Ground Control

Have been scrambling around to figure how to get all the projects I have planned into the works and still stay semi sane.  Well discovered the answer is a simple “do what you can and stop scrambling”.  Heck with all that scrambling I was beginning to feel like an egg.  Having finished the top of one Christmas Gift I feel much like I have accomplished something.  Don’t remember, did I tell you this can be the way it is sometimes?  I know  that I still have to add the batting and backing to finish the wall hanging that I have created.  Now mind you I ambroidered it and put it together, but did not create it.  All the designs were from Husqvarna Viking Folio #95 called Special Techniques Christmas.  I have not yet taken pictures, but will soon and try to ad them to this blog post.  I called it a wall hanging , but it is made like a small quilt and can be used as either. 

In order to continue working as much as I do on embroidery I have started a home based business to help me supplement my SS and offer me an ability to continue to be creative which is in case you haven’t guessed is a passion of mine. 

When I first started this blog I thought of putting in a picture of one of my daughters to attempt to get a larger number of viewers to my Blog, but honesty and reality won out and after all I am what I am.  This is the best I can do for today, but as always I wish for each and every person a day of joy and new commitment to whatever is closest to your hearts.  When we test our limits we learn more about ourselves.

Well  here are the two wall hangings different  emb. characters are the only difference.  As you can see my photography skills have not yet improved.

The day is nearly done, however my determination to be a better blogger I believe is taking hold, so here I go with a new post.  Since my first two pictures were pretty much devoid of color, I thought I would take a couple with some pizazz.  The first one is a linen kitchen towel I have made for my daughter to hang in an appropriate spot as decor in her kitchen.  It’s done with polyester thread so it should handle washings well and the colors should remain bright.  The towel size is 25″ x 19″ and folded in three the design is right in the middle of the lower half of the towell.   Positioning is something I will discuss in another post.

The next picture is a 16″ X 16″ pillow.  The design is a thread velvet creation.  It is a little unique as the stitch- out is in layers using different colors and when completed the top stitches are cut with a knife to expose the color underneath and the fluff of the cut stitches feels just like velvet.  I use a stiletto type seam ripper with a very sharp (new) blade and the trick is to find just the right amount of pressure so you don’t cut too deeply.  On the back side of the embroidered design I put some fabric glue just in case I cut a stitch or two.  Heaven forbid my design should unravel and come apart. 

As you can see my photography and croping skills need some improvement, but at least this a representation of what is done and how.  I could not make a set of pillows as shown above because I did not have enough of the pillow fabric which has a very pretty antique look.   I should have taken a picture of the back so you could get a better effect.  This was my first attempt with the THREAD VELVET DESIGNS so I was playing cautious and didn’t want to ruin a large piece of fabric.  Oh well one is good.

That is about it for today.  Don’t let the day end before you find a bit of  joy and tuck it into that place where you store treasured moments.

Golly once again I am amazed at how time flies.  12 days since my last post.  I am going to have to find a way to stay focused .  The words of an old folk song that  go sort of like this “nail your shoes to the kitchen floor, lace them up and bar the door and thank the Lord for the roof that’s over you” I am guessing that would be a good way to stay focused.  But then there are those of us who would leave the shoes all laced up so pretty, nailed to the floor, the door bared and climb out the window.  I am not saying that is a picture of me and I would probably have a good deal of difficulty getting out the window anyway,  so I expect a little training and self control would do just fine.

Since my last post was about thread and the pictures they paint I thought I would continue along those lines today.  I have found that I personally have several different brands of thread in my thread cabinet and the main reason for that is not that I can’t get threads of almost any color from one source, but that in my travels (not escapes from my window) I come upon certain colors that just say take me home-and I do.  For the most part I try to use all rayon or all poly in the same design, but am not above mixing them if I get the desired effect or don’t have just the right color in the type I am using at the time.  I can’t personally tell you that this is a no no, for it seems to work just fine for me. 

The very next problem is that when the designs come up on the embroidery screen, of course depending on what brands you have stored in the memory WOOPS those don’t look like the right colors and they more than likely are not so you have to be careful to put the color numbers in order next to you so you keep things in order of the stitch out.  Often the colors of your thread purchases do not have color names, only color numbers and heck that is no help so you analyse the color swatches that come with the designs.  NO SURPRISE I usually take a sheet of paper and number the colors and give each of the ones I’ve decided to use a name you know like brown, dark brown, red clay mud and so on in order on the sheet.  Makes life a lot easier as you sew.  Also now that you are comfortable with your machine it is really fun to stitch out the design in the colors of your choice so the above works just fine for that. 

I have a big question, ARE YOU HAVING FUN?  Secondly even though there are moments of  frustration are you finding joy and pleasure in what you are doing or have done?  Remember we all see things with different eyes, emotions, perspectives and all are individual ASSISTANT CREATORS.  Let individuality fly, grow and prosper.  I hope your days and nights are filled with happiness and peace.