Friday, April 15, 2011

From the Workbasket

Things have been busy around here lately. I hate it when life gets that way! I have been feeling more creative than I have in a very long time so I'm going with the feeling. I'm not really sure what will be created but it will either be awesome or a total fail but as my South Park would say, "I learned something". That's not a bad thing. Below you see my slow start on CHS Miss Lila's House. The fabric was originally an antique white linen. I dyed it myself with some good old RIT dye. I was hoping for a true black. As you can see I got nothing close to a true black, but I think the design is working up well on this color. My first attempt was a very light charcoal, so I soaked the fabric overnight, rinsed the heck out of it the next morning and still ended up with a deep charcoal instead of black. The dark fabric was a bit frustrating to stitch on at first, the tree in the center there has been frogged not once but twice because I was apparently just sticking the needle in where ever it felt good. I mentioned that I am feeling creative. I pulled out my Jenny Hart Sublime Stitching book, found the practice sampler, and worked on it yesterday. I think I like embroidery. A few years ago I don't think I would have written those words. I've been taking my time, trying to get comfortable with the stitches, stitching on muslin instead of evenweave linen and basically enjoying the process of learning. I think we forget how fun learning can be. I'm one of those people that wants to be able to do something correctly from the beginning, to start out an expert and that's such a joke and only leads one down the path to craft disaster. So I'm taking my crafting slow these days, embracing the process. If I spend a few days learning something and it's a big old fail, then it's a big old fail and maybe when I try again later, I'll get it. I have to remember to love the process.
I am seriously digging this Clover hoop. Sorry I'm not adding links, my computer is being a butt and I'm just hoping to get this posted before the post goes "poof" into cyberspace, anywhere but my blog!
My stitches are not perfect, a few of my French knots are questionable, some of my flowers are wonky, but isn't that what makes it handmade instead of machine made?


Hope this post finds everyone doing well and enjoying spring!

11 comments:

Katrina said...

Love Lila, I need to pull her back out!!!! Cute little embroidery piece too.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Love your Ms. Lila piece. I've pulled my chart out and hope to start her one day soon.

Michelle said...

Love Lila! I've been dying to start her lately. And your embroidery piece is fantastic! Love the hearts and flowers - what fun. It's like doodling!! I hope you continue to enjoy your crafting and creativity!

Deb said...

With the embroidery work - those stitches will be perfect in time! There is something very relaxing about doing that. That was the first needle work that I learned and go back to it occasionally. I love the embroidered pillow cases I see.

And I love how the fabric came out for Miss Lila!! Stitching on black is always hard, and even though you've had to frog, it looks great. I'm sure you'll have less frogging as you get use to the black fabric. She looks great.

Anna van Schurman said...

Good to hear from you. I like the color of that fabric. I think true black might be too black in some cases.

cauchy09 said...

oh, this all looks great! i recall the first time i switched from cross stitch over to embroidery. it feels funny and unmoored somehow. but your sampler looks lovely.

The Scarlett House said...

I think your black fabric is great. Mine from Lakeside isn't dark black either. I might have to stitch Lila after seeing yours. Sweet embroidery, too. I love doing that. Keep being creative, Melissa.

Natalia said...

Melissa, I think Lila looks awesome !!! I need to start mine too... so many things I want to do and so little time, sigh. Your little embroidery is so cute !!

Siobhán said...

I think your embroidery looks great! Good for you for going at it. I want to but instead just keep doing my regular stitching.

Your Miss Lila's House looks great, too. I think the fabric looks a lot like Ink Spot Black--perfect choice!

Jeanne said...

I think the charcoal linen is beautiful and your start on Lila is looking great. Glad to hear you are enjoying trying some embroidery, I have always enjoyed it and glad it's coming back in style a bit.

mdgtjulie said...

Hi Melissa. I found your blog through Nancy M's blog, and I like you dyed fabby. It's incredibly difficult to dye fabby a true black. I've never managed to accomplish it, and I've tried several times. Good progress though. Keep up the learning. It keeps your brain from stagnating!!