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

Ambition

The 30 Rock sampler is finally finished! Check it out:

My boyfriend and I loved the quote when we saw it on 30 Rock embroidered onto a pillow in Jack Donaghey's office:

Didn't want to make a pillow, however, so went with a snarky sampler style project instead. I am actually really proud of this. I wanted to design and stitch this project from start to finish, so I even charted my own script alphabet based on a font I liked. Here's a close up on the design across the top and bottom of the quote:

I also like that the design and color scheme makes this look almost traditional at first glance. Can't wait to pick out a frame for it this weekend and hang it up on the wall. 

The Big Reveal!

As promised in my previous post, I am now prepared to reveal last week's finished project!

Ta-Da! For those not in the know, this is one of Han Solo's quotes from Star Wars, and one of my favorites as well as the birthday girls!

I can't take credit for the pattern, it was designed and charted by one the writers for Geek Crafts, and provided for free right here as a jpeg or pdf. Pretty awesome, right?!

The birthday girl loved it, especially the teeny light sabers and blasters around the text.



I'm quite pleased with how the framing turned out as well. I think the colors work well together and I like that the frame is fancy enough to actually hang out up somewhere. One last look:

up next: Valentine's Day cuteness!

Teaser!

 If you're anything like me you often have multiple projects going on at once. Keeps things more interesting and fun! Well a friend's birthday is this weekend, tomorrow in fact, and all week I've been ignoring my other stitching projects and working on a little handmade gifty. I only have a few more final touches until its ready to go, including a frame.

That said, I can't show you yet! On the off chance the birthday girl comes surfing by between now and tomorrow night I don't want to spoil the surprise. I did take one blurry and non-descript photo on my phone though to share:

I will also tell you that I did not make the pattern myself, but it's one that I'm pretty excited about. I hope she likes it! Look for the finished project (and a link to where you can get the pattern) on Monday!

PS- if anyone can tell what this might be based on that picture alone you might just become my new best friend. Theres a teeny chance the birthday girl could figure it out, but that would only confirm to me that this should definitely be her gift!