Hand Lettering and Embroidery

I've recently (that is today :) been studying hand lettering and began to think of embroidery and this post from Mary Corbet (whose work is incredible).

Here is a little sample of when I was messing around with the "Fruit of the Spirit" after viewing her work,

I'm not sure why I never did the embroidery, but I always have a ton of projects.  In fact I was joking with a friend at church about having so many outfits that she has started to sew and I haven't seen one of them.  Her daughter perked up and asked me how many unfinished projects I have.  Well.....

I find it all inspiring.  Below is a little sketch that I want to paint on the window in my sewing room.  I'll play with it some more before I do it.  I don't want it to be too big or obtrusive, but to catch the eye and remind me to ...

       

(This isn't for a cliche' or to make light the things of God, 

but I do these things because they mean something to me. 

 My relationship with the Lord is real and ever present.)

A finished project...and unfinished :)

I almost (this is me wayyyyy to often) had this done at Christmas. Originally I used a zipper that was to small and a pillow that was to small. After another  trip to Jo Ann's it was finished.

In the picture to your right, you will notice a QR barcode by stkr.it .  My local quilt shop, Find X Designs, sells these things for $3.25.  You just download the app, scan the sticker, apply any digital media you want to that code, iron it on your project and your done!  

When my hubby scanned the code he saw a picture I took in DC of the Mall and a message thanking him for taking us.  I wanted to do a video of the kids playing there instruments and/or singing, but get them to get it all together in time, well... 

Below is a picture of a scarf and wallet that I wove.  I embroidered a flower design that matches the lining I am using for the wallet.  The picture below is my second attempt.  And now I am on my third *sigh* .  The first two colors just didn't stand out enough against the background.  It just looked like a blob of brown thread. 

So, I am trying a yellow this time.  My husband suggested it.  When he did, I thought yellow?  But he is something awesome with color coordination.  Most women dress there husbands, my husband dresses me :/  :).  Okay, I really need faces for this thing, hehe.  

Needle and Thread

     Getting things in the shop has been slow.  Life gets in the way :), however we have a few more things in the shop and I'm almost done with a new scarf with matching clutch to go with it.

     I really need to post more of the things I've been working on for friends and family.  My husband laughs at me often for having so many projects going.  Here's a few of those 1/2 baked projects of mine:

This is a lamp shade for my son's room.  The top is partially done barb wire.  Check back later, you might actually see it finished ;) .

This will be a primitive looking bunny when it's done.  My husband saw it in a magazine and thought it looked Frankensteinish.  Here is a more progressed photo:

The words are; "I got ishooos!"  

I worked hard at the stitches not being to symmetrical, but as you see it doesn't quite look crazy enough, but hubby is happy so, hey.

I just realized I have 2 projects I finished but no pictures of the final project.  I'll post those next week.  I'll be wearing the skirt Sunday and can get pictures then.

And on that note I'll say...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give God the glory for his provisions, remembering the Ebenezer's (those times that he has helped you) in your life!  

Here are just a few of the things we've been up to...

A little gift for a wonderful older lady at church who loves the rain and most importantly the Lord.  

A hold all case for a friend of mine.  She bought and picked out the beautiful fabric.  

She's actually quite good at sewing herself :)
The Pattern: Atkinson Designs' Classmate

I'm working on a shirt for Little Greg.  I am almost finished, just needs buttons and hemming :).

Pattern: Simplicity 4975 View A 

Hubby suggested a pen pocket and that he liked his toward the outside 

of the pocket instead of the side close to the buttons.

Tay working on a flannel doll quilt for a basket she made.  

Didn't get a picture of the basket, yet.

Well nothing for the shop in these photos, but were working on it ;).

This and That

It's been awhile since I've posted about projects I'm working on and thought I'd share a few.

This first one is actually one that Taylor did for a little one at church.

She crocheted the pocket lace and did a hand embroidered stem stitch for the collar. The picture she used was from a greeting card she received.

Here I am doing a small Biscornu. I did a larger one here with a tutorial.

In looking back I see where I wasn't clear in some of the steps. If you have questions, please email me. I will fix the issues as soon as I can.

This is a table loom my MIL gave me just before we moved to NC. It was her grandmothers. I absolutely love it. I contacted a lady about her chickens and wound up with lessons! I saw some really nice guitar and belt weaving patterns that I excited about trying.

I was complaining to my husband about doing a project that I'm not excited about and that I'm one that would rather do a project that is too difficult, but inspiring than one that is easy that I lack enthusiasm over. He loves my corny artist quotes, like, "An artist needs inspiration!" It always gives him a good laugh.

I bought goats milk soap from a vendor at the county fair. I do not like having a mess from the bar in the shower, so I thought I'd make some terry cloth sack like thingys. I'll think of a better name later. I will put some up on my etsy (along with more laundry soap) and see what happens. The fabric I'll be using is Michael Miller's Organic Terry Cloth. MoSoap is an excellent source for lye soaps. They are very generous.

Monograms

I have really come to like doing monograms on my husbands hankerchiefs. However, It is so hard to find nice monograms. I have seen some for $45.00. Surely I could find them cheaper.? I have tried downloading fonts that might do, but they never seem quite right.

The monogram above is an example of what I mean. It looks nice but it's too blurred to know which lines to trace or leave out.

I guess there is no point to this post other than to vent. Ideas are always welcome :-).

Inspirations...

that is name of a new magazine I bought back in October. The needles that I ordered with it were on back order. I contacted the company (Country Bumpkin) and asked about the back order and that I was really looking forward to getting their magazine. So they went ahead and shipped it and will send my needles when they get them in. This is an Australian magazine, and I am truly inspired by the creations they show. Lot's of patterns in the book. This particular issue has a number of intermediate projects.

I created this little purse from a Simplicity's pattern for felt. The purse is made with real wool that I found @ the little quilt shop in town. I started another purse with a lily on it. My pastor mentioned Matthew 6:38 & 39 " And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." This made me think of Jesus... Song of Solomon 2:1 " I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." The last part of Matt. makes me think of how nothing compares to the glory of the Lord.

I started a cell phone cover from the same pattern as the purse. I will post a pic when I'm done.Here are a few "thank you" cards I created using the quilting feature on my BabyLock. In the center picture it gives it a look of snow. The fabric was from about five years ago. The artist is D. Morgan . Unfortunately I can not find this fabric anywhere. I tried ebay as well.

"Peace Be Still" Embroidery Template

Jesus calms the storms of life... in his time.

UFOs

Now we all no there is no such thing as UFO's however,
there are if you have UnFinished Objects lying around your house!

These are some of the UFOs I'd like to get finished within the next week (or so ;-).

1. *Warm the Heart mini quilt. (Lower Left)
   
2. Mini embroidery case to go with my larger pattern. (Lower Middle)
   
3. A Bible case pattern. (Lower Right)
   
4. Teapot wall hanging I made about 5 or 6 years ago.
   It was my first attempt at quilting and I never finished the binding. (Upper Right)
   
5. Patchwork Thank-you cards. (Upper Middle)
6. Potpurri tea warmers that I started about 8 years ago! (Upper Left)

I still have several others that are not listed, but these are ones I hope to get finished. Maybe making a public declaration of my UFOs will help me to complete them.

*Oops the mini quilt is called "Follow Your Heart". Not a term I really like. After all... "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

New Side Link

For several months now I thought I had labeled my embroidery templates so people could find them only to find out yesterday that I had not. Sooo... now there is a link in the side bar now labeled "Free KJV Embroidery Templates".

My husband bought me a Bamboo tablet for improving my computer art. I look forward to creating something new soon and making it available in my Etsy shop at a reasonable price.

I am reposting my little doodles to get a link for the side bar.

The Biscornu Tutorial

Inspired by International Hand Stitchers and La Fee Rie.

Biscornu is French and means irregular.
In this case an irregular pin cushion.

First I created this design...

First start by transferring pattern to fabric. Pattern should be 4" X 4" plus 1/2" seam on each side. I used various stitches for each part of the biscornu. The leaves are a chain stitch while the corners are a feather stitch. The stitches are marked on my pattern if you choose to use it.

When embroidery is finished you can begin to attach sides. For the first stitch, I come up from underneath on the bottom side and loop through the front and bottom at corners. From there I loop through every two stitches, pulling to close gaps (as with slip stitching). For the corners I do all three surrounding it instead of skipping.
Sorry this picture is a little blurry but it is an important step. As you stitch, pin the next corner as shown below. It helps to make sure you don't miss align even the smallest amount.
To stuff leave the last two corners free. I would suggest putting plastic pellets in the bottom for weight. Finish up last two corners securing thread at the end ( I knot mine).

(You can see in this picture where I messed up connecting the front to back. I had to take all of it out and reconnect it, making sure to pin corners as I went and to only go my ever second thread and not by thirds mixed with seconds. I failed to retake a picture of this stage, but you see by the first picture it turned out much better.)

Last, but not least, is sewing the bead in the middle of the top and the bottom. Pull needle through center from bottom. Leave an 1/2" from knot on thread. Put bead on thread and pull needle back through to bottom. Place another bead on thread. Pull thread through the 1/2" of access thread. Pull tight. Secure.

And now you have your first Biscornu!

New @ Etsy

Practical Creations @ Etsy

Lo, children are...

copyright: Practical Creations

We will serve the LORD...

copyright: Practical Creations

The house is blurry due to scanning issues. I off centered the verse on purpose. To change this print it out, cut and reposition on another sheet of paper.

Embroidery Template

This is free to copy! I have wanted to do embroidery verses for some time. I will put out more as I create them. My lazy daisies are not so nice. I did them on the computer but would rather have drawn them.

If you have trouble copying it contact me and I'll see what I can do :-).

I'm Back!

To long without the internet. I haven't been to busy crafting until recently. Here is a picture of one of my projects (sorry it's a little blurry)...

I am currently working on a quilt for my husband. I will post a pic. soon.

Yo-Yo Bags

I was over @ Cinderberry Stitches and saw the cutest little bag. The pattern will be out soon for the Yo-You bag. You can find Cinderberry's other creations here.