Say Hello to My New Header

Hooray! After a few weeks of planning, tweaking and emailing back and forth, Kelly of Succulent Love Designs worked out this pretty new header for me. You know that I love fabric, so I scanned a handful of pieces that I had, including two pieces of crocheted lace and two cross-stitched table runners from my Dad's mom Mildred. Here's a look at what we started with:

Once I saw this option, which Kelly skillfully put together using the best elements from a few different fabrics, I knew it was the one. It's bright, feminine, and clearly handmade, yet also elegant and unique. Plus I love that it was stitched by someone in my family. We played with fonts and colors, and I am so, so pleased with where we wound up.


So a big thank you to Kelly for being patient with me (as I am a little, ahem, picky) and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Link Love: Penchant for Stitched Pendants

[If you missed the original post, don't forget to sign up to participate in the Friendship Bracelet Swap! You have until May 25th to sign up. Click here for more info!]
 
I've noticed an uptick in the number of people, including some of my favorite people, doing needlework on pendants. In addition to thinking that these would be downright lovely worn all summer, I also think that they could make quite striking wall adornments. Here are some of my current favs.

These first two are from Corrinne of September House. She makes all sorts of lovely embroidery and I just love the linen backing with the one tone thread on these.

This next one is from Janick of neawear and I'm really enjoying this leaf-on-wood motif that she has going on here.

And these last two are from the Pin Pals, a shop that is filled with items I covet (check out these barrettes!). First is the Filigree See-Through Folk Locket, combining a detailed item of jewelry with an awesome and somewhat more traditional pattern of stitching.

This one, the Bluebell Heart Cross Stitch Pendant, is just so darling I can hardly stand it—happiness on a chain, for sure.

Cross Stitching by Mim of Muddle + Flow

I came across the cross stitching by Mim of Muddle + Flow a little over a week ago and I was eager to learn more about how she learned to do what she does. Her designs are so fun and I am particularly taken with the duck and owl brooches. Here's a bit from Mim about what she makes.

I can't remember exactly when I learned to cross stitch, but I can remember my mum teaching me needlepoint when I was quite little. I was raised in a very creative environment, so I have virtually learned to sew, stitch, dart, knit, pleat and fold by osmosis. My tools at that time were a piece of plastic mesh, some wool, and a huge plastic needle! I loved it even then!

I have chosen to cross stitch my pieces, because am keenly aware that many of the needle crafts that where widely taught in previous generations are gradually being forgotten. I wanted to set myself a challenge to 're-use'/'re-style' a technique that is often perceived to have 'had it's day' in a more contemporary form.

I find inspiration for my work everywhere. I do seem particularly interested in depicting birds, but I also love designing patterns inspired by faraway places, like Morocco. By day, I work at a desk job, so this is my creative outlet... when i get the time!

Link Love: Up A Tree

I am enjoying all of the leafy goodness that is happening around my house and it's made me more in tune with nature-inspired crafts. Here are some of my current favorites.


Above is the most darling Cherry on the Tree Swing embroidery pdf pattern from comfortstitches. I love Aneela's whimsical designs and that her blog is such a fantastic source of both quilting and embroidery info.

I'm going through a bit of a brooch phase and while it was hard to choose something to highlight from Lou Lou & Oscar from Lisa Aaron (go look at her etsy shop and you'll see why), this sweet Little Wooden Brooch fit for today. It's printed with a midnight blue ink and would be completely fetching on a simple blazer.

I believe that we're a little past cherry blossom season, but that might make enjoying this Three Piece Cherry Blossom cross stitch set from Whimsy and Charm all the more appropriate. Tanya actually mostly makes "tsumami kanzashi", which is the process of taking small squares of silk and folding them (sort of like origami) into individual flower petals. i then take these petals and form them into a lovely little flower." So be sure to take a look at that part of her shop as well.



I'm going to try to remember/find time to take some photos of the yard and house this weekend to share with you on Monday—I'm on iris watch as they are getting pretty close to blooming!

My Family's Needlework

Many of the boxes that my parents brought me over the weekend contain sewing supplies from my Dad's mom. She made clothing, she knit, crocheted, cross stitched and did needlepoint. I am going to take my time going through the supplies, but I'm pretty sure I will never need to buy another knitting needle! The lovely thing that she did is that she left little notes everywhere—on bundles of needlepoint that were meant for one holiday, on polaroids that showed what she made each year for her church Christmas baazar, and on a stack of hand stitched linens from both she and her mother. I'll share those with you once I get them out and pressed, but in that mix was this piece of cross stitch from another family member—my great grandfather Palanjian.


I knew that my great grandfather was a tailor and that he did some decorative chair seats that have long been scattered around our house, but it wasn't until I saw this piece that I realized that I have people who did many of the same needle-based crafts on all sides of my family tree. Male and female, maternal and paternal. I know that this particular great grandfather came to Philadelphia from Armenia when he was a young man, so I can only imagine that he learned his skills before he left his country. I'm really looking forward to displaying this and to learning more about my history through the stitches that they left behind. And I'm getting a better understanding of what my own quilts might one day mean to future generations—I just hope I can be as meticulous in labeling and caring for them as my own grandmother was!

Cross-Stitched Accessories by Erin of Treefox- Updated!

Note: After I originally posted this, I reached out to Erin to learn more about her work—which is something I usually do before posting, but not if I get too antsy and need to share immediately. Check out some of the info from Erin on the story behind her work.

I was reading our RM fashion blog yesterday and saw Erin's work for the first time. I've never really been a big one for Valentine's Day, but I can't help feel like there is something to be said for more hearts (and chocolate) in all of our lives. Above is a delightful little pin.

Here is a sweet bobby pin that would look quite nice to set off a loose bun or to pull a sweep of hair to the side. And below is a bigger piece that shows more of Erin's style. Here's a bit from Erin:

I started cross stitching in college when I was just exploring every medium I could. I was interested in crafts but I'm too impatient to knit or crochet (even though I plan on buckling down to learn crochet soon) so I started cross stitching. There isn't really a learning curve so I just got going! I love the instant gratification I get from cross stitching and I've never spent more than a few hours on one. I also love the size. Each one is so precious & delicate. I can just put in a movie, kick back & cross stitch all day. It's very relaxing.

I like to keep my designs modern and simplistic while having a rustic, old timey vibe. (I'm terrible at explaining this kind of thing.) I keep with the same colours like gold, navy, black, maroon because I think there is something rich and noble about them that appeals to me. I look though a lot of books about the history of cross stitch. There are so many old samplers to pull ideas and patterns from. I love thinking about the little girls in the 1800s cross stitching away in their poofy dresses. I also scour the internet for book scans. They are hard to find and they're often in other languages but it's so interesting to see what other cultures would stitch.

On her etsy page, she says that she makes things partly because she needs to keep her hands busy, which is very similar to my reasoning, especially lately when the busier I seem to get, the more I need to be making something. Which I think is my way of saying don't be surprised if you see some cross stitching or embroidery on here soon—though I am going to try my best to contain myself to granny squares and quilting if I can!