Monday, April 2, 2012

busy, busy bee

Well, this weekend was super busy for me. It was a good busy, with a lot of crocheting and sewing! 


This book, Embroidery Companion by Alicia Paulson, came in the mail on Friday, and I was really excited to see all the lovely projects. It has a mixture of embroidery, cross stitch, and crewelwork. 


 This is one of her cross stitch patterns for a strawberry. It is my first attempt at cross stitch and I am half way done. Not too bad, right? Of course, it has been easy with the gingham fabric as a guideline for my stitches. 



I have been enjoying cross stitch, and look forward to trying some more of her patterns in the book. I am thinking of a bowl full of these strawberries, maybe on a tea towel or tablecloth. Perfect for the summertime!!


 Here is the pattern in the book. There is also a pear and blueberry, for these sweet farm stand baby bibs she made! I might have to attempt these delicious fruits, too!


I also have been working on this vintage kitty embroidery pattern. I am planning on making some vintage style baby bibs for my Etsy shoppe, and I am testing out some Vogart patterns for them. I added the grass and the flowers around the kitty, and I think it came out pretty cute! ;)


I was able to finish sewing together the quilt top. Boy, those pesky french knots were not fun, but I got them done. I will spare you a close up of them. ;) 
Now, I need to choose a backing and binding fabric. Yay, I am almost done! Hopefully it will all be finished by next week! 


 Here is another sneak peak of my goodies for my Etsy shoppe! I just love to have you guessing!! 
The most lovely, Keren, from Free Pretty Things For You is working on my Etsy shoppe to match my blog! I am so excited to see it when she is done!!


It was such a beautiful day to sit outside and crochet! I hope that you are having a wonderful start to the week, and were able to get some sunshine!! 




26 comments:

  1. Not a french knot fan myself. Really can never get them to come out right so I have figure out my own knot that looks more organized. These are so cute. I love your vogart kitty. I am getting so excited...smiles...Renee

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    1. Okay, maybe I need to come up with my own french knot, too! I think that is the perfect solution! Thanks! ;) xo Heather

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  2. Oh my. Your stitching is just lovely. That sweet kitten is absolutely precious. Your vintage-style bibs are going to do very well. Beautiful quilt. So very sweet.

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    1. Oh, thank you Kim! ;) My good friend just had a baby, and I had made her a baby quilt, and a vintage bib. It came out so sweet, that I thought I should make some more. :) xo Heather

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  3. I used to cross stitch a lot. It goes very quickly. I keep wanting to do needlework, but I spend way too much time on the internet. LOL

    Is it wrong to say I can't WAIT to see your etsy shop? You keep teasing us and I'm just getting all excited! OPEN. OPEN. OPEN.
    (Did you have Mervyn's dept store? They used to have a commercial where a lady would stand outside the store saying, "Open, open, open!")

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    1. I know what you mean with spending so much time on the internet! It is so hard to get away! :) Ha, that Mervyn's commercial was so funny! I am working hard to get it all done, I promise, it will be soon!! And I just hope that you will all like my creations!! :)

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  4. Loved seeing all your embroidery, the little quilt is so sweet and special. I like the strawberry on gingham too, it's looking really pretty.
    Have a happy day!
    Helen x

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    1. Thank you Helen for such a sweet comment!! Have a wonderful day, too!! xo Heather

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  5. Hi Heather.
    Everything looks so pretty. You are doing a great job with your crossstitching!! :0) I spied the kitchen fabric. Will you be creating that for your shop too ... I noticed the crochet edges. Soo cute. :0) My husband and I still say "open open open" from the old Mervyns commercial! Hahaha. :0)
    Have a great week. Love ya. Trish xoxo

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    1. Thank you Trish!! I will need your help on how to cross stitch on regular fabric, when I am done with the strawberry because I don't understand how to do it.;) Ooh yes, the kitchen fabric will be going in the shoppe!! That's funny! I grew up going to Mervyn's, and I was just at my grandma's and she had a box from there. Oh, the memories! :) Have a wonderful day!! Much love to you!! xo Heather

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  6. Heather,I love your cross stitch strawberry. You're doing a great job! I also love your little kitty embroidery.Can't wait to see what has the crocheted edging. Looks good.

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    1. Thank you so much!! I am such a fan of strawberries!! I am excited to get it all finished! ;) xo Heather

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  7. Beautiful handiwork.
    You inspire me.

    Isn't it fun to start a new project, and have it go so well ?!!

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    1. Oh, thank you for such a sweet comment!! I do love when projects come out as I was hoping they would!! ;) xo Heather

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  8. I need someone to teach me how to do the edge crochet. I love what you are working on. =)

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    1. Well, I just learned, and I would be glad to teach you if you ever want! It took some practice with getting the number of scallops to be even, but I get better after each one! :) xo Heather

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  9. I ordered her sampler pattern last year and have YET to get started. I have everything, just need to either trace or use the iron on pattern. Love the way your strawberry is turning out. Smart you using gingham!

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    1. Oh, I will have to look into the sampler pattern, too!! She is so talented, and what a great book full of inspiration! She recommended the gingham, so props to her! So easy for my attempt! ;) xo Heather

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  10. What a fun book!! I must get one now!! All your stitching is sooo lovely! The little kitty is adorable and your crocheting is divine!! I've been really wanting to learn for soo long. My sil has said she will teach me...now to just sit down with her and learn. It is on the top of my list. :)

    PS. I have a couple vintage strawberry pans just like yours. One is a frying pan and one is a sauce pan. I found one at a thrift store and then my hubby came home with the other from a different thrift store last week. I was so excited!

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    1. Yes, it is a great book full of inspiration! Thank you, thank you!!I just learned how to crochet a few months ago, and I love it!! I think you will enjoy it!! ;) Those strawberry pans are great! I have one a little larger, and recently I was in a thrift store, and saw a roaster with this pattern. I was so tempted, but I just don't have the room for it now. What a sweet hubby you have for bring you such a treasure!! Have a wonderful week!! xo Heather

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  11. What a lovely quilt you will have when you're finished! Can't wait for your Etsy shop.
    I too am a new blogger! I am still trying to figure out where it's going....but the ride is sure fun!

    chris

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    1. Hi Chris!! Thank you so much for coming by and visiting!! Thank you for such a sweet comment on the quilt, and my Etsy shoppe! ;) I am off to take a sweet visit to your blog!! xo Heather

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  12. The embroidered kitty cat is adorable! And what lovely crocheted edges!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I have been working hard with the crocheted edges, especially weaving in the ends! :) xo Heather

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  13. Oh I'm so glad I have just come across your blog and fallen in love!! I think we have very similar taste :D your embroidery projects are just adorable! I'm off to check out that lovely book! I look forward to seeing you in my google reader from now on. Jessie, xo

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    1. Hi Jessie!! Thank you so much for coming by and visiting! Yay, for new friends!! I can't wait to go visit your blog!! Have a beautiful day! ;) xo Heather

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