As far as projects go, lately I’ve been focusing on the Mission Rose quite a bit here on Needle ‘n Thread.
The Mission Rose is my Blog Project right now – the project that I’m showing step-by-step on the website, in order to demonstrate how embroidery projects develop, in order to demonstrate techniques, in order to offer little tips along the way that you can apply to your own embroidery, and so forth.
I like to have a major Blog Project going because it gives me a kind of coherent series or theme to develop on the website. It keeps me, in short, from being a little too haphazard in what I choose to write about each week!
There’s a little security in knowing that there’s one project that I must write about each week, at least once and often twice, so I can arrange my week’s writing around that project. At the same time, because I know I’ll be writing about it, it gives me stitching goals to meet.
But the Mission Rose isn’t the only thing happening around here. To keep Needle ‘n Thread afloat and going forward, a little juggling act is involved. Several projects and ideas have to be moving along or developing concurrently.
Hand Embroidered Monograms
Above, you can see a completed floral monogram B (technically, it’s a decorative initial, not a monogram, but…). That’s the result of some doodling, and I’m currently doodling the rest of the alphabet up, in different approaches, on different fabrics, with different threads. You’ll see more of it later on.
I also have some other monogram-related things going on. You’ve seen the shadow work monograms already, and I’m also putting together instructions for many different approaches to monograms, from beginner level to advanced, from traditional to fun.
I have long-cherished the idea of hosting an online class on hand embroidered monograms and decorative initials here on Needle ‘n Thread, and I’m planning to do that this year. Not promising a date yet – but the reality of it is getting closer!
Lavender Honey & Other Little Things
I introduced you a Looooooong Time Ago to my Little Things concept. And I promised you instructions on them.
Lavender Honey & Other Little Things is available! It’s a very thorough e-book that gives you the option of mixing and matching 20 different little projects. You’ll learn how to stitch each design, and how to finish each object – from little needle books to organize your needles, to scissor pulls, pin keeps, and ornaments.
You can find Lavender Honey available now here.
Wishing you a Wonderful Week!
Looking forward to the the Little things; they look adorable from this end.
Love the decorative initial (fun to see a “B” as in Barb!) and I think that Lavender & Honey is just too wonderful. I’m looking forward to your Little Things concepts.
Dear Mary
,I want to join the class WHEN please hurryI do love that B monogram and can’t wait to see the result of your doodling please hurry up and show us, when I first saw this monogram I thought I have to embroider this for my
10 year old Goddaughter so please show us soon. I also love the Lavendar Honey & other little things so sweet. You’ve got my embroider juices flowing can’t wait please soooooooooonnnnnnnn.
Regards Anita Simmance
Oh! I’ve been waiting and waiting for the announcement of the monogram class! I thought maybe I missed it. I’m glad it is still in the works 🙂
All your projects are beautiful. Perhaps one day you can include glazig embroidery.
Hi Mary
I really cannot wait for the Little Things – they are just adorable.
Lavender and Bees are high on the list of my most favourite things!
G’day Mary, and thank you. Cheers, Kath
buena suerte Mary seguire atenta a tus proyectos
un abrazo y gracias
I cannot wait for the monogram classes!!
Fai sempre delle cose bellissime!!!!!
I would love to take an online class with you, especially to do with monograms.
Your recent post about Allie Aller’s class on Craftsy was making me wish that YOU were teaching a hand embroidery class at Craftsy. If that is something you would want to do, I’m sure I am not the only one who would want to lobby Craftsy to help make it happen. You are a phenomenal teacher! Thank you for all you do.
Ha Ha Mary! Lavender Honey is adorable & long-awaited–but I conjured up Miel de Lavande instead. France is almost always on my mind & the lavender is blooming in my yard, so please excuse me while I go make some toast!
Hi Mary – I thought of you when I stumbled upon this blog. Maybe you have already see this entry but there are some delicious monograms here! I wish I could find stuff like this!
http://antiquestyle.blogspot.com/2011/08/hanky-primer-2-more-monogrammed-hankies.html
Thanks for the link! Great eye candy!!
Thanks for the link, Tania – really good to see lots of interesting handkerchiefs that are embroidered as opposed to line drawings. Love those detached element ones!
Monograms are timely! I want to stitch some on linen handkerchiefs for a friend’s 50th. He enjoys garish complmentary colours and he’s an architect whose favourite period is Brutalism – so I’ve been looking at some interesting modern ones – way different from what I normally would choose. Your’s above is just beautiful.
I want to do the lattice sampler as well at some stage as a prelim to learning Jacobean work – the idea of using multiple stitches and colours.