Christmas Countdown #13: Erica Hite

Continuing the vintage Christmas charm are these lovely Felt Christmas Ornaments patterns by artist Erica Hite. I love how these patterns can either take a lot or a little embellishment and still look fantastic!

Christmas Countdown #12: Daisy Eyes Handmade

This Silent Night pattern by Daisy Eyes Handmade has so many beautiful touches. I love the variety of colors and stitches, and the wonderful vintage look.

Friday Instagram Finds No. 32 with Random Acts of Amy

Hello Dear Readers! Well, I goofed today and didn't have a post scheduled to go out early this morning so readers around the world would see Friday Instagram Finds first thing. I also hadn't contacted anyone to let them know I'd be featuring their Instagram account. I didn't want anyone to feel shafted, so I thought I'd let you know what I've been up to lately.

I have been making, making, making for the two holiday markets I'm in this year. Last night was the first, Rockford Handmade Market at the Prairie Street Brewhouse. It was so much fun! I got to see so many old friends (I'm from Rockford, but now live two hours away), and meet so many new people.

A week from tomorrow, on Saturday, December 12th I'm in the first annual Sugarplum Market at North Main Studios. Between my full time day job at the Library, and this market coming up, I am going to be super busy stitching nights and this weekend away for the foreseeable future! Here are some of my pictures from Instagram.

@randomactsofamy

This is me at Rockford Handmade Market last night. Image by: @randomactsofamy

This is my Black Friday haul - 300 skeins of DMC floss! Image by @randomactsofamy

This is one of the larger ornaments (4") I made this year. Image by @randomactsofamy

Snowflake ornaments on navy linen fabric with vintage bugle bead accents. Image by @randomactsofamy

That's it for this week's edition of Friday Instagram Finds! Join in the conversation by commenting below. You can find Feeling Stitchy on Instagram at the handle @feelingstitchyish. You can find Amy @randomactsofamy on Instagram.

Want to be featured in Friday Instagram Find? Tag your best stitch-related photos with #feelingstitchyig!

Patterns: Mushrooms

Mushrooms stitched by Sew Jenissance

Sew Jenissance has stitched up this lovely vintage pattern provided by Doe C Doe, isn't all the different stitches used on this one gorgeous? I particularly love the fill stitching.

Friday Instagram Finds No. 23 with Tiny Cup

It's October - hooray! While I don't much care for the Fall (allergies, you know), October is my favorite month because it contains my birthday and Halloween - my two favorite holidays! :) I hope you're having a great Friday so far, read on to see work from...

@tinycup_

Britt of Tiny Cup Needleworks creates beautifully intricate and small hand embroidery that features skulls and skeletons. Her embroidery stitches are beautiful and precise, and I appreciate that she shares her works in progress until completion so we can see her process.

Here's an example of one of Britt's works in progress. It's very smart of her to have multiple needles going at once! I have a tendency to have a "favorite" needle at any given point in time which makes floss changes a pain.

Image by @tinycup_

Look at the scale of this piece! It's so little, yet intricately embroidered. Britt's bullion knot rose is stunning, and the floss palette she used (and uses in her work) has an antique, yet modern look that is very appealing.

Image by @tinycup_

This skeleton wearing an oldey-timey nurse's cap reminds me of an image I would see on an album cover, which is a very good thing! Britt has a picture on her IG feed before this one that shows the scale using a quarter near the head, and my guess is that the whole piece isn't much bigger than 5" total. There's such a phenomenal amount of detail in such a small piece. It proves the old adage that bigger isn't always better!

Image by @tinycup_

I don't know what the scale of this piece is, but I image it's quite small, which makes the detail in the skull's face remarkable.

Image by @tinycup_

That's it for this week's edition of Friday Instagram Finds! Join in the conversation by commenting below. While you're on Instagram checking out Britt's work at @tinycup_, and make sure you follow Feeling Stitchy! We'd love for you to stop by and say hello. You can find Feeling Stitchy on Instagram at the handle @feelingstitchyish. You can find Amy @randomactsofamy on Instagram.

Want to be featured in Friday Instagram Find? Tag your best stitch-related photos with #feelingstitchyig!

!!! Fall ArtScene in Rockford, IL !!!
This is a reminder that I'm showing three pieces of hand embroidery with Dia de los Muertos designs at Lucette Salon and Spa at 508 East State Street, Rockford, IL as a part of the Rockford Area Arts Council's Fall ArtScene! ArtScene is this Friday and Saturday, and you can read the details here. If you're in the Northern Illinois area, I hope you'll stop by. I'll be at Lucette the evening of Saturday, October 3rd, which also happens to be my birthday!

Guest Post: A Stitched Wedding by Grace Myers Martin

I was really excited when Grace emailed us photos of her wedding - there were so many sweet stitched elements, and I had to share it with all of you. So please enjoy this guest post by Grace!

Photography by Becca Dilley | www.beccadilley.com

When Andy and I got engaged, we were so excited to fill our wedding with our style and lots of personal touches. For him, this meant a fall date, great food and fun music. For me, this meant a vintage style and lots of hand-crafted elements.

Andy’s mom, a super talented crafter, knew just where I was coming from. We decided to knit shawls for the bridesmaids and hand stitch signs for the church and library reception. Certainly no small feat. Our excitement blinded us as to how large (and slightly crazy) an undertaking this was—and I’m so glad it did!

Andy’s mom, Mary Jo, stitched the larger signs for the church and reception. It was truly amazing to see her amazing crewelwork highlighting the two spaces. The signs are so detailed, personal and (as you can see) gorgeous. They added so much beauty to our day.

When I first saw all the embroidery she completed, I was so humbled. I could only think of all the hours she devoted to this project—and making my vision a reality.

I imagine all the time she spent stitching, all the while dreaming about the big day, reminiscing about Andy when he was a little kid and praying for our happy marriage. I think about how generous she is with her time, not just while we were planning the wedding, but every day. These stitches are proof to the joy and creativity she brings to everything she touches.

When I look at the photos of her embroidery now, I’m overwhelmed by my gratitude. I have not one, but two loving, supportive and joyful moms (and dads, too!), whom are my best friends. Working with them on different wedding projects was one of the best parts of the entire process, and something we’ll cherish forever.

We enlisted help from women throughout the families to help knit lace shawls for the bridesmaids—Andy's mom and aunt, my grandmother (my dad's mom), who coincidentally was the woman who taught me how to knit, and I knitted the six shawls. One of my favorite moments from the wedding was seeing all my bridesmaids together with their beautiful shawls knitted by women throughout different generations and branches of our families.

My first stitching project was an impromptu one that I took on after deciding to wear my grandmother’s wedding dress, which my mother also wore when she married my dad. I stitched our three names and wedding dates onto a blue ribbon, which the seamstress sewed into the bottom edge of the dress.

Even though this is a touch that no one could see, I loved that this small detail paid homage to my grandmother and mom—and their loving marriages—and made this heirloom dress that much more special.

I also began working on a larger project: a quote by Joseph Campbell that I found on pinterest (of course). I didn’t have a clear vision of how it would be used in the wedding, but I was so inspired and got stitching right away.

With a large scrap of Anna Maria Horner’s voile in a pretty light blue color, I used a chain stitch to create the letters, and added some subtle detail with backstitches. In the end, this sign decorated our head table. It’s one of my favorite embroidery accomplishments to date.

My other stitching projects were much more simple and smaller in scale. For the table numbers, I drew inspiration from BHLDN’s Hollyhock numbers and found the perfect silk dupioni fabric in a champagne color at a fabric store in St. Paul.

I stitched simple numbers surrounded with a floral and leaf motif, using the backstitch and lazy daisy stitch, then placed them into five-inch wooden hoops. I love how the table numbers, along with the beautiful flowers, soften the library space and add handmade charm.

About a month before the wedding, I finished all the table numbers and decided to keep stitching (I’m crazy, remember?) With the remaining silk, I created signs for our chair backs, echoing the floral motif from the table numbers and the light blue color from the Thomas Campbell quote. I also stitched a sweet phrase for the cake table with our family photos.

While our wedding would have been just as fun and special without all the stitching, I’m so glad that we took on this labor of love.

I can honestly say that it never stressed me out. Actually, it was the opposite: settling into the couch with our little puppy sitting on my feet, focusing on one stitch at a time helped me to relax and remember what was really important: marrying my best friend and the support of our amazing family.

With hand embroidery, there’s no choice but to embrace the slow pace and find beauty in your imperfections. It’s what I love about stitching any day, but especially in the months leading up to our wedding.

Thank you, Grace - for sharing your photos and stitching with us! For more on Grace, visit her blog.
All photos are credited to Becca Dilley, view more photos of the wedding on the photographer's blog.

Sweet snail

stitched by xperimentl

I have to say, I agree with this sentiment! So much of our current world is about viewing and acting and consuming life at top speed. One of the loveliest things about crafting is that it puts you in touch with impulses that are the opposite of that. Thanks, xperimentl, for your wonderful stitching, and Happy Friday to you all! :)

Auntie's Challah Cover

Stitched by ApocalyseHow

I adore this simple vintage Challah cover, as stitched by ApocalyseHow. She says under her photo that her great-aunt began the embroidery on this piece, and she completed it. I love projects like this that span many generations - as if with our skills, we are capable of conversing across time, and sharing meaningful moments with each other. Bravo, ApocalyseHow! :)

New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns - September Stitch Along with Interviews!

Hi, everyone, hope everyone is enjoying the new interview format for my monthly round-up post for the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns (NEwVP) stitch-alongs (SALs). I think it is really fun and interesting to get to know some of the people behind the stitches!  (If there are questions you wish I was asking, please let me know in the comments!)  The theme for the September SAL was simply to pick any vintage embroidery pattern of your choice but to learn and use new, fancy embroidery stitches  -- which is such a good idea because it helps us break out of our stitchy routine of using the same ol' stitches!

As always, I invite all of you to join our New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns group or at least stop by and take a peek.  There are lots of new embroideries with vintage patterns being added on a regular basis that are totally unrelated to any monthly SAL.  Plus, since I'm doing an interview format now, I'm not able to show-off all the beautiful SAL stitcheries in our photo pool!  Mom Walds Place & I are are also on working on making the "discussion" part of our group more chatty so keep your eyes out for new discussion posts by various NEwVP members.  Since last month, sugarglider500 has added two new discussion posts to our group:  the joy of gloriana silk floss and sulky blendables thread for embroidery.

Meet Flickr peep, Mom Walds Place, the founder of the NEwVP Flickr group!

1.  Please tell us why you created the NEwVP group on Flickr.
I love vintage items and vintage patterns. People were making beautiful vintage inspired embroideries, and sharing them on Flickr. It occured to me that it would be wonderful to see them all together in one group.

Meeting some of these fabulous stitchers sounded like fun too. Wow, was I right!

2.  Please tell us about your vintage embroidery pattern stash.
My personal stash of vintage patterns has been growing by bits and bits. I sell complete patterns in my shop, so my collection is made up of orphans. I'll confess, that if I love a pattern that I am selling, I scan it first.

With so many wonderful folks sharing public domain vintage embroideries in the Flickr Hoop Love Group my collection is big enough now, that I can find a pattern to suit any project.

For quite a while I was collecting vintage embroidery patterns of flower baskets. I finally have a project for them, the Quilty Stitch Along the NewVP Group is doing.  (And here are just a few of the lovelies Moms Walds Place has stitched up!)

3.  Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Myself? We have been homeschooling our three kiddos for fifteen years now, so that is where most of my time and efforts are spent. When Hubby suggested I could go back to school for art, since the kids are older students now, I told him what I really wanted to do was have my own antiques and vintage shop. It has been a dream of mine ever since I was younger, and spent rambling Saturdays with my mom and sister on road trips to find treasures. All of these adventures and challenges have been in southern Wisconsin where the leaves are starting to turn a bit early this year.

I find myself encouraging others to live simply but beautifully. If you need to purchase some glasses for your home, they should be ones that make you smile. You can use a vintage pitcher that reminds you of grandma for flowers instead of a generic vase. When zoning out in front of the television after a long day, stitch some napkins up while you watch, and have something useful and pretty when when you are done. It has been fun teaching folks to embroider a fun bag to use instead of a generic store one. Life is short, even the little things should be worth it.

4. Tell us a bit about the embroidery (specifically your September SAL piece) you made.
The members of the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns Group have been very encouraging and helpful with trying new things with embroidery.  Their enthusiasm inspired the September Stitch Along Theme of an embroidery sampler using a vintage pattern.  The idea of a sampler made me think of cookies, and the pattern I chose immediately came to mind.  It is a good example of using colors and themes we are comfortable with, while reaching out and experimenting with some new techniques.  The blue of the china is like my favorite vintage blue and white kitchen pieces, and the cookies are a delightful way to try new "flavors" of stitches.  Hmm, maybe I should try some new cookie recipes too.

Fancy new stitches!  Fly stitch with lazy daisies!

This vintage plate was the inspiration!

Mmmm.... stitchy cookies......

5. How long have you been stitching? What or who got you started?
I grew up with crafty women, and was allowed to pick out embroidery kits when I was a kid. It was a smart way for them to keep me busy. Although I had not done any for years, it was natural for me to choose embroidery to do while my mind was teaching the little ones. Now that they are bigger I still spend lots of time waiting and stitching.

6.  Why do you like vintage embroidery patterns?  Do you have a favorite one or a favorite theme?
Vintage and antique items are my favorite types of things. It's their history that intrigues me. The stories they could tell. Especially items that were primarily a woman's domain. Actual embroidered pieces speak to my heart. The variety of patterns that were available became astounding through the years. What made stitcher choose one over another? How styles and types of patterns changed in accordance with fashion and culture is fascinating.

Dishes are my favorite themes. So much so in fact, that I have started designing some of my own. Flowers are another favorite. Recently I took some photos of roses that are just like the ones I stitched on my August SAL Teapot. Fruits and veggies are always fun too. Stitching up a set of nine towels featuring fruits and veggies for a friend was great fun, as were blocks for a Veggie Market Embroidered Quilt.

7.  Do you have a favorite embroidery stitch?  If so, why?
The stem stitch is my all time favorite embroidery stitch. As an artist, I have always had a fascination with lines, and the stem stitch bends and swirls along so wonderfully. It is also easy to do one handed while the other holds the hoop making it nice to do while I pay attention to something or someone else.

8.  Anything else you would like to share?
When I meet people who ask, usually while I am doing handwork in public, why I would take the time for something so tedious, I am thrilled for the chance to explain. I share with them how repetitive handwork can be soothing, a background for thinking things through. How intricate patterns can prevent me from worrying. It gives me a chance to share about my love for creativity, and beauty even in little things. If we have enough time, we can even start discussing how history and learning enrich life.
It all starts with a simple thread.

How to find Mom Walds Place online...   Blog   Etsy   Flickr

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and meet just one of the many terrifically talented stitchers in our NEwVP group!  Please do stop by to visit!  The details for our October SAL have already been posted!

Patterns - (NOT SAFE FOR WORK) States of undress

Just to warn you, the pattern featured below, although perfectly tasteful (and some may consider a little tame) contains nudity and therefore if that is not your thing, you may wish to skip the pattern post this week.

So to shamelessly rip off Mr. X Stitch's NSFW Saturdays, do not go below the cute picture of baby flamingos (who knew they were grey? who knew they could sit on their knees like that? awwwww) if nudity offends you (everyone is going to think this piece is far more graphic than it actually is now!).

We did warn you

States of Undress by sewclever

I love sewclever's stitching of these vintage patterns from vintage embroidery pattern superstar Brian Campbell's Flickr stream. You can find the patterns here and here (I also particularly love the Made in Hawaii pinup in the second link).

Embroidery invasion

Stitched by Hanne

I adore the way Hanne added a fierce, bloodthirsty creature to a found embroidered tablecloth. Her creature is stitched every bit as beautifully as the found embroidery, and I love the hilarious, delicate touches like the blood trickling from the picked stems - tiny details that make this a true embroidery invasion... :)

Gorgeous work, Hanne!

New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns - June/July Contest Round-Up

Hi, everyone!  Just stopping by for my monthly round-up post for the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns group on Flickr.  This month my post is extra special (at least to me!) because NEwVP hosted a contest with tons of terrific prizes!  The contest ran from June 20 - July 20.

There were 3 different categories a stitcher could enter.  I invite y'all to take a peek in the contest photo galleries:  (1) modified pattern, (2) one pattern, many stitchers, and (3) summer theme.

I know the judges had such a difficult time choosing just 1 winner from each of the 3 categories. There are some seriously talented stitchers out there in Flickr-land!

The judges (Brooke from Colonial Patterns, Vicki from PatternBee, and Emily from The Floss Box) have selected the following category winners:

"covered bridge" by sugarglider500 from the summer theme category



"this picnic is ruined!" by mnethia from the modified pattern category




"make tea not war" by one plaid aunt from the one pattern, many stitchers category



From these 3 category winners, 1 grand prize winner will be chosen.  And although the online poll to choose the grand prize winner was created on Wednesday, July 25, there is still time for you to cast your vote for the grand prize winner so please CLICK HERE to vote.  The online poll will be closed sometime between 3pm - 5pm EST on Sunday, July 29.  The grand prize winner (and 8 door prize winners!) will be announced in the NEwVP group on Monday, July 30.... so definitely stop by our group to hear all the news! 


Here are some "summer of vintage stitchy love" contest photos that show fantastic close-up stitchy details:

From Mom Walds Place



From funkembroidery



from weekers99



from ThimbleNest



from anyakase1



from ~PixieFey~



from xperimentl



from annepoptart



from stitchin'kat



Thanks again to all who joined our group to either participate or just watch the contest festivities -- we had nearly 150 new members join!  I invite everyone to join our NEwVP group as all the details for the August Stitch along have been posted!  Of course, any photos of new embroidery with vintage patterns are welcome to be shared at anytime!  Keep an eye out for my next "round-up" post on Saturday, August 25.  This upcoming Feeling Stitchy post will feature our NEwVP August stitch-along.  I'm going to try a different format and provide different kinds of information so I hope y'all will like it!  Happy stitching everyone!