I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

My needle and thimble found it's way back into my fingers

and once again.........I have been lost in stitches.........
letting the hours and days pass by me.........
without a worry
I have had this vintage dresser scarf for years...........from the 1930s-40s.......
waiting to be embroidered.

I love the lily pad and small daisy sprays.........don't you?

I started this weeks ago

now it is finished..........
however.........not many people like to use dresser scarves anymore
especially with lily pads on them........
I thought I might turn it into a towel.........but I have done that with so many linens

so this time..........I embroidered one of my favorite quotes onto the bottom edge
"I cannot count my day complete,
til needle, thread, and fabric meet"

 
I then took a pretty floral print fabric and matched it with the embroidered panel......
and  I then created  pockets made from the embroidery of vintage linens that were damaged in one way or the other
then I sewed the two pieces together........and hand crocheted an edging all the way around
and turned this piece into an embroidery/sewing envelope.

the scalloped end of a vintage doily is prefect for the top of an envelope pocket

that opens and holds floss or other accessories 

I accented the other embroidered pocket with a vintage crocheted trim It is big enough to hold a hoop or other accessories. 

The needle and pins holder is a flap

that opens up for needle and pin storage

There is also a little pocket to hold a thimble

It tri-folds for easy carry and storage  
and now the saying is perfect for a seamstress's envelope.
Now.........what to stitch next???
As many of you know.........there are not a lot of weeks left till Christmas.......
are any of you starting to do your holiday stitching for decorations
or gifts?? 
I would love to hear!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

A very old dresser was becoming not useful any longer

every time I opened a drawer........the front fell off............and the drawer came apart,
it had been repaired many times over the years........
the body was still sturdy, and my husband took out the drawers 
and made shelves inside of it for me
I loved the old wooden knobs and came up with this idea for the dresser
front panels........I decided to make a wall hanger........leaving the knobs on to hang a coat or even jewelry on.
.I drilled a hole on each top corner, 
to hang it on the wall........
then I started doing mosaic work on it.........I started this 
months ago .........and would work on it now and then

I wanted to make somewhat of  a swirling design

the little cup and saucer was a vintage wall pocket that I have had for awhile.
I removed the porcelain flowers from vintage vases and glued them
into the cup.

I save all the pieces of dishes that get broken and store them in boxes until
I find a need for a certain design. I then put the piece all back together
with mosaic medium


If you make a hole for hanging mosaic work.......don't forget to work
around the hole.........


I accidentally broke a little plate with this verse on it.......
because the writing is so fine, I did not want to have it separated
with white mosaic medium........so I first used glass glue and glued the 
verse back together........then used the mosaic medium on the back

since the verse had a garden verse........I decided to place a vintage butterfly pendant...
that had the perfect rose print wings onto the piece. 
I also love to see the names of vintage china companies and 
sometimes include them with the broken dish

I added just a couple of vintage flower charms to the piece as well



I left the knobs on for hanging jackets and such.......
and painted them in a dark green
I also painted  the outside edge of the panel the same color

Homer Laughlin.......my favorite of all vintage dishware.....
I search for this name every time I am searching for dishware
The little moss rose piece was once a porcelain jewel box that had been 
dropped and luckily......this section did not break

one more jeweled flower
It is finished...........and signed........
I titled this piece........
" A Walk In My Garden"



Now it is ready for hanging.......now with all of the vintage dishware........
it would look pretty as a towel hanger for the kitchen........do you think so?
I am not sure whether this will go into my vintage shop for sale.....
or if  I will keep it.
I have two more drawers to work on.
Do any of you do mosaic work?
I would love to hear

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

I love to watch " old couples" walking together,


holding hands.........dining together.
They hold a sense of "what life is really about"
to me.........

today I played with the rocks I gather while on long walks with my dog
Sophie. Some I toss into my gardens.......but some just speak to me
especially when I find rocks that are shaped like hearts.........
I cannot toss them
So I made a married couple........who start out on their path which
is very bumpy and rocky.......



but through the years........the path gets more smooth
as they hold on to each other 
and 
their love for each other grows more and more. 
I titled this piece........." Just Old Married Folk"
How about you?  Do you collect rocks?  .....or shells?
I would love to hear!