Valentine Conversation Hearts Embroidery Project Finish

Since my last post, I have finished my valentine conversation heart.  

Here are my floss color numbers:

I was looking at all the different ways this heart motif could be used.  Here are three different projects I have done using the same heart:

I decided that for this project - to be a true conversation heart, there should have a message in the center like these from the inspiration picture:

I decided to add the words Be Mine.  This pattern set has a lot of text motifs in different sizes for use with the other motifs:

But I wanted to have a font that looked just like the inspiration picture so I used a block letter template:

and then traced it onto my fabric and stitched the letters using Straight Stitch:

The stitches I used for this heart are Lazy Daisy Stitch and French Knots:

Embroidered Valentine Heart

 

This beautiful flower-filled heart is from my Be Mine Valentine hand embroidery pattern.  

The stitches I used are so simple!  The outline of the heart is the Pekinese Stitch.  The flowers are Lazy Daisy Stitch with a Straight Stitch for added dimension.  The decorative dots are all French Knots:

You might notice that I used DMC Blanc perle cotton thread for all the white and DMC 349 six strand cotton for all the red.  I used all six strands for the outline, but three strands for all the interior work.

Valentine's Day Envelope

Notice this pink envelope sealed with a red heart?  I just finished the stitching.  This envelope motif and all the others pictured are from my Be Mine Valentine pattern set.  

This was so easy to stitch - I used four different stitches.  The Back Stitch for the outline of the envelope and the scalloped edge of the envelope flap, Stem Stitch for the upper edge of the envelope flap, French Knots to accent the scallops and Satin Stitch for the heart.

 For the color palette, I used two DMC colors:

and I also used sparkly blending filament 001L from Kreinik.  

Valentine Embroidered Table Napkin - Project Details

This Valentine table napkin is made from two motifs from the Be Mine Valentine embroidery set.

I combined the cupid's arrow heart with the XO text: 

and transferred them to a white cotton table napkin using a water soluble marking pen:

 I stitched everything in red cotton floss, DMC #349.

The text and the arrow shaft are all done with Back Stitch.  The arrow point is Satin Stitch.  The heart is filled with French Knots.

Valentine's Day Heart

I love adding sequins to my embroidery projects.  {example  example} 
Recently, I decided to try using just sequins to fill an entire motif - in this case, one of the hearts from the Be Mine Valentine embroidery pattern.

For the sequins, I selected small {8 mm} size cup sequins in pink. I stitched them in place with sewing thread.  

First, I outlined the heart.  I started at the tip and centered the first sequin.  I found that the best looking results came from partially layering the the sequins.  You can see that each new sequin is on top of the previous sequin:

I went all the way around and then started the next row, following the outline...and so on... 

until it was completely filled in.  What do you think?  I love the sparkly result!!

Valentine's Day Tea Towel

I just finished a Valentine's Day mini-tea towel.  I had a small amount of this pretty fabric on hand, some pale pink rickrack and some pink color variations floss.   I transferred this lazy daisy heart to the fabric and started stitching!

I am really pleased with the result!  This little towel is only 7-1/2" wide - I think it will look really nice layered on a pink or white towel. 

This turned out to be a really quick and easy project.  I love to stitch lazy daisies.  Here is a closer view,  I also hand stitched the hem and rickrack:

The perle cotton floss I used is DMC #4810.  I really love the color variation in this floss. 

It is so many beautiful shades of pink and I think it goes well with this powder blue fabric. 

Valentine's is still a few days away, which for me always marks the beginning of the end of winter and winter weather - however, we had a little bit of a surprise snowfall over this last weekend

It has been really cold - we didn't get too much, it was so pretty

and Rego really enjoyed it!  

Valentine's Day Card - Part Three - Finished!

My Valentine's day card is finished.  I am really happy with the result.  I wouldn't hesitate to stitch fabric onto paper in the future.  If you want to see my progress posts on this project - they are here { Part One - Part Two }

Since my last post on this project, I cut two pieces of black paper, one for each side of the inside of the card.  I wanted to make sure to cover up the underside of my stitching. 

Then I glued these to the inside of the card.  I used Elmer's Craft Bond rubber cement. It worked super and it didn't pucker the paper!

Next, I cut two pieces of white paper to layer onto the black paper.  I am sure seeing those scallop edge scissors, you know what is coming next!

I scallop cut the edges of the white papers and glued them to the black pieces:

 Here is what they look like all glued in place.  Ready for me to write my message:

I like the strong contrast of the black and white both on the inside and the cover:

Now it is all finished and ready to go!

Valentine's Day Card - Part Two

I have an update to my Valentine's Day card project.  You may remember that I am making with the front part of the card with embroidered fabric.

Once I had the fabric trimmed to the size I wanted, I needed to figure out how to finish the edges.  I received so many helpful ideas in the comments section - thank you all!  I decided to try stitching with black embroidery floss around the fabric, close to the edges:

I measured in 1/4" from the raw edge and did a running stitch all around. 

 I used black floss so that it wouldn't distract too much from my white stitched picture.  This also solved the problem of how to attach the fabric to the paper.  I just stitched through both layers.

Here is the inside flap of the card, you can see the underside of my running stitch {and all the needle holes ;) because I kept changing my stitch spacing}

I have a really fun idea to finish this up and I will post about it soon!

Valentine's Day Card - In Fabric!

I am making a card for Valentine's Day and I thought it would be really fun to try an embroidery card. 

I found some really nice black linen/cotton blend fabric, I had some left over from this tea towel I made a while back.  I  gathered up these Valentine images  -  I decided not to use the dove, I thought it was a little to big for my project.  After I arranged all the pieces,  I transferred the images onto my fabric using this wax free tracing paper.  It was so easy to see the stitching lines in this bright yellow:

Then I stitched everything in white floss.  

After the stitching was done, I trimmed the fabric evenly on all four edges.  I love my new quilter's square :)

When it was all trimmed up, I placed it onto some white paper, this is presentation paper.  I haven't glued it onto the paper or decided how I am going to finish the fabric edges.  This fabric really likes to ravel and I like the fringed edge it leaves...any suggestions?