Thursday, July 31, 2008

Friday Show and Tell - and Twin Update



This is #5 in my series called "I Used To . . . " It has been fun going down memory lane and realizing how many things my hands created when I was younger. This edition is a look at my "stitchery stage."


I remember when I started stitching pictures to decorate my house. I had embroidered dish towels when I was a young girl - I don't remember who taught me, but I hadn't done any embroidery for years. I bought this kit to go in our bedroom - it was the beginning of a many-years-long love affair with needles, yarn, and embroidery floss.


Soon after this first venture, I discovered a party plan called "Creative Stitchery." I hosted parties, went to parties, ordered kits, and even pondered the idea of becoming a Creative Stitchery employee. I nixed that idea when I realized I would have to be gone most evenings, if I succeeded in this venture. I'd rather stay home and embroider! I soon had enough to cover the large area above my couch in the living room.

012



015

I decorated a bathroom with these.


When I was pregnant with Kristen, I did the nursery in light green, with gingham curtains and all sorts of green touches - even painted the chest of drawers and the crib green - those were the days. I bought this counting chart kit and had so much fun doing it. It was in the shop being framed when I went into labor.



These others were added to the kids' rooms as time went on.





I did these with embroidery floss. They were in Kristen's room for years, but now live in the downstairs bathroom - I just couldn't store them away.





This was in the kitchen.

014


Can you tell this was in the 70s, when everything was gold, brown, and orange??


These still hang in my house, in the upstairs bathroom.






I still put this one up every Christmas.




Somehow I became interested in counted cross-stitching. I had so many pattern books, dozens of skeins of floss. Believe it or not, this was the first one I did - nothing like starting with a real challenge. It still hangs in my living room.

005

The detail on this picture was incredible - I got mixed up on the fence along the front, with all the flowers - and had to improvise - I did NOT want to tear it all out. You can click and enlarge, if you want to.

006


007

I went a little nuts with counted cross stitch. Everybody got one for a wedding gift - and Precious Moments were my favorite. I have no idea how many of these I made for wedding gifts - each personalized with the couples' names and wedding date. This was on 18 count fabric - the last one I did, I had to sit in front of a window in the bright sunlight to be able to see the white on off white - the veil was made of sparkling floss - you can't really see the veil, because it's not outlined with the brown floss.



At some point I realized that I didn't have any in my house, so I made a set for each of the kids. I gave Kristen's to her when she had girls, and could not get a picture. But these are Kev's, and are waiting to go to his house when he has a boy, hopefully.




I used to work on these things every evening as the t.v. was on. DC would ask me why I couldn't just relax - I told him this was how I did relax. I finally gave all of my floss to my SIL, Morning Glory, who lost all of her floss when their car was stolen and her floss was in the car. I had developed tendonitis, and my hands couldn't take it any more. But I'm glad I have all of these good memories of productivity and creativity.

As for the twinnies - they are doing new cute things all the time - they'll be 7 months old on Thursday (how can it be??)


Katie chillin' --


Learning to hold their bottles --




Rolling over, and being frustrated that they can't seem to roll back -- Emma is comforting Katie

For more Friday Show and Tell stories, stop by Kelli's blog,
There Is No Place Like Home.

34 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Wow, you really did some wonderful pieces! I used to do counted cross stitch, and sometimes I think maybe I should do some more. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy said...

Your "stitchery stage" was fantastic! I can't believe how many pieces you have and all of them are really pretty. Lovely post!
Kathy

Missy Wertz said...

Dawn, these are just beautiful and what a collection! When I see these (hanging in a museum) I always wonder who made them, was it a child's sampler (you can usually tell...) Who was it being made for, what room was it going in.... when I see one, I always wonder all the things going thru the stitchers head when she was working on it. They last for generations.

Coe said...

When I was a stay at home Mom I loved to do embroidery and counted cross stitch. Now I don't seem to have the time. You have done some really difficult pictures. I always just did easy ones. I still have one in my house that I embroidery when my kids were little. I have several in my house from my Texas friends.

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

What beautiful stitching you've done, it takes a steady eye and hand. You have much to pass on to your beautiful grandchildren!

Have a Fantastic Friday!
Kathi :)

Judith said...

You must be very good at precise details. All the things you made are beautiful, and such reminders of certain times.

I tried doing embroidery. but got busy making babies, so no time for
it. Someone was going to teach me how to make those delicate edgings, I think it was called tatting, but we never did. I tried crocheting, for about fifteen minutes, but couln't keep all those rows counted properly. But I was very good at making babies, and hope to do as well with writing.
I did not get any sewing training.
tried making a baby dress for Barb when I was carrying her. It would have fit her when she was two years old. So I make things with words, and leave all that beautiful creativity to more talented souls. You do very nice work.

Anonymous said...

I love your crewel work, especially the roses and the fuzzy hair on the "Please be patient" plaque. I have seen the "Life is fragile" plaque somewhere before and I am trying to remember where.

I love the cross stitch, too. I am just picking it back up again after a long absence.I can't see the 18 count, either. Even with magnifying glasses and one of those magnifiers that hang around my neck, it's a struggle to see the 16. I just started one in 14, and it's better, though I still have to use the magnifier. I like the smaller count much better, but just can't see it.

Anne Fannie said...

Wow, what a lovely collection of beautiful cross stitch. And the grandbabies are adorable!
love, Ann

Linds said...

Your embroidery is beautiful, Dawn, and how lovely that you still have the pieces to remember those times. When we could see to do fine work!
I was part of the brown orange, yellow, gold phase too. Weren't we all.....

Carrie said...

Wow, what a productive stage...you did so many different and lovely designs!

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I know how to embroider, but never got into it much. I do counted cross stitch, including the really intricate stuff, but I take it by spells, as I do with my crochet. I made a few cross stitched bible markers last Christmas but haven't done anything since.

I like all your stuff, but the Christmas scene is my favorite out of the bunch. I like bright colors. Fall colors are not my thing and never have been, even when everybody was into the harvest gold and orange, lemon yellow and olive, etc.

My apartment was built in 1980 and my landlord got a good deal on lemon yellow and orange counter tops in a close out sale. I got the orange, and it's in my kitchen and bathroom both. I've had to live with it for 23 years since I got married and moved in here, and I still despise it just as much today as I did when I moved in here.

Sorry to hijack your comments about my dislike of colors, LOL! ;o)

The girls are getting so big! Emmy will be 15 months old on Aug. 8th and it doesn't seem possible for her or the twins to be as old as they are now.

Happy weekend, Dawn. :o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Hootin Anni said...

The babes are so precious. I'm glad you keep us posted on their growth. They're darling.

And I love all your needlecraft. I do have some favorites picked out of your work. Wanna know which? I know you didn't ask, but I'm gonna tellya....I love the 2nd one down...the flower pots. So bright and vivid in color. Then, the "Friends". That giraffe is precious. And the one in your upstairs bathroom, the roses look REAL! And last but not least, the "Christmastime" Wow...I LOVE this most of all I think.


My Show n Tell is now posted. Hope you can stop by for a visit. Have a glorious Friday.

A Hint of Home said...

Oh my goodness! You have so many pieces that you've done. I wouldn't be able to store them away either. Pretty colors in them.

Sam said...

Dawn,

I love your cross stitch pieces! They're just wonderful! I really want to make some of them for my own home. I'm not very crafty at all, but I recently taught myself embroidery, so I think I could probably stumble my way through this. I'm going to give it a try because I just love yours so much.

The twins look like real babies now! They're really growing! And they're just adorable.

Patty H. said...

You did beautiful work!
The twins are so cute and sweet.
Blessings

Dawn said...

Hi Dawn! I'm a Dawn too. :-) I don't meet too many of us. LOL!

I absolutely adore the "Please be Patient" one. I have never been able to master anything that involves a needle, and I am simply amazed when I see what can be created. You have a wonderful talent!

Anonymous said...

I loved seeing your embroidery pieces and your cross stitched pieces too! You are very talented that way. It was nice you had a way to personalize your decor over the years.
I am into cross stitch myself. I usually give things I stitch away, but I have a few pieces hanging up too.
Your grandbabies are precious!

Susan said...

Lovely handiwork!!!!
Susan

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

My favorite is the Giraffe Friends one. Very nice work!

Robin said...

Oh my - another thing we have in common! I did those exact Holly Hobby pictures - I wonder where they are? And also the Life is Fragile one - had that for years. I remember the Creative Stitchery parties - I loved them!

You asked about Tyler's other grandmother. My son-in-law's mother passed away about 4 years ago - very tragic thing is his life. His step-mother lives far across the country but I think she will be called grandma. Tyler also has 4 great-grandmothers all of whom live close by. Three of them are called grandma and I think we will call my mom GG- short for great-grandma. He also has two "adoptive grandma's" who have been grandma's to my kids ever since we have been in this church. So you can see that "grandma" might be a bit overused in this family!

Barb said...

Boy, Dawn, you really did go through a needlework "phase." LOL

I remember all the Holly Hobbie projects I did. And I think the hardest counted cross stitch I ever did was a 16X20-inch Precious Moments wedding project I did for Krissy and Andy. I'll have to photograph that and show it on my blog - I thought all the white on white would drive me insane!

Beautiful work, and beautiful babies too. :-)

Tammy said...

Dawn, you are SO talented! And I must say, you were SO industrious back then! I was tired just looking at all your handiwork! ;)

And Holly Hobbie! I am just starting to collect vintage HH for both my girls and myself...adorable!

Sharon Lynne said...

Amazing. Your hands were so busy! What do you do now when you watch TV?

The twins are so cute and cuddley!

Unknown said...

Wow, all the pictures you stitched look so nice! You must have really enjoyed the cross stitch, so much time and detail went into it.

Cute pictures of the twins. They are getting to the fun age of mobility. Good luck keeping up with them. :-)

Christa said...

How fun! I don't/didn't embroider but do counted cross stitch and needlepoint. what fun pictures and memeories. The twins are growing so fast and are just as cute as can be.
Have a good day
God Bless

Nancy said...

Hi Dawn!

I found your blog through Diane at Diane's Place. My, the work your hands have done over the years! I love to do counted cross-stitch! I did a large piece for each of my kids one year and had them matted and framed. Have things in the works but no time to work on them anymore.

The babies are beautiful!!! I know you are enjoying watching them grow. I have no grands as my kids aren't even married yet!

I LOVE your blog header!!! Beautiful!!! And your blog name just fits it so perfectly!!!

I'll check back when I can, as I work 2 jobs so have to squeeze in time for blogging.

(((((( HUGS ))))))

Linda said...

Hi Dawn,
I tried and tried to get on your blog yesterday, but there was some sort of funny "thing" going on that wouldn't let me. I'm glad it's fixed whatever it was!
I love doing needlework too. I have so many kits to work on - I don't think I'll ever get them all done. I believe there is something extra special about things someone made by hand. You did such a wonderful job.
I especially love the Holly Hobbie. She was always a favorite of mine. I am one of those people who should have been born a hundred years ago as far as my taste in home decor goes. I would be so content in a "Little House on the Prairie". Our home tends to look rather like that. I think all my little treasures make my more modern thinking kids' heads spin :-) For me it says home.
Have a blessed week. We're off to help the kids with their move to Dallas. Acutally we are more company than anything else. Scott's company is doing the move for them - packing and all. Isn't that wonderful?
I think they're just anxious for us to see the new house and share this time with them. And we love doing it (once I get my lazy self in gear).
See you in a week or so.

The Tiquehunters Wife said...

All your work is BEAUTIFUL! I loved viewing them all! And your little twinnies are the sweetest, little ones ever!
Blessings to You!
Claudia O.

Mimi said...

you have such a precious collection of needlework...such memories...and such wonderful keepsakes for your grandchildren some day!!!
The twins are growing by leaps and bounds...and so adorable are they!!!

BigDadGib said...

you do such a good job with s&t, makes me want to try it.

:)

Needled Mom said...

Beautiful projects, Dawn. I have always loved doing the handwork - especially the counted cross stitch - and, like you, find it is the most relaxing thing to do in the evenings.

Your Precio*us Moments are just lovely. I know that everyone must appreciate the hard work that you put into them. They will be cherished for many more years.

Kelli said...

So many lovely pieces, Dawn! I just love the sweet holly hobbie!
~Kelli

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Love all of that! I have some pieces from them too. Never liked the idea of working for them. The girls look adorable!

groovyoldlady said...

I DID sell those Creative Circle pieces and I completed many of the same ones!

:D

I wish I still had the focus and finish power to stitch, though now my eyesight is so poor that it would probably make me nuts trying to do the smaller details. Even when I'm just mending, I rip off my glasses (darned bifocals!) and hold the seam a couple of inches from my face so I can see. You don't even want to know my posture for using the sewing machine!

Praise God that we won't have swollen tendons or stupid eyesight in Heaven!