I received this book over the week end and I am so delighted to have it. It makes  all those colors of dmc floss make sense. It sets out groups of DMC floss in groups of colors. I have been reading for two days and just can't put it down. For anyone who is unsure about color when it comes  embroidery this really brings it all together.I hope this info is good for someone out there in the stitching world Hugs To all Elaine

http://thelocustblossom.blogspot.com/

I just created an army of tiny little Valentine bears for Grandma Vivian's future Valentine's tree.  I posted about it on my blog at:

http://susanintexas.blogspot.com/2013/01/valentine-bears.html

I was getting a little tired of all the Aida fabric I bought in preparation for the TAST challenge(it seemed like a good idea at the time:) To-day, I suddenly realized that the background fabric makes a great difference to the way I work and feel!  The Aida is crisp and rather clinical if not coloured in some way, or that is the way it seems to me, at least.  I know it is wonderful for cross stitch and working out sample borders etc.

I prepared some silk caps a while…

I use Bubble Jet 2000 to treat the fabric I intended to print on. Then I iron it to freezer paper and cut out a sheet of paper that fits my printer. I then decided on my theme and go to searching for clip art that I love and will fit the theme I have planned for.  This is a lot of fun. Then I get to stitching. I make these into little quilts the size of a sheet of paper. I bind them and then make them into a book, by using wide organza ribbon folded in half on one edge and the putting them…

I've been thinking about colours for our piece and what I'm actually going to produce with the piece once it's finished. 

Not being an expert on any kinds of flowers I've gone to flickr and searched through all the wonderful pictures of lotus'.  I created a gallery so I could easily come back the ones I liked.  You can find it here if you would like to have a look.  I've tried to choose…

I have actually got around to compiling my own stitch book having been inspired by so many on this site.  I rarely embroider by hand, preferring the instant gratification of free machine embroidery.  My stitch formation needs loads more work but I enjoyed the free style nature of this project-  I had no plans or guide lines I just put the stitches where I felt they would go.…

In embroidering, I find that I progress very slowly. At least it seems that many minutes/hours of stitching result in Very Little To See. 

But, since I am enjoying the process of stitching - most of the time - when not unpicking, redoing, or fighting with recalcitrant scissors, thread, or needles, the "amount" of finished stitch area seems to be relatively unimportant.

The pleasure is in the stitching. And it is expressed when an involuntary smile appears in viewing each "just…

I just have to share how excited I am about a new-to-me stitch I finally got around to trying... the buttonhole bar! I meant to take a close up picture of the paisley I finished last night using this technique, but forgot to in my haste to leave this morning. Will remedy that next week, I hope. At any rate, I am looking forward to trying this stitch in a variety of ways since I enjoyed working it so much.

Sherri Q

Do you love textiles and fiber art? If so, you will definitely want to make your way over to TAFA, an organization I launched in February of 2010. TAFA's members, now numbering over 200, are either working artists…

I would just like to say that since joining this network I have been amazed at the variety and talent of all of the wonderful people here!

People who work so hard to give us the information and encouragement we need to explore further and gain valuable experience. It really is such a creative community. It has encouraged me to stretch my thinking…