STITCHERY JOURNEY, PART 4

Now that the basic stitchery book is finished, the fun part begins.  The inside should contain all the necessities that a stitcher needs to accomplish her stitching tasks.  It's fun to think about all possible ways to gain this very thing.  For this one, I chose a pincushion, a thimble holder, ribbon to attach your scissor, and a wool folder to hold needles (with no "ouch" factor).   I like to thread several needles in different colors of thread to be ready for use as I stitch.

So----from the day I gathered supplies and ideas~~~~~~~~It went from this:

 To this!  As you can see, I did not use all the initial choices.  I wish I could tell you the thrill it gives me to see the finished product and how different it is from the images I had in my mind.  I could never think of all the possibilities of the finished product from the very start.  Each addition spurs another and so on and so on.

 

The pincushion gave me the most problems.  I tried many ways to make it and many ways to attach it but in the end ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 the best way I found was to cover it.  I had a small walnut shell stuffed pin cushion that was just the right size.  I wrapped it in my chosen fabric, folded it and sewed the folded ends underneath, then stitched the ends down.  I wrapped the ends with antique lace and stitched it in at the same time --
ALL DONE.

This is the best pic I took of the pincushion placement and stitching.  Before I stitched I played with placement of other things.  Here I had placed a needle folder made of wool to the left and began to design the front of it.  The scissor keeper and thimble holder would be on the right.

For the thimble holder, I placed a piece of 1/2 inch wide elastic inside the fold of my chosen sunflower fabric and stitched closely to it using my zipper foot.  The length of fabric?  I did not measure, but made it plenty long to go around my thimble plus some.  Making first and trimming afterwards is always my motto.  Bigger and longer is easier to deal with.  I hope that makes sense. 

I stitched across one end (left pic) and pulled the other open end elastic (right pic-see the elastic peeking out?)  until I gathered it enough using my thimble as a guide.

When my length was right I trimmed the edge with pinking shears.   I stitched the two ends together leaving the seam to the outside and to stitch it to it's appropriate spot in the stitch book.

The addition of the thimble holder was a sort of challenge because it seemed to get lost on the "page" so to speak.  My solution became a sunflower where I added the thimble as part of it.  the stem and leaves are wool.  Embroidery stitch is buttonhole and the leaves have a chain stitch vein.  The sunflower is wooden.  You'll be surprised what you can find in your stash of stuff is you make up your mind not to buy one thing.  My stuff is awesome!! ~smile~

See how lost the thimble was looking?  Something cool had to be thought of.

 s
Scissors--- I placed the ribbon in the place I thought appropriate and tacked it down enough to try it out.  I had to move it a time or two before I got it right.  Nothing much else to report about this--very simple.

The needle folder/holder is a great way to protect your needles from grabbing onto other things in your book.  Somehow seems they seem to do that if you don't enclose them some way.  Also, threads creep and crawl!

 AI small sign, hand stitched, announcing it's contents.  A button added for cuteness.  I had this darling birdhouse button that just seemed to scream, "USE ME, USE ME!  The pole is small vintage rick rack wrapped with green embroidery thread.  The edge needed definition so I accomplished that with large rick rack.

The little label is just a square of muslin and a hand written  message.  I used a fine point Pigma Pen, then stitched it down with a running stitch.  Ragged edge is my style.  Simple and ragged~~

 The closure is ribbon around a precious button.   Perfectly useful and a lovely final addition.

  

It's been such a pleasure doing this tutorial as I worked on a project I so totally enjoy!  I appreciate your close attention!  I appreciate your finding some part of my life to benefit you and your little section of the world.  JOY is something all of us seek.  Little things in life is where most of it comes from.  If you don't find JOY in small things, you may not find very much.  I find my total JOY comes from my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  If you haven't found HIM, my prayer is that you will very soon. His Word says you will find him if you look for Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.  The place to look?  His Word--the Bible.  It is totally alive and will come alive in your inner most being, your soul.  He is life and brings life, Forever life which is where I find my JOY.  This world brings many many sorrows, but in the promises of Jesus Christ, I can still have ultimate hope and JOY!  If I don't come back before Christmas, Please remember to look for HIM this season.  Without Him there would be no Christmas. 

If you read my blog and enjoy any part of it, I surely would appreciate a comment.  It's the only way I can know you enjoy it.  I don't get paid for any part of it, just love giving a gift to you from me.  If you want to encourage me to do more, just leave me a nice comment.  

Love to all !

MOLLY

Evolution Made Manifest

Life, with it's twists and turns has stopped me from my best intentions toward my blogging buddies.  Pops has to have another surgery.  This time, hopefully, the last.  The metal plate that was placed to hold his new jaw bone in position (after cancer removal) has done it's job and will now be removed.  The screw is actually showing and infection is a real threat so---here we go again.  Next Thursday is the day.  I just really feel that this is the final step to recovery and am actually looking forward to having it done and finished.  Thank you for all your thoughts and kind remarks and certainly prayers.

My needle book love has grown to three and number 4 is about to begin.  I promised that I would post one in sequence so that you could watch along with me so, that time has come.

 But first, let me introduce you to book #3.  My love of vintage everything is the focus.  Such fun I had choosing coordinating fabrics, then matching the embroidery threads to the fabrics, then making the decisions on what laces would be added, then buttons, then ribbon closures.

This one sports a different look and style.  It's actually an armchair caddy in that it will serve as a holder for all the necessary instruments and needs of my (or your) latest project.

As you open it, you notice that the closure is a ribbon attached to the back in proper position so that when tied into a bow,  an opening above the bow is left large enough to slip over the button on the front and cause the closure.

  Pockets on each side hold threads and threaders.

  The cushion along the center holds pins and needles.  I used crushed walnut shells to fill it and added antique lace on each end to make it more inviting to the eye! ---EYE CANDY!

 

I used to own a very good camera that I used for all my blogging.  That camera was stolen.  All I have now is my Iphone camera.  I thought that it would be great to use it and be able to blog from  my phone, but I notice that my pics are just not nearly as good a quality as I am use to.  I am thinking about purchasing myself a new camera.  If you have any thoughts on this particular subject or any other, please leave them in the comments.  I would appreciate your opinion.

THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.  LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT!  
This has been a wonderful day for me and my family as our pew was full and we worshiped together and sang songs of praise to God together this morning and then we gathered together with our Church family for lunch and fellowship.

I made a layered salad, which was a success and completely gone when lunch was over.  Pinterest holds many Layered Salad recipes.  I did not chose just one, but made mine by example and used the items I had on hand.  Thought you might like to see it.  This and a German Chocolate chip Pound Cake with my mothers fudge sauce was almost more than I could bear not to completely devour before I got it to the Church!!  😋

As I close, I want to say tell you that I will post again in the next day or two with the first pics of my newest needle book, stitchery case, or whatever you choose to call my creations.  A differest shape?
YES!  A different style?   YES!  But as you know, they evolve, so even I don't know just how it will look in the end.

Hope your Sunday afternoon and evening are Blessed!!

Giving God all the Glory!

Molly