Salad Picture - Part Two

 Finished!  You may remember from this post when I started this project.

Since that post, I finished up all the stitching.  Here are some close ups that show the different stitches I used.  For most of the outlines, I used the stem stitch.  I also used the stem stitch for some of the interior accent lines.  I especially like the purple onion interiors, I used two colors of floss on the stem stitch:

I used multiple rows of stem stitch to give interest and weight to the edges of some of the vegetables.  You can see that on the carrots, radishes and radish leaves.  The X's are straight stitch and there are plenty of French knots:

To prepare this for framing, I evened up all the raw edges of the fabric.  This is a cotton fabric and it is so ravely!

Now for the framing.  I used this black frame, it is size 8 X 10:

The stitched area of my fabric measures about 7-1/2" x 8 -1/2", too big to use the matting provided with the frame.  Instead, I used the chipboard backing for the frame and added a piece of white paper to give a smooth white surface and then placed my fabric on top of that:

I wrapped the fabric edges around the chipboard:

Folded all the corners over:

and then, using this strong polyester thread:

I stitched back and forth on the long edges and across and back on the short edges.  This really allowed me to pull the fabric snug.  Hopefully it will keep this looking good in the frame!

All framed:

and ready to display - I love the way this project turned out!

Here is the color palette for this project:

Salad Picture - Part One

I am starting a new project!  I am going to make an embroidered picture to put in this black picture frame.  This frame is a nice wood frame, it measures about 11" x 9"  with a 9-1/2" x 7-1/2" opening.

I am using some motifs from my Salad Fixings embroidery pattern, four to be exact.  I love these motifs because they each feature a little set of vegetables, each has the same enhancements of X's and French knots.  They are all sized to be used together in a project.  There are radishes, mushrooms, onions and carrots:

I transferred the motifs onto white fabric:

Now it is time to start selecting floss colors!

Salad Tea Towel - Completed!

I finished my salad tea towel!  And here is my "surprise" hem trim...

Ruffles! A double row of ruffles:

I love the way this trim finished this towel.  The green ruffle reminds me of curly lettuce so it is perfect for this towel's theme :)

I am really happy with the fabric color match to my embroidery floss too:

I have really learned a lot making this ruffle trim.

I followed directions from a basic sewing book.  There were so many options for making and attaching ruffles!  I knew I wanted a double layer ruffle and I wanted to sew the double layers in the center so that both edges of each layer would be free and ruffled.

To make the ruffles, I cut a strip out of each of the fabrics I wanted to use for the ruffles.  Factoring in the seam allowance,  I cut the bottom ruffle 1/2" wider then the top ruffle.  As for the length, both strips are the same length, but to allow ruffling, the instructions said to cut 3 times the finished length!  This is for a fully gathered ruffle.

I finished the edges of both of the strips:

Then I machine stitched two lines of stitches on each strip using a basting stitch:

Then I carefully pulled the basting stitch threads, gathering up all the length on each ruffle.

I pinned everything in place and sewed through all the layers with one line of stitching centered on the top ruffle.

I turned the ruffle strip ends under and hand stitched them in place:

I also decided to embellish the other end of the tea towel.

I used one of the border patterns from the Salad Fixings embroidery pattern packet:

and stitched it up!

I love this tea towel and I really like the ruffles.  I want to make this again and I really want to try out the other ruffle variations.

Garden pictures and wip

 I have an embroidery wip update to share and also a few garden pictures.  First the garden pictures! This gorgeous red rose:  {hybrid tea - Ingrid Bergman}.  I love this rose bush, it blooms beautifully every year:  

Some ripening cherries...these are pie cherries - not at all sweet - but so delicious in pies.

Some sweet peas: These smell so good!

My embroidery wip: remember this? I took out the stitching on the tomato and am now doing a split stitch using six strands of floss.  I like the look much better.  I finished the mushroom in the tan floss {thank you everyone for your help in the mushroom color choice!}

I like the green I have been using for the carrot and the tomato tops.  It is dmc 906 - I am nearly out of this color and I can't finish this until I get some more.  I could use one of these beautiful shades of green but I really like the 906...

I am still working on my tea towel and will post pictures soon!

Progress report...

I have some progress to share on one of my salad wips.  The tea towel:

All of the embroidery is complete {I think - I may add a motif at the other end of the towel}.  I am really pleased with the stitching and colors:

Here is a closer look at the stitches, I used two rows of back stitch in two different greens for the lettuce leaves, split stitch for the tomato bodies and back stitch for their accents and green tops.

Now onto the hem.  I have two fabrics that match my floss colors.  You can probably guess what I hope to do using these two fabrics...

If I can figure out how!

 It will make a nice finish.

Here is a list of the floss colors I used for this project:

Two wips

I have two new wips to share, both are salad related! 

On this first one, I am at my favorite stage of any stitching project - deciding on floss colors.  I love all these colors but I can't quite decide which taupe/brown/tan I should use for the mushrooms? 

Here is a look without all the floss bobbins to distract you:

On the second wip, I have the pattern transferred and one corner partially stitched:

This is going to be a tea towel, I have pinned up the hem to better show what it will look like.  I am really excited to finish this one because I have a new idea for the hem trim.  It is going to involve the sewing machine :)

Spring greens and a vintage sewing book

I set out these beautiful spring greens while I was planning a stitching project.  I love all the different shades:

I think I should be able to find a good color for lettuce leaves!

I also wanted to share some pictures from this wonderful vintage book.  Apparently, this has been in my mom's family for several generations - the copyright is 1913 - it will be 100 years old next year!   It is in great condition, except for some minor tears on the cover:

It has such sweet illustrations, look at this title page with all these little sewing helpers:

The book has quite a few sewing projects for doll's clothes.  I love this little fur lined cape and rain coat:

It has tissue paper patterns for each article of clothing:

It is such a lovely book - I will be sure to share more pictures of some of the other projects as well.