Friday, August 26, 2011

Sewing Room Sampler

Hi Kids!
Are you ready for the weekend? I sure am!

So hey, here's a little something I've been working on, I wasn't going to share it with y'all yet because it's not complete, but I'm excited because a small piece of it was featured on We Love French Knots yesterday.

We Love French Knots is a new website, and it's all about embroidery. "Modern Embroidery Inspired By Grandma", how awesome is that? I won't lie, I get a little thrill every time I find a new embroidery site. Embroidery is the best thing ever.
This is a fun little sampler from Bari, of the aforementioned WLFK, you can still find and download the pattern for free on her site.  There are nine squares featuring nine different stitches
  • Running Stitch
  • Lazy Daisy
  • Stem Stitch
  • Back Stitch
  • Chain Stitch
  • Blanket Stitch
Also featured:
Feather Stitch

The Bullion Knot
(This was the picture Bari featured on her website, awww... thanks Bari!!)
These were my very first Bullion Knots. I know I should have practiced them on some scrap fabric first in case I made a mess, but I didn't think that far ahead... good thing they came out ok!

 And of course,
The French Knot.

As you can see, I'm almost finished with the embroidery part. I only have to finish the names of the stitches, which I will do in tiny back stitches. I'm waffling on the color though, it's between the lighter green (used in the Feather Stitch) and a bright lavender, almost purple... I'm leaning towards the purple.

What say you, my people?

After I finish the embroidery, I'm going to finish it in one of two ways, either as a pillow for the chair in my craft room, or as a quilted wall hanging, something similar to this.

If you guys come across any new embroidery, or generally cool sites, blogs or whatnot that you think are fun, please! By all means, pass that info on to me and help a sister out. I love visiting new blogs!
Speaking of new blogs, I see a few new followers up there, yay!! Welcome aboard, friends! I'm so glad to have you here! Don't be shy, jump in and say hello! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
oxo,
Lisa 

Friday, August 19, 2011

Snip, snip, pin!

Howdy!
So, I got a bit of a wild hair a couple of days ago, and lobbed off about six inches of my hair, wanna see?

Ok, but first I'll share the same quick disclaimer I shared with my embroidery pals on Facebook.

These pictures are kinda dorky because, well... I am a dork. Also, I'm not one of those people who takes pictures of themselves in the mirror and I felt like an idiot. I'm usually the one BEHIND the camera. But I digress...

I'm pretty happy with it. I'm a low-maintenance girl, the less the fuss, the better, and even though this cut still needs to be blown out & flat-ironed, it requires no hairspray - LOVE!

So yeah... that.

Moving right along! Do you Pin? I do... oh Pinterest... why you gotta be so awesome? I've just started, but lordy, I like it! It's so fun, and so terribly addictive! I think it can be a great tool and resource too, say if you're... uh... I don't know, planning a WEDDING! (Heehee, that was for my bestie, Melissa! She's just become engaged, yaaaaaay!)

Here's a link to my Pinterest account, please feel free to surf on over and join the party!
Follow Me on Pinterest

I'm going to add a link button over on my side bar as well, just under my Flickr link.

Oh yes, fun, fun, fun!
Speaking of fun, in just a few hours Jill and I will be off to the city for a girls day! We both decided that a trip to the coast was in order, sometimes you just need to see the ocean.

Have a great weekend, lovelies!
oxo,
Lisa

Monday, August 15, 2011

WIP-lash!

WIP's... oh yeah, I got some. Lots actually. See, while I wasn't posting these last few weeks I have been busy.

My work table is full right now, totally covered in WIPS, there's some on the sewing desk too, add to that one draped over the back of my chair, and another laid out on the floor, hehehe... this is not good people. Please tell me I'm not the only crazy person who does this! I have six different projects "on the hoop" and three stacks of fabric waiting to be made into specific somethings... but that's just the beginning, you should see the actual list I've got going... eeeegads! And it's not even time to start making "you know what" presents yet.

Yeesh.

So, tonight, on the eve of my 37th birthday (double-eeeegads!) I'm going to watch Despicable Me, slap some peanut butter cookies in the oven and get to stitchin'! I need to stitch like the wind!

I think I'll drink black tea tonight, I think I'll be up a while.

So tell me chums, what're you working on?
oxo,
Lisa

p.s. No joke, I really am turning 37 tomorrow, and guess what Jill and I are going to The Crown & Crumpet for tea in San Francisco on Saturday, weeeeeeee!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

LMAO, I'm a winner!

Hey All You Beautiful People!
Thank you all so very, very much for all the kind and thoughtful comments you left on my last post about the embroidery of the Wynken, Blynken & Nod. You guys make me feel like I could fly, seriously. You're the best!

I wanted to reply to each and everyone of you, but I kept running into snags, many of you are "No Reply" bloggers. Have you heard of that before? When your comments come to me through my email address, I can easily respond and keep the conversation going, which is great - especially since you know me - I'm a chatty girl! Many times however, when I hit "reply" up in the address bar where your email address would normally appear, it simply says "No Reply" (insert sad face here)...  so I can't write back to you. Don't know if you're a "No Reply" blogger? I didn't know myself until I followed the steps I'm about to share with you. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'm sharing a link to Karen's blog, Sew Many Ways. Click here to see if you're a no reply blogger, and if so, she'll tell ya how to change that if you're so inclined.

So hey! How've you been?!? Are you having a nice summer? It's been a while since I posted, and I guess that means I've been having a pretty nice summer too. I've been spending lots of time at the river with the dogs, goofing off and splashing around, and I have several cool embroidery and crafty projects in the works that I'll be able to share soon. I feel like I have so much to tell you guys! I guess I better blog more often so I don't overload you :o)

Today I want to do a little bit of braggin'! I won a little something recently from a rad, rad, rad lady! Even though I haven't met her in person, I'd consider her a friend, let me introduce you to Bex! Bex actually won a giveaway here on my blog a little while back, so you may remember her from then, but if not, go check out all the cool stuff she makes. She has an Etsy shop too, looky-looky!

Want to see what I won, hmm?

A very clever bookmark!
Watch out, you could literally LMAO too! Actually, maybe that's not such a bad idea... I've got some extra back there, maybe I need to laugh more and some of it will fall off? One can only hope! 

Oh, this "cracks" me up, harr-harr!

Thanks Bex, I love it! I'm actually using it in the book you recently recommended, The Historian. I'm only a few pages in, so far but I have a feeling this is going to be a very, very good book.

Well, ok folksies! I'm gonna let cha go, but I'll be back soon! I promise, no more 4 weeks between posts. That's far too long to be away from all you lovely people.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
oxo,
Lisa