Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Oh Happy Days

'Tis the Summer holidays down here at the bottom of the world and "Oh Happy Days" it is. With the frenetic pace of Christmas and New Year celebrations all but a memory, life here has settled into a laggard pace. Summer holidays of course means no kiddos' lessons, no lessons to think about, no time constraints for orders for the folk that come aknocking on my bright pink door; and though I have a yo-yo quilt that has to be backed for a customer, days here have been filled with oodles of reading, oodles of relaxation (probably a li'l too much relaxation), enjoying the company of some very dear friends visiting from Sydney, and a li'l stitching.

After waving our very important guests goodbye, over the last couple of days I have been  having a wee bit of fun whirring away on my machine, stitching a li'l free hand machine sketching. I have stitched a few cute li'l stitcheries and framed them in embroidery hoops. They were soooooo easy and sooooooo quick to stitch. I had the best fun stitching these pretties.


Just a li'l birdy singing a happy song. The background for this pretty was an embroidered doily found in my doily stash.

This li'l stitchery is inspired by all things Summer holidays. I would love to hop into an old Kombi van, pulling a cute retro caravan and escape for a while........let's go.........!! Just channelling the hippy gal deep within me....care to join me??


Yes indeedy, the suitcases are packed in readiness to explore over hill and down dale!



Another stitchery on an old doily, oozing all things LOVE!


I found this lovely Kokka print; a remnant from a lampshade that I fashioned last year. I decided what fun it would be if I stitched a tree and a li'l girl on a swing over the print. I love how my sketching melds into the background.
  




Another free hand stitching I have been spending my days on is a laundry panel for a curtain, that I wanted to make for a doorway leading to the laundry. This panel  measures 63cms x 32cms.



Now, most people would have a door, but then.....I am not like most people. The doorway is a bit tricky to attach a door, so I decided to make a curtain instead. Soooooo much more prettier than a door.



I dived into one of my hat cases filled with embroidered pretties.........


.........and found this gorgeous panel of a basket of flowers to add to my curtain. It is from a 1930 American vintage coverlet that I acquired many a moon ago. Love it!! This panel measures 43cms x 50cms. Love, love, LURVE!


I also added other embroidered pretties to my curtain; together with fabrics from my stash.


Yes indeedy, a well signed 'laundry' entry way for my significant other; just in case he should lose his way enroute to the place where all things are made clean and wearable again!

And.....of course.....why have a boring wooden door when you can have a curtain, singing a song of prettiness!!

For now, that is the end of my free hand stitching but I am quite sure  there will be a li'l more doodling with my machine in the lazy, Summer days to come.

It's toodles from me....hope you are having a happy day filled with a li'l stitching!





27 comments:

  1. WOW! Such a creative spurt. You should be left to your own devices more often. You seem to have a knack with the free motion stitching and have very creative productions. Love the caravan and all the motive that it entails - Tis a sweet design.Makes me want to get moving.
    Absolutely stunning your laundry panel, particularly the ironing board panel - Superb.
    Just an aside,... how long has your door been bright pink?

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    1. Yes....I must say holidays agree with me!!
      When we painted the exterior of our house a purpley, grey blue colour a couple of years ago, Monique, and after much umming and aahing over which colour to paint the front door, I decided that a bright pink would be perfect....and I must admit it is! Though in this far rural outpost where the natives are chromaphobes, our front door is the subject of many an interesting conversation!

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  2. Sarah, they are so pretty and I love them all. Like I have said in the past you are truly a talented person.

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  3. Kim, I always love what you have to share with us. You have shared so much today it is hard to pick a favorite. But, I must say I truly love the door panel you have created. I agree it is so much better than having a wood door. You do magic with your sewing machine. Thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful things. Enjoy your warm weather; it is frigid here right now.

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  4. This is fantastic!!
    Great idea,beautiful!!
    Many greetings.:*

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  5. Once again Kim you have drawn me in to your pretty abode. Love the little peeks of it. What a great idea to add to a stitched doily! Makes me want to dive into the hall closet and see what I have ; )

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  6. Your thread illustrations are wonderful! You have a fantastic imagination:-)

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  7. Oh wow, wow, wow... happy days indeed! I am in awe of your talent, lovely Kim - these are just the prettiest, loveliest stitcheries I ever did see :-)
    Hugs xx

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  8. Throw my suitcase on top next to yours! I am so loving your stitchery! And once again, your creativity blows my mind and turns me green! Wonderful! Wonderful!

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    1. Now wouldn't that be the best fun, Dee. You and I meandering around the countryside in our Kombi, being happy, hippy gals!!

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    2. Wait, where did I leave me sandals? LOL

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    3. .....you won't need them, Dee....we'll be barefoot and carefree ! ;)

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  9. Miss Kim...I do not understand how you do it! Your work is so spectacular. I absolutely love your curtain. The hoop pictures are so sweet. You are the only person I know that can see a swing and little girl in that fabric.

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  10. Okay, you are officially AMAZING!! I want a curtain like yours! We currently have a door that needs attention and no pretty archway leading into our laundry! I am in awe of each of your pretty stitcheries. They are all so wonderful - and wonderfully different - that I can't pick a favourite. I adore the fabrics on the ironing boards! I have tried freehand pictorial stitching and I can't say that I found it easy!! What a magnificently creative person you are!

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  11. Oh what marvellous fun you have been having - a perfect way to enjoy those more relaxed days!

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  12. I love everything! You always amaze and inspire! What a beautiful, unique curtain for the doorway, and the hoop stitcheries are just adorable!

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  13. What a gorgeous post... I feel like I have stepped into summer , smelled the flowers, and I can feel the sun on my skin while the birds sing away!
    Susie

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  14. Your holiday sounds very much like mine, a lot of reading and relaxation. Loved it!! The stitcheries are all so pretty. The kombi van with the retro caravan is my favourite. I want to jump in and go on a holiday :)

    -Soma xx

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  15. Another FUN FUN FUN blog post. I think that trailer embroidery is the BEST. We have a little trailer that is fun to take places. And those curtains. They are so scrumptious! A bit jealous of you having summer, however, in winter I don't have to feel guilty about staying inside and "playing" instead of outside doing yardwork. So it not all bad.

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    1. Oh how I would love to travel with you in your li'l trailer around your pretty countryside, Beth!

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  16. Hello Kim,

    Happy post! You make laundry sound so much fun. I want a curtain like yours even though I have a door!
    Thanks for making my day, such a lovely post.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  17. Indeed, why have a door! Your curtain is beautiful, as are those lovely hoops. You house just gets prettier and and prettier. Enjoy your holidays and have a little pity for those of us in the cold, gloomy, raining north :)

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  18. Your inventiveness is just incredible. I really wish I could embroider well but no matter what I try the stitches look very uneven. x

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  19. So many beautiful things you have made here!I love the hoops!AriadnefromGreece!

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  20. Loving that hoop art! It's too late tonight for so much inspiration.

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  21. I love all your stitcheries...each one special in it's own way so I can't choose just one. The curtain into the laundry room has me contemplating...the closet in my sewing room has a fabric hung on it. Perhaps...I should, can I?, hummm, let me think on this...What a great idea you had, Kim, and it looks fabulous with that charming archway.

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