Sewing & Design

4 February, 2008

The good and the bad

beckarahn2008-02-04T23:59:00-06:00Sewing & Design|Comments Off on The good and the bad

As I was reading the “Yarn Harlot“‘s post today and laughing to myself, I am thinking a list of the good and bad may help me to get perpective on a less than fantastic day.

Good: Cute sweater created from mediocre $3 thrift store sweater. Wore it to work today.

Bad: (grumble grumble work stuff) I don’t want to talk about work, except to say staff changes will equal added stuff to the piles of stuff I already have too much of.

Good: Happy puppy to greet me at the door.

Bad: Worked on a project all day long and still not finished. Was really hoping to finish it.

Good: Designed a new business card and found a deal online that will print some for free. Expires today, so I better finish that up. I will show those off later.

Bad: Stupid snow. Enough today so I will have to shovel in the morning. Hate snow.

3 February, 2008

cupcake & stitch

beckarahn2008-02-03T19:59:00-06:00Embroidery|2 Comments

This is a little playsuit that I embroidered for my new niece. It cme from lands end and has little ruffles on the cuffs and on the butt. Too cute. I decided it needed this little cupcake with sprinkles. I hate making french knots with a passion. They are tricksy and uncooperative. These sprinkles are not french knots! They are a new stitch I learned, called a chinese knot! Let me show you how they are done…

1. Start with your thread coming up from the back (at the little dot). Make a loop that goes around clockwise.

2. Flip that little loop up.

3. Put your needle down through the fabric again right at that same space you came up (the little dot) and making sure your needle is inside the loop you just made. Before you pull the needle through…

4. Pull on the loose end of your thread to make that loop snug around your needle. Then finish pulling the needle through the fabric.

A pretty little knot that can be used just like a french knot! I need to practice some more, but I think this will become my new favorite.

25 January, 2008

I am a Finalist!

beckarahn2008-01-25T15:23:00-06:00Embroidery|2 Comments

This mini quilt is called “Sewing Room”. It is 8×10 inches. Made from new and vintage cotton fabrics. Yes, there are pieces in that tiny sewing machine that are 1/4″ square. It has been accepted as a finalist in…. stay tuned for more!

15 January, 2008

Now Showing…

beckarahn2008-01-15T14:54:00-06:00Embroidery, Sewing & Design|3 Comments

“Mango”
hand embroidered with cotton on hand-dyed silk.
This is my piece in the Textile Center’s members show, A Common Thread. My inspiration for this piece was this story about a small South American hummingbird that found itself at the center of much attention at a feeder in Wisconsin.
Click the images to see a larger version.

15 January, 2008

Teaching!

beckarahn2008-01-15T01:16:00-06:00Classes & Teaching, Embroidery|Comments Off on Teaching!

I have filled up my spring with teaching gigs! Come and see me in Idaho at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts teaching wet & dry felting, beginning shibori and hand embroidery plus a teens shibori class and a kids weaving class. Or you can come to my “Starting a Blog” or “Opening an etsy shop” at the Textile Center in March and April.

2 January, 2008

Gifts reveal!

beckarahn2008-01-02T23:21:00-06:00Embroidery, Sewing & Design|Comments Off on Gifts reveal!

Time to reveal a few gifts! Here are some things that went out in Christmas packages.

Embroidery kits for my nieces packed with sewing goodies.

“Baa Baa Black Sheep” for my honorary niece to go with a book. (I have to say this is one of my favorite things I made this year.

Super hero capes for the small ones among my nephews. They each got one with their initial on the back.

Miniature “Weasley” sweaters for my sisters and parents to go on the tree.

Rachel’s bamboo lace hat. Although she wore this a lot when we were there, we only managed to capture one lousy picture. So you get the hat but not the “get out of my face with that camera” expression.