back that stitch up...

It's been a while since I had a needle in my hand. Once in a while I get the urge to doodle on fabric and then pock it with a needle for hours... leaving colorful silky marks behind. Very relaxing...

bunny embroidery...

Thank you LOVELY READERS for leaving me such warm comments! I truly appreciate all the LOVE!

The giveaway winner is Melanie O. Please send me your address and I will ship you a copy.

I wish I had 115 copies of the book for this giveaway... but ... I don't. However, I could promise you cute and free embroidery patterns once in a while (just 'cause:). Today's pattern is of a girl bunny (to celebrate spring)!

If you click on the bunny pattern it will open larger in its own window. Feel free to copy it and  use as you please:)

Out on April 1st!!!

Ta Da! My book (embroidery for little miss crafty) is finally coming out!!! Yeah! I'm super exited!

It's a book for those who haven't embroidered before or crafty moms with young daughters. There are 12 fun projects, all the basic info and a bunch of cute patterns! The projects are easy and fun and I know that 'cause I made up and executed all of them for this book:)

I've got a few copies... and I'll give one away (A GIVEAWAY!) to one of my lovely readers:) Just leave me a comment and I will randomly pick one on Tuesday morning.

PS.: Amazon link HERE:)

the holiday sweater...

This was a first for me. I've made an illustration for Boston Globe using fabric, embroidery floss and a needle. Mr. Mac and Mr. Adobe (and his commander 'Z')  had no part in it. It was fun:)

I only regret that the actual embroidery didn't get to Boston in time to get professionally photographed. Next time I'll count in all the extra time one needs to allow for 'hand work' and customs.

After sending out over 200 copies of the festive dog pattern last week, I realized that I've underestimated the amount of the crafty ladies out there. So, this post is for you - crafty wiener dog lovers! Feel free to copy this pattern and use it:)!

do something crafty...

I know I'm not the only person that does a bit of embroidery now and than... so here's a little holiday DIY project that doesn't require a lot of time, money, material or a long attention span. In other words - my kind of project.

This part is for the first timers:)

You'll need - vanishing fabric marker, embroidery floss, embroidery needle, embroidery hoop, a bit of plane sturdy fabric, lil' sharp scissors and an hour.

1. Find a festive image you love (if you are interested in my festive dog pattern e-mail me for the pdf).

2. Print it up (the size you want). 

3. Using a vanishing marker, trace your pattern (festive image) onto a piece of fabric using you window as a light table. Leave 10' (or so) fabric around your image.

4. Place you fabric into a hoop, emroidery floss into needle and start embroidering!

a. use simple stitches such as straight stitch, back stitch or split stitch for the outlines.

b. use satin stitch to fill out a shape.

5. Frame your handy little work (just like you would a print).

6. Walk around the house feeling festive and accomplished.

I know these directions are very general, so... don't be afraid to google... or, better yet, wait 'til my LITTLE MISS CRAFTY (Walter Fosters) book comes out in February.

fun embroidery:)

I love it when craft becomes a bit of an art and art becomes a bit of a craft. I could see that embroidery is starting to get some street credit. I found these (and many more) embroidery projects on Megan Whitmarsh  site. I like her funky ape man in mushroom land. Very fun!

needle work:)

I'm working right now on an embroidery kit for girls (for Walter Fosters). Here are some of the samples that won't make it into the kit - so I can share them with you. It's fun, but it makes me 'far too extremely busy' to do patterns. So, I'm going to take a little break from making patterns and do some needle work for the rest of this week.