The right fabric-- or really, any other craft supply-- can be so elusive sometimes! In my search for the interior fabric for the ranunculus book cover, I found this one quickly enough. It looked just...
...of Queen Anne's lace. Since it's one of my most popular designs, I thought it would be interesting to see what else I could do with it. So what began as a pincushion-- Also became a coin...
Another one, in cross stitch. With cross stitch, I always enjoy making those neat rows of x's, but the thing I liked about this design was actually the spots left unstitched. I think the white d...
Another monogram, this time using double blanket stitch. It's particularly effective on letters with wider sections like this.
Our local public library system is a real gem. They have an extensive collection of both old and new materials in the public area and also an archives-- which I'm starting to think is limitless-...
Another custom request book cover in progress, this time with an arrangement of my ranunculus motif. The embroidery has been done for a while-- it's just been waiting for the 'right' i...
Just dropping in to say hello! I've been away on an extended spring break in snow country for the past few weeks. Though I always carry along a number of projects with me, they inevitably sit ...
Here's another project in the familiar favorite category-- I made another pair of simple handknit wristwarmers for my shop, this time in a light, springy beige. Usually by this time of the year...
Though it's been fun trying all the new embroidery techniques recently, it's nice to revisit those familiar favorites too-- This rose vine motif is one of my favorites that I designed for m...
Up until this point, I've not had much more than a passing interest in goldwork. While I found it quite striking and beautiful, it honestly wasn't my style nor did it seem like a very appl...
A really tiny sample, this time. I didn't think this little brooch was nearly enough to get a real feel for the technique and the effects one can create with it. A sampler of stitches would ha...
Or otherwise known as long & short stitch. It's a technique that I've long wanted to master, so I was excited to learn that it was the focus of our third class. Our project was this f...
Would anyone be interested in helping me destash these Japanese cotton print fabrics...?I once collected cute prints, but realized that I prefer to use plain fabrics for my own projects. A few of th...
It's been an awfully cold winter here in Japan this year. There's been record snowfall on the western half of Japan-- two or three times as much as usual!-- and while we haven't had a...
In order to learn some new techniques and hopefully a few tricks that aren't found in your average embroidery book, I enrolled in a class on English embroidery techniques at the end of January. ...
I'm still trying to catch up... In the middle of January, I participated in a group show with fellow Etsy artists at Gallery 7 in Yaesu, just a few blocks from the Tokyo Station. The weather wa...
Now that it's February... Happy 2012! It's been a really hectic start to the new year here-- before I knew it, a whole month had gone by. So where in the world did January go...? Well her...
That's exactly what I've had to do for the past month and a half: make, make, make. Make things for my shop for the holiday shopping season, make attempts at new designs and make preparati...
Just your basic wristwarmers with dark bronze beads on linen-colored yarn. Made for a custom request. I usually prefer my beads to blend in more with my yarn, so that they are visible in some lights...
This is turning out to be really pretty-- I'm very pleased with the rose bloom portion of it; all it needs now is a rhinestone in the center. I simplified my version from the pattern by using j...
So I'm moving beyond the basics. Because simple rows are just not enough.
Just trying out some bead embroidery techniques-- { seed beads :: scattering effect } { cupped sequins, cupped sequins + beads, seed beads, bugle beads } { flat sequins :: side-by-side, overlapped ro...
An old-fashioned hollyhock. Based on my own sketch. Though I'm nearly finished-- the only part left are the center of the flowers-- I'm not sure that I'm satisfied with this one. Now...
Japanese maple... ...and gingko. Two classic symbols of autumn. These are destined to be coasters, just as soon as I find a suitable fabric for the back... maybe a plaid of some sort? Outside, the ...
The wooly kind. With a bit of sparkle. I know autumn is really here when I start to feel the urge to knit. You could call it my seasonal crafting cycle. There's nothing more comforting than t...
September 12th was otsukimi-- literally, moon-gazing day-- here in Japan, a time to celebrate the lovely autumn moon. Each year, it falls on a different date, sometime in September or October and tr...
In which the ironing board doubles as a lap desk. And on it, my current work in progress. Something with a more autumnal feel this time. For a long time, I kept my starting end free as I stitched i...
Despite the lingering summer heat, the season is slowly drawing to a close here. The days are becoming shorter, the evenings & mornings are getting cooler, and the call of the cicadas are fading...
One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four... are you getting sleepy yet? Simple & sweet. That's what I had in mind for this original nighttime sheep design-- though I suppose that's just...
Bamboo pincushion, take two. Same design, just different color linen. Resulted in an entirely new feel. The previous version was cool & quiet; this one fresh & springy. It's always e...
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