Still Stitching...

The purple colorway embroidery is completed, so I worked on the pink colorway yesterday. While I didn't finish it by the end of the day, I got pretty close. It won't be long and this one will be set aside until the others are all done.

I love working on the small details, and I always create these in the same manner. I begin by stitching all the flowers, buds and flourishes, and then stitch the stems, leaves and other special touches. I don't draw my design...I keep it all in my head and adjust as I stitch. As I've said before, this process brings me great joy.

Today, I'll be attending a machine embroidery workshop at the Port Charlotte Design Studio. As soon as I get home, I'll be back at my stitching frame completing this design. Then I'll hoop the next one -  and the next - until I've done all five. 

My next decision will be, "Hmmmm. What color? Yellow? Blue? Peach?" This is too much fun to ever be considered work.

My Finished Gift...

I presented my gift yesterday to my friend, Sharon of Corgis In My Garden blog. I was fortunate to be able to spend an entire day with her, but I don't want to give you all the details quite yet. I'm going to tell you all about it on Tuesday (with Tag) instead. I'm sure it's not hard for you to figure out why.

I gave you a peek yesterday, and thought you shouldn't have to wait to see what I created with all that ribbonwork.  She brought along a gift for me (a fabulous, scrumptious, gorgeous homemade pound cake and beautiful tray - perfect for the Flying Cloud), but I'll share more about that next week, too.

Thank you for a driving down for the day, Sharon-friend. I'm so glad we could spend the time together. (The weather was perfect, too, wasn't it?) I hope we get a chance to do it again sooner, rather than later.

Summer Strawberries...

 

Sometimes, a smaller project - something that makes one smile - is just the perfect thing for a hot summer day. I love making ribbon embroidery roses into small strawberries, so I pulled out my supplies and thought making a few more would be fun.

  

Tiny stitches, scrumptious silk ribbon and verdant green threads all combine to create the designs that I make up as I go along. I don't draw out the pattern before I begin, I just start with the basic spiderweb for the roses and scatter on my fabric. After all the buds and flourishes have been added, I stitch the stems and leaves. When I'm finished with the stitching, I sew up the strawberry shape, stuff it and sew on the wool leaves. A simple project, really, but always a sense of accomplishment with the finished strawberry.

How do you spend your hot summer days? I'd love to hear what you're up to!

The Ribbons Are Waiting...

My recent order for gorgeous, French, hand-dyed ribbons has arrived and I'm just itching to start playing with them! Don't you agree that they look just scrumptious? Such exquisite shades of cotton candy, sea, sky and sand. I love the way these ribbons slide through my hands and fall in folds onto my work table. They're going to make luscious blossoms.

My inspiration comes from the latest Sew Beautiful magazine (Issue 128-2010), and Helen Gibbs' Ribbonwork book. Sew Beautiful Magazine's website is a great place to visit for inspiration. Check it out when you have a chance.

I'd be working on my ribbon flowers already if it weren't for the time I'm spending on the Beaded Shawl for my knitting class. Don't worry...I'll show photos of the shawl as soon as it's finished, and I'll be making my flowers before you know it.

You can always click on my photos for a closeup view.

A Gift To Dream On...

I was in Michael's last week and came across this beautiful book box. It was exactly what I was looking for! (Remember, I told you a couple of days ago that I'm the wedding planner for an upcoming wedding.) I wanted to give this new bride a collage of colors and items that I'm planning to use for her wedding to her Mr. Dreamboat. This bride is wonderful as she's leaving all the planning in my hands. How often does that happen?

I love the sentiment on the front of the book box. It says, "True Love is a friendship set on fire". Perfect words for this couple as they've only known each other forever. The theme for their wedding is "At Last".
When they open the box, they'll see my vision for their special day. A beach wedding in colors of the sky and sea. White and aqua ribbon roses, sparkling gems to mimic the shimmer of the ocean - and the love light in their eyes, the fabric for their attendant's dress, and seashells that will be the theme for their dinner table. The bride's dress is going to be flowing layers of white organza or chiffon, accented with ribbon roses (which I really love creating!). I'm going shopping for the fabric very soon. The wedding is April 17th, so there'll be no dawdling on this project.

Between now and their wedding day, I hope the bride and Mr. Dreamboat love this gift to dream on.

If you're new to my blog, you can always click on my photos to enlarge them. I will be posting photos of the dresses and wedding, as they're available, for you to see!

Brides and Babies...

In the spring of 2008, my eldest niece and goddaughter, Jennifer asked me to make her wedding gown. Twenty seven years prior, I made her christening gown, and that spring, so many years later, I was honored that she asked me to create her wedding gown.
Those of you who know me well, know the health crisis that temporarily interrupted the creation of that wedding gown, but after a three-week-long delay, and over three hundred fifty hours of joyful work, the gown was complete. I also made the attendants' dresses and a few other accessories which, when finished, were driven by Handsome and me to my niece in Minnesota. She wore the gown in October, 2008.

She was a beautiful bride and the wedding was beautiful, too.

My niece and her husband are now expecting their first child together this spring. I planned ahead, purchasing extra fabric when I made her wedding gown, so I have enough of the same fabric to make the christening gown for their child. Duppioni silk, beaded duppioni and an Oscar de la Renta brocade fabric that still makes my eyes water.
This is one of my favorite styles - with a beautiful coat. I'm going to use this as the basis for the christening gown set I'll be creating next. I'm envisioning ribbonwork, beadwork and elegant. I think it will be perfect for their little prince. Don't you?

Baby's due March 15th. Guess I'll be cutting fabric soon!
(I can't wait to tell you about my newest adventure as a Wedding Planner.
I'm saving that for another day!)