Needlepoint Bluebird Finished

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

WIP - More Spring Flowers

Not sure what these will be yet - small bags? Sachets? J has been learning to sew on buttons, so I put this together for a crafty project for him to put together. Then I'll sew them up with his "help" on my lap - aren't sewing machines fascinating?! Just keep your fingers out of the way!

WIP - Needlepoint Bluebird

This has turned out very challenging but lots and lots of fun - a good small project to learn on. I drew the design from a Charles Harper image I found online - since it is a personal project for a gift I'm hoping there will be no copywrite issues!

I learned that I really should use a graph paper that matches the scale of the fabric, because it was kind of hard to visualize how the bird would look small-ified. I'm going to have to take the yellow out - I don't care for it after all, and I don't think there will be enough for the whole background. But overall I'm very happy with the way it is turning out. I haven't done needlepoint in ages and never from a design I put together (with all due respect to Mr. Harper's estate). J has asked for one with an eagle for his birthday - will have to find a good design (and get some better graph paper!)

AND HERE IS HOW IT TURNED OUT!

From My Grammy

A very sweet bonnet. Found too late to fit my own toddlers but inspiration anyway. What a simple pattern. I had a fair-isle phase in high school, maybe it is time for that trend to come back.

Needlepoint canvases and odds and ends of yarn. Thank you mom! Now to choose another Charles Harper print...

... Update: we chose the blue bird and I've started on it! I haven't done needlepoint since high school, a zillion years ago, and doing it from my own design is a definite challenge. And I'm realizing what a pain it will be to fill in the background, but there you go. Each craft has its little idiosyncrasies, doesn't it? Will post a WIP photo soon.

Needlecraft Primer

Along with drool-worthy kits. Recently posted on Purl Bee.

http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2010/8/22/mollys-sketchbook-welcome-to-the-lovely-world-of-needlework.html