Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

a nice thrift store find...

I stopped in at the thrift store this afternoon and so glad I did. I found this lovely example of Chikan Embroidery in this blouse that looks brand new. It was only $2 and it actually fits.  I really bought it just for all the stitching that I could see close up since I'm taking a class with Anita of artistic fingers. More about that at the end of this past post. And for those of you who were interested, here are some good examples of what the stitching looks like front and back.

Chikan Embroidery---blouse front

Chikan Embroidery---back of stitches

And, of course, the experimenting continues in Karen's class:

making lace on the machine...I started blanket stitching over it for a different effect.

stitching layers

needle weaving on a small stitched sample
I started planting seeds this past weekend and really wanted to plant purple carrots for eco dyeing. Jeannie was so kind to send me some seeds and also some of her beautifully dyed indigo cloth and embroidery thread. Can't wait to dive into that pile. Thanks Jeannie.

goodies from Jeannie

Friday, September 2, 2011

a thoughtful gift and...

Back here I posted a video on the Cosmati Pavements at Westminster Abbey. Lots of you  became interested in doing more research. Karen T. actually went to Westminster Abbey and saw them in person. Unfortunately no picture taking was allowed. She purchased some beautiful cards that were being sold in the shop and sent some to me since I was the one who peeked her interest on this topic. I was so surprised and so appreciative. Thank you so much Karen T. for your thoughtfulness.
postcards, puzzle card and info from Westminster Abbey


wanted you to see that one of the cards is a puzzle

Last Monday, I posted about my experiment with avocado bundling. The liquid remaining in the pot was pink so I dropped a few pieces of white cloth in the pot. The silk organza turned brown and the linen pieces and the lace did turn a pale pink. The pink is not showing up in this picture.

silk turned brown; linen and lace a light pink
 I've been enjoying Karen's embroidery class and worked on one section of the piece I posted last time. I'm pleased with the netted lace look, that is just a blanket stitch done through the loops, and with the french knots but not really pleased with the whole look. I need to plan better next time. I'm going to try and run a ribbon through the loops on the pink strip because it really doesn't blend with the pink in the checkerboard. It only measures 3" x 5" so it's just a tiny section of the whole piece.


And just did another section. Much happier with this than the one above.

web stitch, french knots, buttons
Saturday update:  I've decided to do this piece as a sampler since I'm learning new things and am not ready to design a piece that will please me. Once I experiment with all these new techniques and stitches, it will be easier to put something together.

Friday, August 19, 2011

A New Basket

I was with my quilt bee friends yesterday at another basket making class. I've been looking forward  to making this basket and knew it would be a challenge. It turns out that the challenging part was not the center design but the swirl design traveling up to the top. There are a few mistakes but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It measures 11" in diameter and is 5" high. I'm going to try and replicate that center weaving with fabric.
And...I would love to try and make a little square basket with the same design. Maybe at the next class.
Here are some photos.




And something special in the mail from michelle in NYC...

a lovely card, some beautiful feathers, dried geranium, and a delicate lace edged hanky
Michelle will be making a feather to send to Jude for the Magic Feather Project.

And I've heard that Otis has sent Jude a feather.
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