NEW THIS WEEK - May 24th, 2006:
Country
Home is never sweeter nor more comfortable than when it's decorated with one's personal "finds," favorite images, and colors. Enter "Country Living," a most affable decorating scheme. The look can be old-world, but it can also be casual and contemporary in a rustic, eclectic sort of way.
The designs this week feature a variety of homey touches that perfectly suit such a country theme. Warm tiles of lace framed in hexagons and squares are beautiful as freestanding lace or sewn directly on a practical country fabric like denim.
Comfortable, and convenient! Click here to see how to make a pincushion with a wrist strap.
When you think "Country Living," think color! The palette is warm, but the spectrum is wide: from sunny yellow to soft gold, fiery red to dark rust, soft ocean hues to cobalt blue. And the result is lively, vibrant, and happy. See how this plays out in the designs of the Gingham Rooster and Hen Medley, framed in shapes of circle, oval, square, and rectangle, with corner, spray, and single accessories. These will be so spectacular for that cozy kitchen, a casual dining space, or family room.
"House Rules" is a set of words to live by, artfully crafted in colorful frames -- gentle reminders of time-honored "rules" for happy family life. Choose one or more to frame or fashion for your wall, and warm the kitchen hearth with love. This week, let color brighten your home. Enjoy sewing the new designs!
Tiles of Floral Lace
Popular shapes of lace embroidery are very versatile. They have an air of old-world about them, yet they can seem uniquely contemporary. Framed as hexagons and squares, these tile designs are beautiful sewn as freestanding lace, and they can also be embroidered directly on a fabric.
Striking as individual accents, they can be even more extraordinary when they are sewn together in groupings for centerpieces (as illustrated at right).
For freestanding embroidery, sew the design onto water-soluble stabilizer, then soak away the stabilizer and dry. For instructions for making freestanding lace, click here. **These designs were tested with both 40 weight rayon and 50 weight cotton thread. The cotton thread works great! The result is a cozy and hearty look.
Want to see more? Click here to see designs released in previous weeks!