like these shots too.

Need a Chuckle...at My Expense?

 You might as well...my family has. Here's why...this flower is growing in Mom's front flower bed.I walked all the way around there to get photos of it for you...and only noticed afterwards that something just isn't "right" about this flower. It has no leaves on the stem.

THAT's BECAUSE IT'S SILK!! DUH!!My Sister-in-Law Tracy thinks it's hilarious that I actually took pictures of it! (Bet you can guess who "planted" it too!) I was not the only person caught up in this little joke...as others in the family also commented on how pretty the flower is. But, I'm the only one (so far) who has actually gotten the camera out to take photos!Seriously, you just have to laugh at yourself sometimes...

Spring is Here!

What a great morning! Today Buddy had his bi-monthly appointment with the dog groomer...and while he was there, I drove around Jacksonville. Had a great cup of coffee, had my nails done (and they soooo... needed it because I had eaten them to the bone! Horrible habit...wish I could break it...). Here's a photo of Jacksonville's town square, you can just drive around and around the circle if you want.

Anyway, I parked in front of the nail place, but they would not be open for another 30 minutes...so I walked over to Java Jolt (behind the EMV van above) and had a small Breve! Yummy! Then when walking back, I took photos of all the potted spring plants...and the ones in the bed too! They just brightened my day...and I hope they do the same for you!

Creating Cross-Needle Hydrangea

Yesterday I shared with you some leaves and a stem stitch. Today, I'm going to add some flowers to the design. I want to stay true to traditional Brazilian Embroidery and so pulled out my reference book Brazilian Embroidery 101 by Cheryl "Sunshine" Schuler. It is just full of diagrams and instructions so hopefully it will help me! The book is available at various sites, including the primary site for Brazilian Embroidery supplies (IMHO) at JDR-BE.

The main reason I want to try this flower is because it uses Boucle thread...which is really "bumpy" and not suitable for most embroidery work. To start off the instructions required that I put two long needles into the background fabric to form a "cross".

Next, the thread is brought up between two of the needles...and close to the center.

Wraps are made under the needles around and around...pulling only the first round tightly. All subsequent rounds are laid on the surface fabric, but closely together.Once you have enough wraps for the size of flower you want to make...you slide your needle under the wraps and needle down near the center. But, being careful not to pull the thread so tightly that it pulls the wraps out of place. Next, you needle up at the center...

then slide your needle back under the wraps and needle down at the same (or very close) position. This "tacks" the wraps together. Repeat this between the needles in all four open positions of the cross. This will create four petals. 

Remove the needles from the background fabric. Stitch each "tack" one more time and tie off your thread in the back of your work. "Fluff up" the petals and you have a finished hydrangea bud! Pearls, sequins, crystals, or french knots could be added to the center of the flower to change it up!

TDiTM Stitch #13

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months This is a little combination floral seam of one tall flower and one tiny little ground cover flower. It is quick and easy…especially if you use flower cap beads instead of the French knots for the tiny ground cover flowers. Stitched in perle cotton (sz 5); light green for stems and center French knot, lilac daisy stitches and French knots. The beaded version has flower beads, tiger eyes in lime green, and seed beads. The sequence of stitching is: 1. Stitch the zigzag 2. Stitch the Straight stitches for stem. 3. Stitch the lazy daisies for the large flower. 4. Stitch the French knots at the top of the large flower, and for the tiny flower.