Friday, March 25, 2011

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

The 25th of the month means it's PTI blog hop time! This month's challenge is all about embroidery floss.

"For the March Blog Hop we are challenging you to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on your project. This could include stitching, wrapping it around and tying it like ribbon, braiding, accenting tags, embroidered patterns or anything else you can dream up!"
You can check out all the details and list of participants here.

Because of my 30 years of  teaching, certain pieces of literature became part of me. I cannot think of embroidery and sewing without thinking Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and this quotation. " It was the art--then as now, almost the only one within a woman's grasp--of needlework."  Let me date myself even more my saying, "We've come a long way, baby!"

Besides my artistic attempts with crayons, embroidery, learned from my mother and grandmother when I was quite young, was my early artistic expression.  I still have some of my first pieces along with beautiful  pieces embroidered by my mother and grandmother. One of my treasured pieces is a baby quilt  made for either my sister or me which hangs in our upstairs hallway.

This challenge meant it was time for me to hone my embroidery stitches.

The inspiration for this first simple card was a crisp white embroidered pillow case.

I traced two Cuttlebug flower die cuts, punched holes, and embroidered with a simple back stitch. I stamped the small leaf from Beautiful Blooms 1 which is conveniently a series of dots, so easy for punching holes,  and embroidered it. I added a Golden Harvest button and some twine. The Edgers # 2  die creates a romantic eyelet edge. I may have to embroider some crisp white pillow cases now-- minus the buttons and twine, of course; the impressions would take all day to disappear from this aging skin.!

For a second card the embroidery floss is used on the embellishment.

After cutting Harvest Gold felt with the Dienamics Rolled Rose die from My Favorite Things, I embroidered a blanket stitch along the edge before rolling the felt. I cut a couple of small leaves from Simply Chartreuse felt and stitched the vein down the middle of each leaf. (One of the leaves is hidden in the shadow. Obviously, my photography skills need some work)
The base for the flower was made using the scalloped die from. the Limitless Layers 1 3/4 Collection  I strategically cut a doily pattern  from patterened paper from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop. Even though the die is solid, you can hold it and the paper up to a light to aid in placement of the pattern. The bottom layer of the base  is Pure Poppy cs cut with a die from the Doily Details Collection.

The front panel is more patterned paper from the Thrift Shop collection. The sentiment is from PTI's Birthday Basics. After adding some Aqua Mist grosgrain ribbon, I attached the front panel to a mat of Pure Poppy.  The card base is Vintage Cream.

Enjoy the hop!

31 comments:

  1. Oh my Cammie!!! I love the 2nd flower matted on the doily!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love them both! The first is so much like a loved embroidered pillow case, and so beautiful and elegant. I love how you've echoed the curves of the doily on the second card with your beautiful stitching- great use of floss!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, your cards are gorgeous! Love the flowers...wowzers...simply fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous embroidered & blanket stitched flowers! So pretty. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW -- both BEAUTIFUL cards!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow Cammie! Both of these are wonderful! I love how you used the floss!! Beautiful job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Both are truly lovely!
    I love old linens and my first thought with the 1st card was old pillowcases!
    Very beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely projects! The stitched flower is gorgeous! The ribbon is so pretty as well!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cammie, these are both STUNNING! Your stitching is fantastic, and I love the double edger border treatment on the first card, I must try that! Wonderful work!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cammie.....You outdid yourself here! All that lucious stitching.....that took time! Such beautiful work....nice job with this challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very pretty, Cammie! I love the stitching!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cammie, I love your cards and your story. I can relate. Oh those pillow cases - the first projects I was allowed to tackle. Your stitching is lovely and I appreciate the time and care that went into creating these beautiful projects.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The basket stitch looks amazing with that doily!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cammie, both cards are just beautiful! Your first card is so much like the pillow cases and dresser scarves made so long ago by my grandmother and mother. LOVE the flower/rose embellishment.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I especially love the first card! So understated and gorgeous. Pairing it with the edgers die is perfect. I will be CASEing it for sure!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. your blanket stitched flower is so pretty! love both cards :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great job on both of them! I especially like the first one! Great use of the floss and the edgers too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. HOLY COW, Cammie! These cards are amazing!!!! I love the sweet folk art look that you achieved (of course!) That first card is so dainty and charming, and the second made my jaw drop with that elaborate stitching over the rose...so detailed, what a special set of cards!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I reread the Scarlet Letter last year, what a great book! And your scarlet thread, great tie in! So, . . . what does that mean if I remember that phrase, you've come a long way baby? Today in a candy store I was directed to the 'old fashioned' section for a selection I inquired about . . .yikes~ anyway, great cards! So creative!

    ReplyDelete
  20. WOW, Cammie!!! You outdid yourself! These are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lovely, lovely cards, Cammie! I "got" the embroidered pillowcase effect for the first card right away--what wonderful memories it brings back of my grandmother's & great-grandmother's embroidery, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cammie, these are both so charming! The embroidered pillowcase card is so delicate and pretty. And I LOVE your blanket stitched rose!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful stitching on both of these!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow. These are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Both cards are wonderful, Cammie. I am slightly more drawn to the first card though. I can see the pillow slip with its embroidered flower and eyelet edging.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love that first card. It does remind me of my grandma's pillow case! Turned out great.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh my goodness! Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous!!!! You totally rocked this challenge!!! Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, how pretty that rolled flower is! Both of your cards are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow Cammie! Both of these are wonderful! I love how you used the floss!! Beautiful job!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Cammie, these are both STUNNING! Your stitching is fantastic, and I love the double edger border treatment on the first card, I must try that! Wonderful work!

    ReplyDelete

I truly appreciate your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one.