Batik map of Indonesia

I know technically batik is not embroidery, but this is a very cool textile. This is a machine made batik. I have seen other copies of the same design, and it is very well thought out and executed.

There are only three colors, the white fabric, a brown/tan dye, and the dark navy dye. I find it very interesting how the white areas show up. Of course, they were the first things covered with the resist, and they are all small areas. All the white lettering is done in dots. There is only one small area (the middle by the right border) where you can see the typical "crackle" pattern you expect from batik. The border is made up of smaller elements that the eye connects together.

The names of the islands are in navy on the white patterns... it takes a lot of planning to keep those areas open so they will take the dye eventually.



This panel was a gift through work. It has been on display for many months and has not faded, as far as I can tell.

Fabric Fruit

Today I am showing off a new purchase that I got in North Carolina. We visited a museum/craft store (here) that had lovely things. There was a lot of glass and pottery, wood and weaving, corn husk and stuffed dolls, and jewelry. Everything was lovely, I could have spent a lot of money! Everything in the store was handcrafted in the "southern highlands." I'm not sure if that included more than North Carolina or not.



I had just decided that I am interested in strawberry pincushions and emeries, and I just ordered a pattern to make fabric fruit, so these guys interested me a lot. They are made out of felted fibers, but they are still soft. The strawberry has "seed beads" (LOL). I love fidgeting with them, but I'm afraid if I handle them too much they will deteriorate.

Update on French Style monochromatic Sampler

The book I got all the patterns from for the French sampler (except the heart) is Sajou Passion des Alphabets Anciens (Sajou, love of ancient alphabets), by Veronique Malliard. It is a beautiful book! What text there is is in French, but the patterns are lovely.

French Style monochromatic sampler

Hello everyone,

It's not very nice of me to start blogging, and then go away for a long weekend! I was in North Carolina over the weekend; I couldn't believe how beautiful it is there! I'm going to do everything in my power to go back there for another visit. (Shopping was good too!)

Our example today is a piece I stitched for the EGA Master Craftsman program. The requirements were to stitch a piece in an authentic ethnic style, with certain requirements for size, stitch count, and design elements. (I sent it in and got a provisional pass. The back is too messy, but I'm not going to show you that.)

Since I have a French last name (no fault of my own, it came with DH), I decided to design a French sampler, and commemorate our 30th anniversary as well. I got most of the elements from the same book, that I cannot remember the name of right now. I will post the name tomorrow. I measured, counted, sketched, and moved items around in order to get things to fit. I really like the border, and I love the cartouche the date is stitched in. The initials are in such a pretty alphabet too!



As I recall, the heart came from somewhere else.

I have enjoyed collecting French cross stitch alphabets since I got on-line, and I was very happy to use a couple of those elements in this sampler. (I like fonts too!)

I would love to decorate our bedroom in French country style and have this in a prominent spot. I think it would be a very pretty room. Red toile wall-paper, red carpet, and French country furniture. I'll just keep on dreaming.