feeling flossy.

Embroidery isn't my strong suit, so I'm not sure why I was compelled to join the Hoop Up! swap. I think I wanted to use it as a way to grow my skills. I have four talented people in my group who I get to make embroidered blocks for. My first piece in progress is for Cara aka quiltnookgal. She asked for bluebirds or tea. I went with both.

I reinterpreted a design from needlecrafter.com The original design is a bird drinking from a birdbath. I swapped the birdbath out for a teacup and the fountain out for steam. This is my first piece for the group and I worry that it's too simplistic. I feel like it needs more, but I'm not sure what yet.

I've put it on pause while I think about it. I'm going to work on my other pieces and then revisit it as my embroidery skills improve. I'm still coming up with ideas for the other themes in the group "pretty pets and pretty borders", "woodland" and "something with text" (g-rated and family friendly). Such great themes!


While making it, I realized I needed to get a 10" hoop and more standard DMC floss. I had the best of intentions when I headed to Lincraft and Morris&Sons to stick to that purpose, but I got distracted.

I've always been a Perle 5 girl for quilts simply out of convenience and availability. I'll admit I've stared at Andi's perle 8 collection with more than a tinge of jealousy and that's what pushed me over the edge as I hemmed and hawed at the needlepoint store. They didn't have a large color range, but I took four skeins as a start. It will be fun to try out quilting with the finer floss. What do you use when you hand quilt and embroider?


And then I spied this in the discounted clearance section. DMC Flower Yarn or Fil Fleur. It's a thin floss with a silky feel to it. The colours were pretty, so I grabbed a handful with no idea what it's supposed to be used for. I asked the clerk at Morris&Sons. She didn't know either. It didn't matter. I stocked up anyway... ya know... just in case...