Last night I returned to my neglected embroidery (the 39 squares project). I never quite mastered "fancy" stitches but found that I really enjoy making roses. I have been stitching along in a checkerboard pattern, leaving alternate spaces empty, wondering just how I would fill them up.
The clearance section at Michaels came to my rescue with small packages of metal rose charms meant for jewelry making, called Petals a Plenty. {Cute name!} I had a notion the charms would come in handy.
The word "notions" when used to describe sewing items has always made me chuckle for some reason but seems like a fitting title for this post.
I started filling squares with the charms and also dug out my small collection of beads, using them for leaves and rosebuds.
{Ever spill a container of beads? I did and keep finding them stuck to the soles of my feet!}
Even though the notion squares are not embroidered, I think they count. I still have many more squares to do.
While in the middle of my sunny photo shoot at the dining room table, I knew I had to include this lovely and unavoidable view to my left ...
The dumpster parked in my driveway! I must admit my upbeat demeanor about the basement flood descended into being quite overwhelmed. Thank goodness for my hubby whose own let's take care of business attitude kicked into high gear.
Just keep stitching, stitching, stitching ...
xo
elyse
48 comments:
turned out BEAUTIFUL!
love the texture all you notions gave it!
That is just so dainty and sweet! I love to embroider. My grandmother taught me when I was small and I've never forgotten it. This post made me think that maybe I should take it back up.
Oh, Elyse, your 39 squares are looking super gorgeous!
I always spill my tiny beads everywhere!
Mercedes
Elyse,
your sampler is so lovely! I love all the roses!!
Re: your basement, again, I can so relate. When our house had 2 feet of water in it and the couch, baby toys, etc. were FLOATING by, I finally started to cry. When the hubs noticed, he looked at me horrified and said, "What's wrong?!"
We laugh about that now. :)
I LOVE your squares! Your sampler is turning out so beautiful...I can't wait to see it finished! I love the addition of the little notions.
Lucky you, I see that the view beyond the dumpster is green. Ours is currently white...again...it is snowing right now.
Hope everything is coming along okay with the basement problem.
Have fun stitching.
Hugs, Debi
p.s. my wallpaper came today..*squeal*...thank you for the sweet extras!
I love.love,love..did I mention I love your stitching and your charm squares. Thaey are just beautiful..and I love them. They're so dainty and delicate.. I loved that sweet gingham paper below as well. Gingham anything is one of my favorite things..
Neat idea!
I hope that you didn't loose too much in the flood.
Melinda
What beautiful little squares. So delicate...like little treasures. And that dumpster in the view of your adorable shuttered window? So like life sometimes. lol
I really like your sampler! I love the way your roses almost looks as if they were painted with little brush strokes.
Your sampler is beautiful and is a true reflection of you and what you love. When I came to Kuwait, I stored my belongings in my in-law's basement in Canada -- which flooded one year during winter. When I was able to get there for the summer and go through everything, much of it had to be disposed of. I guess stuff is stuff and there's always more stuff. Wishing you all the best, Tammy
Heyyyyy, ya'll have a right perdy dumster! ;} Bet you hear that all the time!, eh??! And, how square are you??!! WOW!
That little sampler is adorable!
m ^..^
Beautiful, Elyse! I love the embroidered ones and the notioned:) ones! Enjoy your day and perhaps the basement will be all cleared soon! Hugs from Georgia!
Your sampler is GORGEOUS! Good luck with the basement! Yikes!!!!
Your sampler is coming along beautifully, my friend. It really is a perfect reflection of you and your style.
Oh, the dumpster! Out with the old (and muddy) and in with the new!
xoxo
Claudia
so lovely, I really love the buttons too.
Yeah for Michaels those roses are so pretty, and yes I have split beads all over the floor, they can really hurt!
Elyse, I absolutely love your sampler!! It is so light and fresh and YOU! You are always true to yourself and it is refreshing. You do such beautiful work!!
Hugs,
Amy
How beautiful!! I love the colors and the roses.
I looked at some older posts too and you have a wonderful blog!
Greetings from Holland,
Ester
I love how your squares have turned out, and the idea of the charms in the squares makes it even lovelier. So sorry to learn that the flood in your basement was so destructive.
Karen
How beautiful Elyse! So charming, and so clever of you to use the little roses. Sorry to hear about the water in your basement. But your cheerful attitude is an inspiration! Love the flowered boots and umbrella.
Oh so beautiful!! I hope this will be placed somewhere where you can see it every day! It's just gorgeous :) GL with your basement..!
Hi Elyse! Your square project is coming out sooo incredibly sweet! I just love it! I'm positively drooling over these little squares you and sweet Lisa (A Cuppa Tea) are doing! They are all just sooo darling! xo Paulette ;)
That is sooooooo pretty!!!! Sorry to hear about your flood :-(..
Hugs,
Penny
Elyse,
This is beautiful! I feel your pain with the flooded basement. We live in an 1880s Victorian Farmhouse on a peninsula and we are constantly flooded. We have three sump pumps running. I received my etsy purchase and am so very pleased. Thank you!
Deborah
I love the notions sewn into the squares. It adds a unique dimension to the overall piece.
I'm so sorry to hear about your basement! We were pretty lucky with only two small areas of seepage. Hang in there!
And, congrats on the magazine feature! How fabulous!!!!!
I had a NOTION you were up to something creative and as usual you kept me in STITCHES with your cute post and the image of the dumpster! Thanks for stopping by to see our EGGS!
Oh, you definitely keep stitching! Love love your roses. Looking so cute and lovely.
Have a happy day!
xo
Darling, this is such a lovely post, I kept going back and forth looking at the photos. The writing just completes it as one of my all time favourite posts. You are extremely talented which is apparent in the last square photo you posted. Very nice indeed. Hope your basement soon returns to normal health.
Love & Hugs
Duchess
it is beautiful, what will you do with it when your done, pillow, framed or?
Oh, I can't tell you how many quilts I use to make while stressed! I would just quilt and quilt my worries away.
Brenda
Sorry about the beads and your basement! Your squares are lovely!! Enjoy!
Hugs, Lisa
Hi Elyse,
You did such a great job, it is beautiful!
Hugs,
Kathy
Elyse, your sampler is coming along wonderfully. I like how you have kept with the flower theme for the squares.
Happy stitching!
xo
jeanne
Hey girlie, thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and I had my fingers crossed wondering if anyone would stop by or if I would be left out here in blogland all by my lonesome, lol!! Love your 39 squares and the notions were perfect for it (;
Hugs~Kelly
So gorgeous Elyse! Love the added beads! The dimensionality and texture is yummy! Congrats on your recent press too! Yeah You DESERVE it!
love,kelee
My goodness, it looks like sugar and spice and everything nice at your house now. I love this charming piece you are working on. How cute! Stopping by with well wishes and sending a dump truck full of pixie dust for good luck your way.
~Jacqueline from Once Upon a Fairyland~
this is a beautiful piece! the notions go so well with the embroidery!
Just precious, Elyse! ♥
Your squares are just lovely, both the embroidered & the "notions" squares.
Hi Elyse, So so cute, if I lived near by I would come over and teach you how to do silk ribbon embroidery. You could make tons of flowers very easily, the ribbon does all the work. I used to teach classes in the 80's.
It is really coming out cute and I admire all your projects and get it done attitude. I used to be like that when my kids were little.
I am excited to see more pictures of your home and I am staying home all day on a break from selling houses to make your little gift. So keep a look out for it in about a week......
Kim
Elyse, the little charms and beads are the perfect addition to your pretty little sampler...that's what i call thinking outside the box...or the square for that matter...eeeeeps...
Hi Elyse,
I think the addition of the roses and beads is great...really adds dimension to your sampler. I just love the soft colors you've used and the unfussy style...very pleasing to the eye. I hope you are completely dry and cleaned out soon...it must be frustrating.
xoxo
Joyce
Our basement flooded last year....not fun. Love your sampler.
Hi Elyse, your project is beautiful! I love your white shutters too! Just keep on stitching and soon enough your flooded basement will be a distant memory! Deb
**giggle**
....i know the feeling of beads on the feet! Ouch!
Elyse, your sampler is just sweet, sweet, sweet! I had a "notion" it'd be as sweet as you! Sorry, couldn't help myself!
Keep stitching! Isn't it therapeutic? *giggle*
xoxo
becky
Love all your "notions" Elyse! Sweet touches to your pretty stitching! Your samplier is coming along beautifully!
Love,
Maryjane
xox
i came to visit my favorite cottage
fairy and found another treasure.
you are enchanted.
Hi Elyse! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment about my shop! I really appreciate that you took the time to do that. Thanks again and your embroidery is just precious! Karen
Oh my goodness...how darn cute is that? LOVE it..
Huggies,
Spencer
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