Lately I have been perusing my collection of books
...by internationally known Japanese designer/author
Yoko Saito
I have been in love with her work for many years,
...and try to buy her books when I see them on Amazon.com or in quilt shops ~
her unique design-sense and color ways,
plus her use of neutral fabrics & textures is what I love most.
yeah, I'm obsessed with her :)
a healthy addiction
the other 'thing' that has gotten in my brain lately is
CREWELwork Embroidery.
yes,
yet another form of needlework that I can't seem to stay away from.
If you follow my Pinterest boards,
you'll see that I've been scouring the web for images of wool-work, stump work,
3-D embroidery and all kinds of different & new {to me} stitches…
here are a few books in my collection on that subject ~
nothing like a needle & thread in hand ~
My plans for the new year
...are to incorporate more embroidery into my work & designs.
I am in the initial stages of designing a few patterns for YOU to work on along with me,
like the beloved old tapestries and lady's pockets we can't stop looking at ;)
I want to design a line of pockets for you to embroider ~
and I'm thinking I will also offer limited edition kits for them using wonderful Waverly wool yarns.
{progress is coming along on a prototype, will share snaps soon}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and what self-professed Needlewoman would be complete
without a sewing basket/box? {or 3, or 4….}
well, yes, I have many.
But
none of them seem to be big enough to hold my 'essentials' ~
**my essentials include but are not limited to:
scissors {usually 2 pair, sometimes more}
plastic boxes with compartments to hold my floss {usually 2, sometimes more}
assorted linen fabrics in many different colors/counts
assorted 'other' fabrics {in case inspiration hits on the road}
glue sticks, fray check, sewing thread, lip-balm, hand cream, assorted pens, pencils & highlighters ~
USB flash-sticks, seam ripper, ruler,
pinch-type clothespins {to 'hold' my linen for me when I stitch 'in hand'}
small notepad, tissues, tiny clip-on Ottlite* , thread winders, floss holders,
wooden sewing hoops {usually 2, sometimes more ~ see a pattern here?}
assorted ribbons & trims, rusty pins, old buttons ~
and of course I need:
Old photographs {really?}, magnetic needle-minders, magnifying glass, mad-money {shhhh}
retractable tape measure, small tomato pincushion,
black-headed pins, white-headed pins {again, really?} beeswax, iPhone charger {just in case}
and last but certainly not least ~
needles…
not just any needles, but:
DMC brand, round end, size #28 teeny tiny tapestry needles {my #1 fav}
and
John James 'petite' #28 tapestry needles {my 2nd fav}
but that list hasn't included the actual work-in-progress or the chart/graph in-progress.
{i think that's all….}
OH C'mon…
you KNOW you carry all of that around with you too…'fess up!
*sigh*
So what's a girl to do?
~ that's right dearie.
BUY A BIGGER SEWING BASKET.
{using a gift card to Joann's that was given to me by my enabler um…beloved}
and here it is in all of it's massive glory:
what a big girl!
nice & sturdy
well-proportioned
and roomy!
lots of little compartments to fill up,
...er…hold my 'essentials'.
yay!
there is just one. little. problem.
>>>the fabric<<<
yeah, not so much…
SO
being the ever-adaptable person that I am,
I will muster up every ounce of creativity I have
and re-do {redux?} the way-too-cutesy-for-me fabric.
{how will she do that?}
not sure.
but
I am sure it will not look like it does now when I get through with it….
stay tuned!
hhmmmmm……putting on my thinking cap for this one ;)
If you have hung in there and have read the ramblings on this post to here,
I want you to know that I'm wishing you all a very happy, safe, heathy New Year!!
and to say Thank You for putting up with me thus far ;)
* Blessed be *
Lori