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.

Happy Easter Dear Blogging Friends!