A Field of Flowers

I've been sick the entire summer, and my productivity has suffered. I've worked on a few things here and there, but don't have much to show for it, except this:

The pattern is by Floresita, from Feeling Stitchy.  The inspiration for it was also from Floresita -- she introduced me to Linladan, a delightful online shop that specializes in reproductions of vintage Swedish embroidery patterns, stitched with linen threads on linen fabric. I have not yet been able to buy a kit of my own, but I have some of DMC's linen threads (now discontinued) and linen fabric from an old skirt.

The simple but varied embroidery stitches were a nice change of pace from all the cross-stitching and quilting I've been doing.

August Stitch-Along Finished!

The past few weeks have been hectic -- a trip to visit Beadmom and Fr. Beadbrother, three and a half weeks of my damn wiener kids running amok at home all day, school supply shopping, car trouble (three batteries in three weeks!). I did manage to finish the stitch-along, however, and only a week late (a record for me).

The whole thing:
There are two uncovered dots just on the edge, which will get cut off when I applique the circle down. On the one hand, I only wanted to embellish complete dots. On the other hand, they appear obvious and naked. I'll have to decide what'll look best once it is sewn onto its backing.

Close-ups (other than the four discussed earlier):

Because I Don't Have Enough to Do

I am joining Feeling Stitchy's August Stitch-Along (one week late). Last week's assignment was to find a printed fabric to stitch on, and pair it with threads. For years I had been meaning to do the "Beaded Patterns" project from Color on Color, which is pretty much what it sounds like -- find a fabric with a print consisting of simple shapes, and embellish it. Perfect for the Stitch-Along.

Here are the materials:
The fabric I bought several years ago with this specific project in mind. The threads are left over from various cross stitch and embroidery kits; this seems like a good way to use them up (I won't be using black or white, though). The beads are little mixes I've accumulated over the years. I've thrown in a few shisha mirrors, too, which I may use.

I'm off work now until the middle of September, so on the one hand I will be home to sew. On the other hand, I'm off work because summer school and day care have ended for the Beadboys, which means the sewing will have to happen between meals, snacks, toilet training, laundry, coloring, breaking up fights, filling and refilling the little plastic pool in the backyard, and so on.

Feeling Stitchy Button Swap

Feeling Stitchy organized an embroidered button swap last month, and gave me a partner to swap with (you can find her at Chicory Nits).

My partner told me she liked color, so I knew I'd be using lots of bright shades, but it took me a little longer to settle on the designs. I decided to take my inspiration from Taíno petroglyphs and other pre-Columbian designs (my mom gave me an old book of hers a while back, filled with nothing but pre-conquest Mexican motifs). The results:
From left to right, top to bottom: the Taíno symbol for water, my interpretation of a Taíno sun motif, the Taíno coquí, a Taíno baby, another motif combining different elements, and a version of a pre-Columbian Mexican flower.

The buttons I received:
So exciting! I especially love the lower left one, the heart and arrow on fabric with writing. Maybe I'll make some kind of valentiny, vintagy thing with it. The bigger buttons I think will make great ornaments, layered onto wool felt.

In addition we exchanged a little chocolate and some craft supplies and notions. Fun!