Sketch Stitching Arrows : :

The promises I make to myself are the hardest one's to keep, but last night after a rough day I knew I'd feel so much better if I spent the hour I had pledged to devote to my sketch stitch ideas working on something new. It absolutely worked, I felt better and was quickly reminded that when I feel better, I do better!

I'm having so much fun working on these pieces! This one I created to match my Fletching Chant arrows print in my fabric collection, Wild & Free. I started by thread sketching a set of arrows onto a quilted piece of AGF's Pure Element Peach Sherbet with a white Aurifil 50wt. This colorful stack of AGF Pure Element solids coordinate with my collection and inspired the thread color story I used to create this new sketch.



Experimenting with the combination of threads and stitches feels just like coloring! It really is so much fun!



The feather I shared earlier in the week began with a simple sketch in a dark blue thread, then came all the color. This time I used a variety of decorative satin stitches in a mix of widths and patterns, saving the dark blue thread for my final outline. The triangle stitch patterns are my very favorite and so closely match the details I added to the very first pen drawings that became my Fletching Chant print!



I'm so excited to have this new stash of AGF Pure Element solids to sketch on and to sew with while I wait for my fabrics to arrive. It's going to make this waiting time much more enjoyable and bearable!



Art Gallery Fabrics recently shared their interview with me, where I talk about the inspiration behind my collection, what it means to me, along with my hopes for the rest of this year! I'd love for you to check it out by clicking -- here!

♥ Maureen

Something New : :

Besides lots of family fun throughout the long weekend, I did some serious shuffling around in my sewing room, to make a better space for the kiddos who will be joining me in here so much more once this school year wraps up later this week. I did some very rewarding thrifting, which I can't wait to share this week! And just before the weekend started, I started something new!



This quilt, that I have so enjoyed making, although a little longish in the making - I know, will be headed to it's new home at some point this Summer. I'm excited to see it go, but of course will miss it!

In preparation for it's absence and because I've been holding onto several new, but vague ideas for these stitched sketches for a while now, I decided to begin a new one, finally! I shared a few quick pics on Instagram and my facbook as it was starting to come together, and the response I received was pretty wonderful, thank you for that. The encouragement really made me think that I should both be making more time for these types of projects and that I should put some real effort into it.

With this type of work I always just sort of begin, no sketching, no solid plan, but I think next time I'm going to lay it all out and see how that works for me.

I do know where this one is headed now and I'm excited! For my last one, because of who will be receiving it, I worked with almost all Anna Maria Horner fabrics. But this time I hope to use all Art Gallery Fabrics and, of course, I'll be sure to share how it all comes together!!



How about you, did you start anything new?  ♥,  Maureen