Updating 1970's Crewel Art

Hi!!  You might remember from this post that my mom made (and continues to make) beautifully sewn art.  Well, last year after a visit, I decided to free another framed piece from its attic home and have it come live with us!  It just needed a little bit of color...

I choose a few bright embroidery threads from her stash and just started pulling the thread through and around the flower design with a needle.

And now it proudly hangs in our living room/kids library!  I like that it can easily be change - just a couple snips and it's back to its original beauty or I could start all over again with a different design or color scheme. 

 

 

Oh and a funny "side note" this season on Mad Men this exact piece is hanging in Peggy's apartment - below circled!!



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Colorful Cross Stitch Sampler

Although I love embroidery, crewel, and needlepoint, I think my favorite hand sewing technique is cross stitch ~ a perfect project to undertake while sitting under a warm throw watching a TV movie.

For me cross stitching is like an art piece ~ starting with a clean canvas and slowly seeing the colors and patterns develop.

From this~

to this~ 

I used to enjoy stitching on small count (22pt) Aida as in these projects:

Now I find, even with reading glasses, it is much easier to work with a larger 16pt. 
I love the various fonts used in this pattern by nerdylittlestitcher, and the bright colors added a cheerful feeling to my wall.

Happy Stitching! ♥

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Embroidery Thread Organization

I am on an kick to organize my sewing supplies!  Last week I posted my thread/bobbin configuration; today is my embroidery/crewel yarn.

In the past I have put my floss into individual envelopes and labeled each with its number.

Yes, I could find the one I needed easily, but sometimes it took a while to untangle the thread.
The perfect solution for both organization and neatness was to use craft clothes pins.

I rolled the yarn around the pin and tucked in the end.

I wrote the number on the end using a pencil ~ in case I need to erase and reuse.

Now all of the thread I need for a project is accessible and portable.

Happy sewing!  ♥


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Adding the Old with the New

It's no secret that I love me some vintage!  I think what I like best is that vintage pieces (whatever they are) have a history and most of the time are older than I am.  I love that love that vintage furniture, art and other trinkets we own have made our home more cozy and unique and happy.  There's just something about a chipped, weathered and worn vintage find that makes my heart soar!

I try to add one large(ish) vintage piece to every room in our house.  Hadley's room has a very pretty, chippy white side table, our bedroom has two vintage nightstands that were refreshed with a bit of spray paint and the kid's library/living room has a huge antique mirror.  And that's just for starters!

After posting about Layla's room last week I realized her room was missing that one aged piece - something with a lot of love and history behind it.  And then I remembered a beautiful crewel flower piece that my Mom made in the 70's and had professionally matted and framed - that's how proud she was of it - and with good reason.  Since I knew it was just collecting dust in my parent's attic I asked them bring it down on their most recent visit.

Gorgeous - right?  The colors go perfectly with Layla's room and I love the 3-D quality of it - the puffy white flowers are my favorite!

I actually had this hanging in the kitchen of my first apartment. Crazy that now my little Layla gets to enjoy it every day!

The photo below really shows just how well the colors in the art work with the curtain panels - also courtesy of my ever crafty Mama.

Have a wonderful day!!
xo!
Kendra


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Yarn Crewel Art



Just another little treasure from my past ~

I truly don't remember in what year I made this or if the technique had a specific name.  I do recall using yarn and creating the background first ~ and it seemed to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r!

The flowers were added using crewel stitches.

And the finishing touches were the milkweed puffs.

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Cross Stitch from P. Buckley Moss

I have always enjoyed cross stitching.  The idea of having a blank canvas and watching it come alive with colors and designs is as close to being an artist as I will ever be!

These two designs are called "Adam" and "Amy."  I sewed them onto 18 count fabric ~ which I probably would have a very difficult time seeing today (:

Recently I learned that Alicia Paulson  is designing a new cross stitch sampler. I used her "Daisychain ABC" crewel pattern to make samplers for Layla and Cole, which turned out so lovely. I am really looking forward to spring when her new kit is available.

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Found - Crewel and Cross Stitched Pieces

Still trying to declutter the third floor (will I ever finish?!), I came across various pieces of crewel and cross stitching that I had made many years ago. Memories....the kids would be asleep, and I would have time to sew.....
Just thought that I would share a few with you.

we all loved Sesame Street ~ my grandchildren do too!

milkweed puffs



this made a great gift for my friends



my daughter Lori's first dance recital ~ I tried to match her eye and hair color

the rooster stage

and, of course, Santa!

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Embroidered Initial with Fabric Mat Tutorial

I wanted to make something special for my newest grandchild, Hadley, so I decided that I would embroider her initial.  I used thread to match her new curtains.  All went well until it was finished, and I realized that I had not decided what to make with it ~ definitely not like me!  My first idea was a pillow..... and then I found an unused white frame.  The decision was made!

Supplies needed:
   White fabric  (9 1/2" x 8") ~ I used cotton
   Appleton crewel wool embroidery yarn to match your fabric
     border (embroidery floss would also work)
   An 8x10 frame
   Fabric strips: 2 (8"x3") 2 (12 1/2"x3")
   Sewing machine
   Rotary cutter or scissors  
   Water erasable pen
   Double sided tape (optional)

Embroidery section:
   Make your initial design. I used Annabel Script at
     500pt to make my letter "h."
   Once you have printed your design, tape it to a well lit
     window and tape your white fabric on top ~ center
     the letter the best you can. 
   Using an water dissolvable pen, trace the letter.
   I used a stem stitch to embroider the outside lines first;
     then I continue to stitch using the same technique close to
     the each outside row until the entire design was filled.

     A great embroidery tutorial can be found at http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/stem-stitch/stem-stitch/

Cutting and sewing:
   Cut down the white fabric with your design to measure
     7 1/2 " x 6"
   Sew the two shorter strips of fabric to the top and bottom of
     your design piece.  (All seams are 1/4")

  Press the seams away from the white fabric.
  Sew the two longer strips to the sides. 

  Again, press away from the white fabric.


Mounting:
  Center your completed piece onto the frame's cardboard insert.

  Tape the top and bottom securely to the back of the cardboard.
 Miter the corners of the sides, and tape securely.

♥  Put it into the frame, and ENJOY! ♥


If you have any questions, feel free to contact me! Pin It

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