I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The vintage rose design that I posted for you on May 31 post........

has turned out to be one of my favorites to hand embroider.
Have any of you traced off your design yet?

I worked the rose in three different shades of red.....................
I usually love to work pink roses..........but this design seemed to call for a more vintage look of red.........

then I selected several different colors for the leaves and vines..............
Over the years, I have come to love the different hues of green that one can find in leaves and foliage.
How about you?

This time, I wanted to experiment with a few light colors on the leaves. I also wanted the thorns on the stem to stand out a little. I always tend to make the small daisies into blue forget-me-nots.

I love the way these colors all worked together, giving the piece almost an nostalgic charm to it.

As you can see, I decided not to place the french knot/eyelet holes in the inside heart space(see the design above), but decided to leave that space blank. It would be a perfect spot to monogram an initial for pillowcases or towels..............
don't you think?

And here it is...............I really enjoyed working on this piece.
Have any of you started to embroider this design yet?
If so, what color did you chose for the roses.............the leaves...........
and the small daisies.
I would love to hear about it and to see your work!

While tending my flower gardens, this beautiful creature posed long enough for me to take a photo of it...............even though I am sure it is one of many who are destroying half of my blooms.............
I love the insect world.............
the creatures in it are full of design and color..............
and a bit whimsical..........
don't you think?
I think this creature just might be a design in my next book I am working on..................
How about you?
Do you love some insects?
The graceful butterfly............the busy bee...............
or  the jeweled back beetle perhaps?
I would love to hear!

18 comments:

Betty Lou said...

Your embroidered roses are lovely------bugs are wonderful, as long as they stay outside.

Miss Holly said...

Well..first...your embroidery.....oh my gosh...WHAT a magnificent job you are doing...I love that it is not the traditional colors...it has a serious feeling to it..love it!
And yes do I ever agree about the insect world.....I am hooked...bees..ants....dragonflies..worms..love it all!! How about fireflies!!!!!!!!!! First 10 last night!!

Bev said...

JUst love your embroidery! How many strands do you use?...I have never seen any so beautiful!

lil red hen said...

Another beautiful piece!

Could you tell us about your second book?

drafter29 said...

Lovely stitching, as always.

twinpeakprimitives said...

I like to stitch roses. I've stitched a number of them. But none of them is as shiny as yours!

They look fabulous!

Cindy said...

Your stitching is beautiful! I've not had a chance to make it up yet, still working on two quilts and two other embroidery projects.
I love insects too, well everything in nature, really. I'm always in the yard with my camera:)

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, LOVELY, as always! I agree that the roses look so much more vintage in the red, and I love the different greens you used to bring the stems, leaves and thorns to life.

Oh, and the daisies are a more quiet subdued delicacy allowing the roses 'top billing', yet they draw my attention all the more. I love it. I do agree that the middle of the heart would be perfect for a monogram or a date of significance, etc.

I must admit that though I've printed out the design, I don't know when I'll ever get to it. But your work always sets me to dreaming.

Oh, I think it's exciting you've started a second book, and that you may include insects...that would really be fun.

Thank you for visiting...I always love hearing from you.

Blessings, my dear,
Marianne xo

janice15 said...

I have been wanting to go get the transfer paper to do it...I'm not sure how to do it. I love those roses and I can't wait to use them..I have a set of new old white pillow cases with crocheted edgings...yours is so beautiful I'm like in awe...always...with your work...Have a wonderful day...with love Janice

Jocelyn said...

That's just lovely! Truly wonderful! I like that you "listen" to the designs. I do the same. Sometimes they say one thing, sometimes another. I find if I listen, I'm always happy with the outcome. If I don't, it may come out nicely, but it's always "off" in some way.

I can definitely see initials in here, but see how different we are? I translated those holes into a white french knot.

Ooh, now I'm inspired. It'll be on my to-do list, once I'm done cross stitching some monochromes.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

So lovely how you are able to use such subtle color changes for the shading. That heart would definitely look great with a monogram. If my 13 year old saw that grasshopper, he'd be screaming his head off. :) He hates bugs. Have a great weekend. Tammy

Flora said...

Very pretty!

Unknown said...

How gorgeous! You really are a beautiful stitcher. I only can wish ... Mother used to do exquisite embroidery like you.

Think I will find some & see if my 9 yr old kid-ling would enjoy doing this, she is so artistic. About flipped when she decided a couple months ago to 'make a blanket' so I dragged out scrap materials from my feedsacks & away she went doing a beautiful job.

I love lady bugs, butterflies, bees & dragonflies.

Have a lovely week ~
TTFN ~
Marydon

deb said...

Your work is stunning! Simply romantic nostalgia ♥
As far as insects?...yep, you guessed it...dragonflies. Imagine the hues ;)
*hugs*deb

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Oh wow, your work is beautiful and so much attention to every detail. Very nice!

Joanne said...

Your roses are beautiful!! You make the pattern so easy to follow that even the less experienced can easily finish it with out-standing results. Love it! .... Where can I find your book to purchase?

A Colorful World said...

I agree...this is truly a beautiful design and one of my favorites too! Thank you for your prayers, Kathleen....I'm mending rapidly! Am anxious to get back to some hand work!

Jimmie said...

Ooooh, Kathleen, I love the picture of the grasshopper on the spigot! I'm a hopeless lover of insects and bugs...so much so that friends bring me dead ones for my collection. I don't allow friends to kill insects just so I have have them, as even the lowly housefly deserves a chance to live. But if one happens to find a bug or insect who has died, I love having it to study. Do you know the little ditty which says, "God in His wisdom made the fly and then forgot to tell us why"? I collect and make beautiful boxes to contain my bugs...some are embroidered, some handwoven straw, some painted wood, cloisonne, sewn cardboard covered in marblized paper, and many other too numerous to list. What fun to make or find the perfect box for them.

Your embroidery is really beautiful. I think you would like the wee stumpwork ladybird beetle I made and mounted in half an English walnut shell. Her wings open to reveal her body. Such fun to show my grandchildren. I also stitched a stumpwork lifesize dragonfly whose body holds one small needle. Do you know that dragonflies are sometimes known as the devil's darning needle?

I'm sorry...I just realized I'm rambling on and on. Your post inspired me.

Thanks from Diane in North Carolina