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

Officially Vintage - What!!!

So, get this... I embroidered this Iris design about 30-odd years ago.  Are you understanding this??? This little bit of hand sewing is considered

 "Vintage".  How can that possibly be?  This is the same emotion and mental confusion I feel when I realize that my child, my little boy, is now a man of 23 years!!!  Could it be?  Apparently it is.  And yet, I am still the same!  It just does not compute.

Well, I am a bit tongue in cheek here because actually, I know I am not the same, nothing stays the same. Like my little iris, I have weathered a bit, faded a bit (at least on the outside) and I have changed a lot.  Mostly for the better. I'm wiser, braver, more accepting of myself and others, calmer, more accomplished.

 If you choose to learn from life as you go along, you can only get better.  So, Thank you Life, for mellowing me to the lovely condition of "Vintage".   

I know it's cliche, but I'll say it anyway...

Like a bottle of fine wine - better with age.

 (Pouch #6)

Poetically your,

Pamela

Stealth in the Jungle

Are you a "Jungle Kitty?"... silently finding your way through the tangled vegetation?  Are you aware of your own strength and power?  ... all the talents and gifts you were born with?  Sometimes it's good to move along quietly, observing what is around you, gathering up an awareness of your own vital presence and place within the "jungle".     (Pouch #5)

Poetically yours,
Pamela

Cowboy on his Trusted Horse

Howdy Pardners, 
     Here's my little cowboy Art Pouch #4. You can't really tell from the photo (I will improve my photo skills as time goes by, I promise), but there are little embroidery embellishments. Specifically, french knots... I absolutely adore french knots for some reason?!  (Almost as much as I like french toast!)  Also, there's a little horse charm I found on the ground (for reals), some faux leather, some indian print canvas, and of course I upcycled a zipper for the closure.
      My cowboy is ramblin' through the desert, and when he's out there takin' in all the desert scenery, his mind starts ta wanderin'  (an occupational hazard for them cowboys).  One time he saw this cactus that stood there lookin' like a man with two arms.  Bein' he'd been out there for a few days all by his lonesome under that blazin' desert sun, he started to imagine this cactus was a "Cactus Man".  You know, he was imaginin' himself a little company. (Between you and me, I suspect he was a little de-hydrated!) And the next thing ya know, he found himself singin' this song all about his new-found friend.  It went somethin' like this:
(PS Of course you gotta imagine it sung with a little country twang to get the full effect.)

Cactus Man, Cactus Man, livin' in the side of a hill of sand,
Gee I'd like to shake your hand, but if I don't you'll understand.

Cactus Man, Cactus Man, perfectly adapted to the land,
Storin' up water in your feet and your hands. Glad I met you, yes I am.

Git Along Little Doggies!
Poetically yours, Pamela

"Cactus Man", by Pamela M Becraft
Copyright 2011, all rights reserved.

Nasturtiums-Gone-Wild!

Here's one of the several Nasturtium vines in my garden that are busy trying to take over the world.  This one has grown out of one of my compost/planting bins, has taken over the boysenberry vines on the fence, the paths, part of the adjoining beds, and is attempting to annex the aluminum ladders in our storage area. (Whatever can a flower do with a couple of ladders, I do not know!)

The good thing is, it is beautiful to look at, and yummy to eat.  If you have an enthusiastic Nasturtium in your garden, here's a fun tip for the many luscious, juicy seeds that form.  Next time you empty a jar of pickles, save the jar of juice in the fridge. Pick a bunch of Nasturtium seeds when they are nice and juicy (not too big), and blanch them in some salted water. Then put them into the pickle juice and let them soak for about a week (in the fridge of course). Voila!  Now you have a delicious substitute for capers, only better because they are crunchier and have a wonderful little peppery kick to them.  Enjoy.

Poetically yours,  Pamela