The Teen with the Jeans!! (see previous post!)

My Treasure
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

I wanted to let you know that just because one loses something does not mean one has lost everything. As you can see above, I have a Fabulous Treasure!

Two weeks ago tomorrow, via telephone, I suffered another personal relationship loss. At first I was devastated. But I find that all is not lost, in truth. And as I learn to see with my Sarah eyes again, I think that perhaps this is a good thing that has happened.

I have, as you see, my daughter who is as beautiful inside as she is outside. In spite of transmogrifying health issues, my hands, fingers and smile still work. Oh yeah, and my feet, in case I have to give anyone a little kick in the ankle (cheeky grin!!). And I have my friends, both in real life and in our textile/fiber/fun-with-fabric-creativity community (I defy Germaine Greer (click for story) to pound THAT down [grin!])

Blogging may (or may not!!) be a bit less frequent as I pack and move and unpack (I expect a group groan of sympathy here), but please know I am truly a blessed woman. And I am made even stronger by all of you who read my blog, participate in the Yahoo! groups, check my Flickr site, and comment, email me, etc.

My life is so very rich, thanks to all of you.

So be caring! Be creative! And I'll be back!!

What Aspect of Sewing Fills YOU With Dread??!!

I was talking with my friend Rain a couple days ago and she asked me that question. Without ANY hesitation, I said, "Mending." And then I further clarified, "JEANS." She couldn't understand so I had to explain to her the grueling process of trying to mend the jeans of a teen aged girl.

The jeans are brought to you, waving hysterically in the air. MMMOOOOOMMMMM, can you mend these? They have a hole in the back. So I take the jeans turn them over, around, upside down, and inside out. And I finally find the hole. The teeny weeny infitesimally small hole which is unacceptable because Heaven Forbid anyone would see the color of their panties for the day. Which they only could see if their face was an inch away from the hole and they had a magnifying glass. Although what someone is doing that near to my daughter's bottom would Require An Explanation.

But, I lovingly proceed. I find the patching denim. I pin it on. I tape it, too, just in case. I armwrestle the jeans onto the free-arm of my little machine. I begin. The jeans have to be turned three times. After an hour and a half, I've sewn at least three fingers together, my eyes are bloodshot from squinting trying to find the minuscule hole, and my mouth is dry from biting my lip concentrating. I manhandle the jeans off the machine and take them to my treasure. She examines them and hands them back to me, a lone tear dripping down her cheek. She says there's a wrinkle in the patch. HUH????

So I go back to the machine, which now seems to have fangs and an evil laugh. I base my foot against the dining room table for leverage, haul the jeans onto the machine, and begin again. By this time, my face is red and I have invented words that would make God blush. I've sewn at least two more fingers together. My feet are practically waving in the air as I keep my nose dangerously close to the needle and carefully sew out the wrinkle that I never *did* see in the patch I could *hardly* see over the hole that it took me five minutes to find in the first place.

Finally, after another three hours, I finish. Triumphantly, I turn the jeans right side out, shake them out with a good, satisfyingly hard smack, and, brandishing them with victory, take them to my daughter, my darling, my delight.

As I retreat down the hall, I hear a piercing shriek of anguish. MMMOOOMMMM!!! WHAT?? I've put on half a pound in the last five hours and now the jeans don't fit!!!!

Go Figure.

And THAT, dear readers, is why I HATE mending jeans.

What is YOUR Least Favorite sewing chore??!! (Very Big Grin!!!)

FREE!!

If you have not yet been to Quiltersmuse, you must go visit as soon as you finish reading this post. Pat Cummings, owner of Quiltersmuse, is one of the foremost experts, if not THE expert, on Outline Stitch Embroidery. She also has amassed a formidable knowledge of quilting, quilting and embroidery history, and other types of embroidery in addition to OSE.

Jim Cummings is Pat's hardworking, totally wonderful husband who handles all the photography needs of the site. And over the last few years, the two of them have produced several stellar books. Previously these books were available for sale on the Quiltersmuse site. Now, however, Pat and Jim have begun putting the books up online...available FREE OF CHARGE.

The first book that went cyber is Straight Talk About Quilt Care: Display, Cleaning and Storage of New and Antique Quilts and Needlework. Straight Talk gives extensive coverage exactly as it promises. Display, cleaning, how to know when to call in a professional, and several other subjects are presented interestingly and thoroughly. The information is applicable NOT ONLY to those in traditional quilt and needlework fields, BUT ALSO is equally applicable for those in the art quilt field. I highly recommend Straight Talk to anyone in the textile field.

The second book that is now available is Pat's Just For Fun Redwork Book. Just For Fun includes stitch directions and 98 authentic old redwork patterns from an antique quilt. Again, this book is offered entirely free of charge.

There are also many fascinating tidbits...for instance, the bear logo in the top right corner is a redwork piece that Pat completed when she was five years old!

I don't think I've ever seen such generosity with this type of research and information. Quiltersmuse not only has these books available (and more on the way), the site also covers an abundance of other subjects. Pat has other free patterns, historical articles, product reviews, and many other categories. And the Quiltersmuse also has a blog which is fascinating reading.

Go visit the Quiltersmuse today -- it will surely be worth your while!

Be educated! Be inquiring! And I'll be back!

Fibers, Fibers, NEVER ENOUGH!!!

BJP Fibers
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

You know I'm involved with the Beaded Journal Project as well as Sharon B's class, Sumptuous Surfaces. I began to show you my stuff for SS (yes, more pix by end of week); now here's a bit of what colors I'm using for BJP. These fibers are very soft and, as you can see, so beautiful! I got them from Gail at Gail Forces Fabrics. Gail's link is in my sidebar, but click here, too, and you can visit her great site.

Who Knew??!!

I now know (painfully!) why the instructions say to REGULARLY change the blade on your rotary cutter. After an hour of frustratedly wondering what the *#*@&!!? was wrong, getting crookedly cut pieces and neatly rotarying three fingers (grrrrr!), it finally dawned on me that Other Rotary Cutters do not behave in this murderous fashion. So I called Mother. Her first question, after laughing unsympathetically at my tale of woe, was "did you change the blade??". AHEM. So we hung up, her chortling in my ear, and I changed the damn thing. Humph.

Be safe! Be aware! And I'll be back.

P.S. Please notice the cool thing about blogging versus writing someone a letter is that blood cannot drip on the post. (GRIN!!)

Hey, Check THIS Out!!

I was surfing around looking for something, and, as usually happens, I became thoroughly distracted!! I found these too-cool-for-words little wire soldiers which you MUST see! The site's in Russian, but the pictures are understandable in any language. I found it through another design site that is also thoroughly worth a visit...and I found THAT through 30gms, also VERY worth a visit...and I found 30gms through Subversive Crossstitch (featured in my sidebar now), which is a HOOT of a site! WARNING: SCS is NOT your everyday crossstitch site. Just so you know. (GRIN!)

Be daring! Be different! And I'll be back!

Sumptuous Surfaces Stuff

Sumptuous Surfaces Stuff
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Here's my stuff for Sumptuous Surfaces, the class with Sharon B. through Joggles. I'm quite excited with it; we're about to get Lesson 3 and I'm having lots of fun. These are "neutral" colors -- turquoise, peach, miniature shells, beads, etc. Sorry I just didn't feel like chasing beads around the floor so you get to see them in their bags, but I think you can see the color pretty well. Stay tuned for the next part of our lessons!

Be curious! Be colorful! And I'll be back!!

Sanity By Any Other Name

Sanity By Any Other Name
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Besides my other treasures (daughter, DH, dog), this piano is another. A/K/A sanity!! My paternal grandmother left it to me. It is a Fayette Cable (almost as good a reputation as a Steinway), late 1940's to very early 1950's, I believe, as near as I can research it. It is a wonderful instrument, and I am so very fortunate to have it.

I have been playing since I was 4 (*rather* over 40 years [grin]), including a stint as concert pianist in jr. high, choir accompanist in high school, and years during and after high school playing the pipe organ through my church (which was absolutely awesome...the music literally seems to flow through you and swirl around you).

There are too many times to mention when I have played out my sadness, my joys, my "what do I do now"s, and just for fun to celebrate all the small happinesses in my life. I'm grateful not only for the instrument, but also for the talent to use it -- it has saved my sanity many, many times and I hope it will do so for many, many years to come.

Be artful! Be creative and let it flow from your heart! And I'll be back!

Back So Soon?!

The 2007 Bead Journal Project is now seriously underway, and the folks involved are quite a talented bunch! I love poking through our posts and following others' links...you'll enjoy all of them when you visit the blog, but take a moment and visit the one that caught my fancy today!

Be inspired! Be inspiring! And I'll be back!

Wondering Why?

As I explain in my sidebar, the reason I named my blog "Ever Embellished" is not only for needlework/fiberart purposes. Embellishing happens in all areas of life. Sharing my garden and my treasures, thus, are embellishments of the life of Sarah Ellis. Plus, I was inspired!

My dear friend Pat Cummings has recently come into what I love to call (teasing her, of course!) an Embarassment of Riches. (grin!) A Person in her family who shall remain nameless dumped a truckload (literally) of textile items onto her front porch. At the Person's request. Said Person did not like, want, need or otherwise want to be concerned with said Textiles. So "poor" Pat got landed with what she loves most in the world besides her wonderful husband -- quilts! And splashers, aprons, lace-trimmed doilies, all KINDS of vintage goodies. And as she was describing her treasures to me (while I wiped the drool off my chin), I decided that I should share some of mine with y'all.

My collection is nowhere near Pat's, of course. But, like Pat, I value what I have and am thankful for the having of it. Thus, these first few pics!

There will be more pics later...as I finished sorting, I found quite a few hand-worked all-white handkerchiefs, which, after pressing and a little judicious mending (thank goodness my mother taught me these things!), I will post.

BTW, my mother also has her first mending basket, which comes with a separate lid, and has the wooden tools and special needles used for fixing holes in sock heels or toes, fixing holes in jeans, and all that other cool stuff. I've put in a request, but she's not coming off of anything yet. Sigh. (!!)

So, today, be careful, be caring, and I'll be back!

Three Lengths, Three Generations

Gloves' Three Lengths
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Next after the clutch purses are carefully lifted out, we find my sets of gloves. I have six pairs -- evening (on the far left), tea (middle) and church (short, on right).

Now the following is simply a memory, nothing else. I remember when I was a little girl going to church with my family. Through second grade, children went to Sunday School. Parents came to pick them up after the worship service in the sanctuary was finished. Then in third grade, we all took a Bible class, taught by the Superintendent of Sunday School. At the end, we 'graduated', received our own Bible (which I still have), and were allowed to go upstairs to the "big church" with our parents. And I remember being so thrilled, made sure Daddy tied my bow on the back of my dress nice and big, and nearly skipped for happiness because I finally got to wear "big girl" gloves like Mom. The short ones there on the right.

Geez, that was SO long ago! But I hold dear these sets of gloves for all their equally wonderful memories -- some mine, some shared.

In the next couple days as I continue to show you my treasures, I'll try each pair on and photograph them so you can see the actual length up the arm. And yes, they do fit nicely (grin)!

Turquoise Oriental Purse

Turquoise Oriental Purse
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

This little beauty is another clutch purse, turquoise silk with an oriental flower motif on it. I don't know what it is about clutch purses, but I just love them, especially for evenings out, not that I get out all that much...

I bought this when I was still in high school. I was just enamoured of the color and the style. Since my birthday is in December, my birthstone is the turquoise, and turquoise jewelry or -colored anything is my all-time favorite in whatever area!

In my work this year, you'll be seeing a lot of turquoise used. Much of what I'm doing is for future dates. One is the Houston International Quilting Festival, about which I'm very excited and very nervous. And there are a couple opportunities here locally in which I've been invited to participate. Truthfully, I'm thrilled! As time goes on, however, I'll be posting a lot more of my smaller stuff as it gets done, and I'm not talking about WISPs!!! (Although Lord knows I've got plenty of them also!!)

Black Purse with Beaded Picots

Black Purse with Beaded Picots
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Now, whereas the beaded clutch purse was soft-support, this one is stiff. The handle is very short, to be carried just over the wrist. You can easily see the little picots all around the edges; what you can't see as well (I have to work on my lighting, SORRY!!) is the beautifully beaded stem of roses and leaves on the flap of the purse. It is an exquisite example of beading.

Black Beaded Purse

Black Beaded Purse
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

First off the top comes the purses. This one is beaded in its entirety, with a 6" beaded tassel hanging from the zipper (that lump on the left there) and a rose picked out in gold embroidery on the bottom right corner. It's an evening clutch purse.

My Special Box

Scarf Box 1
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Ok, now for some fun stuff!

I made this box probably almost thirty years ago. It's one of those pressed-cardboard boxes, about 8" high and maybe 12" long. It's covered in a simple printed muslin, with two layers of lace and beading around the edge (yes, I see that one area is loose...) and a few little ribbon flowers in the center. It was my first covered box!

In it, I have a very special collection -- textile accessories from the women in my family.

I've opened the lid, now let me share a few of my treasures with you...

My Lovely Cannas

Cannas3
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

OK, time for a break...enough of the inside for a sec, and out to my Secret Garden! This is a better sort of close-up of my cannas. Here you can see the intense orange of almost the entire flower, with the beautiful yellow trimming around each petal.

Last of the Basket Piles!

Last of the Basket Piles!
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

The last of it -- the four laundry-baskets-from-Michael's loads. Two hold research on various subjects within or applicable to the fiberarts world, one is learning techniques information, and one is recent WISPs and current projects. The latter you'll get to see over the course of the next few months as I clear through it all...perhaps slogging through it would be a better term! Oh well, I love this work, and I'm dedicated to doing my absolute best in all undertakings!

Studio Resources!

Studio Resources!
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

More books, and the drawers there, a double set, will hold my vintage and contemporary laces, trims and buttons. There's a TV and a small CD/radio on top -- those are VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCES -- music is a constant inspiration, and voices are company (sometimes)! These "bookshelves", BTW, are two plastic crates stacked on their sides.

Studio Closet Now

Closet Now Left 2
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

OK, here's the closet now -- quilting books and baskets of batting on shelf; backing sheeting and counted thread linens in bag hanging from hangers; and quilting hoop and embroidery bar stands hanging from hooks. It's a start...!!!

Freddy's New Home

Freddy's New Home
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

Well, a few posts ago, I wrote about the Giant Reading Pillow (frog!) that was bought for and rejected by DH. Humph. So, Freddy has moved into my new space. That's the end of the day bed on which he rests, by the window. I have to fix my focus next time so I can show his view out that window...my garden, my private space!