Antique Embroidery Books

First, I have a quick update on my Christmas Crazy Quilt Block:

I pulled some lace and trim for this block and sewed those pieces down so next, I can start stitching.  Which I'll do when I get offline.  It's very hot today so I don't plan to sit on my deck until this evening when it cools off.

In other news, to satisfy my insatiable appetite for embroidery techniques and information, I came across a site that is loaded with old embroidery books, all available to read online.  As I go through these antique embroidery books, I'll embed the links here so you can enjoy them too.  This one is called Wallachian Embroidery.  I haven't read through it all yet but I think crazy quilters may find this book useful for new ideas:



If I added the link correctly, you should be able to read this book right here on my blog.

If you look closely at the photos and read through the first page, you'll see that it's nothing more than the Buttonhole stitch.  But how it's worked produces some very lovely effects and the photos might give you some fun ideas to try with your crazy quilt projects.

Handmade Thank You Gifts

Busy day yesterday!  I'm trying to get the Spring cleaning on the inside of my house done so I can get outside and do some work out there when it warms up a bit more.  I have all the windows and curtains done now so the next project is to clean my 4 ceiling fans.  Anyone want to come and help me?  I have cookies and iced tea here?  LOL!!!

In between the boringness (I make up my own words) of doing windows and curtains, I've managed a little bit of stitching.  First, my little crazy patchwork pillow with a red poppy:

The poppy is a vintage handkerchief.  It's so much fun to use old things in my stitching projects!  I don't normally work in red but it's so cheerful!  I think it's time to expand my rainbow a little bit, don't you?  I mean, I do know that there are other colors besides pink, purple and green!  Ha, ha, ha!  Can you find my little red spider?

Okay, now back to purple and green, this is my current project.  A door hanger pillow with violets:

The violets are also from a vintage handkerchief.  I have little velvet violets that I'll be adding next.

Last but not least for today, and speaking of vintage handkerchiefs, here's the newest addition to our shop:

Awhile back, I found a vintage handkerchief at a flea market with the words Thank You on it.  I bought it and gave it to mom and this is what she made from it!  The blue fabric is from another vintage hankie!  Anyway, what an awesome Handmade Thank You Gift this is! 

Okay, that's my Boutique Commercial for today!  I'm off to stitch for a little while before I tackle those ceiling fans.  If you have nothing to do today, you're welcome to come help me!  LOL!