Healing

After I suffered my concussion in August, I had ongoing pain for months.  I started feeling a bit better in November, and in the very beginning of January, they tried to take me off of one of the medications that I had been taking daily for pain.

Unfortunately, that didn't go so well.  I've been in constant pain since.  I've been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia, cervical strain, and I suffer from Cervicogenic Headaches. I wake up every morning with a headache and nerve pain, and every night I go to sleep with the same.

I can't look down without causing the headaches to get worse, and I can only spend a very limited amount of time on the computer, iphone, ipad, etc.  Anything backlit makes it worse.  I haven't been able to do photography as I have really no way of knowing what is going to start the headache.  I also can't spend the time at my computer editing.

I have been trying to pursue other creative outlets, but even that has proven to be difficult.

So, I leave you with a shot of what I've been working on, and a request that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers. And, of course, if you have any experience with any of the above, I'd love to hear what you have to say! I've already done PT, anti-convulsants, nsaids, nerve blocks, and trigger point injections.

A Loof Toof!

Once kids hit school, they sure start to grow fast, huh?  My big girl has her first wiggly tooth! She is so absolutely, ridiculously, and enthusiastically excited.  I think it is in part due to her love of sharks - she thinks that it is "totally awesome" that she gets to lose teeth and have new ones take their place, just like her ocean friends!  She is also very taken by the idea of The Tooth Fairy, and I just had to make a little pillow!  There is a teeny tiny pocket to hold her teeny tiny teeth, and then a pocket that is a bit bigger to hold any potential treasures that The Tooth Fairy may decide to bring her.  I also thought that she could stick a note to The Tooth Fairy in the bigger pillow - she has specific questions to ask her, such as, "what do you need all of those teeth for?" Good question.  I'm sure The Tooth Fairy is relieved that Thaya has at least a week until that tooth falls out to think on her answer :)

There is a heart on the back, and it is embroidered with her name just to make sure that everyone (read: her sisters) knows that this is her special pillow.

I used this tutorial that I found on the Riley Blake Designs Blog. It wasn't super descriptive, so if you are a brand new sewist, I don't know that I would necessarily recommend it as a first project.  I will say, however, that it was simple enough that I was able to make a few of my own modifications to make it just perfect for my little girl, which basically means less frilly.  I'll be sure to post some pictures after I sew up the bottom.

Thanks for stopping by!
xox
meg

Hand Embroidered Pillows Part 2

When I originally posted about these pillows, I didn't have any nice pictures of the pillow I'd done in pink, or about the small quilted pillow that I made to use under my arm in Lily's room while I read and cuddle with her. So, Here you go!

I am really happy how these came out, and I particularly like how the embroidery coordinates so well with the prints of the fabric. I'm looking forward to trying these in some slight variations, specifically I am going to try them in solids.

I already have an embroidery for Lily in her room, so I decided not to personalize this little pillow.  She won't be read to and rocked in her chair forever, afterall, and it would be nice to use the pillow in other rooms of the house!



I did a simple envelope closure on the back of all of the pillows, as I really didn't feel like fiddling with a zipper.  I don't have a lot of experience with them, and honestly I didn't really feel like bothering to take the time to work through it.  I'll have to practice on the pillows I need to make for the living room.

It is hard not to get caught up in the pillow craze.  They are a quick project, when compared to a quilt, and they add such a nice pop of color, pattern, and texture to a couch.  I have *no* pillows on my two living room couches, so I should takle that project next.

I was thinking Timber & Leaf with some touches of raspberry and plum.  Well.  Now it looks as though I need to take some pictures of my living room to get some proper opinions on current modern fabric lines that would work well!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend,
Meg

The Blank Canvas

When I was in school at The School for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, there was always a lot of talk about the "blank canvas," and the hesitation and intimidation that went along with it.  I really felt like people were just psyching themselves out, and that the tension was contagious.  I really tried to ignore it.  I found that if I kept myself centered and I dove right in, and just got to work, and allowed myself the space and freedom to be me, pretty soon the "canvas" wasn't blank anymore. Sometimes I was "successful" in that I would walk away with a piece that felt right to me, and really reflected what I was trying to accomplish, whether a word, a feeling, a mood.  When it felt right, and I was happy with what I had done, there was usually positive feedback from my peers and professors.  

More often the work was ok... not really ground breaking, and not really a glimpse into any magical moments, but that work was important too.  They were like the stepping stones that would lead me up to that "successful" pieces.

I suppose that is what happened with this little hoop.  I've been working on these little guys, embroidering happy little thoughts and phrases here and there. Practicing stitches, techniques, really getting a feel for the art of embroidery.  I was really happy with the work I've been doing, and feeling good that people have been expressing interest in having these in their home! Amazing!

And then I had an idea and I just went for it.  I put down the initial, and then just let the stitches go where they would for the remaining space. It felt so good.  So so good.

So I am going to start working through these sweet little gems.  They are a little more time consuming, and they are also a little more original and unique than some of the other pieces that I have in my shop, and they are priced accordingly.

I personally feel like these are really sweet little gifts.  Perfect for a baby shower gift or a gift to a new mom.  A great personal gift to add to a wedding present.  Know a family who has moved in to a new home?  Excellent house warming gift.  These would also be great to hang on a christmas tree or on garland, so consider Christmas gifts!

And, why not use your welcome gift and order a couple?  Use the code "WELCOME" in the shop and receive 10% off your first order!

Stitch stitch stitch...

The best part about building up a series of embroideries and quilts for the shop?  I also get to decorate my home! My home is surprisingly devoid of handmade pieces (except those of my Gram's that I've inherited), so it is really nice to start adding personal touches here and there.

I don't want to add too many "encouragement" pieces for fear of turning into a crazy cat lady, but that doesn't mean that little bits of daily inspiration should be avoided all together.

How do you feel about "encouragements?"
Everything in moderation?

Have a wonderful day, friends!
xox
meg

Hand Embroidered Pillows

I've had some pillow forms laying around for ages, and I haven't had the guts to try a pillow.  Around Christmas, I discovered two pieces of linen blend that I had embroidered the girls names on.  Call me ambitious (or crazy), but I decided on Christmas Eve Eve (ha) to turn the embroideries into pillows for the girls.

Everything came out great. I had 14" pillow forms on hand, and they happened to be really plush, so I decided to make my front and back at 14" - I was afraid if I did them any smaller that it would put a lot of pressure on the seams.  Even still, these are some really plump pillows.

The first one, for Aubrie,  was a little slow going as I'd never made a pillow before.  I'm also still (stiiiiill) having issues with concentration, focus, and memory from my concussion, so even measuring and calculating twice wasn't enough.

The second one, for Thaya, went much quicker as I was smart enough to correct my measurements as I went along on the first one.  The second one took me about 1.5 hrs to make, which I think is still sort of slow, so I'll blame it on my head injury (like everything else!).  I quilted the patchwork and embroidered front to fusible fleece, and then I attached an envelope back.  I even went ahead and finished my edges with an overlapping zigzag stitch and cut my corners.  How profesional of me :)

I'm really happy with how they came out, but I'm not sure about the negative space around the name. Maybe I'm just being too uptight?  I am thinking that I will go ahead and embroider some flowers or bumblebees to make it feel a bit more unified with the patchwork.

What do you think? More embroidery, or Keep-it-Simple?

Back into it

Well, I'm finally starting to feel normal again! Being sick is really really difficult, especially when you have three small children depending on your to meet their physical and emotional needs daily.  In July, August, September, and October I really wondered if I would ever get better.  I really believed that it was possible that I would be hurting permanently.  Then, out of nowhere in November, I started to feel better.  I slowly started to exercise again, and my headaches finally began to subside.  Unfortunately October, November, and now December my family has desperately been trying to get over bronchitis, strep, croup, etc., so I feel like I have taken a few steps back, but I know it could be much worse.

I've been working on a few projects, including all of the holiday gifts for my girls' teachers.  That, however, is for another post!  I would like to share this quilt with you today.  I love how it turned out, and if I didn't need the money to pay for Christmas presents, I think I would hang on to it! I mean, look how cozy it looks on my bed...

I originally planned for this quilt to be a lap quilt or a toddler quilt.  Then I kept sewing and sewing and I thought, "Weeeeell... I guess now it would make a perfect picnic blanket!" It measures at a generous 73"x73", and although it isn't the typical twin bed size, it certainly could be thrown on a twin.  This quilt is larger than I expected.

I backed it in a simple green on cream pinstripe, and the binding is the same salmon color that is found in the blocks on the top.  The patches are random, and the negative space pops because of the geometric quilting.

This quilt is still in my shop, and I know that it is sort of last minute, but this quilt would make an awesome Christmas gift, and I'm willing to go to the post today (even though I have sick kids at home!) to get it out in time for holiday delivery! Wahoo!

I also made a little whoopsie when I was embroidering this ornament for a friend.  I am still suffering from some symptoms from my concussion, the most obnoxious being memory loss and absent-mindedness.   For example, after I put the permanent backing on this ornament to finish it up, I realized that I embroidered the wrong name. Some friend I am.  So this cute little ornament is also in my shop, and for sale at a discount.

And, if you like the ornament, but don't know of a Henry who is celebrating his first Christmas this 2012, then you can order a custom ornament!  It is cutting it a little close, and I probably couldn't guarantee Christmas delivery, but better late than never (because really, when he is 5 and sees his "first christmas" ornament, how is he going to know if it was on the tree THAT christmas?!).  Custom orders can be made here.

Take a minute to say hello if you've made it this far!  I'd love to start working my way through blogland... I'm about 4 months behind now!

Have a great day!
Meg