More Embroidery - Miniature Version

Cross-Stitch Art

It seems all my painting is being done with fiber these days--from crochet to embroidery to an old, old favorite, cross-stitch. I just finished this little sampler above a couple weeks ago (and in fact, the pattern is for sale in my Etsy). Just picked it up from being framed at The Stitching Post. Getting ready to hang it. My work is rough; I can see it. After not doing this for probably 20 years, I was shocked at how much harder it is to see those little patterns. But, I have another piece started, as well as an embroidery sampler. Needlework is just so much easier to transport when traveling. There's no mess to clean up, and the rhythmic stitching is soothing.





Crochet Art

I've been traveling a lot lately - TN, IN, OR, MD, CT - so it's not exactly conducive to having the canvasses, easels, paints, brushes and water sitting about for inspiration to strike. But my yarn, crochet hook and little scissors passed all the airplane inspections, and so I made some tiny Blythe clothes on my travels.
The sweater pattern is from Crochet Today! magazine, Jan-Feb 2010 and is an update on a 1960s knitting and crochet flier for fashion dolls. The hat pattern is from my friend Zoe Aarden's book, Grrrlie Designs for Blythe, which I edited (see sidebar on this blog).
Meanwhile, ever appreciative of real crochet talents, I bought this intricate vintage, yet mod, flower doily for $1 at an antiques mall. I knew I wanted to frame it, and so I sprayed it with fabric stiffener and then had it mounted to a bright mat to show off the pattern. Even with a ready-made frame, that $1 doily now has more than $50 invested in it for posterity.

More Weekend Finds & Happy First Birthday Tinkerbelle!

Some treasures from a stop at Objects Found in Catonsville, MD and The Fancy Flea festival at The Pink Cabbage in Ellicott City, MD. I bought the doll, and for some reason the seller threw in Raggedy Andy for free. I didn't even ask about him. And the Edgar Allen Poe volume, copyright 1902, was inside the vintage wooden bird cage. I had just gotten a box of vintage floral birds the day before, so I guess I am officially on a bird kick.
Tinkerbelle Louise turns one today- June 6. I adopted her six months ago from the Small Miracles Cat Rescue in Ellicott City, and she has been such a joy! She deserved her birthday "cake" with candle.