A bit of history is required, I suppose.
I began my stitching journey with embroidery and cross stitch, both of which I love. But my main focus in the last 15 years has been quilting. Underlying all this was alway a fervent love of fabric. Especially linens and silks! I have no idea where this came love came from, but it has been a constant.
I would scour garage and estate sales for fabrics of any type,
but was particularly drawn to tablecolths and napkins. I would come home with piles of dining room table cloths, napkins. table runners etc... to show my husband.
but was particularly drawn to tablecolths and napkins. I would come home with piles of dining room table cloths, napkins. table runners etc... to show my husband.
Always the practical one he would say,
"But honey, we don't have a dining room table."
Undeterred, I soldiered on!
The end result is a basement filled with fabrics of all types: tablecloths and runners, napkins and handkerchiefs, quilting cotton and remnants, threads, floss, yarn. Scissors of all types, pinking shears, pins, needles, ribbons, trims. You name it, it is stuck in my basement.
This was not even half of the fabrics and "stuff" that I had in my basement.
When my good friend from Mosaic Magpie told me about an online class for whitework embroidery, my ears pricked!! I had that feeling of knowing this is what you are supposed to do. I always follow that feeling. I looked online and this woman's work is simply stunning!! Her name is Karen Ruane of Contemporary Embriodery. (I will try to post both of these sites when I learn how to do that!! Ha ha!). I was hooked. I signed up immediately for a Buttons class she was teaching this past December 2011 and the Whitework class this January 2012.
But first I needed to organize all that "stuff".
Now I am ready to take all those vintage linens and fabrics and transform them into whitework blocks and eventually into a panel. I am very excited about beginning on this journey and will keep you posted on my progress.
Thanks!
Next blog will show some of the things I learned in my Buttons class this past December and subsequent posts will show my progress in the Whitework Embroidery class that is going on this month.
See you soon.
Your first post and I am so honored to be mentioned! This is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure for you! The friendships you will make, will be the highlight of it all!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Deb, I find it fascinating that your word for this year is "inspire", for that is what you have done for me. Thank you so much for everything!
ReplyDeleteHi!!! welcome to blog world!!! Your organisational skills are amazing....my stuff is scattered everywhere but I don't have a basement so if my husband complains I say...well get me a basement then...!!
ReplyDeleteI am lucky to have a basement, it used to be scattered throughout various closets before we moved. Thanks for visiting Karen, like Debbie, you have given me so much inspiration and I truly appreciate it!!
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely things Beth and you are so organised.
ReplyDeleteLike Karen I don't have a basement but I'm lucky enough to have a little sewing room but things are all over the place - I must sort sort out my fabrics and threads...sometime!!
Barbara
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Barbara, Thanks so much for visiting. I am lucky to have a basement for all my stuff. But I do find I am leaving alot of it upstairs by my stitching chair. I like to have it close.
DeleteWow, you are lucky having so many place for your fabrics and all the things you need. I have only our living-room.
ReplyDeleteMagdalena, Thanks for visiting. I am lucky to have a big basement for all this stuff, but I am like you and a lot of it is upstairs in my living room.
DeleteWelcome to Blogland Beth and believe me it gets easier as you go along.
ReplyDeleteI have taken over our third bedroom as my sewing room but my stash has gradually crept out into a cupboard in the garage as well.
Ha ha.. I know what you mean. My stuff is creeping all over the place, even after organizing it! Thanks for the welcome.
DeleteHi Beth - welcome to blogging! I know you will like it here. You look like you have all your treasures so well organized. I live in an apartment and have to share the second bedroom with the computer, the cats, and a pull out couch for company. Needless to say I have a lot stuffed into a very small space!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the welcome. I am getting used to blogging. Working on my next blog, but sometimes it is scary.
DeleteBlogging is fun! Just do it.....and we will read it and enjoy it
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the encouragement. I really appreciate it. You all are wonderful!
DeleteWelcome to blogland, I have not been a regular blogger or very experienced but I love to visit other peoples blogs and love comments from other people, it makes you realise your not alone and there are so many people with whom you can identify creatively speaking. I love your working space, I have a lot of my stuff in the attic but i really need to organise it properly
ReplyDeleteJill, thanks for visiting! I really appreciate your words of encouragement. I am now really enjoying going to other sites and seeing all the wonderful things out there. I agree that it makes you realize that you are not alone. Thank you.
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