Country Living Article SEPTEMBER 2013

Kitchen
Well here it is, more about the cottage than the business but very pretty none the less. This was photographed before I had even had the first prototypes for the kits printed. The Pigeon being started ... then it got put in a cupboard because everything started to get rather busy. But working on it again now, and I think it has found a home before it has even been finished! It does not look like this now, in fact so much has changed, and amazingly I do not live in this sort of lazy idyll at all, mooching about stitching in the garden! whatever next!

It would be great if this feature gives me a bit of a surprise one way or another ... I have already had one come to think of it. Last night my call for a Girl Friday was answered in the shape of Sarah who is coming to help me once a week! I am really excited about having her here and I think it will be great fun and certainly extremely helpful! I hope I can help her too, starting with learning to crochet!


My desk and living room from the other end

Living Room and details of studio

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Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone! We are in the full throes of summer here in Southern Arizona, and sometimes the only reprieve comes in the form of cocktails on the patio while enjoying friendly company. It seems everyone is hosting a get-together this summer, and since my Mom always told me to never go to a party empty-handed, I decided an embroidered wine tote would be a great hostess gift for the occasion.


I have been wanting to use this burlesque fan dancer embroidery pattern from Jenny Hart's, Embroidered Effects book for some time, and why not add her to a wine tote as a flirty hostess or host gift? Sounds good to me. I also thought a monogrammed tote would be great for this project, as well, but I'll do that for the next party.


To make a wine tote you will need the following supplies:

- two pieces of fabric for the exterior cut to 8x14-inches
- two pieces of fabric for the interior cut to 8x14-inches
- two pieces of batting cut to 8x14-inches
- one piece of fabric cut to 4x21 inches for the strap
- embroidery pattern 
- embroidery supplies (floss, scissors, needles)
- sewing machine and coordinating thread
- scissors
- iron and ironing board

Step One: Transfer your embroidery pattern to one exterior piece of fabric and stitch.


Step Two: Assemble the exterior portion of the bag by laying the exterior pieces of fabric right sides together and the batting on the outside of either piece. Stitch around three sides using a 1/4 seam allowance, leaving the top open.



Step Three: Create a square flat bottom for the bag by taking the bottom corner seams and and pressing them flat against one another. Sew 2-inches down from the point. Clip the excess fabric and repeat on opposite corner. 




Step Four: Assemble the lining of the bag by placing the two lining pieces right sides together. Mark a 2-inch space to leave unsewn, this will be used to flip the bag inside out later. Sew around the three sides using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, leaving the top open. Make sure to leave your marked space open, as well.


Step Five: Square off the corners of the lining as you did in Step Three for the tote exterior.


Step Six: To assemble the strap, take the 4x21-inch piece of fabric, fold it in half, and press. 


Unfold, and press the outer edges in toward the center crease you just created. 


Fold in half again and press. 



Top stitch on either side of the strap.


Step Seven: Take the strap, align each edge on the center of each side seam of the tote, and pin in place.


Step Eight: Take the lining of the tote and place it inside of the exterior piece, with right sides together.  Pin it in place, making sure to keep the straps aligned along the side seams. Stitch along the top using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. 


Step Nine: Flip the tote through the opening in the lining and stitch shut. I like to run this through the sewing machine, but it can be hand sewn with a slip stitch if you like. 


Step Ten: Top stitch around the top edge. 


Step Eleven: Insert bottle and you are ready for the party!


Hope you enjoy and have a great Tuesday!

Stitched Gifts Review and Giveaway!


Today I have the honor of sharing with you the lovely new book by Jessica Marquez, Stitched Gifts: 25 Sweet and Simple Embroidery Projects for Every Occasion. Jessica was kind enough to send us a copy of the book to review, along with another wonderful goodie that I'll reveal to you later in this post!

I'd like to take you on a tour of this wonderful book, so you can get better acquainted with it - so here's a few snapshots and a brief walkthrough for you...

From start to finish, this is a beautiful book, and has all of Jessica's signature style and inspiring photography. Jessica's eye for detail and flawless stitching are fully evident throughout this book. It's a great book for any level of stitcher - there so many unique projects that are simple and also beautiful, and I would definitely recommend it.

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The book starts with a wonderful Tools & Materials section, that lays out in visual detail, all the elements of your craft as embroiderer:

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You'll also find a stitch dictionary, beautifully illustrated with lovely photos:

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There are a total of 25 projects in this book, and something for every level of embroiderer. Projects are divided into the following sections: Home & Hearth, Engagement, Wedding, and Anniversary, Babies & Little Ones, Holidays, Birthdays, and Special Occasions, and Keepsakes & Forget-Me-Nots. The last section of the book is dedicated to finishing techniques.

Patterns can all be found at the back of the book, most are at full-size, except for the Zodiac, Family Tree, Wedding Table Markers, and various alphabets, which need enlarging. The patterns are not iron-ons and need to be transferred or traced.

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Here are a few projects I adored...

The Simple Stitch Sampler
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You Are Here
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Crossed Arrows & Banner
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Nursery Alphabet
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Zodiac
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Message in a Bottle
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But the book was not all that I was lucky enough to receive! Jessica also sent this beautiful Orion Kit, from her Miniature Rhino shop, which she would also like to offer one lucky Feeling Stitchy reader in this giveaway!

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Isn't it beautiful?

To win, all you need to do is leave a comment - tell us which of the projects I pictured is your favorite, and who you might give it to. I'll leave comments open through Sunday, August 4, 2013, at 9 PM, when I will close them and choose one random winner to receive a book and kit. This giveaway is also open to our International readers!

Thank you again, Jessica, for sharing this wonderful book with us!

Mãos de fada - fairy hands

Olá! In the past weeks I've been working on some Portuguese traditional patterns, trying to gather some motifs that I want to make available. Fiancé kerchiefs were the first ones to claim my attention. I've done some research, trying to understand which are the most authentic motifs, the ones that respect the certification process that now rules this type of embroidery.

I share with you some of my finds...
There are not very precise rules for the motifs nor for the colors... However, love is the most important source of inspiration and primary colors are the most common. Tracing appears to be very asymmetric on the popular kerchiefs and the triangular interpretations predominate. There is a list of stitches that are accepted but I would say that stem stitch is really the one that characterizes this regional embroidery, followed by satin stitch.

Soon I'll tell you more about the most typical symbols found on this type of embroidery... Today I bring you some very simple but beautiful pieces of embroidery using patterns inspired by fiancé kerchiefs.

They were brought to me by a dear neighbour that lives down the street. They were embroidered by someone that has mãos de fada (fairy hands) an expression we use describing someone with a special ability and talent for handwork... Her name is Maria Alice. And they were not gifts of passion but gifts of friendship.

Fiancé kerchief patterns
Hearts - one of the most popular symbols used in fiancé kerchiefs
Small fiancé kerchief
A very small fiancé kerchief - together forever, year of 2007
Fiancé kerchief pattern
To keep a jar of jam...

Next week I have more...


   

Shed, and Pigeon embroidery production

I love working in the shed, it gives me the feeling I am actually going out to work rather than getting up and sitting down to it in my kitchen/studio with my tea and porridge and not stopping till the jobs are done. I NEED a girl Friday, any offers? Bored graduate who loves textiles and would not mind roughing it in a quaint, beautiful, no mod cons cottage for a few months .... get in touch!

Here are some pictures of my little garden studio/shed. Biddy loves it too and sleeps behind me on the futon. Though during the heat it was all a bit much for her and she kept asking me to turn down the thermostat, which I tried explain was not really up to me, which just made her sulky and bad tempered, and refuses a licky lolly. Ruby the dog next door likes to be hosed down, with much hysterical and excitable yelping. Does make me smile!

And here some pictures of the next piece I am working on, "The Pigeon" embroidery, on the go as an infant and as it grows. It is a large piece and is tiresome to get through the machine with all the twisting and turning necessary when doing these embroideries but a couple more weeks should do it! Then I will post it!

The Etzy shop is exciting too ... There I will have one off pieces and other things, just really an alternative audience source hopefully. I feel uncomfortable about putting prices here on the blog ... but the Swallow is £110 unframed but beautifully finished with a linen backing and edges. But on Etzy I won't feel so bad. It all feels a bit spammy somehow. What do you think? I will let the world know (!) when it is all spik and span and ready to visit!

Teaching tomorrow at The Sewing Space so if your coming along I really am looking forward to meeting you and having a great day!

Embroidery on the go ...
The Pigeon being embroidered on hottest day ...
Pigeon embroidery on the go
The small but lovely interior of my summer workplace!


My own and my father's old brushes he used for his oil paintings, and an lovely old anglepoise lamp

Applique stage
Cuckoo under construction
Applique stage
First stage of laying out the Pigeon pieces. Velvet, silk, prints, ready for embroidery...

Biddy very much at the end of her tether
Biddy complaining about the heat


Rayon embroidery threads
The boxes of Rayon threads I use

Rain, heat, pleasure and Swallow embroidery

I am writing with the blessed sound of rain on dry parched garden, great big luscious drops and it is fantastic. Yesterday I found work so hard in the shed as there is a breeze most of the day but when the sun comes round it is like a microwave, and the most I sweated (pardon me using the word) the more the  ... thunder flies stuck to me until I was almost weeping with the irritation ... little tiresome so and sos (can one swear on blogs?) The rain is lovely and I have to say I am not one for heatwaves when there is stuff to do ...
But ... I have also worked out one of the things in life which gives me enormous PLEASURE ... not half naked young men, not chocolate, not shopping for shoes, but a piece of new equipment ... ahhhh yes. On Saturday I bought a reconditioned Pfaff expression 2048 to replace my tired 15 year old one ... in part exchange which I am drooling over since, everything WORKS, it has countless new stitches to play with, and I just love it. It makes work a pleasure, eliminates the swearing and curses and it is the ultimate in stitchery satisfaction. So as a result of this purchase I can work so much better .... also same day bought three proper bras for the first time in three years! That pleasure was great also. The lady in BHS was an absolute darling who I will never forget, and thank you dear Eileen who came to help me on a very hot old day. I now have a cleavage again and feel great!

Velvet, silk, printed cotton, blues and terracotta rayon threads
Swallow
Now down to business. The Cuckoo has winged it's way off to New Zealand yesterday, Rachel, I hope you enjoy him! I am on a roll now and really loving getting back to this work again. It makes me want to do kits for each design which I am thinking of .... but here is Swallow, 26cm x 17cm a machine embroidery with some hand stitching also. Old (note deliberate lack of words "vintage" and "retro") velvets, silks and own printed fabrics. The next one is The Pigeon from our poster design which I have had half finished for months, and one day would love to make into a kit, maybe for Christmas ...anyway enquiries about this embroidery to info@modernvintageembroiderydress.blogspot.com
Velvet, silk, printed cotton, blues and terracotta rayon threads

Velvet, silk, printed cotton, blues and terracotta rayon threads


Velvet, silk, printed cotton, blues and terracotta rayon threads

Velvet, silk, printed cotton, blues and terracotta rayon threads
And lastly Many Thanks to all at http://www.rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.co.uk/ for a lovely feature on this great blog, which has a weekly creative review on a Tuesday, which is such a fantastic idea ... so get over there and check it out!