Some Hand Embroidery of My Own

So here is the last, pouch #9, in my first group of pouches showing off a design of my own and some of my own stitchery. It definitely does not have the delicate, intricate quality of the previous pouch, but it does have a certain, burly-curly quality of it's own.  The pouch itself was made from a couple of patchwork squares made by a good friend of mine. The red embroider is my work, and the cute little plastic button in the center of the flower is a vintage plastic button that seemed just right for the job.

It hangs on a large tomato cage out in the garden, surrounded by cilantro plants gone to flower, and nasturtiums in the background.  It looked quite lovely out in that setting and I almost wanted to leave it out there as garden art.  So that's the last of that batch and I will start another in the future, but for now, the next project on the agenda is a custom, rennaissance-style wedding dress I will be sewing for a young friend.  I will only be posting close ups so that I will not spoil the big reveal for the wedding day, but hopefully I'll show enough to keep it fun and interesting...   and I ask you, how can anyone say they are bored when the next exciting project is always waiting around the corner?

Poetically yours,
Pamela

Appreciating Exquisite Stitchery

...Say that three times fast!
This little pouch showcases a vintage embroidered flower.  The stitches are tiny and so perfect. I can't help thinking about the person who had the patience and talent to handstitch this precious little flower. This was a person who cared about the details and the quality of her/his work; a person who took the time to do it well, do it right. I admire that.

Let me just sound off a bit about something here; a pet peeve of mine... These days it's become common place to ridicule people who do things right, who care about the details and the quality of their work. If someone shows these qualities they are often labeled "Obsessive" and even "Anal". 

What the Heck!  To me it seems like an excuse to be lazy, not care, to do less than your best!  I'm not saying that everything should be a masterpiece... or that every endeavor needs to be perfect.  What I am saying is, we should be looking up to those who care enough to do their very best.  And that doing your best is something to aspire to.  Otherwise, what's the point?

Poetically yours,
Pamela

Pouch #7

Under the Sea

Pouch #7 - Here's a colorful octopus just hangin' around in the seaweed with his little fishy friend. The image is embellished with seed beads, black buttons for the eyes and some puff paint outlines to create a little depth. The pouch is made from snippets of leftover fabric and a recycled zipper.  The strap is braided strips of t-shirt fabric.

We're almost to the end of this first batch of pouches and I've got a bunch of new ideas for the next set.  In the meantime, the fitting has been done for the wedding dress and the fabric has been cut out.  More to come on that very soon.  For now I'll leave you with a little rhyme...

There was some used clothing and fabric
That might have been trash in a basket,
But I cut and I sewed, designed and embellished,
And voila! it's a new pouch fantastic!

Poetically yours,
Pamela