Something Old: Stitched Birds

I stitched these birds back in 2009 (I think) as a gift for my Mother-In-Law.

The pattern was found in the Hoop Love Vintage Transfers Flickr Group - which is one of my favorite Flickr groups to browse through.

Here is a direct link to the pattern .

I added  some straight stitches and french knots around the edges of the hoop.

"Something Old" is when I post photos of older embroidery projects that I stitched before I started this blog. 

Check out my previous "Something Old" posts here.

Something Old: Embroidered Foot Stool

I have this little foot stool that was my mom's and I use it to put my feet up while stitching. (In fact, I am using it now under my desk while typing this too!)

It has been covered many times with different colored fabrics. Back in 2010, I decided to cover it yet again with black fabric.

I had no real idea what I was going to embroider on it - I just grabbed some purple thread and started.

It looks like I did fly stitch with french knots and a couple lines of stem stitch.

This is one of my favorite embroidery projects- mostly because I did it all free hand - with no specific  design or idea - no pressure.

I need to do that more often.

It's surprising how well the stitching has held up over the years too. These are the photos I took the day I finished and covered the stool.

"Something Old"  posts are when I look through my old embroidery photos prior to this blog and post about them. See my previous posts here.

Something Old: Erro Girl #1

Something Old posts are when I dig through my old embroidery photos on Flickr and find projects that I finished before I started this blog. 

Here is what I call "Erro Girl #1".

I really need to retake photos of this piece also.

Erro is one of my favorite artists of all time. As a tribute, I chose 3 different girls from his paintings to embroider and this one is the first.

I started out stitching all the black outlines in stem stitch and then filled in with satin stitched.

The lips may be my favorite.

This girl was completed back in 2011. Want to compare to the original art? Click here.

You can see all three girls photos in my album on Flickr - Embroidery Tribute to Erro. (I still need to finish girl #3.)

Who is the artist Erro? Check out his website here.

Something Old: Fairy Tea Towel

Embroidery flashback to 2009.

I stitched this fairy on a tea towel for a birthday gift for my friend.

I've always liked how it turned out.

The fairy pattern is from the Sublime Stitching Craft Pad and I think the tea towel was also from Sublime Stitching.

Something Old and Bloglovin

Something old I stitched a long time ago for a friend's little daughter, Freya. I always liked this little mushroom. It is from an Annie Oakleaves pattern I found on Flickr here.

Oh, and what else is awesome about Annie Oakleaves, is she has a whole set of FREE super cute embroidery patterns on her Flickr page here!

Ok - I need to start stitching on a project I really need to just get done. More on that later....

I finally decided to join Bloglovin - so feel free to follow me with the link below. Thanks! :)

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Something Old - Modern Interpretations of Historic Design

I thought I would share the story behind one of my embroidery projects I did back in 2009 that I posted on my Flickr.

I stumbled upon an announcement online for a fiber arts competition being held by the Dakota County Historical Society called "Modern Interpretations of Historical Design" based on embroidery designs from the Hastings Needlework Company. 

Since I grew up in the town of Hastings, MN and it was an embroidery competition, I thought it would be fun to send in a submission and see if it was chosen.

So a little background on the challenge.

The Hastings Needlework Company was started in 1888 by Alice and Florence LeDuc, who produced unique embroidery pieces for their clients from 1888 to the mid-1920s. Over 1,200 patterns have survived, showing a broad variety of design styles and subjects. The patterns are in the collections of the Dakota County and Minnesota historical societies.

We were given 24 patterns to choose from. "Modern Interpretations of Historic Designs" was the general theme and Entries were evaluated on quality, creativity and interpretation of the pattern(s), aesthetics and

workmanship.

Here is the pattern I chose to use so you have an idea of what I had to begin with after seeing the finished piece above.

I decided to stitch it very colorful and add a bunch of borders around the whole design. 

Please excuse my use of flash. I need to re-take some photos of this piece!!

I was excited when I found out my submission was chosen to be in the exhibit! If I remember, there were about 20 total submissions that were on display at the LeDuc Historic Estate for people to come see.

It was really awesome to see all the other submissions, what patterns people chose, and to see their interpretation. 

What is also cool is that the event has been ongoing! There is a challenge in 2013-2014 for the Modern Interpretations of Historic Design with all new patterns to choose from and is the third challenge since the event in 2009.

Something Old - Redwork Ladies

Another one of my older embroidery projects in my Flickr photos.  

I can't remember where I found the patterns on the internet but I loved their pinup look. 

I framed them in little frames I found at a garage sale.

work in progress shot

Something Old - Dave's Design

I was looking through my Flickr photos and found this embroidery I did back in 2009. It's a drawing my husband did that I embroidered for fun - well, actually I gave it to him for an anniversary gift.

I always liked how this turned out - although he thinks I should have filled in the teeth white... I suppose I could do that someday...