In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. This month they are going to be from my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing.

Cotton Candy and Cinnamon Hearts: This piece started with the silk ribbon embroidered heart in the center, which was stitched by my mom. I placed a ladybug pin next to her heart (the symbol of our daughter). I chose a collection of feed sack fabrics in red and white to crazy-piece around the embroidery to create a block. I strip pieced the the sections around the block with both new and old fabrics, some given to me by my friend Phred. I then collected jacquard, novelty, and printed ribbons and trims, and cotton laces to incorporate within and around the pieced sections. I included a few vintage eclectic if not eccentric items for embellishments, such as the plastic cigarette holders, which I used for vases; four plastic thimbles (from a variety of travel sewing kits); and four cigarette company advertisement buttons. Other embellishments include a vintage floral applique, a hand-blown glass vase shaped bead, vintage celluloid and mother of perle buttons, and vintage plastic butterfly charms. And of course, I needed to include all of the heart shaped buttons throughout the pieced sections and to trim the bound edges.

Embroidery Stitches Used

• Hand Quilting: Running stitch
• Border Row Stitches: Chain stitch, stem stitch, coral stitch, snail trail stitch, bead strand stitch, herringbone stitch, cretan stitch, cross stitch row, blanket stitch, blanket stitch double, chain stitch zigzag, chain stitch double, feather stitch, feather stitch single
• Decorative Stitches: Lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch
• Detail Stitches: French knot stitch, straight stitch, pistol stitch, single bead stitch
• Ribbonwork Extras: Rosette, Fancy flowers

Here is a video that I shot at the C&T Publishing Studios, that focuses on the new book, and some of my favorite pieces.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen