A Bit Of A Change

Most of you are aware that I have 3 blogs. This blog, for my hand embroidery, my cooking blog.....http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com and my country living blog.....http://eggsinmypocket.blogspot.com I have been finding it hard to find things to post about on all blogs and doing so can be very time consuming. I am keeping this blog for hand embroidery tutorials, links to interests in hand made things and also as a stitching service to everyone. My country living blog will be where I post stories about country life and all of the things that fall into living in country bliss, plus I will also post about the things I hand stitch. I am moving all of your blog name links to my country blog. I will keep you all posted on what is going on in this embroidery blog.. you can all still drop by here to visit and say hi if you wish also! I love hearing from each and everyone of you! So please come over and visit me in my country home!

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, Or Do Without

Remember this old saying? I grew up not only hearing that saying, but living it as well. It seems so fitting for today with our struggling economy issues. For my life, personally, I collect and also use up the things I come across. I don't have a wasteland of debris, however, as sometimes you might see on the television......no, I have an organized and clean home. Over the years I have been given bags of "quilt scraps" and lots of used and unused yarn. So I am always finding ways to "use them up".

What is the best way to use up those little colorful balls of yarn that don't have enough left to make an afghan? The good old basic crochet granny square, of course! If you would like to learn how to make a granny square just click on to this link http://www.crochetcabana.com/tutorials/granny_square.htm
I have spent the past days sitting out on the front porch, listening to the song birds and approaching thunderstorms, while I use up these balls of yarn, making granny squares.
Crocheting these brought back a memory of a time when my daughter was only 4 years old. She and I sat in the car and waited for my oldest son to get out of school. As we waited, I would bring along my crochet. I taught my little one how to crochet in those few minutes every day. She and I finished enough squares to make a granny square afghan to give to my mom, her grandma, for Christmas. My little girl was so proud of that accomplishment.


She has now grown and has flown away to the busy, exciting life she now leads. So I sit, in the stillness of the day, crocheting alone, block after block. Of course, I have my constant companion Sophie, by my side. And as for the saying ......I might could add one more thing to it......make it last! Now my question for you........what saying do you remember growing up with? What have you found to make do and it has done well? I would love to hear!

He's Not Done With Me Yet

Sometimes when I am hunting for embroidered linens, I buy the piece because of the perfect stitches and color. However, this one piece I bought was not for the stitches, but because of the design. I often hunt for vintage designs that I can duplicate and offer on new linens. Giving my work the charm of "Yesteryear".

A little over a year ago, I found this nice size tablecloth draped over a baby crib in a junk store. The owner pretty much gave it to me. The fabric is in mint condition and has never been used. It has only been slightly embroidered. I bought it to duplicate the design and to also finish the embroidery. The existing embroidery is pretty...however, I felt I wanted to do more to it.
This is how the flower looked previously embroidered. I removed the stitching.....

and embroidered it the way I would like it. I usually don't remove previous stitching unless there is not much on the piece.

The colors and the stitching is nice on this, however, once again I removed these stitches .....

and embroidered it this way.

As you can see, there is still so much on this piece just waiting to be worked on. As I was working with this cloth... I thought how much I was like this cloth. I have a fairly good design and at one time, my colors were vibrant and shiny. Now my colors have faded, some of my threads have come unraveled. Some of the stitching in my life has been done in haste, without much thought put into it. Thus showing my flaws to the whole world.

But even after all of these years... God is not finished with me yet. Oh, how I need Him to touch me and bring my light and shine back! How I need Him to fix my broken threads. Every day a new stitch is put in place in my life. Sometimes I wonder why did He put that stitch there.....is He sure? Sometimes, I need that thread removed and I can't do it without His expert hands. I look back on the tapestry of my life and I see so many of my improper stitches and it makes me want to do it better the next time around. Then there are the extras...a bright bead or two here or there when at the time, I did my best. What will this tapestry look like when my last breath and stitch is done? Will it be only half way finished with so much more left that I should have seen? Or will it be so full that not one more stitch can be placed? How about you? Have you ever felt this way? I would love to hear!

8 months and hundreds of stitches later.....

The past year and a half, much of my stitching was spent on two projects for friends, dear to my heart. The first 9 months I worked all types of embroidered stitches on

this rose tablecloth. As I stitched this piece, I thought about the lady I was embroidering it for. I thought back on all the times I spent at her home and of the others who were connected to her that I also came to know. Those memories made me smile.
The next 8 months I have worked on this cross stitch picture. It will be given away

at an upcoming dog show. I thought about the friend I was stitching this for and of all the things we have known about each others lives. Again, smiles easily came. I also thought about the person who might win this picture. Do they love hunting dogs....or will it be someone who loves poodles instead. I was a little anxious on this piece, fearing I might not get done in time, today the last stitch fell into place and the anxiety fell away into relief. Now my hands are empty....but not for long. With the approaching holiday time, I will be going through my stash and I think I just might devote this year to getting those items stitched to sell in my online embroidery store. I can't wait to get things stitched and ready! I hope all of you have a wonderful blessed Easter holiday!

Her Name Was Rose

Once again, I found a lovely set of napkins done by someone's expert hands. Every stitch is flawless. I love roses and flowers, so it wasn't hard for my eye to spot this on the shelf. But looking at it.....it makes me remember Rose.

Rose lived in the brick house across the street from us when we lived in town. The neighborhood we lived in at that time was drug and gang infested and good neighbors did not exist......except for when Rose moved in. She was an elderly lady who spent her days sitting out in the coolness of her front porch watching the busy traffic and all activities of the block go on around her. While she sat.....her hands were busy....stitching the hours away. Quilting mostly....but sometimes, pretty pieces of crochet edgings and embroidery would surface as well. I would be working out in the flowers when I would her her call hello to me. I would wander over for a few minutes and we would both catch up on each others lives.....the children....folks passing away.....gardening flowers.... and sewing. As we talked, her hands never stopped the stitches. I often wondered if she gave her treasures to her many grandchildren she often spoke of. The day we moved away....I told her goodbye....I remember looking back and seeing her.....one hand holding her material....the other waving the last farewell. She made living in that unbearable neighborhood, easier for me. She was a good neighbor....a rose that really grew among the thorns.
So I thought about her as I took these treasures home. Imagine my delight when I discovered a small tablecloth to match the napkins!

There are four napkins......and there is no way my husband or sons will use these when I fix dinner! They will only go so far when it comes to cloth napkins and these are just too girly!

I am so impressed with all of the work someone did on these cloths. The cut work is wonderful, as well as the embroidery.

The hand crocheted edge is perfect.

Of course I have some dishes and silverware that matches!

Maybe I will use them for dessert and for friends who come by. We can have a "girl lunch" without the men. I wonder if the one who stitched these ,sat out on her front porch like Rose did. I wonder what she thought about as she stitched all of those hours away..... How about you? Do you have any linens that make you remember a certain person? Maybe Grandmother showing you your first crochet stitches? Maybe the new born babe, so sweet in sleep in lace bedding? I would love to hear!

Our Favorite Places To Find Treasures

Have you ever gone to an antique store or flea market so much that you know every item they have had and exactly where it is and how much it costs? I have several stores like that. I go and look and enjoy each moment, even though I have seen it all before. But sometimes....the owner has just returned from an estate sell....and there is something new.....something I must have! Sometimes, I know the owners well enough, that they put something back for me...knowing I will want it. Sometimes they will stop me in the store, telling me to drop by....they have something I might want to look at.

For spring break, we were able to go out of town and stop by some of my favorite "treasure places". In the back, among the linens, I found this stack of beautiful unused napkins! 10 in all, perfect in every stitch, without a flaw on either one.
As you can see the cutwork is wonderfully worked. It is probably Madeira embroidery,......they are famous for this kind of perfect stitching. I am usually drawn to greens and pinks, but this silver-grey color, and the leaf, is something I have been searching for to match with my china.

Sorry the photo is blurry. I also collect pieces of silverware. The real silverware. Decorative pieces as this one above is hard to find. I found several pieces of this design a few years ago. I love leaves....I just had to have them. As you can see....the napkins match just right.

A few years ago, I was helping a friend clean out her antique barn for an upcoming sell, and found this beautiful china set from Noritake. The name is Pasadena. It has a silver rim, a very pale single rose, with silver and green leaves and stems. The napkins will go perfect with this dinnerware. I only use this china on holidays or special occasions and the napkins will be used only during that time. So......how about you? Where are your favorite treasures found? Is there a particular set of dinnerware and napkins you use? I would love to hear!

Wild Roses

I love roses of all kinds, especially if they are in hues of pink. But I am particularly fond of the wild roses you see growing around old homesteads. They have a different shape, more of a open petal look, and they have such a wonderful heavy fragrance! Oh, be still my heart!

When I was young, my mother found a scarlet red wild rose growing where an old house had been torn down. It was blooming, even though there was no one left to enjoy it's beauty. She dug it up, took it home, and it is still growing and blooming all over her grounds ......that was so many years ago. You can smell the fragrance way down the road. My grandmother's dishes have the "Virginia Rose" design on them. I have always loved these dishes over the rest of my treasures.
I finally found a design that is almost identical in form and color as to these dishes. I am planning on decorating my dining room in these kinds of roses and in shades of green. I am planning on stitching this design on to a tablecloth and also cushions for the dining room chairs.

My colors are picked out, my needle is ready.......

Spring break has come to my area, which means I will have time with my Sweetie,who is off from work and my son who will be out of school for the week. Hopefully, I will be able to get done with a project I am currently stitching and be able to begin this rose design. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Thank you to all who stop by to comment. I will catch up with you all next week and maybe have a few petals stitched to show you! My question to you is.... what type of rose do you like best? The old heavy scented cabbage roses? Perhaps, the tight perfect bulb shaped roses in pale hues? I can't wait to hear!