Sugar Skull Embroidery

I'm officially finished with all my swaps, and I'm taking a break! Sent off and received for the Dia De Los Muertos swap last week, expect pictures of all that goodness to come- in the meantime have a teaser: 

random free-hand sugar skull embroidery, that was becoming an applique at this stage. 

I think he's kinda cute. 

I'm noticing a pattern in my embroidery however, and that is a lack of a pattern or template of any kind. It's laziness really. To find a pattern I like, and then to transfer it onto the fabric, and then stitch it, all the while freaking out every time a teeny smudge of the transfer disappears. It's too many extra steps. I know my pieces would improve though if I used a pattern. 

What are your preferred transfer methods for embroidery? Or, are you like me and just go for it and hope it turns out ok? So far I've tried tracing a design over transfer paper (so messy! blue smudges everywhere!) and sketching a free-hand design with a fabric pen. Haven't yet explored the world of iron-on patterns, but I'll probably explore that next. 

Life has been so busy lately, I'm not allowing myself to sign up for any more swaps until July, or until the next Hoopla swap- whichever comes first. In the meantime, I may have to be selfish and make a few things for myself. We'll see. ;) 

Go and make things- W

Ode to A Tulip

Dear ugly lumpy blue thing on my much overdue spring themed embroidery,

I don't even know who you are anymore. You certainly didn't start out this way. First, you were a lotus flower, big and proud. But your petals looked like seaweed and you were a hideous orange color that didn't match. I ripped you out. Next, you became a cattail like plant, purple and green, matched perfectly with your twin on the other half of the hoop. But you were droopy and your constant pity party drew too much attention away from your flowery sisters. I ripped you out, too. Now, you are an ugly lumpy blue "tulip," and I hate you even more than your predecessors. You are not a tulip. You aren't even a flower. Your "petals" are lopsided ovals and there's an empty space where your stem should be. You obviously have no respect for personal space, the way you crowd the other flowers. You alone have been holding me back from completion, but I won't stand for it anymore. I will rip out your stitches, erase you from my memory and start again. In your place I will put a simple leaf, extending out from a nearby plant. And maybe then I will be finished. Please don't take this personally. The rose next to you could be next. It's clear I'm not meant to make pretty, happy things.

Sincerely,

W

Taking out my frustrations

I have been really fed up with embroidery the last couple of days. A while ago I started working on a couple of mini hoops just sitting in front of the tv, working with the supplies I had right in front of me. I free handed them, expecting to just kill a little time and keep my hands busy. For whatever reason, I ended up being really inspired and worked on them diligently, loving the outcome. For a while anyway.

Now everything I stitch I pull right back out. Nothing looks right and the most frustrating part is it's not the stitches themselves, it's the design. I guess that's my punishment for not planning ahead.

So I've temporarily abandoned them for some knitting, in addition to the projects I made for my swap partner on Craftster (to be revealed at a later date). It's been therapeutic to feel the work progress in my hands as it grows, and working with a totally different color palette will hopefully help the creative juices flow once more. If not, I can always waste several hours a day on Pinterest.



Mailbox Love

Look at what I got!!!

OK, so I'm guessing you don't care so much about my embarrassing obsession with teen fantasy novels, but what might interest you is this:

Hooray it's here! I've been borrowing my mom's stitch dictionary for so long I decided to get my own. This is a pretty good one so far. I do wish it explained a little more *how* to do some of the stitches, but regardless it is a handy reference tool, especially when you want to play with texture and need some inspiration.

I also like the thread explanation at the beginning of the book, as I'm pretty loyal to the standard dmc cross stitch floss, but am looking to branch out and try something new.

I already started practicing some new (and relearning a few old) stitches:

I'm obviously still struggling with french knots :p