White work and cut work have always been my passion

in embroidery work. Years ago, I researched every thing I could

to learn how to do this wonderful kind of work. This is a small tablecloth that I am currently working on and off on.

this is the center design

but I am still trying to think of what would look good on the corners .

This is one out of the pair of pillowcases I am also working on. I plan on giving these to my daughter one day as a wedding gift..............

when that day arrives.............there is no hurry.

And I will wait to monogram the initials on when that day arrives.

 She is off in the world right now

having one adventure after the other in the Navy. These and things like the tablecloth will be waiting for her and my other children, when their lives slow down and settle. As I stitch away on these linens,

I am planning on storing them away in an old trunk that used to be my grandfather's.

I am currently waiting on this wall paper to arrive. I just ordered it..........isn't it just perfect

for the inside of this old trunk?  Although, I am not sure how pleased my grandfather would be to see his trunk fancied up with roses............hopefully, he's looking down from heaven and smiling........

 I can just imagine how it will look with the wall paper and the linens I am busily stitching and placing in here! I can't wait to get the trunk and the linens both finished.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have at least the trunk finished and ready...........the linens take a little longer.

How about you?

Do you have a special technique in stitching or any other hobby that you love to do?

What do you do with your creations, once you are finished with them?

I would love to hear.

Embroidery can be worked onto hard surfaces........did you know that?

Several months ago, while browsing in a store,

I came across this pretty ceramic box...........

These kinds of things always speak to me....................

" take me home............make me into something...........

lovely"........it seemed to say.

 Perhaps a lovely cross stitch flower on top........I pondered.

 the pattern was already in my mind..........

This pattern comes from Leisure Arts Magazine....Cross Stitch. I loved these magazines, didn't you?

Volume 7 Number 7, pg 8-9. designed by Diane Brakefeild.

I have always loved this particular pattern.

This little rose pattern was just a snippet pattern that a friend had mailed to me a long time ago..........I am not sure what pattern it came from or who designed it, but it is one of my favorites to cross stitch.

I affixed the top lid with cotton fabric so that I would have a foundation to sew the cross stitch onto.

and here are the results!

All ready to set on the vanity and to place jewelry in perhaps?

I wish I had purchased a few more............there are so many other pretty designs that could go on them.

What do you think?

Have you placed needlework onto a different type of surface?

I would love to hear.

**** Thank you all for your comments of support on my efforts to publish my embroidery design book in my previous post. For those of you who asked..........yes, my own designs and patterns will be in the book along with instructions on how to work the stitch technique.  I still have work to do to see it to it's completion and then there is that "publisher" issue to deal with. I will let you know as soon as it blossoms from a dream into a reality.

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.