Fish Embroidery and Pattern

I have been so busy with the garden and a commission that my plans for handstitching and offering a pattern every now and then had been postponed. I still don't know how to make them look all pretty. So any suggestions are welcomed. I still am really busy with the garden and the commission work so this is a sneak preview.


Would love to see what others do with it. Yes it is simple. I used buttonhole stitch, french knots, bullion stitch and outline stitch for the one fish I did. Embellish at will. But please do share! Both can be also found on my flickr photostream.

Mosaic Madness

My creation
Originally uploaded by backwoods creations

1. Heart you, 2. flight detail, 3. quilt story collage finished, 4. #5 Ocean View Circle, 5. from my 'scrumble a week blog' - #9, 6. Acer, 7. Sketchbook page, 8. Three Blind Mice, 9. Great Work Ethic_070509

Again I have come across some amazingly talented people on flickr. Quirky senses of humor, delicious color and just an awesome selection to see.

blue striped mini mew

I haven't made any of these in quite sometime. I found a handful of these mini mews (kittens with pizzazz) in a box I had set aside after a craft show. I decided to start listing them again since I don't have a lot of time. They are adorable if I do say so myself.

blue striped mini mew
Originally uploaded by backwoods creations

Cool Creations

Cool Creations
Originally uploaded by backwoods creations

I did some some additions to my favorites from flickr. I love the nine patch format. It appeals to the fiber/quilter that lives in me. The number six one is done by Diane Thorold. She does these lovely kalidascope images as well as other mixed media items. But the crispness of this one really caught me. Each of them have some a unique flavor and make me so much more aware of my surroundings. But isn't that what art is supposed to do?

Handwork that has Followed Me or a Bushel and a Peck

My studio has been moved. I am still trying to set things up to be able to sew and do all the other things that go into my work. I did manage to start working on some ideas. I call it working through the lull. The lull comes after having a really intense busy time. Lulls are there for a purpose. The lull is to regroup and refill the well. This lull has just come to an end, I hope. Sometimes lulls can stretch out longer then they should. But I have several ideas to work myself out of this one.

A while ago I had found the lone piece of redwork I had done years ago (maybe 10 or 15 years ago). The intent was to do a quilt top. However that was quickly dashed. White anything, I do mean anything, and I do not mixed. I have some white shirts that I can wear only under sweaters or strategically buttoned coats because of the blotches caused by coffee, red sauce or soy sauce. Basically anything that will leave a stain will find its way onto my chest. I am a stain attractor. Doesn't matter what I am doing if I have white on I will drip or spill some staining element on myself. Redwork is worked on white cotton cloth. White cotton cloth would not remain white in my house. Hence the short lived thought of doing a quilt.

But looking at this redwork did give me some ideas. I really should see about drawing up my own embroidery patterns to offer as freebies. This piece was based upon a little song my former spouse and I used to sing to each other. It went like this:

"I love you a bushel and a peck;
a bushel and a peck:
a barrel and a heap; a barrel and heap;
and a kiss upon the cheek
I think I'm losing sleep...over you.

Therefore we have a bushel and a peck of apples. It is grubby with age. But it still holds value to me in many ways. Memories of a good relationship that ended on a good note as well as the fun aspects of creating the piece. Now my only dilemma is figuring out how to do the pattern so people can get it. More internet research to take place I guess.

redwork embroidery pattern free handwork