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!

A little bit added to what you've already got, gives you a little bit more.........

P.G.Wodehouse

I think on this quote a lot as I work my stitches into my designs. While standard embroidery is charming on it's own, adding just a few more stitches...........

 is like having a garden full of beautiful flowers...................and then..........

a butterfly lightly glides in to rest on one.

It can make all of the difference in the world.

There are some designs that I chose to simply hand embroider with the standard outline stitch................

and then there are some designs that just beg me to bring them to life..............

with just  a little bit added.

How about you?

Do you find yourself changing a design or

adding a little bit to it?

I would love to hear!

The weeds have been picked.................

The pumpkins are growing....................

This leaves the day................................

For stitching and sewing!.....................

Kathleen

How about you? Are you finished with your outside work...............at least for the day?

Are you wanting to stay in and create?

Here is a lovely vintage design.............that I am hoping ...........if you click onto , you will be able to print it off.

If you do get to work with it, I would love to see and hear about it!

The yellow roses on the patio

are blooming and have inspired me

to dig this piece out to embroider.

I used to not care for stamped embroidery because I felt it limited me in the way I wanted to show off color in the design................

however, I have learned to go beyond the stamping and as you know me well for...........

add a few extra stitches to make the embroidery come to life and to look more vibrant.

The leaves are supposed to look like this

but I wanted that purple hue that exists on the real rose leaves

to show up on my embroidery work..............

like this.............

I love the way it looks with just a few more stitches........don't you?

What color would you have chosen for the roses?............

the leaves?...............

the small daisies?

I would love to hear!

A little while back, I posted about an applique quilt block that I love

called the Friendship Dahlia

It is so easy with just 8 petals and a round center to stitch together. It is usually stitched on pre-cut pieces of cotton squares  measuring about 14 inches. Then the blocks are stitched together with a strip between the blocks.  However.........

as most of you have come to know about me..............

I decided to change it a little by simply marking 14 inch square places on a cotton flat sheet, and then applique the Dahlia onto the middle of each square. When all appliques are stitched onto the sheet, I will then separate them with a green fabric bias strip. I left room on each edge of the sheet to applique a floral and leaf border. I then can either place batting and backing onto it and quilt it............or I could even make it a light coverlet by simply placing a backing onto it and quilting that into place. I really am leaning toward making it into a quilt.

What do you think?

 I plan to have applique dahlias in every different color. This should look so cheery for a spring time bedroom...........think so?

And because I love hand stitching, I am doing it all by hand.

What are you stitching on this weekend?

Or perhaps you are painting or crafting with something else?

 I would love to hear!



This is the last design for the Ladies of the Week transfer 1928

since I had posted the first one on last Thursday.

and it's what I would rather do  every day of the week! ...............stitch!   How about you?

Do you find that maybe the house work can wait one more day so that you can get those last stitches in?

I do so hope that you enjoyed this week of embroidery transfers............and I am still in between stitched projects and don't have a clue as to what I will post about next............

do you ever find yourself like this?



Tuesday's design from Ladies of the Week

has our our busy homemaker ironing after doing all of that laundry yesterday.

Even though there are so many clothes that are wrinkle free these days, I still use my iron now and then. How about you?