SRE Basket

Silk Ribbon Basket done with simple Lasy Daisy flowerheads and Straight Stitch leaves. The embroidery work is also simple...French knots, chain stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, and straight stitch. Here is the chart, and I'll include photos of my progress.

First, I wanted to print this on fabric...and started to do muslin on freezer paper. But, then I decided on a piece of moire...however, it was too thick to run through the printer. I removed the paper...and just ran the fabric through. It slipped and slid...and I do not recommend doing that. I lucked out and still got a usable image, so I'm stitching over it. But, I was so scared when it started to shift going through the printer rollers! So, don't try this at home. Here is the chart printed on the moire. 

The basket began with the long straight stitches for the vertical basket lines. Then the horizontal lines were another long straight stitch, woven under/over the previous vertical lines stitched.

The last basket layer was the same process as above, but for the diagonal lines. Next the bottom was chain stitched and the sides were back-stitched.

The top and handle of the basket was four pieces of size 8 perle cotton, lain along the shape of the basket and couched in place with a single strand of the same perle. I used two needles...one really large one to hold the 4-strands...needle up at the start and down at the end. In between...I couched with the second needle.

Then came the French Knot flowers and stem stitch vines

Lastly, the bow. I thought I'd tie a simple bow of silk ribbon and couch it down with some beads...but, then I remembers that I have some really bright blue fiber. So, I couched it in place instead. 

This completed the embroidery portion. The silk ribbon work was easy to do, and is seen in the first photo.I think this design could just as easily be done in satin stitch work too.

French Script Saturday-M

 

Flashback Friday 6-10-11

Seriously? The child in this photo is less than waist high...so she would be around 3 or 4 years old. And, all those layers! And those shoes! And how long would it take to get your hair in these curls and up-do's without curling irons or hot rollers? Just imagine!1836 was a booming year for the fabric folks...check out all the layers! 

Woo Hoo! It's Raining and we have squash!

We got a nice little shower this afternoon! And the garden really needed it. I also picked my first few summer squash afterwards too!

Can't wait to get this cooked up! Yummy!

Flower Patch

Here's a little embroidery and ribbon motif you might enjoy stitching.

I added a few blades of grass to my stitched sample.

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms -- D

 

Enjoy!

 

Mother of Pearl "Buttons"

These are not actually buttons...but flat round beads. They have a hole through them that does allow them to be attached to crazy quilt projects quite nicely. Here, I have painted a few with acrylic paints. Well, "paint" is a term used very loosely in this case...as I am NOT AN ARTIST... I know that. I am more of a "blobber"! Ha! However, they are adequate enough to satisfy me in using them for inclusion in some button clusters on "shabby chic" style projects. So, I'm happy with them.

I thought you might like to know about them...in case you really ARE a painter. Mine were purchased at FiremountainGems. The stock number is H20-9613FL. They come as a 16 inch string of "White AB Flat Round, Mother of Pearl (MOP) Beads" ...30 mm each in size. There are about 14 of them on my string, and the price for the entire string is $4.20US as of today's pricing. FMG also has $5.00 shipping in the US. Not sure what it would cost to sent them overseas.Oh, and they also have them in other sizes.

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 6/6/11

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 13-14 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

It Won't Be Long Now

The garden is growing fast! A lot of change just in the past couple of weeks. If you don't believe me, go back and check out the last photos!

The corn is about waist high.

The green beans are blooming.

The crook-neck squash plants are ready to start blooming.

And Mom's straight neck squash are already growing babies!

Even the cucumber plants that I was so worried over seem to be taking hold very nicely!

French Script Saturday-D

Here's a new motif for all those collecting them!

Flashback Friday

 

Like a lot of women, I hate to have my photo taken. Perhaps if I were tiny I would feel differently, but...I really don't think so. I just have never liked the way I have looked...well, not for a very long time anyway. My hair is always "doing it's own thing". And now that I am older "and looking like my mom" it is worse. Where is that younger women still inside of me!

But for you, I'll share the current photo of me...although I have cut my hair to right below the ear since this was taken...

And, for comparison...3 generations. My mother, my daughter, and myself...back in 2002. 

Compare my mother then to me now...and you'll see that I truly am my mother's daughter!

First Thursday Thimbles -- June_2011

You can read about my idea for First Thursday Thimbles here. Today, here's another cute little beauty for you to stitch!

The above is a png file. The below is a jpg file. Take whichever is easiest for you.

Hope you are enjoying this series of patterns...

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms -- C

Today's monogram is Cool, Classic, and Collectible! Brought to you by the letter "C"!

I would love to see this done in wools or felts!