Embroidery Book #2 by Aimee Ray

My youngest daughter is taking a needlework class through 4H and they have some beautiful crewel embroidery sampler pillows in the works. She and I have also been working on some "Doodle Stitching" from Aimee Ray's first book by the same title at home. It is an excellent book! I have loaned it to a sweet girl at church for now. So in its place is the new Aimee Ray embroidery book. It has some equally cute projects in it and all the patterns come on a cd, so you don't have to trace or scan out of the book. She has made it very user friendly this time around. The instructions are clear and she gives helpful hints, like the color numbers of the threads she used in the project. This would make an excellent Christmas gift for young girls just getting started or Grandmas who like to do personalized gifts for grandchildren. I have a plan for some of the small sweet designs in this sequel! I did finish my little bird design from the first book.

A Little Birdie Told Me

I haven't done much in the way of knitting/embroidery lately due to my wrist, but I think it is healing. The strain pain doesn't seem so bad anymore.  Night before last I was drooling through my Doodle Stitching book by Aimee Ray and decided to try a little myself.  She has this cute baby block quilt in the book with a sweet little birdie design.  I simply traced the pattern onto vellum and then outlined it with a black Sharpie. Then I cut a square of the same buttercream linen I used for my Sashiko embroidery.  I haven't gotten very far, but I like the design. I thik there are 8-10 stitches used on this particular pattern. It is an easy take-along project.

A Little Bit of Doodlin' If You Please

I really love my Doodle Stitching book, but alas have had very little time to spend with it. Last night I decided to sit down and tackle two stitches. I chose the threaded running stitch and the fly stitch. They are both pretty easy to do. Actually the writier of the book makes them all look easy and she gives excellent instructions. I used 6 strands of floss. Most of them use the full 6 strands. I wondered how this curling stitch would stay in place and the answer is -it doesn''t. You can still physically move the thread under the straight stitches. It is nice to be able to even everything up at the end, but unless I was going to frame my work I would be a bit apprehensive to use this stitch on something that gets a lot of wear. I doubt I would use it on a quilt unless I could anchor the running stitch after I was done. It is very pretty and on something framed, I would use it in a heartbeat. The fly stitch is used to make stems for flowers. I haven't added the blooms to my flowers yet. I hope to do more of this on my trip. Thought I would give you a peek.

New Book-Take a Look!

I was at a friend's house tonight and she had this book. She has already done some of the stitching in it and it is so neat! I might just use my Hancock's gift card on this. I love all the stitches and little patterns and pictures. Can't wait to get it and do some artwork.