How Many UFO’s (Unfinished Object Projects) do you have hiding away?

I love needlework! But somehow this little piece ended up unfinished, a small UFO, sitting in my closet with more UFO’s.

Unfinished Ribbon Embroidery Project

During the years that I was a member of the Embroider’s Guild of America, EGA, I took every class offered and attended regional retreats. As a result, I ended up with a lot of UFO’s in addition to the finished projects. But, all was not lost with UFO’s!  I enjoyed every stitch that I did complete and learned so much about embroidery and other forms of needlework and canvas work.  In addition, I loved spending time with  friends and the conversations we had while sitting and stitching.

The stitching of this little project is finished. I started tearing away the paper but something distracted me and I didn’t finish the project. I will most likely turn it into a small sachet pillow or frame it, so I hope to post the finished piece shortly!  I’m also feeling guilty about my other UFO’s so will pull them out and work on them while being a couch potato at night. That will also limit my couch potato guilt!

I hope you pull out your UFO’s and give them a little love!

Phyllis

Embroidery – Its so timeless!

I am using my embroidery needles, along with my water soluble pens, and have been creating embroidery designs. Embroidery was my first creative love! Years ago, as a pre-teen, I began my interest in the creative world by picking up a needle. Needles have never been far from my hand, whether creating needlepoint, cross stitch, canvas work, sewing or quilting. It all begins with a needle, after a great design, of course!

Crewel Embroidery Phyllis Dobbs

This design is from my past and is part of a design I created for an ad the DMC Corporation. Its more crewel in nature with the pattern.  I love creating a variety of stitches and really enjoyed stitching this.

The patterns that I am creating now are more contemporary but based on the past. How can you not design embroidery without recognizing the past influences! The stitches are timeless!

Check back for more embroidery designs as well as my continuing fabric and quilt designs! Embroidery with project patterns will soon be in both my Craftsy and Etsy stores.

Pick up your needles!

Phyllis

 

Book Review – a Fabulous New Needlework Book by Linda Wyszynski

I love, love needlework and have collected needlework books for years. I just added The Complete Photo Guide to Needlework by Linda Wyszynski to my collection and have to say that along with it being a beautiful book, its also the most comprehensive book I have. Needlework is so versatile. In addition to all types of needlework projects you can create, you can also use needlework to add beauty and detail to quilts and sewing projects. A few embroidery stitches can also make such a difference with your favorite craft technique, even paper crafts.

The Complete Photo Guide to Needlework by Linda Wyszynski

This book has photos and diagrams for 200 stitches you can use for creative embroidery, crewel, silk ribbon embroidery, bead embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint. In addition to all the photos, the book is filled with easy to follow diagrams. With this book, you will have all the information to get you started with needlework – stitching equipment and supplies, canvases, charts, fabrics, threads, ribbons and much more.

Included in The Complete Photo Guide to Needlework, published by Creative Publishing International, are projects to use with the different techniques. You will love this book whether you are a beginner or an experienced stitcher.

A little bit about Linda – I’ve known Linda for at least 20 years. She is the most talented needlework designer I know and designs for numerous magazines and books as well as correspondence classes for The Embroider’s Guild of America. She worked very diligently on this book to insure its completeness and to design the beautiful projects. She was aided by her husband Dennis, who created the graphs, illustrations and took the photographs – a winning combination to produce a beautiful book!

Put a little stitching in your day!

Phyllis