It’s been a strange and stressful week here at Chez Rahn and so I spent the evening destressing by mending.  I replaced some buttons on a sweater.  I refinished a wooden brooch that had had an accidental trip through the washer.  I am about to go and scrounge for the next project.  It has been very soothing and there is something satisfying about finishing little projects like this and having something wonderful at the end.

What do you do to de-stress?

(or Zinnia, rather.)

I posted a teaser photo of this heart a few days back and I know that my swap partner has gotten it, so now I can post the whole thing.  The mirrors are large sequins, stitched on with a shisha embroidery technique.  Here’s a great tutorial at Joyful Abode.  (I did just the foundation stitches because I like the star motif that makes.)  Around each mirror are a combination of blanket stitch, back stitch, chain stitch and chinese knots.  I don’t do french knots, [read more…]