July is Day Lily Month

By on 7-23-2010 in art quilts, Fabric Postcards, Original Pattern, Original photos

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Day Lilies are my favourite wild flower. They grow everywhere, lending their bright orange colour to even the dullest days. I don’t have to water or feed or weed them. These two photos are from the plants growing beside the driveway. They make my heart sing every time I look out the window during the month of July.

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I couldn’t leave this astounding image alone. Here is a pattern for the day lily. This flower would look great on a postcard. I created it in the Quilt Assistant software which can be found by clicking the link: www.cosman.nl/software_en in my “sites I love” column on the right side. I use Quilt Assistant software often, setting up a library of images that I can use when I feel the creative urge. It works well, is easy to use and best of all it is free.

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Christmas in July

By on 7-14-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Original Pattern

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Summer is finally here to stay. It is hot, hot, hot. July is another snowman month. This time Freddy is wrapped up in a stocking cap. He is outlined in chain stitch and French knots give him his polka dots. Enjoy and feel free to use this pattern as well as the first Freddy pattern from March. A mention would be great and expected as a goodwill gesture.

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Christmas in June

By on 6-30-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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A black work embroidered angel from McCall’s Needlework Magazine, July/August 1982 heralds Christmas morning in style. The stitch instructions are included with the pattern. She would look good as a door ornament or a little Christmas quilt to throw over a rocking chair. A matching tree skirt could round out the set as well.

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Kewpie Dolls…..remembering the little bisque dolls with blue wings

By on 6-24-2010 in Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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Kewpie dolls are one of my favourite embroidery patterns. When I was a small child Kewpie dolls with their little blue wings were my companions during nap time. These days of the week Kewpie doll embroidery patterns come from McCall’s Needlework and Crafts September 1988 Collector’s Edition. They were first published during the 1930’s. They are so sweet and cuddly. They would make a great conversation piece embroidered onto a cafe curtain in your kitchen.

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This pattern is for Wednesday, a sewing day of course. The full seven days of the week are in a 824kb pdf document ready for download

Kewpie Doll Days of the Week, McCall’s Needlework and Crafts, September 1988 Collector’s Edition

Kit Nicol’s “Painting with Thread…..Embroidered Pictures to Make and Cherish”

By on 6-21-2010 in art quilts, Artists and Authors that I love

nullPainting with thread……Embroidered pictures to make and cherish by Kit Nicol.  This book was published in 2000 by Collins & Brown of Great Britain.  Kit Nicol brings her paintings to life through paint and embroidery.  Her tutorials begin with designing your own sketches using colours and paint.  She covers materials required and different techniques using several kinds of thread and stitches including 3-D effects. The stitch tutorials are very clear with lots of photos and illustrations. The book includes 14 sketches from landscapes to human expression including the fountain on the front cover.