finally

Well it came. I've been waiting for this book for like for. ever. 

There are several blogs that I follow religiously. Humm, probably more than religiously. Every once in a while I take a mental health Sunday off of church. I don't miss my blog reads. Ever.

Alicia Paulson writes Posy Gets Cozy. I love to peek into her life and watch her create. She is also adopting a baby girl. I'm so excited for her and I love the little projects she is working on for her baby while she waits.

I thumbed through my book while I feed the Little Mister a bottle. I love this project using crewel wool. As you can see I got out my embroidery hoops and started planning.

Now, generally speaking, I don't get into any type of needle work in the Summer. It just seems too hot to sit with something in my lap. However. Summer skipped us down her in San Diego this year. Honestly, we have only had a couple of hot days and every morning is cold and overcast. And now that I have Alicia's book to get me in the mood, I'm considering a project. Something to do in the last few minutes before we call it a day.

Michael's Craft was having a sale on cotton yarn. I thought a light weight summer afghan would be just the thing to keep my fingers nimble. I picked these three bright fun colors and I'm planning on using double crochet to keep it loose and airy. I may try a zig-zag pattern to make it look like candy.

To be fair, I should probably just say that I might be full of a lot of crap and never even start this blanket. I've got, like, a kabillion projects going right now, two of which are needy little babies. I also have an illustration project that I'm working on that I simply can't wait to share when it's finished. And then there's SPARK. It's only a month away. I'm so excited to be teaching and I'm trying to plan a class that will knock your socks off. And the Winter Secondsister collection needs to be finished off. Hopefully, that will knock your socks off as well. Bring your cash stash from your underwear drawer.

I'm trying to keep up. I'm stressed and having fun all at the same time. Did you read the previous post? My life is a circus.

history embodied, embroidered

I love the quiet rhythm of embroidery. The sound of the needle piercing the cloth makes me entirely happy. I feel connected to mankind when I embroider. It is a craft that has lasted thousands of years. I may be using my light board to transfer my designs onto the fabric with my iPhone and laptop close by, but the fundamentals of the craft have been unchanged. My great-great grandmother threaded her needle the same way I thread mine.

And I have no doubt she sat near a window just the way I do, for optimum light. And she probably watched her babies toddle around the room and she probably rose every once in a while to stir the soup on the stove. In this we are the same.

"It is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorn

couch crafting

Tell me. What is about cold weather that makes me want to needle craft? Is is that my work bench in the garage seems such a cold place to be? Is it the warmth of a project laying across my lap? Is it the quiet pull of the string that reminds me of the snow falling softly on my parents home in the mountains?

I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this embroidery project. It will most likely end up incorporated into an apron.

If you are interested in vintage embroidery, there are many free patterns to be found online. This little scottie dog appeared in Women's Weekly on October 30th, 1937.

I started this baby blanket on the ride to Utah. I'm thinking of adding a little embroidered squirrel to one corner. If I'm lucky, someone I know will have a baby next fall to gift it to.