The hard decision I wrote about in my last post

has been made, and as a dear friend recently told me, this kind of decision can be a mixed blessing.  I have quit my overwhelming job, and for a while am back in my studio, stitching the hours away. I now have time to pursue my dream of working on my designs and handwork as well as my "one day book" ...........but will not have the (play dough) as my friend calls it. 

I know right now, with the way the economy is, it may not be the greatest decision, to walk away from a steady job, however, the pressure, and the way things were just not right for me, is why I have chosen this path...................what a way to end the year and start out the new. {:

Have you ever been there??

I am also trying something new in the work I do. I am going to embellish jackets and shirts with my hand embroidery..........and hopefully find a market for them on my Etsy shop. The jackets and shirts are purchased new..............

and I will draw the designs on and stitch...............I am trying the pearl cotton on this jacket.....I can't wait to see the results,which I will show to you when I have finished.  Have any of you used pearl cotton floss before? Were you happy with the results?  

I was so disappointed when I discovered on my last post that the design I posted would not enlarge when clicked on. I am hoping that this one will. This design can be stitched with regular floss and in basic stitches, however, it is wonderful for larger threads, such as the pearl cotton and will be beautiful done in crewel needlework. So once again, try to click onto the above photo and it should enlarge for you to have a decent size pattern to work with. I will be spending the last of this year and the new year morning hours..........stitching. I say to you all..........

Have a wonderful and blessed New Year!



A new year, a new design, and a few new stitches

are what I am sharing with you today. First of all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and are looking forward to the new possibilities that the new year will bring. At this time, I am at a crossroads in my life.............not sure on what I should do to handle a difficult situation and not sure what the new year will bring if I go forward with the decision I am about to make............however, my passion for hand embroidery is still as true and strong as it always has been and it will always be shown here on my blog.

I am sharing this design with you...............I am hoping that if you click onto the photo above, it will enlarge for you to copy it off. This is a vintage design that I have had in my stash of vintage goodies. I am at this time embroidering many of these designs onto pillowcases, as well as bath and kitchen linens to offer on my Etsy shop.

I also want to share information on how to do two stitches that are in this design that are not always common to basic hand embroidery. The first is the eyelet stitch.............( if you look at the above photo, you will see the cluster of flowers in the middle, stitched in ultra dark dusty rose, and light dusty rose. The little holes between the light dusty rose are stitched eyelets, done in white. Here is a link to click onto that will show you in clear detail as to how these are done. I promise, once you learn how, you will want to do eyelets in all of your embroidered projects................http://www.curiousfrau.com/tutorials/44-tutorials/88-how-to-make-beautiful-hand-bound-eyelets

The next stitch is the Fishbone Stitch. This stitch is useful for filling in small leaf shapes, as you can see in the photo above. I love the way this stitch makes the leaves look textured.

Bring the thread out at the tip of the leaf...1.........and make a small straight stitch along the center line.Bring the needle out at 2........ make a slanted stitch and go down on the right of the center line. Bring the needle out at 3.......make a slanted stitch and go down on the left side of center line, overlapping the base of the previous stitch. Continue working slanted stitches alternately from the left and the right, close together until shape is filled.

Now..........how about you? Are you facing hard decisions to make in the new year coming up? Are you planning on lots of new and wonderful things to make? I would love to hear! 

Merry Christmas

to each and everyone who visit here........

and have yourself a happy new year!

After almost 8 months of stitching

and drawing up designs, I sent off my book proposal!.........via email..........as was suggested. I got myself ready to wait 8 weeks, as was stated in the proposal guidelines...................yet, I already got a response...................

rejection............sigh.

I noticed that the proposal papers I downloaded was dated 2008, and wondered why they had not updated it, without giving it any more thought, I went ahead and sent it in

. The rejection letter stated that they no longer publish books that are of needle work interests...........sigh again. But I will just keep trying until I find my fairy god publisher. In the meantime, I have neglected my Etsy shop.........mostly because of my work schedule and working on the proposal. I pulled out all of my linen stash and my vintage embroidery designs............. 

and have spent each night.........up until the wee hours, tracing the delicate swirls and flowers onto the linens.

These designs and my embroidery is what Yesteryear Embroideries, (my little business) is all about. I want to embroidery these vintage designs from yesteryear onto new linens to be enjoyed today.......throughout the home. I have linens for the kitchen, bedroom, and bath............plus something for baby sweet, in the making. How about you? Do you have an Etsy shop? Do you work constantly to put things in it? or are you sidetracked with work and life?

I would love to hear..............and let me know the link to your Etsy..........I will stop by to visit!



The cold wind blows across the prairie

and seems to push us forward,  as Sophie and I take an early morning walk. So cold in fact, that she is the one in a hurry to get back home. She is the one that I  usually have to hurry along as she busily sniffs out the previous night's visitors . However, she stands and looks back at me, as if to say..........."come on,...........it's just a dead flower." The wind keeps blowing and all I get is this blurred photo above. Even though every thing at this time of year is considered...."dead", I still find beauty in the colors and textures that Mother Nature has to offer. There are so many shades of golds, browns, and grays.............breathtaking.........don't you think?

I am still stitching on those sets of coasters that I posted about so long ago. The yellows and slight greens I have chosen for this design make me think about this time of year.................

even though gladiolus are very much a spring flower. How about you?

What colors surround you at this time of year? Is there any greens are pinks left? Do you have the browns and grays..............or are you already underneath the silver and whites of snow?

I would love to hear!

Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

I have posted about my grandmother's dishes before...............

 I only a few small plates , a sugar bowl (missing the lid), and a couple of very fragile tea cups.

Each piece is so charming! I know about the company who made this china so many years ago........but I always wonder about the artists who first sketched these beautiful flowers for the china's design. Who were they? What was their work day like??

 Through the years I have tried to create the same design for my embroidery..............one is in counted cross stitch....................

 But no matter how much I try..............I can never capture the exact look or beauty.

And of course, sometimes, I just add my own interpretation of what I want something to look like...........as in the leaves. How about you? Do you have a certain piece of china that would look beautiful in stitches?

I would love to hear!

An old worn sweatshirt.................that I just love

for it's warmth and comfort..........has gotten a little shabby over the years.

 I just could not bear to toss it away.............so this week, I spent many hours and stitches, using my silk ribbons and beads............and brought my old sweatshirt back to life! If you have an old sweatshirt that you want to do the same to................get brave.............get your scissors...........and I will show you how!........................... Are you ready???

Start by cutting off the ribbed cuffs, bottom ribbed edge and top ribbed neckline............... and then cut right down the middle front in a very straight line................don't worry........it will look good .............afterwards.........you now have a "jacket" out of your sweatshirt.

Fold under the raw edges of  neck edge, cut front edges,  cut sleeves, and bottom............ and then sew a small hem line, either by hand or machine.

And now the fun part...........you have a blank canvas in front of you. Get creative. You can either applique, embroider or paint on your new jacket to cover holes or stains that might be there. I simply drew a round arch on the front of this sweatshirt and then let my imagination go wild. I have always loved silk ribbon embroidery and beads....................and decided that this is what I would use for this piece. You can find many wonderful books on silk ribbon embroidery and you can find the basic stitch instructions by surfing the  Internet.

I like to roll the sleeves up, however, the jacket looks just as nice with the sleeves unrolled.

I used oval pearl and shiny beads in clusters, and small seed beads to form small flowers. I also used seed beads for centers of embroidered daisies.

I embroidered various stems and then used seed beads as buds. The silk ribbon rose is basically a layer of stitched ribbon over and over.

I used different colors and shades of greens in silk ribbons for the leaves.

I got a little wild and trailed off with embroidered vines with little seed bead buds here and there.

Here it is!

 I placed a blouse underneath to show you how dressy it can be worn this way. I like to wear a light blouse underneath , making the sweatshirt jacket not too hot to wear. It's soft and comfortable and pretty.

I hope you try this.............if you do...........let me know and post pictures............will you!

Let me know if you used paint, applique, embroidery or some other technique.

I can't wait to hear!

I have always loved sunflowers

 and here on the farm, I feel blessed because all of our acreage is covered in sunflowers. If one looks over the entire span of our grounds, the color of yellow is what they see. The sunflowers grow wild here, much because of the birds scattering their bird seed here and there. With the large amount of snow and rain we have received in the past year, the sunflowers have just taken over!................much to my bliss!

These flowers always remind me of this tablecloth I embroidered when I was 15. My best friend had found it in their stash of things and passed it on to me. I gleefully took it home and started embroidering . I submitted it along with my other home economics classmates items, to the county fair. It got a first place blue ribbon! When I moved away from home and out of college, I used it often in my new married life. That is why it looks so worn..................however, I am thinking about remaking the pattern and stitching a new for our country home now.What do you think?? {:

How about you? Is there something that you created when you were young and still have or fondly remember?

I would love to hear!

There is a place

that I love to visit once or twice a year. A "museum" of old homes that have been donated by folks and where the museum has set them on the grounds, repaired and decorated them to their certain period of time.

Each home, I love to look at, but I am always drawn back to this particular space. In my last post and on my last comment , one of you dear readers,  Toni, spoke of a wonderful magazine ............"Where Women Create". And yes, Toni, I love that magazine, and it is what keeps pushing me on the path of finding my creative dream. For others who are reading this and do not know what the magazine is about, it features creative women who have found their career in what they create..............and their creative space. I can imagine my creative space to be like this, in the photo above.............. including the wood burning stove................however, the walls would have shelves of floss, patterns, books, and material. I would have an overstuffed chair,perfect for doing my hand work, my coffee pot on the side table and ......................

my black cat, Salem, stretched out on the rug in front of the fire................of course!

How about you? Do you have a creative space or do you have one dreamed up in your mind?

I would love to hear!

p.s..............thank you all for your encourage and sweet comments......................you are also the inspiration that keeps pushing me on! blessings to you!

I've been thinking a whole lot lately

and spending a lot of time in prayer.........waiting and searching for just what it is that I am really meant to be doing in this life. Since I have started my job at the cafe.................I really miss my creative time and my stitching time. I have a wonderful job...............hectic and stressful as it is...........that is what restaurant work is...............but I know that this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. Logical folks around me will tell me that at least it's a job and that it is hard to find one in these uncertain times.............yes, I am going to keep on working..............

however, I still have a dream............a desire..............and determination, to get me out of the "greasy, stressful, situation I have put myself in.

Lately, I have gotten so much feedback from those who know what I mean about living a "creative life" and I have gotten such good advice from those who live a creative life and are successful with it, that instead of stitching on items for sale................I am jumping into the deep water of belief in myself and am beginning to create those linen designs I have always thought about one day publishing. I have done research late into the night, and have spent days, while working away at the grill, dreaming up new ideas and new designs, and spending the late night hours getting them onto paper.

I am now getting the know how, of the tedious task of putting together a book proposal...............I have already redone it 3 times and beginning to change it again. {:

And then..................finding someone to think it is worthy enough to publish............

I am determined enough.....................and I hope I am talented enough..............and I am not giving up.....................

How about you? Are you dreaming of living a creative life and becoming successful that way?.........or are you already living a creative life? I would love to hear!

Pleasant Returns

Since starting work at the cafe, I have come to know some of the customers...................those that are known as the "regulars" that always order the same thing.........at the same time of day. Some of these folks I have gotten to know through them purchasing my embroidery.

One such customer purchased this set of pillowcases that I designed. I actually never have met her face to face..............my boss has shown my work, while I am in the back...........cooking away............and then comes to tell me what certain people want............and then brings the $$ to me. However, I got to meet the sweet lady who purchased these the other day. My boss called me away from my grill, to come out.................
because this lady had brought me and enormous stack of wonderful, vintage embroidery transfers!

So many wonderful designs!

Transfers that she has had and used for years. She no longer does embroidery, and told me that she loved the pillowcases I embroidered for her so much, that she wanted to give these to someone who would use them. I was humbled and grateful and assured her that I would indeed use them in my future linens.So check back here now and then............I will have some of these beauties stitched!

How about you?

Have you been handed down something that you now currently use?

I would love to hear!

Flowers Of The Month

Once again, I have been going through old transfers and patterns.

I ran across this delightful transfer set that has the months of the year along with the flower for each month. I have set them into a coaster design,
in which I will cut them out along the enclosed stitching to use as a wonderful 12 piece coaster set.

With this being July, I started working on this month's design. I love larkspur for all of the pretty colors the flower offers. Although I have done this in blues, Larkspur also blooms in white and pink as well. What is your favorite flower? I would love to hear!

Wishing For More Stitching

As most of you know, my hand work has slowed down due to me now working a full time job. I still do my embroidery..................but not as much...............and not as quick............as I used to.

I have just enjoyed reading ..............and looking........through the new July/August issue of Victoria Magazine http://www.victoriamag.com

On page 62, a lady is profiled with her mail order business, where she imports beautiful kits and supplies from all over France to the USA, for all of us stitchers to be able to order. What inspired me with her article is that she stated that women in France are just as busy as we are, however, they make time to stitch.

How this struck a cord with me. I glance over at my work basket with the still unfinished ...................morning glories waiting to bloom on towels...........a set of pillowcases underneath........................ with butterflies waiting to take flight..............
I still want to design....................to stitch................to feel the needle and thimble on my fingertips.............
I have time...................I just need to use it for stitching. I don't feel complete unless I am stitching on something and there are so many things I want to create.............
How about you? Have you let your career, your " life's activities" get in the way of what you long to do? Have you found a way to make time for you to " create"? I would love to hear!

His & Hers and more?

I have always love "His & Hers" pillowcase sets...........don't you?

Come visit my " Embroidered Towels" page to see what I am currently working on. Just click on this link....http://kathleen-embroideredtowels.blogspot.com

The Time Of Gathering Ideas

This is the time of year that I go for long walks with my loyal companion, Sohpie, searching for the new blossoms that are blooming across our wild west Texas grounds. I am always amazed to see splashes of color weaving it's way in and out across the prairie and stickery pasture land.

Such pretty colors in vibrant shades of purple, yellow, blue, red and green.

Also in shades of pale lavender and pink. I take a lot of photos to take home and to sketch off the flowers and to match the colors with my floss, so that later I will have something wonderful to embroider. I have always found the best color combinations out in the wilds. How about you? When you get ready to create.......................where do you find your inspiration? Do you find it in the colors of the sky at dawn and sunset?.................or across a field of flowers?..................a pond perhaps? ..............or do you find other sources of inspiration? I would love to hear!

Burning the candle at both ends

I opened my Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago and on the same day, I came across a job offer I just could not refuse. I casually mentioned my Etsy shop and talked about selling my hand work on-line, during break time at my new work place.............my boss asked if I could bring some in for her and the others to see..................which I did.................and I wound up selling half of my things that were meant for my Etsy shop. I was delighted, however, to be able to sell my items..................no matter how.

This is a set of pillowcases, I had designed a while back. I never finished the set...........just have one stitched. I brought this along..........and now I am in the process of finishing it for a lady who fell in love with it. Cooking at the diner is extremely busy and tiring, yet, I still get off in time to have quite a bit of day left to do the things I must do at home and time to stitch.
However, I am more tired than usual and I am much slower in stitching than what I used to be. I have other things in the process of getting stitched for Etsy. Once again, I find myself, trying to finish and to accumulate enough linens to sell.

I am finishing the set with a prairie point edging...................which the customer loved. I am torn with deciding if I should just give the folks at the diner a link to my Etsy shop or to keep taking orders. I really want to just sell what I have chosen to stitch.............I got tired of doing custom orders long ago. How about you? Do you work and still try to find time to create? I would love to hear.