Summer Louise

WIP "By The Sea" #2

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Detail:

Entire piece, work-in-progress:

This is about three weeks of stitching on this piece. It's definitely more abstract than a lot of things I stitch. I am really enjoying the gentle colors and my laying tool is getting a workout.

February Stitching Review

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:58:00 +0000

February Stitching Review

Finished in February:

Carlene Harwick - "Royal Wind" charted canvaswork design (Workshop-by-mail)

Melissa Shirley - Easter Egg painted canvas - bunny with boat
Melissa Shirley - Easter Egg painted canvas - bunny at house

Here are the ones I have in progress:

Amanda Lawford - Royal Santa (huge)

David McCaskill - By The Sea Line Drawn canvas +threads (Started Feb 2010)
La-D-Da - Eve cross-stitch

KS Designs - Washington Miniature Stocking Ornament (with whale doll) (Started Feb. 2010 as car project)
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Fruit Rug (Square 2 of 12) painted canvas with wool threads
Painted Canvas - unknown designer - Craftsman design (working on this as I buy the wool for the rug) (Started August 2009)
Summer Truswell own design - Sunshine & Shadow charted canvaswork
Summer Truswell own design - 1st house line-drawn canvas embroidery picture
Summer Truswell - purple gift box

Kitted and ready to go:

Mirabilia - Sleeping Beauty (needs fabric)
Red Owl Stash - Cupcake Ornament (charted canvas +threads, etc)
Shepherd's Bush - Winter Dreams Sampler
ST - Moss Circles - needs canvas (Only stitching if class proposal is accepted)
ST - Drunkards Path - (only stitching if class proposal is accepted)
Summer Truswell - Whitework Ornament
Teresa Wentzler - Noah's Ark
Santa with Bears Christmas picture (kit)

Painted Canvases to be stitched: (no threads)

A Collection of Designs - Snowmen decorating tree star ornament (6" tall)
Amanda Lawford - Nutcracker Santa (18")
Amanda Lawford - Floral with black pillow
Blue Dogwood Designs (Kay Fite) - Ferry Ornament
Blue Dogwood Designs (Kay Fite) - Pike Place Ornament
Chameleon Design - Round "Hunt" pillow - 16" across?
Chameleon Design - Heart with Key pillow - 12" across?
Elizabeth Turner - Christmas Photo Frame
Mary Engelbreit - Christmas Heart ornament
Madeline Lake - Snowman
Madeline Lake - Blackbird
Madeline Lake - Sailboat
Madeline Lake - Rooster
Needlepoint of Back Bay - City Frog frame weight (large)
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Monkey eating fruit
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Celtic Knot
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Iris Four-Way
Unknown designer - botanical fruits rectangle (for bolster?)
Unknown designer - Hanging ornaments
Unknown designer - Woman with boy and spyglass
Unknown designer - Paisley pillow
Unknown designer - sports cumberbund (to make into an ornament)
Unknown designer - stained glass egg #1
Unknown designer - Floral motif repeat
Unknown designer - stained glass egg #2
Unknown designer - phoenix egg

2010 Goals: Keep up with the MTP program. ~~Finish Melissa Shirley egg works-in-progress.~~ Make progress on all other works-in-progress. Finish Eve UFO.

February Goals: ~~Finish Royal Wind.~~

March Goals: ~~Finish both Melissa Shirley Easter egg work-in-progress canvases.~~ Since I finished those in February, here are new goals

March Goals: Progress on canvases: David McCaskill "By the Sea", Washington Whale Stocking. Catch up on finishing. Progress on Eve.

2011 Goals: Finish MTP Program, receive Journeyman and Fellow levels. Finish large Royal Santa.

2012 Goals: Teach final class at MTP, receive Master level.

WIP "By The Sea"

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

I started this piece last week - it is a line drawn canvas and the stitch guide is pretty thorough - although it came out in 2000 so the stitch diagrams are hand-drawn old style!

It's coming along!

Detail- the purple ribbon has a couched edge added later and the purple diagonal is in-progress.

Hearts Gone Wild Detail

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:51:00 +0000

This picture is for Jan, who is having issues with the hearts on her border. I didn't stitch this piece; it was stitched by a client for whom I finished the design into a pillow. Hopefully a bigger picture helps!

Two Melissa Shirley Easter Eggs...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:17:00 +0000

These two canvases have been in my stash as work-in-progresses for quite a while! I really love Melissa Shirley's designs and these are quite charming.

I stitched the bunny with the boat completely in tent stitch and basketweave. I wanted to use only hand-dyed six-strand cotton only from my stash, but I added in just a touch of Kreinik metallic on the boat for the metallic paint.

Threads Used:

Dragon Floss – 11 Sunlit Waters

The Dye is Cast – Moonlight, Lemonade

Seaside Treasures - Moondark

Weeks Dye Works – Onyx, Pebble, Deep Sea, Crimson, Oak, Saffron, Sophie’s Pink, Sage, Emerald, Tin Roof, White Lightening, Emerald, Butter Bean

For the Easter Bunny House (surrounded by Jelly Beans!) I used a variety of specialty threads and stitches and just had a bunch of fun. The bunny is Wisper fuzzy thread!

Threads Used:

Au Ver a Soie yellow

Brown Paper Packages Silk N Ivory - Lime

Caron Collection Impressions – 3017 Gold, Watercolors Dark Red Overdye

DMC Floche

Dragon Floss – 11 Sunlit Waters, 12 Misty Vapours

The Dye is Cast – Sunbaked, Apple Blossom, Bright Leaf, Fuschia, New Grass

Kreinik Silk Serica 4163 Moss

Needle Necessities – 1481 Lavender

Rainbow Gallery Wisper

Weeks Dye Works – Onyx, Camelia, Pebble, Cactus, Scuppernong

Both are finished with green silk dupioni and the color really matches on both of them - it looks odd in the boat picture but it really goes with the greens in the grass. Fun!

Royal Wind by Carlene Harwick

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:14:00 +0000

"Royal Wind"

"Royal Wind", designed by Carlene Harwick, is an ANG Workshop by Mail. I believe it is available until June 2010.

I stitched this piece in January and February 2010. Color changes, small design changes, and all the mistakes are mine alone. ;) Stitched on congress cloth with DMC floss and spools and spools and spools of Kreinik Metallics.

Swim-A-Thon Sponsorship - Want an ornament?

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:17:00 +0000

We would really appreciate it you would consider sponsoring Victoria in her upcoming Swim-A-Thon. We have a couple months to collect sponsors - It will be held on Saturday, April 17th, 2010. The swim team needs to raise money to resurface their pool this August.

Last year Victoria swam 100 laps; the maximum they are allowed to swim is 200 laps. You can sponsor her on a per-lap basis (.10 a lap would be $10 if she swam 100 again, .25 a lap is $25, etc.), or you can make a flat donation to her sponsorship.

I would like to thank the folks who do sponsor my daughter, too. Everyone who sponsors her will get their name written on a slip of paper and I will put it in a bowl and have Victoria draw a name. That person gets to pick any ornament from the 2009 Just Cross-Stitch Ornament issue and I will stitch and finish it for you as my gift. See pictures of the ornaments at http://anitas-stitching-addiction.blogspot.com/2009/09/pictures-of-2009-just-cross-stitch.html Alternatively, I can stitch a whitework ornament for you of my own design. If you don’t want a stitched ornament from me, that’s ok, too, you can still sponsor her!

Donations are tax deductible as our swim team is a registered non-profit.

Please e-mail me at me@summerlouise.com or send me a message if you would like to sponsor her and I will send you the information.

Thank you! Summer

Do you know who designed these?

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:11:00 +0000

In my recent inventory of my stash (see this post) I came across a bunch of canvases with unknown designers. Some of them have numbers (which brought me nothing on google). Please leave a comment or send me an e-mail if you know who designed them!

January 2010 Stitching Update

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:10:00 +0000

I used to be really good about setting needlework goals... then I finished all of my projects and thought stuff was all under control. Well, now it seems I'm starting more projects then I'm finishing! So I am going to re-inventory my stitching drawers and see what has snuck in.

Stitching Review - Here are the ones I have in progress:

Amanda Lawford - Royal Santa (huge)
Carlene Harwick - "Royal Wind" charted canvaswork design (Workshop-by-mail)
La-D-Da - Eve cross-stitch
Melissa Shirley - Easter Egg painted canvas - bunny with boat
Melissa Shirley - Easter Egg painted canvas - bunny at house
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Fruit Rug (Square 2 of 12) painted canvas with wool threads
Painted Canvas - unknown designer - Craftsman design (working on this as I buy the wool for the rug)
Summer Truswell own design - Sunshine & Shadow charted canvaswork
Summer Truswell own design - 1st house line-drawn canvas embroidery picture
Summer Truswell - purple gift box

Kitted and ready to go:

David McCaskill - By The Sea Line Drawn canvas +threads
Mirabilia - Sleeping Beauty (needs fabric)
Red Owl Stash - Cupcake Ornament (charted canvas +threads, etc)
Shepherd's Bush - Winter Dreams Sampler
ST - Moss Circles - needs canvas (Only stitching if class proposal is accepted)
ST - Drunkards Path - (only stitching if class proposal is accepted)
Summer Truswell - Whitework Ornament
Teresa Wentzler - Noah's Ark
Santa with Bears Christmas picture (kit)

Painted Canvases to be stitched: (no threads)

A Collection of Designs - Snowmen decorating tree star ornament (6" tall)
Amanda Lawford - Nutcracker Santa (18")
Amanda Lawford - Floral with black pillow
Blue Dogwood Designs (Kay Fite) - Ferry Ornament
Blue Dogwood Designs (Kay Fite) - Pike Place Ornament
Chameleon Design - Round "Hunt" pillow - 16" across?
Chameleon Design - Heart with Key pillow - 12" across?
Elizabeth Turner - Christmas Photo Frame
Mary Engelbreit - Christmas Heart ornament
Madeline Lake - Snowman
Madeline Lake - Blackbird
Madeline Lake - Sailboat
Madeline Lake - Rooster
Needlepoint of Back Bay - City Frog frame weight (large)
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Monkey eating fruit
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Celtic Knot
Needlepoint of Back Bay - Iris Four-Way
KS Designs - Washington Miniature Stocking Ornament (with whale doll)
Unknown designer - botanical fruits rectangle (for bolster?)
Unknown designer - Hanging ornaments
Unknown designer - Woman with boy and spyglass
Unknown designer - Paisley pillow
Unknown designer - sports cumberbund (to make into an ornament)
Unknown designer - stained glass egg #1
Unknown designer - Floral motif repeat
Unknown designer - stained glass egg #2
Unknown designer - phoenix egg

Ok, I will note that most of these painted canvases were bought in two places. The first was the "yard sale" at the ANG Milwaukee 2009 seminar, where they were selling for between $2 and $10 a canvas. The next is that I bought two lots off ebay. One was the entire Needlepoint of Back Bay Rug, and the other was the other Needlepoint of Back Bay lot.

Now, to think about upcoming goals. Usually I think things through the year, and then break it down into month, then week. This time I don't have anything that is truly pressing, so I will go ahead and set yearly goals, and then weekly goals.

I am also going to add something called "First Friday Finishing". The first Friday of every month I will devote entirely to finishing, by which I mean actually sewing up the pillow or ornament or whatever. It can be for my customers (no, I'm not accepting new customers, sorry), or for myself. This is brought upon by the fact that I have several dozen pieces that are stitched and unfinished. (Shhhhhh)

I also want to get back to stitching an ornament a month - these can be painted canvases or charted, whatever. Just as long as I get that wee happy dance in!

2010 Goals: Keep up with the MTP program. Finish Melissa Shirley egg works-in-progress. Make progress on all other works-in-progress. Finish Eve UFO.

February Goals: Finish Royal Wind.

March Goals: Finish both Melissa Shirley Easter egg work-in-progress canvases.

2011 Goals: Finish MTP Program, receive Journeyman and Fellow levels. Finish large Royal Santa.
2012 Goals: Teach final class at MTP, receive Master level.

There! I feel more organized already!

New Book: "The Stitch Starts Here"

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:02:00 +0000

I’m happy to announce the release of my latest book, “The Stitch Starts Here”
"The Stitch Starts Here" is a collection of Summer's favorite stitches for canvaswork, samplers, heirloom sewing, and embroidery.
The book includes over 130 of my favorite stitches, along with tips and techniques to make your stitching better, faster.

"The Stitch Starts Here” is available in three different formats:

Kindle Reader Format is available at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Stitch-Starts-Here-ebook/dp/B0035LCBYO/
File size 7330 KB, greyscale images, clickable index and table of contents.

Printed Book is available at Lulu.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-stitch-starts-here/6296023?
279 pages, 7.5" square, B&W, coil bound to lay flat when open.

Download is available at Lulu.
http://www.lulu.com/product/download/the-stitch-starts-here/6296024
Same format as printed book in lulu download (not for Kindles).

I'm on http://www.facebook.com/summertruswell

Still stitching...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:55:00 +0000

I just finished a beautiful project this weekend while we were visiting Wenatchee. It is for my ANG Master Teacher project so, of course, I can't show a picture. :) It's called "Arabesque"...

I've been writing instructions, working on stuff around the house, and just doing a bit of traveling.

Victoria had a swim meet a couple of weekends ago in Pasco and did great. She's still about 10 seconds away from having a Bronze standard swimming time but she's trying! She finishes every race and does great in her relays. She's thrilled that this week is her last week of ballet for the year.

Today Madeline and I went to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Director's Choice today. It was ok... I have mixed feelings about it. I loved the Balanchine / Stravinsky piece, Symphony in C I believe. Just smooth and so well done. The other pieces were just ok for me though. Also we were sitting next to an awful woman in the audience. She never learned her manners about how to behave in a crowd! I haven't resubscribed for this upcoming year but we will go see Coppelia for sure.

Travis is doing great - other moms will understand how thrilled I am that he weaned this last month *and* potty trained! Hurrah! I've been pregnant, nursing, or changing diapers for the last nine years and five months so I finally feel that my children are getting easier! Yippee skippy! :)

I'm headed to the Doctor later this week to get my neck and shoulder checked out again. It doesn't hurt as bad as when I first tore the rotator cuff in fall 2007 but it hurts. I keep thinking it will get better and it's just not.

Anyway, back to working on the MTP stuff. I have one more art class to take this year and just have to get instructions written. :)

Just FYI...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Now, I'm not going to give up on blogging entirely. But I am completely enamoured of this whole facebook... albums and the ability to keep in touch with hundreds of friends and family in only a few minutes a day? Wow. Once you learn to click the "Ignore this application" button to cut down on the scores of junk, it's quite amazing.

So, I'll still have this blog and will absolutely keep updating my stitching and quilting albums. But for quick updates? I'm moving to facebook.

So, since in my mind this blog has always been for family and friends, please add me to facebook (or join facebook and then add me) so you can see what I'm up to and I can do the same.

Summer Truswell's Profile

Some recent finished quilts..

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:15:00 +0000

I've been trying to get things done, decluttered, and caught up on projects.
Some recent quilt finishes. For more information about any individuals click on my quilting page.

This one was for Brad at Christmas - I just never got around to updating the album.

For me! I love the colors and wanted to learn how to do Prairie Points.

We know how much I love red. This one used up lots of fabric from my stash.

I feel in love with this sweet fabric.

Madeline loved the picture of this quilt model so I made something similar for her:

I'm still here...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Not doing too much of any one thing. The children keep my busy. I am taking an art class on Wednesday night. I am taking it for continuing education for the Master Teacher Program. I have also been doing a bit of gardening to get my yard prepared for the summer. Also trying to get some spring cleaning done. Still listing stuff on ebay for people.

Things are ok. :)

Congratulations to my brother Danny...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:13:00 +0000

and his lovely wife Emily, who did all the work! They had a sweet baby girl born yesterday morning. Her name is Mikenzie Christina. She is their fourth child (two boys, two girls) and my parent's 14th grandchild. I look forward to meeting her in June!

In less interesting news, I have been tring to get over the winter blahs (read: depression) and doing a lot out in the garden to try and get any sunshine I can. I was even out yesterday afternoon / evening in the rain. Oops. I dumped all the pots and redid them with new soil, planted all the fuchsias, snapdragons, and allysum. I also planted my fuchsia garden and the shade garden up on the hill that's been on my to-do list for over a year.

Tomorrow I have another art class. I'm taking it to work on fulfilling the continuing education requirement for the MTP. It's a four-part class all about how to teach color in the classroom so it will be very interesting.

Onwards!

PNB's "Swan Lake"...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:15:00 +0000

I took the girls to see "Swan Lake" yesterday down at Pacific Northwest Ballet. It was lovely... I loved the swans! What a beautiful production. Not at all like this. (Although the girls would have appreciated more humor.) Victoria was pretty sad at the end... although I knew the story once I'd forgotten that he is alone at the end. Barbie did a disservice when they changed the ending!

I did mention I took both girls with me. It was more of a challenge. They're both well behaved but it requires a lot of my attention and I don't think I want to deal with that every time. Victoria likes more contemporary dance, of which PNB does quite a bit, and Madeline liked Broadway Festival (loved it actually). They were both interested in Swan Lake but Madeline did fall asleep halfway through the third act. So, I don't know who to take to the next one. It's director's choice, which is probably code for "Peter likes the unusual", so we'll see.

The music was wonderful. Victoria sang it the rest of the evening. We already have the CD
so I'm glad she likes it!

In the meantime I haven't been doing a lot. I made the girls some spring dresses on Saturday and we went to the zoo Friday. I have a ton of Master Teacher stuff waiting to get finished and mailed. I taught the Iris at our guild on Thursday. Through it all I'm fighting off allergies and waiting for the weather to warm up so I can plant my fuchsia starts. Madeline's favorite book right now is Fuchsia Is Now.

Pat Van Cleve's Iris and Butterfly

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:03:00 +0000

This is a charted canvaswork design from Pat Van Cleve. It is called "Iris and Butterfly" and is from the 2005-2006 ANG Chapter Project Booklet. I will be teaching it at our guild meeting this week. Fun!

Bits and pieces...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:04:00 +0000

I've been getting projects completed the last few days. We replaced four of the rotted fence panels on the back fence and hung three mounted baskets on them. I planted some hostas, ferns, a vine maple and a small magnolia tree. I did get out to Flower World a couple weeks ago and picked up the basket starts so I'll do all my pots sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Today I framed Twister. I bought the mats and the frame from Cascade Frames in Mercer Island so I just had to lace it and put it in the frame. It took forever though! I really don't like to do framing but now it's completed. :-)

I also sewed two more little Pick-Me-Ups... the lavendar one is sold but the red one is for sale for $38. E-mail me if you're interested in any of the ones I have for sale.

Fabric layered bottom with a cute twisted cording trim. Hand-beaded button accents.

Lavender and white blend with a beautiful woven ribbon.

More of the same...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Victoria was sick, passed it to Travis. He has had laryngitis and last night started getting croupy and having difficulty breathing. I took him to the Emergency Room around 1 a.m. and they administered an oral steroid and a breathing treatment. Yes on croup, and they also think he has asthma. He gets the breating problems every time he gets ill, which admittedly is very rare. SO, I will follow up with the regular pediatrician this week.

Tomorrow I have an art class up in Everett. It's on composition and should be interesting. I printed out the approval form for the ANG MTP and have been looking for my scissors for a while now. *sigh*

Right now I'm stitching on a Melissa Shirley Easter egg when I have time - pretty much only while watching the girls at swimming. It's been a busy couple weeks!

A few more purses...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:47:00 +0000

I think I'm going to call these Pick-Me-Ups. They're fun to make, fun to pick out materials, and fun to buy. I actually sit there smiling as I'm sewing them. :)

I made three yesterday - two are already sold. The red is available, and I also still have the orange one.

Crisp linen with a lime green interior. Trimmed with multi-colored bead trim and printed red ribbon. Natural wood handles with red silk accent. $38 +postage.

Deep orange is accented with dogs wearing sweaters to match. Amber beads complement the amber handle. $38 +postage.

*sold* Teal blue is harmonized with a woven ribbon in teal, purple, and black. Accented with round beads and a black leather strap. *sold for $38*

*sold* A lovely ribbon of grey, black and pink really shines with the paillette and bead trim. Fun pink handles. Almost to shiny to photograph! *sold for $38*

E-mail me at me@summerlouise.com if you'd like one!

Swim Meet - Spring Grand Pentathlon

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Saturday the 21st Victoria had a swim meet up in Marysville. She'd been sick all week so we thought she would be slower. Anyway, here are her times from that meet.

Event Time

8 & U 25 Y Freestyle 28:21 *new fast time*
8 & U 25 Y Backstroke 29:64 *new fast time*
8 & U 25 Y Breaststroke (DQ'ed)
8 & U 25 Y Butterfly (DQ'ed)
10 & U 100 Y Individual Medley (DQ'ed)

You can see she gave it her all and then was too tired and got sloppy with strokes, thus disqualifying. She's funny, though. No one has told her what the arm raise means so she just swims her little heart out. Then asks for more peanut butter crackers. :)

What a week...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:57:00 +0000

It's been a busy, and tiring week. I have boxes of stuff to list on eBay. My house is a big mess. I've done pretty much no stitching, sewing, quilting etc. But that's ok! We had a friend come visit from Germany (stayed at a hotel) so we spent Sunday and Monday with her.

Monday night at swimming Victoria started feeling ill. She was sick Tuesday through Thursday and started feeling better on Friday. Saturday morning she had a swim meet... she did great for being so newly recovered and finished all her races. We popped into the Quilter's Anonymous show for about an hour on the way home and then I napped the evening away.

Today I took Madeline to the Broadway Festival at Pacific Northwest Ballet. I loved Carousel, Slaughter on Fifth Avenue, and Take Five. I wasn't thrilled with West Side Story.

Right now I'm watching Kings and am about to go clean up the kitchen. My darling mother-in-law gets here Tuesday and there is a lot to do before then. :)

Learn to Finish a Kimono...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:26:00 +0000

These are fun to finish. Hang them on a kimono stand, with a chopstick, or mount the finished kimono onto a pillow by topstitching into place.

These instructions are copyright 2008 Summer Louise Truswell. You may print one copy for your own personal use or to make items as gifts. If you'd like to reprint in a newsletter please contact me for a print-ready layout.

Materials Needed:
· Stitched needlework kimono
· Clear plastic bag (such as Ziploc)
· Backing material
· Lining material
· Fast 2 Fuse Double-Sided Heavy-Weight Fusible Interfacing
· Twisted cording for trim
· Tassels, if desired
· Sewing thread
· Scissors

Directions:

1. Lay the plastic bag over the kimono design. Use a permanent marker (such as Sharpie) to trace the kimono outline directly over the stitching.

2. Cut out the plastic template. Place the plastic over the Fast 2 Fuse Interfacing and trace again on the interfacing. Cut out the fusible interfacing, cutting along the inside lines of the marker lines. Check to make sure that the interfacing fits just inside the kimono design.

3. Cut a piece of backing fabric and a piece of lining fabric. Follow the manufacturer's directions to fuse the two layers together with the heavy-weight lining inside.

4. Trim the stitched piece and the backing piece so there is approximately a 3/4" fabric margin around the design.

5. The edges of the canvas are not trimmed all at once. The canvas, if overworked, would unravel all the way to the stitching. The interior corners will need to be notched in to 2 canvas threads from the design but this should be done one corner at a time as the stitching approaches that area.

Notch the corner under one of the sleeves.

6. Fold the raw edges of the canvas towards the back, fingerpressing into place. Fold the raw edges of the silk towards the back. Place the two pieces together, right sides outward, and use matching sewing thread to stitch the pieces together.

As the stitching approaches the corners, fold the canvas inwards and stitch around the corners.

When you approach an inward corner, clip both the canvas and the background fabric to allow the fabric to fold inwards smoothly.

Stitch around the entire perimeter of the design. If the piece is to be hung on a dowel or chopstick remember to leave unstitched openings at the top of each sleeve as well as a small hole in the corner to insert the twisted cording.

7. To attach the twisted cording, begin stitching again in the corner below the sleeve. Insert one knotted end into the small opening underneath the sleeve. Using matching thread, overcast whipstitch the twisted cording to the edge of the kimono. Manipulate the twist of the cording so that the thread lays down in the valley of the twisted cording; it should be almost invisible.

Continue to sew the twisted cording around the perimeter of the design.

Knot off the extra cording, trim the length, and insert the knot into the hold behind the beginning of the cording. Sew the hole closed.

Admire your finished Kimono!

Three more purses...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:32:00 +0000

I sewed three more purses this weekend. I started a fourth purse but still need to attach the handle on that one.

These are FOR SALE. Please e-mail me if you would like one.

Just one left:

I just love this cute woven dog ribbon - I picked it up at the Sew Expo. The beaded trim is gold and brown, and the handle is a variagated brown, similar to tortoise shell. Asking $38 +postage.

SOLD

This one is a darker olive green. The ribbon trim is woven and beautifully shaded. The handle is made of natural fiber. Beaded trim is made of shells and small glass seed beads. Asking $38 +postage.

SOLD
Darker lime green with glass bead trim. Satin zebra print ribbon, black velvet ribbon, and zebra print handles. Very fun! Sold for $38. Thanks!

Just an update...

noreply@blogger.com (Summer) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:15:00 +0000

I've been moderately busy... nothing out of the ordinary, just day-to-day life.

Last Thursday I did take the girls and we went down to the Seattle Asian Art Museum to see the "Garden and Cosmos" exhibit. It was beautiful and interesting and inspiring... everything that I love in art. The girls, hmm, not so interested. It is a large exhibit and while they did behave well they were more interested in the handsets to walk around and listen to the docent recording. Yes, that is educational, but it doesn't mean that they looked at the paintings for very long.

Victoria is doing a report on Mongolia for our homeschool World Geography Fair. It was originally supposed to be tonight but due to the snow is postponed until next month. She picked Mongolia, by the way. :)

Friday in the afternoon I drove down to Maple Valley to meet up with Denise, the wonder organizer, and pick up a van full of rubber stamps and craft stuff to list on eBay. I'm about 30% through. There's a lot of stamps!

I did get out on Sunday and plant more bulbs. I had two bags of fall bulbs that I put in the back yard. My plan last fall was to rip out the old weed block, remulch, split my hostas from the front yard and put some in the back, and add some evergreens along the fence. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to any of that - my yard was lucky it got any bulbs in the ground at all. So Sunday I went out and ripped out the old weed block, shoveled the mulch smooth again, and planted those last fall bulbs. I also had some new bulbs I bought at Costco on Saturday - giant canna lilies that went in the front yard so we'll see how those look. Should be fun!