Crochet Edgings

Here's how the pillow cases turned out.

Valerie's

Andrew's
(he insisted on sitting on his for the photo)

May they have Sweet Dreams while snoozing on these (after falling asleep with no problem at bed time.)

Pre-Teen Embroidery Project

I can tell by the hat and brooch she's wearing, the height of fashion at the time (to me, at least), that I began this project when I as around twelve, in the 1980s. Yet, she also has a 1920s thing going on with the cloche-style hat. And the little heart beauty mark? Pre-revolutionary French? Oh, and the wink. That's easy--a way to avoid not making the second eye exactly like the first.

I remember working on this. My grandma had just given me a bag of embroidery thread in all kinds of colors. It as so exciting!

Embroidery is still exciting to me (I am easily entertained). It is also perfectly suited to a mama of two young children. I can pick it up and then put it down again without much fuss.

I've been quite inspired lately, eagerly awaiting Alicia Paulson's (of my fave Posie Gets Cozy blog) new book Embroidery Companion. And I've been adding various Aunt Martha's Hot Iron Transfers to my wish list. And I'd love to embroider some of Valerie's and William's drawings. And, and, and...

If winter is my official season of crochet, summer is all about embroidery. At least this year.

Embroidery and the Beach

While on vacation at the beach, I was itching to work on a new project. I bought two pre-printed pillowcases, embroidery thread (I love choosing from those little drawers), a hoop, and needles at the local five and dime (really!). A simple project I could pick up and put down throughout the day without too much concentration or frustration. I had forgotten how much I enjoy embroidery.

This is how Valerie's turned out. Now I am working on Andrew's and when I'm finished I'll add crochet edgings. Next week I'll share an embroidery project I worked on (also while on vacation at the beach) a gazillion years ago--when I was about twelve.