Project a Month: Jenny Blair Kit finish

I've finished my lovely Jenny Blair Owl kit in record time! When I last left you, I was about to stitch the final full moon in padded satin stitch...

Here's how I began, scattering seed stitch across the moon. I then followed up with 2 strands of thread satin stitch, at times doubling up where the fabric peeked through.

Next I started on the owl details, once again using stem stitch for the top of the owl's wing...

Then I did satin stitch for the curved upper part of the wing - I loved the smooth texture...

Then more satin stitch in the opposite direction, on the lower parts of the wing.

Here's how it stood before adding the french knots... admittedly my satin stitch was a bit clumsy, I always struggle with satin stitch on perfectly circular shapes. I also thought the owl wing needed something more...

So I added a few metallic highlights on the bottom of the wing, like so...

And here it is, finished - all in all, it's a lovely kit, and I'm glad I was able to fit this into my end of year stitching! I love the texture effect of the stem stitch, I'll have to remember to revisit stem stitch often in the future.

I had plenty of thread left over when I was finished! The only thread that I almost used up was the metallic thread (seen in the lower part of the photo), so do be careful with that if you order this kit, there isn't enough to make mistakes. :) I used 3 strands throughout, except for satin stitch, where I used 2 strands. I used the needle Jenny provided in the kit for my stitching - it was thin and very sharp - I did poke myself a few times, so be careful of that as well!

This kit is just wonderful for the price - the materials and design are just beautiful, I'm so glad I stitched it, and highly recommend Jenny's Etsy store, Jenny Blair Kits. I hope you enjoyed my quick progress on this project as much as I did!

Previous Posts

First post: http://www.feelingstitchy.com/2019/12/project-month-jenny-blair-owl-kit.html
Second post: http://www.feelingstitchy.com/2019/12/project-month-jenny-blair-kit-progress.html

Wonderful Wednesday #79: Lily Adelaide Upton

Well, my year of stitching one project a month is almost over, and I admit, if I only had more time, THIS Christmas Beetle Kit would have been my December project! Isn't it lovely? I know some people are not fans of bugs, but I adore insects, and I love this twist on a simple wreath.

Lily offers this pattern in 3 versions in her Etsy store, if you'd like to stitch this:

As a kit:

As a digital tutorial with detailed stitch directions:

As a PDF pattern:

The kit looks gorgeous, so I'd lean towards that, but if you already have fabric and threads ready, the other two options would work well too!

Follow Lily @lilyadleaideupton on Instagram for more loveliness!

Project a Month: Jenny Blair Owl Kit

I've had my eye on this Jenny Blair Owl Kit ever since I first saw it on Jenny's Instagram account - it is just lovely! I am quite behind on my monthly projects - this should have been October's - so I am hoping for a quick stitch on this one.

There are two versions of this kit, one with black fabric, and one with gray fabric (as above). After much deliberation, I chose the black, as it looked quite dramatic and unique compared to anything I'd done yet this year...

There is something so lovely about this design, isn't there? My reason for choosing this pattern was a wonderful, vivid memory of joy I had from last year, in October when I was on chemotherapy. It was a cold night, and I was having trouble sleeping - I heard a strange barking sound high up in a nearby tree - I stepped out into the cool night air to see the large, mysterious shape of an owl, hooting back at me! It was truly magical, and such a comforting moment of beauty in a difficult time, so I chose this pattern to remember that moment forever. :)

About the kit

This is a lovely, well-designed kit - the hoop is nice and sturdy, and the screen printed fabric is very nice to work with, as it is so difficult to do a good transfer on dark fabric. The included needle is small and very sharp - I'll be using it for my stitching!

The directions are very thorough - with suggestions for stitches to use in each area, and a nice, clear photo of the finished project. If you stitch the kit as Jenny suggests, you'll have a nice sampler of stitches done by the end.

As for myself, I am still on a stem stitching high after finishing my Gimena Romero class pattern, so I chose to do all the branches and leaves in stem stitch...

I love that the threads are already cut in perfect lengths for stitching, so you don't have to fuss with tangling skeins or winding them onto bobbins - this would be a good, small travel project for a plane.

Here is my stitching so far!

If you would like to stitch along (or get this wonderful kit for a friend), this is the Owl Kit by Jenny Blair. More progress soon!

Feeling Random Friday #4 with Oz and Belle

Did you notice I didn't post last Friday? My good friend, Colleen, had her baby a week early on Tuesday, December 4th, and I have been absolutely smitten with him!! Until this past Saturday evening when I became ill, my life was focused on baby Caden and helping Colleen out around her house.

This week we feature Oz and Belle. They are two women, Gina and Sarah, who are friends, colleagues, and first-time mums. I love that the two of them are creating together with embroidery! I would love to have someone local to me who would want to stitch, create, and blog together.

I enjoy the colorfulness of their art, and also their use of mixed media in their embroidery. You can find them on Instagram, Etsy, their Website, Facebook, and their NuMONDAY shop.

Here are some of my favorites from Oz and Belle's Instagram feed!

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A post shared by Oz & Belle (@ozandbelle) on Nov 23, 2018 at 11:06pm PST

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A post shared by Oz & Belle (@ozandbelle) on Nov 14, 2018 at 10:47pm PST

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A post shared by Oz & Belle (@ozandbelle) on Dec 2, 2018 at 12:28am PST

Wonderful Wednesday 64: Hawthorn Handmade

Loving this beautiful Wildwood Embroidery Kit by Hawthorn Handmade - from the description, this kit includes: pre-printed fabric, 6 shades of DMC thread, embroidery hoop, needle, stitch guide, printed card pattern, and gift box. For a kit to include all of that, it looks to be a wonderful deal!

Wonderful Wednesday #55: Tamar Nahir Yanai

This beautiful Autumn Leaves Embroidery Kit by Tamar Nahir Yanai is so simple and perfect. There are several options offered by the shop - printed fabric, kit without hoop, or kit with hoop.

These delicate stitches and soft colors are such a wonderful way to remember fall.

Wonderful Wednesday #54: MLM XOXO

What gorgeous Fall Leaf Embroidery Kits these are by MLM XOXO on Etsy! You may choose from a red leaf duo, acorns, or a dark chestnut leaf and the kits contain: a 4” wood hoop, design drawn on fabric, embroidery floss & needle, grosgrain ribbon, and card stock. I am loving the gorgeous, deep colors used on these!

Wonderful Wednesday #49 : Oh Sew Bootiful

This is quite a lovely Hibiscus Embroidery Kit by Etsy seller Oh Sew Bootiful! I love the bold colors and the beauty of the design - this kit includes, according to the Etsy description: a 6 inch hoop, pre-printed cotton fabric, padding, how-to guide, illustrated stitch instructions, embroidery thread, 2 needles, and a paper pattern.

If you'd like to go it your own way in terms of threads, Oh Sew Bootiful also sells the pre-printed fabric on its own: https://www.etsy.com/listing/539450527/hibiscus-embroidery-pattern-tropical

To find more of Oh Sew Bootiful's embroidery patterns - follow her on Twitter: @ohsewbootiful and on Instagram: @ohsewbootiful.

Giveaway: Rosie's House Plants Embroidery Kit

We were recently contacted by the lovely ladies at Bustle and Sew, who have a treat to share with our readers - they are giving away 1 free embroidery kit of their newest design called "Rosie's House Plants." If you're not familiar with Bustle and Sew, they have been publishing a digital embroidery magazine for some time now, filled with lots of crafty patterns and tips.

This kit couldn't have come at a more perfect time for me - since I, like many others in the crafting world, have suddenly become crazy for plants.

This embroidery kit contains:

cotton panel pre-printed with the design to fit a 9" hoop
pink, green and black floss
a needle
full instructions for working the design, including stitch diagrams and photographs

How to Win

You'll be happy to know ALL of our readers can enter to win, including our international readers! To win, simply leave a comment on this post, and answer this question: Are you better at embroidering plants, or raising plants? (I know what my answer is, as do my plants. :)

I'll leave the comments open through Saturday, Sept. 9, 9 PM CST, when I will close the comments and choose 1 random winner.

Edit: 9/11/17 - Our winner is Silvia! Congrats, Silvia!

Très Chic Stitchery: Sajou Kit Giveaway!

Today we have the treat of showing you some lovely details of this Sajou Embroidery Kit, courtesy of Très Chic Stitchery, who has also sent us 1 additional kit to give away to our readers!

I have seen Sajou threads online, but never in person, so it was a real pleasure to take a look at these threads!

This kit comes with a small square of blue evenweave linen, a card with all the Sajou threads for the design, cotton batting, 2 paper strips with the Jouy fabric pattern to line your box, pattern instructions, and the little cardboard box itself, which looks very much like a little biscuit tin. It would be perfect for storing notions or little keepsakes.

I'd like to thank Très Chic Stitchery for sending us this exquisite little kit, and giving us the chance to share one with you! I'd highly recommend a visit to their shop, if you'd like to see more Sajou items, like scissors, threads, patterns, and other kits.

To enter this giveaway - please leave a comment on this post - this giveaway is US-only, I am sorry for that but we wanted to make sure the winner gets their prize quickly! In your comment please tell us - have you ever used Sajou threads or kits before? Or, what is your favorite item in the Très Chic Stitchery store?

I'll leave comments open through next Saturday, August 5, 12PM CST, when I will close the comments and choose one random winner!

Wonderful Wednesday #43: Namaste Embroidery

We've featured the lovely patterns of Namaste Embroidery before, and I suspect we'll be featuring them again, if this lovely Nevertheless She Persisted kit is any indication.

I love the colors, textures, and sentiments in this gorgeous kit! The kit includes a link to Youtube videos that will walk you through your stitching - sounds super helpful. The kit also includes 10 skeins of DMC embroidery floss, hoop, fabric, needles and design - sounds like everything you'll need.

Wonderful Wednesday #42: Belinda Marshall Kits

Well I suppose by now it's fairly obvious what my favorite colors are - and you can see them all in play in this wonderful Printed Fabric Pattern by Belinda Marshall Kits on Etsy. I thoroughly appreciate the creativity in this abstract piece, and how restful it would be to work at such a pleasing form. I can't wait to see more kits in this exciting new Etsy shop!

Belinda in her own words, from her shop description:

"I am a visual artist {abstract painter} and designer {surface, embroidery} living in Melbourne and working from my studio in Brunswick."

Belinda also sells her fine art prints, cushions, and wall hangings on Etsy, don't miss that inspiring shop as well: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/BelindaMarshallArt

You can see more of Belinda's kits on Instagram: @belindamarshallembroideryworks.

Wonderful Wednesday #36: Hoffelt and Hooper

What a beautiful kit this is, by Hoffelt And Hooper, on Etsy! This kit comes with: Printed cotton fabric (and I love that blue), 5" embroidery hoop, full skeins of DMC embroidery floss, Embroidery Needle, and a PDF stitching guide.

I can't think of a lovelier gift for a stitcher of any skill level! To see more loveliness by Sarah, visit her Instagram.

Wonderful Wednesday #27: Clementine Patterns

In the past week, with all that has happened, I find myself taking comfort in the qualities I see in those that I respect and admire. I don't have to listen to the voices that speak the loudest - if I can filter through and find the voices that speak the truth in love.

So this Fruit of the Spirit pattern by Clementine Patterns really speaks to me this week.

Wonderful Wednesday #23: Cozy Blue

Start Embroidery Kit by Cozy Blue

"Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can" - this is pretty much my mantra in every crafty project I undertake, and the Start Embroidery Kit in Cozy Blue's shop on Etsy.

Cozy Blue needs no introduction here - we have featured Liz's beautiful designs numerous times - and I highly recommend a visit to her shop for some embroidery inspiration.

Wonderful Wednesday #11: Odd Ana Stitch

Squid Embroidery Kit by Odd Ana Stitch

There is something oddly wonderful about this embroidery kit by Odd Ana Stitch on Etsy. I love all the hand-drawn elements of this pattern, and all the extras included in the kit, like a beginner's guide to embroidery, floss, and a beautiful illustrated color guide.

Wonderful Wednesday #8: Nancy Nicholson

Butterflies Pattern by Nancy Nicholson

I am floored by the talented, bright, colorful stitchery of Nancy Nicholson - and this dense Butterflies PDF pattern on Etsy does not disappoint!

If you're looking for a larger challenge, her printed linen kits look impeccable as well, and include a gorgeous drawstring stitchable bag:

Cat Stitch Kit by Nancy Nicholson

Wonderful Wednesday #4: Jenny Blair Art

Bear and Mountains Embroidery Kit by Jenny Blair Art

I love the whimsical quality of this pretty pre-printed kit by Jenny Blair on Etsy. It's so imaginative and her choice of colors is subtle and spot-on. The kit includes floss, pre-printed fabric, needle, hoop, and wonderfully detailed instructions.