My embroidery design book

that I have been working on for the past year, is just a few projects and weeks away from completing.

I was anticipating making it's publication announcement by the end of spring.

However, after being alerted by fellow bloggers and researches on the Internet.............the company I had thought I would chose to publish my book has turned out to be not as reputable as they claim. Too many complaints and red flags with this company has now left me feeling disappointed and in search of a new publisher.  But I am not giving up. I will complete the book and turn every stone to achieve my dream.

I spent these past few days making more aprons to sell on my Etsy shop. This country blue

with an embroidered butterfly pocket.............

this cheerful floral print

with embroidered butterfly and flowers pocket............

and this cottage rose print

with an elegant embroidered rose pocket.  I have picked out the cross stitch pattern that I want to create for the old chair back that I recently posted about and I will be in the process of working on that these next few weeks.  How about you?

Are you creating something at this moment?

Or are you planning on planting now that spring is around the corner?

I would love to hear!

I have had this embroidery design for years...............

and no matter how many times I see it..............

(click on photo for detailed view)

or how many times I use it in my embroidery work,

(click on photo for detailed view)

 I love it as if it were new all over again...............

How about you?

Do you have a particular design that you love and use over and over?

I would love to hear.

Some of you might not know that I live on a farm...............

well.........that's what I call it..........and I am currently trying to "create" it into being. When I not inside stitching, I'm outside, walking the grounds, visiting my chickens and the other creatures that call this place home. Sometimes, encounters with the outside life can be whimsical. So I leave you with something to smile about .................

(a toad visiting our pond)

When you're smiling
When you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you

(the new farm arrivals last spring)

When you're laughing

When you're laughing
The sun comes shining through

(Sophie, not happy about being decorated)

But when you're crying
You bring on the rain
So stop your sighing
Be happy again

( Abby, having sweet dreams)

Keep on smiling
Cause when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
(lyrics from Lous Armstrong tune)

Hope you have a lot to smile about today!

A few of you have asked how to make an eyelet

in embroidery, since I last posted the embroidered butterfly pocket.

There are two different shaped eyelets,...........oblong and round.

 The butterfly has round eyelets.

The oblong or Long eyelet is used when stitching heirloom daisy or flower petals.

Run a thread along the stamped design line, then carefully make a small slit in the middle space. A thread ripper is wonderful for doing this. Roll back the edges on the wrong side and whip around the design in short close stitches. Run the thread underneath the stitching on the wrong side and snip off thread.  

The round eyelet is worked basically the same as the oblong. Run a thread around the stamped design line.  I usually use a large upholstery needle to make a large enough hole in the center of the design, using small embroidery scissors to lightly clip the center. Roll the edges to the wrong side and then whip short close stitches all the way around. Run the thread underneath the stitching on wrong side and then snip off.

I hope this has helped answer you questions. Of course, many good examples can be found by researching eyelets on the Internet.   

An now.............take a look at these beautiful transfers.............

sent to me by Sharon at Corgis In My Garden. Such a sweet and thoughtful

thing to send to me.........thank you Sharon. Now I am planning on creating some linens

using these beautiful vintage designs. Go by and say hello to Sharon.

You can visit her at

http://corgisinmygarden.blogspot.com

I made a vintage style apron

for my dear friend who is having a birthday. She gave me a pattern for vintage aprons months ago and this is one of the designs I chose to  make for her. We were shopping together when I purchased the fabric that she liked.

(click onto photo for more detailed look)

However, I wanted to add something more to the apron.........something in embroidery .............

of course. I embroidered this butterfly onto the top of the pocket,  to go with the butterfly fabric of the apron.........

and because my friend loves butterflies.

I worked the very top of the pocket in closed buttonhole stitch, which is the stitch  I often use in cut work embroidery. I also worked this stitch on the main outside of the butterfly to give it definition. With the stitching embroidered on the top of the pocket, I was able to cut away the fabric, giving the pocket a scalloped look. I also worked eyelets  throughout the butterfly's wings.

This added a personal touch, I think, to the apron.

How about you?

Do you find yourself changing patterns..........or adding to them to make them a little more special?

I would love to hear.

I have always loved putting florals and plaids together..........

especially in quilting..........the two designs just give a charm that I personally love.

One of my favorite and very simple quilt patterns is the nine patch..........there is so much one can do with just 9 small squares.

This week I decided to use the 9 patch as a canvas for my embroidery...........

and I stitched up a few potholders............... I meant to say, hot pads or trivets,  using this process. I love the way they turned out. These are not really thick enough to be pot holders, but they add such a sweet accent to the table to place a warm casserole onto or a tea pot.

How about you?

Do you like to mix fabric patterns?

What is you favorite?

I would love to hear.

One little french knot or basic stitch does well..........

in fact, I simply followed the lines I was given in any embroidery design when I first started my journey of embroidery work.................

The photo above is from Aunt Martha's hot iron transfers....Birds Galore.....

and I embroidered it exactly the way the design was  printed..............

(click on photo for more detailed view)

but something deep inside of me stirred and I knew I wanted to see more...........

color..........

more life.........

.and I started adding just a few more stitches.

Above is the same design, yet I put a little extra time into finishing it and a few more stitches and color.

 In the process of working extra stitches..........

(click on photo for more detailed view)

I added French knots..........where none were marked or expected to be.

 Where I once thought French knots were only good for the center of daisies or perhaps a bird's eye...........I realized that when done in clusters, they could add a whole new dimension to embroidery and they fill up blank  spaces.

Some have told me in the past, that they find working French knots a little complicated.

Here is a link that for instructions on making a French knot that I think will be helpful.

http://www.sublimestitching.com/frenchknot.html

If I could give you a lasting message on this embroidery blog..........it would be......

Get creative!

Let your imagination and what you really like to see come to life.

Think outside the design.

How about you? What is your favorite kind of stitch and why?

I would love to hear.