Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Welcomed Surprise

A Rainbow of Stitches: Embroidery and Cross-Stitch Basics Plus More Than 1,000 Motifs and 80 Project IdeasI don't buy many knitting/sewing/embroidery books these days.  Most seem to be much like those that came before.  Aprons, one-skein projects, quick gifts, baby gifts and more aprons.  Not that I don't appreciate the work and creativity that goes into writing and publishing craft books - I just don't need to own them when I have a rather larger collection already.

And then every once in a while I come across a book that completely surprises me.  The book pictured at the left is just that!  I actually found it in the craft section, not sewing or embroidery.  I initially figured it was more of the same until I opened it and realized that the projects are arranged by color and include both drawings for embroidery and cross-stitch charts!  And, these motifs are modern, lovely and fun.  The projects are whimsical and useful though no sewing instruction are included.  But I can find basic instruction for most of the finished projects in one of the many books that I already own.

So of course, I had to take this one home with me.  And for the last few hours I have been turning the pages while thinking about my next project.  A cross-stitch sampler perhaps or maybe just a simply embellished pillow.  The designs have an aesthetic that seem classic, as though you once saw them on your grandmother's bed or maybe on one of her dishtowels.  That's what made the book jump out at me - the longing for something from the past and an opportunity to make it new again.

After this post, I plan to pull out my collection of DMC thread and that fine Irish linen I've been saving for a few years.  For this project I want instant gratification so I'll probably start with a simple cross-stitched sachet.  A heart.  In pink, of course.

Happy Stitching!
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Monday, January 17, 2011

It's been too long

It's not that I haven't been knitting or sewing, it's just that I haven't been writing about it.  Of course, I do spend a lot of time over here and my new professional experiences are taking up much of my time but knitting will always be my first love.

In fact, I've finished a few projects recently and picked up a few UFO's including a shawl from Two Old Bags and a pair of socks that need to be darned.  The shawl I started when I was pregnant with Lucy nearly 7 years ago.  I bought the yarn at my first visit to Maryland Sheep and Wool literally wrangling it out of the hands of another knitter....  But, my focus shifted to my pregnancy and then to Lucy and then to knitting and sewing for Lucy and then to maybe making another baby, nursing my husband through an illness, losing a pregnancy, starting a new job in Philly, leaving that job and then entering an entirely new profession.  But, despite all of the ups and downs, that shawl has been waiting patiently for me to return.  And so I have and can't believe how quickly the pattern has come back to me.

I'm hoping to be over here more but without the pressure to create and publish photos and witticisms.  This is a place to document my musings on creating needlework not just for those who are here now but for those who will be here many years after I am gone.

Be well.
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Sunday, September 05, 2010

Yummy Cookies



Chocolate chip cranberry oatmeal cookies, originally uploaded by stitchingpink.
This is one of my very favorite cookie recipes from this book though I have modified it quite a bit and provide the recipe below. These are not your typical oatmeal cookies - they are filled with chocolate chips, cranberries and, if you like, walnuts or pecans. Today I omitted the nuts because we are taking them to a picnic but if I'm just making these for us, I like to add chopped pecans.

Heat oven to 350.

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups oatmeal - not quick cooking
1 cup flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or more if you like)
1 cup chopped nuts - walnuts or pecans.

Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time then vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl then mix with butter/sugar mixture. Last add chocolate chips, dried cranberries and nuts if you like.

I use a small ice cream scoop which is about 2 tsp. Space at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Make sure they cook through - these are good really crispy.

Makes about 4 to 5 dozen.

Enjoy.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Kate Spade Polyvore Contest - My Entry, My Life

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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Flowers from the farm



Flowers from the farm, originally uploaded by stitchingpink.
Yesterday I made it to the farm early before the humidity really picked up. Luckily for me our farm share allowed me to cut 30 flowers. I have a thing for snapdragons so I made my way to them first picking only those with pink and orange hues of course. Then I walked over to the zinnias where I found myself immersed in a sea of vibrantly colored flowers with honey bees and butterflies dancing from bloom to bloom. I took my time finding the perfect ones to accompany the snapdragons, allowing the bees to finish their business before snipping the stem. More than once I stood and watched a large yellow and black butterfly flap her wings on the perfect bloom - she seemed to have the exact same taste in flowers as mine!

Once home, I cut a few of the remaining pink hydrangea blooms from the bush outside my front door. I then haphazardly arranged my bounty in an old milk glass pitcher, placed the arrangement in a spot where I could enjoy them and sat down to read my new book. All in all a lovely morning.

Enjoy.

You can see last year's arrangement here
Posted by at 7:47 AM 2 comments Links to this post
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