I Stitch Club: January

Woo Hoo! I love them!

I joined Gail Pan's I Stitch Club in January. Starting a few days late, I completed these three beauties right before the next ones are due to come out. 

Each month Gail releases three patterns plus a bonus project, and I've decided to do mine in a variegated gray and yellow floss.

What's with the border ink? These blocks are either supposed to be appliqued in the shape of a tag on a dark background or the border embroidered with added sashing. I'm holding off until we get further along the project.

Stay tuned! Next patters released tomorrow or Wednesday.

Excitement Arrived in Today's Mail

A dear friend of mine sent me a fabulous package (talk about “antiparcelation”, Lauri!)  Inside were some fabulous pieces of her work (she is nimble with the ink and iron).  How long, Lauri, does it take you to setup and print a single-color page?  Honestly, I really am surrounded by some seriously talented friends!

She also included some fabulous quilt books.  But one made me cry…. The new Gail Pan book.  She is my FAVORITE embroidery designer (check out her free Christmas patten here), but she’s from Australia (where the cost of the books and shipping is very prohibitive).  I’ve wanted this book since I first read about it on her blog… and now I have it! 

I need to stitch!  I need to go home and pull out my Christmas embroidery and hang it up!  Why is it not the weekend so I can pour myself into my quilt room and start pulling fabric?!? I’m going to vibrate with anticipation for the rest of this very long work day!

I am blessed.

Christmas in the Woods

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! The latest issue of Quiltmaker (Sept/Oct).  It’s their hand embroidery issue.  Beautiful pictures, great tips.  I just don’t understand why the cover isn’t.. well… covered in embroidery!

If I didn’t have a subscription, I would’ve ran out to buy it especially because it has a Gail Pan design in it!  I’m ADDICTED to this Aussie designer!

Too much to do – won’t get it done by Christmas (either this one or the adorable Halloween stitchery or the sweet Home stitchery), but they should make nice projects to stitch during the cold January in Michigan! 

Tip: I’m lucky – I have access to a scanner.  Because I have so many books and magazines, I always scan my “must-do” embroidery projects for easy locating later.

If you’d like to see more tips on embroidery, I’m quite proud of my Embroidery 101 post.  Happy stitching!